NYLON ~ 57 ~ TIME WILL TELL

Hanna dropped her bag on the bed of her swanky hotel room. She took a seat on the edge of the bed but was quickly ushered to the door when she heard someone knock. She opened it to find Spencer leaning against the doorway.

"Hey," she gave her a hug. "Come in."

"So," Spencer hopped onto the bed, "have you talked to Mona lately?"

"Not really," Hanna replied. "Honestly, I was shocked I got an invitation."

"I think Jason was behind it," Spencer replied.

"Really?" Hanna asked. "Why would he want me here?"

"I think it's more for my sake," Spencer explained. "He's my brother after all."

"I guess I just find it kind of weird," Hanna sighed, "your brother marries the girl who tortured you in high school..."

"It's not that uncommon of a situation," Spencer laughed. "It's just that girls usually torture each other with simple mind games, not by sending artifacts collected from a diseased friend's coffin, but what are you gonna do?"

"So you've made peace with it," Hanna smiled.

"Yeah," Spencer told her. "Mona's changed a lot. The girl we knew in high school was suffering from serious mental trauma, and even though she was a full blown bitch back then, she's come a long way. She's been really good for Jason."

"That's weird," Hanna mused. "A few years ago I would probably be the one defending her to you. Odd how people change...it's good though."

"It's life," Spencer leaned back against the pillows and folded her arms over her stomach. "Everything is changing."

"Profound," Hanna laid down next to her. Then she tapped the bed. "We should probably get dressed."

"Yupp," Spencer got up. She grabbed her room key and headed for the door. "I'll go get Toby into his suit and then we can meet back in your room?"

"Sure," Hanna handed her the spare key to her own room. "Let yourself in."

"Sweet," Spencer winked before skipping back out to the lobby.

Alone in her room, Hanna sorted through her suitcase for the perfect evening attire. After examining every possible option, she finally settled on a red cocktail dress with a fitted bodice and A-line skirt. Even though she was dying to wear her new black shift dress with the exposed back, she couldn't risk upstaging Mona and unleashing the beast she feared every day of high school.

Hanna was sitting on the vanity stool finishing her makeup when there was a tap on the door and the familiar click of a hotel key card. In stepped Spencer wearing an indigo wrap dress with Toby following close behind, looking like a million bucks in a sleek black suit.

"Hey!" Hanna hopped up to hug them. "You guys look adorable together."

"Calm down," Spencer rolled her eyes.

"What?" Hanna pouted, "can't I be excited that my favorite couple is back together?"

"It's good to see you too," Toby laughed.

"Should we head out?" Spencer asked grabbing her purse.

"Yeah," Toby opened the door for them both and they headed to the chapel.

After a beautiful and moving ceremony, Hanna followed Spencer and Toby to the reception at the DiLaurentis home. They took their assigned seats and sat through the copious wedding traditions until finally their dinner was served.

"I'm getting a beer," Toby said heading for the open bar. "You ladies need anything?"

"I'm good," Spencer replied turning to Hanna.

"I'll love you forever," she smiled brightly, "if you get me a glass of pinot."

"You got it," Toby laughed.

"So," Hanna kicked Spencer. "Tell me the truth. Are you guys...?"

"Things are great," Spencer replied. "I guess we'll just see how things go from here."

"I'm really happy for you guys," Hanna told her while Toby waited in a seemingly endless line.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Spencer asked.

"Yeah, anything," came the reply.

"Were you scared?" Spencer babbled. "When you and Caleb were just getting back together. Was it scary?"

"Don't compare yourselves to us," Hanna advised her. "Just focus on you and Toby. Things with Caleb and I, well, they're far more complicated."

"Thanks," Spencer sighed."That's...uh...comforting."

They sat in silence for a few minutes until Toby returned with their drinks. After some more small talk with old high school acquaintances, Hanna was stopped by Mona.

"Oh hey," Hanna smiled fighting the urge to flinch.

"Hey," Mona took her hand and gave her a sweet smile, the kind that always threw Hanna for a loop. "I'm glad you came."

"I'm glad I was invited," Hanna replied.

"You know," Mona pointed at the red-head sitting at the head table wearing an unflattering pink dress, "ten years ago, I would have thought you'd be there."

"Things change," Hanna said. "People change."

"I know," Mona sighed, "but I'd like us to be friends again. We're older now. All of that is behind us."

"You did a lot of unforgivable things in high school," Hanna told her. "I don't know if I could ever call you a friend again."

"Well," Mona gave another one of her mischievous smiles, "maybe time will tell."

With that, Mona turned on her toe and walked away to join the dance floor. Hanna stood there leaning against the gift table and mulling over her conversation with the person who had made her high school years miserable. Was this the return of A? Or was Mona really ready to turn over a new leaf?

I couldn't help myself so here's a new chapter. I know, no Haleb yet, but I'm sure you'll enjoy Mona's latest addition to the story. I've also got another little surprise. I realized the anniversary of this story is on Thursday so I will be publishing a healthy stream of new chapters in honor of the big day. Stay tuned and thanks for reading :)