Hanna hated that her father wanted to take her out to lunch. What would she do with him? Make small talk? Smile and pretend everything was fine? That wouldn't happen. Forgiveness wasn't that easy, and he didn't even deserve it.

Hanna had gone home and put on a plain t-shirt and jeans. She hadn't bothered to touch up her makeup. Tom didn't deserve her effort. When he came to pick her up, she didn't say a word. She was sitting in the restaurant now, her attention glued to her phone, not caring about the menu or her surroundings. She felt Tom's eyes on her, but she refused to acknowledge it. She was focused on Sean, anyway.

Ever since she'd caused a scene at Virginity Club, he'd been silent. She knew he was upset, but it was his fault. He was going to kiss Paige, and Hanna was supposed to be okay with their "role-playing"? Absolutely not. She was the queen of revenge, and she kissed Lucas to give Sean a taste of his own medicine. The question now was, what would happen to their relationship?

Hanna stared at her conversation with Sean, waiting for the text bubbles to appear. Tom spoke impatiently from across the table. "Hanna, I'd appreciate it if you could focus on me and not your phone."

Hanna replied without looking up. "I've got a lot going on, okay?"

"That's why we need to talk."

He would never stop, huh? "Fine." She set her phone on the table. "Talk."

Tom gestured at her. "Before we get started, I want to say that you look wonderful. The last time I saw you, you were..."

"Fat?"

Disappointment gleamed in his eyes. "No, Hanna. You were beautiful."

Hanna let out a bitter scoff. "I was so beautiful that you left me."

He frowned while trying to explain. "You're too young to understand, but marriage is complicated. When your mother and I tied the knot, we thought it'd be easy, like a dream come true. But sometimes people change, and things don't always work out the way we planned."

"Did she change, or did you?" His attention went to the table. Hanna persisted, sensing the truth behind his silence. "Come on. We're being honest, right?"

Tom lifted his eyes to meet hers. "It was me, Hanna. That's why I called it off."

"And then you left me."

He leaned closer, his eyes pleading for understanding. "I'm sorry for that. But I haven't gone a day without thinking about you."

"You could've called anytime."

"I know. But as the months went by, it got harder to reach out. I didn't want to face your anger."

"Well, you are, Dad. But it's okay. I've got Wilden now, and he'll never let me down."

"Didn't he arrest you? At least that's what your mother told me a few hours ago."

Why would Ashley tell him anything? Now he was going to make Wilden look like the bad guy. "He was doing his job. Maybe if I had my dad around, I wouldn't have to steal."

Tom looked around, his voice dropping as he asked his next question. "Have you thought about seeing a therapist?"

"Therapist?" Hanna jerked backwards. "I'm not crazy."

"No one's saying you're crazy, but this divorce is taking a toll on you. Therapy can help you process everything that's going on."

"I don't need a stranger telling me how to feel. I can deal with this on my own."

"Stealing is your way of dealing with it, and that's not acceptable."

"I'm not doing it anymore!" Hanna yelled, attracting attention.

Tom kept his voice low, trying to maintain the privacy of their conversation. "I need to make sure. You shouldn't see therapy as a sign of weakness, Hanna. It's about taking care of yourself."

"Like you care about my well-being."

"I came back, didn't I? I even brought you to this nice restaurant." He motioned between them, trying to bridge the gap. "Meet me halfway, honey."

"I don't want to spill my guts to some random person. Because trust me, Dad, the things I'd say to that therapist won't be very nice."

"I'm okay with that. The point is to be honest and get your feelings out."

Hanna lost her patience. "For the last time, I'm not going! And this is a waste of time. All you're doing is judging me, and trying to convince me that I'm crazy when I'm not!" She stood and pointed aggressively at him. "You're the problem, not me!"

He called after her. "Hanna, please wait! There's something else I need to tell you."

"What? That I should check in to Radley?"

"No. I want to tell you about my life in Maryland."

Despite her anger, Hanna's curiosity was piqued. "Why did you even go to Maryland? What's there?"

Tom became vague, as if treading carefully. "A nice lady and her daughter." When she looked lost, he elaborated. "They're your stepmother and stepsister, Hanna."

Hanna's face went pale, her hand tugging at her ear in disbelief. "I'm sorry, did I hear you right? Because it sounded like you just admitted to getting married behind our backs."

"I did."

A tidal wave of emotions washed over her. How could he marry someone without telling his own daughter? He moved on and started a new life without bothering to include her.

Hanna also thought about her mother. She'd fought to keep things together after he'd left, and put on a brave face even when she was in pain. Meanwhile, he started anew as if they were a burden from his past. She despised him even more now.

Her voice shook, almost breaking. "And you didn't tell me? You didn't even invite me to the wedding!"

"You wouldn't have come."

Hanna glared at him, her voice venomous. "You're right. And I shouldn't have come to this restaurant at all. I knew it'd be pointless."

Tom held out his hand, trying to get her to stay. "Hanna-"

"Don't. Just go back to your new family. I'll have the time of my life here with mine."

Because to her, he was the worst failure a father could be.

...

Hanna paced around the living room, venting to Wilden. Her arms flailed as she recounted what had happened the day before.

"I don't know why you made me go to the restaurant," she said. "It was such a waste of time. First, he tried to convince me to see a therapist, which is crazy. But that's not even the worst part."

Wilden's attention drifted between her and the case files spread out in front of him. "No?"

"No! The worst part is that he got married behind my back! He didn't even invite me to the wedding!"

"Would you have gone?"

"No, but still! He should've said something, or at least asked for my blessing. I was so angry that I told him to go kick rocks." She stopped pacing and turned to him with an expectant look. "Was that wrong?" He didn't answer, his eyes already back on his files. "Wilden!"

Wilden gave her a look. "You know I have a murder to solve, right? Your friend's."

Hanna muttered, "Maybe not."

"What was that?"

"Nothing." She saw his attention returning to his work, and with a resigned sigh, added, "I'll leave you to it."

A cup of coffee might help clear her head. But as she reached for the pot, the doorbell rang. She frowned and looked at the clock. It was too early for visitors.

She set the coffee pot down and went to the front door. When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat. The man who had shattered her world yesterday stood on the doorstep.

"Hanna," Tom began.

"What are you doing here?" Hanna demanded. Her attention became drawn to a woman and a teenage girl who appeared next to him. The woman was elegant, and the girl was pretty, with long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. She looked like she belonged on a magazine cover, not standing awkwardly on Hanna's doorstep.

"Who is this?"

"This is Isabel," he said, pointing to the woman. "And this is Kate," he continued, pointing to the teenager. "My wife and her daughter."

Wife and daughter? So they were the ones he'd told her about yesterday. But why were they here? He hadn't asked permission to bring them. The nerve of him, flaunting his new family as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"You've got some nerve bringing your new chick and her bratty-looking daughter here."

Kate gasped, and from the couch Hanna heard Wilden choking back a laugh. Tom gave him a deadly look before turning to Hanna. "Hanna, that's enough."

"No, it's not. You think you can waltz in here with them, and everything will be okay? You're out of your mind."

His disbelief was obvious. "Who taught you to act this way? You used to be nice!"

"Well, like you said. People change."

"Then Ashley and I need to talk."

Isabel gave Hanna a disgusted look. "Now."

As if summoned by the commotion, Ashley appeared, her pace slowing as she took in the scene. "What is going on down here?" As her eyes landed on her ex-husband, her expression changed to one of surprise. "Tom? I thought you were back in Maryland."

Hanna seized the moment, her voice sarcastic. "He should be. But instead he showed up with our clones."

"Clones?"

Hanna broke it down. "Oh, right. He didn't tell you that this is his new wife and daughter. The ones he left us for."

Ashley's face hardened as she turned to Tom. "You told me you left because we were on two different paths. But really, you left because of her?" She pointed accusingly at Isabel.

Tom took a hesitant step forward, his face masked in guilt. "Ashley-" he began, but she raised her hand, silencing him before he could get another word out. Even Wilden felt the deep wound that had just been torn open.

Ashley turned away from Tom. Her back was stiff, though her shoulders shook with the effort of holding herself together. Every step she took up the stairs echoed with the weight of her heartbreak. And she clutched the railing as if it were the only thing keeping her from collapsing.

As she disappeared from view, Hanna felt a fierce wave of protectiveness rise within her. She spun around to face her father. "See what you did?"

"No, Hanna, that was you. And I've had enough of the disrespect. You're going to see a therapist. End of story."

"I said no."

"Who's the parent here?"

"You're not my parent. You just want to ruin my life. That's why you came back."

"I came back to check on you! And I brought Isabel and Kate here so you could meet them and get used to this change."

"I don't want to know them, and I certainly don't want to know you." With that, she slammed the door in their faces. Then she hurried upstairs to check on her mother. She'd been so focused on exposing her father that she hadn't thought about the consequences. But now Hanna realized how insensitive she'd been. But at least her mother now knew the truth about what a liar he really was.

Her steps grew hesitant as she approached her mother's room. The door was slightly ajar, and through the narrow opening she saw Ashley sitting on the edge of the bed, her face buried in her hands.

"Mom?" Hanna called as she entered the room. Ashley didn't answer, her shoulders shaking with the effort of holding back her tears. Hanna crossed the room and sat beside her. She reached out, her fingers lightly brushing Ashley's arm. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out like this. I just wanted you to know the truth about him."

Ashley uncovered her face, her eyes filled with a pain that Hanna could barely bear to see. "You shouldn't be the one to apologize, Hanna. He convinced me that our marriage ended because we were drifting apart, but all along he found someone else. Someone...prettier."

"Oh, please. She's a clone, and so is Kate. They have nothing on us, and Tom will realize that. When he does, we won't let him back into our lives."

Ashley nodded, but she looked defeated. "What am I supposed to do now that I know the truth?"

"Focus on Wilden!"

"Hanna, please," she said, tired. "I don't care about Wilden right now."

A pained voice at the doorway startled them. "Oh."

They both turned to see Wilden standing there. He hoped to offer support, but it was clear he now felt like an outsider, intruding on a personal family moment. "I should go, then."

Hanna jumped up from the bed and chased after him, her footsteps pounding the floor like she was running a marathon. She couldn't let him go—not after everything she'd done to make him stay.

"Wilden, wait! Why are you leaving?"

His hand lingered on the doorknob. "You heard what she said, Hanna."

"She didn't mean it. She's just sad."

"Exactly. It's clear she and Tom have some unfinished business. I shouldn't get involved."

"They don't have unfinished business! He's married!"

"And your mother's upstairs tripping over it. Do you think that's fair to me?"

"So you're gonna abandon me too? After I spoke so highly of you?"

"I'm not abandoning anyone. If you Marins ever need me, I'll be there. But as for this relationship thing...I feel like I'm just here as Tom's replacement, and that's not fair to either of us. It can't go on. I'm sorry."

Wilden saw the pain in her eyes, but he had to do what he felt was right. He opened the door, and Hanna rushed forward, her voice breaking as she begged him to stay and talk this over with her mother. But he stepped out, the door closing behind him. Hanna watched through the window as he walked away, his figure getting smaller and smaller until he was out of sight.

She leaned against the door, her hands covering her face. She had worked so hard to bring Wilden into her family. Over the past week, they'd grown close, sharing moments that made her believe things were finally getting better. But it wasn't.

Wilden had promised to be there for them if they ever needed him, but Hanna found it hard to believe. His departure felt too much like a final goodbye. So she had no real father. No stepfather. And a mother who was in shambles upstairs, trying to hold herself together.

It was all Tom's fault. She wouldn't be surprised if he'd done it on purpose. He wanted to drive Wilden away to keep her miserable and stuck on him forever.

Well, good for him. Because he succeeded. But he was also dead to her now. So she hoped it was all worth it.

Aria sat in Ezra's apartment before school. Every chance she got to be away from her father, she took. Especially after her confrontation with Meredith yesterday. The woman was evil, and even though Meredith didn't want to see Aria again, Aria knew it wouldn't be the last time she'd run into her.

Meredith's claim that she wanted to "get her man back" had Aria checking the front door all morning, half expecting Meredith to show up again. But so far, she hadn't. Her father's behavior was just as suspicious as Meredith's. If he hadn't been with Meredith yesterday, where had he been? With a third woman?

She remembered confronting him about it. She and Mike had asked where he was, both needing clarity. Byron told them he had to stay at Hollis later than usual. He didn't elaborate, and Aria didn't press him. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the details, and she certainly wasn't sure she'd believe him if he did explain.

That's when Aria's phone buzzed. It was a text from Ezra, asking if she was okay. That was why she'd come to his place—to fill him in, and to explain why they hadn't had much time together lately.

Now they were cuddling on his couch. Aria's fingers were tracing patterns on his arm. "I'm sorry we haven't been hanging out much," she began, her eyes downcast. "I took your advice and told Mike about my dad."

Ezra tilted his head to study her expression. "How did he take it?"

"He doesn't hate me for not telling him sooner, which is good," she said with relief. "Honestly, I'm glad I spoke up because it gave us a chance to work together."

"That sounds fun."

"Maybe under different circumstances." Aria sat up, the stress in her posture obvious. "We wanted to know for sure if our father was still cheating."

"Is he?"

"I'm still not sure," she admitted. "But what I do know is that his other woman is evil. She disrespected our mother and bragged about how easy it'd be to steal my father away. She still wants him, Ezra."

"Then maybe it's time for you to tell your mother."

"Telling Mike was hard enough."

"I know. But if there's even a small part of you that wants to save their marriage, then let your mother know what's going on. That's the only way she'll be prepared for whatever this woman throws at her."

"Her name is Meredith," she told him. "And you're right. I'm so angry with my dad, but I don't want a broken home. But telling my mom will be the final blow, and I don't know if I can help her heal. She'll never get over the betrayal."

"Nor will she ever get over the fact that you kept this from her," he warned.

Aria bit her lip, the thought tormenting her. "Do you think she'll find out on her own?"

"I know she will," he replied confidently. "Get ahead while you still can, Aria."

Aria nodded determinedly. "You're right. It's time for Meredith to go down, and the only way to do that is to tell my mother the truth." Then she remembered the conversation she'd had with Spencer. Spencer was certain Ezra was using her, and Aria needed to make sure that wasn't true. "Speaking of the truth, I need you to tell me something," she began. "You're never going to break my heart, are you?"

"We're not your parents."

"I know. It's just...I finally talked to my friends about you. And Spencer said some things..."

"Of course it's Spencer." He rolled his eyes.

Aria caught his reaction. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"The eye rolling."

"You know Spencer doesn't like me. She's doing everything she can to break us up."

"She's just worried," Aria defended. "She has experience with this kind of thing. It didn't end well for her, so I think she's projecting."

Ezra took her hand in his. "Well, I'm crazy about you. So no matter what Spencer says, I won't break your heart. I promise."

Aria's lips curled into a relieved smile. "I promise, too." She changed the subject. "Anyway, the girls and I are planning a memorial for Ali. There's a complication, though. Jason might come back..."

Ezra's expression turned serious as he processed the name. "DiLaurentis? That doesn't sound good."

"I know, but I can't stop him from coming, Ezra. That's his sister." His silence spoke volumes, and Aria's fear grew. "Are you mad at me?"

"I'm mad at the circumstances. I remember the way he spoke to you after the funeral, and I still don't like it."

"He wasn't rude."

"Still, if he comes back to Rosewood, it won't just be for Alison. It'll be for you, too."

"No, he—"

Ezra cut her off, not wanting to hear any excuses. "Aria, let's be honest."

She sighed, her optimism fading. "I guess he'll want to talk, yeah."

"About what, though?"

She hesitated, knowing that revealing the truth would only make things more complicated. But Ezra had asked for honesty... "I kissed him." He looked pissed and Aria quickly added, "It was a year ago. Long before I met you."

"Is that why he bothered you after the funeral?"

"Yes," Aria admitted. "He wants to work things out, but I told him I want nothing to do with him. You're the only man for me."

"Then why doesn't it feel that way? I mean, you certainly went out of your way to keep this a secret from me."

"Because it doesn't matter."

"Maybe not to you, but Jason probably thinks about it every day. About you every day."

"Well, I don't think about him. He means nothing to me."

Ezra didn't buy it. "I don't believe you. Not anymore." He stood and grabbed his sweater. "I'm gonna be late for work."

Aria stood too. "Will you drive me?"

Ezra's voice was the coldest it's ever been. "I think you should find another way to get there."

Aria's eyes held her confusion and pain. "Seriously?"

But the way he left her standing there made it clear that he meant it.

Emily held her phone to her ear and listened to Spencer. Her attention, however, was divided. After A's, Ben's, chilling message on her mirror, she suspected he had put hidden cameras in her room.

She hadn't slept because of it. She'd spent hours searching her room, even making Maya toss and turn a few times as she moved things around. She felt bad for disturbing her sleep, but the fear was too overwhelming to ignore. She had to prove she wasn't just being paranoid. But so far, she'd found nothing.

"So what's going on with the memorial?" Spencer asked.

"The memorial is in full swing. The town is putting in a new bench, and we're going to plant flower beds. There'll also be a pathway of art tiles."

"Art tiles?"

Emily explained. "Yes. Messages, pictures, memories of Alison. I was thinking we could each design a tile. Is Aria going to help?"

"Yeah. And Em, do you think you could go easy on her? I know you're going through a lot, but she has her own struggles."

Emily thought about it. "Maybe I was hard on her. I'm just so disappointed. But she answered my SOS text, so...fine. I'll forgive her." She heard Spencer typing. "Are you doing your homework? School starts soon."

Spencer's fingers stopped. "I'm transferring Melissa's Russian history essay to my computer."

Emily's disbelief was obvious even over the phone. "You're stealing her essay?"

"Melissa and I are closer than ever, so she's letting me plagiarize."

"And you're okay with that? I'm honestly shocked."

"It was either that or risk another F. It's bad enough my parents still don't know about my English assignment grade."

Emily's ears perked up. "Wait. Mr. Fitz gave you a bad grade? Is that what you argued about yesterday?"

Spencer's voice took on a bitter tone. "Yeah. He's punishing me for not approving of his relationship with Aria."

"You should tell her. Maybe it'll make her reconsider."

"I want to, but part of me doesn't want to ruin her happiness."

"What about your happiness?" Emily countered. "We're talking about your future, Spencer. At some point, you have to put yourself first."

Spencer was silent, thinking about Emily's words. Then she changed the subject. "Enough about me. Did your mom find out about the break-in?"

Emily's attention was split between her phone and her search for the cameras. "No, but I'm gonna take Hanna's advice and suggest we get security cameras installed. I keep searching my room for hidden cameras, but I've found nothing."

"You think A's spying on you?"

"Yes. There's been other suspicious texts sent to me that only A would know about if they were watching me in my bedroom." Like the kiss with Maya.

"Or maybe they were watching you from the window. Jenna and Toby..."

Emily shook her head, her eyes never leaving the corners of her room. "It's not him."

Maya interrupted, curiously. "Who's not him?"

Emily jumped. She quickly ended the call with Spencer. "Maya. Hey."

Maya eyed her suspiciously. "Are you still checking for cameras?"

"I have to. I don't want anyone watching us while we sleep."

Maya tried to reassure her. "There's no cameras here, Emily. You would've found them by now."

"Or maybe I'm not thinking outside the box." She resumed her frantic search. Maya, clearly frustrated, grabbed her hands, stopping her.

"Okay, we need to talk about that message from yesterday," Maya demanded. "Who wrote it, and what grave do they want you to go to?"

"Maya, it's safer if you don't know, okay?"

"It's safer if I do know, so I can be prepared for whatever happens next."

Emily's grip tightened, their fingers intertwined. "Nothing will happen to you. I'll make sure of that." She hadn't been able to save Alison, but she was determined to protect Maya.

She panicked upon hearing her mother's footsteps. She released Maya's hands and moved back, as if she'd been caught in a compromising position. The thought of her mother discovering her relationship with Maya was terrifying; she couldn't handle that confrontation on top of everything else.

Pam appeared in the doorway, glancing from Emily to Maya, then back to Emily. She smiled, but there was a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. "You two have been up here for a while. Is everything okay?"

Emily composed herself. "Yeah, we were just talking. But, Mom, do you think we could install security cameras?"

Pam looked surprised. "Why? This town is safe."

"Safe? Alison was murdered."

Pam frowned. "I know, but crimes like that don't happen regularly in Rosewood. Unless there's something I should know?"

Maya was about to reveal too much. "Well, yeah. Someone broke—"

Emily's hand flew to Maya's mouth. What was she doing?!

Pam became suspicious. "Broke what?"

"It doesn't matter," Emily said in an instant. She wanted nothing more than to end the conversation. "Uh...we're getting ready to leave now!"

"Okay..." Pam gave a long, questioning look over her shoulder as she walked away. Maya uncovered her mouth as soon as she did.

"Why won't you tell her there was a break-in?"

"Because she'd freak out and demand a police car outside the house 24/7."

"She should. That was scary, Emily."

"I know it was. So if you want to go home, I won't blame you."

"I'm not going anywhere." She moved to her bag and pulled out a long red scarf. She wrapped it around Emily's neck, her fingers lingering on the fabric. "This is mine, but I want you to have it. To prove that I'm all in."

Emily touched the scarf. "Maya, this is beautiful. But now I feel bad that I didn't get you anything."

"Don't worry about that. Just having you here is enough."

Emily's heart swelled. While the scarf was beautiful, it was Maya's presence, love, and support that truly made her feel whole. "I adore you," she murmured, her voice filled with love.

Maya's eyes twinkled. "I adore you too, Em."

They decided it was time to go to school after sharing that heartfelt moment. Emily folded the scarf and put it in her bag, smiling at Maya one last time before they headed downstairs. They said goodbye to Pam before stepping outside.

As they walked down the street, Emily noticed that Toby and Jenna were also leaving their house. Toby led Jenna, her hand on his arm as they walked together. When he spotted Emily, he gave her a friendly wave. Emily waved back.

Toby guided Jenna towards them. Although Emily was too far away to hear their conversation, Jenna's expression suggested she was asking about their destination. Toby remained silent as they reached a spot a foot away from Emily and Maya.

"Hey, Emily. How are you?" Toby greeted.

Jenna's eyebrow arched in surprise. "Emily?"

"Yeah, it's me," Emily replied. "And my day isn't starting off as badly as it usually does."

Toby smiled. "I'm looking forward to chemistry again."

"Chemistry?" Jenna repeated.

"Toby and I are partners," Emily explained.

"Interesting..." Jenna's voice trailed off, her face a mask of indifference. The slight stiffness in her posture, however, indicated her displeasure.

Emily's focus shifted to Jenna's hand as she reached into her bag and pulled out a tube of lipstick. It was Jungle Red, as seen on Emily's mirror the day before. Could Jenna really be connected to A? Spencer believed so, so Emily seized the chance to investigate Jenna.

"Hey Jenna, can I ask you a question?"

Jenna applied the lipstick. "As long as it doesn't annoy me."

"Why did you pick that shade of lipstick? It reminds me of Alison, if I'm being honest."

Jenna let out a hollow laugh. "I didn't know she owned Jungle Red."

"It was kind of her signature. Wearing it makes you seem like you want to be her." Jenna's laughter grew. Emily frowned, confused by her reaction. "That's funny?"

"You're way off, Emily. If anything, it was the other way around."

"What does that mean?"

Jenna held up the lipstick tube as if she were presenting a trophy. "You want to know why I chose Jungle Red? It's bold. It's empowering. And it turns heads. I don't know about you, but I like to stand out. Is that a good enough answer for you?"

"Sure." Then she said, "One more question. Where were you after school yesterday?"

Jenna capped the lipstick. "I usually go straight home after school."

"Usually?"

"Yeah, including yesterday. Why are you questioning me, anyway?"

"Just being a nosy neighbor."

"Whatever." Jenna turned. "Let's go, Toby. We're gonna be late."

Toby looked more resigned than ever. His eyes conveyed a silent apology before he walked away with Jenna, who tightened her grip on his arm, eliciting a pained "Ow" from him.

Emily watched them leave, her eyes narrowing at Jenna's retreating figure. Maya sensed the tension. "You suspect her of writing that message, don't you?"

Not really. But Emily couldn't deny that the whole thing was too coincidental.

Normally, Spencer would've called Emily back and demanded an apology for hanging up on her, but right now she had more pressing matters. She sat at her desk in the barn, transferring Melissa's Russian History essay to her computer. That essay was her lifeline to salvaging her grades, especially since Mr. Fitz was deliberately failing her. The last thing she wanted was to fail two classes, and she definitely didn't want her parents to ever find out about the F she'd received. She'd never hear the end of it.

She glanced at the clock and realized she needed to print out the essay quickly since school was about to start. The problem was that the printer was in the main house. Where her father was.

Thanks to him, the house was a minefield of tension. Spencer wanted to avoid going there as much as possible. But she had to get her essay, so she took a deep breath and steeled herself for the journey.

She left the barn and opened the door. As soon as she stepped inside, she was surprised to see her father standing in the kitchen. He was holding cookies, his face lit up with a hopeful smile. It was as if he'd been waiting for her to walk through that door.

"Spencer!" Peter exclaimed. "I bought these for you." He held the container out to her. "Buttercream cookies. They're your favorite, right?"

Spencer's eyes fell on the cookies. "Yeah, when I was seven."

A hint of embarrassment crept into his posture. "Oh. Well, I can run out and get chocolate chip-"

"No thanks."

She wanted to escape to her room, grab the essay, and leave the house as soon as possible. But Peter had other plans. "Spencer, wait! Can we please talk about what happened?"

"You mean you wanting to kick me out?"

He took a step closer, his voice full of sadness. "I didn't fully think about what I was saying. I'm sorry."

"That's not good enough, Dad," Spencer shot back. "You hurt me, and made me feel like I was the problem when I wasn't. You and Mom promised to give me the barn. So how can you judge me for getting upset that you didn't?"

"We were wrong about that, but did you really have to ruin Melissa's dinner?"

"Maybe not, but I had every right to be angry. I'm tired of always getting the short end of the stick. I honestly feel like I don't matter in this family."

His eyes went soft with real remorse. "Of course you matter, Spencer. I'm so sorry for the way I treated you. It won't happen again, I promise." When Spencer remained silent, he continued, "Listen, I love you and Melissa more than anything. I wish I could keep you both here forever, but I know that eventually you'll be ready to spread your wings. And I'll be devastated when you move out." He managed a dry chuckle. "I guess you're already halfway there, considering you're in the barn now."

"I'm preparing for independence. But even after I move out, I'll still come and visit, Dad."

Peter's hopeful eyes searched her face. "So...does that mean you can forgive me?"

Spencer glanced at the container of cookies, her resolve softening as she reached for one. She took a bite and savored the delicious taste. It was a small comfort in the midst of their conversation. "Well, you got me my favorite cookies..." She paused, the mood lightening slightly. "Fine. I'll give you one chance, Dad."

His face brightened with relief. "Great! So when can we start running again?"

"We'll talk about that later. I have to go get my essay now."

Spencer bounded up the stairs. As she reached the top, a muffled sound caught her attention. It came from Melissa's room. She approached Melissa's door, which was slightly ajar, and peered inside.

Melissa was sitting on her bed, her face buried in her hands. Her mother was standing in front of her, rubbing her back and whispering reassuring words. Spencer pushed the door open a little more, making her presence known.

"Hey," Spencer said, stepping into the room. "What's going on?"

Her mother looked up. "Melissa had a rough day yesterday."

Melissa pulled the covers over her. "More like a rough life." She began to explain. "I was in class and some guy was flirting with me. I completely lost it. I told him he was probably a no-good cheater who was going to leave me for my sister. I said it out loud, by the way. Now everyone thinks I'm weird. I have to drop out!"

Spencer was concerned. "No, Melissa. I know Wren broke your heart, but you can't give him this much control over you."

"It's not just Wren, Spencer. It's every guy I've ever loved. Every time I start to trust someone, they hurt me. I feel like I can't get away from it."

Spencer moved closer. "I get it, believe me. But quitting isn't the answer. You're strong, Melissa. Stronger than you realize."

"I don't feel strong."

Veronica made a suggestion. "Maybe you should call Wren one last time."

Spencer jerked her head in her direction. "Why would she do that?"

"Because she needs closure. She'll never move on if she doesn't hear his side."

"There's nothing to explain. He's a player—end of story. We're not letting him back into our lives." Spencer put a reassuring hand on Melissa's shoulder. "How about we have a sister day, Melissa? We haven't had one in...ever."

Melissa's expression brightened at the suggestion. "Sure. Tomorrow's the weekend. But where would we go?"

Spencer just smirked. She had the perfect idea in mind.

...

Spencer hurried down the hall and called, "Mr. Sheldrake!"

He turned and looked surprised to see her. "Good morning, Spencer."

"Morning, sir. I wanted to turn in my Russian History essay. "

"It's not due until Monday."

"Well, you know me. I'm always prepared."

"Yes, you are." He took the paper and looked at it. His eyes lit up with admiration. "Wow, Spencer. This is amazing work. Golden Orchid-worthy, even."

"Really?" The Golden Orchid was a prestigious national competition for historical writing. It was a big thing.

"Yes," Mr. Sheldrake confirmed. "There's an honorarium, and I think you have a chance to win with this piece. And the upside? It'll look fantastic on your college applications. But if you don't want me to submit it..."

Did she want him to? The essay wasn't hers, but who would know?

"You can," Spencer said.

"Great. Good luck." Mr. Sheldrake smiled and walked off.

"Good luck, indeed," someone said from behind. It was Noel, leaning against the wall. Spencer looked around the hall frantically. She didn't want Aria to catch her talking to her old crush. She didn't want A to catch her either.

Noel raised an eyebrow. "Why so jumpy?"

Spencer forced a smile, trying to keep her composure. "I just...have a lot on my mind."

"Like the Golden Orchid?" he observed. "That's a big deal, Spencer. And if you win? Instant fame. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"I don't really have a choice."

"Well, I hope you win."

"Thanks," Spencer replied curtly. "I'm going to class now."

As she started to walk away, Noel called after her. "Wait! I was hoping we could finish our conversation."

"Which one?"

He came closer, his voice low but insistent. "In class yesterday, you mentioned that you wanted to kiss me at the party. I asked if you still felt the same way, but you didn't answer. So..."

"Um..." Spencer hesitated, glancing around the hall again. The thought of being seen talking to him made her uncomfortable. "Noel, this really isn't the best time to talk about this."

His eyebrows knitted together as he took in her skittish behavior. "Look, if you don't want to talk to me, just say so."

"I want to talk to you, and that's the problem."

"How is that a problem?"

Spencer sighed. "I wish I could explain it to you, but it's not my place. I just think we should cool down our interactions."

"So you don't want to talk to me."

"We can say good morning and stuff," Spencer clarified, "but let's avoid full conversations, okay?"

"Wow." His expression transformed to deep, crushed sadness. "This is not how I expected my morning to go."

Spencer's heart ached at the sight of his disappointment. "I'm really sorry. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but-"

Noel cut her off with a pained look in his eyes. "You don't have to apologize. I can't force you to talk to me. Even though I really enjoyed our time together, but it is what it is." He gave her one last sad look. "It was nice knowing you, Hastings."

Spencer watched him leave. She bit her lip, feeling a lump form in her throat because she really enjoyed Noel's company. She couldn't deny the flutter in her chest whenever he was around. Which meant one thing: she felt something for him, something real. But Aria's feelings mattered too.

Aria wouldn't be okay with her and Noel becoming something more, and the thought of losing Aria over a boy was unbearable. Spencer let boys come between her and the people she cared about before, and she wasn't about to make the same mistake again. So she figured she just had to let Noel go. She had to hold on to the short, sweet memories they'd shared instead of making new ones. But they were memories she'd always cherish, even if they could never become anything more.

Hanna sat against the wall between classes and took a sip from the flask she'd just taken from Emily. She noticed the sideways glances from passing students, their eyes focused on the flask. Hanna had to lie through her teeth and say it was medicinal. Whether or not they believed her was anyone's guess. She wouldn't be surprised if someone was already on their way to report her to the principal. Today was a disaster anyway. Why not let it get worse?

That's why she was drinking. The bond she and Wilden built had crumbled to dust, leaving her feeling fatherless once again. If she hadn't cared so much about what people thought, she might have cried right there. But instead, she drowned her sorrows in alcohol, hoping to numb the pain in her chest.

Her thoughts darkened with each sip, circling around her anger at Tom for coming back into her life, only to disrupt it. Introducing his new family felt like a slap in the face. And then he had the audacity to suggest therapy. If anyone needed therapy, it was him—to learn how to be a good father.

She tipped the flask again, but nothing came out. With a frustrated shake, she realized it was empty. "Great," she muttered to herself, and tucked it back into her bag. As she did so, two girls walked by.

"Slut," one of them hissed. Hanna's impulsive kiss with Lucas had made the rounds, probably thanks to Sean. He must've spread the news, just like Ben had done with Emily.

As more girls walked by, hurling the word "slut" at Hanna, Caleb arrived. He tossed his bag on the floor and sat next to her. "Why does everyone keep calling you that?"

"I kissed someone other than Sean," she blurted out. Caleb looked like he was judging her as well, and she calmed him down. "Relax. I'm not a cheater. I just wanted revenge."

Caleb processed the situation. "Okay, when I told you to get a new boyfriend, I was joking. But if you're focusing on revenge instead of love, maybe you're not meant to be with Sean."

Hanna brushed off that comment. "Whatever. Sean is the least of my worries right now. My life is falling apart, Caleb, and it feels like it's going to get worse."

"What's going on?"

"My dad came back to Rosewood just to brag about his new family. He broke my mom's heart, and she broke my would-be stepdad's heart. Now he's gone, and I'm fatherless forever." She sighed, leaning her head against the wall. "I just want a father, Caleb."

Caleb's silence stretched as he collected his thoughts. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft and vulnerable. "Do you remember the lady you saw at my house?"

Hanna nodded. "Yes. I asked if she was your mother. You said 'something like that.'"

"That's because she's my foster mom."

Her head lifted off the wall in an instant. "Where are your parents?"

"I tried to find that answer for years. But I couldn't, so I gave up and accepted that I wasn't good enough for them."

Hanna's face softened with sympathy. "You're more than good enough, Caleb. If your parents can't see that, then screw them."

He met her gaze. "You should keep that energy with your father. If he wants to replace you, let him. You have me. You have your friends. We love you."

Hanna was taken aback. "You do?"

"Yes. As a friend, obviously. Best friend even."

Hanna laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you, too. And thank you for always listening to my problems. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Caleb shrugged, a modest smile on his face. "It's not like I have anything else to do."

They laughed and sat there with her head still on his shoulder. Caleb had become her rock, the one person she could turn to when everything went to shit. She admired his perfect responses and non-judgmental attitude. He made her feel like she wasn't alone in this chaotic world, and she appreciated him for that.

It wasn't about him being there to listen. It was about him being there, period. Hanna knew she'd do anything for him, just as he'd do anything for her.

Just as she was beginning to feel at peace, a voice shattered the moment. Hanna's head snapped up as she recognized Lucas' voice. She saw him engaged in an intense conversation with Mona. Whatever they were arguing about, it didn't look good.

"Leave me alone, Mona."

Mona smirked. "Aw, is someone's feelings hurt?"

Lucas gave her a sharp look. "No, you're just a nuisance."

Mona shrugged. "Just telling you the truth."

Hanna, who had just arrived, stepped in firmly. "How about you don't?"

Mona turned around slowly. "I'm not doing anything wrong, Hanna. I'm just reminding Lucas not to get his hopes up after what happened between you two yesterday." She eyed Hanna with disdain. "But considering how different you've been lately, he might have a chance with you. And that's really sad."

With that, Mona left. Lucas shook his head, obviously frustrated, and walked in the opposite direction. Hanna hurried after him. "Lucas, wait! How does everybody know about the kiss?"

"Sean told his friends."

She knew it. Which meant he told Ben, who told the whole school. That's why they called her a slut.

"But why did you kiss me?" Lucas demanded to know.

One word: revenge. "You saw how close Sean and Paige were. I got jealous and..."

"Used me in your revenge plan?" he finished for her. "Well, thanks a lot. Now I have to watch my back."

Hanna tried to reassure him. "Sean won't hurt you."

"His friends will. They're already after Cavanaugh."

"I won't let them. I'll-"

Lucas held up a hand to stop her. "I think you've done enough. Just keep your lips off me, please."

Hanna watched as he hurried away, his shoulders hunched in a way that made her heart sink. She'd never seen him so upset, and knowing that she had caused it sucked.

As much as she wanted to run after him, to apologize, to promise to make it up to him, she couldn't move. The exhaustion of pretending to be okay, of trying to keep up with the schemes, of pushing the pain down, caught up with her.

How had everything gotten so out of control? Lucas, Sean, Tom, Wilden. Everything was falling apart and she didn't know how much more she could take.

Caleb came up to her, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "I'm assuming that was the guy you kissed."

"Yup."

So she needed to find a way out of this mess, fix things with Lucas, and more importantly, fix herself.