The memorial bowl had finally arrived. I helped Aria push it in to Spencer's living room. I grunted as we finally had it inside.
"It's about time. I was afraid that she wouldn't get it done in time for Ali's memorial." Aria said as we pushed it in to the living room.
"And this was someone from your Mom's gallery?" Hanna asked she flicked through some of the plans we had come up with.
"Yep." I huffed as we stopped. I leant on it catching my breath.
"Where is your Mom?" Em asked us getting up from the sofa to come and help us take it out of the box.
"There is a apartment above the gallery. So she's staying there for now." Aria answered as I finally caught my breath.
"Kind of weird isn't it?" Hanna muttered and I turned to her "Your Mom moving out."
2Yeah cause my Dad should have moved out. That's what you would expect." my sister sassed over to her
"Ari." I turned to her as Spencer joined us
"Sorry, that's not what I meant. This whole thing just sucks." I rap my arm around my sister as Spencer hands me a screw driver. I got to take out one of the screws.
"Did anyone call Shelly Lennard?" Em asked
"Done. I told her that if she played anything depressing I will kick her cello." I chuckled at my friend
"Go Spencer." I joke "What about the program ?" I wonder giving her a screw.
"Almost done but we should finish it before Ali's brother get's here." she replied to me
"When's that?" Ari asks
"Tonight. But he wants to see us in the morning." I answered and they looked at me "What?"
"God, you know what? I barely remember Jason." Hanna says as she comes up to join us.
"We didn't know him. He was just Ali's brother down the hall." Aria replied and I shifted uncomfortably "Behind a closed door."
"With his hardcore punk-music vibrating the floorboards." Emily added with a small laugh.
"Yeah, and me banging on his door to shut the hell up because I was trying to sleep." we laughed. I shake my head remembering.
"How did he get into an Ivy league school." Aria wondered
"I don't know, it must have been an affirmative action for punks and emos" We lifted the lid off and saw the bowl.
"It's amazing." I breathed it had six girls each represent one of us with Ali in the middle of course
"Pedestal's already out there next to the bench. This goes up Friday morning." Spencer told us.
"Do you think Jason will like it?"Em questioned
"Of course he'll like it." I rested my elbow on the box and looked at it.
"You know years from now, people are gonna see this memorial and that all they know about Ali. She'll be the girl that they dedicated the bench to. We'll all be gone but she will still be remembered." Aria commented as we admired the bowl.
"That's immortality my darlings." I imitated Ali as I remembered the day she said that by the lake.
"Where did she get that. A movie?" Ari wondered
"Ali was a movie." Spence replied.
---------------------
I woke up late and now I was rushing to Spencer's for the meeting with Jason. When I arrived I was all in a tizzy and oblivious.
"I'm late I know, I slept in thanks...sis....Jason" I saw everyone but Hanna. Huh I guess she was running late as well.
"Erica." I felt my mouth go dry he came over and hugged me. I slowly returned it. We pulled away.
"Umm." I went to the cupboard and got some coffee before sitting down.
"As I was saying. You've done a great job. Mom, Dad and I are really grateful ." The door opened as Hanna arrived
"There she is." She looked a little shocked to see Jason but smiled a little.
"Jason. Uh hey. Sorry I'm late." she apologised coming in further into the kitchen.
"No problem. " They had a short embrace as she joined us. "I was just saying that you've done some lovely work on the memorial. I might have done one or two things differently. But we can adjust that along the way." I raised an eyebrow. Excuse me?
"Here is a copy of the program for the dedication." he handed one to me and out fingers brushed against another. I shifted and pulled away, looking at it
"Oh, I e-mailed you the program that we worked up" Spencer piped up
"Right, I saw the draft. This just fine tunes it." he replied, still the same subtle tones of a know it all and worse than spencer because he's older.
"Well it's nice to see you've barely changed." I drawled taking another sip of coffee.
"Meaning." I just smiled sweetly he cleared his throat "Let's see. If Shelly Leonard's gonna play something I don't think we can give her more than three minutes. I remember she is some what of a showboat with that Cello. Then uh, oh. Is this the picture for the program?" He picked up the photo of Ali that we liked.
"Yes it's everybody's, favourite." Em told Jason and there was a moment of silence as he looked down at it
"It's the one I would have picked " he put it down "I thought I was gonna be able to get my whole family out here but, at the last minute, my mom, um..." he chuckled nervously
"It's crazy talking about this, isn't it?" he became all somber. "When I think about her, I think about you. The six of you in her bedroom, laughing and keeping secrets...Long time ago." My eyes flickered down.
"I would like you all to speak." I snapped my eyes to his "I would rather hear from you than Miss Slocomb from the PTA." he had some coffee
"Well, they did really help us out a lot." Spencer told him
"What about the rain?" Jason changed the subject
"Rain?" I asked
"Forty percent chance before the weekend." he clarified and I me a O face as I understood what he was asking.
"Oh, they said we can use the schools multi purpose room if we have to move the ceremony inside."
"Great. People think this dedication is about closure. There won't be closure till they find out who did this to Alison. The cops in this town have been jerking around my family for more that a year. No more of that. I'm here to get some action and this memorial is gonna help me get that. Oh and I'm adding a speaker to the program." he told us writing down a name
"Jenna Marshall?" EM questioned looking over my shoulder. what?!
"You want Jenna to speak at the dedication?" Han asked
"That's right." Jason confirmed. I think this man might still be using drugs or drinking for Jenna to take the stand on Ali's memorial day.
"Well, why?" I inquire folding my arms. This would not be personal, I could not make it personal, this was about Ali.
"She asked me if she could." he answered me, he looked confused as he glanced me over.
"Jenna asked to speak?" Hanna questioned
"Is there gonna be a problem?" Jason asked us
"It's surprising to hear that Jenna and Alison were close, quite the opposite in fact." Spencer covered for our knee jerk reaction.
"I know. Jenna called and said my sister was a lot of help to her after her accident." I felt like I was loss for words that Jenna was going to be speaking at the memorial, much less going to it "Well concentrate on what you're gonna say. Leave the rest to me." He started packing up
"Now I'm gonna have a talk with Detective Wilden and find out why they haven't located Toby yet." he was escorted out by Spencer.
"Did we just get fired?" Hanna blurts out just as they were leaving.
"Shh. Keep it down." Aria scolds
"Why is he talking to Jenna?" Emily wonders to the three of us and Aria sighed
"More importantly why is Jenna talking to him." I grit my teeth. That...that...I just... my thoughts were all over the place but I felt anger.
"I don't know" Aria breathed out
"What does she have to say." Em continued
"This is turning into a nightmare." Aria dragged a hand through her hair. Spencer came back
"What did he say?" I question my friend
"Nothing he just kept smiling like he was running for office." That was plausible, I taught him that in the face of a rage smile before you go off on one. I didn't do it that much anymore.
"Spence why does Jenna want to speak at the dedication?" Aria asked like Spencer had all the answers
"And why does Jason want her there. He clearly knows they weren't friends." Hanna added
"We can't let Jenna speak." Em sighed
"Yeah but how can we stop her without looking like bitches. 'She was our friend not your back off bitch' I don't think that will go down well." I voice sarcasm was evident in my voice.
"How can we stop her at all. In case you didn't notice we just got patted on the head an sent off to play." My phone buzzed and they looked at me
"Chill it's just a message from my dance partner. Crap I'm late again. Look, Spence just keep on top of this. The last thing we need is Jenna throwing us under the bus." I tell her before I ran out of there.
------
After school I danced alone in the studio. When the music finished I heard clapping I swung round and there was Jason.
"How, how long have you been there?" I asked him breathing heavily and holding a hand to my heart as it beat wildly.
"Long enough to know you still move like a work of art." He came closer to me as we stood cheek to cheek.
"Jason, Please don't do this." I plead with him
"Do what, pay you a compliment ? You used to blush when I did that." he smiled down at me
"That was a long time ago. Before you left me." He sighed and trailed his finger up my arm. Then to my locket.
"You still wear it." Jason commented opening it seeing the picture of my family and the two of us. I pulled and turned away.
"You ignore me for over a year and then come back acting a Jerk thinking your the big boss treating my friends and sister like were children and tease me." I panted slowly.
"Well I always have you to put me in my place." he grinned chilly slipping his hands into his pockets.
"Stop. Please, stop toying with my feelings." my voice break. "I was getting better, and then you stir everything up again. It's not fair." his smile dropped and he nodded
"You're right. I'm sorry. It's just, you know how hard it was for me to control my self around you when we were alone." he answered rocking back and forth on his feet.
"But we're not that couple anymore. Everything changed when she.... You left then I left and that's it." I folded my arms "I keep it because it's the only thing that keeps me grounded. A lot has happened since we last saw each other. I don't know this..it gives me a spark of hope." I grabbed my things
"Bye, Jason."
Sisters, friends and ex - boyfriends, oh wow. What a memorial to remember the dear departed, the best always have secrets and lies -A
--------
It got closer to the memorial when I came out of the school library and went to my locker. I saw Spencer and Emily with Jason and I decided to go over
"Hi." I hugged my two best friends
"Hey where have you been." Emily wondered as I stood in between the two
"Library working. It's not easy when you have to do a report that should have two to do it... Jason." I answered and greeted my ex.
"Erica. How are you?" He wondered going along with the conversation, that we aren't two people who've dated.
"I'm fine. Are either you up for me going back to yours? I'm avoiding home for as long as possible." They were about to reply when we saw Detective Wilden."
"What are they doing?" Spence asked
"That's Toby's locker." I stated we all headed over, to see what was going on.
"Detective Wilden." he glanced at the four of us.
"Ah. You'll find this interesting. We're having a look in Toby Cavanaugh's locker." he told us and I chuckled slightly
"No, really I thought you were picking a outfit for the school talent show." I retorted pointing my finger to my head and then away from it.
"Why do you think he's hiding in there?" Jason prodded.
"He's a suspect." we were informed
"With what actual evidence? The bogeyman tell you." I jabbed folding my arms
"Well, your investigation better turn up more that Toby Cavanugh's old gym socks." Jason added, the two of having a go at him reminded me for a moment why we worked well together.
"You made it quite clear the other day you weren't happy with the pace of the investigation. You said you wanted action. I'm trying to give that to you." Wilder relied flicking through one of the school books Toby left behind
"Yeah, you've got nothing. I realised that yesterday." he sassed them
"You know, sometimes Jason, we withhold information on the investigation to avoid any interruptions." Tilden tried to cover his ass but it was clear that they had nothing to go on.
"The only reason your tearing this kids locker apart is because he's not around to object." Jason retorted
"Another way of saying ' you ain't got jack shit, so your grasping at straws as usual." Wilden glared at me as I just gave him a sassy smile. Jackass didn't intimate me, he was highly irritating by this point.
"Toby called your sisters cell phone the night she disappeared. I checked the phone records, she took the call." I was left speechless
"Toby called Alison the night she died?" Em spoke up for the first time in this entire conversation as shocked as we all were.
"He did. Or somebody else did using his phone." I shared a look with my friends
"Careful that sound like a false accusation." I walked off to my locker and changed my books
"Hey, what was that about?" Jason rubbed my arms from behind me. I relaxed into his touch, even when apart we still couldn't help being in sync with each other.
"Detective Wilden, is trying to find any and every excuse to pin Ali murder on us. You know how we were drinking that night?" He nodded "Well..." I pretended to zip my mouth.
"Right."
"Yeah, so he can sniff that put 2 and 2 together comes up with 5. It at one point was borderline harassment . That and he looks at me like I'm a piece of meat probably because I give him attitude." I admitted glance back at the Detective who was busy doing nothing searching Toby's locker. then to Jason
"I wouldn't expect anything less." he chuckled
--------
That night I was in Spencer's bedroom doing my homework. Jason was distracting so I kept out of his way. The door swung open then shut. I looked at my best friend.
"I cannot believe she said that." she scowled, looking really annoyed.
"What?" I question confused
"I'll tell you when the others get here. Jason's gone by the way." I came down and the others arrived a short while later.
"So she tried to pin it on you?" Hanna was shocked we all were. Ali told Jason that Spencer put the stink bomb in the garage and blinded Jenna.
"That's what she told Jason, actually correction she told Jason, Erica and I were the ring leaders." Spencer corrected her statement.
"Whoa, wait what! Why?" I exclaimed standing up insulted.
"Because you two stood up to her and Alison didn't like that."Aria replied with a sound reason.
"God this is officially insane" Hanna freaked sitting down.
"Is that what she told Jenna when she was at the hospital?" Em wondered joining Hanna.
"I don't know. I mean I don't think so, but I don't know." Spencer was visibly shake by the encounter as she went to sit down. I joined and wrapped my arm around her.
"Okay, so one minute she's trying to cover it up and the next she's ratting us out to her brother?" Aria questioned. Even dead Ali was still screwing with us.
"Like she wanted Jason to know the fake story incase anything happened to her." Em figured
"Why?" Hanna wondered
"So they know who to blame." Spencer figured as she toyed with her cardigan covered hands.
"Oh fuck you Ali." I groaned I swore up to the ceiling "God, this is still Ali's movie, we're just filling up the screen."
-----Alison Memorial-------
Spencer was the first to giver her speech on Ali. We were all still reeling from the night before. I drew the short straw and had to sit next Jason, other side from Jenna. We all took it in turns sharing things about Alison. Before Spencer started she looked at us and we turned around. No fucking way. Ian Thomas?
Soon it was my turn.
"When Jason asked us to each write a speech about Ali, I was actually speechless." I began
"How could any of us attempt to fit her into a paragraph or two because there was no one else like her. I could only describe her as the definition of unique. In life and in death we go through a lot happiness, sorrow, laughs and arguments . That's what makes us human and that's what made us friends. When I first met her was in 5th grade when I got defiant with a teacher about how dumb he was. Of course speaking out of turn to a teacher is hilarious when you're in the moment.
She stopped me at break time told me that she thought I was cool for what I did. I remember at one point I wondered, why she wanted to be friends with me. She had a whole school of girls and boys to be friends with but she picked the five of us. The six of us went through a lot Ali helped us and moulded a part of us in a different way. But no matter the smile or glare, she was my best friend and I will miss her.
I hope that when people go to the memorial and look at what is there now, they'll think of her and how she left a imprint, a story a smile. She went too soon." I finished and went to sit back down. Jason helped Jenna to the stand then sat back next to me. I felt his finger slip through mine and hold them.
"We think we know who we are but we don't. Not until something bad happens to us. And then all the useless things fall away, and we're left with who we're really are." Jenna began and my grip on Jason's hand tightened a little. I felt his stare on me for a moment before turning back
"I learned that for Alison Dilaurentis. My whole life I thought I knew who she was. But I found out the truth when she came and talked to me at the hospital. I found out that she was the strongest person that she had ever met." Wait now I was confused "And it was her strength that touched so many people, shaped them. That's her real legacy. That's how her memory will endure. In the actions of those she inspired in so many different ways. From all of us, thank you Alison,"
--------------------
"I need sugar." Hanna moaned as we all arrived back at Spencer's house
"I'm buying." Spencer stated, we would probably go to the grill or something or order in.
"And Tahi , I'm craving for some Tahi food." I sat down at the kitchen island as Jason followed in behind us.
"That was my folks." Jason told us resting against the island "They say thanks." He looked at me "And so do I."
"Your welcome." I told him, giving him a soft smile
"And I want you girls to have something." He dug into his pocket and brought out a pouch
"The police returned this to my family. I think you should have it." It was Alison bracelet. Did that mean we had a copy?
"The police gave that to you?" Em asked
"Alison was wearing it." I picked it up and examined it, Aria looked over my shoulder
"What, you mean when they found her?" Emily inquired as I placed it down
"After listening today, I just thought you should have it." He looked at Spencer "I'll be in touch." he left.
"If that's Alison's bracelet, what about the one we found in the woods?" Em said as I gave it to my sister
I don't know" Aria responded
"Someone made a copy of Alison's bracelet and made sure we found it." Hana shook her head not quite believing it.
"Why?" That was the question we were all asking.
----------------------
My phone buzzed and I got a text. It was from Jason.
-Our spot, ten minutes - Jase I bit my lip thinking about it. Oh what the hell. I grabbed my jacket and boots before going to Mikes room.
"Mike...Mike" he opened up and looked at me with confusion
"Erica, what are you doing?" he whispered seeing be stood there and ready to go.
"I needt to use your window." I walked in past him
"Why where are you going?" I turned and gave him a sidewards smile
"Meeting a boy." He guessed closing his door behind us "Toby?" he questioned I opened the window.
"No. Oh and here." I handed him a 20 and climbed out.
"Thanks bro." climbing down I took the torch out of my pocket and headed towards our spot. I was the old abandoned park. No one ever came here because there was a better one closer to town. We always met up. Jason was already there.
"You came." he breathed and airy smile
"I can't resist sneaking out. What do you want?" I shrug as if it meant nothing, but clearly it did.
"Well first I wanted to apologise for being a jerk, then and now. It's just hard you know." he explained his arms going the same time he was talking.
"Okay."
"I also wanted to show you something." He took out his wallet then handed me something. It was a old picture of us.
"Just because I left , I didn't answer calls, text or emails. Or the fact that I've been a complete ass for the past year. I doesn't mean I still don't love you." I look at him
"I'm a idiot, I will always be one , but when I left, it was for many reasons. I hoped that some space would help heal losing my sister. I'm still working on that but the point i'm trying to make, is whether its miles away or a foot away. I love you and you have no idea how happy I am you still wear that necklace." he pointed to it as it hung from my neck in pride of place.
"Why are you telling me this when you leaving again?" I inquire handing him back the picture and he tucked it away.
"I tried to convince myself that I had to forget my feelings for you because Ali didn't like it. I failed as a brother but if I could do that. In some twisted way I would be redeemed. I can't do that anymore, I can't. Because you have me hooked lined and sinker Rica. Do you know that." he took my hands "I will be gone for a while but when I come back, I would really like it if we could start again."
"You do know we're totally screwed right." he laughed
"How is it you make me a different person." I snort
"I'm just that awesome, I keep telling people but they don't get it." He smiled "If you wanna try again, I'm warning you I will break your legs if you hurt me like my Dad hurt Mom."
"I promise." he gave a firm nod
"You better. You may be older but I so wear the pants in this relationship." Jason shook his head "I must be mad to go through this again, but you're mine Jason Dilaurentis." He leaned down and kissed me