.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

♥ 𝒮𝒽𝑜𝓅𝓁𝒾𝒻𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 & 𝐿𝒾𝑒𝓈 ♥

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

I slowly stir awake, blinking several times until my eyes adjust to my surroundings. I turn to the side to find Jason lying on his stomach, sound asleep. I brush a few long strands of dirty blonde hair that's sweatily stuck to his forehead. I sigh, wishing I didn't have to go, that I could just sleep here forever. I only ever sleep good if it's with Jason, otherwise my mind and body won't shut off comfortably.

I carefully slip out from underneath his arm, grab my clothes, and tip-toe to Ali's room to sneak back out. I grab one of her bras on the way, even though her boobs are smaller than mine, since Jason ripped the new one she gave me.

The fresh air hits my face as I make my way though my yard back to Spencer's. My peace is interrupted by a scream I hear off in the distance. What the hell? I hurry through the brushes as they roughly scratch my legs and find Spencer walking around. Great.

"There you are!" She rushes over to me, her pinched face full of worry. Shit.

"Um yeah, what're you doing up?" I quickly shift the subject off of me.

"I woke up and saw you and Ali were gone so I've been looking for you guys," Her voice drowns with concern.

"Yes! I was looking for her too," I tell her, not even having to think twice about the lie, it's become so second nature at this point. And I couldn't exactly say where I really was.

"Well did you find her? I think I heard a scream," She shivers.

"No, I couldn't find her," I frown, why isn't she back yet? And here I thought I would be last since Jason and I fell asleep. "I heard a scream too." I glance all around, chewing my tender bottom lip.

"We need to go tell the others," She grabs my arm, pulling me back to the barn.

I bite the inside of the cheek to not show the nervousness that's starting to creep up my spine. I'm sure she's just running late. Right? Maybe she fell asleep too?

3rd Person POV

Aria wakes, sitting up from her position on the floor, and looks around confused Scarlett, Alison, and Spencer are missing.

"Hey, Em," She taps Emily's leg to wake her, being Emily and Hanna are both still sound asleep, curled up on opposite ends of one of the couches

"Woah," Emily raises up, Hanna slowly doing the same.

"Where's Ali, Scar, and Spencer?" The blonde asks sleepily.

"We don't know," Aria shakes her head, looking to Emily. She heads over to the opened barn door as Scarlett and Spencer come into view.

"Ali?" Aria calls out.

"Ali's gone," Spencer says.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Aria smiles nervously.

"Exactly what she just said," Scarlett snaps, hating things being repeated and letting her anger seep through. Guilt has sat itself perfectly in the pit of her stomach now that the reality of the situation is starting to settle in.

"We've looked everywhere for her," Spencer takes a softer approach. Emily and Hanna look at each other worriedly.  "Think we heard a scream," She adds taking a step back in disbelief. Scarlett turns to look outside, blinking away tears that threaten to form. The taste of copper coating her tongue from biting the inside of her cheek too hard mixed with anxiety makes her feel like she's gonna vomit.

~~~~
1 Year Later

Scarlett's POV

I sigh, pushing the soggy cereal around that I've been trying to eat for the past twenty minutes. After angrily shutting off the news because I couldn't take one more second of them talking about the "one year anniversary of Alison's disappearance" like it's a celebration. I scoff, pushing away the memories from that night that are trying to resurface and slam my bowl into the sink. I've lost my appetite and no one here is gonna give a damn if I finish or waste anyways.

I head back to my room to get ready to go meet Hanna and Mona at the mall. Just thinking that makes me want to laugh out loud. Oh, how so much has changed in a year.

~~~~

I look at the earring display as Hanna flirtingly asks about the tenth pair of glasses she's tried on while Mona admires herself in the mirror, examining the scarf she just put on. I shake my head at them. I love my best friends to death, but I already know they're just going to steal whatever the decide on. Which is completely stupid because Mona's parents will buy her anything now that she's popular and happy and Hanna's mom gets her anything she wants. But I figured out Hanna is doing this in hope's to get her dad's attention, since him and her mom split. Mona just does it for fun.

They always try to get me to do it, saying it's such a rush, but why bother when I have enough money I could just buy the whole damn store if I wanted to? Plus, my parents would literally kill me if I stole something, not for breaking the law, but because it would be an indication we don't have enough money, and God forbidden anyone ever think that.

"Is this me?" Mona turns around, holding up the most hideous scarf around her neck. It has like five different colors and it striped... I cannot.

"Or is it a little too much your mother?" Hanna retorts.

"And it makes your shoulder looks broader," I add. Hanna chuckles quietly. Just keeping it real.

Mona frowns at us, quickly turning back around.

"I'm going up to the tops," I turn to Hanna as she puts on another pair of sunglasses.

"Kay, but first... you like?"

This pair was an ugly shape and black.

"The dusty pink ones were better," I point to the previous ones, "Suited your face more."

"Thank you," She smiles, turning to see what Mona thinks as I head up to the level right across from us.

I'm not even up here for more than five minutes before Hanna gets my attention and subtlety nods her head to my left.

'What?' I mouth, following her gaze to find Spencer looking at tops. Ooo, this should be fun.

Hanna joins me to go over and say hi. We don't hang out with Spencer anymore, or Emily or Aria for that matter, but we all keep it nice and civil. The five of us drifted apart and parted ways after that night. Well Aria moved, lucky bitch. But Spencer and I still see each other quite often... being neighbors and related and all.

Things just got awkward once Ali disappeared. But I took Hanna under my wing. I couldn't stand to be alone and her and I just kind of... migrated together. I helped her transform and she went from being in the background to the spotlight with me. Then Mona joined into the mix along the way. Believe me, I was surprised almost as much as anyone, but it just.. happened. Mona also transformed, drastically, and somehow the three of us clicked.

"I cannot believe Spencer Hastings actually has time to shop," Hanna jokes as we approach her. Spencer turns to us, letting out a soft scoffing chuckle. "I mean, you're interning for the mayor, taking classes at Hollis, and redoing the barn. And in your leisure moments, you Facebook and tweet." The list just keeps going. Spencer never takes a break, that's for sure.

"When do you get time to breathe?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"You know me, I like to stay busy," Spencer defends.

"It's called a summer vacay, Spence," Hanna reminds her.

"Yeah, you spent yours sunning and shopping," Spencer tells her.

"Tweet, tweet," Hanna smiles proudly.

Spencer then turns to me, "And you somehow managed to do what both do combined," She commends. It's true. I've been almost as busy and involved as she has this summer, but the thing is I know when to have fun.

"It's all about balance baby," I wink causing the three of us laugh, giving me chills it almost feels like old times again.

"Did you two see the paper today?" Spencer has to dampen the mood.

"Yeah," Hanna answer softly.

"The news," I nod.

A second of silence rings in the air.

"She's gone, but she's everywhere," Spencer smiles sadly.

"Isn't that the truth," I mutter with a frown.

"I can't believe it's been a year," Hanna reminisces.

I exhale, my chest is starting to feel heavy.

"Do you guys remember what Ali said that night? About our secrets keeping us close?" Spencer asks us. We both nod. "I think it was the opposite.

I shift feet, looking down at the floor as Hanna takes a deep breath before changing the subject. "So, what's the occasion?"

I look back up at Spencer, smirking. "Oh, do tell her dear cousin," I say, knowing exactly why Spencer must be here.

"Family dinner. We're meeting Melissa's fiancé," Spencer exasperates. She grabs a plain white button-up blouse, heading for the checkout. It looks like something George Washington wore.

"Did Miss Perfect find a Mr. Perfect?" Hanna muses, as we follow.

"He's a med student so everyone's thrilled," Spencer doesn't hold back the distaste in her tone.

"Rose has been going on and on about him," I roll my eyes at my sister's constant admiration for this guy. You'd think he would've found the cure for cancer or something.

Rose is the same age as Melissa, just as Spencer and I are- I swear our mom's planned that, but they claim it was a just freaky coincidence both times. So of course Rose and Melissa have been attached at the hip since birth, both too self-righteous and absorbed to find any other friends.

"Rose is the one who introduced them," I tell Hanna. She met  "Mr. Perfect" being that she is a med-student as well, and played perfect match maker for him and Melissa.

"Then that's not the right top," Hanna concludes, stepping over to the rack behind us and starts searching. "You need to turn heads."

"She's right," I grab the card out of Spencer's hand before she can hand it to the cashier. Is she trying to dress like a waiter?

"Away from Melissa?" Spencer sounds like she can't even fathom the thought. "Please. I'll leave that to Scarlett."

I shoot her an actual smile, rather than my smirk or usual fake one. "You can take a turn."

Hanna holds up a silky plum colored tank top with flowers embordering the sleeves and collar.

"Oh, love!" I taught her well. That'll look so good with Spencer's skin tone, her being pale enough it'll compliment and pull out her chestnut brown hair.

"She doesn't always have to win," Hanna reminds her.

"Amen to that," I take the tank and shove it in Spencer's arms.

I like Melissa more than Rose most of the time, but whew does she always have the spotlight and Spencer never does. 

"See you on the playground," Hanna says.

"See you," Spencer nods, looking at the tank with a soft smile.

"You better be wearing that when I see you at the dinner," I hand her her card bag, pursing my lips.

"You got it," She says and I catch up to Hanna.

We take the escalators back down, strutting for the exit. Hanna nods to the clueless mall cop as we pass him and pulls down the pink sunglasses I told her were my fav.

We give each other a knowing smirk before linking arms, giggling. It really amuses me just how much shit her and Mona get away with. Just cause I don't participate in it doesn't mean it isn't fun to watch.

"Miss," The guard hollers out, jogging to catch up to us and grabs Hanna's elbow.

Shit. Just when I bragged on her! She turns to him face full of shock and fear... yeah we're gonna need to work on her poker face. The man holds up her purse. Whew! False alarm.

"You forgot your bag."

She quickly recomposes herself and flashes him a smile. "Thank you," She takes it.

"I was so about to kick your ass if we got thrown in mall jail," I murmur and we continue walking as Mona rounds the corner in a maroon scarf that she stole, much better. Seriously, are these workers that oblivious?

She lets out a sigh of relief, "I so thought you were busted." I let out a chuckle.

"Nice scarf," Hanna turns to her.

"Nice glasses," Mona responds.

"Alright you two, let's just get out of here," I hurry them along, not wanting any more scares.

~~~~

Author's Note: Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter <3

Also, what do y'all think about Scarlett going with Hanna after the liars separation?