Chapter 2
Ryan nervously checked his hair and tie in The Brew's window for the sixth time in the last ten minutes. He had closed the shop for his date with Melissa Hastings. It was ten after eight and she was nowhere to be seen. He pulled his phone from his jean pocket and checked to see if he had any missed calls or texts, but nothing. Sighing disappointedly he put his phone back in his pocket, and came to realized he might have been set up.
"There your sister isn't coming. Can we go now?" Aria asked feeling sorry for Ryan who was obliviously disappointed. Her, Hanna and Spencer where spying on Ryan from across the dark street. "Trust me. She wouldn't shut up about this date. She's going to show" Spencer looking for any sight of her sister. "What is Wilden doing?" Hanna asked spotting Detective Wilden walking towards Ryan. "I don't know but let's get closer so we can hear" Spencer says before rushing across the dark street and hiding behind someone's car. The girls roll their eyes before following her.
"Ryan Tyler. I have to say I was surprised to hear you're back. Especially after everything that's happened last time you were here." Wilden says walking closer to Ryan. "You're one to talk Darren" Ryan sneers. "Its Detective Wilden now" Wilden says puffing his chest and flashing the police badge on his hip. "You'll always be nerdy little Darren Wilden, the boy who spent his whole time in high school with his head shoved in the boys toilet." Ryan smirks. "Watch your tongue" Wilden growls getting in Ryan's face. "Or what? Are you going to arrest me?" Ryan laughs. "No, but I'll tell everyone about what happened with you and Alison Dilaurentis" Wilden says causing Ryan to take a step back. "You wouldn't" Ryan's voice cracks. "Try me" Wilden smirks before walking away. Ryan watches as Wilden walks out of sight as he tries to control his nerves. "Sorry I'm late, my car wouldn't start" Melissa says making Ryan jump as she walks up. "Are you okay? You look pale" Melissa asks feeling Ryan's forehead. "Yeah I'm fine. Let's get going" He says taking her hand with a fake smile, as he walks her to his car.
"Please tell me I didn't just hear that" Aria says freaking out, once Ryan and Melissa drive off. "Calm down. We don't really know anything" Hanna says trying to calm Aria down. "Calm down? I can't calm down! My boyfriend might be sharing an apartment with Alison's killer!" Aria says freaking out more as she starts to pace. "Wilden could've been bluffing." "Did you see the look on Ryan's face? Wilden wasn't bluffing" Spencer says looking deep in thought. "Not helping." Hanna glares at Spencer. "Just calm down until we know for sure" She says turning to Hanna. "You know I don't know why you're so calm. You sister is on a date with the possible killer of our best friend." Aria says as she stops pacing long enough to look at Spencer.
"Are you sure you're okay? You didn't really talk much during dinner" Melissa asks as she hooks her arm with Ryan's as the walk down the street. "Yeah, just a long first day at work" Ryan lies. "Well, how about we go back to my place and I help take your mind off of everything?" Melissa asks biting the corner of her bottom lip. Ryan stops and looks at her. "That is the best idea I've heard all day" Ryan smiles as the start walking back to his car.
The first thing Ryan notices when he opens his eyes is that he wasn't on the couch at Ezra's. It takes him a few seconds to recall last night and coming back to Melissa's. He sits up looking for Melissa but spots on note on her pillow. Ryan, Come to the kitchen for a surprise- Melissa XOXO smiling to himself he gets up and stretches. Spotting his clothes on the edge of the bed he puts them on and walks out the barn and across the yard to the main house. "Morning, I figured you could use some breakfast before work" Melissa smiles as she flips a pancake as Ryan walks in. "Thanks, that's very sweet" Ryan says walking behind her and wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck, causing her to let out a soft moan. He stops and breaks apart when he hears someone clear their throat. "Mom!" Melissa says turning around to see who it was."Good morning Mrs. Hastings." Ryan says fixing a plate for him and Melissa. "Good morning. You must be Ryan" Mrs. Hasting smiles as she shakes his hand. "Yes I am. And it's a pleasure to meet you." Ryan smiles back. "I expect you're coming to dinner tonight?" Ryan looks at Melissa who nods yes. "Well it's settled. We'll see you tonight, but now if you excuse me I have a meeting." She says grabbing her briefcase and coffee mug. "Now where were we?" Ryan smirks as he pulls Melissa closer and start kissing her.
"Get a room" Spencer says walking down the stairs and into the kitchen. "We had a room until you came in" Melissa mumbles as she stabs a pancake. "If you want I can look at your car, before I leave for work." Ryan says as he takes a bite of his own pancakes. "That would be great" "So Ryan, what made you move to Rosewood?" Spencer asks getting a cup of coffee. "Well I'm actually from here, but I went to California for a college" Ryan states simply. "So were you here when Alison Dilaurentis went missing?" Spencer asks casually. "Spencer!" Melissa yells. Ryan grabs his juice and gulps it down. Melissa glances at Ryan out of the corner of her eye as she refills his drink. "Actually, I was just leaving for California when she went missing." Ryan says his voice cracking. "I'm going to go look at your car, and head out" Ryan says looking at his watch before getting up and walking out.
"What is your problem?!" Melissa glares at Spencer once Ryan is outside. "I don't know what you're talking about" Spencer says finishing her coffee and putting the cup in the sink and starting to walk back up the stairs. At the top of the stairs Spencer sees a photo of Melissa from freshmen year of high school. The girl to the right of Melissa caught Spencer's attention, she looked very familiar. Hearing Ryan come back inside Spencer shrugs at the picture and returns to her room to get ready for school.
Ryan was in way over his head. He had no clue how to run coffee shop, sure making coffee was easy, but bills? That was a completely different story. He let his head fall onto the huge stack of papers cluttering his normally clean desk as he let out a groan. "You okay?" Ryan turned his head without lifting it and saw Ezra standing in the doorway. "I have no clue what I'm doing." Ryan answered truthfully. "Have to admit I had the bet at a week" Ezra laughed as he walked in and sat on the edge of Ryan's desk. "I thought this job was just going to be telling others what to do and make coffee. I didn't expect all this" He motioned to his desk full of papers as he sat up and rubbed his face with both hands. "So quit" Ezra shrugged. "And do what? There's not a lot I'm good at" "I have an idea. Come on"
"I still don't think Ryan is Ali's killer" Emily said as she, Hanna, Spencer and Aria sat at their favorite lunch table in the courtyard. "You didn't see the look on his face when Wilden called him out" said Aria. "If he killed Alison then why would he leave and then come back? That makes no sense" Emily reasoned as she took a bite of her salad. "What makes no sense?" Aria's mom, Ella, asks walking up behind the girls. "Nothing" Aria quickly replies. "Yeah. Just this new show on TV" Hanna smiles. "Oh ok. Listen I'm glad I found you girls. I have a favor to ask." Ella says fidgeting with her hands. "Sure what is it?" Aria asks. "I have to go to this meeting, and I need someone to show my new TA to my room and keep him busy till the meeting is over" "Sure I can do that. Where is he?" Aria asks looking around, the courtyard. "He should be right back, he had to use the restroom. Ah! Here he is." The girls look at the entryway and the color drains from their faces. " Aria this is Ryan Tyler. Ryan this is my daughter Aria"