We searched around but could not see anything or anyone around, so the five of us headed back into the greenhouse to gather the box of Ali's things. To be honest I was in a kind of shock at everything that had just happened, mainly that we now had hands on A's phone.

"But how hard did you hit her/him/it?" Aria questioned

"Didn't run like an her." Emily breathed as I searched around for the box, I witched the torch on my phone for better light but it didn't help.

"I thought it was an animal." Hanna added.

"It was, is." Spencer huffed

"Okay, seriously where is the box." I questioned, I seriously couldn't see it.

"You guys, this phone is locked." Spencer sighed

"Where were you? We were supposed to meet here, wasn't that the plan?" Em stressed

"I'm so sorry Em, I dropped a huge bomb at home. My parent's wouldn't let me go anywhere. I had to climb through Mike's window." Aria explained. A huge mom was a understatement. More like nuclear 2.0.

"And Toby cornered me with questions about why I was acting this way and he would not leave without answers." Spencer continued

"Kate's moving to Rosewood." We stopped and turned to Hanna

"What?" we all questioned in unison

"Yeah. My Dad and Isabel got married and now they're looking for a house here in Rosewood. So now I have more than one monster in my life now, okay? I win." Hanna vented

"No you don't. I was almost killed. These are not highlights, this is glass in my hair" Emily snapped. Aria moved to take glass out of her hair

"Okay, guys can you talk to me for a second. I'm holding A's phone in my hand. What are we doing?" Spencer panicked

"Something, before A knows we have it." Em replies

"Hanna, call Caleb." Spencer orders

"Why?"

"He's the best way to get information..." Hanna cuts him off, while I was thinking that was actually a half decent idea. Only half decent though, part of me was screaming how much of a bad idea it was involving someone on the outside.

"No, leave him out of this."

"He's our shot at tracing this to A."

"She said no Spencer, what happened to not involving other people. You broke up with Toby because of it and that bitch of course." I took Hanna's side the bad idea side had one in the conflict of my brain. After what happened with Dr Sullivan, This was a bad idea.

"We can take it to a phone store tomorrow."

"Phone store?" Spencer questioned incredulously

"Well then call tech support, we can have someone in Pakistan do it." Hanna retorted

"Hanna!" Emily shrieks

"This can't wait till tomorrow. Once A relies it's missing it's..." Aria started and hanna cut her off

"I get it okay? But this phone is connected to Jenna and officer Garrett. Caleb already has bad history with her and the police. We're not going there!" she shouts

"But if he can finds something that links them together...."

"Are you all mad! Do we have to list what's happened to other people when they get too close to this thing." I yell shutting them up

"yay we have A's phone but are you seriously willing to put another life in danger, we can barely protect our own. Three of us have already taken trips to the hospital. One of us is dead! Ali is dead." my voice breaks

"You need to think this through. It makes sense." Aria retorts. I raise my arms in frustration. Why do I even bother saying anything.

" Are you done thinking?" Spencer retorts "Cause we're running out of time here. Is Caleb still crashing with Lucas? Where's Lucas' house I will go over..."

"Spencer Stop giving orders we're not your winged monkeys!" Hanna shouts at her

"Okay, stop" Aria holds her hands out "there has got to be a way we can get Caleb to help without---" A's phone starts ringing. Which shuts us up.

"Answer it." Spencer shoves the phone to Aria

"You answer it." Aria hold the phone to Emily

"Give me." I snatch it "I'll answer it. I'll tell them that I have it." I grumble

"I think they'll know it when you answer." I was pulled out of the way as more glass dropped from the roof.

"I've got Caleb's number I'm calling him." Emily states and we all run out of the greenhouse. We get in our respective cars and drive off.

--------

I sat with Hanna on the other side of Spencer's Island. Emily had called Cable from the car and now the four of them were crowded round his laptop with A's phone connected to it

"What's that number?" Spencer asks pointing at the screen

"It shows me how much data is currently on that phone. It's a lot." Caleb answers

"You mean like photos' video's?" Emily confirms

"Defiantly more than angry birds/"

"And how long will it take to download." i groan slightly as the effects of the pot start to wear off. I must have burnt thought it faster

'Ri?" Han questions i wave her of reaching for my pocket and pop two gummy bears

"And how long will it take to download."

"We're not there yet." Caleb replies  "Hanna?" She hums 

"You alright?"

"Yeah." she answers

"All right can somebody tell me who's phone this is or..."

"We can't. Yet. The less you know right now the better." Spencer tells him, well cuts him off before he can start asking anymore questions

"Okay, well then can someone tell me why Emily smells like a bag of mulch?"

"Wait, something just came up." Aria points back at the screen

"Crap." Caleb muttered

"what happened?" I question holding my arm to my chest

"Phone got bricked." I roll my eyes of course it did.

"Translate please." Em asked

"He's saying the owner shut down the phone from their side." I huffed wincing as i moved slightly

"So we lost everything?" Spencer stressed

"We never had everything. I have some files but their locked and they're probably corrupted." they look crest fallen "I can try and retrieve what I have but it's gonna take a while. Are you sure you want me to work on this?"

"Yes" they reply.

"You two?"

"Whatever Hanna decides." I mumble through the pain. And they wait for her answer while slightly giving her looks to go along with it. Hanna nods reluctantly.

"Lovely, we're going home. Aria, you're driving." I slid over the keys. I slide into the passenger seat. I cry out in pain as my arm catches on something

"Erica."

"I'm fine. I'm fine." I shouted finishing getting my seat belt on "The pot just needs to kick in and I'll be chill and pain free again."

"You need to see a doctor." she sighed starting up the car

"I have they got nothing, just a list of over the counter stuff that don't work.  Just please drive." She does

"I thought you were in physical therapy."

"I was, it kicked up again after I stopped. My brain still sends signals that there is something wrong the pot stops that signal." By the time we arrive home I breathe a sigh of relief.

"There is a ladder that is next to my window that is how you get back in. Count to 100 then leave the car." I get out and enter the house..

"How's Spencer?" Mom asks

"Fine, boy trouble

"I'm glad you two are talking again." She smiled softly. I'm now wishing I picked a different friend to lie about.

"I'm tired I'm gonna crash." She nods and I head up stairs then open my window. Just as Aria reaches the top and climbs back in.

"okay, night." i breathe and she leaves. I close the window and change crashing in bed

-------

The next morning I came out of my room. The same time as Aria and Dad came out of their respective rooms.

"Morning." we say to him.

"Um, Aria, where are you going?" We stop at Dad's question

"School." Oh i see where this is going.

"Wearing that?" Aria looks at me and I shake my head in dismay, was he seriously going to do this, again? He had zero tact at addressing stuff.

"Yeah. What're you talking about?"

"Well that's not appropriate for school. So change your clothes." he replies and I sigh. He is nothing if not predictable

"Since when have I had a dress code Dad?" mom came upstairs

"Uh, since we became aware of who your dressing for, so change." he ordered

"Careful, Dad your implications are coming through again." I plopped down on the chair

"Stay out of this Erica." he warned me

"I will when you stop implying that we dress provocatively. Our dress sense ain't got nothing to do with our choice of boyfriend." I sassed back

"I've got this Ri." Aria says and i cross my legs watching it unfold "Well what am i supposed to wear, a down parka?"

"Byron, I've got this." Mom took Aria into her room.

"Nice going Dad." I comment standing up

"Erica." he warned

"Yeah, I know my name. I mean..." I scoff "You have taught us to be independent women, you told us that when you know, you know. You teach us all this stuff yet when your confronted with our choices, you... I just, I don't get it. I really don't, you know what you do you and see where it get's ya." I jog down stairs and go round picking up a few more things.

"Aww." I wince. I scramble through my bag to find my gummies. "Oooooh"

"Erica what's going on."

"My...my arm. My...shit." I had forgotten to make more "They're gone." I ran to the fridge, the brownies weren't there

"Where are the brownies. My brownies that were right here."

"Your Mom through them out, Erica they're just brownies..."

"They're not just brownies, they're pot brownies!" I wince, stupid brain, stupid, stupid brain.

"Why the hell would you have pot brownies, why the heck would you have pot?!" he asks sternly

"Why you think genius, the docs cut off my painkillers to soon. I've been using it for medicinal reasons." i growl.

"So, the eating, the cravings, your chill and happy mood is because your high?!" Mom and Aria come down.

"What's going on?" Mom asked

"Oh well done bright spark. You figures it out. Meanwhile I'm still in pain! And there are no brownies." I gritted out

"Byron?" Aria runs over to me as I hold on to my arm.

"She's been using pot for pain. She's ben high for who knows how long." He glared and Mom was shocked

"Again, still in pain."

"Aria, go to school I will make and appointment." Mom says. "Now Aria." I nod to my sister who leaves. Dad sits me down and sighs sitting himself.

"Well at least you're not pregnant." was the first words he came out with.

"What?! Why would I be pregnant?" i question incredulously.

"Well I noticed the cravings and eating more. I got worried." I started laughing breathlessly, My arm was killing me but that I had to miss was funny.

"What is she laughing at. What are you laughing at?" Mom question

"Dad thought I was pregnant. I'm not by the way. But..." I shake my head

"What was I supposed to think she was eating weird like you were when you were with them."  he replied

"They're both just as bad, as if we haven't got enough on our plate as it is."

"I would rather her be high then in a mater of months being a granddad at her age. Did you get an appointment?" Dad inquired.

"Yeah. I also called the school , but you'll need to take her I have a make up test, with one of the students. You can stay home today once your done." Dad gets up to phone in as well and Mom leaves.

--------

I was back at school the next day and back on painkillers and i was also given some advice, how to manage it. Emily was showing Spencer, Aria and I a transcript from her crisis hotline training

"I almost got caught tonight. It's gone and I can't get it back. I might as well be dead." Spencer read out

"Tell me that does not sound like A's helper." Emily replied

"They let you keep that?" I question

"No, they don't know I have it."

"Okay so I have good news and i have  bad news." Hanna arrives

"Have you see this?" Spencer questions her

"Are you kidding? I woke up to it. Emily taped it to our bathroom mirror." she took the transcript.

"We knew it wasn't Jenna in the greenhouse, but now it looks like...." Emily cut her off

"It was her drone."

"I think we should all be working at this hotline. I mean if A's helper calls back we could..." Aria made a humming sound

"I can't work at a hotline I'm on lockdown. I can barely even pee without a chaperone." Aria starts to walk away.

"Wait, you're still coming to my party right?" Hanna wonders

"Not unless it's in my closet."

"Erica?"

"Can't paren't found out about the pot and I'm grounded for two weeks. Which is good considering." I shrug a little but wince slightly at the little pain I was in.

"Guys." we turn to face Caleb "You got a minute?" we followed him into an empty class room and he showed us his laptop

"i finally cracked one of these files." It came up with the picture of our chucky dolls that fucked with us. We all shared a look with each other.

"I'm guessing this is not what you were looking for."

"No this is great. Could you please forward this on to all of us"

"Thank Caleb." we all left for class

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

We were at Hanna's before the party. Apparently Lucas was on the other end of the phone call which seemed far fetched but these days once Spencer and Emily had an idea in their head, we had to follow, not that i was most of the time. I just tend to ignore whichever person is in the spotlight these days and just call A the bitch. i leant Aria my phone as she called Ezra and I grabbed some juice from Hanna's fridge. I was in the middle of gulping the drink  down when Aria came back in all teary eyed.

She bear hugged me which I slowly returned

"Hey, what happened ?" I stroked her hair.

"He broke up with me. He said we shouldn't do this anymore." She mumbled. I sighed hugging her harder. I didn't say anything because nothing would make this better right this minute. She pulled away.

"Why would he do that? Why?"

"I don't know sweetie. But he's a fool for giving in." I sigh "You want me to go round there and teach him a lesson, he's got pots and pans to smash over his head right" she gave a teary laugh.

"How did you do it?" I gave her a confused look "Keep, Jason and our parents on the same side." Is at her down.

"Sissy, this is how it started remember," I tucked some stray hair back. "Grounding, changing clothes. different phones. The only thing that is different is he didn't back down." I shook my head

"That didn't come out right. Look, you'll get through this. If you really want him you fight tooth and nail, you lie and keep hush, you play nice and along, while really doing another. You just fight."

"Do you think they'll come around?" I nod

"They love us and they're scared of loosing us. Just chose which arguments you can win."

"What does that mean?"

"Dad tried the changing your clothes trick on me. I however turned the tables on him because I knew the exact words to say. I stated that his implication made me sound like a skank and that I was dressing to impress other people than my boyfriend, that would make me a cheater in someways I wouldn't cheat on my man. Then I walked off. He didn't mention it again."

"Why didn't I think of that?" I smiled slightly.

"I've been a badass longer, despite the fact we're twins. Don't worry you'll learn. Now wipe those tears. If you're gonna win the war you're gonna need a brave face." I stood up. We went back home and then Dad said we were going out to the grill for dinner.

"Did Mike need us to pick him up?" Dad questioned as we arrived at the grill

"No, Gavin's mom was gonna take him and they were gonna stop for pizza." Dad stopped at the door, not opening it. here on the other side was Ezra. Mom sighed as Dad turned around

"You know what? We'll eat somewhere else." he states

"Byron..." Mom tries

"No, there are other restaurants." he walks past us.

"Girls let's go, we're not staying here." We look at Mom

"Mom." Aria silently pleads

"Let's just go somewhere else." Mom joins Dad and Aria looks back in to where Ezra is sitting.

"Girls let's go. Come on we're walking."

"Let's go." I pull her along and we started walking. Mom and Dad started arguing.

"Well, we will find somewhere." Dad insists

"It's a small town, Byron . were do you want us to go for a bowl of pasta, Delaware?" Mom retorts

"If you let me go to the police, we could eat anywhere we want to." he retorts

"Can we not have this conversation right here in the town square?"

"Byron? Ella?" Someone called our parents and we turned. No freaking way it was Holden, he was our like original best friend. More Aria's because I had Toby but still.

"Hi Ron." Dad shakes hands with him

"We thought you guys were still overseas." mom smiled

"We just got back last week. Kids have been craving cheese sticks ever since we hit the tarmac, so... Wow Aria, Erica you've really grown up."

"No, well apparently  not that much." Aria commented and I snorted in amusement. my phone started ringing It was Jason.

"I need to take this, excuse me." I went to pull away.

"Erica." Dad called

"I'll be right here hawk eyes." I sass and take walk away slightly

"Hey" I answer the call

"Hey, just called to check in, I know it's been a while." he replied

"I'm glad, it is a train wreck here."

"Are the police giving you trouble again?" he questions his voice laced with aggravation and concern., I bit my lip feeling the love even though he wasn't here.

"No, Aria came out to the parents that she was dating her teacher. And I'm grounded for doing Pot."

"Wait? What?"

"It was for my arm, I had been baking and putting it into things like brownies and gummies to help cope with the pain and sometimes out of pure boredom, you being away is actually turning out bad for my health."

"Erica."

"What, that is my attempt at flirting and dodging."

"Are you off it now?"

"Yes, seen as it was for mainly pain it's not been that difficult to kick, I'm back on my strong painkillers and we're forging out the next steps so I don't need them. When are you coming home?"

"Within the next week or two. I promise."

"Erica, we're going." Mom calls over i nod

"I better go, i call you tomorrow okay? Love you."

"I love you too." I head back to my family and we leave. We did end up finding a restaurant to eat at in the end.