Happy New Year everyone! Hope your holidays were great.

Who's excited for the new season of PLL coming in a couple weeks? I know I am!

Here's a new chapter for whoever has stuck with this story.

It isn't as long as the others and I don't think it's all that great but thought I'd throw one out there for the new year and upcoming season.

I do not own anything related to Pretty Little Liars.

Sara Shepard and ABC Family own and get credit.

When we got back to Arias from the Grille later it seemed Uncle Byron and Aunt Ella had had a big argument this time. There was a broken glass vase on the floor of the living room and a few pictures of him and her was smashed over in the corner of the room. Neither of them were visibly around but we didn't bother looking. I just grabbed her hand as I saw the sadness creeping up on her (myself too, but I tried to hide it) and pulled her upstairs.

A soon as we got to the top steps I told her I'd be right back because I wanted to go check on Mike. So I headed over to the end of the hallway and see that his door was closed. I knock, but no answer. I call out his name and knock again, even jiggling the door knob. It was unlocked but when I peaked my head in he wasn't here. He must have went out, so I walked out and closed the door behind me. I headed back to Aria's room and see that she's standing at her dresser.

"How is he?"

I shrug. "I don't know. He's not home." I went over to grab some clothes from a box on my new bed but when I opened it up I realized there was nothing in it. "Did I unpack and forget?"

She looks over at me. "Uhh..." She starts opening some of the drawers.

I walk over and see that two of them were filled with my stuff. "Oh." I put a confused look. "I'm pretty sure I didn't unpack, but okay."

She laughs a bit. "Mom or dad probably did it when we were gone." She walks to the closet. "Some of your things are here too."

I nod "Sounds like a good guess." I slip on a pull over hoodie that was in the closet, then stuff PJ pants, extra jeans and a tshirt into my travel backpack.

Now she starts packing her things. "Okay." She says. "We don't have sleeping bags anymore. Mom and dad threw them out 'cause they were old. So Spence said she'd lend us some. So I have to pick it up."

"Oh. Okay."

She searches my expression. "You don't have to go inside. I know it's a little awkward since you just left." She says. "So just wait for me in the car."

I half smile and nod. "Okay."

We head out the front a bit later and throw our things into the back seat of her car, then she hops in. But before I can do the same I got a bit distracted as I looked at both my old house and Arias for awhile. It just started to sink in that I'd be living in this area again as if nothing had changed, which of course it has. Only difference was that I was going to be in the house next door this time. I have to readjust for sure but I'm hoping it's quick. I've already gotten used to being able to walk into their house without awkwardly looking to my old house, but now that I'll be here basically till I move out is going to be weirder than it was when I just visited.

"Hey." I had the door open so when I looked I could see Aria leaning forward, her arm resting on the passenger seat. "You okay?"

I start to nod. "Just noticing that I'll be living around her again."

She looks out the window as I got in. "Yea. It's going to take a bit of getting used to huh?"

"You have no idea."

"At least it'll be like old times. Just that you'll be living with me."

"Like a sleep over that never ends."

She laughs. "Yea. But we get along pretty good so nothing to worry about."

"Until we start driving each other crazy."

"We already do that." She starts to laugh.

I smile and nod. "True. Like sisters."

She nods. "Exactly. Nothing new really."

She takes off to Spencer's house and when we get there we see Peter and Veronica pulling out of their gated driveway. They still haven't called me, or even text me to see how I was doing. Not to say sorry for missing me before I left, or to say goodbye. Not even to say sorry for how they blamed me for something I didn't do. Spence told me earlier that they found his watch on the floor of his car, wedged between the door and driver's seat.

She parked behind Emily's car. Then I notice Hanna's car was parked across the street. "Is this a get together I didn't know about?"

She puts a smile, but it seemed a bit suspicious. "Not sure. Guess they needed sleeping bags too."

"But Hanna was uninvited."

"Maybe she's saying have a fun time?"

I raise an eyebrow.

"I don't know, Jessie. I just got here. Just because we are all friends again doesn't mean we tell each other everything."

First thought was Bull. But then I just nod. "True."

"I'll be right back. I'll leave the keys so you can listen to the radio." Then she gets out.

I sat there most of that time daydreaming. I saw Melissa go in through the back gates at one point. It looked like she just came back from a run cause she was in work out type clothes. Then I closed my eyes and fell asleep. Not sure how long but then I heard a knock on the window that scared me half to death.

"Hey!" I hear a muffled voice from outside.

When I look I see Hanna and lower the window. "What are you doing?" I yawn and rub my eyes.

"I should be asking you the same."

"I'm waiting for Aria."

"She's coming. But I meant what are you doing sleeping? You should be stoked for Monas."

I give her a look. "It was your idea for me to go. I did that for you and you can't even go now."

She shrugs. "Can't really help that can I?"

I shake my head. "Guess not. Pretty lame that she did that just because someone told a lie about you."

"You believe me?"

"Course I do. Why would you lie?"

She smiles a bit. "I'm glad you do. Just wish the one who's supposed to be one of my best friends would."

I nod. "Sadly sometimes popularity affects who you are more than others."

She half smiles. Her eyes seemed to get a bit sad. Sometimes I'm good at this making people feel better thing and other times I'm not.

"So how's the boo?" She hides her sadness with a smile. I can feel the heat rising in my face now. "Where has he been? He disappeared."

"He caught the flu."

"Aw no." Then she backs up and makes a cross with both of her index fingers. "Don't get me sick now." I laugh and she smiles. "So I gotta go. I'll see you later."

I put my fist up "Later kiddo."

She laughs and gives me a fist pound. "Have fun." Then she leaves.

When Aria gets back to the car she lets me know that we are all going together. Well not together in the same car, but Emily and Spencer were gonna follow behind us. Or the other way around, depending who left first. Which means we have to wait a bit because as unusual as it was, Spencer was taking a long time to get out of her house.

"Is Melissa giving her a lecture or something?"

"When I left she was making sure she had everything she needed. But it's possible that now she's getting an earful from Melissa." Aria says.

I nod. "Wouldn't surprise me. Those two are always at it."

"Ever tried to get in the middle of one of their fights?"

I nod. "I did. But Melissa would usually tell me to butt out."

"Did you?"

"Yea. Because it wasn't really my business. Unless it was to the point that they looked like they were going to rip each other's head off, I usually didn't bother."

A knock comes to the window. "I'm going to meet you guys there. My mom just called. I have to help her with something." Em says when I lower the window. We both nod and she takes off.

Maybe five minutes or so later Spencer finally pulls her car out of their gate. Aria turns on her car. "Ready?"

"To be turned into a Barbie? Not really."

She laughs. "Just go with the flow." She pulls out of the parking space to follow Spencer.

"Ria." She smiles widely and I couldn't help but smile myself. It's funny how much she loves hearing that nickname again. "I'm a girl who wears sneakers, not heels. Jeans or sweatpants with a t-shirt or a hoodie. Not tight clothing to make the guys like me. I don't wear makeup and the only jewelry I can tolerate is the best friend necklace we got just before I moved and the one earring on my cartilage. What I wear makes me feel comfortable. To go to a birthday party and have to be told that they are going to make me who I've been trying not to be is not how I wanted this weekend to go. I mean it was one thing doing that for a dance but to do it on a normal day of hanging out with friends is another."

"Jessie. It's not like this is permanent. Just humor the birthday girl. At least to a certain point. She's already your friend. She isn't going to force you to do something if you don't want to. So tell her. What's the worst that can happen?"

"That she decides to spread rumors like she did with Hanna, who is supposed to be her best friend."

She looks at me. "Why do you over think everything?"

"Because I've always been the center of attention to bullying and I hate it. Mona can make things ten times worse since she's the highest on the scale of popular girls."

"You just need to relax. You get yourself so worked up that lately you've been having panic attacks more often. A lot of the time it's for no reason."

"Spencer says I either have asthma or really bad anxiety."

"I don't think it's asthma. You would have a hard time breathing whenever you run around at gym and play sports."

I nod. "True."

"Plus. You said your panic attacks started after the accident. Never had them before that." She looks at me. "Just...don't over think everything and you'll be fine."