It's been three years since Alison went missing, and I am now a 16 years old orphan. Not too long ago my dad lost control of his car from a dog running across the street, making me the only survivor from a four family household. I'm now living with the Hastings family, where it sadly doesn't feel like I'm wanted. Sure, I have Spencer, who has changed her attitude once she was no longer in Alison's group, but her family is too keen on being "perfect" to really notice either of us as more than just their slightly "imperfect" daughter and someone they fostered into their family for publicity. They may not say that I'm publicity, but I know better from them being two popular lawyers in Rosewood. I mean, yeah, they helped me out in more ways than I can count. They took me in, put a roof over my head with food and a room to sleep in, and especially the help they gave in order to keep me from having to move to New Jersey with family members I didn't like after the accident. I'll be so grateful for that forever, but that doesn't mean they actually care or love me as more than a win for their reputations. They became more on the top of the list of lawyers after their generous win.

Why I say they don't seem to care is because they don't really pay attention to me. I live with them but they haven't had much part in my life. Despite all the things they have done for me that's about as far as they've gone to put any effort into noticing I'm around. In the beginning they here and there did try to comfort me when I had nightmares, restless nights of no sleep, not being able to eat from being depressed. But after a while it felt more like I was in the way than anything else, and instead of them watching over me it became Spencer's job to be there. I know the difference between genuine caring compared to forced even when they were attempting to be a parental figure. The only person who cares in that house is Spencer, who has always been different from her family, because unlike them she's nice to everyone and isn't a jerk. Her parents and sister like to remind the town of their popularity and how rich they are, while she is the complete opposite and doesn't enjoy the attention. The Hastings name goes a long way in this town with a lot of other rich families around here and I'm so glad Spencer didn't turn out like them.

"I'm going for a walk." I tell Peter and Veronica Hastings as I get to the bottom of the stairs to the family room, staring to see that they are both on their computers, stacks of papers from a case scattered around them.

Neither of them seemed to notice I had said a word as I just walked off to the backdoor and through the yard till I'm at the gate to their driveway. I really needed to get out of the house so while I was in my room I decided that I probably should taket a walk around town, not successfully considering I messed up my leg in the accident and have a slight limp. I had broken my leg when it happened, but since the cast got taken off a couple weeks ago it's still taking some time to get used to walking without crutches and have to go to physical therapy. But it's better than being bored or feeling alone as I try to not let my past affect me. It's not the easiest thing of course, to constantly remember that they are gone.

I'm on the streets of Rosewood for a while until I aimlessly end up in front of my dad's sports store, or now my store considering it was left to me, along with some money I'm not able to touch till I turn 18. It's crazy to me that the store and the money should have actually been for both me and my brother Jeff, but since he passed as well, it's just mine. I can't decide what hurts more. Being on my own without them, or knowing that half of what I got was his.

Now here's the kicker from my parents documents of who would look after their kids if they died. It wasn't the Hastings family, and sure as hell wasn't my distant family members in New Jersey. It was my parents' best friends, the Montgomery's who are titled to be my guardians. Which was fantastic, except, they moved off to Iceland with their son Mike and Aria. They left when Alison disappeared to give Aria some time away from here and I haven't been able to get in contact with them since the accident. A few weeks before this all happened, Aria told me that her dad wanted to go on a "no electronics binge" for family time. So they fell off the face of the earth, with no replies from the emails I've been sending about what happened. I need them more than ever and they are not able to be reached. Even the Hastings have tried.

Once at the store I stare at it for a long time, remembering all the memories. This is the first time I've been able to come here and have the courage to open up as I grab the keys from my black cargo shorts and unlock the door. My mind races and I stare around the space, it's filthy and looks old despite it being renovated when my dad first bought it when I was around 10. The security system and camera are still outdated and the apartment attached to the store above it is unlivable, but the store is in pretty good shape otherwise.

"Jessie?"

I hear my name being called gently from behind me, making me jump a little before turning my head. I blink as I see a short girl with dark brown hair and a Hawaiian complexion staring at me from the sidewalk. It is Mona Vanderwaal, the same girl that Alison picked on as kids, except she isn't a "geek" anymore. Mona is now THE popular girl everyone wants to be friends with, and she just so happens to be standing there with a large designer bag over her shoulder. Her big dark brown eyes look upset, or more cautious as she watches me with what I recognize is concern. Everyone looks at me like that these days.

"I thought that was you."

I half smile, putting the keys back into my pocket and fully turn to look at her from a distance. For the last few months I've been on and off going to school. Mostly from grieving and recovering from my injuries, but also because I can't stand to see people stare at me like a lost puppy. So I haven't really seen anyone other than a handful of friends who insist on visiting me. "Nice day for a walk isn't it?" I try to pull off a quick way to not bring up what I know she wants to say.

By the look on her face and the way she's smiling sadly, I know it didn't work. "Do the Hastings know you're here?"

I bite my lip, staring back at my dad's old store and shake my head. "No. But they aren't my parents. They don't need to know my every move." As harsh as that sounded, it was the only way to make me feel better at the fact they don't really treat me like family, or like they see me mostly as a court case.

When I look back I see the concern in her eyes expand as she walks closer and I just sigh. Me and her have been friends since Alison started bothering her, even when no one else was her friend I made sure she knew I was. So when she became popular she added me to her possy because I'm a jock. But I'm the type of jock who hates the "I'm better than you because I'm popular" concept, while she absolutely loves it because she was picked on so bad as a kid that now it's basically her job to rub it into everyone's face. She's more of a bully if you're beneath her. I know, ironic right? That she became exactly the person who used to pick on her years ago. But unlike some I know there's a good person behind the mask she wears.

When she gets in front of me she sets her hands to my arms and rubs them gently in comfort, "You know we're rooting for you to be you again, right?" She says softly, concerned. "Me, Han, Noel and Sean. Everyone."

I half smile, she's talking about all our popular friends of course. Hanna Marin, aka Alison's old bestie. Noel Kahn and Sean Ackard, who have both been best friends for years and have always been at the top. Noel because his family is as "famous" as the Hastings. Sean, because of his friendship with Noel and having money. They never knew what it was like to be at the bottom.

Then finally I sigh and nod as I say, "Yes, Mona. I know. And I appreciate it. I do." I'm always so tense these days that I don't notice my stress till I relax to her touch, "I'm just not in the mindset to really let people in right now."

She gives a soft smile, a mix between not sure how to react and being sincere. "How about I buy you a coffee from The Brew?" This is our local coffee shop a couple buildings down, "And then I'll come back here and help you clean up the store a bit?"

I blink at her, staring her straight into the eyes as I'm a good couple of inches taller than her. I could swear she was making a joke, because Mona isn't the type of person who would do the work for anyone outside of herself and maybe even Hanna. "You're serious?" I finally say, raising an eyebrow.

She smiles and nods, pulling her hands away from my arms and closes the store door behind me. "Yes. Come on. I'm running low on energy, I need caffeine."

I wait for her to start laughing or something as I once again take out my keys and lock the store door, then turn back to her. "Alright, alright. If you insist."

She smiles and loops her arm between mine, slowly pulling me towards The Brew since my leg is still recovering. "I do. This place will look good as new when we are done with it."

...

Throughout the few months of the remaining school year I've been hanging with Mona a lot more than I intended to, and people have definitely noticed an increase in me being around her. Sure I've been in this crew for a while, but I wasn't always around them like I am now and I'll tell you now that being around them has made this thing called school a lot better to tolerate. The only problem is that now I'm "home" more since I have nowhere else to be now that it's summer. Honestly, if it wasn't for Spencer I don't know if I'd be able to live through their lack of affection towards me.

Now a week into summer break I'm relaxing with no plans in my bedroom, playing video games so I can block out the world for a while. That is until Peter Hastings storms into the room without so much as a knock, practically ordering me to get out of the house because he has clients coming over and doesn't want me in the house. First off, he wasn't nice about it, and two, I thought it was because he didn't want any kids here, however, that wasn't the case. It turns out since I'm not actually his child he preferred it just be a family dinner with his and Veronica's clients. That of course made me feel awesome (note my sarcasm).

After a second of putting everything together I get to my feet, not having a very nice look on my face as I turn off my video game and grab my things from the drawer of my nightstand. I put my cell phone and keys into my pocket with my wallet and then walk over towards the door. "What was the point of taking me in if you aren't going to treat me like I matter?" I say with an attitude as I go into the hallway.

I hear footsteps from behind me and then feel a hand grab me around my elbow, turning me to look at the face of Peter. "What did you say to me?" he sounds a little heated as he says this.

I stare up at him for a few long seconds, my eyebrows slanting in anger because I've had enough. "I said, why take me in if I don't matter?" This time I say it in a way as if he is an idiot. "I've been here for months and you guys act as if I'm a burden."

He narrows his eyes deeply at me, his grip tight on my arm as he holds onto me, making me wince a little. "Would you rather go to New Jersey to that family of yours then? The ones who were going to snatch you out of Rosewood without asking what you wanted?"

"I would rather be with a family who cares about me." My voice is raised slightly now as I yank my arm away from his hand, "You and Veronica have acted as if I'm not even here. You guys are too busy working or making sure I'm up to date with your family ways to even see me for me. Or to notice that I'm still a complete mess all the time. I need that father and mother figure, and you aren't that."

Now his eyes soften, as if he hears what I'm saying for the first time since I've been in this house. But by then it's too late, because I had already turned around and stomped my way down the stairs. When I get to the bottom I grab my skateboard and head out the back door with a slam behind me, and then walk out through the gate. My mind races as I think of what I said. I'm not wrong, obviously, and I sure as hell don't feel safe there since they don't feel like family. But I probably could have been less harsh about it.

Before I know it I somehow end up at Mona's. I was skating around town and it's like my subconscious just decided it was better to be there than anywhere else while half dazed out through the whole ride. I'm lucky I didn't kill someone, or even myself for that matter. So once I notice where I am, I kick up my board to my hands and walk up the steps of Mona's house. I take a breath, slightly hesitating before knocking gently on her door. I half wish that the door won't open to give me an excuse not to talk to anyone, but then her mom answers. I internally sigh when she comes into view and replace my upset look with a soft smile instead. I know that Mona has been there for me more than most (my own fault because of my stubbornness to let people into my emotions) so I know other than Spencer that she would be able to put me into a better mood.

"Jessie." Mrs. Vanderwaal says with a smile back.

"Hi, Mrs. Vanderwaal. Is Mona home?"

She smiles more and invites me inside, "Mona is upstairs. Playing her French records again." She closes the door and then heads towards the kitchen, "I'm making cookies. Would you like some?"

I smile gently and nod, "That sounds wonderful, Mrs. Vanderwaal. Thank you." She just nods and walks off into the kitchen as I make my way upstairs.

Once I get to Mona's door I see that it is closed so I knock, but her music is pretty loud and she seems not to hear me. So after standing here for a few seconds longer I slowly open it and peek my head inside the half open door. "Mona?" I look around and see her by her desk, brushing the hair to one of her porcelain dolls and her head turns towards me.

For a second it looks like her eyes are dark and unseeing, kind of glazed over, which kind of creeps me out. But then they twinkle into light and she smiles at me before she stands and walks over, opening the door fully for me. "You're just in time for my favorite part of the song." She says as she ushers me in and tells me to sit onto her bed. She has always loved the French culture, playing their music, watching their movies and shows. Photos and dolls. You name it she has it.

So I sit here quietly, smiling softly at her nerdy side coming out. She doesn't do this very often in front of people, but I like that she's able to with me. Especially since I'm into different geeky fandoms like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, or that I like to play video games. So why not allow her to be her true self. She may be miss queen bee now, but that isn't how she started and that isn't how I want her to continue to live her life around me. I like this Mona, not the Mona who fakes being a drama queen just because she used to be picked on.

Once she's done with her little geekiness we talk for hours, eat cookies and just relax. It's rare to say that anyone outside of Aria or Spencer would be able to make me feel better, but Mona has figured out how to do that very quickly.