chapter forty one
the naked truth
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Josie and the girls, minus Hanna, were at Spencer's staring at the red raincoat that was on Spencer's couch, apparently that was what Alison's claim ticket was for. "That's what you got from Ali's claim ticket?" Emily asked, confused, looking away from the red raincoat to Spencer. "That's what they gave me." Spencer answered. "So basically, you picked up her dry cleaning." Josie said with a sigh, rubbing her forehead, making Spencer send a look, not that she noticed.

"I just can't ever picture Alison wearing this." Aria said, staring at it. "Me either." Josie added. "Well, picture Vivian Darkbloom." Spencer pointed out, making Josie tilt her head in thought. "So now we're saying this Vivian Dark person had her own wardrobe too?" Emily asked. "Wouldn't surprise me." Josie muttered as Spencer pointed to it with her hand before crossing her arms as well while Aria walked closer to it.

"Can I touch it?" Aria asked, looking back at her friends. "It's not a bomb, Aria, it's fine." Josie assured her. "Where's Hanna?" Spencer asked as Aria picked up the red raincoat. "Her and her mom had to meet with Tamborelli before school." Emily replied. "Yeah, Kate's mom printed out that naked picture and she's threatening to sue." Aria said, searching the pockets of the red raincoat. "She wants blood." Aria added.

"Hanna's." Josie muttered. "Yeah, probably mine too." Spencer said from the other couch as Emily and Josie sent her confused looks. "I'm the one who told her Kate used to be called boil n' baggies." Spencer explained to them. "Then who told 'A'?" Josie asked. "Who tells 'A' anything? That plan was probably in motion the moment Kate walked into school." Spencer said as Aria pulled something out from a pocket of red raincoat/

"Guys, check it out." Aria said as she walked over to her friends. "What is that ?" Spencer asked. "It's a phone number." Aria replied. "Who's?" Josie asked. "Uh... there's no name," Aria replied, looking at the back of it. "Let's call it." Spencer suggested. "Okay, stop." Emily said. "Now I feel like we're in a bad place." Emily said. "We're in my living room, Emily. We are holding a coat." Spencer said sarcastically. "Yeah, that belongs to someone who's no longer alive." Emily explained. "Em, how can we not call this? Okay, whoever this is may have some answers like, why on earth did Alison need to be this Vivian person?" Aria said.

"Yeah, and who was Vivian meeting and why?" Spencer added. "You think we're gonna find that out from a number in a pocket?" Emily asked. "Well it's probably easier than hiring the fat lady with the tube top at the farmers market who's gonna tell you your fortune but if you're too scared–" Spencer started but Emily cut her off. "I'm not scared!" She yelled and Aria, Josie and Spencer just looked at her, she was scared, they all were. After a moment Emily took the number from and dialled the number on her phone while the other three girls shared a look.

"Yeah, I don't know about our fortunes but that lady with the tube top makes really good apple butter." Aria said just before Emily spoke. "Hello?" she said into the phone, making the three girls look at her. "Kay, what if we know this person?" Aria added. "What am I supposed to say?" Emily asked Spencer in a whisper. "It went to voicemail." Emily said, phone still to her ear. "Man or woman?" Josie asked. "It's a computer." Emily replied. "Uh..." Emily said, meaning to speak but froze, not knowing what to say. Aria threw the red raincoat back onto the couch behind her and held her hand out. "Give it to me." she said to Emily, which she did. Aria held it to her ear, before speaking. "Hi, um...this is a friend of Vivian's. Can you just give me a call back at this number today? It's really important. Thanks!" Aria said before hanging up, making them all share a look.

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The girls, plus Richie met Hanna at her locker later that morning. "Wait, they still think you sent that picture?" Aria asked. "Yep." she said. "At least you weren't suspended, Han, this is gonna blow over." Josie said, trying to make her friend feel better. "Yeah, until A gets hungry again and takes another bite out of my ass." Hanna said, annoyed . "Hanna." Aria tried. "No. We thought we had all of the power because we had A's phone," Hanna said, "Well, guess what? Now A's using our phones against us." Hanna finished and walked away, trying to ignore the whispers and the looks. The group watched as she walked away before she saw Kate and Isabel, making her walk backwards, making the group walk forward, towards her but she walked past them. "It could be alot worse, right?" Richie asked, wrapping an arm around Josie as they walked.

"Tamborelli's a jerk." Emily said, making them look at her as she looked at the principal as he noticed them as well before motioning Kate and Isabel to move. "Wait, is he the one who's keeping you off the swim tea?" Spencer asked. "Totally, he's got some major sponsor on the hook and doesn't want anyone in the pool who might tarnish the team's image." Emily said, annoyed. "What?" Aria and Josie said in sync. "God, talk about bullies." Aria added. "How much longer are we gonna have to pay for picking up that stupid shovel?" Emily asked as she walked into the bathroom with Spencer, while Aria went one way and Josie and Richie went the other.

"You okay?" Richie asked after he noticed the frown on her face. "Yeah, just hate this, we didn't do anything but everyone is thinking we did, and i–I just wish we hadn't picked up, and to quote Emily's words, that stupid shovel." Josie ranted as the two of them walked down the school hallways. "You guys will be okay, you'll survive, you're a survivor, you all are," Richie said, pulling Josie to a stop, moving out of the way of people. "And I will be there for you— and the girls– till the end of this, okay?" Richie said, making Josie smile softly before kissing him, making him smile into the kiss.

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The next day is truth-up day, where every student participates in activities about telling the truth and stays at the school overnight. Aria, Hanna, Emily, Josie and Richie had met up before truth-day started. "Guys, Tamborelli is telling kids to turn off their cell phones otherwise, he's gonna have to confiscate them." Spencer told them as she joined the group. "They can't do that, can they?" Emily asked. "Those are the rules. Turn off the digital spigot, or they will." Richie explained, turning his phone off. "Wait, what's a spigot?" Hanna asked, confused. "It's–" Spencer started to explain but Hanna cut her off. "Never mind, I really don't care." Hanna said, causing Josie to laugh.

"Are there any messages from that number in Ali's coat?" Spencer asked Emily. "No." Emily said, shaking her head just as Ella Montgomery, Aria's mother walked into the room. "People please pick a line. Any line. It does not matter which one. You will be given your group assignments and they will tell you where to go, but please just pick a line." She explained and she walked off and the girls moved to stand in lines to check in.

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Josie had been placed with Hanna while Richie was Aria and Caleb. When Richie and Aria walked in they heard a piano playing, making them look over to Jenna who was playing it. "Hey, did you know she was gonna be in this group?" Caleb asked them, but Richie just shook his head, the idea that he was with his girlfriend's brother, despite him not knowing, was the only thought inside his head. "No." Aria answered, before they shared a look before the three of them walked further into the room. "If I did, I would have given myself a fever this morning." Aria said, making Richie chuckle.

Jenna turned to them, and if she could see, she'd be looking right at them. Richie, Aria and Caleb sat down in the chairs, Aria in between Caleb and Richie. As Jason Dilaurentis and Veronica Hastings walked in, Aria looked at them, shocked. "You've gotta be kidding me." Aria said. "What, you know that guy?" Caleb asked. "Yeah, it's Alison's brother." Aria said, looking at Caleb as Jenna looked their way, obviously hearing their voices. "I can't do this." Aria said and she went to stand up but Richie stopped her. "I don't think you've got a choice." he said, making her sit down again. "Besides, with everyone spilling their guts today, some of us might have a lot to say. I know I do." Caleb replied, making Richie sigh and slump in his seat, he sees the small similarities between him and Josie, even if they were only half-siblings.

A little while later, before the activities began, Aria's phone goes off, making people look in her direction. "Sorry, i forgot to turn it off," she said, pulling her phone out to check the message and turn it off, Richie leaning over to look at it, and Aria let him.

UNKNOWN

Truth hurts, sweetie.

May hurt your new pal more than you.

⎯ A

"What does that mean?" Richie asked in a whisper but Aria shrugged as she looked around the room at everyone on their phones before seeing Jenna with her hands in her bag, making her suspicious of her but Jenna just pulled out some pills, making Aria sigh and lean back in her seat as Richie did as well.

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Outside with Josie and Hanna, they were in a group with Kate. They were waiting on an adult leader, so they were just throwing the ball to someone and they had to say something, and it was Kate's turn. "I want to go back to my old school." Kate said before throwing the ball to a guy across from her. "Uh, hot tubs in the courtyard," he said, making some of the guys in the group laugh before the ball was thrown to Noel Kahn. "Half day on Friday's, and no trig," he said, laughing and he went to throw it to someone else, but Ella Montgomery caught it, as she and Jennifer Carmen joined the group, Josie sending her mother a smile, getting one in return.

"Yeah. Okay," Ella said. "Let's use this game to talk about what we could reasonably change." she said, turning to a kid who said he wanted hot tubs in the courtyard. "Hot tub in the courtyard does not count." Jennifer said, crossing her arms as Ella turned to Kate. "Now, Kate, you mentioned liking your old school." Ella said, "What do they have that we don't?" Ella asked, throwing her the ball, which she caught. "Nice people." she said, obviously a dig at Hanna, making Josie roll her eyes. Everyone's attention turned to Hanna at that comment. "Yes, well, we have some of those here, and I am sure you will find them." Ella said, trying not to let an argument start.

"Is there anything else?" Jennifer asked, looking at Kate, who was giving Hanna a dirty look. "I think students should have more of a say," she said. "If someone's messed with you, you should be able to decide their punishment." Kate finished, causing Josie to scoff, making her mother send her a look. "Hey, now," Noel Kahn started but Ella cut him off. "Noel." Ella said, warningly. "What?" he asked with a laugh. "Toss me the ball." he asked Kate, which she did.

"I'm just saying, if somebody pulled that kind of stunt on me at a new school, I'd go postal." he said, looking right at Hanna, making Josie glare at him. "On the other hand... if i were you, i'd rent a billboard." he said as he turned to kate, making some of the guys laugh. "Noel, let's drop the bad boy act and just get real." Jennifer scolded. "Bad boys got nothing on mean girls." Noel said. "Guys have a fight, there's a punch, it's over. Girls don't fight fair. They gang up, they keep secrets, they plot," he said, making Josie and Hanna stare at him, knowing he was talking about them and the rest of the girls. "They can cut you down with a look." he said, making Hanna annoyed, as she stepped forward. "You know what? Give me the ball. " she said as she took the ball from him.

"Hanna!" Ella said, but Hanna wasn't having it. "No, it's my turn." Hanna snapped before returning to her spot next to Josie. "Where does he get off calling other people out?" Hanna asked. "He is the worst, smug, blackmailing son of a–" Hanna started to rant but Ella stopped her. "Hanna!." she said as Hanna walked up to Ella. "Miss Montgomery!" she said semi-calm, seem-annoyed. "How long have you known me?" Hanna asked, making everyone fall silent. "Do you guys think I'm the person he's describing? Am I a bully?" she asked softly, almost fearing their answer, but as Ella stayed silent, making Jennifer frown "Don't answer that," she said. "Because I know what everyone here thinks of me." she said, throwing the ball to the ground before walking away with Josie following her.

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"Caleb went after Jenna? Are you serious?" Josie asked Richie as she sat in a hallway, Hanna had gone off to find Caleb, Spencer was somewhere and she couldn't find Emily or Aria so it was just the two of them. "Yeah, pretty entertaining," he said, laughing lightly. "Gotta say, he reminded me of you," he added, making Josie turn to him with a smile on her face. "Really?" she asked and he nodded. "Yeah," he confirmed with a head nod, making Josie smile wider, laughing lightly, glad to know they've got something similar.

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Outside in the courtyard, Veronica Hastings, Ashley Marin, Ella Montgomery and Jennifer Carmen were sitting at a table, while Veronica was trying to get more coffee. "Is it empty?" Ella asked. "Not yet." Veronica said before walking about over and sitting at the table. "Remind me why we volunteered for this event?" she asked. "Well, i think the truth is overrated." she added. "I could stand to hear some more," Ashley said. "Well, for what it's worth i don't think Hanna did what she's accused of." Ella said, making Jennifer nod her head. "Neither do i." she added. "It could very well just be someone trying to make her look bad." Ella added.

"Why? To what end?" Veronica asked. "I don't know." Ella answered with a shake of her head. "Maybe it's just me, but i feel like something's happened to our girls." Ashley said, making Veronica, Ella and Jennifer look at her with a frown, Jennifer had a similar feeling. "I've tried to protect Hanna but when she lost Alison..." she trailed off.

"That's why we went overseas." Ella said, "It was just to give Aria something else to think about, besides... that." she added. "Josie is always almost never around anymore, keeping things, and i don't have a clue what to do, her dads gone m.i.a , hasn't been answering calls." Jennifer said with sigh, making Ashley give her hand a gentle squeeze. "I don't think the moment was when they lost Alison,  i think it was they met Alison." Veronica said, making Jennifer frown in thought as things went quiet.

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Inside, Emily, Josie, Richie were sitting down, eating their food. Hanna soon joined them. "Hey." Aria said as Josie greeted Hanna with a wave as she rested her head on Richies shoulder. "We tried texting you." Aria added. "Caleb has my phone," she answered before looking over at Emily. "Are those salted? Please say yes." Hanna said, causing Emily to hand them over to her before she looked up and looked over at Kate, who was on the other side of the room who was trying to find a place to sit and eat. "Come on, let's... Let's go somewhere else." Aria said, not wanting Hanna to be uncomfortable. "No. I'm fine." she answered, making Josie sigh, she knew she wasn't but Hanna was never going to admit that.

Suddenly the P.A went off. "Your attention, please. After the dinner break all students must attend the film being screened in room 109." the man said but Josie noticed Hanna wasn't paying attention. "Again, room 109 at seven p/m, thank you." the person added. "Wait. Why did Tamborelli call you down?" Aria asked, making the couple look over at Emily, also wanting to know why, since they had heard the announcement as well. "She's got a birthmark." Hanna blurted out in a whisper, making the four of them look over at her confused. "Okay?" Richie trailed off, confused as the rest of them.

"Em, do you still have it?" Hanna asked Emily. "The photo from the locker room?" Hanna asked her. "Yeah, I think so. Why?" Emily asked but Hanna didn't answer, just held her hand out, which made Emily give her, her phone and soon enough Hanna was looking to find the photo on Emily's phone. "Han, what's going on?" Josie asked, sitting up. "There wasn't a birthmark in that photo! Where is it?" Hanna said, making Aria, Josie, Emily and Richie confused as they all moved closer to each other. "What?" Emily asked.

"Look— Look, there's no birthmark! It was photoshopped." Hanna said, showing them the photo of Kate, Richie looking away. "You think she stuck her head on somebody else's body?" Emily asked. "Yes." Hanna said with a nod as she looked over at Kate. "Why would 'A' go to all that trouble to photoshop her body if, if she was trying to embarrass her, why would she improve her?" Aria asked. "What if it wasn't 'A who took that photo and sent it from my phone." she asked. "Well, who did?" Aria asked before they all looked at Kate, it was finally clicking.

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Richie had gone off to get something from his locker while Aria, Emily and Josie waited in the cubicles in the girls toilets while Hanna brought Kate in, they were trying to get her to confess. "If this is about an apology, the damage has already been done." they heard Kate say as she entered the girls toilets. "I didn't snap that picture of you, Kate." Hanna said. "But I think I know who did." she added. "Who?" Kate asked. "Let's just say I'm no stranger to the magic of photoshop." Hanna said. "I mean, I spent all of ninth grade trimming my thighs," she added. "Mmm." Kate hummed. "And I care because?" she asked. "Because, you know I'm starting to think that someone put your head on a much better body." Hanna said, making Josie smirk at Hanna's comment. Kate let a fake breathy laugh. "Excuse me?" she asked.

"Well for one, your chest was definitely enhanced." Hanna said. "Guess again, Hanna, some of us don't have to work as hard as you do." Kate said, and Josie could hear the smirk in her voice. Hanna didn't care about the comment, she laughed anyway. "So, you didn't enhance, you just erased." Hanna said. "The birthmark, above you waist." Hanna explained. "I don't know what you're talking about." Kate said, trying to end the conversation. 

"Yes, you do." Hanna said. "You know, next time I'd be a little bit more careful when you're taking a sweater off in public." Hanna added. "Why would you do that kate? Why would you take a photo—" Hanna started but Kate cut her off. "What was I supposed to do?!' she yelled. "Wait for you stuck-up BFF to download hideous pictures of me from riding camp," she exclaimed. "Like I couldn't see that coming." she added. "You know, maybe it's time I really take a picture of you, Kate." Hanna said. "Aria, can I borrow your phone?" she called out, making Aria, Emily and Josie come out of the cubicles. "Yeah, in a minute, I'm using it, though." she said, and the sight of the three of them made Kate's face fall. "To record this conversation." she added. 

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Soon after that, Hanna walked out of the bathroom, Aria, Emily and Josie following her. "My mom has got to hear this." Hanna said. "I can't believe Kate would send that out herself." Emily in disbelief as the three of them tried catching up to Hanna. "I mean that's psycho." Emily added. "No, it's genius." Aria said, making Josie nod in agreement. "She's right, it's the first week of school, she takes down Hanna and makes every girl pity her and makes almost every guy wanna pounce on her." Josie said as they stopped behind Hanna, who had stopped.

"Okay, not every guy, Caleb wants to strangle her and Richie hates her as much as he does." Hanna said, making Josie nod, Hanna was right, Richie hated her. "You need to tell him to stop." Hanna said to Aria. "Stop him from what?" Emily asked. "From trying to crack my phone, he still thinks Jenna did it." Hanna said. "You have to tell him to quit." she said to Aria, making her confused. "But why me?" she asked. "Because you're in the same group, now, go check the music room." Hanna said. "What if he's not in there?" Aria asked. "Well, then, check the rooftop." Hanna explained. "Look, I don't want Jeanna sniffing out what he's doing, she's got eyes everywhere." Hanna explained. "Now, go, I have to find my mom." Hanna said before walking off with Emily and Josie following, leaving Aria to find Caleb.

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It was later that night, the students were in the cafeteria, asleep in their sleeping bags, including the girls, minus Spencer who had found a huge secret, was still awake. Josie was woken by Emily saying 'oh my god' making her sit up from her spot next to Spencer's sleeping bag, across from Emily. "What?" she asked sleepily. "I got like six missed calls from that number." she said, making Josie more awake, also waking up the other girls. "What's going on? What, what number?" Aria asked sleepily. "Where the hell am i?" Hanna asked. "The school Han." Josie said, even though Hanna would remember when she woke up properly. Spencer sat down on her sleeping bag to join the girls. "The number in Ali's raincoat." Emily explained to Aria just as her phone rang again, making Aria sit up.

"Who's calling now?" she asked as Hanna sat up as well. "The same number." Emily answered. "Do I answer it?" Emily asked. "Yes, answer it," Aria responded as the girls huddled around each other as Emily answered the phone. "Hello?" she said. "Is this Vivian's friend?" the person on the phone asked, who was a man. "Y-yes. Yes, it is." Emily answered hesitantly. "What do you want?" the person asked. "I...was calling because we, um... I had a few questions." she said. "Yeah, I have a few myself, but.. Uh, I don't want to do this on the phone." the person said. "Will you meet me?" he asked, making Emily look around at her friends, while Aria nodded 'yes' and after a moment Emily answered. "Yes." she said. "I will."

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapters !! also sorry it's been like three months.... oops, i've had no motivation but since i don't have many chapters left of this season i wanna try and get them all done during this week so i can start on season three !!!. countdown till season three: six chapters