I seriously didn't count on them insisting to drop me off 'home'. None excuse was good enough, to not raise suspicion I was okay with it eventually. The ride wasn't that long but I was pretty tired. It seems I was the only one in the car not comfortable enough to close the eyes. I discovered I could see my reflection and a little bit of the woman next to me in the dark tinted window. There was one tiny light on but my mind slowly started to function.

I let myself sink lower in the leather seats of Spencer's luxurious car. "Thank you for including me today. It was fun." I said to Spencer. She looked at me through the rearview mirror and simply nodded. My phone buzzed signaling a new text.

Where are you? – Sean

I sighed. I was ready to type an answer but I wasn't sure what.

I was out with some friends, almost home. Why? – P

An reply didn't come right away, my brain was tickling with questions. My phone slipped from my hand as I tried to put it back in my pockets. I groaned. Thank you no space. As I reached down to pick it up I noticed Emily's legs were slightly apart. I swallowed. "You okay down there?" I felt busted, and pretty sure my cheeks turned red at the sound of Spencer's voice. "Yeah I'm okay. Just dropped my phone. Got it." I said showing her my phone, freshly picked up from the ground.

When I glanced to the woman next to me I saw a little smile tugging on her lips, her eyes were open. Sounds were coming from the other side of the backseat. "How Hanna manages to get in a deep sleep anywhere is beyond me." Emily said, shifting closer to me. I felt all eyes on us through the rearview mirror, which is a nasty trick of my mind. She rested her head on my shoulder. "You meant what you said about this evening?" She said.

"Today was great Em." Her nickname slipped out of my mouth. I'm not sure if she heard it, if she did she doesn't show. "It's good to be with all my people." She said, her brown eyes were watching my closely, she grinned and finally winked at me. My face warmed, I tried to hide my blush. I dipped my head to hear her chuckle.

Her soft long dark silk hair was tickling my cheek, I inhaled her scent. "This is you." Spencer announced. I wanted to make a quick exit, saying thank you one last time and beat it. And maybe somehow find a way to say goodbye to Emily individually. A little squeeze in her hand or a kiss on her cheek. The waking up of Hanna erased my plans. "Can you stop here for a few minutes Spence? I really need to use the bathroom." Hanna was out before someone could answer her.

My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing. Think Paige think. "Sean! What are you doing here?"

I turned around to see Sean standing next to his car, with a very surprised look on his face. "I wanted to check up on Paige. I brought sushi." Our date conversation. He remembered. I smiled looking at the floor, for a second forgetting about the real problem until Hanna tells me to hurry up and to take my keys.

"Yeah let's go inside." Sean seconded. There was something in the way he said it, I didn't like. "Everything okay?" It was Emily who climbed out the car as well. My mouth was a gape, I shifted my weight from one foot to the other one. Lies came to mind, nothing good yet.

"I've waited long enough I got to go."

"Sean wait." I stepped forward, he looked at me expectantly. "Hello?! I have no time for this. Let's go inside!" Hanna said annoyed.

"I can't." I mumbled quiet. "I don't live in this house."

"You don't what?" Hanna asked.

"You're standing on the porch of someone I don't know. I don't live in that house or in this street." I didn't dare to look at anyone.

"I know. I rang the bell a few times, I thought none was home but then an woman arrived. I assumed her to be your mother, she had never heard of Paige McCullers. I thought it was my mistake, must have got the wrong house since I never saw you enter this house but same thing with the neighbors." Sean didn't sound mad or upset, but confused and maybe a little but hurt. "Why did you lie to me?"

I looked in his eyes. It was time for being honest, but how honest should I be?

"I don't care if you live here or not, since you picked this house you must know the area. So tell me is here a bush or something? I really have to go." If I wasn't on the verge of crying or on throwing away the starting friendships I would have totally cracked up on that one. Seeing the need in Hanna's face I knew what I had to, not find her a bush but show them my keys. Show them I do have keys and didn't meet Caleb on the street. Well we did, not on a bench or something like that.

It was getting late and Aria was a hard one to wake up, Spencer decided to drive off after Sean promised her to get Hanna and Emily home safe. Neither wanted to go. We walked in silence to my street, after passing by a lot of shady guys I saw their looks convert in understanding. Instinctively I pulled Emily closer to me when we passed the last creeps. I opened the door, gave quick instructions and let Hanna take the lead with my keys in her hands. The latch on my bathroom door was broken, just a minor inconvenience I thought. Apparently fixed by Caleb.

Caleb. I banged on his door, if I was going to do this. Being in an awful tiny room with Sean, Emily and Hanna. Well he better be there too. My bedroom, of course I hadn't made my bed today. I let them all in, there wasn't enough seating possibilities so I decided to sit on the floor. I was already ashamed and embarrassed, I could handle more right?

"So I live here. Crap cheap building. Scary street. Not with someone that could be my mother because she's dead. I live here on my own, Caleb is my neighbor." I blurted out. I could read the word "Ew" on Hanna's face. Caleb used to so much worse was also having problem looking straight into Hanna's eye.

"I was ashamed. I still am, I'm not proud of where I live. I have nothing to show off, or to invite friends to. I just thought it was for the better when I pretended to live in the same situation like all of you."

Emily was sitting on my bed with her arms folded staring round the room. "Can I get a moment with you?" Hanna asked Caleb. I glared at him, he shrugged. I stood up and took in the spot Hanna sat on, on my bed next to Emily. Leaving Sean on my couch. "Please don't be mad at me." I said.

"Paige." Emily said firm grabbing my hand. "If I want to be mad at you I could come up with plenty of other things. This is you Paige, your life and I don't care. I like you. I won't judge you, not for this."

We stayed silent after her words. I let her words sunk in, when I did I heard the other meaning. I sighed. Not now Em, not now. "You can feel safe with me Paige. I thought you knew." Yup, he definitely sounds hurt. He cut his eyes to me, then back on the floor.