CHAPTER 9

It's now Friday, the night after the attempted Emily convention. Spencer, Aria, and Hanna have just gotten to school, but no sign of Emily. No responses either. They didn't want to worry Mrs. Fields, who had assumed Emily had spent the night after she called Spencer's house looking for her daughter. Spencer had lied and said Em was freshening up in the bathroom and her phone died, that's why Mrs. Fields was unable to reach her, and she bought it with only a slight hint of skepticism in her voice.

Just as the girls are about to turn to their cars and drive to Emily's house, they see none other than their former Queen B, Ali, walking towards them and her locker.

"Hey guys, how's everything?" she greets casually, "Anything exciting happen here while I was gone?"

The other three couldn't believe she was acting so calm about this. Spencer was the first to speak up, "Ali! Where the hell have you been, we've been worried sick. We were all going to go on a search for you after school, and now you just stroll in here like we just seen you yesterday, you couldn't leave a note or answer one simply text message, saying 'hey guys, I'm fine'?"

Ali knew it was wrong to ignore them a week, put she had to take care of some personal business. "Sorry, I know I should've told you guys I was okay, but I just needed to get away for awhile, you know? School IS almost over, Prom is coming up and I have a final in just about every class next week, you get that I needed a break right?"

Aria, being the compassionate one of course, acknowledged Ali in a comforting tone, "yeah sure Ali, we just got worried and didn't want anything bad to have happened"

"Where'd you go?" Hanna pondered.

But the bell interrupted them before Ali had a chance to reply.

So the blonde bought herself some time, "Tell you all later, we better get to class."

Ali's POV

That was, close. I can't believe I couldn't just come up with a lie to tell them for a week. Me, the queen, well ex-queen of lies, without an alibi…I better come up with one before all three of them are breathing down my neck, hounding me with questions.

By lunchtime, I had told the girls my story, that I left with my dad on his work trip to Chicago, that it was all last minute and rushed, and didn't bring my phone because I wanted to soak up as much as the windy city as I could, which was partially true, my dad did have a work trip over there, except I didn't go, I had my own agenda, and if I wanted anything on it to happen, I couldn't let the girls know the truth.

After telling them about me week in 'Chicago' I got up to use the restroom, almost returning to the group before I stopped when I heard a name that caught my attention "Guys, what are we going to do about Em?" I could tell the voice belonged to Aria. Em? What does Aria mean? What had I missed while I was gone? I noticed she wasn't in English today but hadn't assumed the usual "she's sick" routine. And just as I thought, I'd get answers without asking those questions, I was bumped into and thrown back into plain view of the girls. Aria seemed as if was going to continue, but the short brunette stopped when Spencer shot her the special Hastings glare. I looked at all three of them, trying not to sound too desperate I asked "Don't worry Spence, I already heard Aria…w-w-what's wrong with Emily?"

Hanna was the one who answered me, "well nothing really, she went AWOL like you, I'm guessing last night after…"

But she didn't finish, so I prompted her "After," I got nothing, "…After what Han?"

"Well we sat her down at Spence's and tried to get her to see that she was making a mistake and should really apologize and make things right with you but then she just got really upset and left saying that you had us fooled and-"

I couldn't hear anymore, "But why would you guys do that? She hates me, I-

"Ali, we all know she doesn't hate you. She's just hurt and is trying to protect herself, you should know more than anyone that she still loves you, she's just being really stubborn that's all." Spencer tried to convince me, but I was still feeling hopeless.

At this point I was started to not care so much about how I sounded, I just needed to know that Em was safe. "So you guys have no idea where she is?"

Aria answered quickly, "Nope, we're gonna stop by her house and see if she's there after school. She might've taken the day off to calm herself down. You should come with."

"No, I don't think that that's such a good idea, but text me and let me know if you find her, and if she's alright, okay?"

"Of course, Ali, we will. Talk to you later, we've got to get to History."

As soon as the girls were out of sight, I ditched school to look for Emily on my own, if I wanted what I wanted to happen soon, I needed to set my plan into action and I'd need to find Em, on my own.

Emily's POV

Ugh, I woke up with my face pressed against something cold, and hard, and the pounding in my head was relentless; I looked up at where I was and I immediately felt ten times sicker. I know I don't remember much of what happened last night after I left Spencer's and went to the liquor store with my fake ID, but I certainly didn't remember coming here, why would I come here? Of all places! I rubbed the crust out of my eye and sat up slowly, pulling two bottles of liquor out from under me. Great, that would explain why my back hurt so damn much. I want to leave as soon as I can, but my brain is talking its sweet time waking up and making my ever-aching body move. The sun's rays were shining bright into my eyes at an all-time high, not helping my hangover one bit. I knew I had to get home before anyone happened to find me like this but just as I was starting to sit up, I hear a car door slam, which sounds like a crack of thunder in my eardrums and I hear a voice say my name, its unmistakable. The sweet voice that I used to love so much echoes in my head as she comes nearer, staring in her direction, the sun make her body transform into a beautiful angelic silhouette before me-I stopped my train of thoughts before they derailed off into the deep end, where it may never be recovered, and as she neared, confirming who I thought she was, only one word escaped my dry lips:

"Shit."

Alison's POV

Before I can set my agenda in motion, and look for Em, I'll need to pick up a few things from my house first. Just a few surprises that I hope I get the chance to use, to enjoy. As a near my house and pull into my driveway, I notice a familiar car parked across the street, and I think Is that…no, but that is her ca…no, no…it couldn't be, could it, but why?

I get out of my car somewhat quickly, not bothering to lock the door and before I reach the steps, I hear a groan and the sounds of glass bottles being clanked together. I look down and there she is, lying in wrinkled clothes, reeking of alcohol in front of me, on my porch and still all that clouds my brain is how prefect she looks even after the shitty night she probably just had and all I can muster from my throat, is to say her name.

"Emily?"