-Erica-

Hanna was home. I groaned under the weight of stuff I was carrying, our beloved Hanna was loved and her gifts showed it, we planed to help her inside and each get something from the car.

"Why are you trying to take that off?" Aria questioned just as I put three gift baskets and a box down

"I'm trying to keep it on. Believe me I don't wanna see the autograph under it." She states trying to get it to stick back on.

"Well we can get you another sticker." Spencer offered

"Yeah, Spence can get another maybe with something more chill like 'save the planet' or 'I like avocado's" I added

"Hey, there were not a lot of choices, it was either Humpty Dumpty or Jesus us coming look busy" Hanna pulled the sticker back.

"Oh god, it's still there." Spence needed down to her

"He don't look at that look around you because your home and your safe and your alive." Spence tried to reassure her.

"yeah well I thought I was safe in my hospital room too. Now, what's going on with Noel Khan ? Is he A? Have you talked to him?" Hanna questioned us, repeatedly.

"No, I avoid him, I keep telling him I'm busy." Aria replied, a little stressed. I shook my head, at some point I would teach her how to stand up to him so he doesn't start causing shit.

"Erica?" she looked at me

"It's the other way round he's avoiding me. Anytime I see him, he high tails it out of there." I told her. There was this awkward silence.

"Who got you this Panda? Sean?" Emily guessed

"Lucas." Hanna answered. I took the Panda.

"It's cute." I muttered playing with it's little paws.

"Is anyone else starving or is it just me?" Hanna's stomach growled.

"Your Mom said she left something special for you in he fridge." Spencer replied and Hanna stuck he nose up.

"Pass. No, I want a pop tart." I raised ad eyebrow at her

"What I wanna eat something that doesn't look like it's already been chewed." I chuckled. Aria got food out of the fridge and put it on the table.

"Look, why don't you eat this while we get the rest of your stuff." We went back to the car and each grabbed something. my phone started ringing.

"Hello."

"Hey Babe." I dropped Hanna's bag, It was Jase.

"Hey, Um hold on a sec." I looked at the others. "You go I'll catch up." they nodded, I handed Aria the other bag and they went inside.

"I'm back. Are you okay?" I wondered

"Yeah, just needed to hear your voice, it's been a tough week." I smiled a little at I rested on the back of the car.

"Ever the romantic." he chuckled

"There was another reason I called, I saw something that reminded me for you, so it should be heading your way." My eyebrows furrowed.

"What is it?"

"Wait and see." he teased, I could literally picture him with a smirk on his face being clued in on something I wasn't even if it wasn't for a moment.

"Jason, you know I hate surprises." I whined causing him to laugh.

"Trust me you'll love this. How's Hanna?" he wondered and I heard him shuffle on the other side of the phone call.

"Okay despite the fact her whole leg is in a cast and she was run over. But she's Hanna so, she's styling it out with a brave face and a great smokey eye." I chuckled

"At least she's on the mend."

"Do you know when you'll be back? And how long you'll be staying?" he sighed

"Not yet, but as soon as I do you'll be the first to know." The door opened and the thee of them came out.

"Look I gotta go but I'll talk to you soon. Love you Bye." I ended the call.

"Hey, what's going on I thought we were staying over?" I questioned pushing myself up of the car, and holding my arms out.

"Hanna doesn't want us to." Aria shrugged. I shrugged and we got into our cars and left.

-------

"Ri! Where's my lacrosse stick?!" Mike shouted from upstairs as Dad came into the kitchen.

"By the door, where you left it. Breakfast!" I called back 

"Erica, you do know I'm the parent right, It's my job to take care of you not the other way around." Dad tried to joke.

"Dad, I'm not in the mood for this trying win favour back with eldest daughter. I have a tone of things to do." he sighed

"I was just..." he tried to talk but I interrupted and ignored him.

"Mike get your ass down here and eat." I shout putting his plate on the table "Ria, you too!"

"Erica stop." he grabbed my arms "Look, I know you hate me, but please meet me halfway I'm trying to mend things."

"You wanna mend things?" he nodded

"Switch places with Mom, you move out she moves back, then we'll talk." I shrugged him off. There was a heard of footsteps and scratching of chairs.

"You know that won't happen."

"Here's what going on Dad, the fact you cheated on Mom pisses me off, like it would any child of a cheater. What makes me fuming and what is even more unforgivable than that is you manipulated Aria who then did it to me. a year later that came back and bit me in the ass. You following me around like a puppy looking for forgiveness isn't going to fly with me because you're the adult and you should have known better." I pointed at him with spatula

"Parent's make mistakes."

"A mistake is something like forgetting a lacrosse game, or letting work take over your life till you get a reality check, or you kiss the student and released crap that was a mistake. Yours was a dick move and it seems like I'm the only female around here that making it known to you and has the balls to say it. Sorry won't work on me, you made me feel like I was in a living hell and rotting inside with this secret. Your torment from me will be longer." I grabbed my plate and went to sit down.

---------

Aria, Emily and I were sorting out homework for Hanna. Emily tried to give more books to Aria.

"oh, Maybe we should just stick to one book, Hanna doesn't really do well with stacks unless there catalogs." I chuckled.

"Erica did you really mean why you said to Dad this morning?" Ria wondered I sighed

"Yeah. I get it, people cheat, it happens and I would like to think I would practice what I preach about kicking said cheater out. God forbid I cheated. But that's not what gets to me it's how you deal with it. He got caught, by us and what he did he shouldn't have done. I felt like I had let myself and Mum down. You know I try and avoid him at all cost but there is only so much you can do when he still lives with you. I don't go looking for conflict it comes looking for me." I saw Maya approaching.

" Hi Maya"

"Hey there." they greeted each other holding hands as well.

"Are you still coming for diner tonight?" Emily asked her girlfriend

"Sure if your folks still want me too. What should i wear?" Maya wondered, I think she meant it as a joke but this was Emily and Emily would take it seriously.

"Anything it doesn't matter...A dress." I giggled slightly

"A dress? Seriously? Is this some sort of formal thingy or are you worried my jeans look too butch?" Maya really needed to chill with the jokes right now, she wasn't helping at all.

"Don't say things like that please, okay? They're not...they won't laugh." Emily stressed

"We better get going. But if you do decide to wear jeans, iron them. Have fun." Aria smiled and we left but we saw Noel going into school. he gave us a small wave before he headed inside.

-

English with Mr Fitz aka my sisters boyfriend. How did the two of us end up dating older guys that would probably get arrested if anyone knew. I sometimes thought we needed to be more separate than alike.

"Gatsby was more than just a pretty face. he was ambitious, ruthless, charming. And the themes of change and loss are central to both novels." I looked at Spencer who looked somewhere else then me. i gave her a wink and looked over to my sister. I kicked my leg out to her and she turned her head to me I made a kiss face and she chucked a ball of paper to me. Fitz handed out papers just as the bell rang.

"Perfect see you Wednesday.. oh chapter one and four, no study guides please. Read the man not the blogger." He called as we all left.

"That's what he said." I laughed the others snorted.

"You guys head out I'll get Hanna's assignment." The three of us shared a look and left.

"So are you excited for tonight?" I asked Emily "Big step, actual dinner with the family."

"I'm not sure I want to be there." she replied nervously.

"You'll be fine just make sure Maya doesn't do all the talking. If she starts linger over a cliff, you grab the wheel." Spencer offered her advice

"Yeah we love Maya. But even I know it takes a while for your Mom to warm up and their sense of humour is on two complexity different wave lengths." I stopped "That sounded harsh."

"No, I get it."

"Spencer, Emily, Erica." we turned round hearing Mona.

"So, i just found out that Hanna's mom has got some bank thing in Scranton and won't be home till really late. So i want to do a surprise party. You know welcome home Hanna, with or without your spleen. I've checked with Mr Hanna and Sean is totally down with." she beamed bouncing on her feet

"Mona, you do know they didn't take out her spleen." I told her, like it was the most obvious in the world.

"Really? Oh well I'll just change the theme." she went to leave.

"Mona, I'm not really sure Hanna's up to hosting a bunch of people at a party." Spencer said

"oh please she's been socialising with IV Bags and bedpans. She'll love it. If you guys don't want to come, I'm sure she'll understand." with that she walked away

"This is not a party that I'm going to enjoy." I sighed

--------

It was break and I was heading for the cafeteria when I heard Noel's voice in Mr Fitz classroom.

"These comments on my paper. pretty harsh." I leaned against the wall and listened as I folded my arms

"I wasn't trying to be" Mr Fitz replied

"I worked really hard on this." Noel told him, there was an edge to his voice.

"I'm sure you did but you clearly hadn't read all of the material." Mr Fitz replied but I could already tell that this wasn't going to be a simple conversation

"I think I know enough to get a better grade than this." my jaw dropped. He was blackmailing Mr Fitz.

"What do you want me to do Noel, change the grade? Because that's not going to happen."

"Mr Fitz, you don't want me to bring the principal into this, do you?" okay that was it.

"Noel, i thought i heard your snake like tones." he and Mr Fitz turned their attention to me as I dropped my bag on a desk.

"Erica, you look amazing today." I smirked

"Nice try, a little birdie told me that you've been cheating on my sister." I rested a hand on my hip and I was full of attitude and bitchiness.

"I highly doubt that."

"You're calling me dumb now?" he cleared his throat as I stalked closer like a bird of prey.

"I never said that." Noel's bravado dropped as I made my way closer

"The implication was implied. I'm not dumb and I know you Noel. I knew that you weren't good enough for her, do you remember what I said if you hurt my sister?"

"I never hurt your sister, your sister hurt me." he held his hands up, trying to defending himself as a precaution.

"Little sweet Aria hurt a jock like you, that sounds the same as me becoming queen." I grabbed him by the scruff.

"Miss Montgomery please put Mr Khan down." I pouted but I did. He breathed a sigh of relief that was until I kicked him in the balls

"Scram." he stumbled away

"Do not change his grade, he tries it again I'll deal with him." Mr Fitz cleared his throat.

"Thank you for the offer but i can handle him."

"no you can't. Noel Khan doesn't back down to anyone but a handful of people and no offence but you don't rock the don't mess with me image."

"Miss..."

"Erica." I corrected him

"Erica, I appreciate the help but I've got it." he tried to assure me but I didn't and would never buy that he had the guts to stand up to Noel.

"Most girls think the same thing when they date him, they don't but it's your call." I went to grab my bag.

"Best advice is kick him in the balls." I smirk then turn leave the room

-----

"Mike." I knocked on his door then opened it, he was chilling on his bed typing on his laptop. He looked up at me.

"What?"

"Can you zip me up please, Aria already left." I turned around. He sighed and did zipped me up.

"You're going to Hanna's party?" He asked me as i turned back around to face him.

"Yeah, I'm late."

"Can you be late to a high school party?" my brother furrowed hi eyebrows but chuckled at the same time.

"If my friends are there before me then yes I am. Look, Dad is working late. There is food in the fridge, do your homework and do not set the house on fire." he laughed

"You're across the road." I smiled and kissed his cheek

"See you later." I grabbed my jacket and left. When I entered Aria was talking to Noel, he caught a glimpse of me and turned quickly away. Aria turned to see what scared him, she must have seen my face.

"Why is Noel Khan scared of you?" she questioned coming over to me absolutely confused as to what just happened.

"He made me mad so I kicked him in the balls." I answered nonchalantly.

"What did he do?" She wondered still not getting it. I sighed having to spell it out for her

"Blackmailed my sister boyfriend."

"You know?!" she exclaimed

"I heard every word, little shit. Your beau really thinks he's a match for him. It's adorable." I coo, condescendingly at Mr Fitz's macho man idea.

"What if he's A." she snipped at me

"Then I know my enemy and can kick his ass." I shrug.

-3rd person-

Emily was heading for the part when she saw Toby on his porch. She thought back to Erica and looked at him. She was going to say something. She walked over.

"Did Jenna tell you Erica tried to reach you in jail?" Emily wondered standing on the side walk in front of his house.

"No." he replied

"Well she did, she wanted you to know that she kept her promise. She never told the cops where you were." Emily assured him, but Toby already knew Erica would never do that, not after the profuse amount of apologies she had given him earlier, for not believing in him.

"I know." Emily nodded

"And neither did I. She did say that she told you that I heard the two of you though. I didn't either.." there was a moment of silence.

"I gotta go." she turned to leave

"Where."

"There is a party at Hanna's." Emily told him

"lucky you. I can barely leave my porch." Emily saw the anklet. "But that's okay, I don't get many invitations, just death threats." Emily sighed and pulled out her phone she sent a text

"What are you doing?"

"Telling Erica that you're on your front porch. I give it ten minutes." she sent the text a couple of minutes later, Erica replied

"Or less."

"Why would you do that?" Toby asked her "I know you're like everyone else and don't trust me. Why tell Erica I'm here?"

"I'm doing it for Erica, she cares about you and she won't relax until she knows your okay. I'm gonna get going." she left

-Erica-

I pulled up outside the Cavanaugh house . Like Emily said he was sat on his porch, messing with parts of his messed up bike.

"Toby." I breathed

"Under ten minutes, did you speed here?" he smiled softly

"No, it's not that far. How are you doing? I tried to see you but..." I walked over to him with the intention of taking a seat on the front porch

"Emily told me." I sat down next to him.

"They came just after you left, I thought it was my ride." he admitted, recalling what had happened moments after she left to go back to the party.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" he shook his head

"Tell me something good, something that's going on in your life." I laughed bitterly.

"Nothing much, It seems like mine is slowly falling apart." i leaned my head on his shoulder

"I'm sure that's nothing that Jason Dilaurentis couldn't fix." I stopped breathing for a second as his words resonated with me.

"What did you just say?" I lifted my head up "Why would you mention Ali's brother?"

"Well you sent me the picture right?" He asked me and confused didn't even cut it, I had been paranoid not to mention or even give it away that Jason was my boyfriend.

"Picture? What picture?" he brought his phone and showed me a text that looked like it was from me.

"I thought you meant to send it to him but sent it to me by accident." I took it off him

"I never sent that picture. That picture shouldn't even exist anymore." I breath, this, I had to admit rattled me.

"Erica, you know i would never tell anyone. Not unless..." Toby started and I shook my head.

"I have to go but I will talk to you later." I left and got into the car.I drove back to home. I went to my room.

"you're back early." i turned to Mike who was leaning against my door frame. I gave a fake smile.

"I felt nauseous so I decided to come home and hopefully sleep it off." I lied

"Oh, okay well night."

"Night." he closed my door and my phone buzzed

Did I spill a secret? Silly me, maybe you should do it before I slip again xo -A

"that bitch." it muttered and shut off my phone.