A/N: Hello Everyone, I am really sorry about not updating much this year at all and keeping you all waiting. I don't know what happened, I am really sorry and I'll try to be better next year. Merry Christmas everyone! ~KJ99

Groaning as the sound of beeping came intruding my sleep, opening my eyes as slow as possible to only be able to see blonde hair. Moving my right hand up to my face, I wipe it away and look to my left to see Hanna snoring next to me. I wonder quickly whether she has always snored or if today was just a special day. Shaking the thought away, I lean across her and stop the alarm from blaring.

When it stopped, I let out a sigh of relief as I laid down on top of Hanna's back. Hanna had woken me up in the middle of the night from having a nightmare, what it was about I wasn't really sure but I was scared to shut my eyes again and Hanna picked up on it. Hanna offered for me to come sleep in her bed and I accepted, we talked for a little while but I managed to fall asleep with Hanna right next to me.

Yesterday when Spencer and I had gotten back to the house we found the others actually studying which was a huge surprised to Spencer and I, but they all said it was because of exam practices coming up. I had groaned at the reminder of exams, Spencer had placed a hand on my shoulder and said they'd get me through it. Spencer and I joined them in study, I would glance up from my book every now and then to see Spencer watching Aria and Alli interacted; she was being to see it. I hadn't decided whether I was going to school or not, I was going to decide in the morning; which was now.

Gently pushing Hanna out of the bed, I say "Get up, time for school," Hanna sat up she looked at me sleepily and angrily.

Smiling, I say "Sorry."

Hanna replied with "You're not, not at all."

"Your right about that, I'm not but I thought you'd like to know I've decided to come back to school today."
Hanna's sleepily/angrily filled eyes turning into happy and excited ones; Hanna said "That's great Emily, what's made you want to come?" Hanna pulled herself up onto the bed.

I replied with "My parents."

"How'd they do that?" Hanna asked with interested.

"They told me not to grieve for too long and not to give up on school; I've had enough time off as it is."

"Emily, no one can tell you how long to grieve for."

"I know but I need to try giving something ago instead of just sitting here all day and thinking about my parents."

"Okay, well I'll let the girls know while you go get ready."

"Alright," I smiled at her before leaving the room to go back to my own to get ready for school. Walking into my room, I go over to my closet and pick random clothes before walking back out of my room and into the bathroom; which was free and I went into shower and get dressed. In the shower I had a long hard think about whether I really was ready or not but I thought it over and decided I was, I need to get back into a routine and school would definitely help with that. After finishing my shower and getting dressed, I decided to pack my swimming bag just in case I felt like swimming after school and since I was going to try and get back into a normal routine swimming was also a part of that. Once both bags were pack I placed them both over my shoulders and headed downstairs to have something for breakfast. Walking into the kitchen I saw Ashley pouring coffee into her travel mug and sitting at the kitchen bench was Hanna staring into her coffee.

Ashley said "Good Morning Emily."

I replied with "Morning," I placed both bags down onto a stool.

Hanna asked "Is that your swimming bag?"

I replied with "Yeah, I haven't decided if I'm going to go today or not but I'll take it just in case."

Hanna said "By the sound fo your voice it already sounds like you have your answer.

I say "It's going to be a long day Hanna but I do miss swimming," swimming was always a great way for me to relax.

Hanna asked "Does that mean we are driving separately today?"

I replied with "Do you want to sit on the bleachers for two hours."

Hanna said "We are taking separate cars," I smiled at Hanna and pushed her little which she groaned at.

Ashley then said "Alright girls, I'm off to work. Have a good day at school and Emily please let me know if you're going to practice or not." I nodded my head, as Hanna said goodbye to her Mum and she left for work.

Hanna asked "Are you alright?"

"Yeah fine," I stood up from the stool I was sitting and walked over to Hanna's good cabinets.

I asked "Do you guys ever eat breakfast?"

"Coffee is our breakfast, sorry."

"No, it's okay I probably shouldn't eat on a nervous stomach," I turned and leant against the counter.

"Nervous? What do you have to be nervous about?"

"Nothing, that's why it's odd. I'm just hoping everyone is over there staring faze, yes my parents died now will you please stop looking at me like a glass who is about be smashed."

"Wow," Hanna looked at me surprised.

I sigh and say "Sorry, I just hate being treated that way."

"Understandable, just ignore them it's what I do half the time," I smiled across at Hanna and shook my head.

Hanna asked "So on a happier note how are things going with Mona?"

"Like I told you yesterday, nowhere at the moment, you can't really text a person what's up do you feel the same for me as I do and makes it even harder when you don't even have a phone to use to start with."

"Well then we need to get you a phone."

"They cost a lot of money."

"Don't worry Em, I'll take care of it."

"No, I can't let you buy me a phone."

"Yes you will, please let me just do this one thing for you," Hanna gave me her best puppy eyed look and I could never resist it.

Groaning I say "Fine," Hanna smiled and clapped her hands excitedly.

I say "Come on let's get to school."

Hanna said "Wait don't you need breakfast."

"I'll be fine, I can hold out until lunch," I round the kitchen bench and pick my school and swimming bags up from the stool.

Hanna replied with "We're still taking separate cars though."

"Okay, I'll see you at school then," Hanna nodded her head and I turned away from her. I walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door where I found my car keys in the bowl, scooping them up before opening the door and head out to my car. Placing my bags on the front seat next to my driving seat, I put the key into the ignition and pulled away from the curb and started driving in the direction of school.

Pulling into the first car park I saw which just happened to be next to a black SUV which I knew as Spencer car, hell everyone knew it was Spencer car; the Hastings only drive SUV, why I have no clue and don't in tend on asking. Grabbing my two bags and the key out of the ignition I hopped out of my car, I locked the car before starting to head into school. Getting closer to my locker I saw Spencer standing there, when she saw me she smiled over at me and I smiled back at me.

"Hi," I say when I got close enough.

Spencer replied with "Hey, how are you?"

"I'm okay, I think," Spencer nodded her head and allowed me to open my locker. Staring into my locker I was trying to work out what I needed to work on and it was probably science since it was my weakest subject.

Spencer asked "Is something wrong?" she must've sensed it.

I answered with "Science is what's wrong," when I see the confused look on Spencer's face it takes everything in my power not to laugh.

I go into explaining "Science is my weakest subject and it's the one I need to do the most work on if I'm going to pass. My Dad would always help me with my science and every time I try to do science, I just end up in tear because all I think of is my Dad."

"You're probably going to feel like that a lot and think about average stuff you did with a lot but they're memories, which you get to keep."

I replied with "Unless I get amnesia or what's that thing that make old people forget things?"

Spencer said "You mean Alzheimer?"

"That's it," I thought of course Spencer would know what I was talking about and meaning.

"Well unless you do anything stupid which course you to hit your head very hard than amnesia is out of the question and Alzheimer rarely happens to people younger than sixty, it does happen but not to you; yet anyway."

Smiling, I say "Thanks Spence, it would be easier to forget less painful."

Spencer replied with "That maybe but if you got amnesia you forgot everything which includes us, all you friends and it includes Mona."

I nodded my head and said "I think I'm okay with the pain for now," Spencer smiled at me just as the bell rang.

"Come on Em, let's get to the library and if Science is too hard than we'll do it later," nodding my head as I close my locker and follow Spencer to the library. Walking into the library we found Alison, Aria, Hanna and Mona all sitting at a table together with books in front of them but were talking to each other.

Spencer caught me staring at Mona and said "I understand why you haven't asked Mona out but don't you think your parents would want you to be happy, have someone in your life who makes you feel alive."

"I guess, I just don't know if I'm ready to be with someone yet," I replied in all honesty.

"Mona is a great person, you've said yourself but someone might ask her out soon. A guy could walk right up to Mona now and ask her out, how would you feel if she said yes?"

"I'd be broken," I said seeing what Spencer was trying to say.

Spencer said "Then do something or else you'll lose her and you'll end up regretting it for the rest of your life." Nodding my head I knew Spencer was right, she wasn't pressuring me into doing anything all she was doing was wiping the fog out of my eyes and showing me something I could miss out on. Heading over to the table it had two seats left, one was in between Mona and Hanna and the other one was next to Aria. I took the seat in between Mona and Hanna which left Spencer with the seat next to Aria.

"Hey," I say to Mona.

Mona smiled and replied with "Hi, I didn't think you were coming in yet."

"I woke up feeling good this morning," I said with a big smile on my face.

"That's great Emily, I'm glad you feel good enough to come back to school. I've been missing you a lot."

I nodded my head and asked "What are you doing after school?"

"I was going to study but I really don't want to, why?"

"Well if you weren't busy, I was going to ask whether you wanted to go get some ice-cream with me. I know this killer ice-cream place and I know you're going to love it as much as I do."

Hanna had brake the perfect moment with "Oh my god, did Emily just ask Mona out on a date?"

I replied with "Yes Hanna, I was asking Mona if she wanted to go on an ice-cream date with me," I smiled at Mona hoping like hell she'd say yes.

"How could I possible say no to ice-cream and you? Of course Emily, I'd love to," it took everything in me not to fist pump in the area but Hanna it squeal in excitement and almost choked me by hugging me around the neck. We were told to be quiet or else we'd get written up for detention, it caused as all to giggle and we got glared at which coursed us to look down at our books. When I looked back up a few minutes and over at Spencer she had this smirk plastered on her face.

"Shut up," I say and the smirk just gets even bigger but he pretends like nothing had happened and continues reading. I started doing my Maths but I was finding it extremely hard to concentrate on the work and start to look at Mona. She must've felt me staring at her because she soon looked up at me, smiling at her and smiling even bigger when she smile back. Standing up from the table, I tilt my head towards the books and Mona understands because she stands up and takes the lead over to the rows of books.

At the back, Mona asked "How are you?"

"I'm okay, I think I had a break through yesterday."

"That's good," Mona smiled at me as I stood in front her leaning up against the shelf.

"Yeah though I don't know if it would've happened if Hanna had come home early, she found me crying over my science work."

"Science would make anyone cry," I smiled down at Mona.

"No, it wasn't because it was hard or anything like that. It was because I remember my Dad helping me with my science, I'd fax to his station my work and he'd ring me when he was free to help answer my question. My Dad he was incredibly smart, good at everything but most importantly he was a great Dad."

"I love hearing you talk about your Dad."

"Thank-you for listening," I said while carefully placing my hand on her shoulder.

Mona said back "I'll always be here to listen, whenever you need it," Mona looked up at me and I saw something in her eyes but I couldn't tell what it was.

"Spencer and I went on a run yesterday, it felt so good to run again I've missed it and swimming."

"You're not going to ask me to run are you? I can probably swim, just well not as fast as you obviously but I would if you asked."

I smiled and said "No, I know extremely exercise isn't your thing and that's why I have Spencer."

"Thank god," Mona said in relief and I couldn't help but laugh.

"What I meant to say was Spencer helped me realise something, which I might have figure out on my own but Spencer quickened the processes."

"And what's that?"

"I don't want to lose the last bit of good in my life. I don't I'll ever heal from losing my parents the way I did, I don't think anyone would but I don't want to lose the people I have now. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you Mona, but I don't think I could handle losing you or seeing you with someone else."

"What are you saying Emily?" Mona asked but I think she knew what I was saying, she just need it confirmed.

Taking a deep breath before saying "What I am saying Mona is, if you are ready, wanting and willing than I want to be your girlfriend. I need you Mona, I want to be with you Mona and don't care how many hoops y-"I was cut off by a pair of lips on mine. Smiling because they were Mona's lips before shouting at myself for just standing there and doing nothing. I quickly changed that by pressing myself into Mona and deepening the kiss, I felt Mona's fingers running through my hair and pulling my head down more to her. As we pulled away, we both opened our eyes and Mona started to laugh; which confused the hell out of me.

"My lipstick is on your lips," Mona bring a finger up to my lips to start trying to wipe the lipstick away or into my lips, I wasn't really sure but I didn't really want her to stop either.

When Mona was happy with herself, she said "Sorry for cutting you off, you were just rambling."

"I don't mind," I smiled at Mona and she smiled back at me.

"I've given my heart away many times and had it broken. I know that you are a good person and would never hurt me; I just need to be careful and protective of my heart because I don't think it can handle any more heartbreak. Falling in love with you was completely unexpected, it was one minute I was upset about my previous break up and the next I wasn't. I didn't know what happened but I realised at the wake, it was you. You made the break up seem like nothing because he wasn't the right person to me, I don't know if you are the one either but I need to try because if I don't try than I'll be left with question. If you are ready Emily than I am too," hearing Mona say those words made my heart melt.

"I'm ready Mona," I said to confirm it for the both of us. Mona reach up with a hand to cup my face, I couldn't help but lean into it.

I asked "You still up for ice-cream after school, girlfriend?" I wasn't sure if Mona wanted me to call her my girlfriend which is why I was using it now.

Mona smiled and replied with "Of course girlfriend," we both couldn't help but giggle in happiness,

"Great, I'll pick you up at your locker say after school."

"Sounds good," Mona got onto her tippy-toes to peck my lips. After that she head back toward the table, I couldn't help but jump up and down excited at this new arrangement. I had the girl of my dreams and she wanted to be with, I was going to promise myself to be honest with her at all times and never lie to her. The last thing I want to do was hurt Mona and if I did I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive myself, I don't want to hurt her physically or emotionally.