Considering I only got one review on the last chapter, I wasn't feeling very enthusiastic about updating...pretty disappointing considering I usually get such great feedback. But I already have so much of this written that I figured I'd keep going. Thanks to RHatch89 for being my lone reviewer for chapter nine.

Chapter 10

I stick the cap back on my eyeliner and evaluate my reflection. It's the first day of my junior year, and I'm having trouble concentrating on my makeup.

Out of all days, the first day of school is most important. It's always been that way, although last year all I was concerned with was reassuring people that I didn't turn into either a nerd or loser over the summer.

This year I have bigger problems. Now I have to reassure people that my life is still normal, that crazy doesn't run in the family, and that I am not about to go on a torturous rampage and follow in the footsteps of my sister.

I'm sure that rumors have been spreading all summer. Even Macy, my so-called best friend, has been distancing herself more and more. Once you have the stigma of a mental illness in your family, you can kiss popularity goodbye.

Thank god it wasn't something I ever really cared about, anyway.

Even so, I can't help my nerves as I walk downstairs to get some breakfast. For the first time, neither of my parents are here to wish me good luck on my first day. My father is off on another month long business trip, his first time away since the incident, and my mother is at work early.

I sit down at the counter and pour myself a bowl of cereal, glancing up at the television. It's muted, but as soon as a picture of Alison comes up on the screen my appetite goes out the window.

Just a few nights ago, someone dug up her grave. And stole her body.

Out of everything that has happened in this town over the past few months, including yet another murder in the very same backyard – Emily's girlfriend, Maya, who I never really knew – this has to take the cake. What kind of sicko would actually want to steal a rotting corpse?

The strange part is, there are absolutely no leads as to who could have done this. Even days later, there are no suspects. Even Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily, who seem to always be in the middle of everything that ever happens in this town, were out at Spencer's lake house the night the grave-digging took place. And Garrett, the sketchy cop suspected of killing Maya, and maybe even Ali, is in jail.

I grab the remote and switch the television off, frowning. The sad part is, Alison would have loved this, being in the middle of so much drama. That seemed to be what she always lived for.

Too bad she's not alive now to see it.

…

It's only the second day of school when I'm pulled right back into the drama.

People have been staring at me since yesterday, hiding whispers behind their hands, and it's getting pretty annoying. I know that confronting someone would only add fuel to the fire, so I try to duck into the bathroom between every class to get a break.

Usually there aren't many people in there, but when I enter between second and third period today, four girls turn to stare at me.

"Hey," I say awkwardly to Hanna, Emily, Spencer, and Aria. I haven't spoken much to them since the night of the masquerade, when I confessed that I'd known more about "A" than I had let on.

They all exchange glances that make me a little nervous. I'm just about to enter a stall when Spencer says, "Viola. We know what's going on."

The sudden aggression in her voice is startling. My eyes widen and I turn back around to face them. "Um. What do you mean?"

"What?" Aria demands angrily. "You thought that you'd take over the game now that your crazy sister's locked up in the loony bin?"

I stare at them, trying to gauge from their expressions just what is going on. "I have no idea what you guys are talking about," I insist. "Seriously. What is going on?"
"Save it, Viola," Hanna snaps, digging her phone out of her purse and holding it out to me. "This look familiar?"

I gasp at the text on the screen.

Mona played with dolls, I play with body parts. Game on, bitches. –A

"You mean…it's starting again?" I ask, staring at the "A" on the small screen. " 'A' is back?"
"Come on," Emily says. "We know it was you who cleared out the 'A' lair and took over the game. Or you're helping Mona do it herself."

I laugh in disbelief, backing up against the sink. "Mona is catatonic in Radley," I say, feeling like the breath has been knocked out of me. "And I'm not doing anything. What do you mean, the lair was cleaned out?"
Once again, they all glance at each other. I'm beginning to get irritated with being so out of the loop. "The three of us went there," Spencer explains, gesturing to herself, Aria, and Hanna, "the day after Maya died. To clear it out ourselves before anyone else found it. But everything was already gone."

This is mildly alarming, considering that lair apparently contained all sorts of private information on basically everyone. "Okay, that's bad," I admit, crossing my arms. "But I had nothing to do with it and I don't know who did. I swear."

Hanna rolls her eyes. "Well, I figured you weren't the one who dug up the grave and drugged Emily."

My head snaps up just as Spencer hisses, "Hanna."

"What?" Hanna replies, confused.

"Someone drugged Emily?" I repeat, horrified. "Wait. Go back. Why would someone do that?"

"We were all together that night. At Spencer's house," Aria confesses, looking worriedly at the others. "Someone drugged Emily in the middle of the night. We found her right next to the empty grave."

"Oh my god," I murmur. It's true. These girls really are in the middle of everything. "That's insane." I focus my gaze on Emily, who looks uncomfortable and actually pretty upset. I don't blame her. "So someone kidnapped you that night? Who was it?"
"I don't remember," Emily says, shaking her head. "I barely remember anything about that night. It's all a big blur."

The lake house ruse makes sense now. "It seems like some crazy person is trying to set you guys up for stealing Alison's body," I say, lowering my voice a little.

"Yeah," Spencer mutters, looking at me intently. "And who's the craziest person we all know?"

I resist the urge to bang my head against the bathroom wall. "There is absolutely no way that Mona is still involved in this. She can barely feed herself right now, let alone orchestrate some elaborate 'A' game. Forget it."

"It's true," Hanna pipes up. I raise my eyes to look at her, surprised. She shrugs. "I've been visiting her, too. For the past few weeks."

I think back to the registration book at Radley. A particular name sticks out in my memory. "Rivers?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. She smiles, and I roll my eyes. Rivers is Caleb's last name. I should have known.

"And that's not all." Spencer reaches into her bag and pulls out a photograph. She hands it to me and I study it. It's an aerial shot of the four girls standing beside the empty grave. "Someone took pictures of us that night, when we went to find Emily. 'A' has proof that we were there."

"Holy crap," I blurt out, staring down at it. " 'A' really is trying to set you up."

"Exactly," says Spencer. "This is way more serious than just some stupid game. And I get that you don't believe that Mona could still be involved, but you need to talk to her. Get answers, somehow. Soon."

Part of me is itching with curiosity, but the thought of getting involved with these girls again is making my head spin. So far, at least, this new "A" hasn't tried to involve me in their twisted blame game.

"No," I say so sharply that they all jump. "I'm sorry, but no. I'm not getting involved again. 'A' is trying to frame you guys for something serious. I'm not messing around with that."

"Viola – " Hanna begins, cutting off an angry looking Spencer, but I back up toward the door and push out of the bathroom before she can continue.

I spin around in the hallway, my mind reeling, and nearly collide with Noel. I open my mouth, hoping to explain, but he sneers at me and pushes me out of his way. I'm knocked sideways into a locker and everyone around me laughs.

I straighten back up and grimace, rushing down the hall and to my next class. As much as I want to deny it, this seems like the new normal now.

...

Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter, Viola receives a surprising visitor, and an even more surprising offer.