A/N:hope you like it please review!

Back stories and coming out

Hanna sat by aria and spencer as they talked about something. She wasn't paying attention she was too busy looking at Caleb. He was laughing and joking with Toby.

She was wondering if Spencer or aria, even Emily felt butterflies when they looked at their partner like she did when she looked at Caleb.

It was a weird feeling. She didn't feel like that with Sean, and yet with him, she was so into it and feeling lots of feelings.

With Sean, it felt like a competition but with Caleb, it felt like the flow was just there.

"Hanna? Did you hear what I said?" Spencer said breaking Hanna out of her thoughts.

"S-sorry what? I wasn't paying attention." Hanna said quickly looking away from Caleb.

"Oh I could tell, someone was doing some serious crushing on sketchy," Spencer said teasingly.

"Was not. I just...spaced out. I was thinking about this bag that's coming out." Hanna lied.

"Yeah right."

"Well if she is crushing on Caleb I'm sure she won't mind sharing a room with him on the trip," Aria said looking at Caleb and Hanna with a smirk.

"Wait what? What do you mean I thought we were getting something big enough to get our own rooms? Spencer we already had this discussion about room arrangements." Hanna asked incredulously. The day Emily told her that she and Caleb were sharing rooms, she marched straight to Spencer and demanded they change the room arrangements. But now that they were dating she didn't mind now.

"I know but if we want a pool and a hot tub plus a fireplace then we'll have to downsize rooms. So like I was saying I'm thinking of making Emily and Maya share a room and you and Caleb?" Spencer said looking on her laptop at the houses.

"I don't know..." Hanna said but inside she was squealing. She hoped they could share a room. That way it would be easier to secretly date without people suspecting anything. So for now she had to act like she didn't want to.

"It's only for 2 weeks." Aria tried to convince Hanna.

Spencer saw Hanna's "hesitant" face. "What if I find something where you have something in your room? Like a hot tub? I'm seeing one where it's one on the upstairs bedroom. You can have it. If you say yes. Please, Hanna !" Spencer attempted to persuade Hanna pleadingly.

Hanna feigned rolled her eyes. "Fine."

Aria hugged her before sitting back. "oh also I'm making a rule that we don't just walk into each other's rooms? If there's a knock with no answer don't go in? Cause last time we walked in on you and Toby nearly inside the box spring ". Aria said grabbing her cup and sipping it.

Hanna again lost interest in their conversation and looked at Caleb who was laughing at something toby said.

He looked over and caught her eye and smiled at her and winked. Toby was oblivious to it all.

Hanna smiled before looking back at the girls so she wouldn't get caught staring at him again. Soon Emily and Maya joined and they began talking.

After an hour Hanna and Emily went outside while aria and Maya were talking.

"So how's it going with Caleb? Anything new? I've seen you staring at him all night." Emily folded her arms with a teasing smile.

"Really? Did the other girls see?" Hanna asked mentally face palming herself.

"No, they were too excited about the place spencer found," Emily assured her bestfriend.

Hanna sighed relieved before leaning on the railing. "Well don't tell anyone but we're dating. And we're just working it out between us and seeing how things go before we come out I guess." Hanna explained.

Emily nodded understandingly. "That's what Maya and I are doing. But I'm tired of hiding Maya. I just want to come out already."

"Are you saying you're ready?"

"Yeah in fact I'm planning to break it down to my parents before I leave for the trip. That way they can calm down and think of it while I enjoy myself temporarily stress-free." Emily said also leaning on the rail looking at the forest around them.

The fireflies were flying, the sound of the lake was heard and the scent of grass filled their nose.

"Do you want me to be there?" Hanna asked worriedly. She knew how her parents were. Especially her mom.

Emily just shook her head. "I want to do this alone. Besides, I'll be leaving right after."

Hanna nodded.

They both stared out into the forest in comfortable silence before Emily broke it.

"Can you believe it? We're graduating soon. We're gonna be out into college." Emily said.

"Kinda. It feels strange. It went by slow but yet so fast?"

"It was amazing. I hope the rest of the year will be." Emily said optimistically.

"Same. I have a feeling things are gonna be good." Hanna said agreeing.

"What's gonna go good?"

Both girls turned around to see Maya with two red cups.

Emily smiled. "The rest of the school year." She said taking the cup Maya offered her.

Hanna smiled as she watched her Bestfriend with her girlfriend and felt happy. She didn't see that happiness with Ben.

Suddenly she felt something nudge her arm. She turned around to see Caleb walking down the stairs and walking into the woods.

She bit her lip excitedly and snuck off leaving Maya and Emily to talk about whatever they were talking about.

Hanna caught up to Caleb and walked with him.

"So are you having fun?" Hanna asked sparking a conversation.

"Yeah but more fun now that I'm alone with you." He said reaching his hand to grab hers.

Hanna felt her heart speed up.

"Did you hear about the room arrangements? We're sharing a room and we're getting a hot tub." Hanna informed him.

"Score. That should be fun. It'll be easier to see you." He said.

They were right at the lake. Caleb sat down on the rocks and Hanna was wearing a dress so he let her sit on his lap.

After they talked for a little Hanna noticed he had a scar on his forehead.

"Caleb, how did you get this scar..." Hanna said looking at him questioningly while gently tracing her thumb over it.

She didn't miss the hesitant look on his face.

"I got it from my previous foster parents," Caleb said while his face showed pain.

Hanna immediately felt horrible. "Never mind. Forget I asked that."

"No no, it's okay. I was 7. my old foster parents were alcoholics and drug addicts. When they couldn't get their supply, they'd beat me. With objects sometimes with their bare hands. They'd do it again if I cried or said anything. But the scar, I was in the bathroom washing my hands cause at school we were painting. The parents barged in to tell me to clean the house, when they saw I had paint on my clothes. The dad grabbed my head and slammed my head on the sink. Twice. Then the mom came and kicked me in my stomach." He explained with his face showing anguish.

Hanna's eyes watered. She saw pictures of Caleb when he was younger. He was so sweet why would anyone abuse him? Her heart hurt imagining small Caleb being abused by himself.

"Oh my god, Caleb I'm so sorry. Did they go to jail? Did they get in trouble?" Hanna asked.

Caleb looked out at the lake for a moment before looking at her. "I doubt it. I ran away that night. All they told me was next time stay clean. And left me on the bathroom floor. So when they went to sleep I ran away and I ended up back in an orphanage for the next person to get, which was another crazy alcoholic."

Tears fell down her face as she heard his story. She could hear the pain in his voice. Hanna hugged him tightly. She didn't know if it was to comfort him or just cause she needed a hug. But she soon came to the realization that it was both and that he needed a hug.

Caleb stiffened up before relaxing and hugging her back.

"I'm so glad you're with me and out of that environment Caleb." She said finally pulling away.

Caleb smiled even though you could tell he was still slightly upset. "Yeah. I'm just waiting to turn 18 that way I won't need to deal with that anymore."

Hanna sniffled and reached up to kiss the scar on his head.

Caleb's face was unreadable and Hanna didn't know what he was thinking but she just hoped he knew she was there for him.

Then he wiped her tears. "Don't cry, princess. Besides I'm not in that situation anymore. And I have you right." He said trying to cheer her up.

Hanna nodded trying to blink away the tears. "You're right. You'll always have me."

Caleb pulled her closer. She didn't know but this night would be in his heart. Especially her words.

"Have you told anyone about it?" Hanna asked.

"Nope. This is my first time talking about it with anyone." He said rubbing his thumb on her wrist.

Hanna felt a warmth bloom inside her chest when she heard that.

"You know to make it even I should tell you something that no one else knows."

Caleb chuckled. "Han, you don't have to do that."

"I know. But I want to." She assured him before continuing.

"When my dad left... my mom and I had a lot of financial trouble. We almost lost our house and could barely pay for food and other things. We're fine now but that question you asked "why did you wanna help me?" Well there you go" She said quietly.

Caleb grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I'm glad you guys are okay now"

Hanna nodded. "Yeah, that was 2 years ago. My mom got a raise and another job. Then I got a job shortly till we were fine."

"That's good. You know if our life was a tv show we'd have a really good show."

Hanna laughed for the first time in a while. "Oh yeah. I'd be the laughable character."

"And I'd be the sketchy one." He smirked.

"You aren't so sketchy now that I know you."

Caleb raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yup. You're the opposite." She said smiling wide. Hanna couldn't help but think about kissing him. It felt so right and it was so tempting with her on his lap.

Caleb looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah. You know what not sketchy guys get?" She made up her mind. She was gonna kiss him. She just hoped he wouldn't constantly push her away as Sean did.

"What? A hot blonde girlfriend in their lap?" He teased.

Hanna couldn't help but laugh.

When her laughs died down she continued "No. they get this." Hanna then leaned forward to kiss him.

Her heart thumped against her chest scared he was going to reject her. Much to her relief he pulled her closer and kissed her back.

Which led them to a make-out session. And one thing Hanna could say was the spark and passion were there.

————————————

Wednesday morning came in a blur. Since that night out at the cabin Caleb and she got really close. Hanna felt happy. This was what Alison was talking about that night when she saw her kiss arias brother. She was excited to explore the new feelings. She definitely felt attached to him.

Caleb however was terrified he's only known this girl for roughly 2 months and he felt attached. He felt intense emotions towards her.

He didn't get it. cause when he dated Miranda he didn't feel these things. Then again he never opened up to her. With Hanna, it seemed easy. Caleb couldn't figure out if it was because she opened up to him before along with her kind-hearted personality.

He knew he has feelings for her. But he was scared that these feelings were developing deeper into something else. He's never loved anyone in his life. With everyone, he's always had a guard up. Always prepared for them to leave. It hurt at first but it didn't even bother him afterwhile. It was a norm in life for him after he got used to it.

But with Hanna, he didn't want her to leave. In fact, he'd be very upset that she was gone and that's what's scaring him.

Hanna jogged downstairs that morning. She was fully dressed and ready for school. Her mom stood by the coffee maker. She looked up and saw her daughter perkier than usual.

"What's got you in a good mood? I've never seen you this joyous to go to school." Ashley asked her daughter with a smile.

Hanna just shrugged. "It's almost Friday. I'm going on the California trip for spring break remember?"

Ashley sighed. "Yeah, I know. I'm not so sure if I am okay with this. I know I said yes but I don't feel comfortable with you out and everyone by yourselves with no parental supervision."

Hanna rolled her eyes. "Mom. I'm almost an adult. Plus Spencer's sister Melissa is coming." she lied smoothly hoping that'd make her relax.

And it worked Ashley relaxed a bit. "Okay great. Also, it's just the girls going?"

"No, it's gonna be us eight," Hanna said before she could stop herself.

"Who's the eight? That's a lot of people."

"Well uh, the girls and their boyfriends and Maya are coming. The new girl. " Hanna said hoping that'd be enough for her mom.

Ashley nodded. "And the eight-person?"

Hanna blinked. There's no way she saw through that. "What do you mean?"

"I heard you and Emily talking about Ben. They aren't together. So I'm assuming he's not invited. Leaving one more person."

Hanna mentally swore.

"Well, Caleb is coming," Hanna said shrugging trying to be nonchalant.

"Hanna." Her mom said now folding her arms.

"Mom we're all friends so, of course, he's coming," Hanna explains throwing her hands up in surrender.

Ashley sighed. "Are you having your own room right?"

Hanna gulped. "Yeah. Of course. If not I'll be sharing it with Emily. You know cause she's single." Hanna lied.

Ashley narrowed her eyes trying to see if she was lying. Ashley eventually nodded believing her daughter.

"Okay. Oh and also before I leave, I've noticed we've been missing a lot of food. We usually don't go through food that fasts. And dishes." Ashley said grabbing the last banana.

"Oh well, I've been eating cause of the trip." Hanna lied. She didn't notice how much Caleb and she were both eating. She needed to talk to him about their eating portions.

"Okay well try to slow down hun. I'll see you after school." Ashley said walking over to give Hanna a kiss on her cheek before walking out the door.

Once Hanna saw her car pull away and waited two minutes to make sure her mom didn't come back, when she was sure she wasn't coming back she called out for Caleb.

Caleb walked out and sat down by Hanna. "Good morning babe." He said teasingly.

"Good morning sweetie." She teased back.

"I'm gonna take a shower and we can go I'm not really hungry at the moment," Caleb said standing up.

"Okay!" She said pouring herself a cup of coffee.

She looked on her phone and texted Emily.

—————————————

Emily walked downstairs with her luggage Friday morning. She was gonna come out to her mom the night before but she chickened out. However, she spent all night thinking about what to say to her mom.

"Emily make sure you text me when you get to the airport and make sure you take lots of pictures and-"

"Mom." Emily chuckled interrupting her mom's rambling as she got to the bottom of the staircase.

" Okay! okay! I'm sorry it's just this is the first time you're gonna be so far from me you know." Pam smiled apologetically.

"Yeah, I get that," Emily said rolling her luggage to the door. She checked her phone to see that everyone was on the way. She needed to talk to her now. No more procrastinating.

Emily walked over to the couch, left her suitcases by the door, and sat down. "Mom I wanted to talk to you about something before I leave."

"Okay, what is it?" She said walking into the living room and standing there.

"I want you to sit down when I tell you this."

Her mom looked confused but sat down.

"Mom I've been doing a lot of thinking since Ben and I broke up. And at first, I thought there was something wrong with me." Emily started to explain.

"Sweetie. There's nothing wrong with you. There's going to be relationships that just don't work out." Pam said soothingly.

Emily paused before talking again " I know mom. It's just that I'm different from when I started dating Ben. My preferences have changed."

"Okay?" Her mom said perplexed about what she was trying to say.

"Mom I-I'm gay." She simply said. She didn't look up cause she was terrified to see her mom's reaction. However, it was silent for a while.

"Wh-what?" Her mom finally spoke.

"I'm gay. I like girls." Emily said finally looking at her mom. Her palms were sweaty and her heart beat erratic.

She saw a lot of negative emotions on her mom's face and felt disappointed.

"No, you're not Emily. You just think you are cause of Ben. Not all guys are like him, honey. When you date someone again you'll see there are different guys." Her mom tried to say but Emily shook her head.

"I actually am dating someone. Maya. We've been dating for about a week. I'm honestly really happy about it." Emily said carefully watching her mom.

Her mom looked at her in alarm.

"no Emily this isn't you? This is Maya's girl's behavior rubbing off on you. You are straight!" Her mom exclaimed.

Emily felt her phone vibrate. She looked down to see a text from the girls saying that they were waiting for her outside.

"Emily!" Her mom barked waiting for Emily to reply.

"Mom this is who I am. I'm still the same Emily you know I just like girls."

"What would your father say about this? You know this isn't right. You-" her mom started.

"Mom I have to go they're here," Emily said standing up and walking to the door. She didn't expect her mom to accept her even though she hoped it. She knew her mom wasn't gonna calm down or stop talking which is why she told her now.

"Oh no. You aren't going. Especially with that bad influence going with you." Her mom shook her head.

"That's not fair you can't tell me I can't go on this trip," Emily said infuriated.

"I just did as your mother," Pam said folding her arms. All Emily saw was anger, disappointment, and fear in her mom's eyes.

"You're right you are my mother. But I'm 18. So I'm going. I'll see you when I get back." Emily said coldly before grabbing her things and wordlessly waking out the door.

——————————————————————

A/N: okay tell me what you think about Emily coming out. I tried to make it just as the show as much as I could while meaning it realistic. Hanna and Caleb's relationship is growing rapidly do you think it will crash and burn? Anyway thank you for reading and this book is on wattpad.