Okay, here's another chapter, wanted to get this one out of the way. For those of you who are following my Twilight story Make Me Lose Control I am working on the next chapter just please be patient. I will get it out when I think it's ready to be read.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just Carmen.
"What are you doing?" Aria mumbled, waking up from a great dream about her and Ezra.
"An intervention." Spencer explained, smiling at her friend.
"We brought takeout and magazines." Emily said, dropping the mags on the bed.
"But, you can't have any of those until you get out of these sweats." Hanna said, pulling on the front of the hoodie.
"So get your lazy ass up." Carmen smirked.
"We have dress shopping to do," Emily said. "We need everyone there."
"I'm not going to homecoming." Aria replied.
"What do you mean you're not going?" Hanna asked. "You can't just not go."
"What else are you gonna do?" Emily asked.
"I don't know. Read these magazines and inhale a galleon of Chunky Monkey."
"Look Aria, cutting yourself off from the rest of the world is not gonna help so get your little ass up. We have dress shopping to do." Carmen said, grabbing the girl's hands and pulling her up to the table.
"Well, if you're not coming, can you at least vote?" Hanna asked.
"Hanna!" Spencer exclaimed.
"What? I need all the votes I can get."
"Well while you're winning Homecoming Queen, I'll be re-stocking the ice, re-filling the humice, and trying to look cute for my date." Spencer said, smiling at the end.
"You're taking Alex?" Emily asked smirking.
"Look at her blush!" Hanna exclaimed as the girls laughed.
"Stop it!" Spencer yelled, but she was laughing. "Moving on. Emily, who are you taking?"
"I think I'm just gonna go stag." The swimmer told her friends, glancing at Carmen to see the Latina staring at her phone.
"You know what? Me too Em." Aria said patting her arm.
"You two should go together. You guys would make such a cute couple!" Spencer said.
"How did I go from wearing mom jean to Samantha Rosen?" Aria asked and they laughed except for Emily, Carmen, and Hanna, who was looking at the two.
"Who cares who anyone goes with, it's just a dance," Said the blonde. "You should bring someone who you have fun with."
"I might wanna go with someone," Emily spoke up. "I just don't want people to think it means more than it does."
"Are you and Ben back together?" Spencer asked and this time, Hanna noticed Carmen roll her eyes.
"No. No, course not." Emily replied.
"So who's the mystery dude?" Aria asked.
Hanna, not wanting to make Emily uncomfortable, decided to change the subject. "I'm starving!" She grabbed the fortune cookie bag. Grabbing a cookie and breaking it, she unfolded the slip of paper. Hanna expected some confusing, Chinese, wise words. Instead, she got much, much worse.
"Bad fortune Han?" Carmen teased.
"Confucius says stop being such a drama queen." Spencer laughed.
"Lions, and tigers, and bitches, oh my! There's no place like Homecoming. See you there. A." Hanna read the words off the paper. The other girls looked shocked before they grabbed their own fortune cookie and tore them open. All the papers said the same thing.
"Great, I can't wait for homecoming." Carmen said sarcastically while ripping her paper to pieces.
"So my parents are going out of town this weekend and I thought maybe you could stay the night. I've been thinking and I'm ready," Sean told the blonde. "To do it."
"Sean, I made a commitment to myself. A commitment I want to honor." Said the blonde.
Hanna rolled her eyes. Why was she here at the virginity club? She was watching Sean and Amber act out a scene that was so unbelievable. The teacher was probably a virgin too. Seriously, no one would turn Sean down. Well, except maybe Emily and Carmen.
"Good, nice work you two. Sit down. May I have two volunteers please?" The teacher asked, looking around the circle of students. "Hanna."
"No. See? I can say no." Hanna replied smartly.
"So can I. Up," he said then turned towards a black haired boy. "Lucas."
"Oh, um, I, uh, I'm more comfortable observing." The geeky boy stuttered.
"Nope, come on you two, let's go."
The two teens stood up and walked into the middle of the circle and Hanna started. "Wanna go up to my room?"
"I can't do this."
"But you make me hot."
"No, I meant I can't do this with you," Lucas said then turned to the teacher. "Girls like her don't go for guys like me, unless they have self-esteem issues or a serious drinking problem."
"Just act it out Lucas." The teacher told him.
"This is embarrassing. She's like Barbie and Shakira mixed. I have play Wii on the weekends by myself. I think my virginity is safe." Lucas told him and Hanna smiled.
"Both of you. Start again." He said and they turned back to each other.
"So you wanna come up to my roo-"
"Yes!" Lucas exclaimed, making everyone, plus Hanna, laugh. Everyone except Sean.
Emily was walking to the soda machine at lunch, digging around in her purse. She took out her change and inserted the money into the machine. Getting her water, she turned around to face Carmen, who was just looking at her.
"Hey." The Latina said.
"Hey Carm." Emily said softly.
"Haven't spoken to you in a while." Carmen said her face expressionless.
"With everything going on, A, and the memorial for Alison, it's just been busy." Emily said.
"Yeah and other things." Carmen said, walking around Emily to the soda machine. The swimmer stood there for a moment before turning to Carmen.
"Are you going to the dance with anyone?" The tall girl asked.
"Yeah, unfortunately." Carmen said sighing.
"Who?" Emily asked. She was curious and a little bit jealous.
"You'll just have to see, like everyone else," Carmen told her. "Come on, the girls are waiting." With that, she walked off to the table where Hanna and Spencer were sitting.
"So what are we plotting now?" Carmen asked, sliding into an empty seat by Hanna.
"Hanna is gonna get Jenna's file from the physiatrist." Spencer said.
"You're gonna steal it? Aw Hanna. Carmen said smirking.
"Spencer's having panic attack because Toby Cavanaugh just bought two tickets to Homecoming," Hanna explained. "Who's the drama queen now?
"I am not having a panic attack," Spencer protested. "It's just weird; I don't know anyone who would go with him."
"Maybe he found some freaky girl who likes motorcycles or killing small animals," Carmen smirked. "Besides, who cares?"
"Because if he bought two tickets, that probably means Jenna's also going," Spencer explained. "A did promise to see us there."
"Hey Han, Carmen! Spencer," Mona smiled, sliding into a seat across from them. "Is it true you're taking the country clubs towel boy to Homecoming?"
"His name's Alex and yes I am." Spencer replied.
"Knock it off Mona." Hanna told her friend.
"What?" Mona asked. "I think it's cute that she's taking her Cinder fellow to the dance."
"Can you go get me froyo, with sprinkles?" Hanna actually demanded then asked. Mona looked at Hanna with an expressionless face before getting up and leaving.
"Wow, Mona's become a bitch." Carmen smirked.
"Don't pay attention to her Spence, she's just insecure." Hanna tried to explain.
"Like a pit-bull," Spencer remarked. "Why are you friends with her?"
"She's always there for me, even if it's just to watch me try on shoes," Hanna smiled. "She talks tough so people will forget what big of a geek she was."
After she said that, the three girls spotted Toby sitting a little ways from them. Spencer hit Hanna's arm, gaining an "Ow" from the girl.
Listen, you need to chill or I need to start carrying a tranquilizer gun." Hanna said, scooting away from Spencer. Toby reached for something in his back pocket, bringing his shirt up as he took it out. On his hip, were words, tattooed in his skin.
901
Free at Last
"What the hell does that mean?" Carmen asked, eyebrows furrowed.
"No idea," Spencer replied. "But I'm gonna figure it out."
Emily was at her locker, getting books, when she turned around and saw Toby walking up to her.
"Hi." He smiled.
"Hey." Emily replied softly, still bothered by the fact that Carmen had a date to the dance.
"I was about to look for you." Toby said as they begin to walk down the hall.
"You were? How come?" The swimmer asked.
"I wanted to talk to you about something," He said as they stopped walking. "Wanna hang out tomorrow?"
"I would, but I'm going with my friends to Homecoming." The tall girl explained.
"That's too bad; I was hoping you would go with me." He reached into his pocket and pulled out two Homecoming tickets.
"To Homecoming?" She asked, shocked. "I didn't think that was your scene."
"I have a scene?" He smiled. "I didn't think listening to music alone in my room was a scene."
"You know what I mean," Emily said. "Besides, I would've thought that you think Homecoming is lame."
"It is pretty lame," Toby laughed. "But you're not."
Emily didn't know what to say to that. He was being sweet, but she couldn't let Carmen go. She thought about how the Latina had a date, how she was avoiding Emily. How Emily was avoiding her. Emily looked up into blue eyes as she made her decision.
"Okay, I'll go."
Toby looked surprised that she agreed before regaining his composure. "Cool, I'll pick you up at nine."
"Sure, but it starts at eight." Emily smiled as the older boy laughed.
"Lame." He said before walking away.
Emily contemplated whether she had made a good choice or not. Guess she would find out at the dance.
Hanna was walking down the hall when she saw Carmen at her locker. "Hey Carm."
"Yes I'm voting for you."
"That's not what I was gonna say!" Hanna said, slapping Carmen lightly on her arm. "You make me sound like such a..."
"Queen Bee?" Carmen smirked.
"That's your title." Hanna rolled her eyes.
"So what'd you want?" The Latina asked.
"Oh, just wondering who you were taking to Homecoming." The blonde asked.
"No one important." Carmen said, closing her locker.
"Anyone you take is important Carm," Hanna said. "No matter whom they are."
"Thanks Han, but don't worry about it too much. It doesn't mean anything."
"It's okay if it means something. I'm sure they make you happy and that's what matters."
"Yeah, okay Han but-"
"See you and Em at the dance." Hanna smiled before walking away.
"Emily?" Carmen asked herself, but the bell rang so she hurried out the door, where someone would be waiting.
"You know, it's so nice of you to drive me home." Jenna smirked as she held her hand out for the Latina's arm.
"Whatever, let's go." Carmen said as Jenna took her arm and they started walking to the parking lot.
"So, have you told anyone that you're taking me to the dance?" Jenna asked.
"No, I'm still plotting a way out of it." Carmen replied as she opened the door for Jenna and let the girl slide in before going to her own seat.
"Oh Carmen, there's no way out of it." The blind girl said.
"I can try." The Latina said, driving out of the parking lot and onto the road.
"You do, Emily's secret will be all over school."
Carmen was really starting to hate Jenna. Blackmailing was her thing, but now it was being used against her. "Fine."
"Good. Now I'm thinking red will look good on you."
"How do you know? You can't see."
"I saw you before the accident; I think I can picture you in my mind. I can also picture the look on Mrs. Fields face when she realizes her daughter is gay."
"So red?"
Aria made her way to the dance, black, lacy dress and all. She knew Ezra would be there, and it killed her that she couldn't be with him. Walking into the sea of bodies dancing, Aria spotted Hanna and Spencer. Hanna was wearing a blue sparkly dress while Spencer wore a strapless silver dress.
"Hey you ready to have fun?" Hanna smiled.
"Without a date? Oh how the mighty have fallen." Mona commented as she came over with her date, wearing a purple dress.
"Who cares? She can share mine." Hanna said as Sean smiled.
"And mine." Spencer said.
"Hey I'm Alex." the handsome boy said, giving his hand to Aria.
"Aria, nice to meet you." The brunette shook his hand.
"Now, you have to work first so off you go to the beanbag booth." Spencer smiled apologetically and Aria made her way towards the booth.
Tonight's gonna be great." Hanna said as she looked around for Carmen and Emily.
"Who are you looking for?" Sean asked.
"Carmen and Emily." Hanna replied.
"Are they coming?" Spencer asked.
"They said they were," Hanna told her. "Maybe they're just late. I'll go look for them." So Hanna made her way up the stairs leading to the hallway and to the parking lot. She couldn't wait to see Emily and Carmen together, they would look so cute. Finally, the blonde saw the familiar black Mustang pulling in and could hardly contain her excitement. The excitement quickly turned to shock as Jenna got out of the passenger side of the car. Carmen guided her to the door, where Hanna was waiting.
"Hanna, nice to know you're here," Jenna smirked. "Think you'll win Queen?"
"Of course I'm winning." Hanna said, looking at Carmen curiously.
'Blackmail.' The Latina mouthed before walking in the direction of the dance, Hanna hot on their heels.
They quickly made their way down the hallway, getting a few shocked looks, and down the stairs to where Spencer was.
"Uh hey Carmen, Jenna." Spencer said surprised. She raised an eyebrow at Carmen, demanding an explanation, but all she got was the shorter girl shaking her head.
"Don't you two look...good." Mona said snobbishly and Carmen flipped her off.
Hanna leaned in to whisper in Spencer ear what was really going on. "Jenna's blackmailing." Spencer understood then and just nodded before looking up at the stairs and gasping. Carmen turned her head to see what was wrong and felt her heart drop. At the top of the stairs was Emily wearing a dark blue dressed that hugged her body perfectly. Her hair was down in waves that cascaded down her back. The only problem was the person holding her hand. Toby.
Hanna looked at Carmen who was glaring at the boy attached to Emily's hand. Now she felt bad about assuming the two girls were coming with each other. It didn't make any sense to her though. She had seen those pictures, remembered how the two acted around each other, and now they were hardly talking. Something was going on with Emily; she knew Carmen wouldn't have cared what people thought, obviously, since she had to bring Jenna. Hanna was going to figure everything out though.
Emily and Toby made their way to the group and Hanna didn't miss the shocked looks on both of them upon seeing Jenna attached to Carmen's arm. "Hey guys."
They stayed silent, Carmen glaring daggers at Toby, Jenna smirking.
"Toby, I need something to drink. Will you take me to the punch?" Jenna said, letting go of Carmen. Toby could tell the girls needed to talk so he took his stepsister and gave them privacy.
"You're here with Toby?" Spencer whispered after they left.
"Have you thought of some genius plan of sleeping with the enemy or have you lost your mind?" Aria asked.
"Carmen's here with Jenna." Emily fired back.
"I'm being blackmailed," The Latina explained, narrowing her eyes at Emily. It was her damn secret after all. "What's your excuse?"
"Look, you guys don't even know him." Emily tried to reason.
"I know he helped Jenna and he has every reason to hate us." Spencer said.
"But he doesn't." Emily tried.
"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a freakin duck!" Hanna exclaimed, looking Emily in the eyes.
"Wow," Emily scoffed. "I thought at least you'd understand." With that she walked away, probably to Toby.
"This night just can't get any better." Carmen sighed sarcastically as Hanna went after Emily.
"Wait."
"Why are you doing this?" Emily asked the blonde. "Weren't you the one who told me to follow my feelings and not let other people's opinions stop me?"
"Yes I did, but that was when I thought you and Carmen were coming together!" Hanna explained as Emily looked confused.
"Carmen? Why did you think I was bringing Carmen?" The swimmer's voice had taken on a defensive tone, but before Hanna could answer, Toby appeared at Emily's side, without Jenna.
"Hey," He greeted. "Wanna go play some games?"
Hanna just stared at Emily, hoping to get it across to the girl that this was a bad idea, but no such thing happened. ""Sure." With that, the swimmer walked away with her date in tow while Hanna just thought about how she messed up.
A slow song started playing, and like hell if Carmen was gonna dance with Jenna. She looked around and saw Emily staring at her. They locked eyes for a moment before Jenna said something, pulling Carmen out of the trace.
"What?"
"I said, will you take me to an empty classroom? All this noise is making me uncomfortable."
"Sure." With one last look at Emily, who was watching her, she guided Jenna up the stairs, down the hall, and into a classroom.
"Thanks."
"Whatever."
Silence settled in between them, although Jenna could still feel Carmen there. She also knew that Emily was outside the door, looking in the window. She had followed them to see what Jenna was up to. The swimmer told Toby she had to run to the bathroom and, of course, he believed her. "You didn't have to bring me."
"You threatened to out Emily so, yeah I kind of did." Emily's eyes widened. So that's what Jenna was blackmailing Carmen with; Emily's own secret.
"Well, it doesn't seem like she's interested in you; she did bring my brother after all." Jenna smirked, stepping closer to where Carmen leaned on the wall.
"Emily's my friend above anything else; I would have done it for any of them."
"But it was Emily." Jenna was closer to Carmen, close enough where she could have reach out and touched her. They were out of Emily's view now, so she had to listen.
"Listen Jenna, I don't know what the hell you're up to but-mph!" Carmen was cut off. Emily opened the door to find the Latina and blind girl lip locked, Jenna trapping Carmen against the wall. The sight pierced Emily, made her vision blur, and her blood boil. Carmen quickly shoved Jenna away, wiping her mouth with her hand.
"Carmen?"
Looking over at the door, Carmen saw Emily standing there, unshed tears shimmering her chocolate eyes, fist clenched.
"Em look, she kissed me, I swear," The Latina explained while Jenna smirked. If everything went well like she hoped, the two girls would never be together.
"You...I...I have to go." Emily said turning and walking away.
"Hermosa!" Carmen yelled but Emily never turned back. The genius turned to Jenna, ready to kick her ass. "Jenna, stay away from me, got it? You can get someone else to take you home or walk, I really don't care, but I'm not taking you." That said, Carmen went after Emily as fast as she could in a dress. By the time she found her, Emily was with Toby. Carmen decided to talk to her later, after the dance.
Spencer and Alex were at the Fortune Teller during this being explained what the cards meant. "When reversed, this card means something you are running away from. 'The Lovers' is a joyful card, but paired with judgment, it means there's something wrong with this couple. There is darkness in him, or violence, maybe even vengeance." The teller explained then flipped another card over. The card was a skeleton for death, but there was words written in marker with a red lipstick print.
KISS BYE BYE TO YOUR B.F.F.
The message wasn't signed, but Spencer knew who it was from. A.
"Where did this come from?" The teller exclaimed, but Spencer wasn't paying attention to her. She was looking around for Emily and Toby, who seemingly disappeared.
Emily was in the lunch room, trying to compose herself. She just couldn't get the picture of Carmen and Jenna out of her head.
"You okay?" Toby asked, walking towards her, but Emily didn't trust herself to speak so she shook her head slightly.
"Wanna talk about it?" Loud laughter from outside the window caught their attention. Students were occupying the benches and having a loud time.
"Let's go to the Chem lab; it's quiet up there." Toby said holding out his hand for the swimmer to take. Emily grabbed his hand and they started walking up stairs to the classroom.
Meanwhile, Spencer was still looking around for her friend when she ran into Carmen. "Whoa Spence, you okay?"
"Have you seen Emily?" The brainiac asked urgently.
"Not for a while," Carmen told her. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"It's Toby. A sent a message, 'Say bye bye to your B.F.F.'" Spencer explained and Carmen's eyes widened.
"Call Hanna, she should be getting Jenna's file." Carmen said, but at that moment, Spencer's phone started ringing.
"It's Hanna," Spencer said answering the phone. "Hey."
"I can't find the file."
"Look under Cavanaugh, maybe Toby's dad adopted her."
"My phone dying, what'd you say?"
"I said, check under Cavanaugh."
"But what if-"
-BING BING-
"What happened?" Carmen asked.
"I lost her," Spencer said putting her phone back in her bag. "We have to find Emily."
"Let's go."
Meanwhile, Emily and Toby made their way in the Chem lab. "It's so weird to be here at night." Emily commented.
"Wanna talk about what happened?" Toby asked, jumping straight into the subject.
"I just got upset." Emily explained, turning around to face him.
"Did it have to do with Carmen?"
No," Emily said but then decided to tell the truth. "Yes."
"Emily," Toby started. "Did you come with the wrong person to Homecoming?"
"Maybe." The swimmer said, looking out the window.
"I understand."
Emily didn't get why he was being nice to her. "Why do you like me? Why are you so nice to me even though you know what me and my friends did?"
"Oh," The boy said before he closed the door. "I guess it's because I've done things I'm not proud of. We've all got secrets, Emily."
"You got it?" Spencer asked as Hanna came walking up to them.
"Yeah except, it's not Jenna's. It's Toby's." Hanna explained.
"Let me see it." Carmen said as Hanna handed her the file. She quickly read every page before looking at them. "Toby slept with Jenna. That's what Ali had on him, that's why he took the fall."
"That might have given him a reason to kill her." Spencer said.
"901. The day Ali went missing." The blonde worked out.
"Emily, she's with him." Carmen said as Aria pulled out her phone and started to call the swimmer.
"She's not answering." Aria said.
"Text her." Spencer told her.
"We have to find her." Hanna stated as they took off out of the mirrors. What they didn't see, was Jenna around the corner, listening in on everything they said.
"Toby, you're scaring me," Emily told him. "Please stop." She went to walk past him, but he grabbed her wrist.
"So you're allowed to be honest, but I'm not?"
-BING BING!-
Emily looked down at the message and saw it was from Aria.
You're with Ali's killer. We have proof...
"That from one of your friends?" Toby asked.
"I have to go." Emily said, trying to pull free from the boy.
"Why?" He asked, holding her to him. "Wait, wait, just hear me out!" A sharp sting to his left cheek shocked him enough so Emily could push him backwards into a shelf. He stood up, shocked that Emily hit him and touch his cheek to find it bleeding. Toby pulled his shirt up to wipe away the blood, but Emily saw the tattoo and ran for the door, finding it jammed. She could hear him walking to her and finally pulled the door free and started running down the hall.
Carmen and them were in the lunch room, searching for their endangered friend. "She's not here."
"Maybe they left." Hanna commented.
"Someone help me!"
"That's her!" Carmen exclaimed and took off running, abandoning her heels on the floor.
"Someone help please!" Emily yelled, willing someone to come save her. She ran to the mirrors only to run into Toby. "Stay away from me!
"Emily wait!" Toby yelled but she kept running.
"Help me! Please somebody!" The swimmer shouted, but then tripped over her dressed, falling enough.
"Emily!"
"Ah!"
The scream of a girl, echoed down the halls of Rosewood High.
Outside of Rosewood, a mysterious figure was shaking a can of spray paint. Walking up to the population sign that said '7988' they painted over the last 8. Taking a paintbrush with white paint, they painted a 7 over the covered eight. Rosewood's population had dropped.
Again, sorry for no Carmen/Emily or Alison/Carmen. There will be plenty of that in the future, but Emily needs a little kick to get us to those chapters.
I really didn't know how to end this chapter. In the episode, it ends with a scream then A making you think Emily died, but it's difficult to make that kind of ending in a story. Anyway, I think this chapter sucked just because I wasn't into this episode but I hope you enjoyed it.
Next, the girls start to feel pain from the night before in Homecoming Hangover.