NYLON: Ten years after Ali's disappearance Hanna Marin is now a fashion powerhouse balancing her time between two fashion meccas but she's not just juggling two cities, she's also juggling two lovers.
RELIVE THE PAST: Hanna gets to work finishing the dress for Spencer's wedding but feels blindisighted when she runs into her old high school sweetheart. Is she ready to bury the hatchet? More importantly, is he?
NYLON – CHAPTER THREE – RELIVE THE PAST
Hanna pulled the delicate white gown off the mannequin from where it was displayed. She grabbed an extra large garment bag and carefully slipped it inside before zipping it up for protection. Then she picked up her bag and took the elevator from her office down to the ground floor to grab a towncar which led her to Spencer's office across town. As soon as they pulled up she slipped out and nearly sprinted to Spencer's suite where the receptionist showed her the way.
"It's here!" Hanna squealed when Spencer walked into the office carrying a stack of files.
"Hanna! "Spencer giggled noticing the black bag in her friend's hand.
"Do you want to try it on?" Hanna offered. "We can do any minor changes but other than that it's pretty much done."
"Gimme!" Spencer exclaimed with more elation than Hanna had ever seen.
"I'll take that as a yes," Hanna laughed closing the door as Spencer threw her clothes off. Hanna helped her step into the dress and adjusted the fastenings on the back before they were interrupted by Spencer's intercom.
"Spencer," it was Toby. "I'm bringing over the documents for the construction at the Ellis property. I need you to take a look and sign them ASAP. It's urgent."
"Don't come in," Spencer responded after putting him on speaker. "It's bad luck."
"Stop being crazy," he replied. "I'm coming over."
"No, seriously," she told him. "Hanna brought over my wedding dress for a fitting. I don't want you to see it."
"Fine," he sighed. "I'll figure something out."
"Thanks babe," Spencer said before finally taking a second to look down at her gown. "Hanna, it's gorgeous."
"Wait," Hanna said opening the closet in Spencer's office to reveal a full length mirror. "Now spin."
"This is perfect," Spencer was near tears. "I don't even know what to say."
"So no changes?" Hanna asked. "I can just leave this here for you if you're satisfied."
"Spencer," there was a knock at the door. "I have some documents for you."
"Can you get the door?" Spencer asked Hanna as she hid behind her desk. "I don't want Toby to see my by mistake."
"Sure," Hanna laughed innocently opening the door yet she was not prepared for what awaited her on the other side.
"Hanna?" Caleb breathed in shock.
"Caleb," she echoed.
"These are for Spencer," he said handing her a large envelope.
"Uh, thanks," Hanna said grabbing it. "I'll uh…."
"Toby said just to bring them back as soon as she can," Caleb informed her.
"Yeah," Hanna nodded. "I've got it."
"All right," he said turning around to leave.
"What the fuck?" Hanna whispered after she'd shut the door.
"Sorry," Spencer replied. "I thought he was with one of our clients in Jersey all week. I didn't mean to…"
"It's fine," Hanna sighed. "I guess it had to happen eventually, right?"
"Look, I need to get back to work anyway," Spencer said. "Maybe I should put this away and revel in it later."
"Yeah, sounds good," Hanna replied.
"We can meet up later, to talk," Spencer told her. "I didn't mean for you to get bombarded like that."
"It's fine," Hanna told her. "I'm a big girl."
"Help?" Spencer asked turning around. Hanna released her from the dress and helped her place it back in the bag before picking up her purse.
"I guess I'll see you when I get back from London," Hanna said.
"Uh yeah," Spencer replied hugging Hanna goodbye. "And seriously, I'm sorry about running into Caleb here."
"Let it go," Hanna said before opening the door and literally bumping into the man she was trying so hard to avoid.
"Hanna?" Caleb said readjusting his sport coat and trying to rub off the spot of makeup Hanna had brushed off on him when they collided.
"Sorry," she replied. "I should have been paying more attention.
"Look," he told her, "we're going to have to see more of each other with this whole wedding business coming up. I've got some time before my next appointment. Would you mind if I took you out to lunch?"
"I haven't seen you in almost a decade," Hanna started into the monologue she'd been preparing for years. "We virtually have nothing in common anymore other than being a part of this wedding. If you're in the mood to relive the past don't count me in. Some of the worst memories of my life are from when we were together."
"Ouch," he smirked. "I didn't know you felt that way."
"Come on," she said exasperated. "I was being stalked by my best friend. You knew what I was talking about."
"I get it," he replied. "I wasn't trying to be cute."
"You weren't?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Fine, you caught me," he laughed. "That was a tough time for me too and I'm not trying to torture you. I just thought we both had the afternoon free. Maybe we could catch up…on the good memories."
"That's where you're wrong," she replied. "I actually need to be getting back to my own office."
"How about dinner?" he asked. "I know a great place in Brooklyn."
"I'm catching a flight to London," she told him. "I can't tonight."
"You're really going to make this difficult aren't you?" he asked.
"I'm not trying to," she replied. "I just don't think now is the best time for me."
"It's not easy for me either," he told her with a hint of anger in his voice. "I gave up everything to be with you, Hanna. Don't act like the martyr when you're the one who walked away."
"If that's how you really feel," she retorted, "I think I'll definitely pass on catching up with you."
With that final note she stormed out of the office and stepped into the hallway furiously pressing the elevator call button. She stepped inside and let the doors close before locking the elevator in place as a tear strolled down her cheek. She sat down and leaned against the walls before breaking down into slow tears.
BE MY BOYFRIEND: Hanna is in London trying to work out the kinks with the new line when Wren offers her a proposal she doesn't know how to handle.
AN: Dearest lovely readers, I appreciate every single one of your reviews and there has been an overwhelming support for team Haleb but we shall see which direction this story really goes in. That's all I'm saying for now but I hope you'll keep reading to find out more!
