"I need you to do me a favor." Spencer says walking into Ali's room throwing her bag on the floor placing the boxes on the silver tray by the door
"Hi Spencer. I'm doing fine, thanks for asking." she replies not looking up from her magazine
"Well?" Spencer asks as she flips the page
"I don't know" Ali starts "your tone makes it sound like it involves work. And unlike you I actually have school."
Spencer sighs then looks around her room a frown settling on her face "Where's Aria and Hanna?"
Ali finally looks up from her magazine a smile on her face
Spencer rolls her eyes "You're joking right?"
"Afraid not. It's just me and you tonight. Ezra picked Aria up about an hour ago for a surprise date and Hanna's sorry excuse for a father did an impromptu visit and dragged her along to support Kate." a scowl on her face "I tried everything but that douchebag was not having it."
Spencer fights back a smile, sitting down on her bed preparing for Alison's rant. One thing she could always count on was Ali being the first to Hanna's rescue.
"I mean what kind of dad isn't there for his own flesh and blood? The one that is undoubtedly his but is always there for the stuck up bitchy one with no relation except by that over tanned poorly dressed wife of his. I mean she's one shade away from an oompa loompa! He completely downgraded, he left a solid nine for a barely five. He bails on Hanna on every given chance but expects her to be there for him and Kate? Knowing how she treats Hanna?" tears brimming in her eyes "I don't know how Hanna does it, she way better than I am."
'Duh.' Spencer thinks to herself
"Because I would not put up with the bull shit he pulls."
Spencer looks at her
Ali takes a deep breath "Okay I'm done."
Spencer snorts "Yeah, for now." getting up to get the boxes flopping back down on the bed "Hungry?"
Ali scrunches her nose "I'm not eating your leftovers."
Spencer looks at her "You think my leftovers require three boxes? I ordered these for you guys."
Ali yelps in pain shaking her hand
"Why would you pick it up from the bottom?" she chastises placing the boxes side by side in the space between them
She sits up "So what's the favor?" inspecting each one by one picking the one filled with flautas
"I need you to come with me tomorrow."
"Where?" she asks between a bites
"I'm meeting Toby and his sister at-"
"Ooh he's setting you up with your crush." she teases cutting her off
"Anyway." Spencer starts "We're going to some place called Zero-"
"Zero Gravity."
Spencer lets out a breath sitting up straight looking away "Okay you need to stop." sounding annoyed "How did you even know that I was going to say that?"
"There's no other place that has zero in the name." picking up another taking a bite "What time?"
"Whatever time you want." picking apart her quesadilla "What is it anyway?"
"It's kind of like an...upgraded jumper. It's full of trampolines, there's an area where you can dunk, one where you jump into a foam pit, a really intense dodgeball area, there's an area outside for go kart racing and it has really good pizza." finishing her second "Well in my opinion."
"And you haven't taken me there because…?"
"I tried, you always said no. Even when Aria and Han tried to get you to come, and when you told them no I just assumed you'd never want to."
"So I'm taking this as a yes."
She nods
"But?"
"You have to help me with my physics homework and I have a test on Monday." she groans "I should've just did what you did."
"You mean become a complete buzz kill?"
Ali looks up "You said it, not me."
Spencer gives her a sad smile and looks down
"It's not getting any better is it?"
She shakes her head "I didn't expect it to. I should just leave now while I have the chance. I already have-"
"No." Ali snaps "I hate to sound selfish but you can't just leave me, not with her. We're supposed to stick this out together and move out at the end of the school year. My dad agreed to pay for my rent and bills and give me money on the side. And by the sounds of it, I'm sure Melissa will find out a way to give you money."
"Money isn't the problem." her voice cracking
Noticing it Ali pushes a box aside and pulls her into a hug feeling a tear hit her shoulder, rubbing her back trying to comfort her
After getting it all out of her system she pulls back and takes a breath "Are you really tired of my snoring?" she asks trying to lighten the mood
Ali smiles "I couldn't sleep, so I called Hanna to see if she could come over and when she said she didn't feel like driving I drove to her house in the middle of the night. I even started to complain about her not having brown hair." reaching out to touch Spencer's "What do you think?"
Spencer lets out a small laugh wiping her eyes "I'm a mess."
Ali waves her hand "Please after all the times I ruined my mascara at your house." she takes a deep breath "Take Melissa's offer."
Spencer looks up at her "What?"
"Move in with her. I guess I should start building up my tolerance for her since she'll try to visit our place as much as she can. If you live with her, she'll have no choice but to put up with me. Besides it'll only be for a couple of months anyway."
They both turn their heads when the door to Alison's room swings open, Hanna walks through and slams it shut after her, dropping her bag to the floor walking around to the other side of the bed flopping down on her back, Ali moving the box right before she lands.
"You should've left it there." Spencer remarks watching as Hanna gives her a look
Ali frowns at her slapping her arm
"So. Are you going to talk or make us guess?" Spencer asks rubbing her arm
"Saint Bitch-"
"Okay I really don't think those words should be so close to each other in a sentence but go on."
"Okay. The devil's spawn-"
"Better." Spencer replies
"wants to celebrate her birthday with me."
Spencer and Ali exchange looks
"So where's your homework?"
Hanna scoffs "Hello! I'm having a crisis here."
"No. Your being over dramatic." Spencer quips
Hanna looks to Ali
"I'm sorry Han but I'm with Spence this time." getting up to get her physics book and notes "It's chapter twelve."
"She invited me to-"
"Oh yes, because there's nothing more sinister than a birthday party." Spencer replies sarcastically, taking the textbook and the notes from Ali "I'll make an outline on all the important things in the chapter and the vocab as your study guide and I'll make marks next to the texts that have the answers to the homework questions. Deal?" extending her hand
"Deal." Ali agrees meeting her hand
Hanna sits up "Thanks, you guys have been really helpful."
Ali looks over to her "It's a party, what is so evil about that?" handing a packet to Spencer
"I never said it was a party. She just wants it to be me and her."
Spencer looks up from the packet
"What?" Ali asks leaning forward
"Now that I have your attention can I go on?"
"You only have half of my attention, Ali failed to mention that the chapter is fifteen pages long and three pages of questions." picking up a pencil looking back down to the book making a small mark beside the first and fourth passage
"You're not going to put the numbers to the questions?"
"Nope." she replies circling a vocab word
"Fair enough." Ali replies "So where is she taking you?"
"A spa."
Ali smiles "You're not going to be the only one."
"Duh." Hanna responds
"That's why I need at least two of you to come with me. Spencer is the only confirmed one."
Spencer puts a finger down marking her spot before looking at Hanna "Excuse you?"
"I don't mean you need a makeover or anything. It's just that you need a break. I'm not taking no for an answer." looking back to Ali as Spencer goes back to reading "Although one wouldn't hurt." she adds under her breath
"I heard that."
"The only question is you or Aria." she says ignoring her
"Well Aria has a stress reliever. I don't, so I'm going."
Spencer laughs "Please, it's hard enough sitting in class." circling another word before turning the page "When is it anyway?"
"Tomorrow."
Ali looks up
"I told you she was evil."
Spencer gives her an apologetic look opening her mouth
"Spencer no." cutting her off
She looks at Ali
"It is Hanna."
Spencer smirks and puts the notebook in the textbook closing it handing it back to Ali watching her facial expression change "You're right it is Hanna."
She takes the book reluctantly and frowns at Hanna
"Sorry."
"I'll still help you study." Spencer says "And the first page and half of the second is already done." unlocking her phone to send an apology text to Toby seeing he beat her to the punch
"Can we reschedule?"
"You read my mind." she replies
"What's your excuse?"
"Friend's evil step sister. Your's?"
"Grades. Next week?"
'Grades?' Spencer jumps up from the bed grabbing her keys running toward the door
"Hey! Where are you going?" Ali calls out after her
"Grades!" she replies, hearing Ali mutter something under her breath running after her
Hearing Ali's footsteps behind her she continues to run towards the door pulling it open, shoving her way through the hedges to get to her house reaching the side door seeing it's not locked she runs inside stopping dead in her tracks when she sees her mom with the paper in her hands opening it 'Shit.' she mutters under her breath. Watching as her eyes scan over the paper, she tenses up. Feeling slightly better when she sees a wisp of blond hair in the corner of her eye, her hand being squeezed.