chapter forty
a kiss before lying
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Aria, Emily, Josie, Caleb and Spencer were standing around Spencer's kitchen watching another video that Caleb was able to decrypt. Despite not wanting her brother in danger, she couldn't object unless she wanted to tell everyone that Caleb was her brother, and she wasn't risking 'A' finding out, if they didn't already know, she was hoping 'A' didn't.

"Check this out." Garrett said. "What is it?" Jenna asked. "It's just some old box." he said, before adding. "That's weird," he said. "Turn the volume up." Aria requested. "Can you make the view full screen?" Emily asked. "Maybe make it lighter, the picture seems really dark." Spencer suggested. "Alright that's it. I've officially stopped taking requests." Caleb says annoyed, making Josie snicker as Spencer moved next to Josie on Caleb's right side.

"Can you guys back up a little bit?" Caleb asked, making a back-up motion with his hands, making Spencer scoff softly. "We're not even standing that close to you." she said, making Caleb turn to her, "Really?" he asked. "Then how did I know you had a cheeseburger for lunch?" Caleb asked, making Josie laugh and rest her forehead on the palm of her hand. as Spencer moved away.

"Hey, once you're a member of the club, you're always a member of the club," Ian said. Josie frowned lightly. "Haven't we already seen this before?" she asks, confused. "Uh, yeah, but look here." Caleb said as he paused the video as the box fell to the floor. "That's the box Jason gave me of Ali's." Aria said, confused. "I still can't see what's inside it though." Spencer said. "Just give me a second." Caleb said as he typed on his computer just as Emily's phone started ringing. "It's Hanna." Emily says as she declines the call

"Um, we may be able to get a clear shot if I–" Caleb said as another phone started ringing, this time it was Aria's. "It's Hanna." Aria says, looking at all of them before turning her phone off, declining the call as they all sigh, hating not telling Hanna. "If i play it out frame-by-fame–" Caleb started but Caleb's phone started ringing, making them all look at it. He sighed before picking it up and declining the call. "Uh, i-i-i can maybe blow up the image, but then..." Josie's phone started ringing, making her pull it out from her jacket pocket, seeing Hanna's name light up the screen.

"Guess we know who's low man on the totem pole." Spencer said as Josie sighed. "I can't take this anymore guys, I'm answering her." Josie said before accepting the call and walked a bit away from them. "Hey Hanna Banana," Josie said softly. "Hey Jo, what are you up to?" Hanna answered, making you run a hand through your hair. "Not much," you answered. "Oh, well, great, do you wanna watch a movie?" Hanna asked. "Uh..." Josie trailed off but Hanna cut her off.

"Oh come on, i'll even watch one of those gory horror movies you love so much." Hanna said, hoping Josie would say yes, but all it did was make her feel more guilty. "I'm sorry Han, I really can't right now." Josie said softly. "I'm-i'm just with my mom," Josie said just as Emily accidentally pushed a glass cup off the kitchen island, making it shatter. "Emily!" Aria shouted in shock, which made Josie turn to them, holding her hand on the bottom of her phone, hoping Hanna wouldn't be able to hear them. "You guys, shut up!" she said before returning to the call.

"Sorry, Hanna. I really have to go." Josie said. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, sure. I get it." Hanna said. "Say hi to your mom for me." Hanna said in a tone which made Josie know that Hanna was suspicious before she hung up. Josie sighed, putting it in her pocket before turning to them. "You're kidding me." she said in disbelief. "I'm sorry, she was–" Aria and Emily started talking over each other.

"Hey! Ladies?" Caleb said, getting their attention, making them all look back at the computer. "Is that a drivers licence?" Spencer asks as she points at the screen. "Yeah." Caleb said, zooming in on it but all they could see on the drivers licence was a girl with dark hair. "Is that Melissa?" Emily asks, confused. "I don't know it could be Jenna but it's just kinda hard to tell." Aria said. "That doesn't make sense." Josie muttered, confused."Hold on." Caleb said, messing with his computer. "It's just kind of hard to tell." Aria says confused.

"Hold on." Caleb says as he types into the computer when suddenly it was clear, making Josie gape. "It's Ali." Spencer said softly. "But Ali already had a fake I.D." Emily says confused. "And it definitely wasn't this one." Aria added. "Why would she need an I.D. that didn't even look like her?" Josie asked, confused.

A few minutes later, Caleb had left and now it was just the girls. "God it's so weird seeing Ali with dark hair." Spencer said as she looked at a picture of Ali's other fake I.D. while sitting next to Aria at her kitchen island. "Tell me about it." Josie muttered before taking a sip from her glass of water. "I can't even look at that anymore," Spencer said, throwing the phone onto the table. "Sorry guys i gotta go, i'm meeting up with Maya, but..I'll see you tomorrow?" Emily asked and the girls nodded. "Bye"/"Bye, Em" they said, before Emily walked out one of Spencer's backdoors. "I should get going as well," Josie said before saying goodbye to her friends. "Bye," Aria and Spencer said as she walked out of the backdoor.

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The next day the girls and Richie were in line for food in the cafeteria. "So what did you guys do last night?" Hanna asks as she looks at the girls. "Oh we studied for a chem test." Aria replied. "We went to Spencer's for help." Emily added onto the lie, making Josie nervous. "You know how bad I am at chem, I need help." Josie told her as she grabbed some food.

"So today is doomsday, huh?" Spencer asked, hoping to change the subject. "Why? Did you see her?" Hanna asked panicky. "Maybe she just wants to start fresh." Richie said. "The last time I gave her the benefit of the doubt I ended up blowing chunks on my chunky heels." Hanna said, making Josie cringe. "Didn't need to hear that this early in the morning." Josie muttered as Spencer paid for her food, Hanna turned around nervously.

"Oh god is that her?" Hanna asked, making the girls turn around. "What?" Spencer asked, turning around too. "Never mind." Hanna said, turning back around. "Hanna, come on. You need to relax." Aria said softly. "I would be if you guys were doing a better job keeping a lookout." Hanna said. "Hanna, I never got a good look at Kate to begin with." Spencer said as they walked away and to a table. "The only time I've ever seen her was across a crowded church." she added.

"What is hanging out under your sweatshirt? Is that a dude's undershirt?" Hanna asked as she looked at Spencer's outfit, making them all stop. "Maybe." she replied as she sat her and her food down at the table, turning to see the looks her friends were giving her. "It's Toby's." Spencer added nervously before the the others joined her at the table, giving Spencer a sad look,

"You guys, do not look at me like I'm one of those dogs with wheels for legs, okay?" Spencer says annoyed, making Richie laugh as he stole some food from Josie's tray. "Em when is your mom coming?" Spencer asked. "Tomorrow. I'm really excited." Emily says with a smile, making everyone else smile as well. "Hanna?" they heard, making them turn to see a blonde, who they assumed was Kate walking over to them. "Kate. Welcome to Rosewood high." Hanna says nervously. "Thanks." she said nervously before turning to the rest of the girls and Richie. "Hi, I'm Kate. We haven't officially met yet." She said looking at them all.

"Hey, I'm Aria."
"Emily."
"Spencer."
"Josie"
"Richie."

It was awkward silence before Kate spoke again. "So, I got my schedule, and first period, I have history with Mr. Barocas." Kate says nervously. "Oh yeah, Mr. Barocas. He's easy, everybody likes him." Josie said with a smile before it went silent again, Josie didn't notice the look Spencer was giving Kate because she was too busy trying to stop Richie from stealing more of her food. "Stop Rich," she whispered with a small laugh. "Um, I can show you where it is. I'm actually in that class too." Hanna says nervously.

"Yeah, Kate um, have we actually met before?" Spencer asked curiously. "You're right. We have a–at the wedding." Kate says nervously, making Josie and Richie share a confused look. "It was nice to have met you all. Bye." she said, causing everyone to give her a small smile before she and Hanna walked away from them. "That was awkward." Richie said, making everyone turn to him and give him looks, making him nod. "I'll shut up now." he said before he continued eating.

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"So Ali had another fake I.D?" Richie asked as he, Josie, Spencer, Aria and Emily sat at a table in the courtyard near the cafeteria. "Yeah." Spencer answered, looking at the photo of it on her phone. "But what for?" he asked, confused, making Josie shrug. "Who knows what she needed it for." Josie said. "She was seeing Ian, maybe they used it to go out together." Spencer suggested. "So maybe Ali found a loophole, like a way to fly under 'A's radar." she added.

"What, by being someone else?' Aria asked curiously. "Yeah, the brunette on the ID." Spencer said, turning her phone around to her friends when they heard a bunch of people talking, making them look over Noel talking with some guys. "Ew." Emily said. "I was never his number-one fan, but I can't even look at him now that he's with Jenna." Emily said as she turned away to look at her friends. "He's been going through girls in this school like they're kleenex." Aria said in disgust.

"Who cares that he's a player? he's 'A's new eyes." Spencer whispered across the table. "It's just so frustrating, he and Jenna are always just out of reach but if we could just get close enough to..." Josie trailed off, but Spencer started speaking. "Wait, what if Ali wasn't trying to get away? What if she was trying to get closer?" she asked, making them confused. "What do you mean?" Emily asked. "By creating an alter ego so she could get close enough to investigate, Maybe even to expose "'A'." Spencer said just as Hanna walked up to them.

"Hey." she said, standing next to the table. "Hey," everyone greeted her. "Where's monster?" Emily asked, making Richie snort, finding it funny. "Who?" Hanna asked, confused. "Kate, Hanna, Where's Kate?" Josie asked, making Hanna realize. "Oh, she's at orientation and she's being freakishly nice to me." she explained. "So why do you look like that?" Spencer asked and it was silent a moment before she spoke again. "Do you think Caleb still has that video file somewhere?" Hanna asked, making Josie frown, feeling guilty all-over again, causing Richie to hold her hand for comfort as the girls shared a nervous look.

"Because 'A' thinks he does." Hanna added, making you nervous, he was your brother, and even if he didn't know, you'd never forgive yourself if he got hurt. "Wh–what are you talking about?" Aria asked nervously. "I got a text to call off my 'techno-boy-toy'." she explained. "'A' maybe just got their wires crossed," Spencer suggested. "Yeah, maybe they're just like a step-behind or something." Aria said, making Josie shake her head, because 'A' had always been one-step ahead, every, single, time.

"Since when is 'A' ever a step-behind?" Hanna asked, annoyed just before the bell rang, making the group of girls plus Richie share a look before gathering their stuff and getting up. "Uh, we have chem." Emily said. "Um, we'll talk to you later, okay?" Aria asked Hanna softly before she and Emily walked off. "Look, Hanna, I know it's not a great timing," Spencer said as she moved past Hanna with Richie and Josie following, because they had the same class this period.

"Where are you going?" Hanna asked them, making the three of them turn around to face her. "To hangout with your mom?" she said, giving Josie a pointed look. "What?" Josie asked. "Jo, Spencer, I used to be a member." she said, making Josie sigh sadly. "I know you guys are pissed at me for destroying the flash drive, but you can't just shut me out." she said and Josie went to respond but Hanna spoke first, while Spencer and Richie shared a look, they knew this whole 'keeping Hanna in the dark' was affecting Josie.

"I did this to protect Caleb and I would do it for any one of you if I could." Hanna said before walking off, making Josie frown more, she felt everything was piling up, she had no idea how long she could keep any of the secrets she is right now. Richie pulled Josie in for a hug as she let out a shaky breath. "You ok Jo?" Spencer asked softly. "Yeah, I will be once this is all over." she said, resting her head on Richie's shoulder.

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The next day the group was sitting in the cafeteria with Kate as well. "So you moved here from Baltimore?" Aria asked. "Yeah, so I can still go home on weekends and visit my friends." Kate explained. "That's nice." Josie said, leaning into Richies side as he had an arm round her waist. "Do you have any family in Maine, by any chance?" Spencer asked, making them all confused. "Why is she asking that?" Richie whispered to Josie who shook her head. "No idea." she whispered back. "Nope. No, all in Maryland." Kate answered with a shake of her head while everyone continued to eat. "Have you ever been to Maine?" Spencer asked again. "The northeast harbor area?"

Kate shook her head. "Nope." she said while Aria cleared her throat. "So Kate, will you be joining any clubs or sports teams?" Emily asked, changing the subject, causing Kate to smile and laugh. "Yeah, I was actually thinking—" she started but Spencer cut her off again with a clap and pointed to her. "Debate!" she said, making everyone look at her confused. "—Orchestra," Kate finished with a smile, making Josie sink her chair as the air was filled with awkwardness. "Sorry, I just, um....thought I must've seen you at a debate." Spencer said, explaining why she cut her off.

Kate chuckled awkwardly. "Are you sure that we haven't met before?" Spencer asked, once again causing Richie to scratch the back of his neck. "Pretty sure." Kate said with a tight smile. "So I'm gonna head to class early and introduce myself to the teacher." she explained. "I will see you all soon." she added with a smile. "Bye." they all said and she sent one back before she got up and left the table and the cafeteria.

Once she was gone, Hanna's smile vanished and turned to Spencer so fast Josie thought she'd hurt her neck. "What are you doing?" Hanna hissed. "I know her. I know I know her, I just don't know where I know her from." Spencer insisted. "Can you back off?" Hanna snapped. "I'm not gonna let her complain to my dad that my friends are giving her the fourth degree." Hanna hissed. "It's the third degree Han," Richie said in amusement. "Whatever." Hanna said before looking back at Spencer. "Just stop giving her degrees, okay?" she asked.

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Josie hated nothing more than physical education classes, but at least she had her friends with her. She and Aria were always the first to be ready so they were leaning against the walls of the girls gym locker. "Come on you guys let's go." Josie called out to her friends as she readjusted her ponytail to make sure it didn't fall out. "Hanna, come on." Aria called out and soon enough Hanna joined her and Aria. Josie turned to Spencer who was still sitting on the bench doing her shoe laces.

"Spencer you coming?" she asked. "Uh, yeah, I'll see you guys in there." she said, making josie nod before she, Aria and Hanna walked out of the locker room. "So how are you and Richie going?" Aria asked as they walked into the gym. "We're good–great actually." Josie said with a smile making Hanna and Aria nudge her. "Our best-friends in love," Hanna sang, making Josie and Aria laugh more.

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Later that night Richie and Josie were driving back from The Brew back to his house instead of her's this time. "What movie are you thinking about watching? Something new or something we've seen before?" Richie asked as he turned down a road, leading to his house. "Something new, I feel like we've seen everything," Josie responded with a laugh. "That's because we have." he said like it was obvious.

"Also what was with Spencer today?" Richie asked, making Josie shake her head. "I have no idea, but i think she knew something about Kate or something but i don't know, but trust me when she finds out so will we." Josie explained just before her phone rang, making her sigh and pull it out of her picket, frowning slightly seeing that Spencer's name was flashing. She sighed before answering it. "Hey Spence, wha—" Josie started but Spencer cut her off. "Hanna found out about Caleb helping us." she said, making Josie close her eyes and sigh.

"Shit, how?" Josie asked. "She saw Alison's fake I.D photo on my phone because I was showing her a photo of Kate from camp– because that's how I knew her, she went to the camp where Melissa was a camp counsellor," Spencer said and Josie interrupted her. "Spence, you've gone off track." she said amused as Richie chuckled.

"Right, sorry but Hanna knows I just wanted to give you a heads up." Spencer said, causing Josie to sigh and nod even though Spencer couldn't see her. "Thanks Spence." Josie said "no worries, i'll see you tomorrow." Spencer said before hanging up. Richie looked over at his stressed out girlfriend. "What was that about?" he asked, confused. "Hanna knows." Josie answered sadly. "Oh Jo," he whispered sadly.

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The next day Josie and Spencer walked outside of rosewood high. Spencer had messaged and filled everyone in on the whole Vivian Darkbloom — Alison's fake identity thing. "Can't believe this, it was like she had a whole other life." Josie said in shock. "Hello, J & L," a man on the phone said. Spencer had it on speaker in-between them so Josie could hear them as well. "Hey, you guys are open." Spencer said. "Yeah," the man on the phone responded. "Uh, yeah I just found my claim ticket." Spencer said. "It's a little bit crazy, it's from a really long time ago." Spencer added. "Uh, what's your number?" the person on the phone asked.

"0421." Spencer answered as Josie chewed her nails nervously. "Alright, hang on a second." the man said as Josie and Spencer shared a nervous look and a second later the man was speaking again. "Uh, it's a miracle but I actually still have it." he informed them. "When would you like to pick it up, Miss Darkbloom?" he asked, making the girls share a wide-eyed look. "Hello? Miss Darkbloom are you still there?" he asked. "Hello?" he asked again, snapping Spencer out of it. "Yes, I'm here." she said.

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Later that day, Spender, Aria, Josie and Emily had received a photo message from Hanna but it wasn't what they were expecting, and once Spencer checked the message she found out Hanna sent it to everyone in her contacts. "If that's taking the high-road, what's taking the low road?" Aria, Josie and Spencer heard Emily ask as they caught up to her talking to Hanna in the hallway. "Did you have a stroke? You promised you wouldn't say anything" Spencer asked Hanna in disbelief. "Seriously Han?" Josie asked softly. "Hanna, why would you do this? You're gonna be in so much trouble." Aria asked but Josie noticed Hanna looked confused on what they were talking about.

"Can one of you guys please tell me what I did?" Hanna asked, confused. Josie sighed before handing Hanna her phone, the message open.

from Hanna
Before & After:
from boil n'baggies to boring bitch
🖇️ photo jpg

Hanna tapped on the link at the bottom of the message and an image of naked Kate popped up. Hanna looked up at her friends slowly. "I didn't do this, where would I have even taken that picture?" Hanna asked incredulously, panicking. "It looks like it was taken in the girls locker room." Emily explained. "No, I did– I did not send this to you guys." Hanna said, shaking her head wildly around.

Aria looked around at everyone staring at her and them. "Hanna, look, you didn't just send it to us, you sent it to everybody in your address book." Aria explained, making Hanna panic more before she went to walk away, before noticing everyone looking at her before she let out a breath and walked back to her friends. "If you didn't send this.." Aria trailed off. "Do we even have to ask?" Spencer finished her sentence before Hanna looked around again, hating everyone looking at her.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapters !! happy halloween + happy birthday to josie carmen. countdown till season three: seven chapters