A week later we had all congregated at Spencer's. Caleb had some some more decrypting and Hanna was bringing the latest. She closed the door as she came in.

"I passed you passed your Mom heading out." She told Spencer

"Then it's go time." Spencer said coming round to her laptop. Emily opened it. "Hanna" Spencer held out her hand. Hanna hesitated

"Hanna" Spencer sighed then Hanna handed over the drive

"How much did Caleb get?" I asked

"I don't know. he said he was up most of the night." She answered as Spencer plugged it in

"it's not like we expected decrypting files from A's phone would be easy" Spencer commented as the drive loaded up the contents of what had been decrypted.

"Is Caleb still asking whose phone it is?" Em asks our best friend

"Every chance he gets and I'm still lying to him" Hanna retorts

"So we know it wasn't Lucas. My money's on Garrett in the greenhouse with the phone." Aria stated like it was a game.

"Aria this isn't cluedo. Besides Jenna broke up with Garrett." i reply

"Yeah, after the greenhouse."

"The point is Caleb is still asking about everything and it's not safe for him to know the answers." Hanna folded her arms "We should just tell him to stop."

"Let's just watch this first." Spencer suggested and the video began playing. It was the footage proving Ali was alive at  the kissing rock and after she and Ian kissed.

"Is that it?" I muttered. Then it changed. To a view of Alison's bedroom.

"Look, that's Alison's bedroom" Ri pointed out the camera was moved slightly. Ian came in to view and it took like he was hiding it.

"What's Ian doing there?"

"Oh my god. He's hiding it. He was recording this secretly." Aria stated. ugh could this guy get any creepier?

"Recording what?" Spencer wondered in disgust. We watched as the door opened. Jenna and Garrett entered. what were they doing there.

"What are they doing in Alison's bedroom?" I muttered

"N.A.T Field trip? Ian and Garrett are the founding members."

"The only person missing is..."

"Where's Jason?" Garrett asked Ian

"He's passed out. A six pack, weed and a break up will do that to you." Ian answered

"So why the emergency call?" Jenna questioned

"I just left Alison. Tried to get her to hand over our video's, she wasn't going for it." Ian explained

"Is that the only thing she wasn't going for?" Jenna jabbed 

"Shut up Jenna." Ian snipped

"Hey, this is your fault, Ian. I knew you'd go to far on those videos and they'd come back to bite us. That's why I bailed on this messed up club." Garrett retorted

"Oh yeah? Well, welcome back. now help me find them before that bitch shows up."

"So Caleb has seen this?" Em questioned

"Yeah. he couldn't have gotten it without seeing it. Now you know why I'm freaking out." Han stressed

"The closer we get to finding out what happened ..." Hanna cut Spencer off

"The closer Caleb get's to the top of A's hit list. He/she/ it has messed with all of our relationships. Toby, Ezra Samara and Jason" she listed she was right for the most part.

"Look." i pointed back to the screen. Garrett had found Ali's box not just any box though

"That's the box Jason gave me." I say the video started to fritz

"Caleb's done. I'm telling him today." Hanna huffed

"So what does this mean?" Em wondered

"Well in case we had any doubts, the N.A.T Club, Jenna included was in Rosewood."

"In Alison's bedroom." Aria started

"The night Ali was murdered" i finished

---------

"Erica, can i borrow you please." Spencer said. I nodded and she took me upstairs and into her room.

"I need to show you something." she handed me her phone and showed me a text. it was a picture of her and Toby kissing with the message 'I warned you'

"When did you get this?" I questioned incredulously

"While we were downstairs?" 

"So the others haven't seen this?" she shook her head, then we heard an engine. Looking out we could see Toby was pulling up.

"I thought you were trying to keep your distance?" I scowled

"I was, okay. I am. It's just I  slipped up last week and I kissed him. now Toby thinks we're back together and I can't even..." her phone started to ring. She showed me that he was calling.

"Talk to him." she held out her phone to me but I didn't take it.

"And say what?"

"That I'm not here. I'm in the shower." she shrugged insisting that I take her phone.

"Don't make me lie to him, Spencer."

"Please." she begged. I groaned and took the phone. Why me? Why me? I got an internal grip and answered

"Toby, my darling." I faked enthusiasm

"Hey, is Spencer around?"

"She can't come to the phone right now. Maybe I could help?" i glance back and she was giving me a WTF face.

"I just came by to pick up the rest of my tools. Spencer's dad..." Had fired him

"Yeah I heard. He's a jerk, a tool and many other things that make you want to slap him across the face." he chuckled

"How's Spencer."

"She's ok. She misses you." I told him

"I miss her. She's been kind of confusing lately. The other day in my truck she said she was close to telling me something. To explain what's been happening." I kept making wha the hell expressions as Spencer who bit her nails in suspense.

"Things have changed since then."

"Can you tell me anything?"

"No, I really don't want to be in the middle of the two of you." I answered which was true.

"I don't think this is about me and her. I think it's something else." he voiced his thoughts. Spencer grabbed my arm as I glanced out of the window I could see him but he couldn't see us.

"Erica" Spencer whispered "Just please, just get off."

"Spencer's Dad just got in. It might be best if you come back later."

"When he's not here or when Spencer's not here."

"Toby." I sighed "Please don't be mad. I just..." i groaned

"Erica, I could never be mad at you. I'm just mad at what's happening." he hung up and I turned back round

"I hate that you made me do that." I threw her phone back and jogged downstairs

--------

We were talking about what happened later, at lunch. Like always everyone had an opinion and wanted to know what was going on.

"So he just drove away?" Aria questioned

"What else was he supposed to do? I totally shut him down." Spencer replied as I messed with my food.

"You're protecting somebody you love." Aria amended "It's kind of romantic."

"No, it's the opposite of romantic."

"It's safe, it's what we all need to be." Hanna commented

"Hey, well, at least Toby still wants to talk to you because that was defiantly no the case the last time I saw Ezra" Ri added "Which makes me wonder was that the last time I'll ever see him?" I wrapped my arms around my twin

"No, Aria." I tell her

"But how do I know that? He won't see me he won't talk to me."

"You need to give him time." Emily assured her

"I gave him time. Him sneaking out of the theatre. That was time, now I need some answers

"How, without your parents knowing?" Em wondered

"Without A knowing." Aria's head perked up and we saw who she was looking at

"Ah, Holden your beard." I grinned

"the what?" Hanna asked

"Beard. It means he'll go out with her but not really out with her because he's not interested." I explain

"I know what it means. He's gay." I started chuckling

"He's not gay, we've knowing him since we were 5." Aria replied

"He might not have known when he was 5." Em points out

"Has he ever tried to kiss either of you?"

"No." We answered

"Gay." they replied. Aria shook her head and got up going over to him

"You're all weird people." I shook my head before grabbing my stuff and leaving. I got a text.

Back in town, wanna meet? -Jase

You bet t-moz nite, 7:30 little cafe on High street our spot x -Rica

See you then x - Jase

--------

Everyone was in my room and we were looking over the box

"On the video Garrett looked in the box and saw something weird. Wouldn't you like to know what it was?" Ari  asked

"No." Hanna answered "Look, we've already seen what we need to see. All of our suspects in the same place at the same time in Alison's room talking about how much they hated her. I don't know why we don't just hand the drive to the police." she picked up the doll

"We should be closing things not opening..." she stopped talking. the he'd of the doll fell forward

"Guys something's in here." We stepped forward and I took it off her

"What is that?" I question fishing whatever it was out. A couple dropped onto my bed and I opened one up.

"it's my turn to torture you." I read

"That's creepy" Spencer commented

"You think you're safe on the outside, but you're not when i'm on the inside." Emily continued

"Scared yet? You should be bitch"

"These are starting to sound familiar." hanna muttered yeah it was sounding like A

"Next time it'll be your face not this pumpkin" Spencer quoted "looks like it was cut by something." Aria took it from her

"It was don't you guys remember?"

"No" I shook my head holding myself. I hated that night

"That's because you'd already been taken home." Aria told me we were just going back to Ali's and there was the pumpkin with a knife in it and another smashed all over the floor. This was the note Ali found

"Next time it'll be your face not the pumpkin." Aria repeated and turned the note over "This is an invitation from Noel Khan's halloween party."

"As if my memories of that night could get any worse." Em shivered. Aria flicked down an turned corner.

"Guys this note was signed by A." Aria panicked  

"A was after Alison to. before they were after us." Now I was even more scared

-------

The next day at school. I watched as Mona walked head down past Noel. Spencer told me he broke up with her. oh that ass. Hanna went to talk to Mona. I however walked towards Noel and tripped spilling my hot coffee all over him.

"Ah, what the hell." he yelled

"Whoops. Sorry. I tripped, I guess the sight of you made me feel queasy." his friends oohed "You know something Khan. I just don't get?"

"What?" he growled."

"What did Mona, see in you. I mean yeah, you've got the looks, not as good looking as your brother but still a close second. But apart from that, your shallow, serial cheater, lowlife scum who treats girls terribly. Just glad she saw that now. oh and FYI friends of the lame ass that is Noel Khan. She dumped him, not the other way round, but what can you get from a liar. Isn't that right, Mona." I turned back to the girl who was in shock. She cleared her throat.

"Yeah."

"See. But don't worry Khan they're are still some fish left in the sea that don't know who are, poor them." I turned on my heal  and walked to Mona.

"Throw your necklace in the trash."

"What?"

"Now." she nodded and took the necklace that Noel gave her and threw it away. She then headed for the bathroom. Hanna followed her.

"Shows over people. Khan, I think they have some Hannah Montana t-shirts in the lost and found." he glared at me and I walked away.

At lunch I was tackled into a hug by Mona. I grunted slightly at the force she came at me with.

"Hi." I simply said

"Thank you so much for earlier." She pulled away "You have no idea how much that meant to me."

"I can take a guess and he deserved it. I like you Mona and I'm sorry for what I didn't do when Ali was around." she was sombre for a moment

"Oh, that was so three years ago." she brushed it off

"seriously, i mean it. I know it's like years to late but I should of some something, we all should have." she gave a small smile

"Ok so next steps, have you got something fun planned?" I ask taking her arm

"Hanna and I are going out tonight."

"That's great's. But I do have to warn you. Noel will do something drastic to get back his... what's the word credit? That I just took away, I wouldn't put it past him so just stay strong and both look and act like you don't care."

"Okay."

"Erica! Erica!" Aria Ran over to us "It's Toby, he's been in an accident." she breathed

"What?" I asked feeling everything draining. i looked at Mona.

"Sorry, i have to go."

"It's fine." I ran off wth Aria.

"Spencer's already on her way" she gave me the keys "I'll tell Mom and she'll smooth things over for the rest of the day."

"Thank you." I got in the car and drove away. When I arrived at the hospital and found where my best friend was. Spencer was there with Wren.

"Toby." they looked at me as I entered and took his other side. "Thank God you're okay." I gave him a slight hug."

"I'm fine just broke my arm is all." there was a beep and I looked to Dr Kingston.

"Oh next emergency. I'll be back to check on you later. Spencer." he left

"Something you wanna tell me?" she glanced at me and scowled at her. I was little mad she didn't text or call me, she just ditched. She knows how important he is to me. But that is not the point. Her phone went off and she looked at it. I saw her pale.

"I better tell the others." She muttered and left the room. Toby looked at me

"Erica?"

"Later." I shut him down "Just, later." I kissed his head "Get some rest." he closes his eyes. Once he was asleep I sat reading for a while and I got hungry. I left to get something and when i came back Jenna was coming out of Toby's room.

"How dare you come here." I snip at her.

"Erica? I'd ask you the same thing."

"I'm Toby''s Best friend?"

"Well wasn't there a time you wanted to be more than that. Good thing he doesn't feel the same or things would be very awkward between you and Jason, wouldn't they."

"I should take that stick and..."

"Careful, Erica. Misplaced anger can be dangerous."

"Misplaced?" I scoff

"You should've left him alone. You all should've have left him alone. You know how everyone close to you get's hurt."

"Are you actually threatening me? Because you're gonna have to try harder, you don't scare me." I growled

"I'm just stating a fact."

"We you can state it somewhere else. Leave Jenna, before you end up know how much Ali really taught me." she chuckled leaving

"Spencer." I look back and see my friend and my enemy. I grumble for a moment  and head back into Toby's room. I grab my phone.

"What are you doing?" he asks me, as I begin texting Jason, not willing to leave my best friend alone with that bitch about, trying to sink her claws in again.

"I'm cancelling my plans with Jason, and staying here." he reaches out and stops me

"You're not gonna do that."

"But what if she comes back?" he sighs as his hand moves from my wrist to take my hand in his.

"I know how to deal with her. Seriously, I'm fine you go and get ready."

"Toby." I groan not liking this, but he was becoming insistent.

"Go!" He insists

"Fine. But I will speak with you later okay?"

"Number 1 cheerleader." he smiles  and I leave.

"I'll walk with you to your car." We started to walk "Jenna's right. I'm putting Toby in danger and I've always known it."

"We've always done everything we can. But it's difficult." I reply pressing the button for the elevator

"it's not enough. It'll never be enough. I need you to me a favour." the doors opened and we stepped in.

"Okay."

"Don't be so quick to agree. If you do what I'm about to ask, you might hate me more than you already do. but this is the only thing I can think of to save Toby."

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

I got home and changed before 7, Mom was insisting  that I join Aria and Holden again, I mean it was Aria and Holden, my punishment was nearly at a end and yet I still had to go.

"How's Toby?" Mom asked

"he's brave and strong. He insisted I come, as much as i don't want to by the way. Just saying."

"Erica, don't start." She sighed. The rest of the ride was silent and we were dropped off

"Okay, so i'll be back at 11, you kids enjoy yourselves." she smiled at us through the open window leaning over the passenger side.

"We will?" Aria smiles and mom drives off. I turn to my sister 

"Was that enough contempt or was I over selling it?" I question

"You'd be a good actress." she commented

"Does it bother you, lying to her?" Holden asked us

"Of course." we replied

"But you do it anyway."

"Look, in this case what she doesn't know isn't gonna hurt her." Aria replied

"Are you having second thoughts?" I question

"No, just making sure it's important to you."

"What difference does that make."

"because this is important to me." There was a honk of a car and Jason pulled up.

"i will see you later okay?" I gave my sister a hug and I waved to Holden. "Be there or be screwed." I got into the car and gave Jason a kiss, he pulled away.

"So where first."

"How do you fancy helping me kick some sense into someone?" he furrowed his eyebrows

"What do you mean."

"Aria, is hoping Ezra meets her tonight. A last ditch attempt to see if they have anything. I know he loves her he's just scared and needs a kick up the ass."

"Are you sure you should be meddling?"

"I'm her twin sister, of course I do. We'll go to the college, I'll give him what's for then we have the rest of the night to ourselves. Please." I pouted. he sighed taking my hand and kissing it.

"Let's go." i grinned and he drove us to Hollis. It was raining by now and we rushed in. He was alone in his office.

"You're still here. I'm disappointed." I say and his head snaps up.

"Erica? Why are you here?"

"Making sure you don't do something stupid." I sat in front of him

"Aria is out there right now hoping this isn't the end."

"Erica, it's complicated"

"You're right it is. Complicated, messy, so many levels of weird and what others considered wrong. But don't sit there and insult me by thinking I have no idea when I do. i'm the only one you know that does. Aria loves you, she does and while I admit it was 100 kinds of stupid telling our parents, you did it. You had the balls and now you're gonna give up? You're gonna let them win?"

"I could go to jail, Erica."

"So could Jason, but you don't see me running away do you? That threat is always there but the difference is I fight for him so it doesn't happen. He could have given up when I told him we'd been busted but he didn't because he loves me and he fought to prove that our relationship is not what they think it is." I told him

"Our parents love us, they do. But they don't know everything, as much as they'd like to think so. If you go now, you take that chance and fight for her, it's gonna be hard but you'll get through it and they'll get over it." I stood up.

"Let's Go, Jason."  We left

"I love you, you know that." He tells me. I grin at him

"I love you more. Now lets go have some fun."

"I think I have just the place." He took me to this dance place, I turned to him in slight confusion. It was a restraint but it had a big dance floor and many customers dancing. Well that's what I could see through the window.

"You want to go dancing? You don't dance."

"I do with you, you said something fun. This is fun and I know you haven't danced in a while."

"Best boyfriend ever. Let's go." We head inside, we order something to drink, sit and chat for a while before he takes me out to the dance floor.  It was fun, then we grabbed something to eat. My phone started beeping.

"Cinderella's time at the ball is over." I sigh

"Half 10?" I nod "Come on then." He took my hand and lead me back to the car. We drove back to where he picked me up. Aria was already there.

"Thank you for tonight and being amazing. I love you" I say.

"I Love you too." we kissed and i got out of the car. Giving him a final wave he drove off.

"nice time?" she questioned

"Yes, you?"

"Thank you."

"What for? I've been with Jason all night?" She just smiled and gave me a hug. "Where's Holden." It was nearly 11 there was a beep and we saw our Mom.

"Hey she smiled.

"Hey." we returned

"Where's Holden?" We looked at each other then back at her. "Girls?!"

"Sorry! Sorry!" Holden came jogging up "The ladies really wanted dessert but we didn't want to miss you, so i went myself. You were off by a block, by the way." he half lied as he carried a box

"Oh. My mistake. Sense of direction is rubbish when I'm tired." i smile, carrying on with the lie.

"Peanut Butter and chocolate for you, Right Aria?"

"Yeah, thanks." she took hers

"Chocolate, coffee and hazelnut?" I was in shock that he remembered

"Of course." he the turned to our Mom.

"Coffee or Vanilla? I went for the classics." Mom took one and thanked him getting back in the car.

"Dude, you had me worried." I muttered

"Have to keep you both on our toes, right." We got in the car.

"Mom, can we stop by the hospital, I just quickly wanna check on Toby." she glances at me through the rearview mirror.

"Sure." she drives us to the hospital. I made my way to his room and opened the door. He looked over.

"yOU'RE STILL AWAKE?" i whispered

"Couldn't sleep. How was your date?"

"Great. But I couldn't stop thinking about something all night." I sat down on the side of his bed

"What?"

"It's Spencer." I sighed

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah she's fine. I just I really wish I'd told you sooner." I took a deep breath "Before you and her got together, she was seeing someone else. It wasn't right and she knew it. But he's back and..." I trailed off

"And?" I took his good hand

"It's not right again."

"I don't. That's not possible" I saw his eyes glass over "Why are you telling me this?"

"I don't wanna watch you get hurt."

"No, why are you telling me this." aka why is Spencer not telling me herself. I took another deep breath and took his hand.

"She couldn't. She's been wanting to for a long time."

"long time?"

"I'm so sorry Toby. You have no idea how sorry I am."  he squeezed it. I kissed his head and went to leave.

"Just tell me one thing." I stopped and turned around "Who is it?" I sigh. "Please, Ri."

"Wren. Dr Wren Kingston." I told him then left. I held back my tears as I got into the car.

"Everything okay?" Mom questioned

"Yeah fine." I muttered

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

The next morning we were at Spencer's She told us the deal she made with Caleb to continue decrypting the phone but not to tell Hanna.

"So, what exactly did you tell him?" Aria asked as we entered Spencer's room

"As little as possible. Jenna's trying to frame us for Alison's murder. Garrett's helping her, despite what the police believe Ian's death is not the whole story." she plugged in a flash drive

"The rest was something all of us needed to talk about."

"All of us except Hanna." I clarified thinking this was a bad idea

"I don't feel better about this than you but we did the right thing. Caleb knows what he has to know." she replied

"maybe what he got won't be any good that we have to use him anymore" Emily offered

"So we're hoping nothings on here?" Spencer asked and Em shrugged the computer beeped and we watched the video. Ian tells them that he was filming them and Garrett freaked out. I looked like Alison was about to come in and find them that's where it ended

"Are you sure you want Caleb to find more?" I wonder

"If he can, Maybe we really can give it to the police. maybe everything can finally be over." We heard a car door, we headed over to the window and I saw Toby's truck with no Toby.

"I thought you were supposed to be picking Toby up later today?" Em asked me

"I am" i jogged downstairs and out into the back where the truck was parked

"Where is he?" Aria inquired I look in the truck then opened it.

"And why would he leave the keys. I took them out and saw 2 notes.  'Number one cheerleader' 'Spencer' I handed Spencer hers

"Spencer, what does it say?" Em wonders

"He's gone." I look at mine

"Erica?"

"He says he's sorry for leaving without a proper goodbye, and that I should take care of the truck. But he'll talk to me later." my voice broke