chapter four:
can you hear me now?

The softness of Hanna's skin against hers brought her a comfort she didn't know she needed. She moved slightly wrapping her arm around Hanna.

The sunlight entered the bedroom, but Charlie couldn't bring herself to get up and close her curtains. Not when Hanna laid against her.

Her bare flesh mended into hers and light snores leaving her lips as she held onto her. Charlie couldn't help but smile as she looked at Hanna.

Outside along the Carters porch Emily and the girls all stood. Eagerness ate away at there minds on whether or not Charlie got messages from A.

Hanna never did tell them, Emily pushed the doormat away from the ground and grabbed hold of the spray key. "She's normally awake by now, so we can just go and ask her real quick".

Emily unlocked the door and the trio of girls walked inside the home. They knew now was the best time to get answers.

With Charlie's mother and brother out they had enough time to muster up anything they needed from Charlie. Emily insisted they wait until but aria and Spencer were determined.

Hence why Emily tagged along to make sure nothing got out of hand. Spencer called Hanna but the girl never picked up.

They slowly walked up the stairs being careful not to accidentally make any sort of noise.

The sudden sound of Charlie's door opening made her eyes widen "oh shit!" Hanna gasped awake at the sudden sound of loud gasping.

The door slammed into the wall Charlie pushing the blanket against herself. Her eyes wide at the sight of the girls in front of her.

"What... what's?" Hanna eyes got wide when she turned seeing the girls. Charlie let out a nervous laugh "uh don't you people knock?".

Hanna's entire face turned red Spencer sighed deeply as she smacked a ten dollar bill onto Arias hands "I guess you were right about where Hanna was" Charlie gasped once more.

"You made a bet! Oh that's just foul" Hanna pushed the blanket over her head "oh god, could this day get any more embarrassing".

Charlie smacked herself "you couldn't have texted or called saying you were coming over".

"Sorry we didn't think anyone was here, we just wanted to know something".

"Christ, if it's about A I've only gotten one message, I've likely gotten more but I don't really check my phone a lot".

Charlie laid back down huffing "can you leave now, this is honestly getting embarrassing".

"Right! Uh we'll talk later" the girls left quickly and Charlie heard the light giggles they shared. "I knew it, I can't believe it took them so long to just get together already".

Aria laughed at Spencer's words as they left the house in a fast manner.

Charlie pushed the blanket off her body "sorry about that, I honestly didn't know they were coming here so early".

Hanna pushed the blanket off her face watching as Charlie got off the bed picking her clothes off the ground. "Gosh they're gonna talk about it all week now" Charlie smiled brightly.

"Don't worry, they'll get over it. You hungry? We've gotten some bagels or eggs". Charlie got dressed "a bagel sounds pretty good".

Charlie opened her door "I'll leave you too change, when you're done I'll be downstairs".

Charlie closed the door and Hanna heard the lightness of her feet walking down the steps. She stood up from the bed getting dressed.

Charlie stood in the kitchen setting bagels gently down onto a plate. She let out a shaky breath as she pinched her eyes closed, her body aching.

She walked into the bathroom pulling open the drawer and moving stuff out of that way. She grabbed hold of a tiny bag the pills smiling at her as she popped them into her mouth.

The ache in her body faded away after a moment, she smiled brightly as she walked into the kitchen. Hanna walked into the room "hey".

Charlie looked up at her smiling "hey, I hope you don't mind slightly burned bagels". Hanna shrugged her shoulders going over towards the girl.

"I don't mind" Charlie ate away at her bagel and Hanna rubbed the back of her neck. "So uh last night that was...".

Charlie smirked shyly as she looked at Hanna "I tried my best to not do anything intense, since it was your first time".

"That obvious" Charlie smiled as she walked towards Hanna "yeah, but don't worry, you did good, I mean I've only ever had sex one time with a guy, and it was very awkward after. He kinda just left and said thanks".

Hanna laughed "he said thanks" Charlie nodded as she grabbed hold of Hanna's waist. "I suppose I was tending to his broken heart, some girl broke up with him, so he kinda just came over, he was sobbing and honestly I kissed him so he would shut up already".

"Who was it?" Charlie tense up for a moment "an old friend who doesn't really come around much. In fact I think he moved away".

Hanna nodded as she grabbed hold of a bagel eating it with ease."You're the same in a way, you came over after Sean broke up with you".

Hanna let out a weak laugh "I didn't really think anything was gonna happen".

Charlie shrugged her shoulders "what can I say, I got an effect on lonely people, you up for some coffee? I'm in desperate need of some".

Hanna nodded and Charlie walked out of the kitchen "I'll go get my bag real quick, I swear my mother never gets any coffee".

—

The coffee shop itself felt so empty when Charlie walked inside. Hanna stood behind her holding onto her purse as Charlie sat at a table.

The door chimed but Charlie didn't pay attention to it. Hanna sat across from her "I think I'm gonna get an extra large coffee so we can just hang out".

Hanna smiled slightly "you really must like coffee, I was just gonna get a small". Charlie shrugged her shoulders "I don't like it, I love it Hanna".

"Charlie" the voice was loud and Charlie turned smiling brightly "Jason! hey I didn't know you were back in town, I thought you left after the funeral". She stood up hugging him.

Hanna watched with jealousy as he held onto her his hands roaming her body as she smiled at him. Charlie laughed as she pushed at his chest "hands to yourself mister" he laughed lightly.

"Glad you're still the same Charlie, I've missed hanging out with you, just stopped by for some coffee, I'm honestly not surprised you're here".

"Oh you know me, I can't go without my morning coffee, I'll see you around". He nodded at her before walking off towards a table.

"Since when were you and Jason friends" Charlie sat back down "I was friends with him before I meant Alison, he used to hang out with my older brother, so he was always over".

"I didn't know you had an older brother" Charlie blinked "he moved away after high school, guess he couldn't take being here forever. I don't blame him, it's boring here".

Hanna stood up "I'll go order our coffees real quick, I'll make sure yours is extra large". Charlie smiled watching as Hanna walked off.

Her phone dinged and she grabbed hold of it.

I know a secret Hanna doesn't, I can't wait to tell her and watch your world crash—A

an: things are only going downhill from here 🤭