I've skipped episode thirteen and gone onto episode 14 instead.

-1 month Later-

Stab, pick up, bag, stab stab, pickup, bag. That was the repetitive motion I made during community service. Mrs Hasting had got all of us girls this for the charge of tampering with evidence. Which was ridiculous because A had set us up. Thought it wouldn't be for long.

"Only and hour and 30 minutes to go." Hanna commented

"I think it's more like two hours, but blah, who's counting." I replied

"How many hours you got left?" Serena another girl doing community service questioned Belle a fellow garbage pick up.

"Six months." Belle answered

"Cause your Mama's not a big shot lawyer getting you and your pals community service for tampering with evidence." I rolled my eyes as the continued to talk

"Thought you said they killed somebody."

"That's what the cops think. Cops can't prove it." Serena replied

"Cops are stupid." Belle snorted

"We didn't do anything." Emily snipped at them, stopping what she was doing.

"Don't talk to them." Spencer retorted being bossy again

"I can talk to anybody I want to." Emily retorted

"No, you won't." Spencer replied, she was like super, super bossy recently and I was majorly hungry, I really wanted this time to be over so that I could have something to eat.

"Who's gonna stop me?" Emily gave attitude. It was cool when she gave attitude.

"Both of you just shut up. I don't want to hear it anymore." Ri-Ri ordered them but they payed no heed to what I was saying.

"Did you at least think about my idea?" Emily sighed

"It was a bad idea when they arrested us and it's a bad idea now." Spencer retorted

"We finally have something solid. Why won't you use it?" Em rebuffed

"Because it's bone ass stupid. Duh." I drawled "You don't make deals with a mountain bear." I pointed to her.

"you do if you have something the bear wants."

"Can we stop talking about bears." Hanna whined

"Listen to me. We're not going to be making any kind of deal with A. That's final." Spencer closed her down

"Maybe for you, the rest of us don't have lawyers for parents." Oh I liked bitchy Emily

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning, your Mom may have gotten us a deal but if they ever figure out a way to charge us for killing Ali she'll throw the rest of us under the bus to save you. And you'd let her." Spencer threw her trash bag at Emily, Emily fought back. A fight ensued and we shouted at them to stop. The community officers stopped then and they were hauled away.

--------

Aria, Mike and I were walking to school, taking about Mike was doing with his therapy.

"So you like this guy?" Aria questions

"He's okay. I mean, he's really old, but he's not a jerk" we chuckled "He doesn't make those listening noises like my first therapist. Dialled down my meds and he doesn't look at me like I'm a bobble head the way and catch Mom and Dad sometimes."

"Mikey, they do not look at you like a bobble head." I say

"Really? I still catch them looking. And the two of you as well." he commented. I gave him a side hug.

"We just want you to be okay, little brother." I kiss his cheek and he wipes it away in disgust causing me to laugh.

"Well, it's tough to do wth people waiting for you to turn into a zombie or something."

"That's funny, I always saw you as more of a cute werewolf type." Aria jokes. We chuckle but stop in our tracks as Mr Fitz comes out of Lucky Leons and there was an awkward silence. I almost forgot that Aria broke up with him.

"Hello." Mike and I smiled slightly

"Hello, Mike, Erica....Aria." i placed at my twin who smiled broadly

"Hi."

"I haven't seen you in a while." he said

"Yeah, I, um. I don't really get over to Hollis much anymore. I have a lot to do around here." oh this was so painful.

"Mike, I'm hungry, let's get those cupcakes we love so much." I yanked my brother into the bakery. I scanned the shelves and pointed out to the server what we wanted

"is it me or do they give off awkward tension?" Mike asked as I also ordered a slushy.

"It's not you." I muttered paying for them, he turned to face me.

"Have you got enough there?" he laughed at the big bag of stuff plus the slushy,

"yeah, let's go."

"Aira, I hope you're hungry. Rica's gone a little bonkers on the sweet stuff." Mike joked

"Whatever, weirdo. You will thank me later, if I haven't eaten all of it first" I replied

"Well, we better get going then before Rica buys out the whole shop." Aria tapped her brothers shoulder.

"Hey!" I protest the stop "No I would actually do that." the chuckle

"Later Fitz." I grinned and walked off with the others following

"Bye, Erica. It was good seeing you too Mike."

"By Mr Fitz." Aria turned round giving a quick goodbye. We got to school and I saw mom.

"mom, can you do me a favour?" I asked her

"Depends"

"Well, I went a little crazy in Lucky Leons this morning and bought what Mike thinks is a lot. Would it be okay to  store some of this in the staffroom fridge." she smiled and nodded taking the bag off me

"Sure."

"Thank you you're the best." We separated and I went to my locker, getting ready for the morning. i had a couple of gummy bears and  closed my locker. I sighed and met up with my sister again and Hanna. We walked into our first class which was English and mom was there. However that's not what caught my attention, Emily and Spencer were in a pissed off moment. I just saw Emily knock into Spencer causing her to drop her books and the Em knocked Spencer's books out of her hand.

"Stop it." Mom warned as Aria and I shared a look with each other, we went to sit down.

"I'm tired of making allowances for you. You're supposed to be friends. Now go and sit down." Mom told them sternly. They picked their stuff up and Spencer took her seat, Emily however circled the word 'yes' on the chalk board before sitting down.

--------

We were heading to our next class. Aria was telling Hanna what happened this morning with Fitz.

"It's the first time and I can't say anything." Aria told her

"Because of Mike?" Hanna questioned

"No, because I just....I can't." Aria shrugged

"Sis there was nothing you could do, you had to break up with him." I told her. She nodded and sighed

"I know." the two of us stopped and turned to her

"We've all got somebody we want to protect from A and on top of that you've got Jackie, the ex to worry about." Hanna added

"What did he see in her anyway?" I asked genuinely curious

"I have no idea. Maybe she was a late on set Psycho ." we chuckled

"Well, we'll take care of Jackie or rather Erica will once she comes up with something diabolical. But now we do what Spencer said, slay one dragon at a time. Okay" Hanna reassured her.

"Okay." Arian smiled slightly and the three of us linked arms continuing walking, when we saw Emily, we shared a awkward moment before we passed each other

------

Jason was away for a while, so I was chilling in my room listening to Waterfalls by TLC

"Don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the lakes and rivers that you're used to" I sang as there was a knock on my door.

"Sis, Toby's here." My head lulled to the side seeing the two of my boys. Mike and Toby were staring at me confused.

"Why are you laying on the floor?" Toby questioned

"Because the sky is amazing." I breathe

"Cool, you made brownies." I jumped up as Mike was about to take one. I slapped his hand away.

"Dude are you trying to end up in hospitals."

"They're just brownies." Mike laughed and I took the plate away of my home made brownies holding them close to me.

"No one touches the magic brownies." I placed them somewhere else

"Magic brownies. Wait are you high?" Toby questioned and I started giggling, pinching my fingers together.

"Just slightly. I've had a couple of more brownies than usual so I'm a kite." I beamed. I laied back on the floor.

"Ri, why are you taking pot?"

"Those mean doctors stopped the heavy painkillers. And the pharmacy ones are lame." I pouted. Then tapped the floor next to me

"Join me my unicorns." the sighed and took either side

"I usually only take enough for  the pain but I was hungry and was too lazy to go downstairs." I took both of their hands in mine.

"My boys, 2 out of three not bad at all."  I Grin. 'I want it that way' Back street boys  started playing' and I started singing along.

"Come on sing with me." They chuckled and started singing along

'CAUSE I WANT IT THAT WAY!"

"What did I just walk in on?" I heard my sister.

"Erica is high." I got up and held my hand to Toby and he got up. I started dancing with him.

"What?!"

"Dude, keep it down, it's getting to the good part." I scold her. and start giggling.

"She's taking it for her arm, but she was too lazy to go downstairs so she's more stoned." Mike explained.

"Food!" I cheered after the song ended and jogged downstairs.

"Wait, is this why you've been eating more usual. That makes more sense." I heard Aria as I grabbed some cheetos and nutella.

"Toby what brings my awesome friend to my abode."

"Well it is your birthday soon, so I thought I'd give you an early birthday present." he dug into his pocked and pulled out  necklace showing it to me. It was a wooden carving of the tree of life with a cord for a chain.

"Toby...it's beautiful." I breathed. I turned around. and he fixed it around my neck.

"I finished it earlier than expected. I've been working on a few projects in my spare time." he smiled

"Thank you I love it. I mean that and not because I've consumed about a quarter of a tray of pot." he chuckles.

--------

It was late at night when Spencer, Aria, Hanna and i were waiting in the greenhouse for Emily I had taken a long nap while some of the effects wore off from earlier and I was a lot more lucid than loopy. The door opened and shut and we saw a torch light before we stepped out. She smiled as us as we walked over to her. She handed her phone to Aria and I looked over her shoulder.

'You were always my favourite. Wanna make a deal -A' Aria read out we grinned

"A took the bait." Emily beamed  "We pulled it off." that's right the whole we're fighting with Emily was a ruse too lure A out.

"A totally thinks were not friends anymore." I chuckled

"They think we have real evidence?" Spencer spoke

"okay does it bother anybody that we don't have anything, we're just making it up?" Hanna wonders

"Jenna and Garrett don't know that." Aria smirks

"I don't know. It scares me Emily's doing this alone" Hanna replied

"No, she's not gonna be alone. We'll be outside." I replied taking a candy bar out of my pocket.

"Yeah but it's just the five of us." Han retorted

"Han, every time we ask someone for help, they end up as collateral damage. Like Dr Sullivan." Emily assured her

"Or a traitor like Garrett." I add with a mouth full of chocolate

"It was so creepy to talk to him, but it was totally worth it to rattle the cage." Spencer agreed

"So tomorrow. Everyone watching is gonna believe that Emily went rouge and she wants the box that Jason gave Erica." Aria played out the plan

"The one with the evidence. That doesn't really exist." Spencer continues

"Are you sure that A is going to follow Emily?"

"Absolutely" Spencer assured

"I'm the weakest link. And the weakest link want's some payback." Emily grinned adjusting her posture.

"Erica how can you be eating at a time like this?" Hanna stressed

"What?" I asked still eating. Aria sighs

"She's still high."

"What?" the question

"She ran out of painkillers she had after the accident and she 's been baking pot into food ever since." Aria explained

"I can speak you know." I finished and licked my fingers "I ate a little too much of brownies than I normally do, but I'm over the worse of it.

"That's worse than HGH." Emily replied

"Oh please. Yours was slipped into you and helped give you and ulcer. Mine is controlled for about 95% of the time. Less judging, we have a job to do."

"Well at least we know how she's so chilled around you." Hanna commented to Spencer "You haven't noticed that not once for a while has Erica mentally killed Spencer with her eyes, it's because your stoned."

"I'm not stoned, not usually. Besides it's only recently about my pain. I dabbled in it before with my nerves. Seen as you were getting on them so much." I say to Spencer before we leave

-------

The next day I was sat in the stands ready to support the sharks swim team when Toby sat next to me..

"Can I ask you something?" he asked

"Sure." I smiled at him

"What's going on with Spencer?" I sighed "Please she's not telling me anything and she broke up with me."

"I know, we're going through a lot at the moment. It's complicated." I reply

"Then make it not complicated." he retorted and I sighed

"Drop it Toby. You don't need to get involved in our problems." I stood up and moved to sit next to Hanna. It got to the last event. i checked the time, Aria still wasn't here yet, seriously what the hell.

"Come on." i say to Hanna and we leave the pool. Spencer is on the phone

"It's the last event, the last heat." Hanna informed her

"Any word from Aria, we're supposed to be doing this together?" I question just as i hear clanking of heels. Aria has arrived.

"I'm sorry, it's complicated." she breathed heavily

"So is this.." Spencer retorts

"I'm here okay?" my sister huffs as people start to leave. Emily comes out, it's game time. Spencer taps our arms meaning we should leave.

"Okay it's every man for himself. I want the box that Jason gave to Erica." Emily demanded

"You're not gonna get it." Spencer retorts

"Guys Spencer is only looking out for herself. We have to cut a deal with-" Emily went to speak the name but was cut off

"Shut up Emily" Spencer silences her

"Where is it?" She question me

"It's safe." I folded my arms glaring at her, playing along with the whole ruse. Emily became more agitated

"Where!" she yells

"Don't yell at my sister" Aria defended me

"Don't tell her, Ri." Hanna added

"It's hidden and it will stay hidden till I want it found." I retorted

"You forget, we all learned how to keep secrets from the same person, I bet I know where it is?"

"Really because it never seemed like you payed much attention. Happy hunting." I smirked and she looked annoyed when she left.

"Let's go." Spencer muttered  and we did so.

-------

That afternoon, i was paying video games with Mike, I was beating him a mario kart. My tongue was stuck out in concentration.

"Move, Move move." he muttered

"You're never gonna catch me I'm so much better."  i crossed the finish line and lifted my hands up.

"And the crowd goes wiled as Queen Erica crosses the finish line." I cheer. " Cupcake break!" I dropped the controller and left his room Mike followed as we jogged downstairs.

"Erica, Mike, you should go back upstairs." Mom told us. She was in the living room with Dad, Aria and Ezra

"Ohhhhhhh." I whispered I ran to the kitchen and grabbed some doritos instead.

"I wanted you to know that this started before Aria was assigned to my class." Ezra continued

"What started?" Mom questioned

"What? What  do you mean before she was assigned to your class." They were telling our parents about their relationship.

"You're seriously eating at a time like this." Mike whispered

"Do you want my   stomach growling as we watch. I don't." I replied as I took the ziplock bag of portioned chips and tried to quietly munched

"She wasn't my student then." Ezra explained

"She wasn't you student then?" Dad repeated and the two of them looked confused and shocked.

"This can't be true. Not you as well." Mom breathed

"It is true, really."  Aria took Ezra's hand in hers "I love him." Mom stood up

"This was going on...this happened while you were her teacher?"

"Yes." Ezra answered

"Do you realise what you're saying?" Dad asked standing to join Mom.

"Yes, I do" Ezra nodded, I had the heart to disagree because even I could tell coming in at this point in time, it was the worst timing.

"no, i don't think you do because if you did, you wouldn't be standing here. You wouldn't dare." Mom snipped at him

"Aria go upstairs, take Erica and Mike with you." Dad tells her

"No, I'm staying here." she stands firm

"If this is true, what your telling us..." Dad starts

"It is."

"no" Mom denies. I finish my Doritos and lick my fingers as I continue watching the whole thing play out, yet also ready to jump in when needed.

"What I'm hoping can happen is..." Dad cut's him off, oh that was a bad move. Such a bad move.

"What is gonna happen is you are gonna leave this house now." oooooh. I am so glad this is not me anymore

"Mr Montgomery."

"Dad, just---" Aria tries

"Aria, no" It looks like Dad is gonna hit him. Mike and I shared a worried look then he steps in between the two men and punches Ezra.

"mike" i Grabbed my brothers arm and pull him back away from them. He shrugs me off and Mike opens the door.

"Maybe you should go." Aria feels him and Ezra leaves.

"Mike, Aria. Let's go upstairs" I take my brother and sister upstairs. A while later Aria went back down and Mike spoke.

"Did you know?" he asked me as I finished my take out.

"What don't I know?" I reply and he snorts

"That's true."

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

I grabbed my jacket and hat and keys. I then turned to Aria, we had to leave so that we could go support Emily in taking down A. But she had been grounded and there for needed an alternate route out of the house.

"I will be waiting for you down the road. Go to Mike's room he'll show you a way out." i told my sister, she nodded. I smiled a little then put my phone to my ear and left my room

"Spencer, Spencer calm down. I'll be right there... no do not talk to him I will..." I say faking a conversation jogging downstairs My parents turned around "Best Friend emergency be back soon!" I called not given them time to stop me. as I shut the door behind me. I jogged down the steps and unlocked the car before getting inside. I pulled away and moved down the road. Aria finally came out and got in.

"Use the escape hatch?" I joked pulling away and driving toward the meet.

"You're my twin and I still learn things about you." she breathed " I spoke to Spencer, she's already there. Hanna should be as well.

"Text Hanna, see if she is" she did

"She got held back." I groaned as we arrived. We ran inside finding a pipe along the way. We had them cornered that was till he threw a plant pot up causing the glass to shatter and he ran. We followed Hanna arrived running him over but he still got away. We chased A into the woods  but we lost them.

"Oh my god. I don't believe this!" Spencer stressed. Aria checked on Emily

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked

"Yeah. i think so." she groaned slightly

"Did U just hit who i think I did?" Hanna wondered a little in shock

"Yes! And now they're gone! Now we've got, nothing!" Spencer yelled  "Nothing" She  repeated.

"Come on." I sigh, looping my arm through Hanna's we headed back to our cars.

"Was it garrett or Jenna?" Hanna wondered

"How could it be Jenna?" Spencer retorts.

"I couldn't tell." Emily replied

"Well was a boy or a girl?" Hanna continued

"I don't know!" Emily snaps at her

"Any sense of boobs."

"Hanna" I warn.

"What? It could be a clue!" Spencer sighs

"That's not mine." she shines her torch on a phone. I checked my pocket. Nope I still had mine. Everyone said they had theres

"It's none of ours." Hanna breathed and we shared a look with each other.

"Do you think when A bounced off the car...." Aria trails off

"That's A's cell phone." Maybe this night wasn't a bust after all