AN: I know this isn't a long chapter, but I figure you all have been waiting what feels (to me) like decades for an update. So, I am gifting you about 1500 words with the promise that I will be writing on it more often. I might not get to post every week, but I will try. Don't ask for exact posting date/times because I don't work that way haha
Hopefully you like it and hopefully I haven't worked myself into plot holes. It was a little hard to remember where I left things...
It would be the understatement of the century to say that dinner was…uncomfortable. It was far worse than that.
Emily and Hanna had driven together because something was going on between Emily and Alison. No one had the guts to bring it up, but you could have cut the tension with a butter knife from the moment Ali walked through the door. They avoided talking to one another and stayed at least ten feet apart at all times. This, of course, was in addition to the tension that had started to build between Spencer and Hanna due to Caleb drama.
At least they had the decency to pretend like nothing was going on...even if it was evident on their faces.
At least Hanna's – Spencer was all right at masking her feelings, but Hanna had always worn her emotions on her sleeve in one way or another. History had shown that when Hanna was pissy, she was pissy.
Having all four girls in some sort of tiff with one another didn't make the night any more enjoyable. The drama had never been Aria's favorite aspect of their friendship, and no matter how old they were, it didn't seem like the drama lessened. Aria noticed about halfway through the night that she had taken to anxiously rubbing the side of her belly as she watched it all unfolding before her. Every once in a while she would catch Spencer's eye and try to determine whether or not anything should be said. In the end, the moment never really felt right. There was also the small fact that they'd have to all be together again on Sunday for the baby shower.
Yes, it was just at her parent's house, and just a shower, but she wasn't overly excited about the idea of having more tension and in front of all her family no less.
By ten thirty, Spencer was in the kitchen loading the rest of the dishes in the dishwasher and Aria was locking the door, forcing Emily, Hanna, and Ali to take their attitudes with them.
When the room had gotten too quiet and everyone looked like they were in some sort of physical pain, she'd pulled out the pregnancy card and complained of being tired.
Thankfully, they'd all jumped on the opportunity to cut plans short and rushed to gather their things. In all their years of being friends, there hadn't been many moments when they'd bickered over catty things. Usually there was something bigger to take the front stage…like a stalker. Their teenage strife had stemmed from life-threatening blackmail and being abducted – one would think that the universe would give them a break. Either way, the evening had felt more like high school than high school ever had and she was glad that it was coming to an end.
As she turned around, she felt herself fall into the door with a sigh.
"I have no idea how we're going to get through Sunday," she said, pushing herself off the door and into the next room.
Spencer eased the dishwasher shut and jabbed a few buttons, sending a woosh of water through the inside. "Tell me about it," she said. "At least you'll be obligated to move about and chat with other people. I'm pretty much stuck talking to them or your mom."
"Won't your mom be there?"
"No; she has to go to D.C. – it was last minute. I didn't think you'd care," Spencer said.
"No, I don't mind," Aria said. "Now I'm just more sorry for you…" She trailed off and fiddled with the lid on a box of cashews, popping it open and dropping a handful into her mouth. "Is Emily sleeping with Sabrina? What was that about the art show next weekend?"
"Oh my god," Spencer said, crossing her arms in front of her and covering her mouth with one hand. "I have no idea, but if looks could kill, Emily would be splattered across your wall and Ali would be getting carted off to jail."
"I cannot believe she even brought it up tonight," Aria said, scratching a fingernail at something on the counter. "I mean, seriously? I don't believe for a second that Emily is actually interested in attending an art show. I have never seen her act so passive aggressive."
"Seriously. I guess this means she's not staying at Ali's anymore?"
"I guess," Aria said. "Speaking of which. Any chance you want to head to bed? I was only kind of lying when I said I was about to fall asleep at the table."
Spencer laughed lightly. "Yeah, that's fine," she said.
"You're welcome to stay up and watch TV if you want," Aria said, holding out both hands. "We have Netflix and a pretty decent selection of twenties film noir if that piques your fancy."
She laughed again, this time a little stronger. "You make staying up sound so enticing."
Aria gave her a mock look of shock. "I'll have you know we live a riveting life, full of excitement," she said.
"Oh," Spencer said quickly, cutting her off and reaching out both hands as if to physically stop her. "There is no doubt in my mind that you lead a riveting life. I just don't think it's well displayed through your movie collection."
Aria's mouth dropped open, feigning shock herself. "Well, I'll let you think that if you want," she mumbled under her breath as she turned away and began to walk toward the stairs.
"What was that?" Spencer said, walking faster to catch up with Aria, though she wasn't moving as fast as she thought she was.
"Nothing," Aria said, reaching for the banister. "If you don't want to find the interesting part of our DVD collection, that's on you."
"What!" Spencer shouted through a burst of laughter, stopping dead.
Aria turned around just in time to see Spencer turn and begin back down the stairs.
"Spencer, I was joking!" she shouted after the brunette. Spencer turned and gave her an uncertain look.
"I don't know whether or not to believe you…" Spencer said, teetering between the stairs and the living room.
"What, are you going to watch them if you find them?"
"There's more than one?"
Aria's eyes went wide and a small, embarrassed smile crept across her face. Almost immediately, and as fast as her small legs would carry her, she turned and fled back up the stairs, hoping that Spencer would follow.
When they were both upstairs and Spencer had finally stopped laughing at the, Spencer found herself commenting again on how exhausting Emily and Ali's relationship was.
"For two people who have gone back and forth as long as they have, one would think the game would get old," Spencer said.
"Maybe that's what they like about it though," Aria offered.
"What do you mean?"
"You know…the chase. I'd be lying if I denied that part of the excitement with Ezra at first was that he was so much older. So sue me."
"You do realize it could have gotten a lot worse than suing…" Spencer noted.
"That's not the point," Aria said. "Maybe what attracts Emily to Ali is the fact that she's always been on the border of admitting she like's girls…and is it so far-fetched to think that Ali just likes playing with Emily's heart? I'm not saying that's what's going on, I'm just saying…sometimes in a certain light, that's what it looks like."
Spencer seemed to think about it for a minute as she took her shoes off and changed her clothes, but in the end she just shook her head and shrugged. "Whatever it is, it's not fair – to either of them."
"I know," Aria agreed. She patted the bed next to her. "You're still good to be my bed buddy, right?"
"As long as there aren't DVD's involved all of a sudden…"
"No, Spencer," Aria said, rolling her eyes. "I promise, no DVDs." She pulled back the sheets and Spencer sat down, burying her feet in the blankets beside Aria.
They sat in the comfort of each other's company, chatting about nothing in particular for a long time. The more the giggled, the less sleepy Aria became. Eventually they both worked themselves into a state of slap happiness, and Aria felt like she had traveled back in time.
"I have really missed you," she said, turning on her side and looking to Spencer. "Please promise that we'll always make time to get together and have slumber parties."
"Oh, of course," Spencer said. "You, me, and Baby Fitz. We'll have girls nights all the time – full of snacking and nail painting and chick flicks…"
Aria let a sleepy smile creep across her face and felt her eyes drooping as she grew tired once more. "That sounds really nice," she said. "I wish we lived closer."
"I know," Spencer said, hearing the exhaustion in her friend's voice. "Maybe one of these days we'll find ourselves in the same town again." She didn't know if that would ever really come to be the case, but she hoped in the future maybe it would be. Life really wasn't the same without her best friend. "Get some sleep," she said, pulling the covers up a little. "Tomorrow is almost here, which means Sunday is right behind it."
Aria grunted a little, a soft acknowledgment of the truth, and closed her eyes. Spencer laid back and looked up at the ceiling as she listened to Aria's breathing slow down until it was a soft, rhythmic pattern. She was tired, but at the same time, her mind was racing. She didn't want to drag her personal issues with Hanna into the baby shower, and she really didn't want Ali ruining anything for Aria. Ali had a habit of making her issues everyone's issues. She'd have to have a chat with all of them – put her personal reservations behind her and remind them that they were adults.
She looked over and watched her small friend sleep, watched her chest rise and fall and looked with admiration as the bump (which had grown a surprising amount since the last time she'd really stared at it) rose and fell with her. If she'd been unconvinced that they were really, truly adults before, this was evidence enough.
In nearly three months, there would be a sixth lady to their pack, and Spencer found herself feeling personally responsible for making sure that their bond was stronger than ever before she arrived. Aria had enough on her plate…something Spencer knew would be amplified when Ezra arrived back home from Boston.
At the mere thought of what Aria didn't yet know, Spencer felt a wide grin spread over her lips. She buried her head in her pillow and pressed her hands underneath it, between the pillowcase and the sheets. Nothing was as sweet as friendship, and no one was as sweet as the friend beside her. She wished her all the happiness in the world, and would do anything to ensure it.
AN: As always, I would love to hear from you. What do you think Spencer knows that Aria doesn't? How do you think the baby shower will go down?
Read and Review!