I get a ride from Spencer to the school and we see that the parking lot is already pretty packed, which means inside would be just as full. The whole ride is slightly quiet, me trying to wrap my head around things while she seems to not know what to say. Eventually though she reassures me that things will be okay and that when I get the chance I need to tell Aria what happened. I tell her I will, but that this would be best to hold out till tomorrow rather than ruining everyone's night.

When we head inside we see Emily, Aria and Hanna just getting in line to check in. So we go over and stand in line behind them. My nerves have the best of me a bit as I try not to think about the conversation I just had with Spencer and say my hellos. Luckily though a loud, "Jessie!" Saves me from getting interrogated by Aria on why I sent a panicked voicemail when I left for Spencer's. When I turn to the voice I see that it's Aunt Ella who yelled my name and is standing at the check in table. "I need you!"

I look at Aria, eyebrows raised in some confusion. "Any ideas what your mom needs me for that she couldn't ask you?"

She shrugs and pouts out her bottom lip a bit as if confused as well, "Maybe it has to do with height and you're taller than both of us?"

That was honestly the last thing I expected her to say as I half laugh, shrugging a bit. "I mean, possibly, but I'm barely taller."

Now she smiles up at me, "Tall enough that she's never asked me." She wiggles her eyebrows as if happy I'm the one being called over for a favor, "Go, before mom has to repeat herself."

I put my hands up in surrender, pretending to be fearful. "God forbid she does that." I say playfully and she smiles as I add, "I'll be right back then." I head over to the check in area and hug her when I get there. "What's up, Aunt Ella?"

She smiles. "Hey, babygirl." I smile back, looking at the girls as they seem to be staring my way and then avert my eyes back to my aunt, staring down at her being a few inches shorter when she starts talking again. "Okay." She says, "Do you see that guy over there?"

I blink in confusion, taken off guard by this random question as I look over to who she's pointing to. I can see that a tall guy is standing with his back to us by the DJ in casual clothes. "Yeah?" I stare back at her, waiting for more.

She turns and stares up at me, "He told me to let you know that he needs to talk to you. So I'm going to let you sign in now and go over there."

I feel my heart sink a bit because now paranoia from getting anonymous text messages has me on alert, "Do I know him?"

"Mhm." Aunt Ella smiles slyly, handing me the sign in sheet. She doesn't even listen to my pleas of wanting to know more when I sign my name in and then she scoots me over towards the door when I'm done.

I turn to look at her, not wanting to be forced to see someone when I'm not sure who it is. But the fact she's so confident while ushering me with the motion of her hands to go I just take a breath and walk over with a few seconds of panic in my head before I'm behind the guy, slowly tapping his shoulder now.

When he turns around my face brightens up in excitement almost in an instant. I must have had the most ridiculous smile when I recognized the tall man with light skin, freckles on his face, red hair and bright green eyes right away. "Bobby!" I yell.

He smiles down at me without hesitation, "Hey there little cuz." He says in Spanish.

I start turning red, shaking my head as I say back in the same language. "I'm not little anymore."

Bobby is my first cousin from my aunt (dad's twin sister). He's only two years older than me but he loves to joke and remind me that those two years make me younger than him. We've always been really close growing up so if I didn't see him when we went to visit then he and his mom (his parents divorced when he was five) would come around to see us. Other than some of mom and dad's old friends, Aunt Casey and Bobby are part of the few to visit Rosewood and actually like it.

We managed to get even closer though when his mom had let us stay with them one summer for the sake of being able to stay longer than a weekend. That of course was the good old days, because once my parents and Jeff died his mom was one of the ones who got upset with me when I stayed here in Rosewood instead of going back with my family to New Jersey. She wasn't as harsh as the others because she'd still check up on me here and there, but it wasn't the same. So this is the first time I'm seeing him since the funeral.

I always forget how much Jeff looked like Bobby though. The differences besides their age had been that Jeff was a slightly darker skin tone, had light brown eyes and no freckles. Other than Jeff getting those details from our mom I can still see the resemblance he had from dad's side of the family. The proof being plain as day in Bobby's case.

He gives me a hug, holding on tightly. "You've grown a bit since the last time I saw you." He continues in Spanish and it feels good to hear because I'm not used to speaking or hearing the language anymore since my family was normally the only ones who spoke it to me.

I smile and laugh softly from that comment, closing my eyes. I take a deep breath, smelling that familiar scent that now comforts me before pulling away a few seconds later as I keep our language going. "That's the beauty of not growing fast as a kid and still having more years to grow."

He laughs and smiles brightly at me, as if not able to believe he's here with me. "That it is."

I smile more, backing up a bit to stare up without straining my neck. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes light up now, "I decided to transfer to Hollis after Christmas vacation." Then he makes a ta-da gesture for a surprise he adds, "I need to check out rental spots for apartments."

"You're moving here?" I switch back to English, my eyes are wide in excitement as he nods with a sly smile and I know exactly why he's doing that. "Against your mom's orders not to be around me?"

He smiles a bit more and waves his hand in the air dismissively. I'm not sure how I feel about him seeming to have a joking gesture when it comes to this situation. The entire family hates me, and the way Katie reacted makes me nervous. "She'll get over it."

I half smile up at him, pressing my lips together. "Well, that's great. We'll get to hang out more."

He smiles a bit, cocking his head as if he picked up on my hesitation, but seems to not want to bring that up. So instead he says, "Have any recommendations on where to stay?"

I put a thinking face on, then shake my head a bit. "I mean, I'd offer you the apartment above the store but it's not really that livable at the moment."

"What's wrong with it?"

"It's a bit moldy. The walls and ceilings are starting to crack. Not very safe."

He makes a whistling noise and nods, knowing that would be a lot of work. "Yeah, I wouldn't take my chances on inhaling that mold."

"Oh trust me I know. I've been thinking of moving in there, but I don't have the money to fix it up right now."

"I feel that." he says with a nod, staring around the dance floor. People are still piling in while the DJ heads over to his booth now.

I stare where he's looking as well. Every dance or special event the school transforms the lunchroom and it always makes it unrecognizable. "But anyway. I know they have apartments for the Hollis students around town. There's a building next to the store that I think they rent some of the apartments for them. Check there."

He nods and gives me a playful knock on the chin with his fist, "Sounds like a plan."

I smile and shake my head playfully to his action, "And if you need a job then I got that covered."

"Sports store?" His eyebrows raise slightly.

I smirk now, because he knows I'd put him to work hardcore if he ends up there. "Sports store."

He half smiles, seeming to consider it. The silence between us gets more noticeable and then he says. "I heard that Katie popped up in town a few weeks back."

My heart sinks as I try not to think too much into it before I half smile at him, biting my lip now. "Yeah. Not the best reunion."

He gives me a sad look, nodding like he knew that was going to be my reaction. "I tried to talk to her about it. To not be pushy and rush here as if you'd be happy to see her."

I half laugh now, rolling my eyes. "Oh trust me. That's exactly what she did." I rub the back of my head, "I mean, granted she did try to be friendly and subtle on knowing that I didn't want anything to do with her. So I gave her props on that. We went to get food and things were fine." I shake my head in annoyance now, "But then she blurted out the whole situation with the family wanting me to go back to Jersey City and that completely blew up in her face. I wanted nothing to do with that mess of a conversation."

He sighs and presses on the bridge of his nose a bit, his eyes closed. "Leave it to Katie to not have a plan to execute something fragile."

I half smile, wanting to tell him that she had a plan and it involved smacking me around to get her way. But then I think twice, because that wouldn't be a good idea."She's determined, that's for sure."

"There you are." Spencer's voice comes from beside us, making me sigh in relief that she saved me from having to continue talking about Katie as we both look at her. Then she catches sight of Bobby as her eyes scan up a bit to him since he's barely taller than her and smiles. "Hey."

Bobby smiles back at her and points at her questioningly, "Spencer, right?"

She nods with an impressed look on her face, "Good memory."

He gives a look like he's being cocky, "It happens."

She laughs now, staring at me like she remembers how much of a goofball he is. "Well it's nice to see you again."

He nods quickly, "Same to you." he smiles and then adds, "And thanks for taking care of my favorite cousin when there was no one there for her. It's much appreciated."

Spencer half smiles, my face going a little red. We both know that not many people would have taken me in or helped me evade my crazy family. But the fact that we also know her parents weren't the greatest when I was living with them in certain things makes it a little awkward. However, she nods. "It was our pleasure. Jessie is like a sister to me. I'd do anything for her."

A blur of someone small all of a sudden tackles Bobby from behind and I start cracking up when I notice who it is. "Hi, Bobby!" Aria yells.

He topples for a second, catches his footing and then manages to turn to her and his face lights up. "Shorty!"

Everyone gives a small smile as her face starts to turn red, "I hate that name."

He laughs and nudges her playfully, "I know. That's why I say it." He puts a goofy face and it makes her laugh. "How's it feel to be back in Rosewood?"

She gives a little shrug and a so-so hand movement, "If it wasn't for my friends I would have never come back."

I smile and give a playful look, "Aww, she loves us."

Everyone smiles at my words and Aria just rolls her eyes with a laugh, "Maybe I should have stayed in Iceland." she smirks.

"Oh I see how it is." I laugh and shake my head. Then when I look back at Bobby I see he's staring at me with an awed-like expression and smile. So I blink confusingly at him, "What?".

He shrugs and shakes his head a bit, "Oh nothing." he says in Spanish now, "I just missed you and am glad to see you smiling again."

I smile up at him and take a breath, "I missed you too." I say back in Spanish before hugging him.

...

After a few more minutes of talking and the crowd big enough to officially start the dance, the music becomes loud and we all react to the first song that pops up.

"I love this song!" Most people yell out over the music from around the room, even Spencer and Emily scream out as they start to sway to the beat. Then I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around, smiling when I see it's Andrew. "Well there you are, stranger."

He laughs and leans in to kiss me, "Sorry to interrupt."

I shake my head, kissing him back. "No. It's okay." I look at Bobby and tap his arm, "This is my cousin, Bobby. Bobby, this is Andrew. My..."

"Boyfriend." Andrew cuts in with his hand out for a shake, "Nice to meet you."

Bobby shakes his hand but he has a straight face, "Boyfriend, huh?" Andrew nods in response, "You're treating my cousin right? Making sure she's okay after everything she's been through?"

Andrew nods slowly, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. "Yes. Of course." He has a bit of a shaky tone to his voice and it makes me smile a bit to see that he's reacting that way. Usually boys who are this way around family members mean that they actually care.

I look at the girls and they all give me a smile. I can swear they are trying to even hide their laughs. Then I see Spence add a wink to her reaction.

"Good." Bobby says, "Now if I find out you break her heart, don't expect to have your balls intact when I'm through with you."

"Bobby!" I yell, mouth hanging open in shock.

He looks at me and I'm sure he can tell I was trying not to laugh, because I can feel myself about to lose it. The girls all turn their heads to keep their faces out of view and I know for a fact they're cracking up.

"Knock it off." I add, licking my lip and then biting it to keep myself from laughing.

"Hey." He says, putting his hands up in surrender. "I'm looking out for my little cousin. You're like a sister to me."

I smile and nod with gratitude. "I know. But chill."

He sighs, but I know it's him being dramatic about it. "Oookay."

I smile more, "You sticking around?"

He shrugs and gives me an 'Eh I don't know' look.

"What? Mr. College man is too old to be hanging with high school kids now?"

He laughs and smirks. "I'll hang around for a bit. Then I'll go check into the Rosewood Motel."

"You can probably stay with us." Aria says loudly over the music.

We both look at her, "Seriously?" He asks with a shocked look.

"I'll have to ask my dad, but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He knows you pretty well."

"Isn't that your dad now?" Bobby says, looking over at the entrance.

Uncle Byron is standing at the check in spot talking to Aunt Ella. They look like they are actually getting along for once in a long time. All their fights while they were under the same roof and her moving out have had a toll on us, and even left them basically in the worst of moods. But being friendly at this point even if it's just a little bit makes my heart leap in some hope that this could be good for us all.

"Oh." Aria says in surprise, making me know that seeing her parents near each other at all is a miracle. "Yeah. I'll go talk to him now." She then smiles and walks away.

I feel a nudge of an elbow to my arm, looking upward. "Dance?" Andrew says when I look up at him.

"Uhh..."

He puts his hand out, like gentlemen do. Bobby has that look like he's threatening him with his eyes, while the girls are giving me a look as if telling me to go with him. Then Spencer gets a little closer and gives me a bit of a shove towards Andrew.

"Hey." I whisper.

"Go!" She whispers back.

I half smile before turning to my boyfriend and grab his hand, feeling him squeeze mine gently in his. "That's why we are here right?"

He nods and kisses me on the cheek, his smile bright. "That's what I thought the point of a dance was for."