The halls were quiet now that the students had gone to their classrooms. The handful who didn't, turned around, their curious eyes following Hanna's every move. They were wondering what she'd done to warrant a visit to the principal's office. That was reserved for the troublemakers, like Noel Khan. So Hanna felt perplexed as well; the school year had just started, and she'd done nothing wrong.

Aria, Spencer, and Emily had also been called, which added to her confusion. This couldn't be a personal scolding; it had to be something else. Maybe it was about Alison? Detective Wilden might be fulfilling his promise of finding out what happened last summer.

She thought about returning to class and ignoring the announcement. But that would make her look guilty. So Hanna pushed herself to continue to the principal's office. But she hoped, prayed, that Wilden would find a new target after today. They were innocent.

As she neared the office, she noticed Aria, Spencer, and Emily approaching from different directions. Their silence was heavy, but their eyes spoke the words their mouths didn't. None of them were prepared for what was inside.

Hanna felt her heart drop as the office door swung open. Detective Wilden was smirking behind the principal, and she fought the temptation to shudder. As they entered, the door closed, trapping them in the office. Wilden's ominous figure cast a shadow over the principal, making him look almost puppet-like. "Girls, Detective Wilden has questions for you. Please sit."

They did as they were told. Wilden's eyes never left them, his smirk a constant reminder of the scrutiny they were under. Hanna could see the fear in her friend's eyes. Whatever was about to happen, they had to face it together.

"You girls know why you're here," Wilden said, his eyes sweeping over each of them. "Last summer was no tragic accident. I intend to find out the truth."

Hanna reached into her pocket for her chewing gum. She knew she had to stop her bad habit of eating when stressed, but she didn't care right now. Gum hardly had any calories, anyway. She popped a piece into her mouth, the minty flavor providing comfort, and chewed.

"I'll let you talk privately," her principal said before leaving.

"So let's see..." Wilden began, his focus shifting between the papers in his grasp. He pointed a finger in Spencer's direction. "You thought you heard Alison scream?"

Spencer's words stuttered as if she had trouble forming them. "I-I said that, yeah."

Wilden glanced at the others. "And when you three woke up in the barn, Alison was gone, and so was Spencer."

Spencer's back straightened as she explained. "Yeah. I woke up before them and realized Ali was missing, so..."

"So you went looking for her."

Spencer replied in a strained voice. She was struggling to keep control. "That's what happened."

"I got that," he said, though his eyes revealed more questioning ahead. Hanna chewed her gum faster, and smacking sounds filled the office. She wanted to escape, feeling like her time was being wasted. They'd given their statements to the police last summer. Why go through this again?

Wilden's eyes narrowed into slits, a clear sign of his waning patience. "Hanna, please stop popping your gum."

"I'll stop popping my gum when you stop flapping yours." She mimicked his mouth movement with her hand, a provocative gesture that brought a stifled laugh from the girls. Wilden's expression turned chilly, and he gave them a scathing look that ended their amusement, but Hanna was unconcerned by his anger.

He rose from the desk with deliberate slowness and focused on Hanna. "I don't think your mother will be happy to hear about your disrespectful behavior. Perhaps I should call her?"

The mention of her mother hit a nerve. Hanna knew Ashley had been working tirelessly to get Wilden to drop the charges against her. Hanna couldn't afford to get on his bad side; it would only hurt her in the long run.

With a deep sigh, she raised her hands in submission. "Sorry, Dad," she said, her voice full of sarcasm.

Wilden's expression turned to one of disgust, and the others exchanged confused looks, unsure where "Dad" had come from. Hanna, on the other hand, felt satisfaction. She would never consider Wilden a father figure—she only said it to give him a taste of the discomfort he was causing her. When she saw his reaction, she knew she'd succeeded. Now she smirked as Wilden rolled his eyes.

He leaned forward and refocused like an experienced detective. "So, what's up? Was it a slumber party, or...?"

Spencer's reply was, "Is this an interrogation?"

"Just a routine follow-up." He looked at each of them. "Why did you all fall asleep?"

Aria had a simple explanation. "I guess we were tired."

"Is that how you remember it, Hanna?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, you were tired," Wilden said, his distrust clear in his tone.

Spencer spoke. "Look, we've told you everything we know, just like we did the night Alison disappeared."

"The thing is, it's exactly what you said last year. Almost like it was rehearsed."

Aria chimed in. "Like Spencer said, we've told you everything we know. Can we please go to class?"

"Go ahead. But you'll be seeing more of me."

Yeah, at home.

The four of them hurried out of the office, the air feeling fresher without Wilden's presence. Aria looked at Hanna in disbelief. "Am I going crazy, or did you call him Dad?"

"My mom's squeezing his grapefruit." They exchanged bewildered glances until Hanna announced, "She's sleeping with him."

Aria's question was a single word. "Why?"

"I may or may not be a criminal."

"What the hell?" Emily said.

"No, you didn't just say that," Spencer added.

Aria pushed further. "What did you do?"

"I shoplifted."

Spencer scolded her. "Hanna, your mom buys you anything you want."

"This isn't about me being materialistic."

"Then what is it?"

Luckily, Hanna didn't have to answer because their principal reappeared. He told them if Wilden was finished, they needed to go to class. He disappeared into his office and Hanna clapped her hands. "Saved by the principal. See you at lunch!"

Without waiting for a reply, she walked off. As she went, she prayed that by lunchtime her friends would've forgotten about what she'd just confessed. She didn't need any more questions.

Emily watched Hanna leave and shook her head. Why did she shoplift? Was she trying to get arrested? The thought of Hanna having to wear an orange jumpsuit every day sounded terrible. It would also irritate Hanna. But it would happen if she didn't get her act together.

First Aria, now Hanna. Emily wasn't sure what was going on with her friends. Could she even say they were friends? If Wilden wasn't on their case, and if Jenna hadn't returned, would they have a reason to talk? It was their circumstances, not their bond, that kept them together. That realization sucked.

Emily remembered the times they spent together, the laughs they shared, and the lesser dark secrets they'd kept. Back then, they were just four girls going through school together. Emily longed for that simplicity, for the days when their biggest worries were homework and weekend plans, not police investigations and strange texts. She longed for the days when they'd been closer.

If Hanna let go of Mona, maybe they could get that back. She needed to wake up and see Mona for what she really was—a bad influence leading her down a dangerous path. Aria especially needed to forget about Mr. Fitz. They just needed each other.

Emily needed Maya, too, so she grinned when she heard Maya call her name from behind. She turned to see Maya standing there with a hall pass in her hand. "Hey, Maya."

"Hey," Maya said with a worried look. "I heard you get called to the office. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, just more questions about Alison. Detective Wilden is trying to dig up dirt."

"You're not a suspect, are you?"

Spencer reacted quickly. "Of course not. We're innocent."

Maya's face flickered with confusion. "Sorry, who are you?"

Emily stepped in. "Maya, this is Spencer and-" She looked at Aria, recalling her disgust. Aria noticed her hesitation. She smiled awkwardly as she introduced herself.

"I'm Aria."

Maya shook her hand. "I'm Maya St. Germain, but most people call me the new girl." She looked at Emily. "Or in Ben's case, I'm another Alison."

Emily did her best not to cringe. Ben was way out of line for comparing Maya to Alison. It was unfair and uncomfortable. She needed to make sure he never did it again.

Aria spoke. "Ben can be a jerk, but don't take it personal."

Spencer agreed. "Yeah, it comes with being a jock."

Their laughter mingled as they headed to class. Emily stayed, her sense of responsibility keeping her in place. "I'm sorry about Ben."

Maya said, "I won't pretend I like him, and neither do you. So why stay with him?"

"I told you, he's a rebound."

"But there's better options for you," Maya insisted. "Why not date someone you actually have chemistry with, and who treats you like you deserve?"

"Like who?"

"I'll let you figure that out for yourself," she whispered softly, running her hand down Emily's arm. Then she left. But even though she was gone, Emily could still feel her touch, a sensation that both stunned and electrified her.

Lunch arrived sooner than Hanna expected. She hurried to the cafeteria, eager to escape the exhausting classes that had consumed her morning. As she entered, she prayed Emily and Spencer wouldn't lecture her about shoplifting. They were goody two shoes, always so perfect, and would never let her hear the end of her reckless actions.

If they were going to scold anyone, it should be her father. If he hadn't abandoned her, none of this would be happening.

Hanna joined the lunch line and looked at the unappetizing choices in front of her. School food was always bad, but she couldn't skip lunch since she never ate breakfast.

Her eyes wandered as she waited her turn, moving from one scene to the next without really seeing anything. Suddenly, the girl in front of her grabbed her tray and walked away, dropping her luxurious lip gloss. It was the one Hanna had wanted for weeks.

She picked up the lip gloss and noticed it hadn't been used yet. So she slipped it into her pocket. The movement was natural, sparking feelings of shame and joy. She knew she should give it back, but the desire to keep it for herself was too strong. Besides, that girl looked like a spoiled brat. She could get a new one.

Hanna grabbed her tray and headed for the table where Spencer, Emily, and Aria were seated. Unfortunately, she froze when Mona called her name. She'd hoped Mona wouldn't notice her because she'd have to explain she was sitting with Spencer, Emily, and Aria. How could she do that without upsetting Mona? She despised them, and Hanna didn't want her to think she was being replaced. That would never happen because she owed Mona everything. But with Wilden breathing down her neck, she and the girls couldn't afford to be apart.

Hanna slowly turned around. "Mona, hey..."

"Why did you go that way? Our table is in the opposite direction," Mona asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I wanted to sit with the girls today."

"Why?"

Hanna shrugged. "To catch up."

Mona's arms tightened and her voice rose. "You haven't thought of them in a year, but now you want to catch up?"

"Aren't I allowed to have friends?"

"Friends?" Mona scoffed. "Last time I checked, they were fine with you staying a loser. I turned you into a queen bee, and this is how you repay me?"

Hanna's tone softened. "I owe you my life, but I have to sit with the girls today."

"So I'm supposed to sit by myself?"

Hanna pointed out an alternative. "You can sit with Noel."

"He's sitting with Ben and Sean, your boyfriend. You have to be there," Mona said, her tone forceful.

"Tomorrow, okay?"

Mona's last word was terse. "Whatever." She glared at the girls and stormed off. Hanna sighed, hoping for Mona's forgiveness. Then she made her way to the table where her friends were waiting.

Spencer's forehead creased. "What was that about?"

Hanna sat across from Aria. "Mona's not happy that I'm sitting here."

Emily said, "She's not your boss."

"I know that," Hanna said. "But I've been by her side for a year, and now I'm back talking to you. Of course she's upset."

Spencer's advice was direct. "Tell her to get over it. We were friends first."

Emily chimed in. "If you ask me, Mona's not good for you anyway."

"She's perfect for me. She changed my life."

"She's destroying it," Emily countered. "I bet she's the one who made you start shoplifting."

"Hush, Em. You don't know what you're talking about."

Aria intervened, eager to change the subject away from the escalating argument. "Okay, next topic, please. We need to talk about how Wilden knows we're lying."

Hanna declared, "Lying is not a crime."

Emily threw a sharp jab at Aria. "And what's the big deal? You're an expert at hiding the truth."

Aria's demeanor changed to one of insult. Spencer, unable to contain her confusion any longer, demanded answers. "What's going on between you two?"

Aria's eyes fixed on Emily. "I'd like to know too."

Emily opened her mouth to speak, but tapping silenced her. All eyes were on Jenna as she navigated the cramped space, tapping the tiles with her cane. The whispers began, a low hum of curiosity and gossip.

Jenna must've sensed the attention because she paused against the wall, her posture stiff. Hanna was relieved Jenna couldn't see her eyes bulging out of their sockets. "She's back at school too? She's haunting us!"

Aria's suggestion came from a place of sympathy. "Maybe we should invite her over."

"Why would we do that?!"

"We have to make amends somehow," Aria argued, rising to her feet with a determination that shocked even herself. She approached Jenna. "Jenna? Hey, it's Aria. Would you like to join us?"

"Sure."

Jenna held her shoulder as Aria guided her. "So you'll be between Hanna and Emily. And Spencer is right across from you."

Hanna's discomfort was obvious. Why did Jenna have to sit next to her?

When Jenna sat, she asked a question. "So this would be Alison's chair, right?"

Emily corrected her. "No. We're not even sitting at that table."

Jenna put her cane away. "You know, she came to visit me in the hospital after the accident."

Spencer's shock was obvious. "Alison did?"

"Mhm." She went on, in a low, sure voice. "Everyone misunderstood Alison, but I knew exactly who she was."

Hanna's interest outweighed her discomfort. "Who was she?" Jenna's smirk sent shivers down her spine and made her scoot away. She was too creepy.

Spencer leaned in. "When did you get back, Jenna? We heard you were in Philadelphia, attending a school for the..." She paused, searching for the right words. "Visually impaired."

Jenna reached for her lipstick. "You can say 'blind,' Spencer. It's not a dirty word."

It was a dirty word to them. Because they did her dirty.

Jenna's comment was a stark reminder of their changed dynamic. "Wow, it's so quiet. You used to be the fun table. What happened to you girls?"

Well, let's see. Alison's body got found, and her killer was still at large. Now an anonymous texter was harassing them, and Jenna was still freaking blind! So no. Fun was no longer in their vocabulary.

The simultaneous chiming of their phones was like a prelude to a nightmare, a sound they dreaded. It signaled another message from their tormentor, which made Hanna nervous.

Jenna, having finished applying her lipstick, questioned them. "Aren't you gonna get that?"

They all exchanged nervous glances before picking up their phones to check the texts. Sure enough, it was A.

If only she could see how guilty you look...
-A

Hanna quickly looked around. A knew what they'd done to Jenna? But how? None of them had said a word about it! The mastermind herself was the only other person who knew.

Hanna couldn't take it anymore. She hated smiling in Jenna's face like everything was okay. Nothing was okay. They caused her vision loss, and being around her made Hanna nauseous.

She got up from the table, ignoring Spencer's request to come back. She found Mona with Noel, Ben, and Sean after weaving through the cafeteria. They were laughing and talking, oblivious to her inner torment.

Mona raised her eyebrow as she watched her approach. "Hanna?"

Hanna greeted her with a smile. "Hey!" She moved to the seat next to Sean. "Looks like I'm sitting here after all."

Spencer had never experienced such a horrible lunch. She regretted not stopping Aria from inviting Jenna to join them. It was right, but talking to Jenna was hell. She understood why Hanna sat elsewhere, but her departure only made Jenna suspicious. They had to play it off by saying that Hanna missed Mona, but it sounded flimsy.

Jenna had talked about how surprised she was by Hanna's transformation, and Spencer had been lost. How could she know about Hanna's change? Jenna sensed the skepticism, explaining she heard it from classmates. Apparently, all anyone talked about was Hanna and Mona. They worshiped the ground they walked on.

Jenna then said Alison would've been unhappy about having competition. She ended with an eerie statement, "Maybe it's a good thing she's dead." It sounded like she was happy about Alison's death, which only added to the misery of the lunch hour.

Spencer, Emily, and Aria bolted from their seats at the end of lunch as if their lives depended on it. They ran out of the cafeteria without even helping Jenna or saying goodbye. Hopefully they wouldn't have to talk to her again.

It was time for English, one of Spencer's favorite subjects. Mr. Fitz made the class fun and relatable. And his good looks were a bonus.

She accompanied Emily. Aria refused to join them because she knew Emily didn't like her. Spencer didn't understand why. Emily was the first to reunite with Aria, and she was sweet. So if she didn't like Aria, Aria did something very wrong.

"Are you going to tell me why you hate Aria?"

Emily looked ahead. "I don't hate her. I'm disappointed."

"But why?"

Emily's lips formed a tight line, showing her reluctance. "Hanna should be here for this."

Spencer stopped. "No, Emily. You can't delay this anymore."

Emily stopped as well. "Fine. She and Mr. Fitz are hooking up."

"Hooking up...?"

"I saw them making out at the funeral. They're together, Spencer."

What the hell? Aria was dating their teacher? Surely they knew this wouldn't end well. But they clearly didn't give a damn about the consequences.

Spencer couldn't believe Aria's poor judgment. It reminded her of her own irresponsible actions last summer when she had fallen for Ian, even though she knew he was with Melissa. It was wrong and selfish, but it wasn't as dangerous as what Aria and Mr. Fitz were doing now.

Spencer's muttering was more to herself than to Emily. "Wow. I thought I was scandalous." Emily's puzzled expression caused her to dismiss her own remark. "Pretend I never said that. But we can't keep this to ourselves. What they're doing is illegal."

"Should we expose them?"

"We have to. We have to get him away from Aria."

Mr. Fitz strolled by as if on cue. "Afternoon, ladies."

He slipped into the classroom as Spencer and Emily scowled. He had the nerve to say hello to them while preying on their friend? The worst part was that they had to be in his room. It'd be worse than being with Jenna.

Aria was already in class. She offered them a wave, but Emily ignored it. Spencer didn't, because while Emily was upset with Aria, Spencer was upset with Mr. Fitz. He was the adult. He should know better.

Everyone took their seats, and Spencer was unfortunately next to Noel Kahn. Mona entered the room last. "Hi, Mr. Fitz!"

More like Mr. Freak, Spencer thought. And why did Mona greet him as if they were friends? Maybe they were also dating.

Mr. Fitz greeted her and started passing out a worksheet. "If the mockingbird represents the idea of innocence, which characters are innocent?"

Not you, Spencer thought. When he put the paper on her desk, she didn't pick it up. She just scoffed, and he noticed.

"Am I boring you, Miss Hastings?"

Spencer's eyes met his, her voice firm and cold. "I think we should skip this lesson altogether."

"And why is that?"

"Because you're not qualified to talk about innocence," Spencer replied. Noel's response, a prolonged "ooo," set off a wave of "ooo's" from the class. Mr. Fitz, still reeling from her unexpected hostility, suggested a private conversation.

"Okay, how about the rest of you jot down your ideas while Spencer and I talk outside."

Spencer huffed and grabbed her bag, following him out as the door closed behind them. His question was friendly. "What's going on, Spencer? Are you having a bad day?"

"I am, now that I know the truth about you." His confused look only strengthened her resolve. "You need to leave Aria alone."

The horror in his eyes was replaced by a trained calm. He feigned ignorance, but her unwavering stare cut through his ruse. He glanced around, stroking his neck before speaking in a hushed tone. "Who told you?"

"Emily caught you kissing at the funeral."

"I see." He sighed and said, "Look, I care about Aria."

"I don't care. Your job is to teach. Not to groom."

"I'm not a groomer."

"Then what do you call your relationship?"

"Love."

"Do you hear yourself? She's a minor."

"She's mature for her age. And you do know the age of consent here is 16, right?"

"You're still her teacher. So I'm gonna tell the principal and be done with it," Spencer said, turning to leave.

"You don't want to do that!" She stopped and turned back to him. "You've already lost Alison. Do you want to lose Aria, too?"

Spencer despised the fact that she understood what he was saying. If she told on him, Aria would hate her forever. But it wasn't solely about their friendship. If this info got out, Aria could also get kicked out of Rosewood High. And she'd be the target of constant gossip and criticism. They didn't need negative attention, especially with Wilden looking for reasons to arrest them. And they couldn't let this secret become ammunition in A's arsenal.

Protecting Aria was her priority. But she couldn't let this relationship continue. There must be a discreet way to handle Mr. Fitz. But how?

She didn't know. All she knew was that she no longer respected him. "Have a nice day, Mr. Fitz."

"Class is this way!"

But Spencer continued away from him. Despite once admiring him, she now only felt disillusioned and motivated to set things straight.

Hanna and Mona entered the Rosewood Mall after school, wearing identical shades. Their goal was to stay undetected because the mall staff no longer trusted Hanna after her previous shopping spree. The staff would recognize her face from the incriminating footage, expecting her to steal again. And they weren't wrong.

Hanna held her breath and kept her head down as they passed a security guard on their way to the escalator. She refrained from looking up until they headed up the escalator. Mona noticed her fear and put a reassuring hand on her arm. "Relax, Hanna. You won't get caught as long as you remember what I told you."

Hanna nodded. On the way to the mall, Mona taught her several strategies to avoid getting caught. As long as Hanna followed her advice, everything would be fine—or so she hoped.

They got off the escalator and headed for their favorite store, a trendy one filled with the latest fashions. Mona led the way, browsing through the racks of clothes. Hanna followed, imitating her casual attitude. They talked about school while pretending to be just two friends shopping.

"Lunch was weird, huh?" Mona asked.

"Absolutely. Jenna creeps me out," Hanna admitted in a low voice.

"Why was she sitting at your table? I didn't know you were friends," Mona inquired, her attention on a piece of clothing.

"We aren't. She had nowhere else to sit, so we were being nice."

"That's sweet, I suppose. Your girls must've been upset when you left, though."

"Emily probably was. She thinks you're a bad influence."

"Oh, really?" Mona said, sounding disdainful.

"Don't worry. I won't listen to her," Hanna reassured her. "She doesn't know you as well as I do."

"She doesn't want to."

"Who cares? All you need is me."

Mona looked for confirmation. "So I have nothing to worry about?"

"No! How could I ever replace my partner in crime?" Hanna's eyes darted around, making sure no one was listening. "Anyway, enough about Emily. We need to talk about Aria. She's banging Mr. Fitz."

Mona gasped in surprise. "What?"

"Yup! Spencer got the tea from Emily."

"So that's how they know each other," Mona thought, putting it all together.

"It's gross, right?"

"Interesting, if you ask me. Who knew Aria was so bold?"

"I didn't. But please don't tell anyone. Spencer doesn't want to ruin Aria's life."

"I won't tell a soul." Mona zipped her lips and threw away the imaginary key, drawing a laugh from Hanna. She then signaled to Hanna by pointing to an object. Hanna put it in her bag, keeping her movements smooth and practiced, just as Mona had taught her. She then picked up a scarf, admiring the smooth fabric. She put it in her bag.

"You're doing great," Mona said. "How about you check out the jewelry store while I check out the makeup?"

Hanna's confidence waned. With Mona by her side, she felt unstoppable. But if she went it alone, she was likely to make mistakes. She opened her mouth to protest, but Mona cut her off. "You got this, Hanna."

She left. Hanna took a deep breath and walked into the jewelry store. It was empty, with only a few customers admiring the gleaming displays. Her attention wandered over the display cases of glittering necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Each piece was dazzling, but the necklaces captivated her most.

"Can I help you find something?" the saleswoman asked as she appeared beside her.

"Not yet. Just looking."

She nodded before moving on to help another customer. Hanna seized the opportunity when the saleswoman became engrossed in showing an older woman a pair of diamond earrings. Her hands remained steady as she took a beautiful necklace with a small heart-shaped pendant from the display. She slipped it into her bag.

Hanna turned to leave, but stopped when she saw Wilden waiting at the entrance, smirking at her. Her mind searched for an escape or an explanation, finding none.

Wilden came closer, his smirk widening. "Hello, Hanna."

She clutched her bag. "Why are you here?"

"Just being a good dad," he quipped sarcastically. "Isn't that what you called me?"

"You hated it."

"I did. But you gave me an excuse to check on you whenever I want."

Her tone was desperate. "Look, I'll pay for those stupid sunglasses. Just leave me and my mom alone."

"You'll pay for the sunglasses? That's funny, because you didn't even pay for that necklace."

Hanna swallowed. "Are you going to arrest me?"

"No. Because you're going to show the lady the necklace."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. You're also gonna give her this." Wilden gave her the exact amount she needed. $200.

Hanna was suspicious. "Why are you giving me this?"

"To pay for it."

"Why are you really giving it to me?"

He gave an indifferent answer. "Honestly, Hanna, I don't care about your sticky fingers. And I don't care that you and your friends lied about drinking the night Alison disappeared. What I care about is finding out who killed her."

"My friends and I don't know who."

"Maybe not," Wilden admitted, shifting his attention to the saleswoman, and jerking his chin in a nonverbal command. Hanna realized she had no choice but to obey his order. She sighed and pushed herself back to the woman, holding the necklace.

"Hi. I'd like to buy this necklace."

The woman rang up her purchase in a small, elegant box. Hanna paid and took the bag, grateful. She looked around the store and noticed that Wilden was gone. Normally she'd be relieved, but she frowned. He'd saved her from getting in trouble, so maybe he wasn't bad after all.

Spencer believed things couldn't worsen after finding Alison's body, but she was mistaken. Jenna was back, Mr. Fitz had become a new source of worry, and the friction in her family had reached unbearable levels.

The worst part was having to attend a family dinner. She didn't want to be around her treacherous relatives or shady Wren, but her parents had dragged her into the car. She reassured herself that she didn't need to talk to them just because she was there. She could just eat in peace.

However, Wren's decision to take the seat next to her proved that peace wasn't on the menu. He had a knack for getting on her nerves and she was tired of it. Why couldn't he understand she wanted nothing to do with him? Did she have to spell it out? She considered moving seats, but feared her family would paint her as the villain.

A waiter appeared and took their orders. Spencer ordered a vodka soda to relieve her stress. Her parents looked horrified, and her mother told the waiter she wanted water instead. Spencer rolled her eyes, especially when Wren also asked for a vodka soda. So typical.

Everyone else placed their orders, so the waiter left. Veronica turned her attention to Wren. "So, Wren! Tell us more about yourself."

Spencer ignored what Wren said. She pulled out her phone, hoping for a distraction. She checked her messages but found none from her friends, let alone A. The silence was nearly as irritating as the table talk.

Her concentration got broken when Veronica spoke. "Spencer, no phones at the table. It's disrespectful."

"I'm not hurting anyone."

"Put it away."

Spencer obeyed with a groan, her displeasure rising to the surface. "Great. I'm here against my will, and I can't check my phone? I should've stayed home."

Melissa's frustration mirrored hers. "I swear, we can never enjoy ourselves. Everything has to be about you."

Spencer's retort was biting. "That's ironic, coming from the spoiled brat."

Melissa's reaction was emotional, and her hurt made her leave. "You know what? I'm done."

As she rushed to the bathroom, Veronica followed, her voice trailing behind her. "Melissa, wait!"

"No! I just wanted one night, but she won't even give me that!"

Spencer yelled after her. "Cry harder!" She drank her water, unconcerned about the ruckus she'd caused, but aware of her father's disapproving look.

"Was that necessary?" Peter said, his disappointment evident.

"I told you I didn't want to come."

"So you have to ruin our night? That's selfish."

"Sounds right for a Hastings."

He shook his head as his phone rang. "I have to take this."

Spencer was left alone with Wren after Peter stepped outside to take his call. She took another sip of her water, trying to show her disinterest in talking to him. It didn't work. "Still having trouble with your bursa sac?" he asked, hoping to engage her. She ignored him, and there was a pause. "I know you blocked my number."

"That means I don't want to talk."

Wren's tone softened as he apologized. "Look, I'm sorry about the massage. I overstepped, but it won't happen again."

"I have a feeling it will."

He tried to reassure her. "I wanted to be a good brother-in-law."

"Well, don't," Spencer shot back. "Because if you ask me, you shouldn't marry Melissa. She's a witch."

"Is she? You seem to be the mean one."

"And yet, you can't get enough of me."

Wren's next remarks were dangerously close to a line that shouldn't be crossed. "The fire in you is what makes you fascinating. Sometimes I wonder if my real mistake was falling for the wrong sister."

She looked at him, her head spinning. Did he like her? Even he looked surprised, as if he hadn't intended to reveal so much. But he had, and it was the final straw. She couldn't stay there, with him sitting so close and making such twisted confessions.

"I can't do this," she said, pushing back her chair.

"Where are you going?" he said, but she didn't answer. She grabbed her stuff and marched out of the restaurant, determined to put as much distance between herself and Wren as possible. The cold air touched her face, but it did little to calm what was raging inside.

Her father, who was outside on the phone, caught her as she stormed out. "Uh, Spencer?"

"I'm going home!" Spencer explained.

"In what car?"

"I'm walking!"

She kept leaving, thinking not only of Wren's disturbing confession, but also of Melissa. Should she tell Melissa? Would she believe her? Spencer doubted it. Melissa was loyal to her partners, sometimes to a fault. She would most likely interpret Spencer's revelation as yet another attempt to ruin her happiness. But she couldn't live with herself if she allowed her sister to marry a man who had feelings for someone else—her, no less. Maybe she should be honest and hope the road ahead wasn't fraught with repercussions.

Her phone went off. She thought it was her father demanding her return, but it was them.

Kiss him, Spencer. You know you want to.
-A

Spencer rolled her eyes like never before. A needed to get a damn life.

Later that night, Aria lay in bed, replaying the day's events in her mind. Today had been one of the strangest days yet. First, Emily had a problem with her, refusing to tell her what she'd done wrong. Then Spencer exploded on Ezra in class for no reason. Aria couldn't tell her to calm down since she was too far. And Spencer had never returned, so Aria had no chance to talk to her.

At times like this, she wished they could've stayed in Iceland, away from the drama and mixed signals that defined her existence in Rosewood. But then she thought of Ezra. If they had stayed in Iceland, she would've never met him. That wasn't ideal, because Ezra understood her like no boy ever had. He was mature, educated, and flawless in every aspect. The problem was that they couldn't go public. Their friends and family wouldn't understand their connection.

Her father was partly responsible for her relationship with Ezra because he had an affair with his student. She was now involved with her teacher. If Byron found out, she could tell him she learned from the best: him. Like father, like daughter.

Speaking of Ezra, they'd established a routine of calling each other before bed. He hadn't called yet, so she picked up her phone from the nightstand. As she did, the napkin underneath it caught her eye: the napkin Jason had given Spencer with his number on it.

Aria still hadn't saved him as a contact. He wanted to "talk," but there was nothing to discuss. She made it clear they shouldn't have kissed. They shouldn't have talked at all. But her concern for Alison had brought her to her house, where she comforted Jason and ruined everything. It sucked because he was a nice guy and she enjoyed his company. But now she had to avoid him.

Her phone rang. She jumped up, her heart pounding as she saw Ezra's name on the screen. She reacted with joy and relief. "Hey! I thought you forgot about our agreement."

"I won't lie, I debated on not calling."

Aria's tone turned sad. "You don't want to talk to me?"

"It's not you. It's just that today was..."

"...crazy?"

He let out a weary chuckle. "Very. There's something we need to talk about tomorrow."

Aria bit her lip, worry etching her features. "Is it about Spencer? I'm sorry about the way she acted. It was so unexpected."

"It's not her behavior that bothers me. It's what was said afterwards. Our conversation wasn't good, Aria."

"Well, spit it out!"

"I'd rather not say it over the phone. Can we meet early tomorrow?"

Aria nodded, though he couldn't see it. "Sure. And I've been meaning to ask, what should I put your contact name as?"

"Anything but Mr. Fitz or Ezra."

"How about 'E'?"

"Alright. I'll put 'A.'"

Aria cringed at the suggestion; the letter 'A' was tainted, representing the unknown tormentor who stalked her and her friends, using their secrets as a weapon. "Please don't," she pleaded. "An emoji will do."

"How about a heart? Because you are my heart," he said, his words wrapping around her like a warm embrace.

"You're mine too," she admitted, her smile evident in her voice. "Alright, I'll let you go now. See you in the morning."

Ezra said goodbye and the call ended. Aria sighed happily as she laid down. They couldn't always be together, but these moments made it all worthwhile. She felt fortunate to have him, appreciating his ability to see beyond the surface and value her for who she truly was.

Her phone vibrated against her chest. She checked it, expecting to see Ezra, but it was A.

Sorry I skipped you before. But I wouldn't get too excited about your new boyfriend. I'm sure he hooks up with his students all the time.
Just ask your dad.
-A

Panic set in. Was A watching her right now? She looked around her room, feeling exposed. She ran to her window and looked out, scanning the dark street for any sign of someone lurking. It was late at night and the area was quiet, but suddenly she noticed it: a figure walking down the sidewalk. Her hair color was identical to Alison's, and her build was also similar. It was hard to see her face as she walked away from her house.

Could that be Alison? Aria didn't consider the improbability. She had to know.

Her feet barely touched the stairs as she ran down. She burst out, yelling "Hello?!" She looked down the street, but it was deserted. The girl had vanished into the night.

"Ali?!" There was no response beyond the distant sound of crickets and the rustling of leaves. Aria's shoulders slumped as the adrenaline wore off, leaving her more drained and confused than before. She wrapped her arms around herself as she walked back to her house. Was she losing her mind? It couldn't have been Alison. They'd found her body. But the resemblance had been so striking.

She re-entered her house and closed the door. Her eyes darted around the living room, half expecting to see someone there. But it was untouched. Then her phone buzzed again. She looked at the screen and saw one last disturbing message:

Chasing ghosts, are we? Better focus on the living.
-A