003 — my name is trouble

season two —
episode three

─────────────────

ONE THING ASPEN DIDN'T REALISE was when she booked her appointment for a single session with Dr Sullivan that it would actually help her.

Feeling the need to go back to the past and tell the woman she's grown to trust absolutely everything the monster did to her while she was dating one of his friends.

"My ex now knows about the whole thing and he has been there every step of the way, but the fact no one believes me now that it's surfaced makes me physically ill to my stomach" Aspen explains looking at Dr Sullivan who's looking at the blonde girl sympathetically.

"Well Aspen, I believe you because no one would feel the way you do if they were lying about the whole situation, who else knows about this traumatic event except your ex boyfriend?" Dr Sullivan asks.

"All of my friends, their parents and my aunty, but none of them seem to believe the story because 'we're the girls who cried wolf' at the bell tower" Aspen states feeling tears surface in her eyes at the thought of her aunt not believing her about Ian's death and the traumatic experience he put the seventeen years old girl through.

"Well, Aspen, I'm always a phone call and appointment away if you ever and I mean ever, need to discuss your feelings with" Dr Sullivan gently says.

"Thank you, Anne" Aspen whispers looking at the clock on the wall seeing that forty-five minutes have passed and the therapy session has come to an end.

Walking outside from Dr Sullivan's office Aspen exhales inhaling the cold air outside seeing the rain has finally stopped.

The blonde walks along the sidewalk walking into the brew for her morning coffee also picking up Spencer's order and texting the brunette that she has her morning coffee and will meet her in the school's hallway.

─────────────────

SHORTLY AFTER HER DRIVE Aspen arrives at Rosewood High School seeing Spencer waving at her.

Aspen chuckles handing the brunette her morning coffee before putting her notebook in her locker before walking into the bathroom meeting the others in there.

Quickly stepping in one of the stalls as a student comes into the restroom and washes her hands before departing for her class, Aspen sighs annoyed at the state of the bathroom.

"Whoo, we gotta find a better place to do this, somewhere preferably with a fan" Aria states looking at the other four, "Good luck, we'd have to dig a tunnel under the school" Emily states.

Aspen looks over at Hanna seeing her disgusted face looking at Emily's hands.

"Uh, yeah, not with those hands, you need some serious moisturiser" Hanna chuckles, Aspen and Spencer read the letter the danby coach gave Emily.

"This letter isn't that bad, Emily" Spencer shrugs looking at the girl, "It's bad" Emily replies.

"Won't your mom be impressed this guy even took the time to write?" Aria suggests seeing Aspen nod agreeing with her.

"Here, use this, it cost more than my purse" Hanna states handing Emily some expensive moisturiser.

"Guys, it's a maybe letter, my mom needs to see something real, something that says let her stay in Rosewood, we want her, don't take her to Texas" Emily explains looking at Aspen before the others.

"Em, there are other colleges" Aria shrugs softly, "Yeah, other scouts will want you" Spencer nods.

"When? My mom's already packed up the whole kitchen, she keeps telling me I'm gonna like the rodeo" Emily mutters.

Aspen looks around hearing the students chattering outside the restroom, "Let's just do this later, okay?" Aria states handing the moisturiser back to Hanna.

"Um, what about after school?" Hanna suggests, "I can't today, I've got field hockey" Spencer explains.

"I have swim practice" Emily also explains, "I have nothing planned so drop by my apartment after school, Han?" Aspen shrugs seeing the blonde girl nod happily.

"I'm starting my class at Hollis" Aria smiles capturing the other's attention immediately, "Is Jackie gonna be teaching it?" Spencer curiously asks.

"No, no, this is not about stalking, if Ezra says it's over between them, I believe him" Aria nods seeing the smirks coming from Aspen and Emily.

"So, what, you're just gonna hang around campus with binoculars?" Hanna chuckles.

"I'm following our therapist's orders on having separate time, okay? It's an extension course, if I happen to bump into Ezra, that's just a bonus" Aria explains playing with her hair in the mirror.

"Oh, nice bonus" Spencer and Aspen mumble amused.

"Yeah, great, everyone's got a life except for me and Aspen" Hanna mutters playfully earning an elbow to the rib from Aspen.

"I thought you were gonna go to the mall with Mona and then hang out at Aspen's?" Aria states.

"Stealing moisturizer is not a life, it's a hobby, and I am excited to see how Aspen's apartment turned out though" Hanna smiles holding up the tube of moisturiser.

"You stole this?" Spencer asks holding the tube disappointment in her tone.

"No, it's a sample" Hanna shrugs taking the tube as the bathroom door is opened and the girls immediately break apart going to do their own things.

Aspen types on her phone looking up noticing the familiar face standing beside Spencer.

"Hey loser" Aspen smiles leaning on Toby's shoulder, "Hey blondie" Toby chuckles before looking back at his girlfriend.

"I'm starting a new job, supposed to be there by nine" Toby explains getting right back into the previous conversation, "Really? That's great where?" Spencer curiously asks.

"Can I walk you to class?" Toby wonders looking at Aspen and Spencer, "Sure, it is a carpentry job, right?" Spencer questions receiving a nod from Toby.

"Well, that's awesome, who's it for?" Spencer asks happy for her boyfriend, "Jason Dilaurentis" Toby states shocking both Aspen and Spencer.

One more so shocked at the fact Jason's name was mentioned and the other scared for the boys safety.

"Yeah, I kinda thought you'd be surprised, I was, too, but he needs help building a fence around his—" Toby explains looking at Aspen knowing about her and Jason's previous relationship due to catching them in the act one day.

"Toby, you can't work for him" Spencer states stopping in the hallway, "I have to, I need cash to buy tools and a truck" Toby explains.

"A truck?" Spencer asks curiously, "There's a cabinet maker in Yardley who wants to hire me, but he said I need my own wheels" Toby explains.

"Still, you shouldn't go anywhere near that house" Spencer mumbles not liking the idea of Toby working for the Dilaurentis male.

"Spencer, I need to get out of own house, and breaking out of there is gonna take major bucks, even a used getaway car is more than I've got saved up and the seller's already got another offer" Toby explains showing Aspen and Spencer a photo of a truck his trying to buy.

Aspen looks at him softy as Spender looks at him afraid for his safety, "Just promise me that you won't go inside Jason's house" Spencer demands earning an eye roll from the blonde beside her.

"Spence, I don't think Jason will hurt Toby or anyone for that matter" Aspen shrugs, "Why?" Toby frowns smiling at what Aspen just said.

"Because I don't, totally trust him, please, promise me" Spencer urges softly, Toby steps closer to her, "Promise" Toby says gently pecking Spencer's lip.

Aspen grimaces in disgust, "Okay gross, that's like watching my brother and best friend make out, ew" Aspen shudders with disgust walking from the couple and into her only class for the day, smiling at the teacher before taking her seat writing notes down.

─────────────────

ASPEN WALKS INTO HER APARTMENT putting her car keys and other things on her bench getting a cold water bottle out of her fridge.

Hearing her phone go off she sees a text message from Hanna explaining that she wont be coming as she is going to help Lucas with the yearbook.

Aspen sighs nodding to herself before showering and freshening up from her day at school and eventually falling asleep on her couch watching her favourite tv series.

Aria, Emily, Hanna and Aspen all sit in Emily's car, Aspen in the passenger seat grabbing the letter from Emily's hands.

"If you continue as Rosewood's M.V.P. and anchor until the end of swim season, we can offer you a full schol—" Aspen gasps reading over the letter, looking at her cousin shocked.

"No way, Em, the scout changed his mind? This is amazing, that means you don't have to move" Aria exclaims from beside Hanna.

"Wait, let me see this" Hanna says taking the letter from Aspen's hands, "So what'd your mom say?" Aria asks.

"She hasn't seen it" Emily answers, "Why?" Aspen asks confused, "'Cause I haven't mailed it yet" Emily reveals gulping seeing Aspen's shocked look.

"What?" Aria mumbles taking the letter from Hanna's hands, "Wait, Em—did you write this letter?" Hanna asks noticing the look on Emily's face.

"Oh, my god, you are a total rock star, Emily Fields, you are totally getting me into Harvard" Hanna smiles proud of her best friend, Aria and Aspen both look at the letter still.

"Emily, I would not mail this" Aria states, "Oh, I love it, here, let me see if I have an extra stamp" Hanna says excitedly, "This just feels really wrong" Aria states.

"Oh, really? And taking an art class with Jenna isn't? I hope your first assignment is how to make a weapon" Hanna states looking through her bag for a stamp to put on the letter.

Emily looks at her cousin noticing how quiet she's being, "Okay, I never said that I was actually staying in the class, whatever, I'm still working that out, okay, once your parents read this—" Aria starts to say.

"Oh, big deal, she changed a few words, it's like Alison used to say, "You're not lying, you're just pre-telling the truth" Hanna shrugs holding up a stamp.

"Hey, does it matter if it looks a little used?" Hanna wonders now noticing the blondes silence in the passenger seat, "There's got to be another way" Aria mumbles still unsure of this whole thing.

"There isn't" Emily states now noticing Aspen's tired look, "Please say something, Aspen" Emily pleads looking at her older cousin.

"Look Em, I can't tell you what to do, but please consider this, I've spoken to aunt Pam about you staying in-between mine and Hanna's and she's thinking honestly thinking about it, all I have to say is be careful, and please drop me back to my apartment my head is pounding" Aspen says seeing Emily's look of guilt.

Before nodding and driving back to Aspen's apartment dropping her off to sleep off the killer headache she has.

─────────────────

ASPEN IS STARTLED AWAKE hearing an urgent knock on her front door, said girl groans audibly answering the door seeing Spencer's freaked out face on the other side.

"Jason is hiding someone in the upstairs bedroom of his house" Spencer rushes out taking a cold bottle of water for herself and sitting on the bench seats confusing Aspen.

"Wait what? Who would he hiding?" Aspen wonders putting another bandage on her injured wrist noticing yesterday before her appointment with Dr Sullivan how swollen and sore her wrist was.

Aspen realised her wrist wasn't just cut, it was sprained as well, "Ian" Spencer shrugs.

"Spence, Ian and Jason aren't on speaking terms since that night everything happened" Aspen explains growing tired of sticking up for her ex boyfriend.

"I don't know, but I need you to come with me so we can talk to Toby, Jason really crept me out yesterday and he was also putting newspaper on Alison's old bedroom window" Spencer explains seeing Aspen begin nodding.

"I'll come, but it doesn't necessarily mean Jason will be nice to us, we broke up remember?" Aspen shrugs walking out of her apartment following Spencer to her vehicle.

Spencer parks outside her house getting out of her car urging Aspen to hurry up and walk behind the house.

"You do realise us sneaking around is a lot more suspicious than if he catches us, correct?" Aspen whispers hearing Spencer shush her rudely pointing at Toby shirtless shovelling stuff into a nearby wheelbarrow.

Spencer takes another step breaking a twig underneath her feet capturing Toby and Jason's attention, "Who's that? Melissa?" Jason's voice is heard calling out.

"Uh, no, hi, it's Spencer and Aspen" Spencer states stepping out from the trees.

Aspen awkwardly waves at her ex boyfriend noticing the tight shirt and jeans his wearing making him look extremely handsome in the sun.

"Hi" Jason nods, "Asp" Jason nods smiling at the blonde girl.

"Why would you think that I was Melissa? Has she been coming over a lot?" Spencer asks.

"Uh, a couple times, mailman keeps giving you guys my stuff, I'm gonna grab a drink, you want something, Toby?" Jason asks curiously looking at the Cavanaugh male.

"I'm okay" Toby denies, "You? Aspen?" Jason asks looking at the girls next, "No, thanks" Spencer shakes her head.

"Uh, yes please, water" Aspen says gently seeing Jason nod at her looking her up and down checking her out.

"Wait, I'll come inside, is that alright?" Aspen asks, "Totally, come on Aspen" Jason confirms now noticing the girls wrist brace.

Aspen follows her ex boyfriend into the house, "Do you possibly have some Panadol as well? My wrist is throbbing" Aspen explains before wincing at the throbbing sensation.

"Here, and heres the water" Jason says gently handing Aspen the cold iced water and some pain killers.

"So tell me, how did you hurt your wrist?" Jason asks tilting his head while picking up some trash-bags beside the inside bin, "You know me, I'm clumsy, I fell" Aspen shrugs.

"Asp, you've got to be more careful" Jason says gently leading both of them back outside to the couple waiting for them.

Aspen stands back beside Spencer, "I'd invite you guys inside, but the place is kinda crazy" Jason explains throwing the bags on the ground.

"Aspen gets special treatment?" Spencer taunts smirking.

"I wasn't gonna third wheel and witness another make-out like yesterday, gross" Aspen explains grimacing earning a chuckle from Jason.

Aspen, Spencer and Toby notice the blood filled gauzes on the ground from the broken rubbish bag, Aspen looks at Jason concerned.

"Cut myself" Jason shrugs smiling picking up the bloodied gauzes and placing them inside the rubbish bin nodding at Aspen silently telling her that his okay and not seriously injured.

Spencer looks at Jason in disgust before walking away so Jason and Toby can both get back to work.

Although Aspen states at her ex boyfriend's muscles tensing through his blue shirt.

"Bye boys" Aspen waves walking away unaware of Jason's state watching her figure walk away towards Spencer's car.

"Okay, was the house messy or was he just making an excuse? He let you in, no problems" Spencer mutters.

"Spence, him and I dated, I know him a lot more than all of you; please stop judging him from a couple of bloodied gauzes, and yes the house was messy inside, his sorting things into rooms" Aspen snarls answering the brunette's question.

─────────────────

AFTER TAKING SOME PAIN KILLERS and sleeping off the rest of her pounding headache.

Spencer picks up Aspen in Toby's brand new truck silently thanking the blonde girl for the suggestion of selling something and buying the truck.

"Spencer, Aspen" Toby states shocked seeing the two of them stepping out of the truck at the foot of the Dilaurentis's driveway.

"Take it, it's yours" Spencer smiles, "Thank Aspen, it was her idea" Spencer smiles throwing the keys to Toby who catches them.

"Are you both crazy? Do you know how long it'll take me to pay you both back?" Toby says smiling.

Aspen shrugs, "Don't worry about paying me back, it was all Spence, it was just my idea" Aspen explains looking at the patio of the house for a certain dirty blonde.

"Well, you have a job to get to tomorrow, in Yardley, right?" Spencer asks chuckling, "I love you so much" Toby says gently.

Aspen gags playfully, "I wanted to say that first" Spencer states pulling Toby into a romantic kiss.

"Oh fantastic, you're kissing again, in front of me" Aspen groans before smiling loving seeing Spencer and Toby both happy.

Hearing a soft chuckle coming from the patio Aspen turns around seeing Jason leaning against the beam only having his eyes on the blonde he still loves.

"You have something to do with this?" Jason wonders pointing towards the truck.

"Oh you know, his like my brother so I had to do something, sorry for taking your work buddy" Aspen smiles standing beside the Dilaurentis male now smiling at the happy couple leaned against the truck of Toby's.

"Eh, doesn't matter, just glad he got the truck and that job" Jason explains softly knowing how rough it is for someone to judge you for your mistakes.

Aspen turns towards Jason fully, "What are you doing tonight?" Aspen wonders looking at Jason's confused face, "Um, nothing? I don't think" Jason states.

"Come by mine, I'll make my famous chicken creamy pasta" Aspen smiles, "How can I deny that offer?" Jason says.

"Seven?" Aspen asks seeing Jason nod in approval, "Seven" Jason confirms smiling at the blonde.

─────────────────

ASPEN DANCES IN HER kitchen cooking her favourite meal for hers and Jason's dinner, softly humming the words to the song she has on her speaker before hearing a gentle knock on her apartment door.

"Hey" Aspen says opening the door seeing a very handsome Jason on the other side with flowers.

"Hey" Jason smiles softly handing the gorgeous flowers to the blonde as Aspen steps aside letting Jason into the apartment, "Food's almost ready" Aspen states mixing the pasta with the creamy chicken.

"Good, I'm starving" Jason groans with hunger, "Here's your plate of food" Aspen says handing the male his plate before dishing her own food up.

The dinner between two exes soon turns into laughs, jokes and hand holding on the couch watching the notebook together.

Cuddled up with one another in Aspen's bed, Aspen frowns hearing her phone vibrate on her bedside table with a message from Aria demanding for the friend group to meet at Spencer's house also receiving another text at the same time from Spencer resulting in an sos message.

Aspen sighs quickly getting out of bed, "Where are you going?" Jason's raspy voice asks.

"Spencer and Aria need me, but stay here and sleep, I'll be back" Aspen smiles kissing his cheek before quickly driving to Spencer's and walking into Spencer's bedroom.

"So wait, who's Anita?" Hanna asks confused once Aria explained that she was in a class with Jenna and said girl recognised her voice.

"No one, me—I was, okay, I only said that because I didn't want Jenna to know I was there" Aria explains.

"Well, yeah, but she did know" Hanna shrugs, "Only after I said something, I had to" Aria states.

Hanna and Aspen both sigh, "I thought it was safe" Aria shrugs, "No, Anita was safe, Aria is not" Spencer says.

"I feel like I just made things worse, if Jenna is A, I totally rattled her cage" Aria mumbles.

Spencer gasps moving out of the window, "She's on the move" Spencer nods, "I'm ready" Hanna states.

"Let's do it" Aria mutters receiving a nod from both Aspen and Spencer as all four girls rush out of the Hastings household following behind Melissa.

Seeing a parked car ahead of them, "Is it him? Is it Ian?" Hanna wonders trying to look past the bush they're currently hiding in, "I can't tell" Spencer replies.

"Of course it's him, but whose car is that?" Aria asks confused as a figure gets out of the drivers side, "Wait, that's not Ian" Aspen mutters, "Is that Wren?" Aria frowns.

"Wren?" Spencer snarls confused, "He's in on this, too?" Hanna mumbles, "What's he giving her?" Aria wonders seeing Wren handing Melissa a bag.

"Probably painkillers" Aspen suggests, "Melissa does drugs?" Hanna asks shocked.

"No, not for her, for Ian, you fall from a bell tower, you're gonna need more than an ice-pack" Aspen explains.

"Wow, only Melissa would ask the guy she dumped to help the murderer she married" Hanna states quite loudly.

"Shush" Aspen, Spencer and Aria all exclaims as Melissa and Wren look in their direction.

All four girls quickly duck out of the way praying they weren't seen, Wren pulls away from Melissa leaving the woman looking in the paper bag making sure Wren got her all that's needed.

Aspen gasps seeing the figure in Jason's window knowing Jason is asleep in her apartment waiting for her return, Aspen gulps feeling sick to her stomach.

─────────────────

ASPEN WALKS INTO HER APARTMENT locking the door and taking off her coat and shows seeing Jason's sleeping form in her bed.

Aspen frowns remembering the figure in the window, questioning who and why is Jason hiding them in that house, and if it is Ian; and Jason and his friendship is back on track.

"You okay?" Jason's groggy voice is heard seeing the blonde standing in the corner of her room staring at the wall with frowned brows.

"Yeah" Aspen states putting on a fake smile and climbing into bed alongside Jason snuggling into his bare chest saying goodnight to the world for now knowing she's perfectly safe with Jason, at least she hopes she is.

─────── ∘°❉°∘ ───────
TO BE CONTINUED...

𝖊𝖑𝖘 𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖐𝖘 ⛧
oooooo
was it ever confirmed who
was standing in
the window?
or was it just jason?

please don't forget to vote and please leave a comment, love feedback

socials:
tt: hellfiresoulss
insta: hellfire.soulss
pin: hellfiresoulss