Chapter 2: The Jenna Thing
The girls were sitting in a local restaurant called The Apple Rose Grille, discussing the new messages from "A" that they received as well as Alison's disappearance, before Aria brought up a question that been on all their minds since the funeral service. "Why was Jenna there?" she asked.
"She must be back." Spencer said, while cradling her cup of coffee.
"That cop acted like we were suspects or something." Hanna said.
"Do you think we looked guilty?" Emily asked, looking to her friends.
"Why would we? We haven't done anything wrong." Aria said.
"Except lie, about "The Jenna Thing." Hanna replied.
"We promised that we'd never bring up 'The Jenna Thing' again remember? It never happened." Spencer said.
"Have you found a way to forget?" Aria asked getting Spencer and Emily's attention, while Hanna poured some vodka from her flask into her soda "I still wake up sometimes in the middle of the night."
"Aria, it was an accident." Spencer whispered.
Hanna finished pouring some vodka, and began to close her flask, when she saw a nosey old man looking at her in disapproval "It's medicinal!" she lied causing him to give a look that showed he didn't believe her. "Cramps!"
Spencer looked over to the old man as Hanna took a sip of her beverage, "I don't get it. How does 'A' know something about me, that only Alison knew?" Emily asked.
"Alison knew all of our secrets, but we never knew any of hers." Aria noted.
"I knew some." Spencer revealed, getting everyone's attention only for her to stay silent.
"Go on." Aria said, causing Spencer to glance at each of them.
"Talk." Hanna ordered.
"I can't." Spencer said.
"Spence! No, you are not just going to drop a bomb like that, and clam up." Aria replied.
"She'd so kill me, if I told you." Spencer said.
"She's dead." Hanna retorted, causing Emily to look sad.
"Ali, was seeing someone that summer." Spencer revealed.
"I knew she was keeping something from me." Emily glanced around and corrected herself "From us."
"Well, why didn't she want us to know?" Aria asked.
"He was an older boy, and he had a girlfriend." Spencer said.
"Who was it?" Emily asked.
"She never told me his name." Spencer said.
Hanna rolled her eyes "OK, that's only half a secret."
"That's more than what you ever got from her." Spencer retorted.
"How is it that Ali told us nothing, while we told her everything?" Aria asked.
"She told Naruto about 'The Jenna Thing. " Spencer said.
"Yeah, why would she do that?" Aria asked.
"Because she had major crush on him." Hanna said getting their attention "I introduced her to him when we were 13. Ever since then, she'd always ask me if I'd talked to him, and if he had asked about her."
"Do you think she saw him that summer? Because something must've happened between them if A is talking to him too." Spencer asked.
"I don't know. All I know is that Naruto spent the last 18 months mourning the one person he loved the most, and I don't want to upset him, by drudging up those memories." Hanna replied getting nods of understanding.
The four sat in silence for a moment before Aria spoke "I really missed you guys."
"Me too." Spencer said.
"I miss Ali." Emily said, looking down as she fiddled with something on her wrist.
"I can't believe you still wear that." Hanna said.
"Ali still wears hers." Emily replied before she corrected herself "Wore."
"When Ali, didn't come home that night, I knew something terrible must've happened, but there was some part of me that just imagined that one day she'd just show up." Spencer said sadly.
"Yeah, I used to think that maybe she just run off with some guy." Aria said.
"That she was laying on a beach somewhere." Emily said still looking down.
"Or getting a tan, out by the pool next to that hot lifeguard." Hanna said getting giggles from her friends.
"Wait, what was his name again?" Aria asked.
"Who cares?" Hanna asked before she looked up and said dramatically "Save me"
Everyone giggled, and sighed as they began to reminisce but cringed as they heard a tapping sound, instinctively knowing that blind Jenna Marshall had entered with her walking stick. Silently, they got up and walked away in separate directions.
Next Morning
The next morning, Ashley and Hanna were getting ready for their day in the kitchen, Hanna was pouring herself some coffee in a mug, before moving over to her mother's coffee cup and pouring her some as well, as Ashley pulled out a carton of milk from the fridge and poured some in both hers and Hanna's coffee. "That's the last of the milk." Ashley said, throwing the carton away.
Hanna walked over to her bag "It's on the list." she said taking her bag, walking over to the mirror and touching up her hair.
The reporter on the tv was reading the news for the day. "Over the area right now with a lot of warm air, but we've got a cold front moving in from the west right here behind me. In other news, Rosewood detective Darren Wilden held a press conference this morning."
The TV image shifted to Darren Wilden behind a podium, addressing the press. "The coroner did release his findings this morning, and although Alison Di Laurentis' body did show signs of a blunt-force head trauma, the cause of her death was suffocation." he announced before Ashley, seeing Hanna's sad face, turned the tv off.
Ashley sighed and looked back to her daughter "Are you okay going to school today?" she asked.
Hanna looked over to her mom and smiled slightly "Yeah. I'll be fine." she assured.
"Honey, I don't want to think about what the police are saying, and you shouldn't either. Try to remember Alison as the beautiful girl you knew." Ashley advised, causing Hanna to think about happy memories before she frowned and looked to her mother.
"I'm really sorry, mom." Hanna apologized.
"For what?" Ashley asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The cop." Hanna answered.
"Well, thanks to Naruto, nothing happened." Ashley said before she checked her watch and walked to the kitchen doorway. "Naruto! It's almost time for school, you don't want to be late!" she called before seeing Hanna putting on some lipstick "Is that amber rose? It's a good color for you. "
Hanna smiled at her mom, before their attention was given to Naruto who walked in putting on his John Varvatos Long Sleeve Mercerized Crew Neck "Morning." he announced grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl.
"Good morning." Hanna and Ashley said before Ashley walked over to him and gazed at him.
Naruto was about to take a bite of his apple when he noticed Ashley watching him "Yes?" he asked.
"I think I should tell you that curfew in this house on school nights is 10:00, you coming in at midnight is not ok." Ashley said as he raised an eyebrow, "Now I know that I'm not your mother, but I know that she raised you to know better."
Naruto paused for a moment, looking at down, before raising his gaze to Ashley's, nodding slowly, "Yeah, she did. I promise it won't happen again."
"Good." Ashley said, tapping Naruto's shoulder before she left with a goodbye.
Naruto looked to Hanna who was doing her makeup and tossed the roll of paper towels at her. "Hey!" Hanna yelled.
"Did you tell her I came in at midnight?" Naruto asked.
Hanna picked up the paper towels and threw them back at him "No." she said while Naruto gave her a look "I didn't, look come on before we're late."
Naruto sighed and grabbed his Everest backpack and followed Hanna out of the house.
Later
Naruto was putting some books into his locker when the gym coach walked up to him in the crowded hallway "Hey, Uzumaki!"
Naruto looked to the coach, "Yeah?"
"Every year for the 11th grade, we have a friendly basketball game between students. It helps promote teamwork, and comradery. It also helps members of our basketball team to warm up before the season starts. Now, it is mandatory for all boys to play, so we'll be expecting you there for PE." The Coach said.
"Sure, I'll be there." Naruto said, going back to putting his text books into his locker. He then caught sight of Emily being forced into a kiss by some guy, before she gave an uncomfortable smile, and watched her gaze over to the new girl, Maya.
Naruto extended his senses for a moment, and gained a knowing look. Naruto smirked and closed his locker before he walked off, placing an earbud into his ear, as he walked through the hallway passing by Hanna, and her boyfriend Sean Ackard, before the PA system went off.
"Will the following students please come to the office : Emily Fields, Aria Montgomery, Spencer Hastings, Hanna Marin."
The four girls were the only ones in the hallway and they all exchanged looks before heading to the office, when Aria's phone rung "Wait. It's from "A."
Hanna, and the girls walked over and looked at Aria's phone before Hanna read the message "Dead girls walking."
Looking at each other the girls slowly walked to the office.
Moments Later
The girls sat on the couch, while Detective Wilden illegally talked to them "So let's see... You thought you heard her scream." he said.
"I-I said that, yeah." Spencer replied
"And when you three woke up in the barn, Alison was gone, and so was Spencer." Darren said looking to the other three girls.
"Yes, I woke up before them, And I realized that Ali was missing, so..." Spencer began.
"So, you went looking for her." Darren interrupted as if he didn't believe a word she was saying.
"That's what happened." Spencer said
"I got that." Darren said looking to the girls, "So, what's up? Was this a slumber party, or...?"
"Is this an interrogation?" Spencer asked.
"No, just a routine follow-up. Why did you guys all fall asleep?" Darren asked.
"I guess we were tired." Aria shrugged.
"Tired? Really. Is that how you remember it, Hanna?" Darren asked the bored looking Hanna.
"Yeah." Hanna said.
"Yeah, you guys were tired." Darren repeated.
"Look, we've told you everything we know, just like we did the night she went missing." Spencer spoke up.
"I know, and you see, the thing is, it's almost exactly what you said last year- Almost like it was rehearsed."
"Like Spencer said, we've told you everything we know." Aria said.
Later
Gymnasium
The entire 11th grade was in the gyms for the basketball game, the girls were sitting together after their weird lunch with Jenna.
Naruto walked onto the court in a t-shirt, and black basketball shorts, jogging over to the couch he called "Coach." getting the man's attention as he was talking to his players "Which team am I on?"
With a smirk the coach pointed, "You're with them."
Naruto looked to see 4 nerds who looked like they've never played a sport in real life, Naruto glanced back to see the players were all jocks, with Noel Khan, Sean Ackard, and the guy he saw kiss Emily, Ben Coogan, at the forefront. They all had smirks on their faces while Naruto sighed and walked over to the nerds being able to recognize one of them from the AP classes he takes, and that was Lucas Gottesman.
Naruto looked at each of them and asked, "Show of hands, has anyone here besides me actually played basketball before?"
No one raised their hand, causing Naruto to sigh. "Maybe we should just forfeit." a short mousy looking guy offered.
"No. Look, just give me the ball and follow my lead. Do everything I say, when I say it. Alright?" Naruto said getting nods from the nerds.
Hanna, Mona, Aria, Spencer, Emily and Maya watched as Naruto was talking to the losers "They put Naruto on the nerd team. Ouch." Spencer said with a wince.
"Tell me about it." Mona said before she looked to Hanna "So who are you going to root for? Your best friend, or your boyfriend?"
Hanna looked between Naruto and Sean before she shrugged "I don't know." she said as some parents who had free time filed in and sat in the bleachers with their child including Peter, and Melissa Hastings.
Naruto sighed as he walked to the designated referee who flipped a coin "Heads or Tails?" he asked.
Naruto made to call 'Heads' but Lucas instinctively called out 'Tails'.
The ref pulled his hand up and said "It's heads, Team Ackard, you're inbound."
Naruto sighed and got into position as Ben passed Sean the ball, as Sean brought the ball up Naruto kept an eye on his teammates and watched as they were toyed with as Noel got the ball and sank a 3 pointer, before they all laughed and ran up court, thinking about how easy their win was going to be.
Naruto took off his t-shirt, revealing the sleeveless gray tank top he was wearing underneath, and tossed it onto the floor out of bounds and called for the ball from Lucas who passed it to him, slowly jogging up the court with the ball Naruto came to the 3 point line and shot the ball in Noel's face.
The ball going through the hoop easily caused everyone on the opposite team to go on guard, before Naruto watched as Sean passed the ball to Ben who put in a layup.
Lucas in bounded the ball only for Ben to catch it, and pass to Sean who shot a 3 pointer.
Naruto walked to stand in front of Lucas who tossed him the ball, and Naruto seeing that he was really the only one he could count on in this team, decided to actually play seriously. "I won't miss." he said to himself before he ran up the court, and Noel got in his path, dribbling the ball in his left hand Naruto looked at the cocky expression on Noel's face, before he smirked himself.
Naruto dribbled to his right hand before he dribbled between his legs back to his left hand looking as if he was about to go to the left, which Noel thought, but Naruto blew past him to the right, causing everyone's eyes to widen.
'He's fast!' they thought as Naruto made his way to the basket, but Sean got in front of him, but he was easily spun around as Naruto jumped and laid the ball in with a finger roll.
Naruto then jogged to the other side of the court and guarded Ben, who had the ball, Ben went to shoot a jumper, but Naruto smacked the ball away into one of his teammates hands, Team Ackard hurriedly got back into defense, as Naruto's team brought the ball up court, and passed it to Naruto as Sean guarded him at the 3 point line.
Dribbling with his right hand, Naruto glanced around the court and with a simple dribble between his legs he blew past Sean "Shit!" Sean yelled running after Naruto before Noel, and Ben both went to block Naruto's way, only for Naruto to stop quickly and jump shooting a fade away from the free throw line.
Noel grabbed the ball and threw it up court to Sean who was already running to the basket, catching the ball Sean went to dunk it, but Naruto slapped the ball from his hand coming up from behind him "No cherry picking." Naruto whispered to him as they both landed.
25 Mins Later
Team Uzumaki 35. Team Ackard 37
Naruto looked to the scoreboard and his eyes grew cold and focused. "Guess it's time to end this." he said getting the players attention.
While the males were recording the game, Hanna, and her friends along with every other female in the gym was ogling Naruto's sweaty, ripped physique.
Lucas threw Naruto the ball, as Naruto dribbled up court he saw Ben ready to try and stop him "Hope your ready." he said before Naruto dribbled between his legs to his right hand, and back between to his left, before he dribbled behind his back to his right quickly, before Naruto began to drive toward the basket but Ben stayed with him all the way, and saw Naruto smirk and before Ben knew it the ball was in midair behind him causing his eyes to widen but before he could make a move Naruto had spun around him, and grabbed ball.
Ben with a growl reached for the ball, but Naruto spun away from him, and dribbled the ball between Ben's legs, and grabbed the ball when Ben tried to spin around for it, with a step back beyond the 3 point line Naruto shot the ball sinking his shot like he's been doing through the whole game, making it a 1 point game with his team in the lead, Naruto smirked as he back peddled while Ben glared at him as he saw Emily and her friends cheering Naruto on. Noticing the score, he smirked as all he needed was a 3 pointer to win the game. He walked over to Noel and Sean, who were impressed with Naruto's skill.
"Give me the ball, I'll finish this." Ben said, getting shrugs from Noel and Sean.
Sean passed Noel the ball, and as Noel was bringing it up court he passed it over to Ben who was headed for the corner, Ben with a smirk caught the ball and went for the shot. But then Lucas of all people swatted the ball to a teammate that instantly passed it over to Naruto, who was headed up court, before with a one handed windmill dunk Naruto ended the game, causing his teammates and all the students who've been called Losers to rise to their feet and cheer loudly while Hanna and her friends clapped and screamed for him.
Naruto smiled as he gave Lucas and his other teammates a high five before he walked over to his towel and grabbed it to wipe the sweat from his face and body, before Hanna came over and hugged him when he wiped most of the sweat off. "Congratulations." she said, missing her boyfriends somewhat jealous look.
"Thanks." Naruto said before he looked over to Spencer who arrived with her sister, and father.
"Naruto, this is my father Peter, and my sister Melissa." Spencer introduced.
Naruto shook Peter's hand "Mr. Hastings, nice to meet you." he said before doing the same with Melissa.
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Uzumaki." Peter said.
'Oh boy.' Naruto thought, as whenever a grown man he has just met, starts to address him as Mr. Uzumaki, they usually follow it up with some ass kissing.
"That was quite the impressive game. I mean you single handily won the game for your team." Peter praised.
"Thank you, but if Lucas hadn't of made that block when he did, we would have still lost." Naruto said just as the bell rung "Excuse me, I have to take a shower and get to class. It was nice meeting you."
Naruto put his towel on his shoulder and grabbed his folded shirt, and pants and walked away.
Peter Hastings looked to his youngest daughter "Spencer, I don't care what you have to do, get on Naruto's good side. I want to get on his team of lawyers." he said.
Spencer looked at her dad and nodded slowly.
Later
Hanna's House
Hanna and Sean were at the kitchen table doing their homework. Well Sean was, Hanna was glancing at him repeatedly, before with a smile, she got up and walked to the fridge and got a soda. Walking back to the table, Hanna opened the soda and poured some into Sean's half empty glass.
"Thanks." Sean said before Hanna began to kiss his neck, causing him to smile awkwardly "Hanna." he said trying to move away.
"What?" Hanna asked still kissing his neck.
"It's too hard to stop if we go there." Sean said.
"Oh, come on, Sean. It's okay." Hanna assured before they kissed a little, before Sean turned away.
"Come on, Hanna, I..." Sean began but Hanna sighed in frustration and sat down grabbing her pen to do her homework but she paused and looked at Sean.
"You do like me like that, right?" Hanna asked.
"Yes." Sean said.
"I mean, maybe you don't... Still think of me as just a friend, the girl I used to be." Hanna said a little sadly before with a sigh Sean kissed her passionately before he pulled away.
"Do you kiss your friends like that?" Sean asked.
Hanna smiled "No." she said.
"Look... I like the girl you used to be, just like I like the girl you are now." Sean said assuredly.
"Is this waiting thing something you really want, or is it because of your dad?" Hanna asked.
"No, it's me. It's... It's my choice." He said.
The two looked at each other before they turned to see Naruto walk in, wearing a black muscle shirt and cargo shorts.
Seeing him open the fridge, Hanna spoke "You know, you don't have to do your homework alone, you could come study with us."
Pulling out a bottle of water, Naruto walked to the Island. "I finished my homework before leaving school today, besides I wouldn't want to get between you two, and whatever it is you both do. Truthfully, I'm surprised you guys weren't already ripping each others clothes off when I came downstairs." he said opening his bottle.
Hanna, and Sean blushed as Sean spoke "We're not sleeping together."
"Really?" Naruto asked surprised, pausing in drinking his water, looking at the couple with interest.
"Yeah, Sean wants to wait for marriage." Hanna said.
"Huh, I didn't know there was anyone in our generation that did that." Naruto said.
Sean couldn't help but glance at Naruto as he took another sip of his water, wondering why his girlfriend's oldest friend was staying in the same house as her. He understood they were friends, but did he really have to stay in the same house as her? Naruto noticed Sean's suspicious pondering, and couldn't really blame him, he would have felt the same if the roles were reversed, but he wasn't gonna leave anytime soon.
Naruto's attention went to the door as Ashley walked in with Chinese takeout, while she was on the phone "Let me take that." he said, taking the bag from her getting a smile from her.
"Hi, Mrs. Marin." Sean said, gathering up his books.
"We'll submit the loan docs in the morning. Okay. Great. Thanks." Ashley said hanging up the phone before she looked to Sean "Hi. How's the studying going?"
"Fine." Hanna said.
"Already finished." Naruto said, taking the groceries out of the bag.
Ashley, seeing Sean getting his things, said "Sean, you know you're welcome to stay for dinner."
"Thank you, Mrs. Marin but I promised my mom, that I'd be home for dinner." Sean said.
"Ok... well please tell your dad we really have been trying to make it to church, but I've been working on the weekends..."
"Oh, yeah, no. I'll let him know, Mrs. Marin. But it's okay. I mean, he understands. He works on the weekends too." Sean said causing Hanna and Ashley to smile while Naruto raised an eyebrow as he examined Hanna's boyfriend.
'He's awkward, and corny.' Naruto thought as Sean walked out the house and Ashley walked upstairs to wash up for dinner "So, you're saving yourself for marriage, huh? How old fashioned of you."
"Shut up." Hanna said shaking her head as she put up her books.
"What? It was a compliment. It's not exactly an easy road to follow." Naruto said sitting down next to her and drank from his bottle of water.
"Would you have sex with me?" Hanna suddenly asked, causing Naruto to choke on his water and cough.
"What?" Naruto asked, after he cleared his throat.
"If we were going out, would you have sex with me?" Hanna asked.
"In a heartbeat." Naruto said honestly, causing Hanna to blush.
"If you don't want to wait, you should talk to him about it." Naruto said, though he admittedly disliked the words he was saying himself.
"He knows that I don't want to, but no matter what I do, he won't budge or even compromise. He doesn't want to sleep with me." Hannah said sadly.
"Maybe he's gay." Naruto offered with chuckle, causing Hanna to slap his arm.
"I'm serious." She said.
"So was I." Naruto said seriously, as he listened to Hanna.
"Do you prefer the old me more, then the way I am now?" Hanna wondered after a moment.
"To be honest Hanna, the only difference I see is the fact that you lost weight, and your more confident in yourself. Other than that, you're still, the same beautiful, sweet, funny, smart girl that I befriended 10 Years ago." Naruto said with a smile that Hanna returned.
Hanna looked Naruto in the eye for a moment before she impulsively slammed her lips into his, before she pulled away and looked at him in shock, and before she knew it, she was leaning in to kiss him again.
Naruto and Hanna kissed each other lustfully and pulled away from each other when they heard Ashley coming down the stairs, Naruto quickly got up and walked to the island before he began to place the food on the table, while he and Hanna repeatedly glanced at each other.
Later
Montgomery House
Aria was in bed asleep, as she flinched repeatedly from her bad dream.
Dream
Aria was running through the school, hallway and ran into her English class. When she entered the scenery changed to a misty woods. She heard a sound and she turned, gasping in horror, as her father and Ezra were tied to trees, bound by chains with glowing symbols she could not understand or make sense of.
"Aria, glad you can make it." a voice said behind her causing her to turn around the man's face was cloaked in shadow from the hood of his jacket, the only thing she could make out was fangs.
"W-who are you?" Aria asked.
The man's smile widened but he didn't answer the question, instead pointing to the chair directly behind her. "Have a seat, sweetheart."
Aria hesitantly sat down. "What's going on?" she whispered.
The man then spoke "Now Byron, you were explaining the reason you made your daughter lie to her mother, and keep your infidelity a secret."
"I-I don't know, I just panicked. I didn't want to lose Ella." Her father stuttered.
"If you didn't want to lose your wife, then why did you cheat on her?" the man asked.
"I...I don't know, it just happened." Byron said,
"Oh, that's not nearly good enough." The man said as he walked over to Byron. "For the sin of committing adultery, you shall die." In a flash, he was behind Byron and feeding on him causing Aria to scream. Dropping the corpse, the man stepped over it, and made his way to the frozen Ezra and leaned close "Ready to share your secrets?"
"I-I have no secrets." Ezra said as he squirmed in his chains.
The hooded man smirked widely "You just had to go and lie." he said before he grabbed Ezra by his throat and made to take a bite out of him.
End Dream
"NO!" Aria screamed as she shot up breathing heavily. Unseen by her, her eyes flashed golden.
Later
Aria sat at the kitchen table fiddling with her plate "Rough night?" Ella asked her.
Aria looked up to her mother "Just a weird dream." she said.
"Well do you want to talk about it?" Ella asked.
"It was..." Aria stopped speaking when her dad walked in, although she missed her expression "I'll tell you later, I'm going to be late." she said grabbing her bag and walking out of the house.
"What's wrong with Aria?" Byron asked
"I don't know." Ella said, leaving Byron with a worried feeling.
Marin House
Naruto was in the kitchen sipping on a bloodbag, he was home alone, as Ashley had work, and Hanna went to the mall with Mona using his car.
Disposing of the empty bag, Naruto went to the cupboards and found six basic candles. He placed them all symmetrically around him and lit them with magic, the candle flames were blue.
Naruto sat down in a pentagram of salt, cross-legged and assumed a meditative position, holding his hands on his knees. He clenched his hands into fists and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He then began chanting. He was using a spell to try to feel out some of the hidden ancestries within this town.
His mind's eye first came upon Aria. His mind's eye then changed to Spencer, before finally shifting to Radley Sanitarium, deep beneath the sanitarium, where a blonde woman was chained to the walls.
He opened his eyes and smirked. Qetsiyah had been right. There were hidden ancestries within this town. To think that this seemingly innocent town held a treasure trove of untapped supernatural potential.
Aria was an interesting case, to say the least. The Old Religion, which was the ways of magic that was practiced by the Druids and magic folk of Britain, until the practice died out when Camelot fell, had not been seen for many years. Aria's ancestry must trace back there, because that brand of magic can't be used if you didn't have the right bloodline. He didn't sense any magic coming from her mother, clearly she was where Aria got it from, but she must not know about her heritage.
Spencer definitely had werewolf blood, though were she got it was anyone's guess, as he checked and neither of her parents had it. Though perhaps, there was more to Spencer's lineage than meets the eye. He would have to look into it more.
That woman beneath Radley definitely looked familiar, though he was having a hard time placing it.
'Regardless,' Naruto said as he began to clean up, 'I'm looking forward to what happens next.'
Chapter End