Aria was not in the best of moods when Andrew dropped us off at her house. I'm sleeping over tonight and thank goodness because a lot went down that she quickly explained before Andrew got into the car after the dance. When I first saw her I started to ask her what was going on, intending to tell her about the text but then it escalated to more very quickly. I was in the front seat and she was in the back, Andrew got held up from a friend talking to him outside. She let me know that she was feeling overwhelmed from her parent's situation, which was understandable but then she talked about how Emily had come to the dance with Toby Cavanaugh, who people still feel is the town freak for accidentally blinding his step sister in a fire years ago and just being an awkward kid growing up. She also feels like Toby would hurt Emily because the police had told them that he had given Alison his sweater the night she got murdered, and that he never told anyone. The police let them know there was blood on the sweater when they found Alison's body.
Now Emily hasn't been seen since the dance was almost over, she went missing just like Alison had disappeared and none of the girls can get a hold of her, thinking that Toby took her. This was not the type of conversation I expected to have at all, but it seemed to have the text make more sense as she talked. I'm just still not 100% sure of what the first text I got the same day we found out about Uncle Bryon would have been about.
I honestly think they are over exaggerating about Toby though, because I knew Em was going with him before anyone else. She had confided in me about wanting to go with him, but she was scared because of the rumors that had always loomed over him. When he came back to school a few weeks back I didn't hesitate to talk to him when we had a couple classes together because I never found him creepy, or weird, or anything. I always saw him as the cool older guy in school who was one of a few people that talked to me when Alison tortured me in middle school. So it didn't surprise me when Emily said she felt that they had a lot in common and truly liked him. Especially since he had saved her from her ex-boyfriend, who tried to take advantage of her in the locker room after one of her swim practices. No one knew she would show up with him till she walked through those doors today, not even her mom was told.
Now that we are in front of her house I kiss Andrew on the cheek, thanking him for an amazing night and for dropping us off. He smiles at me and then leans in for a proper kiss just before I grab my overnight bag for the sleepover and then get out of the car. Aria smiles and thanks him as well and follows behind me. We both head to the front door as she pulls out her keys and walks inside when she gets the door open with me behind her. When we get to the stairs Uncle Byron sees us from the living room and asks how the night went. So we give him a quick rundown of things and he just smiles lovingly before asking for me to come back downstairs for a talk with him and Aunt Ella whenever I'm settled into my PJs.
"Everything okay?" I ask cautiously considering they aren't on the best terms.
He smiles more, which I hadn't seen a true smile from him since before that letter from A was sent to the house. "Everything is fine. We just wanted to talk to you about something. It's been put off long enough."
"Oh, uh...okay then. I'll be right back." I stare at Aria in complete confusion as I head back to her still waiting for me on the steps, wondering if she had any idea what that was about. She just shrugs and tells me no, now following her upstairs.
Once I shower I head back into the room to put my dress and uncomfortable shoes away. I'm now in my Harry Potter Themed PJs, as if I'm still 11 years old and reading the books for the first time. Aria just gives me a smile, not being able to believe my goofiness to loving this fandom enough to own a full PJ set for it before I walk off to the stairs to go back downstairs. Aunt Ella is now in the living room with Uncle Byron, talking to each other in a civilized tone for the first time in weeks. When my feet hit the bottom they turn to look at me.
"Don't tell me. You've won the lottery and are moving back to Iceland without me." I say in a joking manner with a soft smile on my face as I walk into the living room.
They both softly laugh and shake their heads, "Your humor still amazes me." Uncle Byron says as he pats the cushion between himself and Aunt Ella.
"I've missed it." She adds and kisses my head lovingly, "We are not moving."
"But…" He continues and makes my heart sink from the way he said it, "We do feel like we won the lottery."
I raise an eyebrow and blink at them slowly, "How is winning the lottery and feeling like you did remotely the same thing?"
Aunt Ella smiles more, grabbing my hand now. "Because, Jessie. We've been talking and thinking about this since we moved back. There's no doubt in our minds that what we want to do is exactly on the same level as the lottery."
I press my lips together and squeeze her hand gently, watching them both. "You're freaking me out a little, Aunt Ella." I half laugh, "What's going on?"
"Jellybean." Uncle Byron starts and smiles more, "We want you to move in with us. Let us fulfill the wishes of your parents to be your guardians."
My breath gets caught in my throat, staring at both of them with wide eyes. This has to be a joke, right? They're kidding. For 6 months without them I had done nothing but wish for this to happen, for them to come home and take me in as their own. But now that it's actually happening, it doesn't feel real. I have to be dreaming.
"You...want me?" my voice cracks a bit as I said that.
They both smile brighter and nod, "Of course we do." she says, "You have always been part of our family. We wouldn't want it any other way."
This didn't feel real, no matter how much I saw their faces or heard their words. It's so long between what she said and my shocked expression of silence that she just laughs gently and pulls me into a hug, welcoming me home because she knows I could never say no to this opportunity.
...
In days I was moving out of the Hastings' place and into the Montgomery's. They had talked it out and Veronica had told Aunt Ella that she would put in the work needed to have them no longer be my foster parents and for me to be their adopted daughter. Having two lawyers helping out they knew it would be quick and easy to get things done, and they didn't complain when they were asked if I could move in as soon as I was ready to.
It took a week for me to finally be living with the Montgomery's, slowly getting my stuff from my room at the Hastings' and into Aria's bedroom. They made sure things were rearranged so I could have my own bed and everything. They didn't have the extra space for me to have my own room, but I didn't even care.
Poor Spencer was so bummed out that I wouldn't be with her. I felt horrible leaving her to fend for herself with that family of hers, but I couldn't pass up this offer knowing that I'd be with a family who loves me. Her parents warmed up to me being there, but it didn't feel right. Not to mention that half the time Melissa would steal her old room back because she refused to sleep in the loft since Wren cheated on her. So I would end up either on the couch or in Spencer's room.
Now I'm sitting on my brand new twin bed in Aria's room days after I settled in, feet hanging over the edge. Aria is on her bed and Spencer is beside me. Most of my things had to be sent to the storage space that the Hastings helped me get when my parents died, offering to continue to pay for it until I turn 18. The only things that had been there before now were stuff I owned from my childhood room and keepsakes from my parents and brother, other things they advised me to sell if I didn't see myself using them in the future. So I added whatever had been in my room in their house that doesn't fit in Aria's room since she has her things as well. For example, my full sized bed, night stand, all the big stuff except for my dresser that they were able to fit next to her's. All I have with me are my clothes, my flat screen in a box under the new bed and my video games, and other essential things for daily use.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Spencer says with a nudge to my arm.
I slowly come out of my daze and stare at her with a soft smile, "Trying to make sure I'm not dreaming is all."
"Well, you definitely moved out of my house. So unless that's a nightmare I'm having, I think it's real."
I watch her with sad eyes knowing this is rough for her, "If I was able to bring you with me I would."
"Trust me. If there was space I'd second that." Aria adds.
Spencer smiles and waves a hand in dismissal, "I just need to live through Rosewood High and then I'll be outta here." She says with a hint of confidence, but I know better and see past her act.
Instead of pushing the issue though I change the subject, "How has Em been?"
The night of homecoming it turns out that Toby dropped her off at a hospital and then fled. She had a huge cut on her forehead and sprained her wrist. Toby hasn't been seen since that night and she hasn't really talked much about what happened. The most I got out of her was that Toby seemed super off, one minute he was fine and then he got angry and chased her around the school. But for whatever reason, she won't tell the cops specifics. If there's more to the story she hasn't told anyone else as far as I know.
On a good note from that night, she managed to win a brand new car in the raffle draw. So with a weird and unlucky night for her, somehow turned into a lucky one as well.
"She's...hanging in there." Aria says gently, giving a soft shrug.
"Her mom has been very protective lately." Spencer adds.
"I could imagine. Besides the fact her mom thought she had been with Ben, Toby dropped her off at the hospital and then dipped." I shake my head a bit, "Which doesn't make any sense. Toby has never been that reckless."
It gets quiet, and the silence is deafening. I know the girls and the town have an issue with Toby, but I wish they'd give him a chance. Problem is, now that this happened it wouldn't be an option.
"Some people may surprise you, Jessie." Spencer finally says, "He only let you know part of him. No one has truly ever known him when he wasn't being creepy."
I stare them both down softly, not wanting to jump the gun by arguing. "I just felt like I knew him. He was one of a few people there for me when I was at my lowest with Alison picking on me. I never saw him violent."
The subject drops quickly after that. Besides the fact that they knew I didn't have many people on my side when Alison was around, which included them, but also because we would never exactly agree on this since we all knew different sides of Toby. For them, he has always been weird and the Rosewood creeper. Rumors had spread for years that he'd been looking into girls' bedroom windows. But for me, he was my friend and I saw the good in him when no one else gave him that opportunity.
Now they switch our talk about their decision to have an event for Allison, a memorial. For one, I don't know why they even mentioned it to me knowing I hated her for obvious reasons, but I also don't know why they would bother with it considering most of the town couldn't stand her. I however don't say either of those things and let them do what needs to be done for themselves.
...
Unfortunately, the happiness I had by moving into the Montgomery household slowly died out and made me hate the world again. Aunt Ella decided to move out a week later. My aunt and uncle had gotten so out of touch and fought constantly that Uncle Byron thought it would be best to move out, until Mike flipped out at school and ended up in a fight with one of his lacross friends. This incident made Uncle Byron feel like they were losing control of their kids and wanted to stay and fix it, but Aunt Ella didn't agree, wanting him to leave. When he went against her wishes she took it upon herself to move out instead. Things were bad when they were fighting, but it felt even worse that she left. This made things feel as if it would never be the same.
A few days after she left I'm at the end of my shift at the store and in the middle of restocking some shelves while the freshman I hired is counting the money from the register to put it in an envelope. She helps behind the counter when I'm open while I'm usually in my office. Once she's done she sets the envelope in a cubby underneath the counter and helps me with the last minute cleaning and closing process.
A DING comes from the front door being opened up, last minute customers probably. I check my watch to see ten minutes left before I officially have to close as I peek my head from behind one of the shelves, smiling when I see who it is. "Noel."
His head turns to where I am and smiles back, walking over to me. "Hey, Jessie. Thought I'd find you slaving away."
I half laugh, 'cause I never really like when rich people joke about the less wealthy. "What's up?" I add so I don't look unpresentable.
He stretches his arm out when he gets to me, grabbing what's in my hands and sets them where they need to go on the top shelf. Which helps me a lot so I don't need to get onto the ladder. "Aria."
I blink and purse my lips in confusion, "What about her?"
"She's been avoiding my offer to go on a date because of some guy she's hung up on from Iceland." He adds, "We were hanging out the other night with Hanna and Sean, went to see a movie and she didn't seem interested."
I half smile, not surprised that he would be that guy who thinks girls should be all over him. "Noel Kahn, having a hard time with the ladies? That's new."
He nudges me playful with his finger, "Excuse you, I don't have a hard time."
"Aria is giving you a run for your money. Hard time is on the table." I smirk at him.
He smirks back and laughs, "Can you just tell me what I'm doing wrong?"
"And why would I be able to tell you that?" I set a few more things onto the shelf at my height.
"Because she's your best friend and you've known her forever."
"This is true " I nod playfully, seeming to be uninterested until he gives me another nudge. "Okay fine." I smile and nudge him back, "You're not doing anything wrong. You're giving her time. You're doing everything right."
"So then…?"
"Just give her a little more time. Relax."
Relax seemed to help him, because as the days passed Noel was finally able to get Aria to at least hang out with him. So that was a good sign. I luckily didn't hear anything negative about his attempts, so I took that as her warming up to his presence. Now Alison's memorial service gets closer and I don't bother to even think about going. I mean, considering the last time I went to something that represented Alison I got kicked out. But it turns out that her brother showed up and took over planning it despite it being their idea. They all had it set up to have people speak of her in a good light instead of a dark one of her being murdered and there is now a spot in town for a decorative bench that was dedicated to her. But here's the messed up part after they put so much effort into it. Someone destroyed it days later during the night and Detective Wilden came around school the following day it happened to investigate. Number one guess on who he started with first. Yep, the girls. Unfortunately it was during our SAT exams in the middle of what ended up being a bad rain storm and we got stuck in the locker room instead of taking our tests, so it gave him the advantage to bother the girls. However, he got himself into deep shit when Veronica Hastings found out he was interrogating them without their parents present. He got kicked off the case with her help and I could not be happier.