Pretty Little Liars: Paying the Cost

Chapter 4 of my Pretty Little Liars story, enjoy.

Reviews:

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, well, A has finally reared their head.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks and okay, good luck :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pretty Little Liars or its characters.

Season 1: Episode 4

It was the following day, Alison entered school, biting her lip.

'What was that message about, who...who is this 'A' and what game are they talking about?' She wondered, actually worried.

It was certainly something that, combined with everything that had happened so far since her return, made her concerned about what this might mean for her, or others. That was when she saw Aria up ahead, checking her phone and looked rather worried too.

"Aria?"

She started and turned, quickly stashing her phone in her bag. "Oh, Ali...um…"

She tilted her head, concerned. "Um, are you okay, you look kinda, distracted."

"Y-yeah, sure, I mean, I'm fine." Aria replied, a little too quickly. "It's nothing, I...I should get going."

Alison blinked, more than a little surprised by this sudden action, especially from Aria, who was now walking away quickly into the school.

'Okay...What's up with that, has it got something to do whatever was bothering her...or has Mona got to the girls to try and keep them from me?' She wondered, shaking her head at the last part. 'Typical of her, still...if she's trying to turn this into a contest, I'll just have to respond.'

With that firmly in mind, Alison made her way into the school herself and made her way towards her locker and from there her first class.

She smiled lightly as she met Ryan and Tony outside the class.

"Morning." She greeted them.

The two boys smiled lightly and Tony replied first. "Morning Alison, how are you?"

Alison shifted slightly, remembering her concerns, but she replied. "I'm fine. All good, so, how are you two?"

"I'm good too." Tony replied with a casual shrug.

"Me too." Ryan added. "Although, still trying to figure out that little, issue with my photography project. I need a new subject."

"Oh?"

Ryan nodded. "I'm pleased with the work I've done so far, but it feels like, something's lacking. I need, I don't know...something new…"

"A new muse?" Alison suggested.

"Um yeah." Ryan replied awkwardly. "That sounds about right."

It wasn't quite the word he'd use, but he supposed that was exactly the word to describe it he supposed.

Then, unexpectedly, Alison grinned. "So, why don't I model for you?"

"Huh?"

"C'mon, I'll be the subject for your project." Alison offered. "It'll be fun and it'll give you something new to work with. I mean, you've not exactly done a lot of shots of people, have you?"

Ryan was truly taken aback by this, but then smiled. "That, sounds fun. Thanks Alison, I think I'll take you up on that offer."

Alison smiled too, glad to take her mind off things for a while.

Aria meanwhile was still trying to get her mind straight, her thoughts whirling with her concerns. Namely the way her dad was acting that morning.

'It can't be...not again, he wouldn't...he promised me.' She thought anxiously.

Shaking her head she tried to focus again and entered the bathroom, inside she saw Spencer and Hanna there, both talking in harsh whispers.

"Guys?"

"Oh, Aria, um…" Hanna replied, startled.

Spencer turned to her. "Aria, good. Please tell me you're not the only one who thinks Mona went too far in how she treated Emily."

Before Aria could reply, Hanna turned sharply back to Spencer.

"Hey, I told you, I don't disagree with you about that." She said quickly. "I'm saying we shouldn't be talking about it, at least not here."

Aria shook her head. "You guys, this is not the time. I'm sure all have our own problems but...regardless, I'm worried about Emily too. Not just for this thing with Mona, she's got other problems."

"Oh God, yeah." Hanna agreed. "That break-up with Ben, what was that all about, I thought they were just perfect for each other?"

"It's not that simple, I just…" Spencer began with a sigh.

But then she stopped, as did Hanna. Aria turned and saw the door had just opened and in stepped Amber.

"Hey girls, what are you doing hanging around here?" Amber asked with a grin.

They shifted and just mumbled basic responses, unsure how much Amber had heard. Amber was now considered part of Mona's group with them, taking Emily's place and most likely being the one who had told Mona about Emily talking to Alison, likely to not only get Emily kicked out the group but gain favour.

With nothing else to say the girls exited the bathroom and spotted Mona waiting by her locker. A little further down the hallway was Alison, further still was Emily and Maya. Soon Alison and Emily froze and then, a short while later the other three noticed why and froze too when they saw the two people coming down the corridor. The first was a rather tall boy with shaggy, messy brown hair and blue eyes, pale skin and a lanky build. He was guiding a girl who had her arm looped with his, she was slender and somewhat shorter than the boy, she had fair skin and long dark brown hair and green eyes, although said eyes were hidden behind dark glasses. The girl also carried a cane in her other hand. Staring in horror at this, Hanna found her voice first.

"It can't be...that's...Toby and Jenna?"

The other girls nodded as they suddenly became very anxious, knowing full well how tricky and awkward things were about to be for them.

XXXXX

No longer seated with Mona and her group at the 'top table' of the cafeteria, Emily sat with Maya and Alison at another table and enjoyed her lunch along with them. The cafeteria was full as usual and the usual hustle and bustle continued. Alison however was concerned, not about the strange text this time, but the other issue that bothered her last night.

'Those girls, four dead, all resembling me and the girls I was friends with, that I am still hoping to rekindle my friendships with...All except Spencer…' She thought worriedly. 'Is she next, or...or is there a girl out there that the looks like Spencer and why is this killer after them?'

It was then however she was able to distract herself, first she notice that Maya and Emily kept shooting glances at each other when the other wasn't looking, something which made her curious. Then however, something happened to truly distract her, as at that moment Coach Fulton approached their table.

"Alison."

She looked up and smiled. "Yes, Coach?"

Fulton handed the form to Alison with a smile, drawing Emily and Maya's attention too.

"Here you go." Fulton said. "Your application was accepted, so I'm gonna need you to report to the locker room so we can get you all set up."

Alison nodded, grinning. "Thanks Coach."

While Fulton left, Alison took note of the other girls and Emily was certainly the most surprised.

"Ali, you-?"

"Yup." Alison confirmed. "I've just signed up and it seems, I've been accepted into, the swimming team. So, guess I'll see you at practice."

Emily gaped at that, before grinning and nodded while Alison went to locker room to get what she needed for her first practice.

XXXXX

Alison grinned as she finished drying her hair, her first practice session had gone well and Emily was next to her with a smile of her own.

"That was pretty good, Ali." She said happily. "I better be careful or you'll be giving me competition soon."

Alison laughed. "I don't think I'll ever get that good, Em. But thanks."

Emily nodded as she finished getting dressed and retrieved Maya's scarf from her locker, at that moment she noticed something else. There was another girl on the team, one who was giving Emily a strange look at that very moment. The girl was roughly Emily's height, she had still damp brown ombre hair and dark brown eyes, fair skin and a strong build.

'Who…?' Emily wondered.

But the moment the girl seemed to notice Emily was watching her, she stood up and left the locker room. Emily turned to try and ask Alison about the girl, but saw Alison had already finished and left. She quickly finished too and hurried out of the locker room, only to stop and see her earlier invitation to Alison about the party was actually causing a little confrontation.

"You have no business being at Noel's party, Alison." Mona snarked as she stood glaring at Alison.

Alison however stood her ground. "Last I checked, I was invited and it's a free country."

"You're not wanted there." Mona snapped. "You seem to forget you don't get to-"

"You need to realize what I have Mona." Alison cut her off sharply. "Not everything is about you, I'm going and if you don't like it. Tough, not everyone has to bow to your whims. Learn the lessons I have learned."

With that Alison side-stepped the frozen Mona and walked on, Emily couldn't keep the smile off her face as she watched this.

XXXXX

While leaving school herself, Aria checked her phone anxiously, but she had received no reply. That was worrying for her, especially since it was causing all her fears to once more play on her mind. She rounded a corner to cut through the tree covered path that would lead to her home. She glanced up at that moment and her stomach dropped and betrayal sat heavily in her heart at what she saw, up ahead was her dad's car and he was in it, with her. Meredith.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.