chapter thirteen:
know your frenemies

   "Is this the part where I say something to make the situation less awkward?" Charlie leaned forward, pushing her head in between the two seats. Hanna smiled awkwardly "uh no, it's fine Charlie" Charlie let out a soft hum "right, uh thanks for driving me Miss Marin, see you around".

She got out of the car pushing her bag over her shoulder as Hanna followed after her. "Remind me to drive with Emily or someone else next time, that was awkward, Han I don't know what's going on with you and your mother. But I'm here if you need someone to talk to about it".

Hanna smiled "don't worry about it, it's nothing bad, just a little misunderstanding is all". They walked towards the girls who sat beside one another.

"Looks like someone traded in her wheels for heels" Hanna smirked as she did a little twirl. "They're flats, but they are ferragamos" she sat down and Charlie sat opposite of her smiling softly at Emily who was beside her.

Agent copper the woman from before walked out of the shop holding tightly onto a cup of coffee. "The food in this town is to die for. I'm missing it already". The girls frowned deeply in confusion.

"Are you going somewhere?" the woman smiled sweetly "came here to find the person that killed your friend. Tony Cavanaugh may be out on bail, but he's not leaving town, and we have a solid case against him. So, unless you have a reason for me to stay...".

Charlie blinked her gaze looking away from the woman as Hanna smiled. "Well, I guess we'll see you around, then". Spencer looked like she wanted to throw up as she pushed the phone away from her ear, her gaze looking at everyone.

"What?" Spencer sighed deeply "Ian was definitely at Hilton Head, the same weekend Ally was". Charlie frowned deeply "I have no idea what you're talking about, but that sounds really concerning, Ian isn't even cute, why would Alison be with him".

Charlie stood up from the table pushing her bag over her shoulder "look I'm not gonna obsess over what could've happened with Alison, I feel like going down that road just won't end well".

She started walking off "Charlie wait!" Hanna chased after her, Charlie sighed deeply as she turned around and looked at Hanna.

"I'm not in the mood for one of your pep talks Han, I know you guys are really hellbent on figuring out what happened to Alison, but I'm not... I don't want to get myself killed because I decided to be a little too curious".

Hanna smiled slightly "you used to always be all Nancy Drew whenever we needed to figure something out, I thought you'd find this stuff interesting. And I mean we could really put someone behind bars who is bad".

"That was before A happened, it's like they're watching my every move. I don't need them trying to make my life more miserable, I'm sorry but I just don't want any part of this".

Hanna smiled sadly "will you at least text me if anything happens? It's just if you aren't gonna be around while we're trying to figure things out".

Charlie pushed her hands behind her back "I think you guys should stop looking, I just got a bad feeling about all of this. But knowing you, you won't drop it, because you're a good person".

Charlie sighed "I better get going, I'll see you around Hanna, just be careful and like you said yourself, text if anything happens".

Hanna smiled "if anyone should be careful it's you Charlie, I don't like the idea of you being alone right now. Especially with A out and about".

Charlie shrugged her shoulders "if the bitch wants me, then they can come for me, I'm not scared of someone who's hiding behind a screen".

Hanna smiled "I guess I'll see you later then". Charlie waved at Hanna before she walked off.

—

Charlie hadn't seen Hanna since this morning, part of her felt worried as she walked down the sidewalk. Her grasp tight on her phone as she clicked on Hanna's contact. Maybe she was just being paranoid and Hanna was fine.

"Oink-oink" Hanna looked down at the cupcakes with disgust as she grabbed another one. She pulled the wrapper off and sighed deeply as she ate it.

Hanna looked at the pie with disgust and defeat as she stood up. She let out a panicked breath at the sound of the door opening. She ran towards her trash can but it was too late.

Allison looked at her "I understand" Hanna smiled sadly as she looked at the ground with embarrassment. "Poor Hanna, you don't have to feel this way, I can show you how to get rid of it".

Hanna smiled sadly "you can?" Allison smiled as she nodded her hand wrapping around the girls hand. "It's easy, you won't even feel bad anymore and I bet, you'll look amazing after. Might even finally catch Charlie's attention...".

Hanna smiled brightly "you really think so? You think Charlie would actually notice me..". Allison smiled "of course she will Han".

"Han? What are you doing here?" Hanna snapped out of her memory and looked upwards. Charlie looked down at her with concerned as she sat down across from her.

The boys sitting behind them laughed "oink-oink" Hanna looked down in defeat as she looked at the last cupcake. Charlie sneered angrily as she turned around eyeing the boys "you've got about five second to get lost before I kick your asses!".

The boys all huffed in annoyance as they stood up and left "that's what I thought assholes!". Hanna pulled the wrapper down and Charlie grabbed her hand stopping her from eating it.

"Han what's going on? Does this have something to do with A? Are they making you do this..". Hanna sighed deeply as she looked at the cupcake.

"I really hate a, he has something on my mom that can get her into a lot of trouble". Hanna smiled sadly as she started eating the last cupcake "is that fucker making you eat all these cupcakes? Does that mean they know about your... eating disorder".

Hanna sighed "I have to do this, I don't have a choice Charlie". Charlie grabbed the cupcake from Hanna's grasp shoving it into her mouth "hey! What are you doing!". Charlie stood up "they didn't say I couldn't help you, there's no way I'm letting you sit here alone, stuffing your face with cupcakes".

She reached her hand forward "come on, you're not doing this alone, A doesn't get the satisfaction of watching you suffer alone".

Hanna grabbed a hold of Charlie's hand as they walked into the bathroom. Charlie let out a heavy breath "you don't have to tell me why you're doing this Han, just know I'm here for you".

Hanna blinked "I know you are Charlie, thanks for not giving me a hard time about all of this". Charlie smiled "how could I? You're my best friend, I don't think I could ever give you a hard time".

Hanna walked towards the sink "there's that word again, friend..." she washed her hands and face off of any frosting. Charlie let out a light chuckle as she stood beside the girl "you've never objected to me saying it before, what's so wrong with my calling you my friend, I mean that's what we are".

Hanna pulled a napkin out of the dispenser her gaze looking at the message on it. She let out a heavy breath "because I just don't want to be friends, there I said it... uh now things are less awkward".

Charlie grinned "thing weren't awkward to begin with, but hey if that's how you feel I won't object". Hanna smiled "can you grab my uh phone, I think I left it on the table". Charlie smiled "yeah, I'll leave you alone to think about what you said".

She left the bathroom and Hanna turned around looking at the napkin dispenser.

—

"Melissa pregnant?" Hanna blurted the words out before she could even think. Spencer's eyes widen "hey, I said this was a secret" Charlie laughed "come on Spencer, you told Hanna of all people".

Hanna smirked "see she gets it, besides, it's not a secret. It's a bomb, like in "nuke-u-lar". Spencer frowned "it's nuclear. "Nuke-le-ar".

"Hypothetical speaking it's like pretty shocking news. I mean I've only ever really meant your sister a few times Spencer, and she's always going on about work, and how her life's perfect".

"Can you imagine melissa pregnant? Or even worse, Melissa as a mom?" Spencer sighed deeply as she tightened her grasp on her bag.

"I've never once heard melissa talk about kids. Now she wants to have this huge family? He's totally manipulating her". Hanna laughed lightly "manipulating her? Spence, your sisters a bad-ass".

Charlie sighed "you ever think maybe she just finally wants to settle down? Maybe starting a family is the first step of that, besides we can't really judge her, it's her choice, her body".

Spencer huffed "I don't know, but I have to see what as inside those boxes, everyone meets at my house tonight, and yes even you Charlie".

"Emily?" Charlie turned seeing the girl approach them with a sad expression on her face. "Em, what's wrong, are you okay?" The girl sighed.

"I didn't even get to say goodbye" the girls frowned deeply "to who?" Emily smiled sadly "Maya". Spencer grabbed the girls shoulder "Em, where is she going?" Charlie felt a pit in her stomach, one she didn't enjoy at all as she looked at Emily.

"They're sending her to juvie camp, For three months" Emily looked defeated as she looked at everyone in front of her. "What happened?" The girl looked pissed off "my mother, that's what happened". She walked off and Charlie smiled sadly "I hope she's okay, I feel bad for her".

—

Charlie at first didn't wanna attend Spencer's little get together at her house. Yet here she was, walking towards Spencer's front door with determination. She never really considered herself apart of the group, at least not fully like the other girls.

She walked inside the house hesitant as she heard the soft murmurs of the other girls. "A saved my relationship" Arias voice was the first she could hear as Charlie appeared.

"Yeah, well, A tried to kill me and they almost killed Charlie, so I'm not exactly gonna pretend the bitch is someone I trust because she helped us".

Charlie smiled softly as she sat down beside Hanna "you guys are always going on about A, it's kinda ridiculous at this point. I've already moved on".

Spencer smiled "well unlike us, you're more of a laid back person Charlie. You're always more, what's the term I'm thinking of?".

Charlie looked unamused "if the term you're searching for is, doesn't care, then sure that sounds about right. Besides I really don't care who A is, they can get lost already".

Hanna smiled "now that you're here Charlie, I was hoping we could talk, I have this really cool thing to show you, I found it in my room this morning".

Charlie smiled "sounds fascinating, let's walk and talk then Miss Marin". She stood up walking up the stairs Hanna smiled as she gave a thumbs up at Aria and Spencer, then she followed Charlie.

Charlie stopped in the hallway and Hanna smiled sweetly as she pushed open the door of the guest bedroom. "You're being very sneak Han, what exactly are you up to right now?".

Hanna smirked "oh that would ruin the surprise" she walked into the room and Charlie chuckled as she followed after her into the room.

The inside of the room was bright, it held so many candles "this is a fire hazard Han". The girl smiled "that's besides the point, it's suppose to be romantic, you do not wanna know how long it took, to lit all of these candles".

Charlie chucked "I mean I would've been fine with just one candle, you didn't have to do all of this Han". The girl sighed "it's just you really helped me earlier, with the whole cupcake thing... I just thought you at least deserved this".

Charlie smiled "I mean it's very pretty, but If you really wanted to make a move, could've just kissed me or even just ask me out... I'm not picky".

Hanna smiled softly "I'm getting up to that point, you just gotta give me a second here". Charlie nodded as she sat down on the bed "well I've got all night then, by all means ask away".

"Okay, Charlie will you do me the great honor and accept this gift of thanks". Charlie looked at the box and laughed lightly as she opened it "not exactly the question I was thinking of, but this works ".

She looked at the necklace with a soft smile "it's pretty, where'd you even get it?". Hanna shrugged her shoulders "oh you know at the store, but that's besides the point, you like it! Which is all that matters, and well I do have another question".

"I swear if you make up a silly question to drag this on, gonna ask me about my car extended warranty? Or about some random homework question?".

"How about, me asking you if you'd like to be my girlfriend? I'd say that's a rather good question?". Charlie smirked "I was wondering when you'd ask, was beginning to think of asking myself".

Hanna smiled "so does that mean yes?" Charlie stood up "I'll consider it...". She walked towards the door "oh... that's..". Charlie laughed "I'm kidding Hanna! Of course I'll be your girlfriend!".

Hanna laughed "that's great! I would've been so embarrassed if you just walked out". Charlie laughed as she hugged the girl tightly.

"Yeah right, there's no way I'd walk out on you. I mean you're Hanna Marin! I can't do that!".

—
authors notes:
cue in gasp!
have I returned! And updated something other then bittersweet tragedy? You bet I did! Had to honor these two cuties for pride month! I mean it just makes perfect sense, but also pretty little liars is all over my Tik Tok fyp. So I thought why not get back into this book for a little bit, til I get bored of it again. Anyways enjoy this chapter!