Secrets In Rosewood {1}

Chapter 14: Careful What U Wish 4

The girls are back at Spencer's and they rewatch the video and Spencer says, "She doesn't even look scared." Hanna says, "Did Alison ever look scared?" Avery says, "He pushed her, didn't he?" Hanna says, "And all that mumbling and groaning, maybe she was gripping the ground because--" Spencer cuts Hanna off and snaps, "Looking for a weapon to defend herself?" Hanna looks at Spencer and says, "Why are you snapping at me? I'm just trying to give your creepy brother an out." Spencer says, "In-law, okay? Ian is my creep brother-in-law." Avery says, "Okay, whatever he is, he just married your sister, and he might be a killer." Emily says, "This definitely proves he was with her the night she died." Hanna says, "Can we just watch this video one more time... and figure out what they're saying?" Emily says, "No, please I can't watch this again." Avery says, "Yeah, Em's right. Let's just give it a rest." They all sit on the couch except Spencer and Emily rubs her arms and says, "Is anybody else freezing?" Spencer says, "I'll make some hot chocolate." Hanna says, "Hot chocolate? What is this, Camp Tamarack? We can't just sit around singing "Kumbaya." We have to hand over that video." Ian comes in and says, "What video?" Spencer says, "Uh, Hanna rented Tootsie, but she left it at home." Ian says, "You're welcome to hang in the barn. Your sister picked some chick flick on demand. Where do we keep the popcorn?" Spencer points and says, "That drawer." Ian has his back turned and Hanna signals Spencer to close the computer that has the video paused on Ian's face. Ian turns around and says, "Oh, Emily, I've been meaning to ask you. You ready to trade your goggles in for a field hockey stick? Yeah, we could use some speed on offense. Right, Spence?" Spencer nods and says, "Mm-hm." Emily says, "Thanks, I'm still into swimming." Ian says, "Well, you wouldn't be if you saw what they skinned out of that pool every week. What's up? Did I walk into the middle of a chick flick? Okay I get it. No guys allowed." Spencer closed the computer and Ian walks out. Avery sighs in relief and says, "God, that was close. Spencer, how can you even sleep here knowing he's living in your backyard?" Emily says, "We have to give that tape to the police. Tonight." Spencer says, "And when they ask us where we got it?" Ian comes back in and says, "Forgot the salt." Spencer places her notebook on top of her computer and then he grabs the salt and leaves.

The next day, Avery and Emily are on a ladder putting up a banner for a dance-a-thon for the school and Avery asks Hanna, "Okay, does this look even?" Avery looks over to see Hanna not paying attention and she says, "Earth to Hanna." Hanna looks up from her computer and says, "Sorry, what? Oh, uh, yeah, it's fine." Avery steps down the ladder and says, "Okay, remind me. How come you're the chair of the decorating committee... and we're the ones decorating?" Hanna says, "I can't climb up there. I'm saving my one good leg for tomorrow night?" Sean walks over holding an Obama stand and he says, "The printer guy needs to be paid. Did you order six Barack's and no Michelle's?" Hanna looks at Sean and says, "Are you kidding? Tell him no Michelle's, no money." Sean says, "Uh, maybe you should tell him. He says this is what you ordered." Hanna looks at her friends and says, "I'll be right back. Oh, and it's a little low on the left." Hanna walks away and Avery sighs frustrated and Spencer walks in and says, "Hey, are we still doing this at lunch?" Emily says, "If by "this", you mean taking your laptop to the police, then yes, we are." Spencer says, "But no one called, right? They don't know that we're coming." Avery says, "What's with the cold feet?" Spencer says, "It's just... I was up all-night thinking. What if this is a setup? "A" could've planted this video on my laptop... knowing that we would turn it in." Emily says, "Guys, let's not try to second-guess "A." We've been there. We ended up scared of Noel Khan... who turned out to be a freak looking for a better grade." Spencer says, "Yeah, let's not forget "A" also tried to kill Hanna for knowing too much. We could be walking into a trap." Avery says, "You are already living in it." Spencer says, "No. Ian... might have done other stuff, but he's not "A." There's no way he'd want us knowing this video exists." Emily says, "But it does, and the police need to know what happened to Alison that night. Toby gave Alison his sweater before she saw Ian. And Toby shouldn't go to jail for a crime he didn't commit." Avery says, "She's right. Hey, I'll drive you to the station during lunch." Moments later, Avery's in a booth wiping down a table when her mom appears with an old friend and says, "Surprise." Avery smiles and says, "Simone? What are you doing here?" Avery gives Simone a big hug and she smiles and says, "I wanted to surprise you." They pull away from the hug and her mom says, "She's in town visiting her parents, so I hijacked her. She's gonna babysit my first-period English class." Simone says, "Your mom invited me to speak to her classes. You know, try to convince them that there's life after Rosewood." Her mom says, "And it's actually a very impressive life. Guess who is now a published author." Avery smiles and says, "What? That's fantastic." Simone says, "Okay, slow down. Two short stories, an online journal... and your mom thinks I'm J.K. Rowling." Avery says, "Mom, why didn't you tell me Simone was coming?" Her mom says, "Well, because some of us can keep a secret." Simone says, "It's so weird to be back in this building. I came in I went right into autopilot, walked straight to my old locker." Avery says, "Oh, don't tell me you miss it." Simone says, "I do. It's twice the size of my apartment in New York." Avery laughs and says, "Do you have to leave after my mom's class? You should come to mine, too. Hanna, Spencer, Emily, we're all in the same English class." Her mom says, "Why didn't I think of that? That's a great idea. I'll be right back." Her mom walks away, and the girls sit down, and Simone says, "Your mom tells me that you kept quite an intense journal while you were away." Avery says, "Yeah, well, I had to do something. It was Iceland. The sun went down in October, came back up in March." Simone says, "Don't diss it. There might be a really good story someday." Avery says, "No. No, I doubt it." Simone says, "And when you win that Pulitzer, you better thank me. I made you turn off The O.C. and read Wuthering Heights. Avery says, "It wasn't Wuthering Heights, it was The Exorcist." They notice her mom walking back to them and Simone says, "Okay, volume. Mother on campus." Her mom says, "Okay, so we're all set. Mr. Fitz is in and, Simone, you are booked till lunch. If you have time for a cup coffee while in town... I think he would really like to pick your brain. Say yes. He's very single and very handsome. Am I wrong?" Avery shakes her head and fake smiles. Later, Avery's with Emily and Spencer talking about Simone and Emily says, "I wouldn't have even recognized her. When's the last time you saw Simone?" Avery says, "Oh, I don't know. It's been a while." Spencer says, "Well, she must be doing pretty well if she's willing to sponsor all four of us." They walk over to Hanna and Spencer says, "Come on, Han. You can look at Help Wanted on the way over. I hear Rosewood P.D. is hiring." Hanna says, "Well, I do have experience with them, just the wrong kind." Emily says, "Okay, come on, we have to go. We only have 45 minutes." Hanna says, "Wait, hold on. What's this?" The girls look over Hanna's shoulder at her computer and Spencer says, "What are we looking at?" Hanna says, "How come your music's online... when your laptop's on your shoulder? Look, isn't that your playlist?" Spencer says, "What?" Spencer opens her bag to find her laptop not there and a Rosewood yearbook. Avery says, "Why are you carrying a yearbook?" Spencer says, "I'm not." Emily says, "Where's your laptop?" Spencer says, "It's in my bag, except it's not. This is insane. This bag has been plastered to my side all morning." Emily says, "What about P.E.?" Spencer says, "It was in my gym locker... but no one else has that combo." Emily says, "The coaches do. Ian must have heard us last night." Avery says, "Well, if he did, he knows what's on there." Spencer says, "If he has my laptop..." Hanna says, "He knows we've seen what's on there too."