Pretty Little Liars: Paying the Cost
Chapter 15 of my Pretty Little Liars story, enjoy.
Reviews
Boris Yeltsin: It's certainly got the beginning seeds of it, so it would seem :) Yeah, although that ending...
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks and okay. I don't have Memorial Day but thanks.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pretty Little Liars or its characters.
Season 1: Episode 15
Spencer let out an exhausted sigh as she finally reached school, the police had been around for a long time, talking to the family and trying to establish facts and took Chantelle's body away. It was very quickly established that the family knew nothing at all about what happened to Chantelle or how her body ended up where it had been. There had been no sign of the body when they all headed to bed and there had been not the slightest indication about it being there until Melissa found it in the morning.
'Not only that, but they found out she was dead before she was hanged from the tree...killed just like the other victims, so why hide the others and put Chantelle on display?' She wondered. 'Urgh, but it seems like everyone has already heard about it.'
She could tell that by the shocked expressions on her fellow students faces as they saw her, some sending glances her way. She shook her head and remained composed however as she passed the other girls, all of them sending worried glances her way too, although she could see they were different.
"Spencer…" Aria said softly as she approached.
Spencer turned and smiled lightly, noting that Ryan Ericson was just behind her.
'Strange, I didn't know they were even acquainted.' She mused before replying. "Hey."
Aria managed a small smile in response. "How are you doing? I just heard what happened, it must've been a shock."
"It was...but I'm fine. Still kinda freaky I'll admit, but yeah, I'm good." Spencer replied honestly, noting Ryan heading off to his locker. "Didn't know you knew Ryan Ericson though?"
Aria bit her lip. "He...something happened last night, that was pretty bad, Ryan helped me out."
Spencer tensed but could tell Aria was in no mood to say anything more about it so decided to leave it. She just hoped that everything would be alright as the new school day began.
XXXXX
Alison smiled, heading back to the locker room after another wonderful swimming practice, she was already drying her hair, she had been delayed in leaving the pool as Coach Fulton wanted to talk to her. She was surprised however to find that she wasn't the only one in the locker room despite that, it was that girl she'd seen before, sitting there on one of the benches, watching her sharply. It was the girl who had been watching Emily in the locker room a few weeks ago and at the tennis tournament.
"Alison DiLaurentis." The girl said abruptly. "Can't believe you're back here...especially amongst all this drama."
Alison quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, sorry, I don't even know who you are and don't appreciate you accusing-"
"I never accused of anything and honestly, you don't know me…" The girl fired back before shaking her head. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, I've changed since we last saw each other."
The girl was still wearing her swimsuit as Alison looked her up and down, attempting to see if she could recognize anything about this girl. It was as her gaze passed over the girl's exposed thighs that she remembered.
"Oh...Paige McCullers." Alison realized.
Paige gave a wry half-smirk. "Yeah, though that's not what you used to call me."
"Yeah...that skin condition you had on your thighs...Pigskin Paige." Alison recalled. "Well you've outgrown that."
Paige snorted but then sighed and shook her head.
Alison rolled her eyes and made her way to her locker.
"If you're done with this reunion, I need to get changed." She said firmly.
Paige quickly spoke up. "I need your help, your...thing with secrets."
Alison turned to her. "Excuse me?"
"You always know everybody's secrets, I need your help with that." Paige explained.
"Um, you know it's not like I magically know everything that everyone tries to hide." Alison said. "It takes a lot of work and getting to know people."
"I know, that's exactly what I need." Paige said. "I need you to figure out the secrets, about Maya St. Germain."
"Maya?"
Paige bit her lip. "I...I know it sounds crazy but, I don't trust Maya. I think she's hiding something from Emily and-"
"You want me to look into things...Just because you have feelings for Emily." Alison countered, knowing all too well about Paige's crush on Emily.
"No, I swear that isn't it at all!" Paige insisted. "My feelings for Emily don't enter into this. Look, I just need you to look into things, make sure Maya isn't, doing something that could hurt Emily. If I'm wrong I'll swallow my pride and admit I was wrong."
Alison shook her head. "Fine, fine, I'll do it. But I'm not in the habit of doing favours, you'll owe me for this."
Paige just sighed but nodded and agreed and soon she and Alison had changed and Alison left. Paige left shortly afterwards only to hear another voice intercede.
"Paige, right?"
She turned sharply to see it was Jenna. "Jenna, what do you want?"
"Did I hear you talking to Alison?" Jenna queried, already glaring.
"Not that it's any of your business, but yes." Paige shot back.
Jenna scoffed. "You should stay away and don't get too close. She's not changed and you shouldn't trust her. You'll get hurt."
"Yeah, because you're such an unbiased expert on that." Paige countered.
She then stalked off, leaving Jenna frustrated and angry.
XXXXX
Aria was nervous as she made her way to her home's front door, after what happened she wasn't sure what would happen. She only knew that things had, hopefully, calmed down. Using her key she unlocked the door and stepped in.
"Hello?"
She heard the footsteps and felt hopeful, until she saw the broken look on Mike's face as he emerged and approached her.
"Aria, you, I...I'm sorry…" He choked out.
Aria was instantly alert and worried. "Mike, what…?"
Mike swallowed and revealed. "Mom, she...she's left home."
Aria was shocked, frozen and horrified and immediately began to fear that the damage had been worse than she first thought. She was so frozen in shock she couldn't react to Mike hugging her, trying to comfort her, despite his own distress.
XXXXX
Emily and Maya laughed as they sat together on Emily's bed, looking at a video on Emily's phone.
"No way, seriously?" Maya gasped as they finished watching.
Emily nodded. "Yeah, drove my aunt crazy, at least according to my cousin."
"I'll bet."
They were then interrupted by a knock at the door and looked up to see Pam looking in.
"Hey girls." She greeted them with a smile. "So, I was thinking Maya, maybe some time next week, you and your family could all come over here for dinner and we could all get to know each other a lot better?"
Maya gasped and then grinned. "Wow, that's...that's a great idea Mrs. Fields, I'll let them know."
Emily smiled happily too, glad to see her mother trying, it certainly gave her hope that things would certainly get better now.
XXXXX
Making her own way home, Hanna was lost in thought. She was spooked with the recent happenings and began to wonder, what would happen next. She soon got her answer, however it was nothing like she expected. She stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed something, abandoned and almost hidden from view. If she hadn't been making her way down her current route, she wouldn't have seen it.
'No way…' She thought in shock as she pulled out her phone and called. "Mom, I...I think I've found your car."
There was clearly shock on the other end and, after quickly verifying with her daughter, Ashley called the police before arriving and joining her daughter and confirming, it was indeed her stolen car.
XXXXX
Still deeply shaken after everything she had learned and what had happened both at home and at school, Aria could only hope that she was going to find something good behind this door. She had arrived at the address she had been given and swallowed nervously before reaching up and knocking on the door. After an agonizing wait, the door opened and there was Ella, thankfully safe and, if saddened, she looked relieved to see her daughter and they both broke down, hugging each other while Aria could only apologise repeatedly, again and again. As she was relieved that her mother at least was here in front of her and not in any danger.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
