"Erica, breakfast is ready!" I heard Dad shout. I looked down at my phone and A's text, once more before I locked my phone and went downstairs. I sat at the table between Mike and Aria, Dad Put breakfast in front of me.
"Go ahead you can say it out loud. Dad has gotten a handle on this single parent thing."
"It looks good." Aria complimented.
"Yeah." Mike added unenthusiastically. I felt a nudge in my rib and I looked at my twin who was silently telling me to say something nice. I ignored her and slid a cap and sunglasses on, not saying anything.
"Erica, no glasses or hat at the table please."
"I have a headache, the light is bothering me." I muttered than began to eat my breakfast.
"Are you sick." he came over and took my cap off.
"Get off. I said I had a headache." I took the cap and put it back on.
"Did you see Mom last night?" Aria asked taking the questioning away from me. I was beyond grateful.
"Um, yes, I did."
"How'd it go?" i went to have some juice
"well what I thought turned into a date with you mom, turned into you mom telling me that's she's dating other people." I spat out my juice all over him and started coughing.
"What?" Mike questioned in disbelief "You're okay with that?" Aria rubbed my back till I calmed down.
"Well it's not really my place to tell her that she can't" Dad answered
"That's just so you Dad. You lie and cheat but you draw the line at hypocrisy. You're such a role model." He got up and grabbed his bag.
"You coming sis?" he looked back at me
"Yup, later twin." I grabbed my bag and a orange leaving the house with my brother. We walked out of the house.
"Erica." I turned my head to him.
"What's wrong? You've been quiet and normally you would be ranting about what just happened?" I sighed
"I'm just tired. Coming back here has taken it's tole and I'm just tired." I answered
"Is it Aria and the others?" he wondered protectively
"Who's the older sibling again?" I smiled "not completely. Can I ask you something?" he nodded and i stopped walking, he did too.
"Why did you never ask or tell?"
"About what?"
"my boyfriend. I told you he was older and you could have told Mom or Dad but you stayed quiet." He thought about it.
"He makes you smile."
"What?"
"Alison may have been of your friend but she was sucking the life out of you. Out of all of you, I never got why you were friends. But then it's weird, it was like something switched on again and you were this happy and lively sister again. When you said he was older you weren't specific yet even I know it can't be that much because you cringe at like anyone above thirty." I laughed
"He makes you smile and happy as long as he keeps doing that, it's all I need to know right now." He summarised with small shrug
"But aren't you curious?"
"Duh, but I trust you." He shoved me lightly "Besides ask you no questions and you'll tell me no lies...right?" I smile
"Right." I wrap my arm around him
"Let's get to school. But first coffee, need coffee." He laughed and we continued walking. We saw Emily and Spencer outside the grill.
"Mike, will you get the drinks." He nodded and went inside. I touched Emily's shoulder because Spencer was on the phone.
"Who is she talking to?" i whispered and sat down
"Hilton Head, she thinks that Ali was there with Ian the summer before she disappeared." she told me.
"So you're all of the Toby train. I'm cool with this." I hummed and leant back in my chair and cross my legs.
"Toby's still lied as well you know." Spencer added covering the phone.
"If lying was a crime we'd all be in jail, Spence." i retorted, Emily nudged my arm and looked over to the door. Agent Cooper was back coming out with a coffee.
"Agent Cooper, good morning." Emily smiled
"hi, Beautiful day, huh." I nodded a car pulled up looked over to where it stopped and Hanna got out.
"Look who traded their wheels for heels." I joked
"Funny, they're flats but they are ferragamos." she sat down next to me. Aria asked me where I was I told her and she sent and ok.
"Thank you." Spencer muttered
"The food here is to die for. I'm missing it already?" Agent Cooper commented looking up to the sky on the nose day we were having so far.
"Are you going somewhere?" Hanna wondered
"I came here to find the person who killed your friend. Toby Cavanaugh may be out on bail but he's not leaving town and we have a solid case against hm. Unless you have a reason for me to stay" I bit my tongue and didn't say anything
"Guess we'll see you around then." Han smiled and Cooper left just as Mike came out.
"I got us some food too, since we didn't finish breakfast. Look I'm meeting with some of the guys Catch you later.' He handed me my coffee and food then left. We all turned to Spencer.
"So?" Emily asked
"Ian was defiantly at Hilton Head the same weekend Ali was" I felt a spark of hope that we could clear Toby's name. We met up with Aria at school and told her what Spencer had found out.
"Agent Cooper is not some small town cop who's gonna arrest Spencer's brother in law because Ali carved his name into a tree." Hanna pointed out.
"Yeah, a tree that's no longer there." Aria added as we all sat down in the cafeteria. I poked at my food before I began to eat
"No one knows the but us." I pointed out with a mouth full of pasta. School food wasn't horrendous, but it wasn't all that good either, today was a decent day because it was Mac and Cheese.
"and Ian"
"And A" Emily and Hanna added. We all looked to see Noel outside in the court yard. He was messing about pretending to be the big man as usual.
"Noel lead us to that tree for a reason." Spencer stated as everyone for a moment stopped to glance at him
"Is A..." Aria started but amended herself "Is Noel, trying to help us find Ali's killer?"
"Noel, helping someone other than himself that would be a first." I commented as I reached for my water to have a sip.
"how could Noel even know about Ian and Ali?" Spencer wondered, Aria snorted
"Have you ever noticed Noel is always around."
"Dude is a snake. Granted a snake that hosts the best parties but always a snake." I looked back over to him and he stopped Mike as he was going inside.
"Are they friends?" Em asked us
"No." We replied
"Hanna's right, we need to find proof if we want Agent Cooper to stay." Spencer changed the subject. I would have to speak to Mike later about this.
"Thank you Veronica Mars?" Han replied sarcastically.
"That proof may be boxed in your kitchen." Em whispered
"Hey." We turned our attention to Maya. Em smiled and stood up
"Are we still okay for later, meeting up?" Maya wondered. The four of us shared smiles with each other
"Yeah, my mom knows how my Dad feels about us." Emily nodded in agreement. If you really knew Emily you would know that internally she was freaking out beyond anyone could really imagine and that sometimes it would spill over into the real world.
"In other word she'll tolerate us." Maya summarised catching Emily's drift.
"She's spending the day in the city, okay, so you'll be safe." My phone buzzed, I looked at it.
Tick tock goes the clock till I spill my secrets -A
My smile dropped as i stared at that message everyone continued talking but started to feel nauseous. My internal world was both spinning and reeling at what was going on. My turn at the torment, solo round.
"Erica are you okay?" Hanna wondered with concern on her face. I shook my head.
"I feel sick." I ran off and into the bathroom, I emptied the content of my stomach.
"Erica? Erica are you okay?" it was Aria. I flushed the toilet and stepped out the three of them looked worried.
"I'm fine, must have been a bad mac and cheese." I freshened up. "I have to get to my locker and class" I left the bathroom and went to my locker as I was heading to class I saw Toby.
"Toby?" he stopped and looked
"Hey Ri."
"Keep moving." The officer grunted and they did I followed them and Toby got his things out of is locker, when he went to go some of the other kids stepped in front of him.
"Murderer." I stomped over and grabbed the kid.
"Can it, idiot." and shoved him away. Then i turned back to Toby.
"I will talk to you later yeah?" he nodded and then left. When he did everyone was staring at me.
"Try me I dare you." I scowled. Everyone looked away, except the girls. I headed past them and went to English. My phone dinged
Won't play? Others Will -A I frowned at what it meant but I got on with the rest of my day.
------
Aria and I were decided to was home, well actually the car was in for repair . So... but as we did we saw Hanna outside Lucky's eating. Aria said she had Physical therapy today. We headed over.
"Hanna?" We asked
"are you okay?" I wondered
"Oink, oink." one of the lacrosse players teased
"Don't you guys have practice or did you loose your balls." Aria whipped. They laughed
"Scram, now!" I growled. They got up and left I turned to my twin, and rested my hand on her shoulder for a moment.
"you gotta have a little more edge to be intimidating." We sat down with our best friend.
"I thought you had physical therapy?" Aria wondered
"I lied." She was on the verge of tears.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" she shook her head at me
"I wish I could." i took the napkin from Aria's cup and wiped away the frosting and stray tear.
"I really hate A." she looked past us and we followed. There standing in all of his arrogance was Noel.
"He has something on my Mom that can get her into a lot of trouble." she started to talk, admitting what she wanted to and/ or could at the time.
"What does he want you to do?" Aria wondered
"Remember when I used to eat when I got nervous or felt bad?" we nodded "Alison walked in on me after a binge, and she was actually kind. Or so I thought. She helped me throw up."
"Hanna, sweetie. That's beyond dangerous." I tuck some of her hair back
"I know and that was just such a low point in my life that I started taking better care of myself. I knew I could be stronger than that."
"You are." we confirmed she sighed
"I'm gonna wash up." she went in side and I cracked
"This is all my fault. How could have I been so selfish." I covered my face, feeling guilty.
"What are you talking about." I grabbed my phone and showed her she looked
"What does this mean?"
"A know's who my boyfriend is. He/ she/ bitch wants me to tell you. I refused so she's having fun with Hanna. I should have just said something." my shoulders sagged, how i didn't work out that A would go after one the others, is beyond me. Bitch like to mess with us and clearly there were consequences if you didn't play along. But they must have known that, anyway.It felt like they were counting on it.
"Hey, this is not your fault, who's to say he wouldn't have done it anyway. They're using our secrets against us and each other." she took my hand in hers to comfort me, but it didn't help the guilt, the focus was now on Hanna and A went of the jugular.
"No, I have to tell you, i need to tell you. Then maybe he will back off Hanna." I shook my head "Its just, I've liked keeping it to myself, being in this little bubble with him but..." Hanna came back out, smiling.
"Let's go." she headed of, the two of us looked at each other and followed.
------
We were getting ready for dinner when my phone rang, Aria looked at me cautious, I picked it up.
"Hello?" I answered
"Erica." it was Toby, I left the room. He sounded like he was or at least had been crying, his voice was all croaky and there were sniffles.
"Toby? You sound upset what's going on? Where are you?" I questioned now feeling worried.
"They alley next to Lucky's cupcakes." he sniffed
"I'll be right there." I didn't have the car so I would have to bike it. I ran to the basement and pulled to my old bike and helmet upstairs.
"Were are you going?" Dad asked
"Friend emergency." I left before he could say anything else. I rode into town as fast as I could, i saw the Alley in question and screeched to a stop. I dropped the bike and ran into the Alley. Toby was sat on the floor crying.
"Toby? What Happened?" I sat down next to him and brought him into a hug.
"They look at me like I'm a monster. Like I killed her." he told me holding onto my arm for dear life.
"Oh Toby." I sighed "They don't know shit, okay? They're happy to believe in the lie because it's easier. I can't imagine what you're going through but you're strong and you will get through this. At some point we'll find out the truth and this will all be just a nightmare." I told him.
"Come on I'll walk you home." We stood up. I reached to wipe away his tears and we left the alley. I brought him home, not without some asshats shouting stupid stuff though. We stopped at his house.
"Thank you." I gave him a soft smile.
"It's okay, besides you saved me from having dinner with Dad, so you're more of a prince charming than anything else." He looked down.
"About the picture..." he started
"It's fine, don't worry about it." I shook my head trying to avoid the topic.
"No, look. I won't say anything if you don't want me too. It's your business and as long as your not getting hurt..." he trailed off
"A lot of people seem to be saying that these days. Besides my problems are small right now, compared to yours. Just take care of yourself okay. You're gonna get through this, I know you will." he gave me a hug which I returned it. He went inside and I left. When i got back home Dad was in the living room.
"Where have you been?"
"I told you friend emergency." I sighed heading to the fridge and pulling out left over pizza, I headed it up.
"Spencer?" okay he was fishing. Spencer must be apart of a lie Aria has told, twin sister law was obvious that I dodged yet covered at the same time.
"No, Hanna. Are Aria and Mike upstairs?"
"Aria's staying at Spencer's." I nodded
"Cool. Bye." I grabbed my food and went upstairs. I knocked on Mike's door.
"Yeah?" I opened it and walked in, he was laying in bed on his laptop doing whatever it is he normally does, that's not shady because he didn't automatically put it away.
"When did you get back?" he wondered looking up from his computer screen.
"A few minutes ago." I huffed dropping to his bed, he put his laptop away. "So you and Noel are best buds?"
"Not you too, I had this from Aria. We're friends and what?" he grumbled. I loved Aria, she was my twin but she was not subtle as I was when it came to our little brother.
"No one is just friends with Noel Khan." I mumbled eating my pizza
"He was just telling me this rumour about Mr Fitz." I stopped mid bite for a moment then finished before replying
"What?"
"Yeah apparently he's with a student like in a relationship." oh shit, that little snake. I would have his head for this, especially going to my brother with the information.
"Noel told you this?" he nodded
"Not so high and mighty after all. Aria treats him as if he walks on water." Mike scoffed shaking his head and I turned to face him properly. I put my plate down and cleared my throat.
"Mike do me a favor."
"What?"
"Don't be so buddy, buddy with Noel Khan. Believe me when I say he doesn't see you the way you think he does. just be careful with him." he scowled
"Why, I thought you were friends with him."
"I was until he started talking shit about Aria. Then I kicked him in the balls." he winced
"You are ruthless."
"That I am, but seriously just be careful of him" I gave him a pleading look before I went back to my room.
------
The next morning we were all in school, I was talking with Aria, she was telling me what was going on with the her, noel and Ezra situation.
"So wait, he's really gonna quit?" I asked my sister. Apparently Noel had come round again not giving up. Ezra refused to give him a higher grade and was going to quit.
"I have to admit. I did not see that coming." i shook my head. She looked behind me and I followed her sight. Mr Fitz was coming out of his classroom, he walked past us.
"Step aside." I turned my head sharply in the other direction
"Someone set me up." Noel's locker was getting checked and the Principal pulled out some papers.
"You'll have to explain this one, Mr Kahn."
"You have to believe me." Noel protested, but his protest fell on deaf ears.
"You stole the answers to three midterms, Mr Kahn. I can't imagine ever believing in you again." my jaw dropped, midterm papers in his locker. I did not see that one coming.
"This is really unacceptable and I am really disappointed in you." My phone rang and I took it out.
A is for Alison not Amateur -A
-----------------
"I don't know who I'm more afraid of. A, the bitch who tried to flatten Hanna or A, our new frenemy." Aria said toying with her pen, we were at Spencer's house. Aria smiles.
"What?" Spencer asked
"A saved my relationship." Aria voices, again with the smaller picture of things.
"A tried to kill me." Hanna retorted
"Because a thought you saw her. She clearly knows now that you didn't" Spencer replied i was about to say something when the door opened.
"okay is the law of cosines is an extension of the Pythagorean theorem to the obituary angles around..." Spencer started ranting off as she voiced her fake cover for us. and why we were there. real reason was obviously to talk about A under the guise of doing homework together which would be the furthest from our mind.
"English, please." I told her
"It's nice to see the posse together again." It was Melissa and she looked happy. It made me unsettled to see her happy, because it was a extremely shot stop to being unhappy and Spencer getting the blame for a 50/50 chance of something she's accused of.
"The posse?" Aria questioned
"This is me playing nice Aria. Spencer and I have called a truce." She informed us.
"Well I'll play along. How does it feel to be married?" Hanna wondered
"It feels like I don't have to try so hard all the time, like things are settled." she replied the smile never leaving her face
"Yeah. That's how my Mom felt before my Dad met Isabelle." I smirked at Hanna's comment
"One thing i don't need to worry about is Ian looking at other women." Melissa seems smug about the fact, if only she knew his eye did wonder, old habits.
"Yeah that's what our Mom thought too, then he cheated." Aria slapped my arm
"Ooh, I was just saying. For once I wasn't being bitchy." I rubbed my arm. That was honest, I was just commenting. Ian came in
"Ah, are you ready wife?"
"I am my handsome husband." ugh I wanted to gag. They left and Emily arrived. We grinned at her.
"What?"
"There is something I have to show you in my room." Spencer jumped off her chair.
"Wait, no. She should find it herself ." I protest
"I agree but first." Hanna went over and fixed Ems hair and jacket "There now you can go." She went but looked back we encouraged her to, which she did.
"While there busy, I think we should look though Ian's stuff." Spencer sighed
"Wait." they looked at me "There is something I need to tell you. I don't want to ruin the mood and I wish Em could here it as well but if i don't say something now i will bottle it and A will tell you anyway." I was already beginning to bottle it
"Erica what is it?" Hanna wondered.
"I don't know how to say it." I stressed sitting down on the couch "I have been practicing this for days but each scenario end with you all mad at me that I didn't tell you sooner. And then there was the whole thing with you and i felt so bad because it was my fault and..." I pointed to Hanna as I went on a tangent
"Erica, just tell us." Aria shook me out of it
"Jason Dilarentis is my boyfriend." I blurted out
---------------
"What?!" they screeched and I winced
"I'm dating Jason." I told them again. Spencer sat in front of me on the table she took a moment trying to wrap around what I just admitted.
"As in Ali's brother, Jason." she asked and I nodded
"How long? why didn't you say anything? You should have said something. Seriously Erica." Spencer groaned holding a head to her hand.
"We started dating 7 months before Ali disappeared." I started "We were at a Khan party and we kissed. It was amazing but we were drunk and it was awkward for about week. The we slept over at Alis and I woke up to get a drink. He was there and it happened again. We never thought it would go far but the longer we were together the more we felt it was right." I toyed with my necklace and then I opened it.
"He give the to me a couple a weeks before we lost Ali." I took it off and showed them it and the pictures inside "But like all relationships we fought. The day she died we had an argument. I wanted to tell you about us." I told Aria "He wasn't hearing it, he was so sure that you would tell Ali and in true Ali fashion she would turn something good into something toxic." I paused
"When we thought Ali was missing it put a strain on us and then he left, I was heartbroken." I continued to explain what happened between us.
"When did you two get back together?" Aria questioned
"After Ali's memorial. We talked things out, he apologised." I answered " I planned on telling people after I turned 18, that way we could be free to see each other without the forbidden shit. And I thought it was going great till A butted in."
"A knows?" Spencer asked shocked
"What doesn't she know. But then she sent a text to Toby, making it look like it was from me. The bitch sent him an old photo. A photo I thought I deleted in a fit of heartbreak." I stood up and began pacing the room
"But why?" Hanna asked
"To say she meant business. Either I talked or she did. So far she only want me to tell you guys. I have no idea if she plays the family card." I answer my friend
"You should have told us." Aria sighed
"There is no right way to say it Aria. Besides there is no right time with everything going on and I've told you now sooooo." i stood up and grabbed a box.
"You're dating Ali's brother, Erica." Hanna stood up
"And Jason is dating his dead sisters best friend, So what. Now are we going to look through these boxes or what?" I retort opening one up, I didn't want to dwell on this conversation anymore. I told them and now i'm moving on.
"you can't just drop that bombshell and carry on as if nothing ever happened." Spencer denied
"It's my coping mechanism. Something stresses me out I busy myself" Just then Emily came back down with Maya. Wow I didn't realise it had been so long since she went up. She said her goodbyes and sat down smiling but then noticed our faces.
"What's the matter did you find something?" She questioned us as I began to go through one of the boxes
"We didn't have time, Erica dropped a bombshell." Hanna retorted gesturing to me and I glanced back at them, with a small scowl.
"Which you don't have to hear right now, how was it with Maya." I smiled changing the subject.
"amazing, it has to be the best present anyone has ever given me." The others smile didn't reached too far. Emily could sense the tension and difference in the air around us.
"Okay what gives."
"Nothing, seriously." I shook my head
"You can't not tell her." Aria sighed
"Emily has just had a great time, why would i want to do the Ali thing and constantly have the spotlight on me. I will tell you later." I looked back to Emily, I tried to assure her. She folded her arms with her gaze fixed on me
"Tell me now Erica."
"She's dating Jason." Hanna tells.
"Hanna. I said not now." I glare at her
"Wait as in Ali's brother." We nodded "Start from the beginning."
"This can wait, you and Maya just..." she cut me off
"Maya and I are fine. We'll get to that. Tell me." I hesitated, I now thought this should have waited and I should have kept my mouth shut. But I did as she asked
"As long as we look through boxes." Em nodded and we looked while I told her. We had just finished looking through when I stopped
"Wow just wow."
"So now you know. Now can we change the subject." They looked at each other and nodded
"Where are they sending Maya?" I asked
"A place called True North."
"Seriously?" Hanna asked
"Is it bad?" Emily wondered
"They sent Betsy Burger there for huffing spray paint and she came back as a drummer in a gospel band." Hanna answered slightly amused. My fried was so weird.
"Han you're freaking her out." I told my friend.
"Maya is an amazing person Em, she's gonna be fine." Aria reassured her
"Yeah." she whispered
"So is that the last box?" she asked
"Yep, other than being a major nerd. No signs of a crime." Since stated taping up the last box. Just then my phone started ringing. I looked at everyone then picked it up.
"The truth will set you free, Erica. Don't say I never give you anything, turn on your computer -A" I read out loud. We made our way to Spencer's laptop and she opened up her email, there was a video file she played it. It was the same video we watched in the office with Agent Cooper.
"This is the video Cooper showed us."Em spoke what I was thinking but this time it went on longer, the camera panned round to Ian. We gasped as he smiled at the camera. He invited Ali to come closer which she did, there was heavy breathing as the camera dropped. Alison moaned and then her hand came down to the ground. She moved a bit and then relaxed. We heard something outside and ran out.
"Do you see anything?" Spencer wondered
"The bitch is fast." Aria stated
"Come on lets' go back." I call out and we went back inside. Bitch was gone