Acting, acting was a good outlet for many people. Personally i found it through singing and dancing. Acting didn't really speak to me like they did. But it didn't stop me sitting outside the auditorium helping Hanna and Spencer run lines. For the play 'The Bad Seed'

"If you're trying out for 'The Bad Seed', you need to sign up here and wait by the auditorium door for you name to be called. Thank you and good luck!" Mr Fitz stated

"Start with the line about the stolen medal." Spencer told me and I began searching for the line.

"Why isn't she wearing any shoes?" Hanna wondered as we glanced over to Misty Walters going barefoot for the audition.

"So she can look short enough to play an eight year old." Spencer replied finding it amusing "What's my line?"

"I don't see anything about a medal." I told her shaking my head

"That's what the 8 yr old killed her classmate for . The penmanship medal. That's why they call it the Bad seed " Spencer looked at the script.

"I know that. I'm telling you I don't see it." I retorted

"A Penmanship medal really?" Hanna scoffed

"Didn't you read the whole play?" she asked us, then stared at Aria.

"Don't look at me. Hanna's the one trying out, I'm just here to make her look taller." Aria responded. I chuckled finding it funny, I went to take a sip of my drink.

"I don't want to be the bad seeds mother, I want to be the one who's drunk all the time." I started coughing after Hanna said that.

"No comment" Spencer smirked

"You're still ragging on me for bringing the flask to the dance? I don't need another parents, Spence. One's plenty." Han replied

"Well has that one figured, that Caleb's in your basement?" Aria wondered, bringing up the subject we were all curious about.

"No but A, has." Han informed us. How does A know everything? It's ridiculous, she knows all, she sees all, she five senses everything.

"What are you gonna do?" Emily questions her

"I'm gonna tell my Mom before A gets to her. Then I'm gonna ask if he can stay in the guest room." she responds, Mona comes strutting over

"Hey Hanna and her clan-na." she chirps.

"Hey, Mona. How'd it go in there?" Hanna beams up at her best friend.

"Honestly, I nailed it. It was epic. I think Mr Fitz cried." she answered. I tried to hide my giggles, Mona had become something in the year Aria and I had been away.

"That's great Mona, I guess the rest of us should go home." Spencer told her sarcastically

"No, there are no small part only parts that don't make it into the year book. Good luck." she strutted away. We caught Aria eyeing up Fitz.

"Why don't you audition? You kind of have an in with the director?" Spencer teases as I notice something.

"Is he wearing the tie you gave him?" I gasped shoving her a little

"stop" she insisted as I started giggling finding it hilarious, what I didn't notice was that Mr Fitz comes over.

"Erica, can I speak with you for a second." I stop giggling and look between him and my sister before getting up and walking over.

"yes, Mr Fitz."

"So are you interested in having a part in the play?" he asked me. I furrowed my eyebrows.

"No why?"

"Well its just, your mother informed me that your dance season had finished for the next few months and you were interested in doing some extra curricular activities. Like the play." Oh sneaky move mother, sneaky.

"No, acting isn't really my thing. I'm only here to help Spencer and Hanna." I denied, I did admire my Mom for her forward thinking but it wasn't going to be that easy, to tame me.

"Oh well it doesn't have to be in the play. I could always use more help behind the scenes. Didn't i hear you make your own costumes for dance competitions maybe you could be our costume designer." I went to decline

"Please you'd be doing me a favour." I sighed giving in, I did like designing and making clothes.

"Fine."

"Is Mr Fitz in the auditorium?" I turned to see Jenna.

"No I'm here, Jenna." Fitz walked over to her and I re joined the others "What can I do for you?" he questioned standing in front of her.

"I don't know if your interested. But I'd like to compose some music the play." she offered and I frowned as I and the others eavesdropped.

"Sure, for the flute?"

"Yes. Can I ask, is there a reason why you picked the Bad Seed? It's one of my favourites, the theme is so inspiring." okay this chick crazy. I shared a look with my sister then looked back to the two still conversing.

"Inspiring?"

"I'm fascinated by the nature of evil." she replied my jaw sagged slightly at her response the irony was not lost on me.

"Bitch is evil." i muttered

--------

I was sat at the table during breakfast drawing up some ideas for the school play. I had a new stratagem for tackling my parents 'play nice'

"What are you doing there Erica?" Dad asked

"Drawing up some rough sketches for the school play. Mr Fitz asked me to be the costume designer." I mumbled, he looked over my shoulder.

"Very good, I'm glad to see you doing some more extra curricular . Keep you busy." Mike was sitting next to me reading the paper we shared a knowing look. It amused me that my siblings knew me 100% better than my parents.

"Has Mr Fitz said anything?" Dad questions I sigh.

"About what?"

"Well I was a bit frosty to him at the parent teacher meeting and I wanted to make it up to him with a beer." he answered and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You frosty, I can't imagine." I reply sarcastically, Mike chuckled shaking his head.

"Has he?"

"No, I don't imagine he would." I shrug going back to drawing.

"But you like him right? I know your sister does, she speaks very highly of him. Your Mom told me you give him a bit of a hard time."

"I give most people a hard time, what's new. What are you fishing for? Why are you even talking to me, i thought you were still pissed?" I huff out resting my pencil against my sketchbook.

"Erica, I'm just taking an interest in your life, besides I thought we turned a corner after you saw Toby." I raise an eyebrow once again. Even after everything he was still trying for my approval.

"Fine. Mr Fitz is cool, he actually talks to us and not at us like most teachers. If you need help he will make the time to make sure you understand it. As for me giving him a hard time, he was hard on another student for no reason except he was having a man period or something. I gave him lip and it was settled. Is there anything else you'd like to know or can I go to school?" he pursed his lips.

"No that's all." I stood up.

"Let's go, bro." We left and made our way to school. Mike and I went separate ways and i met up with Spencer and Emily.

"Hey have you seen Aria?" I question

"No."

"Okay, so have you heard anything about the play?" I wonder. Spencer grins 

"I got the part." she told us.

"That's awesome, that the party you really wanted right?" Em asks, she got to play the part of the Mom of Rhona, Christine if I remember rightly.

"Yeah. It's pretty cool." Emily's phone started to ring and I noticed it was from Paige. I saw her demeanour changed and it was clear something was up with her and it was because of Paige.

"If you guys are all involved maybe i should do props." Emily continued while she pressed ignore.

"Why is Paige McCuller calling?" Spencer wondered

"Is she still torturing you? If she is just say the word and I will kick her ass into next month." I add resting my hand on her shoulder.

"No she's...we're cool now." i highly doubted that but I didn't want to say anything. Spencer however hand no qualms in prying.

"Really? What brought you two closer together? Her trying to drown you?" Spence retorted having no niceness for the fellow team mate of out best friend.

"No, she has a cousin in the military and she's anxious about it. Did you'd Toby figure out what 214 means. You haven't given up have you?" Emily avoids

"Defiantly not. We're still working on it. i have this French book that i need to give him."

"Can I do it?" I ask

"I haven't seen him since the court house. And he's got a temporary tutor till my Dad let's up more." I request and she nods in agreement.

"Sure." she opened her bag and handed me the book

"How is that by the way." Emily wonders

"Well it's less of prison more of house arrest with rules, which I know is in poor taste given what's happened to Toby. I now have to be back by five unless I'm here for the play or something. I've decided to play nice for now, neither of my parents have gone to the police so I'm taking that as a small win." i answer. Spencer was looking spaced

"What are you looking at?" we turned our attention to where Spencer's was. Ian was talking to Jenna.

"I didn't know they knew each other."

"I think there is a lot of things we don't know." Spencer mumbled. We watched as Ian gave the witch a bag.

"What is that?" Spencer wondered

"What did he just give her." Ems added

"A cauldron and a pointy hat maybe. I've taken to calling her the witch." I answered as the two conversed a little then went their separate ways.

-----------

"Mr Fitz I wanted to show you some rough sketches for the costumes." I told him as he was setting up for rehearsal

"Of course, Erica." I handed him the designs.

"It's sort of a morden 50s vibe." he sifted through them.

"These look great. But remember we have a budget." he handed them back to me

"I know, where I usually buy the material is given me a discount because I'm what she calls a loyal customer. That and a free ticket to the play." I smile up at him

"Well I think that's fair."

"Cool, I'll need the rest of the week to do some fine tuning to the actors and character but then i should be ready." I state putting the sketches away.

"Fantastic. oh wait a sec. Can I have everyone's attention please. Starting from next week you will be asked individually to see Erica for your costume, please let her know what time so she can see all of you as soon as possible.." he nodded to me. i was staying but I needed some snacks and a drink.

"Spence can you watch my stuff I'll be right back."

"Sure." I left the room for the vending machine, a grabbed a few things and came back just as Ian walked in as well.

"I'm guessing this is not the varsity poster club. My bad. Sorry." He turned back round and left the room

"Let's take a look at the first scene with Rhona and the Janitor." Fitz continued as if nothing happened I however made a bee line for my friends and sister.

"He is so creepy." Hanna shivered

"I can't believe you kissed him." Aria added joining in the similar disgust that I think all of us were feeling in that moment/

"We all wanted to kiss him." she retorted

"Ew, no. There are much better looking guys than him." I scrunched my nose up, the thought of Ian being attractive me me feel physically sick.

"Never." Hanna confirmed

"At that party when he was the big man on campus. The one Alison got us into."

"Not me." we both replied

"Well not you Erica but defiantly Hanna." We remembered when we went there. Well I kind of remembered it, I drank a little too much, i made the mistakes first to be an example.

"You should have said something to your sister then." Emily told her

"Like what? I crashed your boyfriends frat party? i would've been so dead." Spencer Retorted.

"Like your sister is now?" I comment

"Yeah, knocked up with your his bad seed." Hanna muttered

"Hanna, why do you think the janitor is the only one that knows the little girls not a liar." Mr Fitz questioned We parted and I went to sit down in front of spencer. I put my head phones in and went back to the designs.

I felt a foot hurt my rib i winced and looked up to spencer.

"what?" she leant down to whisper in my ear.

"Your sister just called Mr Fitz by his first name." I groan slapping my hand against my forehead. Us girls had a bet going, how long it would take to slip up. Spencer said the first day, I gave it a week, Hanna three weeks and Emily believed Aria had more control.

"Is everything alright, Erica." I snapped my head to look at Mr Fitz.

"Uh yeah. Do you know what I can do these at home. I'm gonna go." I grabbed my things and left.

I stopped by Toby's and took out the french book Spencer gave to me. I got out of the car and walked up.

"Hey, special delivery." I grinned which he returned

"You or the book?" he wondered as I sat next to him

"Both, I asked to drop this off because I needed a reason to be anywhere but home for a little bit. So how is life as a free man?" I questioned resting my head on his shoulder

"Depends on who you ask. I found out who turned me into the cops." my head shot up but hit his jaw at the same time. I groaned slightly.

"Who?"

"It was Jenna, it was her way of keeping me close to home." he informed me

"Well she is a phsyco bitch. But at least you get to ride that now." Motioning to his bike. that he was fixing back up after it had been wrecked.

"It will be even better when i can get it to move."

"How's your tutor?" I wonder

"He's a grade A know it all, give me these dirty looks like everyone still does. He's not you." he answered and i chuckled slightly.

"Stop you're making me blush." I slap his leg, he chuckles.

"Any idea, when you'll be back to normal?" he questions

"Normal was obliterated when they found out one of their daughters is in love with an older guy. However, I have a strategy."

"What's that?"

"Play nice and roll over, at least till I earn my freedom again, it helps that Jason is out of town for a while. Family business and looking into buying back his old home, maybe even an apartment." I chime explaining what was going on between my boyfriend and I. 

"Is it working?"

"my mom set me up to be apart of the school play. I'm the costume designer, which my father is all for because the more I'm at home or school being busy the less time i have to do anything else with a certain man."

"but you just said he was out of town."

"I did, they're trying to distract me with all this stuff so when he does come back, they hope I'll be to invested in something else. That's their hope anyway." I sigh, they lived in hope that it was just a phase. What they had yet to grasp was that I loved Jason and I was stubborn as a mule, me playing nice was apart of a long chess match and I was determine to be the one that announced checkmate.

"How about we have breakfast, tomorrow." I suggested, If my parent;s had to pick between Jason and Toby I'm guessing they would deem Toby the lesser of two evils.

"Is that aloud?"

"Leave it to me. So?" I wonder. he nods

"Great. Look i have to get home okay? But I will text you if I have been successful." I gave him a hug and left. I did ask, using my super extra nice voice, Dad was hesitant but he agreed. The grounding was slowly lifting.

--------------

The next morning I walked up the steps of Toby's porch. Jenna was sitting outside cleaning her flute. I automatically scowled at the sight of her.

"Morning."

"Is that Erica?" she wondered.

"Yes." Ugh just being in her presence made me want to punch her senseless.

"Toby's not here." she informed me. She was joking right? "Or are you here to see me?"

"He's not here? I said I'd take him out for breakfast."

"Well he's out with Spencer. He left early this morning. Said he to do some homework. It sucks doesn't it?" she smirked, it seemed like she was happy at my irritation and disappointment.

"What?" I sigh not really wanting to talk with her.

"Feeling like you're second choice." It was my turn to smirk.

"Well at least is better than being repulsed." she looked pissed, I grinned "Bye, Jenna." I jogged down the steps leaving.

After school I was studying in the library after school, Aria texted me that they were finished early. I packed up and headed to the rehearsal room. About five minutes later I walked in. My friends and sister were looking freaked out.

"What did I miss?"

"Over here." Spencer opened a prop Box. Inside it was a trophy that apparel was Ian's and it Had...

"Is that blood?" i question now knowing why they were freaked. I slammed the box shut and turned to them

"Is that Ali's blood?" I think out loud "Where did this even come from?"

"I don't know we just found it." Spencer breathed.

"Guys slow down we don't know that's Alison's blood. We don't know if that is blood." Aria tried to make us all calm

"Yeah, but we don't know that it isn't?" Han retorted

"It's insane, why would he hide that in here for everyone to see?" Ria retorted

"It's a bold move and no one would ever look for it here. Why did the bad seed hide the medal in a box on top of her desk. Why didn't she just bury it?" Spencer freaked out.

"Because she was 8. Guys we all saw that video. Ian did not have a trophy in his hand." sis retorted

"Yea but it could have been on the ground or in his luggage. We saw a snippet of the surrounding, and that video." I add

"Wow, what do we do?" Han muttered

"We hand it in. We're not wasting time loosing evidence again." Em stated. I agreed

"Emily's right this goes to the police right now." Spencer picked up the box. We were all in agreement. We brought it to the station and answered some questions before we were aloud to leave.

"So, what do we do now?" Emily wonders as we leave the station

"Just wait." Spence replied

"How long till we know the blood results?" I ask

"i don't know, but I tell you this I don't want to go home i don't want to be anywhere near Ian is." Spencer shivered and I loop my arm trough hers in comfort.

"You can stay at my place." Em offered

"Can we all stay at your place?" Han asked

"I can't I'm still chained. Dad only let become here because he knew it was serious. He'll want to keep an eye on me." I huffed

"Then we'll stay at yours. I don't think its a good time to be splitting up right now." Han replied We silently agreed

"I can't believe we had it, the weapon in our hands. After all this time it feels like...." Emily trailed off.

"Like Ali can rest in peace." Spencer finished

"We all can." I sighed linking arms with my sister as we headed away from the station.

"We'll pick up some food on the way." Spencer suggested, ugh I needed food. food and sleep

"Actually I can't stay, believe me I don't wanna go home either but if my mom heres something in the basement..." Hanna recanted thinking about Caleb being there.

"You haven't told her about Caleb?" Em asked

"There is only so much i can do in one day, okay." Hanna left and then there was four.

"Actually can we make one stop along the way. i promise it won't take long." Aria asked me and I shrugged not seeing a problem with that.

"Sure." Em and Aria went to get into my car.

"Wait Erica, we didn't call Toby." Spencer stopped me.

"What?"

"About what we found."

"You should do it. He should hear it from you." I went to get in the car.

"But he's your best friend."

"Yes he is and that's never gonna change." I pointed to her then got in. she did as well. I stopped outside Fitz apartment building and Aria went inside.

"Erica, what did you mean earlier." Spencer asked meaning to my comment.

"I went to pick Toby up for breakfast but he had already left to see you. Must have been important." I answer glancing at her as we waited for my sister.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

"I'm not angry, Spence he's my best friend not my boyfriend." i turned in my seat "just take it easy okay? It takes him a while to trust and you were adamant he killed Ali for a long time. Just don't hurt him again. Please." she nodded. Aria came back and we went to get food before heading home.

--------

The next day i was sat in the courtyard with my sister and friends. We were all tense to hear what was going on.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Hanna asked us

"No we tossed and turned all night." Em sighed

"She tossed, I turned." Spencer muttered. I nursed my coffee hoping it would help.

"I cannot wait for him to be carted out of here. just knowing he's in this building..." Emily cut Hanna off.

"Thinking he could get away with it. Her blood in that trophy case. it makes me sick." I noticed the cops arriving .

"Guys." I pointed over to them

"Oh my god." Spencer breathed "They're gonna drag him out in front of he whole school." She whispered to us. But then the detective came over here to all of us.

"Why is he coming over here?" Hanna asked

"Ladies. Which one of you found the trophy? Which one of you is Spencer Hastings." Spencer raised her hand

"So was this a group effort or where the four of you just along for the ride?" he questioned

"What do you mean?" Hanna wondered

"I mean you should have done your research. There's not golf tournament in Hilton head on that date" Oh no, A set us up.

"But what about the blood?" Emily questioned confused and scared like all of us were in that moment. A had gotten us good, Bitch knew we wouldn't risk what happened lat time, happening again. They were coutinging on us not being level headed.

"Not human, comes from a rat." the detective answered

"But why would there be...." Han was cut off

"Let's save our questions for the precinct. Follow me." We grabbed our things and we were lead out before we could be taken to the station the detective was called back, all our phones went off. I sighed knowing who it was from.

'Rat' me out, your blood's next -A

"A planted that trophy" Spencer breathed

"She was counting on us to take it there, she knew we wouldn't make the same mistake again." I add voicing my line of thinking to the others and they silently agreed with me.

"We should have known" Hanna shook her head

"Girls, where was she that night?" Aria questioned "At the frat party when the girl fell, where was Alison?"

"She wasn't with us." Spencer stated

"She wasn't with us either." hANNA ADDED

"Nor me." I was dancing on one of the tables drinking beer. I vaguely remember having to be pulled down my Aria and Spencer when I had gotten a little too carried away.

"What are you saying" Em wondered

"I'm saying, maybe it wasn't Ian who pushed that girl. I'm saying maybe she was in Alison's way."

"Why would you say that?" Em wondered

"Because that frat part wasn't a random pick, she took us there because she wanted to see Ian, maybe she was stalking him

"Wait so now you believe Ian, that he didn't kill Alison." I question

"I didn't say that. I just think there is a lot more about that night we still don't know." Spencer clarified

"oh my god" Aria groaned

"What?" I asked my sister who was coming to some sort of idea.

"What if Jenna was also blocking her way to Ian. What if, Ali threw that firecracker in that garage knowing Jenna was there."

"she had us all fooled" Hanna breathed

"Until now." I folded my arms. Emily caught something and we turned to see Ian with a smug look on his face.