Keyara stopped at her locker to pick up her books for English. Inside was a note that read ' Happy Birthday my little liar. I'm giving you an extra push today. -A' Keyara slammed the door and rushed to class. She sat down in her seat and began reading The Scarlet Letter the book she was suppose finish for that class. She had thirty pages left. She was on the last page when Spencer interupted her reading.
" Hey Key!"
" Oh hey Spence. Listen I would love to talk just give me like one minute to finish this. I didn't have time to read it last night because I was too busy planning how to avoid my mom today."
" Okay read away."
" Thanks." Keyara then turned her head back to the book finishing the last page. " Okay I'm all yours now speak."
" Okay well I was going to say ha-"
" Don't you dare say those two words."
" Key ha-"
" I said no and no means no. Today is just like any other day now please just shh. Please Spence I'm begging you don't."
" Fine, you win I don't know why you don't like it though."
" Because it doesn't matter when I was born because in the end I am nothing compaired to the whole world. I just think that the day someone is born is nothing. There are 365 days in a regular year and on one of them I was born. 365 days in a year why celebrate on one day for a few hours the day I was born when I have my whole life ahead of me to live. I just think celebrating birthdays are stupid besides I spent my whole life in a hospital until now and I know my mom will want to make it a big birthday but I didn't even celebrate birthdays in the hospital. The whole hospital tried, they put up pictures of the patients hen it was their birthday but every year I made sure mine wasn't there. They'd buy me cake but I would throw it out. I told them I didn't want to celebrate my birthday. Eventually they gave in and I was happy. Ever since I was 7 so for ten years I've had what I wanted I've been able to go throw the day without having a person say happy birthday to me. My friend Alison was the only person who understood how I felt. Everytime she visited me in the hospital she brought me some sort of gift and every year she came on my birthday without a gift and told me that that day was the day I gave her a gift. My smile she said, she always told me that nok matter what gift I gave her my smile was never bigger or brighter when she came in on my birthday empty handed. Then one day I was watching the news and she disappeard. It broke my heart, it literally almost killed me. My heart couldn't handle the stress. I had to be recussitated." Keyara told Spencer.
" Wait was Alison's last name DiLaurentis?"
" Yeah, it was and I know yes we were friends with the same Alison. She didn't tell you guys about me because I didn't want her too. I knew about Aria and I knew she didn't know about me. I wanted it like that and for all of Ali's flaws she always knew when enough was enough. She never over stepped that boundary. She helped me sneak out of the hospital more times then I can count and that's when I met Aubrey, Chelsea, and Bridget." " Well I'm sorry."
" you don't need to be. Just tell Aria, Em, and Hannah not to wish me today."
" I will."
" Thank you."
Keyara drove home for lunch and saw that her mom had written her a note back ' Key I know how much you hate your birthday but please can you let me tell you in person happy birthday? Love mom' Keyara wrote her mom a knew note which read ' Mom no. Not in a million years will I let you say that to me. It's been ten years and I want this to be my eleventh. Please no? Love Keyara' Keyara then grabbed a yogurt out of the fridge for her lunch then drove back to school. Keyara's phone went off. She got a new text.
Jason to Keyara: Hey babe happy June 17th! Love you.
Keyara to Jason: Thanks hun. But I know what you ment by those words and please just no. Okay?
Jason to Keyara: Okay okay fine. But I still love you.
Keyara to Jason: I love you too.
Jason to Keyara: Will I see you later today?
Keyara to Jason: No, I know it's today but no. I know you and I know you'd let the two words slip so I'm avoiding you and my family today so those two words can't slip Jason to Keyara: I know, it was worth the shot.
Keyara got into gym next and was talking to Aria and the gang in the change room while getting dressed. Keyara got changed faster than Hannah, Aria, Emily, and Spencer. While waiting for them to finish getting changed she got a text. Unknown it read Keyara hesitated before opening it. It read ' look at you so nice waiting for your friends on your birthday. Just know you may never have to spend another birthday. Be careful -A' Keyara looked at if for a while then texted Jason ' what are you doing after school today? ' Jason replied ' basketball with Toby, and a few other guys.' Keyara replies ' need another player? ' Jason ' Yeah we can play three on three. ' Keyara ' good, and make sure you guys don't go easy on me. Oh and I'm not on your team I want to be on Toby's ' Jason ' Like i'd ever go easy on you and fine then don't be on my team ' Keyara ' Thanks :) that's what I want '
" Who's got you all smiley?" Aria asks.
" Jason." Keyara says throwing her phone in her locker then walking into the gym the girls following her.
" Ohh what'd he say?" Aria asks.
" Nothing we're just going to play basketball after school until I pass out." Keyara replies.
" Is he aloud to-" Hannah starts to ask.
" No, nobody is now just let it go." Keyara replies her voice oozing with anger.
" Sorry." Hannah says.
" It's fine just don't bring it up okay? Today is a normal day just like the other 364 days." Keyara replies getting a volleyball out.
The coach told them to get into partners and practice their setting and fore-arm passing. Aria and Keyara were partners for this one. Volleyball was one of Keyara's favourite sports so she was pretty good. The coach wanted to show the class a few things and had Keyara help him out. For the demonstrations Keyara was his partner. They did some volleying back and forth then some fore-arm passing. Last they would spike it down adn the other would have to dive down and fore-arm pass it back up. Keyara was glad she had knee pads on. Coach split them up into four teams of six and had two games going on. Keyara of course was the star. After a while the coach said he wasnted to try something. Six against Keyara. The game went fairly well. Keyara still ended up winning the game right before school ended.
Keyara changed into a different gym outfit for basketball with the guys. She pulled on a pair of black spandex short shorts and a tight hot pink tank pulled her straightened hair back into a pony tail and put on her outdoor basketball shoes. She walked across the courtyard over to the courts where the guys were waiting. Jason pulled Keyara in for a kiss then they split up into teams. Keyara, Toby, and a guy by the name of Sam on one team and on the other was Jason, a guy named Randy and another guy named Dan. Keyara's team was kicking ass. Keyara stole the ball from Dan and dribbled down the court and passed the ball through Jasons legs over to Sam who got a basket. Jasons team was getting angry. Keyara had the ball and jumped to dunk it in the net when some slammed into her full force. Keyara flew and hit her head on the pole.
" Oh my god! Keyara! " Toby yells.
" Somebody call an ambulance!" Sam yells.
" Key, babe come on open your eyes. Talk to me Keyara!" Jason says crouched next to her.
" ugh." Was all Keyara got out before everything went black.
The ambulance arrived a few minutes later, paramedics put Keyara on a stretcher. Jason jumped into the ambulance with Keyara then they took off to the hospital. Jason grabbed Keyaras hand and held it the entire way to the hospital. The doctors took Keyara in for an MRI and a couple of X-Rays thent hey were going to clean and stitch up the back of her head. While waiting Jason called Ella.
" Jason! What happened?" Ella asks rushing in.
" We were playing basketball and we got a little competetive, she jumped up to dunk the ball in and I went to block it I miss aimed and smashed into Keyara, she flew and hit the pole. I'm so sorry Ella."
" It's fine, Keyara can get really competetive. She'll be up and on her feet in no time. Don't worry about it Jason she's a though girl." Ella says.
" Speak of the devil." Jason says as Keyara walks over.
" Hey hunny are you okay?" Ella asks Keyara.
" Yeah I'm fine, Jason how's about we go finish that game. You guy might actually have a chance to win now that I'm loopy." Keyara replies.
" You don't look loopy to me." Ella says.
" Says the woman wearing an hot pink, electric blue,limeg green, and highlighter yellow tie-dye crop shirt.
" I'm wearing the deep purple shirt you got me last week." Ella replies.
" No you're not. Woah when'd you dye your hair firehydrant red?"
" Okay maybe she is loopy. Yeah Jason go play ball with her." Ella says.
" Are you sure that's a good idea?"
" Yeah she needs it."
" Okay Key let's go."
" Oh hey can I watch?" Ella asks.
" Yeah of course you can carrot top!" Keyara says then chuckles and heads out to Ella's car.
" Hey looks who's back!" Toby yells.
" Hey Toby, Sam, Randy, Dan care for another game? Same teams as last time?" Keyara asks.
" Yes!" Randy says.
" Okay let's get it started.
Keyara and Dan were in center, Keyara won the jump ball and dribbled down the court getting a three pointer. Half an hour later the Keyara's team won.
" I thought you said you were loopy!" Jason says.
" Yeah hun you didn't look loopy out there." Ella says " Well if I told you guys that my head felt like someone took a jackhammer to it you guys wouldn't have let me play. So I lied but it doesn't matter anymore because I feel fine now. I just needed to kick Jason's sorry ass again." Keyara says before she gets into her car and drives off.
" She played us like a piano." Jason says.
" You better get used to it. You know Keyara is a lot like your sister was. I can never tell when she is telling the truth, I chose to believe that she tells the truth more than lies. With Keyara you just kind of have to let things play out." Ella says.
" You've got that right. You know she once made me believe she had an identical twin."
" How long did you believe her?"
" Three months."
" I'm amazed with how much we love her. It's like she's a drug, you know it's bad but it just feels so right." Ella says.
" She'd love hearing that. God she's exactly like Alison but she's nicer, that's the only difference." Jason says.
" You've got that right. I wonder how someone can act exactly like a stranger."
" I don't have the slightest idea." Jason replies with a slight chuckle.
" You know that for three years she would sneak out of the house with some sort of gift almost everyday. She'd be gone for hours at a time. Sometimes she wouldn't get home until midnight. If you asked her where she went she'd tell you she went to see a friend. My parents never pushed her for more details because everytime she'd get back she would be so happy. She'd have the biggest smile on her face, the same smile she got when she was hanging out with Aria, Hannah, Spencer, and Emily. So I called them and asked if they had hung out with Alison all of them said no. For some reason neither my parents or I cared because she looked so happy, we knew she was safe. That she was with a good friend."
" When did she stop?"
" When she disappeared."
" That's so sad. I'm glad Keyara has Aubrey, Chelseam and Bridget."
" You know she has more friends then those too. She's friends with those three but she also hangs out with Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Hannah a lot too. But everybody at the school knows who Keyara is. It's like Keyara is the queen of the school and she doesn't even know it."
" Or she knows it and act like she doesn't."
" Makes her look more likable then people love her even more. Damn she is a drug."
" Exactly, out of all my kids Keyara is the only one I don't know much about. She makes it look like she's letting you into her life but realisticly I don't know anything about her." Ella says.
" She only lets you see the parts she wants you to see."
" Well I better get home and go check on our little drug." Ella replies.
" If she's home."
" If she isn't she'll be at Aubrey's place. Those two are best friends."
" Ella you don't need to worry abotu Keyara, because no matter what she is doing remember she's gotta be doing something right if she's the star of her gym class, her soccer team, the football team, and in her biology class. She's never gotten in trouble at school that means a lot. I know Keyara fairly well I know she'll never intentionally do something to hurt the people she loves or the people who love her. That includes the school, everyone there wants to see her blossom and becaome some huge ruler of the world. One thing I know for sure about Keyara is she hates letting people down." Jason says.
" I know. Same goes to you Jason." Ella replies before getting into her car and driving away.
Keyara drove herself home and went up to her room where she got out her laptop and began writting out a new song. That was one of her secrets, she loved writting music. That and she knew how to play guitar. She would write her own songs the lyrics would go on her laptop in a folder that you needed a passcode to get into then she would write the guitar chords in a journal you needed a key to. She had the key and journal hidden in different parts of her room. Lately Keyara was secretly writting songs about Alison.
~ Three Months Later ~
School just ended and Aubrey and Keyara were heading to the mall. It was the anniversary of Ali's death so they decided what better way to remember her other than doing her favourite thing, shopping. They spent three hours shopping, they both had six or seven bags each. They got a coffee each and then they talked for another hour in the food court. They laughed and had a good time. They went to the bathroom where they tried on different outfits they baught and took pictures with their cell phones. After a half hour of that they chose their favourite outfit put it on and walked out of the washroom like they owned the mall they went to the little dollar store and baught plactic tiaras for themselves and put them on. They got a person to take a picture of them on each of their cells and left the store.
The two decided to go to the furniture store and bounce on the beds. They got some little kid to take a video of them bouncing on the bed with Keyara's phone. After about three minutes they thanked the kid and Keyara got her phone back. They began bouncing on the bed again before they crawled under the covers before they got kicked out of the store. The two were laughing so hard. they both decided they should go back to their homes. Keyara huged Aubrey and told her that she ws glad she had such a good friend. Aubrey told her the same. Keyara got home and began writting a song about how much fun she and Aubrey had.
Keyara got a new text message which read ' awe look who's all in touch with her inner musician. You better find your friend Aubz before she ends up like your friend Alison. -A'
Keyara didn't think anything of the text, so she threw her phone onto her bed and continued the song. After half an hour her mom came up and gave her some dinner. Keyara ate her food, took the dishes down stairs, took off all her makeup, had a shower, changed into her pajama's, and went lastly she to bed. Keyara woke up at three in the morning the house phone was ringing. She crawled out of bed turned on her bedroom light and went down stairs in her red and black plaid pj shorts and red tank top to match. Grabbing the phone Keyara answered it.
" Hello?"
" Keyara it's Aubrey's mother."
" Oh, hello."
" Keyara is Aubrey there by any chance?"
" No she isn't why?"
" She didn't come home today."
" Did you call Chelsea and Bridget?"
" Yeah they both recommended calling you."
" When was the last time you saw Aubrey?"
" When she came home from the mall with you. She said she was going to go out for a coffee and she never came home."
" I suggest you hang up with me and call the cops I'm going to tell my mom I'm going over to your place. I'll call Chelsea and Bridget too we'll all be there in fifteen minutes." Keyara replies.
" Thank you. I'll see you in a bit."
" Okay bye."
Keyara ran up the stairs tripping a few times. She ran up to her mothers room and told her Aubrey was missing and she was going to her house now. She told her mom to stay here and sleep that she'll call when she learns something new. She then grabbed her cell phone from her room and slipped on a pair of red flats then she group called Chelsea and Bridget telling them Aubrey was missing and that she was picking them up to go to Aubreys house. With in ten minutes the three girls were at Aubrey's house in their pajamas.
" Have you heard anything from her?" Keyara asks Aubrey's mother.
" No, I've called her cell multiple times she just won't answer."
" Did you call the cops?"
" Yes I told them Aubrey was missing and you girls were on your way."
" Okay I'm going to keep trying Aubrey's cell hopefully she'll pick up." Chelsea replies.
" This can't be happening." Bridget sats.
" I'm going to her room maybe she left a clue or something there." Keyara says sprinting up the stairs. After a minute Keyara got called back down stairs.
" Keyara Aubrey's mother told her you guys went to the mall today." The officer says.
" Yeah we went there straight after school." Keyara replies.
" Was there anything off about Aubrey's behavior?"
" No, she was just as good as me. I mean we were both kind of sad, that was the point of going to the mall today. Our friend Alison DiLaurentis this was the same day she died. We went to the mall to honour her, shopping was Ali's favourite thing to do so we went shopping together."
" Can you go over your time at the mall?"
" Yeah sure. We were shopping for about three hours then we got coffee from the food court. We talked for about an hour before we went to the washroom and we tried on all of our clothes and took some pictures together. We put on our favourite outfit then we went to the dollar store and bought tiara's. We got a lady to take our picture on each of our phones. We then went to the furniture store, Ali always said she wanted to get kicked out of the store from jumping on the beds. So that's what we did, we got a little boy to film us bouncing on the beds for few minutes before we stopped and took my phone back. Then we layed in the beds for a bit before jumping on them again, then we got kicked out. After that we went to our homes." Keyara says.
" I'm going to have to get copies of all the pictures and videos you took while at the mall with Aubrey today." " Anything to help find her."