Warning: attempted assault

Throughout the day, Emily had received disapproving looks and jeering whispers. Students had blocked her path in the hallways, and when she tried to enter classrooms, she also got stopped. Lunchtime was no better, since they blocked the entrance to the cafeteria as well.

The principal had pulled her aside, wondering what was going on. Emily had told him about Ben's rumor and seen a spark of sympathy in his eyes, but his responsibility to keep order came first. So if the rumors persist, she might need to stay home. Emily couldn't afford that. Staying home meant her mother would find out, leading to lectures about losing a "good boy" like Ben. If only she knew he was the devil.

The principal told her he'd talk to Ben about his behavior, but that did little to improve her mood, since the atmosphere at swim practice was just as harsh. The girls who admired her now shunned her. When they weren't avoiding her, they gathered around Paige McCullers. Unfortunately, she'd bought into Ben's lies and was now spreading gossip about her during practice.

Emily was frustrated that the team was chatting instead of practicing. She hated wasting time, so she left the pool, refusing her coach's demand to return. She headed to the locker room, intending to change and leave. But, of course, she bumped into the last person she could tolerate—Mona.

"Watch it, Mona."

"Oh, sorry," Mona replied sarcastically. "Sometimes it's hard for a bad influence like me to see where I'm going."

Once she emphasized "bad influence," Emily knew Hanna had been revealing her negative comments about Mona. Mona was clearly unhappy.

"What are you doing here? School's out," Emily demanded, crossing her arms.

"I had a few questions for Mr. Fitz. Is that a problem?"

"You're a problem, and Hanna needs to stay away from you."

Mona came closer, her eyes full of malice. "Hanna's not going anywhere. And if you try to take her away from me, it'll be the last thing you ever do."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise."

"You're trying to intimidate the wrong person. I'm not afraid of you, Mona," Emily replied, standing her ground.

"Mhm." Mona eyed her up and down. "You know, I never thought you'd sleep with Toby Cavanaugh. I thought you had higher standards."

"And I thought you had a mind of your own," Emily retorted. "Ben's heartbroken, so he's trying to ruin my life. That's all it is."

"Ben doesn't lie."

"Then you don't know him," Emily said. "Honestly, do you know yourself? You're a shadow of who you used to be. I liked you better as a nerd."

"I liked you better when you weren't so vocal," Mona shot back. "We can't always get what we want, can we?"

Emily rolled her eyes and turned to leave, but Mona grabbed her arm. "Let me make one thing clear, Emily," she growled, inches from Emily's face. "Unlike you, I look out for my friends. Like Ben."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, you obviously didn't look out for Alison. Otherwise she'd still be alive."

Alison. Her secret girlfriend.

Alison, the person she loved more than anything.

Alison, who was now gone forever.

Emily was partly to blame. She shouldn't have fallen asleep during the sleepover. Had she been more alert, Alison might not have left the barn. Then she wouldn't have died.

Emily had promised to always be there for Alison. But she failed, since she didn't protect her when it mattered most. So while Emily deserved better than Ben, Alison deserved better than her.

Mona knew her words had upset her. Emily could tell by her smirk. She didn't want to give Mona the satisfaction of watching her break down. She just wanted to go home and deal with her misery alone. "Whatever. Stay out of my way."

Emily rushed past her, her frustration clear in her hurried stride. As she did, she heard Mona say, "You're going to Noel's party, right?!"

Emily turned. "He's having a party?"

"Yes, to welcome our new arrivals," Mona said. "If I were you, I'd make sure you look your best. You know, because you usually look a mess."

That couldn't be further from the truth. But since she didn't believe it, Emily would have to prove Mona wrong.

Aria's day hadn't been so terrible. But for Emily and Spencer, it had. Ben had turned the school against Emily, which irritated Aria because Emily wasn't the person Ben made her out to be. She'd never cheat, especially not with creepy Toby, who shouldn't be anywhere near Rosewood.

Aria hesitated to expose Ben's lie, fearing Emily's reaction. Maybe she didn't want to look weak. Maybe she preferred to stand up for herself without someone rushing in to save her. Aria held back because of that.

Then there was Spencer. She was usually engaged in class, but now she avoided looking at Ezra for the entire lesson, except for one moment. When Ezra asked the class a question and was met with silence, Spencer, knowing the answer, begrudgingly raised her hand. But Ezra ignored her and called on Aria instead. He was clearly afraid that Spencer might disclose their relationship.

Spencer's disgust was evident when he chose Aria. Aria had wanted to talk to her after class. She wanted to explain, to help Spencer understand her feelings for Ezra. But something stopped her. Maybe it was Spencer's negative mood, or her fear of getting shut down. She didn't think Spencer would cooperate.

Aria knew she couldn't put off the discussion forever. She needed her friends to accept Ezra and see him the way she did. He deserved that much. But today wasn't the day to force the issue. She'd deal with it tomorrow, because she needed to focus on the family outing her mother had insisted on. Aria didn't mind spending time with her mother and Mike; she adored them; but her father was a problem. It became even more of a problem when he sat across from her. Now she'd have to see his face for the entire meal.

When the waiter arrived, Mike and Aria both ordered fries and burgers. Her mother chose a poppy seed dessert with coffee, and Aria didn't care what her father ordered. They talked about their day until their food arrived. Mike whined as soon as he saw his plate.

"They forgot my ketchup!"

Aria gave him a quick look. "It's not the end of the world, Mike."

"Yes it is! Who eats fries without ketchup?"

"Me," Aria said, showing off her ketchup-free fries and grinning as she popped one in her mouth.

"Yeah, well, you're weird."

"Please don't fight over ketchup," Ella said from across the table. "We're supposed to be bonding."

"I need ketchup!" Mike repeated.

Ella groaned and rubbed her temples. "Okay, let's go get it."

They went inside, leaving Byron and Aria alone. Aria looked away, but he kept chatting, oblivious to her hint. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"

"It's another day of keeping your secret from Mom, so no."

Byron huffed. "We're supposed to get along, Aria. Can you at least fake a smile?"

Aria stared at him with serious eyes. "I don't like to fake anything, unlike you."

He exhaled in defeat, knowing nothing he said would matter. She'd never respect him. Just then, a beautiful woman with green eyes, long blonde hair, and a heart-shaped face greeted him. Aria noticed the alarm on his face. And when he spoke, his voice sounded tight.

Aria narrowed her eyes at the woman because she looked familiar. She concentrated more on her features, which triggered a flashback. It was the woman she and Alison had seen Byron kissing in the backseat of his car. She was his mistress, and Aria gave him the sharpest look she could manage because he had some nerve.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt," the woman said.

"No, it's okay. We're just eating," Byron said, his voice strained. Aria's fiery glare made him swallow hard. He tried to ease the tension by introducing them. "Um, Aria, this is Meredith Sorenson. She teaches in my department. And this is Aria, my daughter."

"Oh, Aria! Hi," Meredith greeted, but Aria didn't respond. She noticed her father looking back inside the restaurant, as if to make sure Ella wasn't coming. That was all Aria needed to know. He was still up to no good.

"Did you get my message?" Meredith asked him.

Aria raised her eyebrows. They were messaging each other, too? It was funny how, despite his many apologies, he didn't mention any of this.

"Yes I did. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to call you back."

"That's okay. They just need the referral by Monday."

"I'll get to it as soon as I get back to campus. Is there an email, or...?"

"Here," Meredith said, opening a binder to show him the email. As Byron wrote it down, she gave Aria a polite grin. "How does it feel to be home? This town must seem dull after spending a year overseas."

"Not really," Aria said dryly.

"Okay, I'll send it," Byron said, finishing his note.

"Thanks," Meredith said, staring at him longer than necessary. "I'm so glad I ran into you." She turned to Aria, her smile widening. "Nice to meet you. Welcome home."

She walked away, and Aria scowled at her the whole time. Then she turned to her father. "That's her, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's her, Aria."

"So you're seeing her again?"

"She's a teaching assistant at Hollis, so I see her, but not like that," Byron told her.

"Well, you have to change jobs. You can't be around her," Aria urged.

He cocked his head. "I'm not quitting my job."

"Because you love her?!"

"Of course I don't love her!"

"But you did."

He leaned forward, his eyes full of remorse. "I'll admit, I had strong feelings for Meredith. My attraction to her took me completely by surprise; I had no intention of being unfaithful to your mother. And you're too young to understand this, but the truth is, I gave in to my emotions. But it's all over now. She's just a colleague."

"I don't believe you," Aria said, her voice shaking with anger. "I mean, this is making a lot of sense. That's why you were so excited to come back here. For her. You probably helped her get a job at Hollis!"

"You're wrong."

"No, you're wrong for tearing this family apart."

"This family is fine, and will stay fine if we stop talking about it!" Byron shouted. "What's done is done. I can't change the past, but I can make sure I don't make the same mistakes."

"You already have," Aria said, her tone icy and merciless.

He hid his face with his hands, agitated. That was when her mother and Mike returned. "I got my ketchup!" Mike announced, holding up packets of ketchup.

"Now we can eat," Ella exclaimed.

But Aria's appetite was gone, and her mood had soured. She stood. "Actually, Mom, I'm gonna take this to go."

"What? We just got here," Ella said, her smile fading.

"I know, but I forgot that Noel Kahn is throwing a welcome party. I have to get ready."

"Oh, okay. Don't stay out too late, and come home with your friends."

Aria agreed, but honestly, she didn't want to be anywhere near home right now.

Hanna's day had been stressful. It started with her mother accusing her of being a no good thief, which hurt her. To make matters worse, Brooke had called her out for taking her lip gloss. Luckily, Noel's party provided the distraction she needed. It was a perfect escape from her troubles, even if just for a few hours.

She rifled through her closet until she found a dress that hugged her curves. It was sleek, black, and eye-catching. Then she went to the vanity where her expensive makeup was. She applied some, with a dab of blush to give her cheeks a natural glow. A coat of glossy nude lipstick completed the look.

Hanna then focused on her hair. She carefully arranged each strand. When she was done, she took a step back and stared into the mirror. She rubbed her hands down her sides, feeling both confident and insecure. The dress was beautiful, yet she questioned if it was right. Should she wear a brighter color? But she had no time for self-doubt. She had other plans.

She picked up her phone and texted Caleb. She told him she'd pick him up soon and asked for his address. Caleb replied with an eye-rolling emoji, but complied. Hanna grinned and put the phone down. This evening was going to be perfect.

It got even better when she heard Wilden knocking on her door. She invited him in, beaming as he revealed himself. It was crazy how she went from loathing him to enjoying his presence. And yes, it's possible that she was trying to replace her biological father. So what? At least Wilden wouldn't let her down.

"Wilden, hey!"

He looked at her dress. "Going somewhere?"

"To a party," Hanna replied as she straightened her dress.

"I'll be quick. Your mother told me about what happened this morning."

Hanna's demeanor changed. "Yeah? Did she mention she called me a no-good thief?"

"She didn't mean that, Hanna. She's just worried about your sticky fingers."

"There's nothing to worry about. You cleared my name. I'd be a fool to steal again."

"Explain that to her."

"I'd rather give her the silent treatment," Hanna said, looking away.

"I'd prefer it if you didn't. I don't want any friction between the two of you. You have a good mother-daughter relationship. Better than most family relationships in this town."

Hanna carefully broached the subject she'd wanted to discuss with him. "So...does that mean you care about us?"

A faint, hesitant smile tugged at his lips. "I'm warming up to you, Marins, yes."

"I'm warming to you too!" she said, her voice rising with pleasure. "So I think you should stay here. Forever."

Wilden's expression changed to mild surprise. "Is this what you wanted to discuss?"

Hanna nodded. She told him about her family's predicament. "My father left my mother, and she's not over it. I don't want her to be alone forever. That's where you come in."

His face softened with understanding, but he shook his head. "Hanna, our situation was transactional."

"But it can be more. Don't you like her?"

There was a pause, then a slow nod. "Your mother is very beautiful."

"Tell her that. Make her feel loved, and she'll give you a chance."

He considered her words, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. "What do you suggest I do?"

Hanna stepped forward, a grin forming on her lips. "Buy her flowers and take her to a fancy restaurant!"

"I'll only do that if you forgive her."

She didn't want to, but if it was the only way to replace Tom... "Fine. I'll talk to her in the morning."

Then the doorbell rang. Hanna looked at Wilden, who shrugged. They descended the stairs together, and when Hanna opened the door, Emily was there, looking frantic. She brushed past Hanna, and her eyes widened when she saw Wilden.

"Hello, Emily," Wilden said.

"Hi..." Emily said, her anxiety clear. She followed Hanna up the stairs and whispered. "Does he have to be here?"

"Get used to it, Em. He might be my stepdad soon."

"Uh... okay..." They entered Hanna's room and Emily wasted no time. "Anyway, I need your best dress."

"For Noel's party?" Emily nodded. "Don't you have your own clothes?"

"Yes, but they're not as stylish as yours. And I have to look my best or Mona will never stop talking about it."

Hanna was worried. "Did she say something to you?"

"Yes, that I look a mess. So can you please work your magic?" She pointed to Hanna's closet with a begging expression.

Hanna approached the closet and sifted through the clothes. "I'm sorry about Mona. She was wrong to say that."

"That wasn't all she said. She made it clear I shouldn't try to take you away from her. Or 'it'll be the last thing I ever do.'"

Hanna felt guilt. "It's my fault. I told her you didn't like her very much."

"This is why. She's crazy."

Hanna pulled out a blue dress and handed it to her. Emily then handed her a makeup bag, wanting Hanna to beautify her. Hanna took it and smiled. "Enough about Mona. We need to get you ready so that we can pick up Caleb."

Emily sat at the vanity, confused. "Caleb?"

"He's a new transfer student. I have to make him feel welcome or I'm getting suspended."

Emily's confusion grew. "Suspended? Why?"

"I stole a girl's lip gloss."

Emily shook her head. "Okay, I'm tired of Mona corrupting you."

Hanna stopped and looked at her in the mirror. "Mona has nothing to do with this. Everything I do is by my own free will."

"You weren't like this before you became friends with her."

Hanna's face hardened. "Just let it go, please. You don't want to get on Mona's bad side. She's vicious."

"I can be vicious too."

Hanna couldn't resist snorting. "Please, you're so sweet."

"Thanks to Ben, the school thinks otherwise. Can you believe he called me a 'cheating bitch'?"

"I can, and I'm gonna kill him."

"Don't. You're already a criminal."

"Well, he's definitely out of the squad."

Hanna finished Emily's makeup and noticed her fiddling with her hair, which she intended to keep in a ponytail. "Oh no, you're not leaving it in a ponytail. You have beautiful hair and you should show it off."

Emily reluctantly allowed her to style her brunette locks in a way that was sure to turn heads. She could barely recognize herself in the mirror when Hanna finished. Hanna stood back and admired her creation. "Wow. I should get a job in cosmetology."

Emily grinned, impressed. "Yes you should! I feel like I should pay you!"

Hanna waved her off. "There's no need. That's what best friends are for."

Emily's eyes brightened. "Best friends?"

Hanna rested her head on her shoulder. "Yeah...just don't tell Mona I said that."

They laughed.

…

Hanna and Emily arrived at the address Caleb had given her. They found Caleb waiting outside, with a blonde woman yelling at him from the doorway. "Caleb, be home before nine so you can clean this house!"

"Whatever!" Caleb yelled back.

She closed the door and he approached them, looking embarrassed. Hanna raised her eyebrow. "Was that your mom?"

"Something like that."

Hanna looked confused. "Something like that...?"

He quickly changed the subject. "Anyway. Nice dress."

"Nice...whatever that is." She pointed at his overly casual attire.

He looked down and shrugged. "You expected me to dress up?"

"I was hoping."

"You overestimate me, Marin," Caleb said wryly.

Hanna shook her head with a small chuckle. "I guess I do. Anyway, Caleb, this is my friend Emily."

Emily smiled pleasantly. "Hi, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too."

Hanna looked at them. "So, are we ready to go?"

Caleb motioned for them to go. "Lead the way."

When they reached the party, Hanna gestured to the cabin in front of them. "Caleb, welcome to the legendary Kahn cabin!"

He blinked, unimpressed. "Looks like an ordinary cabin to me."

Hanna huffed. "Do you have to be a party pooper?"

"I didn't want to come, so yeah."

Hanna moved in front of him. "Okay, lesson two: please smile when we enter. And if someone offers you a drink, take it."

Caleb rolled his eyes. "I'm not a prude, Hanna. I've drunk alcohol before."

"Good."

Just then, Mona arrived. "Hanna!" she called, and they shared a double cheek kiss. Mona then turned her attention to Emily, inspecting her dress. "Wow, Emily. You look fantastic. I guess you proved me wrong."

Emily narrowed her eyes, her voice cold. "You're always wrong."

She walked inside, probably looking for Spencer. Mona watched her fleeing figure. "What's her deal?"

"You know what her deal is. You called her a mess."

Mona shrugged unapologetically. "I was being honest."

"Well, that was unnecessary. I told you there was nothing to worry about."

"And I made sure of it. Now, are we going to argue about Emily, or shut this party down?"

She smirked and extended her elbow. Hanna linked arms with her. They started to walk inside when Hanna noticed Caleb was still standing still. "Let's go, Caleb!"

Caleb sighed, following her.

Emily entered the cabin. Teenagers were everywhere, occupying every available space. A group danced in the center to a popular song. Another crowd gathered around a foosball table, their competitive yells and laughter rising above the music. Others lounged on couches, red cups in hand, having loud discussions or sneaking kisses.

As Emily moved through the crowd, she saw Jenna. She was dancing, her movements fluid and captivating. Despite her blindness, Jenna showed confidence, and Emily overheard a girl say, "Blind girl can dance."

Emily knew it was true. A flashback hit her: Noel's Halloween party years ago. She'd seen Jenna dance then, her body moving seductively, just as it was now. Emily couldn't help but stare, and Jenna had noticed and smiled at her. Emily had smiled back.

Unbeknownst to her, Alison had seen the whole thing. She approached Emily with a mocking twinkle in her eye. She'd said: "You wanna taste Jenna's cherry chapstick, huh?" And Emily had been shocked by her awareness of her interest in Jenna.

Of course, that was before she fell in love with Alison. Emily wondered if Alison had been jealous all along. And it was strange how she once had a crush on Jenna and later made her blind.

"You should stop staring, Emily," Jenna said, amused. "People might get the wrong idea."

Emily jumped, unaware that she'd come closer. "How did you know I was staring?"

"I felt it."

"How did you know it was me?"

"I didn't until I followed the feeling and ended up right here." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You have a distinctive smell."

"Should I be offended?"

"No, you smell nice," Jenna reassured her. "But I hear you and my stepbrother have something going on."

"That's not true."

"Keep it that way," Jenna warned. She walked away, methodically tapping her cane on the floor. Emily glared, tired of being threatened. She couldn't tell who was worse, Jenna or Mona.

Spencer approached her at that moment. "Em, we need to talk! Why are people saying you slept with Toby?"

"Because Ben is a bitter ex-boyfriend." She looked around. "He's not here, is he?"

"I heard his face is messed up. He was too embarrassed to come."

"That's thanks to Toby. He beat Ben up for calling me a slut, which is bad because it gave everyone reason to believe Ben was telling the truth."

Spencer frowned. "What is Toby doing back in Rosewood? I thought he was in reform school."

"I think it was only for a year." Emily then added, "Do you ever wonder why he took the blame for Jenna's blindness?"

"Because Ali had something on him," Spencer explained, her voice dropping.

"Besides being a total perv who peeped in our windows?"

Spencer nodded and checked for eavesdroppers. "Yes, something much bigger, and she threatened to tell everyone. That's why he took the fall for us."

Emily looked surprised. "You're revealing this now?"

"Ali made me promise not to, and I guess I was afraid. I thought if we never talked about that night again, it would just go away."

Well, it didn't. And Emily wasn't sure how she felt about Spencer knowing so many secrets. Spencer and Ali never got along, but Ali told her most of the information? It should've been Emily. She was her girlfriend, after all. But Ali obviously kept her in the dark. Now she wondered what else she didn't know.

Spencer glanced around the busy room before turning to Emily. "I need a drink."

"Several," Emily agreed, her miserable existence weighing on her shoulders. She wanted nothing more than to forget everything.

They moved to the drinks table, each taking a red cup filled with something strong. They chatted and enjoyed each other's company. After fifteen minutes, Spencer decided it was time to socialize. "I'll go see who's here," she said, giving Emily a reassuring pat on the shoulder before slipping into the crowd.

Emily stayed where she was, looking into her cup. She didn't know how many drinks she had. She only knew that she needed more. She drank drink after drink, the alcohol burning her throat and numbing her mind. The more she drank, the more her surroundings became twisted. Faces blurred, conversations became unintelligible murmurs, and the room spun at a dizzying pace.

Eventually, Emily stumbled through the bustling party, clutching her cup tightly. She managed to climb the stairs, her legs unsteady. She pushed open a door and found herself in a bedroom. The world was still swirling around her, making it difficult to stay standing. So she sank onto the bed and fell into the comfortable mattress. The moment her back touched the bed, her eyes closed and everything went dark.

She eventually regained consciousness after feeling something on her neck. She groggily opened her eyes and saw a guy above her. He looked about her age and was muscular, with dark hair hanging over his forehead. He froze, his eyes widening as Emily looked back at him, disoriented. She took a moment to grasp the situation, then her eyes widened too. His lips had caused the sensation on her neck. He was trying to take advantage of her, so Emily went into fight mode.

She kicked frantically as she tried to free herself. Seeing her resistance, he pinned her down and forced his lips to her throat once more. Emily continued to struggle against him, but her efforts proved futile against his strength. She resorted to screaming for help, hoping Spencer or Hanna would hear her. But her screams got muffled when his palm clamped over her mouth. His other hand moved to the hem of her dress and slipped underneath. Her heart raced at the violation, her cries grew louder, and tears escaped from her eyes as she realized she couldn't escape.

So she gave up and went limp beneath him, succumbing to the horrifying reality that was unfolding.

Spencer finished with the guests and returned to the drinks. Emily was nowhere in sight. She shrugged and assumed Emily had gone to the bathroom or something.

Aria was another face that was missing. Spencer hadn't seen her yet and wondered if she skipped the party. She was probably with Mr. Freak. Spencer hated that he was around because Aria had grown distant since he'd shown up. She was upset that Aria prioritized that creepy man over her.

Her cup was empty, and she was stressed, so she grabbed another. As soon as she did, the host teased her. "Spencer Hastings is drinking? Never thought I'd see the day."

Spencer gave Noel a look. "Believe me, it's not the first time."

"Well, thanks for coming. You look great."

Spencer imitated him. "Noel Kahn is being polite? Never thought I'd see the day."

He chuckled. "I'm in a good mood."

"So am I. These parties always live up to the hype. Plus, I've been stressed out, so I needed this night out."

Noel nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I get that. School and everything else can be a lot. It's good to blow off steam."

They stood there, the noise of the party echoing around them. Spencer scanned the area, searching for Emily again. Noel moved closer. "You want a tour of the place?"

"I've been here before, Noel," she told him.

"Yeah, but we've redecorated since then. Come on; it won't take long."

Spencer figured she could entertain him; he was the host, after all. "Alright, lead the way."

Noel grinned and motioned for her to follow. He started in the main room, where the party was in full swing. "As you know, this is where most of the magic happens," he said, gesturing around the bustling scene. "We put in new hardwood floors and updated the fireplace."

Spencer looked around, noting the sleek, modern touches that complemented the cabin's rustic charm. "I like the new look."

He led them outside through a sliding glass door. The air was cool, and the deck was decorated with string lights. "And out here, we added a hot tub," he explained, pointing to the bubbling water. "Perfect for gatherings or just relaxing. Maybe we can get in."

Spencer glanced at the hot tub before turning back to him. "I don't have swimwear."

"That's okay. Clothes are optional."

Normally, she would've scoffed and bolted, but instead she laughed and slapped his arm. Maybe the alcohol was making her less guarded.

Noel had a cheeky twinkle in his eye. "You didn't like that?"

Spencer shook her head, still laughing. "No, it was smooth. I see why you attract the ladies."

Noel held his arms at his sides. "What can I say? I'm a natural."

They chuckled and went back inside. They climbed the stairs, the noise of the party diminishing as they reached the second floor. Noel stopped in front of a door before pushing it open. "And this," he began proudly, "is my bedroom."

Spencer strolled inside, taking in the surroundings. The room was spacious, well-decorated, with a large bed in the center and a forest view from the window. A guitar was propped against the wall. Noel caught her staring and picked up the instrument. "I've been practicing," he explained, strumming a few chords. "Wanna hear something?"

"I didn't know you played the guitar."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Hastings." He strummed the strings with more confidence. "But that can change if you want it to."

Spencer was considering it. She was seeing a new side of Noel—a sweet, gentle version of himself rather than the bad boy she was used to. Maybe she'd misjudged him.

Noel played for a while, his fingers gliding over the strings. The music cocooned them, isolating them from the party. When he finished, he asked, "What do you think?"

Spencer nodded, impressed. "Not bad, Kahn."

He put the guitar down, a satisfied smile on his face. "Glad you think so. Maybe I'll play at the next party."

"I'll be there, because I think I was wrong about you."

"How so?"

"I thought you were nothing but trouble, but you actually have a soft side."

Noel moved so close that their bodies almost touched. "Funny, because I thought you were nothing but an uptight, goody two shoes. Turns out, you know how to let loose." He edged in slightly, his blue eyes focused on her brown ones. "Now I can say that out of all your friends, you stand out the most."

"Really?"

"Yes," Noel said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "And you're right: I can be soft when I wanna be. Especially with the people I care about."

Spencer's heart rate quickened for some reason. Maybe it was the intensity with which he stared at her, or the underlying meaning of his words. "Y-You care about me?"

"Yeah, I think I do." He leaned in, and Spencer could tell he wanted to kiss her. Her brain begged her to run for the hills, but her feet refused to move. Instead, she closed her eyes and waited for his kiss. Just as their lips were about to meet, a scream startled her. It sounded like a male.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, her heart racing for a different reason.

Noel nodded, his expression growing alarmed. Then another scream rang through the air, this time Emily's. Spencer rushed out and followed the scream into the next room, Noel following close behind. They burst in and noticed a guy waving his hand as if it were injured. Emily was on the bed, her face drenched in tears. Spencer noticed bite marks on his hand, which told her what had happened. He tried to force himself on Emily, but she bit him to get him off.

Noel noticed too, and he was furious. He lunged at the guy and pinned him against the wall, elbow to neck. The guy tried to speak, his voice panicked. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"What are you doing?! We don't do that shit here!"

The guy scowled. "Oh, come on. Your best friend claims she's a cheating bitch and you save her?"

"Yeah, because it's the right thing to do."

The guy scoffed. "Nobody told her to drink that much. She asked for it."

Noel pushed his elbow further into the guy's neck. He seemed to want to kill him, but turned to Emily for her decision. "What do you wanna do, Emily? Call the cops?"

Emily wiped her face, her voice shaking. "That's the last thing I need. Just get him out."

Noel grabbed the guy and pushed him towards the door. He stumbled out, not daring to look back. Spencer turned to Noel, her anger barely contained. "What kind of people do you invite?"

"I'm not inviting them personally. It's an open invitation."

"Well, that needs to change. Don't invite anyone you don't know or trust."

Noel expressed genuine regret. "You're right. I'll make sure it never happens again."

He left to check on the party, and Spencer spoke to Emily with a softer voice. "Are you okay?"

Emily nodded, although her eyes remained red and puffy. "I am now. Thanks, Spencer."

Spencer managed a weak smile. "Let's get you home, okay?" She pulled Emily up and held her tight because she was tipsy. And also because she was afraid Emily would get hurt again.

As they walked down the stairs, Emily asked, "Hey, Spencer? Why were you with Noel?"

Yeah...there was no way she was about to talk about her unusual connection with Noel.

Hanna wasn't having a great time because Sean was too busy playing foosball with some guys. He'd only acknowledged her once, when he'd won a game and kissed her on the cheek in celebration. She stood behind him, arms crossed, tapping her feet. "Sean, can this be your last round?" But of course he didn't answer. She honestly didn't know what made foosball so entertaining. It looked boring.

She felt envious as she watched other couples enjoying each other's company. Some were dancing together. Others were cuddling and kissing. Hanna wanted that attention. She wanted to feel like the center of Sean's universe, but she felt like a third wheel to his foosball fixation.

"Hanna, what's up?"

"Hey, Mona," Hanna said, trying to smile but failing.

Mona glanced at Sean before returning her gaze to Hanna. "Still stuck on foosball duty?"

"Yeah. He's not even paying attention to me. I'm wearing this sexy dress just for him!"

"For no reason. It's not like he's going to have sex with you.

"That's another thing I need to talk to him about. I'm gonna join his virginity club."

Mona gasped. "Excuse me? You want to become abstinent?"

Hanna nodded firmly. "Sean's not going to give in, so I have to compromise and give up my desires. But how do I get his attention?"

Mona had a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "New guy." She motioned to Caleb, who was leaning against a wall, looking bored. "Dance with him and I'll make sure Sean sees it."

Hanna looked at Sean, who was still engaged in the game, completely unaware of anything else. She bit her lip. "I don't know..."

Mona came closer, her voice soft but urgent. "You want his attention, don't you?"

That was all she wanted. So with a toss of her hair, she walked over to Caleb, her heels clicking on the floor. "I thought I told you to smile, Rivers?"

Caleb gave a smile that soon faded. "How long do I have to stay here?"

"Until the last song ends. That's an hour from now; let's make the most of it!"

She danced wildly in place, startling him. "What are you doing?"

"Dancing! Join me."

Caleb shook his head. "If I don't party, what makes you think I dance?"

Just then, a slow tune played in the background. "Would you look at that? A slow song. It's the perfect time for me to teach you how."

"Hanna..."

"It'll be fun!"

She took his hand and led him to the center of the room, making sure they were in Sean's line of sight. She placed Caleb's hands on her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck, guiding him gently.

Caleb moved awkwardly, his expression troubled. "Uh...don't you have a boyfriend?"

"Who isn't paying attention to me."

"Is that why you're doing this? For revenge?"

Hanna hated admitting it. "Yes, okay? Just follow my lead."

They swayed to the music, moving in perfect rhythm. Hanna kept looking over to see if Sean had noticed them yet. To her delight, she saw him and Mona looking in her direction, his smile fading as he watched her dance with Caleb. Hanna smiled, her eyes meeting Caleb's in a way that would make Sean jealous. Sure enough, he made his way over to them. Their plan was working perfectly.

Caleb noticed Sean getting closer. "I think your boyfriend's jealous."

She laughed as Sean approached her with a clenched jaw. "Hanna, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Yes, Sean?"

He grabbed her hand and led her away from the dance floor, his grip tight. "What was that about?"

Hanna batted her eyelashes, playing the innocent game. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Hanna."

"Sean, you were playing with your friends. I just wanted to dance with our new friend."

His demeanor softened, though he remained unhappy. "I'm sorry about that. Just don't dance with him again, okay? It bothers me."

Hanna nodded, hiding her smirk as she leaned in to kiss his lips. "Okay, I promise. I'm glad you're finally paying attention, though, because I want to talk about your virginity club."

Sean seemed resigned. "Hanna, I don't want to argue about it."

"I don't either. I'd like to join."

His eyebrows raised in shock. "But you like sex."

"Yes, but I can wait as long as I need to for you."

Sean looked touched but unsure. "That's sweet, but I don't want you to feel like you have to adopt my lifestyle."

Hanna reached for his hand. "This is something I want to do. Relationships sometimes require compromise, right? So this is mine."

A pleasant smile spread across his face. "Alright, I'll introduce you tomorrow." He kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. When he pulled away, his eyes were full of affection. "You're the best girlfriend I could've ever asked for."

And he was the perfect boyfriend.

Aria told her mother she wanted to attend Noel's party, but never went to his cabin. She wasn't really looking forward to attending his parties these days. It would hurt too much to see a girl on his arm, since she once wished it was her. But he never saw their potential, and Aria was sad that she wasn't good enough for him.

She wandered around Rosewood all afternoon, trying to clear her mind of her father and Meredith. The memory of them exchanging messages, her father looking over his shoulder to make sure the coast was clear, and Meredith's flirtatious expression gnawed at her. Their behavior convinced Aria that they were still fooling around, which infuriated her. So much so that she had to resist the impulse to destroy everything her father owned—his computer, books, framed photographs. That's why Aria never went home; to keep herself from acting on her destructive tendencies.

Maybe she should've gone to the party. She needed the distraction, but her friends would ask her about Ezra, and she wasn't in the mood for that today. And she couldn't confide in her friends about Byron, except for Hanna, but she didn't want to burden her.

Aria needed a place to be alone, but not too alone. That's why she found herself outside Ezra's apartment. But she didn't want to burden Ezra either, so she regretted going. As she was leaving, Ezra opened the door and was surprised to see her.

"Aria? I didn't know you were coming over."

"I'm sorry. I just didn't know where else to go," Aria said, her voice shaking.

Ezra stepped aside. "Come in. You look like you need to talk."

Aria walked in, her eyes full of unshed tears. "Honestly, Ezra, I'm so tempted to pack my things and move here."

"That's a little rash, don't you think?"

"No, it's not, since my dad's a cheater."

His expression became uncomfortable. "Oh..."

"And I saw his mistress today," Aria added, her indignation obvious. "She showed up when we were having lunch as a family. It irritated me, because why is she still here? And it can't be a coincidence that she works at the same college as him, and knows exactly where we'll be."

"My dad keeps saying he's different, but I don't trust him, Ezra. I think he's still cheating. The worst part? My mother knows nothing."

Ezra grimaced. "Aria, I'm sorry you're going through this. It sounds difficult."

"It is," Aria said. "That's why I'm here. Home is the last place I want to be. Every time I see my father, I feel this...anger. And I don't know what to do with it. Part of me wants to yell at him all the time, while the other part wants to run away and never look back."

"You shouldn't have to keep his secret. It's not fair to you."

"I know," Aria murmured. "But what can I do? If I tell my mom, she'll be devastated. And my brother...he looks up to our father so much. I don't want to be the one to ruin their lives."

Ezra squeezed her hand, his touch warm and comforting. "I understand, but you have to think of yourself, too. You deserve to have some peace of mind."

"So you think I should tell them?"

"I think you should at least tell your brother. He may look up to your father, but you two need each other right now."

"Maybe you're right. Mike deserves to know. But what if he asks me why I didn't tell him sooner? Or what if he thinks I kept this big secret from him on purpose?"

"You can't control how Mike reacts, but you can control how you approach the conversation. Be honest with him. Explain that you were trying to protect him and didn't want to cause him any pain. He'll understand, even if it takes a while."

"Okay. I'll talk to him." She gave a weak but sincere smile. "Thanks for this, Ezra. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You won't have to find out. I'm always here for you," Ezra said, pulling her into a comforting embrace. Aria laid her head on his chest. They stood there, her troubles still heavy, but less so with Ezra by her side. The road ahead would be hard, but for the first time, she felt like she could handle it.

…

Aria had been pacing outside her house for ten minutes, practicing what she was going to say to her brother. She knew she couldn't keep the truth from Mike much longer, so she walked in and found him sitting on the couch watching TV.

"Hey. You're back early," Mike observed, looking up from the TV.

"I didn't go to the party."

"You should've. I saw Hanna's social media posts. It looks wild."

"Why are you looking at Hanna's social media?" Aria inquired suspiciously.

"No reason," he said quickly.

Aria sat beside him and took his phone. "Give social media a break. We need to talk about Dad."

"Oh, Dad's great!"

"No he's not, Mike. He's been lying to you and Mom."

"About what?"

Aria took a deep breath to steady herself. "This is going to be hard to hear, but I caught him kissing a woman named Meredith in the back of his car. That's why we went to Iceland: to get away from his infidelity."

Mike's face fell. "No way. Dad wouldn't do that."

"He did. I saw it with my own eyes. That's why we fight all the time."

Mike shook his head. He was trying to process what he'd heard. "And you're telling me this now?"

Aria felt a pang of shame. "I was just as hurt and confused. I didn't know what to do."

He stood, his hands clenched and his face flushed with anger. "I can't believe this."

"Mike, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't want to hurt you or mom."

"I'm not mad at you, Aria. I'm mad at him." Mike's voice became emotional. "He's supposed to be someone we can count on. How am I supposed to look at him the same?"

"I'm not sure, because I can't stand looking at him at all," Aria said sadly.

"Mom won't either, after I tell her." Mike started to go upstairs.

Aria stood and grabbed his arm. "No!"

"What do you mean, no? You wanna keep her in the dark?"

"Trust me, I'm done keeping Dad's dirty secret, but there's something I want to look into first." Mike gave her a quizzical look. "I think Dad's still seeing Meredith."

"What?"

"Yeah. She showed up when you went to get your ketchup."

"How did she know where we were?"

"Exactly. It seemed...orchestrated. Dad says they're just colleagues, but I think there's more to the story. So let's investigate, and if we catch him red-handed, we'll tell Mom," Aria said.

"What if we don't find anything suspicious? What if he made a mistake?" he asked.

"Well, it's up to you if you want to forgive him, Mike. But I don't know if I ever will."

As if he knew they were talking about him, their father came downstairs. "Hey Mike, about your lacrosse practice—"

"Don't talk to me, traitor," Mike snapped before he ran upstairs.

Byron was surprised by his anger. Mike had never disrespected him before, so it could only mean one thing. "Aria...what did you do?"

The right thing.