All of us had spent the night at Spencer's, the next morning. Aria and I were talking about the letter well it was mainly Aria.

" 'A' sent this letter to our Mom." Aria told everyone as I read over it again 'ask your daughters, they know all about it' That bitch made it seem like we had a choice, like i had a choice to keep my mouth shut, clearly they're not a sister.

"You know it's neither of your fault. It's your Dad's mistake totally." Emily comforted as she sat at Spencer's kitchen island

"No, it's my fault." Aria confirmed and I wouldn't disagree with her on this one. I moved her to the kitchen counter.

"I agree, it is your fault sis." I jump up on the island counter.

"Erica. Don't be mean. You did not hook up with her and then ask your kid to cover for you" Spencer poured herself some coffee

"Me be mean? No I'm being truthful. Ali and I said it from the start that we should have told Mom but no, I get ignored even though I'm the eldest . I have told you ever since it happened that the longer we keep it, the more chance it will come back and bite us on the ass. But hey I'm the mean one." I shrug nonchalantly while rolling my eyes, so freaking hypocritical

"Ali? Alison knew?" Em questioned me

"She was with us and for a rare moment we actually had a united front. We both agreed and in fact I was going to do it before Aria begged me not to." I pointed over to my sister who dropped the letter beside her.

"Alison saw this Meredith person?" Spence asked

"Meredith? Her name is Meredith. Ew, that's not even a cute girls name. I'm seeing big pours and mousy roots." Hanna scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Han, I think it's a little too soon to joke." Spence mutters

"I'm sorry. But if your gonna cheat you might as well do it with someone who deep conditions her hair." Han retorts unbothered by the light scalding

"Here put something in your mouth besides your foot." Spence handed Han a bagel then my blonde bestie turned round to face us.

"I'm sorry okay. All I'm saying is that when my Dad left laughing sometimes helped. So did crying." she offered her advice

"Our father hasn't left guys. I mean this happened over a year ago." they all said nothing "You think he's gonna leave?" Aria wondered her shoulder sagging slightly

"Sis, I've been praying that for over a year, just so I wouldn't have to see him. No such luck." I grabbed a bagel and picked at it.

"Look, whatever happens, we're here for you." Emily assured us. I jumped down and went to stand with my sister.

"Thank you guys for staying here. I don't think I could have been here alone." Spencer changed the subject

"When's your family getting back?"Em asked

"This afternoon." Spence replied

"Aren't you gonna clean up the mirror before they get here?" I looked at her. She bit her lip

"Want me to come with." Emily offered and Spencer nodded pushing herself up from her leaning position on the kitchen Island.

"We should all go." My Aria suggests.

"You know what it doesn't take five to clean a mirror, so why don't you three go and we'll just wait here." Hanna scoffs and I somewhat agreed with her

"Sure, you stay alone." Aria retorts trying to freak us out.

"We have each other." I wrap my arm around Han but then share a look

"Okay, lets' go." We followed them and Hanna's phone rang.

"The beast returns. We should have never unblocked our phones." Hanna sighed opening the message.

'ever wonder what happens when your back is turned' it said with an attachment.

"Well open it then." I say and she did. It was a video of us.

"That's us...Was that shot from inside your closet?"

"That's it." I ran upstairs and into Spencer's room. I went to her closet and opened the door a toiletry bag fell down.

"Guys look" Aria picked a lipstick off the ground and opened it. Putting some on her hand she showed us the match to the writing.

------

I was back home almost ready for school all I was doing now was my make up when Mike came in as I was doing my eyeliner.

"How do you not poke an eyeball." I smiled and went to do my other eye.

"Practice. Can I help you?" he sighed and I looked at him before putting the eyeliner down. "What?"

"Are Mom and Dad acting weird with each other?" he asked me

"Weird?" I drawl

"I don't know, there's this vibe." I breath deeply.

"Look a lot is going on and I wish I could tell you but I think it's best coming from them. Just trust me when I say It's gonna be okay." I rest my hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"Okay. You know I considered asking Aria but I knew you'd be more straight." I smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Aria, is mother hen. I, well, I don't know what I am. But just, just be you okay?" Mike nodded

"Thanks Ri."

"It's okay, now let me finish." He shakes his head and I finish my eyeliner. I jog downstairs to the weird more like tense vibe in the kitchen. Aria was already there waiting for me.

"Hey, do you want breakfast we have yogurt ?" Mom offered as I came further in.

"Nope, I'm okay with getting something on my way." I answer hugging her which she returned

"Well I better be going, I'm working office hours. Good luck with your French test okay." He kissed Aria head and went to come over to me but I dodged him and went to grab my travel mug and coffee. He left and I turn to my Mom and sister.

"Mike knows something up. You gonna tell him?" I ask

"Yeah, you know when I can." she answered. I could tell that the news was very hard for her and it was still sinking in.

"Okay well don't wait too long, it was hard enough for us to keep it from you for a year. I don't want to do that to him." Aria suggested to our Mom and she seemed shocked by her words

"A year, the two of you have known about this for a year?" She questioned Aria and I looked at each other then back at her

"Wait, he didn't tell you that he asked me.. Mom we can miss our first period if you wanna talk or.." Aria offered she shook her head.

"It's okay, this is between me and your Dad." she tuck some hair back and turns away.

"Can you give us a moment, sis." Aria nods and goes to wait in the car.

"Mom." she turns round trying to smile like nothing is wrong. Parents the confused me sometimes.

"I don't know what he's told you. But can I just say something?" I question holding on to my travel mug

"Sure, sweetie." I drop my bag at my side for a moment

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I kept it from you so long. I wanted to tell you straight away, you needed to know. I was already to sit you down and swear on Nana's grave that what I was going to say was the truth. But... Dad convinced Aria that she shouldn't say anything and that neither should I. I swear I only did it because Aria begged me not to hurt you and Mike like that. She promised me that Dad would say something, he never did." She pulled me into a hug as tears began to pool in my eyes

"Oh sweetie." she breathed holding on to me.

"It's been eating at us for a year Mom, I should have said something sooner. I should have." I mumbled, i felt so guilty that I caved and not said anything. This was my mom and i hurt her.

"It's okay, It's okay." I pulled away.

"I wish you didn't have to find out like that. But I'm glad you know now." I wiped away my tears and cleared my throat.

"Get to school sweetie." I nodded and left.

--------

during the school day all of us congregated around Spencer's locker to talk before class started. I took Hanna's lips stick and did her make up.

"You cannot seriously think that a blind girl broke into my house. That would take a lot more than a talking GPS." Spencer retorted to my sister who suggested the idea.

"Well I din't say she was alone." Aria replied

"Let's not go to the Toby place, okay?" I sigh the turn my attention back to Hanna "Blot" she did so and I smiled

"Why not?" My sister asked

"Because it wasn't him." I answer, handing Hanna my own lipstick and she did the same to me.

"Why not, you guys think her guide dog left behind his lipstick." Aria rebuffed

"Yeah do you wanna ask what your lab partner was doing last night? You know if maybe he took a break from sitting on his porch ripping the heads of squirrels." I went to snap at her but Mr Sheldrake interrupted

"Spencer. Sorry to interrupt ladies but I hope you are proud of your friend as I am. Congratulations, my instincts were right, this just makes it official." He handed her and envelope and left.

"What's that about?" Aria interrupted

"Just the essay contest." She tried to brush it off as if it was nothing shoving the envelope into her locker.

"Wait did you win in? Aren't you gonna open it up?" Em questioned our best friend.

"Why should she, she gets an award just for waking up." I stomp my foot and storm off as the bell rings.

"Hey, what's wrong." Toby asks me

"I hate my life, it sucks." I slap my head on the table, he chuckles as I wince but didn't move.

"What?" I mumble pouting

"You're such a drama Queen." My head shot up

"I'm not." He raises and eyebrow and I shove his arm. Yet I come to a somber moment.

"Toby do you hate me?" I inquire, it was something that had been the back of my mind for what seemed like forever and I was only now just asking it.

Why would I hate you?" He questioned back at me confused

"Because I became friends with Ali and was such a bitch to you." was the answer and he turned to face me fully on the science stool chair.

"No, I don't hate you. Unhappy and lonely but not hateful." I smile slightly I wrapped my arms around him which he returned for a moment then we pulled away.

"I'm sorry I abandoned you" I finally apologised to him

"Let's just get on with Chem okay." I nodded and the students began to file in, the class begun.

"Sodium Borate" I poured the greeny/ turquoise liquid in and tired

"Easy, that glass beaker is made of glass."

"Maybe you should do it, I've had about four cups of coffee before this class. And barely any sleep." he took over the staring of the chemicals.

"Partying with they boyfriend? Thursday night" he wondered glancing at me then at the beaker

"No, sleepover. What did you do after I left." He stirred gently

"Homework at the grill." Toby answered and my head tilted lightly, why and how could he study there?

"Seriously?" I ask in slightly confusion and shock.

"Got to, Jenna plays her lectures loudly and it messes me up." he raises his hand to his head shaking it slightly to reiterate the point.

"But why the grille, it's not exactly quiet central?" Em asks turning around and I glare at her for interrupting.

"It is if you stay late enough. I close the place like every night. So whose place did you stay at? The new girl?" he wondered to my other best friend.

"Maya?" Em asks "Why would you think that?"

"Em he was actually talking to me?" I retort at her, why was she even talking to him, when it was like 20 minutes ago she was on the Toby is 'A' wagon

"Well both of you, I figured she was the newest member of your posse. Has she learned the secret handshake yet." he joked looking between us.

"She's more my friend that the groups." Em answered resting her arms on our desk.

"Yeah, thanks Em, shouldn't you be concentrating?" She sighed and turned back

"So." Toby stand glancing down at his them book

"I don't know, maybe she likes different things. I barely know her." I shrugged writing down the work we needed to do.

"Different's good, I like different ." he nodded as I looked back at him.

"Do you?"

"Well you are, your more open and brash than before." he pointed out as I rest my chin on my hand.

"Really because people say I'm subtle as a brick." He laughed. Soon the bell rang and I saw that Emily spared a worried glance at me. But I ignored it.

"I didn't think this would take so long." I commented as Toby lifted the gloopy mixture and it dropped back into the beaker.

"I don't mind, I like being here when nobody else is." Toby replied

"Yeah, it's much more peaceful. Okay viscosity, elasticity and tensile strength. Anything else we need to cover?" I read off then asked him

"Maybe our noses this stuff smells rank." He held it up and I sniffed

"Ugh rank" I shoved it away knocking water onto his books. "Crap, sorry." I grabbed some tissue and started to cleaning it up

"It's fine just water." I looked at the back of his book

"Hey this looks like one of the bands Em likes. Circa survive." I noticed the drawing on the back of his notebook. It looked very cool, he was talented

"You know that band?" he questioned finishing clearing up the water.

"Of it, Em played me a couple of their songs, not bad." I began to tidy up the rest of the apparatus

"Well if you like them maybe I could direct you towards another band I'm into." he offered helping me tidy up everything that we had been using.

"Okay, but you have to do something for me." I counter back at him

"What?"

"There is this open Mic night in Phily and I can only go if someone comes with me." I glance back at him putting the chemicals away.

"Why not ask your sister?" Toby inquired

"She's busy and my friends are preoccupied with other things. If you don't want to it's fine." I held my hands up not expecting him to be totally fine with me again, just like that.

"No I'd like that." he smiled

"Cool I'll pick you up at six at the grille. I have to go. Dance class." I picked up my things and went to leave

"Ri." I turned to look at him

"My notebook" I face palmed and walked back over.

"Sorry, I need more sleep." I handed it back to him and hurried off. Later on I pulled up outside the Grille and went in.

"Erica, over here." I waved at Hanna and Spencer then looked at Toby, planning to head over to him instead.

"Erica." they insisted,I sighed and asked Toby to get me a drink before going over to them.

"What?" I folded my arms nd gave them a small scowl. I had stuff to be doing that did not involve being here for long.

"Look, while I was working I saw Jenna and she was putting on the same lipstick on that we found." she told me like it was the biggest news ever.

"So." I drawl not really into having this conversation

"So it proves that something is going on with her." Hanna insisted, it felt like she was getting frustrate like I was about this whole think. I just needed one moment of normalcy, that's it just one.

"You know what, not tonight. Just not tonight." I walked over as Emily came in. I went back to Toby.

"So you ready?" I asked smiling as he handed my drink to go, I took it from him.

"Sure, let's go."

"Alright." The two of us left and we drove to Philadelphia. It was silent for a while as the radio music filled what we were not talking about on the drive there.

"So open mic." I laughed

"I might of understated it a little. It's a competition I saw the adverts when I got back and tried out for it." I explained to him.

"Really, so why aren't your family here?" I gripped the steering wheel

"Things are tense at home. My Dad.." I cleared my throat "He cheated on my mom with a student of his. Aria and I saw him and he convinced my sister to cover them and convince me."

"Oh."

"Yeah, and then some ass hat writes a letter to my Mom telling her everything dropping everyone in it. I...Performing is my outlet, it's my safe haven, when I perform I'm free there's nothing but me and the music." I continued to explain the reason I didn't want them there.

"I get it, you don't want your personal invading your little bubble." he nodded in understanding. I gave him a small smile

"Yeah, something like that." I reply

"And what about your friends?" He wondered as we stopped at a red light.

"Yeah, I'm in a mood with them, the only person who hasn't ticked me off is you." I gave him a glance.

"Well I'm glad you asked I can't remember the last time we hung out." I adjusted himself in the seat

"Neither can I. " When we got there we watched the other acts. Before it was time for me to go on I took off my hat and jacket. Smoothing out my dress nervously

paramore decode

I finished as there was a standing ovation I smiled brightly and bowed before leaving, and went back to Toby.

"Wow, just wow." He opened and closed his mouth before hugging me.

"Speechless , I'll take that." I laughed returning the hug then pulling away, the two of us sat back down and I crossed my legs having some of my drink.

"That was amazing, I didn't know you could sing like that." he shook his head

"Thank you." We watched the other performances before they decided the winner.

"And the winner is.... Erica Montgomery Decode." I stood up blushing and went to accept the award. " Coming back there were turing the space to a dance floor.

"There setting up for dancing. But we can go if you wanna." I offer pointing to the door

"No it's fine. We can stay." he chuckled

"Okay. well come on, it's super fun." I dragged him up and I laughed as he danced awkwardly.

"You're so awkward." I commented beaming at his weird dance moves.

"I'm not really a dancer." I grabbed his hands

"1. don't focus on your feet, trust that you won't step on my toes. 2 listen and feel. What do you hear?" I ask him dancing more slowly.

"Music." he answered

"Duh, but what do you hear, what instruments. Listen to the strum of the guitar the beat of the drums. Calm." He started loosening up a bit. and his moves became more fluid as we picked up our swaying.

"There you go." I chimed and he twirled me around and dipped me caught making me laugh as he brought me back up.

"Thanks." I shrugged. We stayed for a while before I said that we should be getting back.

------

"So where were you last night?" Aria asks me as I sit on the floor of my bedroom doing homework.

"Philadelphia ." I answer not looking up but concentrating what i was doing, which was a history protect.

"With Toby Cavanaugh aka A aka one half who is tormenting us." she came and sat next to me. It was then that I raised my head to look at her properly.

"Sis if your here to wind me up go away. I already have enought with the civil war downstairs." Mike comes into my room.

"Okay something is up. Can you hear them?" I sigh and drop my pen on my note pad, then stood up to go over him

"Look whatever it is, it's not about us." I assure him resting my hand on his shoulder

"How do you know." my brother stressed as I now tuned in to how loud they were arguing with each other.

"I just do. You trust me right?" He nods at me "Okay, go get your stuff and we'll go to the library ." I tell him and he huffs out a breath.

"For how long?" he questions me

"Just go" I softly pushed him out of my room as the two of us listened into downstairs. Aria comes and joins me, as the argument goes on

"She lives in this town. I have to see here, I have to talk to her. I befriended this woman.." Mom shouts at him

"Ella trust me, it's over." Dad tried to defend himself, i shook my head in disbelief. I could not believe that even now he was trying to reason this as if it was okay

"Trust you?" Mom scoffs

"She means nothing to me. And I'm not gonna let her take away from me what matters most?" He replied in a calm voice.

"And what is it that matters to you? Because it's clearly not us." Mom retorted finally venting her frustration at the manwhore.

"Okay do you want me to find another job teaching at another collage? Do you wanna pick up and move again. I will, I'll do that." He suggested. I wince, he was seriously in no position other than grovelling and begging for forgiveness which he would not get at least from me anyway.

"Is that what Iceland was all about?" Mom questioned. Oh this was gonna get even worse I crept to the end of the hall

"Erica." Aria whisper yelled and I waved her off.

"Yeah in a way it was, I wanted things to be the way they used to be with us." He finally admitted something truthful, yet again he had the shittest timing.

"And how is that? Me looking like a total idiot? Because look at this. Look at this stupidly happy woman. Standing next to her loving husband. What am I supposed to do with all these photo's of our romantic trip abroad" there was a smash of glass. That was probably a photo frame.

"Stop that. Stop it What happened with her was a mistake." he insisted

"What I know, you used our daughters to hide this from me. You manipulated one daughter to keep the other quiet. How could you do that to them. I don't even know who you are." Moms voice became less loud as I strained to hear the conversation.

"I panicked. I thought I didn't have another choice. I was scared I might loose you." Dad tried to defend his actions

"You just might." with that it all went quiet and I went back to my room and gathered up my things, getting ready to go to the library.

---------

I snuck up behind Toby, he was sat on a bench in the grill after coming from the library with my phone.

"Smile, sausage." I jumped on his back and he laughed as I took a picture. I pulled back and sat next to him.

"You are so not right" he chuckled putting his book down fully and turning to me.

"Awh thank you I'll take that as a compliment . Look." I showed him the picture. It was a great picture and I would defiantly be printing it off and putting it in a frame.

"That looks cool."

"I know right. So I'm avoiding home and the parents for as long as possible. Why are you here?" I explained then questioned resting my cheek on my hand.

"Homework."

"Homework is so boring. Let's go catch a random movie." I taped the table excitedly

"I really need to get this done." he told me and I pouted

"It will still be there in a couple of hours seriously." I pulled him away and the two of us went to catch a movie.

-------

That night I sat on Aria's bed with Mike as she brought 3 bowls in and handed it to us.

"What's this?" Mike questions

"Dinner." Aria replies taking a seat next to me as the TV flickers in the background of our conversation.

"Is mom still in her room?" I ask having some of the noodles

"Yeah." she answers

"And Dad?" Mike wonders, She shrugs at us and turns her attention towards the TV

"Do you think they're gonna work it out?" asks the two of us in general but it's my sister who answers the question.

"I don't know." She replies and we continue watching TV.