Monday it was back to work, although there was a difference about it now that it was November. The Halloween decorations had already been taken down in the science building, replaced by pumpkins and cornucopias all around. Paige smiled to herself as she walked to her lab, feeling strangely calm. She loved this time of year, especially the two months leading to Christmas. Even more so this year since she would get to spend the holidays with Emily.

Aria was waiting for her by her lab. She gave the girl a friendly smile, noticing the look of fear on her face.

"Good morning, Aria. Is everything okay?"

"I want to talk to you," she started. "I tried a couple weeks ago but I… I kind of lost my courage."

"Okay," Paige replied, raising her eyebrow. "Come on."

Aria followed her inside, wringing her hands. Paige looked at her expectantly, not really sure what the girl was about to say.

"I think Ezra killed Alison," she blurted. Paige gaped at her, unable to find words to respond. Maybe, in the back of her mind, she had had the same thought. But it was shocking to hear out loud.

"What… why do you say that?"

"He's been acting really weird since she died. And…. he….. I know what everyone thinks about our relationship. But he confessed that he was a substitute teacher at Alison's high school and they….." She paused, her eyes brimming with tears. "They had a thing."

"Oh," Paige replied. She wasn't sure if she was surprised or not. But, as inappropriate as his relationship with Aria was, at least she was an adult. Which couldn't be said for Alison in high school. "Oh, Aria…"

"I'm scared, Dr. McCullers. She always threatened to go to the police and say that he raped her. I saw them fighting once, and it was scary."

Paige took a deep breath. She couldn't even begin to imagine what Aria was feeling; wanting to stand by the person she loved but afraid that person may not be who she thought.

"I don't know what to do. I feel like I should tell the police, but I can't betray him," she whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek. "Please, help me."

The words stung, reminding her of what Alison had said to her days before she was murdered. Maybe Aria was headed for the same fate, if she was right and Ezra was involved.

"Aria," she started gently. "I understand you hesitation, but if you really think he had something to do with this, you need to tell the police."

Aria nodded, sniffling. Paige offered her a sympathetic smile, unsure of what else to do. It sounded like Ezra had a reason to want Alison dead. But if the killer and the stalker were the same person, it didn't make sense.

"I'll even go with you if you want. But you need to do what you feel is right."

"Would you?" she asked, her face so heartbreakingly sad it actually hurt Paige to look at.

"Of course I will. Don't worry, Aria. It's going to be okay."

She went with Aria down to the station, where she waited out in the lobby while Toby talked to her privately. When they came out Toby looked excited and Aria incredibly distraught, sniffling into a tissue.

"That's good stuff," he told her, and Paige scowled at him.

"Could you at least try to be sensitive?" she snapped, hugging Aria. He blushed.

"Sorry. I mean, we're definitely going to be looking into it. Thank you, Miss Montgomery."

Paige led Aria outside. She offered her another tissue and Aria took it gratefully, loudly blowing her nose.

"You did the right thing," she told her. She smiled sadly.

"I think we're probably over now, whether he did it or not," she replied. "But I didn't know what else to do."

"You were very brave. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

She went back to teach her classes, wondering if maybe this could all be over. But deep down she knew it couldn't be this simple.

During the lab class she sat quietly in the back, grading papers while the students did everything they were supposed to. They had been unusually well behaved, and there was barely even a murmur. Which made it easy for her to overhear the conversation Darren and Lucas were having.

"… that bitch who teaches European literature. The one that looks like a hooker."

Lucas laughed as Paige's mouth dropped open. They couldn't be talking about Emily.

"I didn't know she was… gay. I never would have guessed."

"Yeah, well, of course she snaps Dr. McCullers up. Everyone knows she's a homo. She certainly flaunts it," Darren added bitterly. Paige cleared her throat loudly, watching in satisfaction as they jumped when they realized she was behind them.

"Is there a problem?" she asked sweetly. They just stared at her. "Good. You only have twenty minutes."

She returned to her seat, angry at what they had been saying. Not about her, but about Emily. She knew Darren had a thing for her and was jealous that she was with Emily, but that didn't give him the excuse to talk about her like that.

That was when it hit her. Her blood ran cold as she stared at the back of his head, her mind whirling as everything clicked into place. Darren was obsessed with her. He had made that clear on multiple occasions. He was always ridiculing Alison for mouthing off to her in class. He hated Alison.

He had killed her because she was so cruel to the woman he desperately wanted to be with. And he was stalking Paige because he was obsessive, infatuated, and determined to have her if it was the last thing he did.

She sat frozen, unsure if she should call someone. Emily, Toby, anybody. But she couldn't move as she kept staring, fear overtaking her. She didn't have much time to get to someone before he found out that she knew.

"Have a nice afternoon," she told her class as they left, hoping she didn't sound as panicked as she felt. Darren grinned at her as he left and her stomach flipped, but she forced herself to remain calm. She hurried to the door and closed it, locking it for good measure before running back to get her cell phone. She dialed Emily's number, her heart pounding as she waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Emily!" she hissed, looking around. "I know who killed Alison."

"What? Who?"

"Darren. He's obsessed with me and he hated her for insulting me all the time. He did it. I know it. He's my stalker."

"Holy shit… do you have any proof of this?"

"I don't need proof. I just know."

"Call Toby. I'll be over as soon as I can."

"Okay."

She hung up, her fingers shaking as she tried to dial Toby's number. But as she was trying to dial the door creaked open, slowly, as it had the last time she had been in a lab by herself. She froze, not wanting to turn around, knowing exactly who was going to be standing behind her.

"Hi, Paige," Darren greeted softly, his voice calm and eerie. She slowly turned around, her face paling when she saw him. He closed the door over and locked it, sliding the key into his pocket. "So, you know."

"Know what?" she squeaked, figuring it was worth a shot to play dumb. He sneered.

"That I killed Alison. That I've been following you. But I have to make you understand," he continued, stepping closer to her. She looked around wildly for anything she could use as a weapon.

"Darren, please-."

"I did it for you!" he exclaimed. She hoped maybe someone would hear the commotion and come to help her. "Don't you understand? I did it because I love you!"

"You scared the shit out of me because you love me? I don't think so," she replied, realizing right away what a stupid thing it was to say. He knocked a stack of Petri dishes to the floor.

"You bitch!" he shouted. "You could at least be grateful for everything I did. Alison was so mean to you. So, so mean."

She watched him, filled with fear, as he rambled. Crazy. He was crazy.

"She got what she deserved," he replied, his calmness returning. "I only followed you because I wanted you to love me."

He was right in front of her. She closed her eyes as he stroked his fingers down her wrist.

"You still have a chance, Paige," he cooed, his lips brushing against her ear. She felt like she was going to throw up as his hands slid to her hips. She didn't know what he was going to do. "You can choose me."

"No," she whispered. He looked at her in surprise and she took the opportunity to push him backwards, sending him crashing into a row of lab benches. "Get away from me!"

She took off running to the door, but he grabbed her before she could reach it, throwing her to the floor. She fought him hard, kicking and scratching when she could, screaming in the hopes that someone would hear her. He covered her mouth, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Shut up!" he snarled. "I have to do this, Paige. If you won't let me have you, no one can."

A/N: Just a couple chapter left! Enjoy!