2.14

•

"Through The Dangers,Toils And Snares"

ONE MONTH LATERPRESENT DAY

In Southfield playground, the five girls were doing community service. Dressed in bright, orange jumpsuits, they all picked up litter from the grounds. Halle, even though she loathed the jumpsuit, enjoyed the stick. She got a lot of anger and frustration out by stabbing trash. She forced the stick down, piercing the item before shoving it into the collection bag. Oddly enough, Halle found it more therapeutic than the new therapist Dr Sullivan had recommended for her.

"Only an hour and thirty minutes to go," declared Hanna to the group.

"I think it's more like two hours," Aria said, stabbing her own litter. "But who's counting?"

"Hanna, clearly," Halle shot. A smiled etched onto her face, pulling at the right corner of her mouth when she spotted a can. She thrust the stick down into it, liking the sound of a pop followed by the wheezing of escaped air when she did so. Halle learnt rather quickly that cans were the most satisfying to stab.

One of the other girls involved in community service moved to stand by another. She mocked the girls, imitating a prissy voice, "How many hours you got left?"

The second girl answered, "Six months."

"'Cos your mama's not a big-shot lawyer getting you and your pals community service for tampering with evidence," commented the first girl.

"Thought you said they killed somebody," returned the other.

"That's what the cops think," said the first girl. "Cops can't prove it."

"Heh," the second chuckled, "cops are stupid."

Snapping, Emily had enough of hearing everyone talk about her. She was tired of the narrative going around. "We didn't do anything," she defended.

"Don't talk to them," Spencer said abruptly.

Emily shot her head around, firing back, "I'll talk to anybody I want to."

"No, you won't," said Spencer, cleaning her stick of its trash.

"And who's gonna stop me?" challenged Emily.

"Both of you just shut up," snapped Aria. "I don't wanna hear it anymore." She then went back to cleaning up the park, sticking to the same area as the others.

"Did you at least think about my idea?" pressured Emily, following Spencer around as if it was her who needed to give permission.

"It was a bad idea when they arrested us, it's a bad idea now," Spencer replied shortly. She paid no mind to Emily's pleas, carrying on with picking up litter.

"We finally have something solid," Emily exclaiming, throwing her arms out. "Why won't you use it?"

"Because you can't make a deal with a rattlesnake," Spencer retorted.

"You can if you have something the rattlesnake wants," Emily countered back.

"Yeah, and then the rattlesnake relaxes its jaw and swallows us whole, Em," said Halle. She rolled her eyes and added, "Dream on."

Freaked out, Hanna said, "Okay, can we stop talking about snakes?"

With the three other girls over her shoulder, Spencer turned on Emily. "Listen to me," she said firmly, speaking with authority over the girl opposite. "We're not gonna be making any kind of deal with A. That's final."

"Maybe for you," replied Emily when Spencer turned her back on her. Snidely, Emily spat, "The rest of us don't have lawyers for parents."

Sighing heavily, Spencer gritted her teeth and faced the girl again. "Meaning what?" She drove the pointy-end of the stick into the ground and stared, waiting for an answer.

Emily was sure to give it — a whole lot of truth served up with it. "Meaning your mom may have got us a deal, but if they ever figure out a way to charge us for killing Ali, she'll throw us all under the bus to save you..." Emily narrowed her eyes and finished scornfully, "And you'd let her."

The stick fell from Spencer's hand. In a moment of hot fury, she launched the trash bag at Emily. It spilled open; the cream from something coated Emily's sleeve. Emily gasped, disgusted. She took a second to look down at the mess, realising what happened before she reacted. Next, Emily was lunging at Spencer, battling with her. The two locked arms, fighting back and forth, until Emily's military-brat training kicked in and she swung her leg out, knocking Spencer to the ground. They tussled with one another, shrieking at the other, while the other girls tried to part them, each shouting over the commotion.

One by one, the two sheriffs assigned to watch them ran down. The male grabbed at Emily, her fighting with the most strength, as his female counterpart made for Spencer. The pair, so involved in their fight, were still screaming at each other, clawing to get at another, that they didn't realised that they had been parted. Things were fractured between them all. The power of A had them all turning against one another — or at least one of them.

•

The next day, Halle was rushing around, trying to get ready earlier as she was catching a lift into school with Spencer. With her keys in hands, she hurried down the stairs, boots heavy against the wood. She held up her hand, heading to the front door without looking into the lounge. "Okay, Mom, see you tonight!" she said, eyes on the exit.

"Halle — Halle, wait!" Her mother hollered, and Halle's feet came to a still. "Can I have a minute?"

Halle span around on her heels, rolling her eyes. "Mom, Spencer's giving me a ride, you know how she hates me being late," said Halle.

"It'll just be a moment," Luisa said, luring her daughter in with a smile.

Sighing, Halle caved. "Okay, fine. I can do five minutes."

Luisa held her arm out, redirecting her daughter into the living room. Halle took a seat perched on the end of the chair while her mother sat down on the couch opposite her. Luisa took a deep breath and began, "So, have you and Emily made up yet?"

Halle felt her eyes roll again. "No — And if this is what this is about, save your breath and my time," replied Halle smartly.

"It's been a month, she's one of your best friends," encouraged Luisa. "You can't just cut her out. You're all in this together, this plea bargain only works with all of you."

"Okay, nowhere in the plea bargain does it say I have to be talking to Em for it to work," Halle countered. "Now, if that's all, can I go? Spencer's waiting."

"No," Luisa said. "There's another thing.... A more sensitive thing."

Features falling, Halle thought the worst. She went to her brother and his secret. Or how she threatened her father — more like blackmailed him. All of Halle's actions could unravel, worsening every relationship she had in her household.

"It's about Jason DiLaurentis," revealed Luisa, and Halle gave an exasperated sigh. "No, don't do that, Halle— and don't you dare roll your eyes at me, young lady!" she warned, but it was too late. Halle's eyes had already rolled, her over the conversation before it started. "I saw you two, I saw you with him, Halle," stressed her mother in deep concern. "I saw you at the police station, and I know what you confessed to me the other—"

"I was in a state, I didn't know what I was saying," Halle tried to explain it away.

"No, you knew what you were saying. You were upset, not incapable of thinking." With her hand over her chest, Luisa claimed strongly, "I know my daughter, I know when you're lying to me."

A subconscious scoff left Halle before she had time to react better. She didn't think her mother was so delusional, but it was obvious by the way this was going that her mother was clueless when it came to her daughter.

Luisa's eyes grew dark. "You said you wanted him, wanted to be with him."

"Yeah, so?" Halle asked, "What more do you want me to say? It was summer crush. A dumb, school-girl crush, which I'm over by the way," Halle reasoned, convincingly half-lying. "I can't take it back, and you're not gonna let me forget it, so what do you want?"

"Why didn't you tell me how you were feeling?" Luisa asked.

"Would you have listened?" Halle returned.

Seemingly offended by the accusation, Luisa defended herself. "I listened that day, didn't I?"

"Because you felt guilty and I was having an episode, not because you wanted to," said Halle honestly. "You never listen to me when it comes to Jason."

"Nothing should be coming to Jason, he's Alison's brother," Luisa snapped. "This is a small town, and when people see things, they talk."

"So, what? We can't be friends? I can't even be friendly with him? He's Alison's brother!" argued Halle strongly. "You can't just pretend he ain't there, he's our neighbour, Mom!"

"I'm talking about reputation here, Halle," Luisa stressed to her daughter. "The scandal if people ever found about That Summer. His life — and yours — will be over. Did you ever think of that?"

"I ain't stupid, Mom!" Halle yelled. A fiery rush moved through Halle. Her fists clenched, nails digging into the palms of her hands until white crescent-moons appeared. Realising how worked up she was getting, Halle did her best to cool down, blowing out a heavy breath. Halle looked directly at her mother and said lowly, "I know you want the best for me, I know you do. It's why you push me to be best I can be, because you know I can always do better, and I love you for that." Halle told her firmly afterwards, "But you're wrong about this. You're wrong about Jason. No, no — you wanted to talk, so let's talk!"

Halle's voice grew louder again. She saw her mother wave her off — wave off Halle's feelings — and Halle was done with it. She snapped, and the sugar coating vanished.

"No, Jason is not Eric — because this is clearly what it about," Halle raved hotly. "He's not the son of some Judge, and he hasn't always been the greatest guy, but he's changed. He's not the same person he was That Summer. And I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "But I liked Jason — I liked being around Jason, I liked talking to him, I liked myself when I was with him. And I'm not gonna let you take that away from me. I only just got that feeling back, I only just got him back, and you wanna send him away — the one person who makes me feel like I'm not a complete screw-up."

"That's because he's a screw-up, Halle!" screeched Luisa.

"No, no!" Halle's finger came up, furiously pointing at her mother. "Don't you put that on him, don't say that! He stood no chance with that family!"

Luisa withdrew her anger and said coolly, "He's an alcoholic."

"Yeah, spend a day with his family and you'd be too," remarked Halle snidely.

"Watch it," Luisa warned gravely.

Halle breathed a heavy sigh and said, "So, what? Either they're too good for us or not good enough?" She clenched her fists in front of her, nailing digging into her palms. Halle snapped with unbelievably frustration. "It's just crap — it's total crap. You're only against me being with someone you see as lower than you," Halle fired out without reservation. She had reached her last straw and now it all came crashing down. "Even Jason! Jason — who is from a good family — lives on the same freaking street — your precious Bridgewater Terrace!" said Halle, dryly mocking. She found it ridiculous and her mother's logic was absurd. "And you look down at him for what? For making a mistake? For being messed up, kid? He was a teenager, he's allowed to be messed up! And guess what? I'm messed up too — I was the one getting high and drinking with him, Mom! Are you gonna look down on me, too?"

"No, of course not—"

"No, but that's it!"  cried Halle. Her throat was scorching, used thoroughly in voicing herself in the argument. Halle sighed, arms flung down at her sides as she gave in. Halle said, "I'm a part of this family, too — and you can't keep shoving this to the side, you can't stop me talking to Jason if I want to." She paused to take a deep breath before continuing calmly, shoulders going up as down as her breathing slowed. "I'm not asking you to like Jason or to like that I had crush a long time ago, but I am asking you to accept it."

"Halle..." tried Luisa, softening. "You said that night they Ian Thomas's body 'did you ever think he just needs someone'. You said that about Jason, you care about him, you're trying to be that person."

"I'm not gonna sit here and defend my friendship with Jason," said Halle, defeated. Getting up, Halle went to leave, but her feet stopped as she reached the archway of the living room. She turned back around, seeing her exhausted mother sat frozen on the couch. "Oh, and by the way," Halle started, releasing more of her thoughts. "You don't think that maybe — just maybe— me hanging out with Jason is a good thing? You know, considering everyone else in this town thinks me and my friends killed Alison. Or at least had something to do with it. Maybe it'll do my reputation some good now my stock's down. Just a thought for you," she concluded, snide and scorned.

Halle exited the house and ran down the brick-porch, spotting Spencer's car at the end of the drive. She moved her bag more securely over her shoulder and tried to shake the argument from her. Halle climbed into the car, slamming the door shut behind her.

Spencer's eyes widened at the rocking of the car. She looked over to her friend, now clipping in her seat-belt. "Hey — watch it, she-hulk, you'll break my door before you break an arm," she shot out.

"Sorry," Halle grumbled.

"What's up?" asked Spencer. She saw the the irritation glazed over Halle's face and called her out on it.

"My mom just cornered me," Halle said. She waved her hand, dismissing the subject. "It's nothing, just... let's go." Halle might have tried to push the conversation with her mother out of her head, but her eyes still landed on the DiLaurentis house as they drove off.

She was still thinking about Jason.

•

Entering the school, arms linked with Spencer, was supposed to be a statement itself. Emily was Halle's best friend, and Halle had sided with Spencer. Their whole grade would soon know how the once-inseparable group had imploded from the inside out, and Emily was the one expelled from them. Halle had chosen Spencer; after all, they were in the same bracket of Rosewood.

They pair walked inside and found Officer Reynolds was there. He was having a rather tense, one-sided argument over the phone when they spotted him. Halle and Spencer glanced to each other and nodded. It was go-time.

"Hey," met Spencer. "Are you back for more Driver's Ed?"

"Uh, actually I was hoping to see Jenna, but she's staying home today," Garrett informed them, putting his cellphone away.

"Did she tell you that? Or did her voicemail?" Halle pondered, tightly smiling in a dry mocking sort of way.

Spencer picked up on it. She smiled and commented, "You two make an interesting couple. Has anybody ever mentioned that?" she asked. Spencer added in, "I mean, I liked it better when you guys were keeping it a big secret."

"Ooh, me too," Halle said, and the two girls shared sarcastic grins with each other. She looked back at Garrett and said, with a pout on her face, "Now all the mystery's gone, sad."

Garrett chuckled at them. "It was never a secret, it was private."

Spencer hummed sardonically, pretending she was both following and agreeing.

"When the time was right, we let people know," Garrett mentioned.

"Especially when a cop is dating a high school student," Halle put in, mockingly gasping afterwards as if she was faking surprise.

"Yeah, well, timing is everything," Spencer remarked. She narrowed her eyes and smized at him. The two went to walk away then, but Garrett was hung up over what they were saying.

Garrett said, "You both keep saying things to me like they're supposed to mean something."

Spencer and Halle stopped and faced him again. Spencer defended them while she passively attacked him, "No, no, just that it's interesting, you know, the timing of things. Like the shovel that killed Ali turns up, and all of sudden you two are holding hands in the town square," she implied heavily. All amusement vanished from her body; this was no longer them toying with him.

"Look, just because two things happen at the same time, it doesn't meant they're connected," Garrett explained.

"Well, you know all about things being connected, don't you?" fired Spencer.

"Again," he asked, "is that supposed to mean something?"

"You know all about connections," Spencer stressed. She stepped closer to him, intimidating him without having a badge or a gun attached to her hip. "Like you're connected to Jenna—"

"And Ian," Halle backed her friend up.

"And Jason..." Spencer didn't waver for a second. She held Garrett's stare with a fierce one of her own and finished pointedly, "Almost like you guys are members of the same club."

There was a glint of acknowledgement in Garrett's eyes. His top lip curled at the threat; he knew what they knew now. Deciding it wasn't worth outing himself, Garrett turned his back on them.

"Hey, where is Jason anyways?" Spencer asked, calling his attention back to them. "I mean, nobody's seen him since the night we were arrested—"

"Spencer, stop," Halle tried. She pulled at her friend's arm as Garrett faced them again, but it was no use. Spencer was clinging to this line of questioning.

"—He was at the police station, and then all of sudden he's gone..." Spencer stared Garrett down again and stated, "You were there that night. Do you have any ideas?"

Garrett took one step towards them and countered back at them,  "Maybe he got tired of you and your friends—" he looked at Halle, driving home the point as he said it, "and he just went away. Like Dr Sullivan." He then back away, satisfied his point had been honed in, but he was still rattled.

The two girls weren't, though. "You think it worked?" Halle asked Spencer. They watched as Garrett walked away from them, her mouth barely moved to keep it between the two.

"He knows we're onto him, he's definitely spooked," Spencer commented. She sighed and glanced to Halle. "Let's just head to to class."

English Literature with Mrs Montgomery was first. Spencer and Halle entered as a duo; the two even linked pinkies to drive home the point that Halle was firmly on Spencer's side of the broken friendship. Halle didn't miss their teacher eye the usual affection reserved only for Emily when they approached the desk. Halle squeezed Spencer's pinkie-finger, shooting her a smile, then dropped it to head to her seat. Halle, as she reached her desk, saw Spencer speak with their English teacher.

"Um... this is my extra-credit report on Vonnegut," said Spencer, small of voice to Mrs Montgomery. It didn't matter how confident Spencer was in her intelligence and ability to catch up, she was still ashamed of being late because of community service. She handed over the paper that was on top of her folder and books.

"Thank you," said Mrs Montgomery, accepting it from her.

"So, it's okay?" Spencer questioned.

Mrs Montgomery assured Spencer, "I look forward to reading it."

Spencer turned to go to her seat — front desk on the end row, nearest to the windows — when Emily collided with her. They two were walking at the same time and Spencer cut in, making Emily drop her belongings.

"Hey!" said Emily, annoyed.

Equally irritated, Spencer bit back, "Sorry."

Halle looked up from where she stood, over her desk, and watched. Aria and Hanna both walked in together — Emily was the only one without a partner. It was the trouble in groups made up of odd numbers, especially when the group was more split than before.

Emily smacked the series of items out of Spencer's hands in retaliation. Before it could flare-up like in the park, Mrs Montgomery jumped in. "Stop it!" she yelled at them. The three not involved slowly took their desks, eyeing the tense confrontation. "I'm tired of making allowances for your guys," snapped Mrs Montgomery, keeping her voice low as she scolded the pair of squalling teens. "You're supposed to be friends. Now go sit down."

Spencer snatched up her books fast — purposefully reaching for the furthest copy of 'The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter' — and took them to her desk. She looked behind her, finding Halle at the back of the classroom. She huffed, which Halle rolled her eyes as response as she referred to Emily. Halle coached herself to cut off all sympathy towards Emily, siding with the others over her.

They needed to sell this. It had to work. It had to be their best, most convincing lie yet — one that could fool their biggest enemy. Halle had to be team Spencer fully to sell the lie to perfection, and they all knew it was perfect when the five of them met up in secret that night.

At ten, they agreed to meet in the abandoned greenhouse. It was same spot they met up in before, when they previously thought of Ian Thomas as Alison's killer. It was the only place they all knew they were safe from A, and it was in the middle of the woods, safe from anyone else seeing.

Emily was the first to arrive, cautiously optimist. A smile broke out onto her face the second her friends arrive one-by-one, each smiling knowingly. In a hurry, she met Halle with the tightest hug. Her arms wound around Halle's neck, squeezing, as she brought her close.

"God, you have no idea how much I've needed that," Halle breathed a sigh of relief. She kept herself tucked into Emily's side, hugging her best friend close.

Emily was grinning still, holding Halle too. She reached into her jacket pocket for her phone and held it out. "I got a text," she said proudly.

Aria reached her hand out and took the phone, reading over the test. "'You were always my favourite. Want to make a deal?'" She glanced up at Emily, a smirk spreading across her face.

Delighting in their plan, Emily said, "A took the bait. We pulled it off, A totally think we aren't friends anymore."

"They think that we have real evidence?" asked Spencer, shocked almost.

"Okay, does it bother anybody that we don't actually have anything?" asked Hanna curiously.

"Han, we lie all the time, don't grow a conscience over A now," Halle countered.

"But we're just making it up?" Hanna said, confused still.

"Yeah, but Jenna and Garrett don't know that," Aria pointed out.

"I don't know." Hanna was rightfully freaked, uncomfortable with cornering the devil. Her voice shook, and her face told her deep concern. "It just scares me that Emily's doing this alone."

"No, no," Aria reassured, "she's not gonna be alone, we'll be outside."

"Ready to unleash A's Pandora box," Halle quipped.

"Yeah, but it's just the five of us," Hanna said, fearful.

"Hanna," Emily said, "every time we ask someone for help, they end up collateral damage — like Dr Sullivan."

"Yeah, or a traitor like Garrett," shot Aria.

Halle grumbled and said, "I still wanna slash his tires, I bet they're expensive for that sort of car."

Spencer's face contorted as she said, "It was so creepy to have to talk to him, but it was so worth it to rattle the cage."

Smiling triumphantly, Aria breathed in a happy sigh. "So, tomorrow," she said. "And everyone that's watching is gonna believe that Emily totally went rogue and that she wants the box that Jason gave me."

Halle's heart picked up at his name, fluttering, thumping wildly in her chest. She brought her hand up to rest over it, briefly closing her eyes as she tried to steady herself again. The thought of him consumed her, and Halle didn't know what to do with that feeling. It had been a month since their arrest — one month since she and him started sneaking around, having takeout dinners in a motel room at the Edgecourt like they used to do. A week since she last saw him, though.

"The one with the evidence," Spencer clarified. She looked to Hanna and added, "That doesn't really exist."

Hanna scoffed, light amusement behind it. Then, she asked seriously, "Are you sure that A is gonna follow Emily?"

"Absolutely," said Spencer, confident.

"I'm the weakest link," Emily explained. A smirk came across her face as she said after, "And the weakest link wants some payback."

•

The next day, mid-afternoon, the swim-meet was coming to an end. Rosewood High was competing against Rollins High School, and it was the perfect place for the girls' plan. It was school event, and they knew everyone would be there to support the Sharks, and that meant A would be too.

Halle was in her uniform, rolling around her pom-poms as she showed school spirit. It felt good to be in the uniform again. There was certain pride Halle got from donning the school colours; the 'Sharks' emblazoned on her chest uplifted her sense of self-importance. Some of the other girls — the ones that she had been having issues with — weren't so keen on her being back on the team, but Coach Rhodes and the seniors were glad of it, needing Halle when they went to State soon.

Repeatedly, Halle kept on checking the clock on the wall or glancing back at Hanna, who was sat on the bleachers watching. Her eyes widened in question, wondering where the hell Spencer and Aria were. She also caught sight of Toby, which made her feel sick as she keeping secrets from him.

Mostly, Halle avoided him in hope she wouldn't have to meet his eyes and lie directly to his face. Her stomach was in knots. Halle prayed this all went perfectly, so her life could go back to normal. Or whatever the new normal was for her.

Her new normal could be Jason. It could be happy. Something she hadn't dare think on too much. It had her paralysed in fear — of wanting something too much. Halle didn't know what to do if it didn't work out. This was the best and closest shot they had to catching A — it had to work.

Just before the last event wrapped up, Hanna excused herself. She shot Halle a look before she left, and Halle knew that was time. As soon as Halle could, when coach dismissed the cheer-team after the meet finished, Halle followed closely after Hanna. She made sure to leave before Emily did, crossing her fingers behind her back to signal to Emily that it was happening now.

"I'm here, okay?" Aria said to Spencer. "Where's Halle?"

"Here — I gave the signal," Halle stated, joining them. There was a trickle of people starting to exit the school pool after her. Soon, there would a sea of onlookers, spilling out around them and Emily would be one of them.

Emily came out with a few others. Her eyes scanned the area before landing on the girls, who were now banding together; each stood with moody faces and their arms folded into each other. Emily crossed over to them, her hand grabbing Spencer's as the girls made a show of trying to leave. With a hardened expression, Emily snapped, "Okay, it's every man for himself. I want the box that Jason gave Aria."

With her hand firmly placed on her hip, Spencer countered back, "Well, you're not gonna get it."

A dry, sarcastic smile appeared on Emily's face. She said to the others, trying to convince them while going up against Spencer, "Guys, Spencer's only looking out for herself. We have to cut a deal with—"

"Shut up, Em," Halle cut her off firmly. If they really wanted to play the game well — to convince A that Emily had gone rogue — the two's friendship had to appear to take a damaging hit. They had to look like Halle had chosen everyone else over Emily.

To further sell the lie, Emily gave Halle a dirty stare. "You too? You're with them on this?" she spat, huffing after. Emily scoffed and then asked Aria, "Where is it?"

"It's safe," Aria answered instead.

"Where?" Emily persisted. More people started to gather and watch, eyes drawn in on the self-destruction.

"Don't tell her," Hanna said.

"It's hidden, and it stays hidden until I want it found," Spencer shot back, using the same words Alison did that summer.

"You forget," Emily taunted. "We all learned how to keep secrets from the same person." Smartly, Emily remarked, "I bet I know where it is." She flashed them all a tight, pressed smile. "Good luck!" And then she ducked out, leaving the four to roll their eyes at the attitude.

Feeling eyes burning into them — so many people watching — Spencer said quietly, "Let's get out of here."

"I just gotta go grab my bag," mentioned Halle.

"Okay, we'll meet you by the car," Spencer replied, before she and the other three walked away from the watching stares.

In a hurry to be away from the judging looks, Halle escaped back to the pool. She left her bag and jacket on one of the bleachers. She went to reach for it when an arm caught hers. In shock, Halle gasped; her head whipped around.

Toby stood in front of her, his hand keeping a hold on her. He looked at her seriously and said, "You're gonna tell me what's going on, Halle."

"Toby, it's lot a more complicated than you think," Halle tried.

"Then tell me so I can understand," Toby pleaded. "We don't lie to each other."

Halle paused. The game almost rumbled for her. If she told him, he'd be in danger. But if she didn't, their friendship would be. Halle met Toby's gaze and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. She didn't know which was the biggest risk. They both came down to the same thing.

Lose Toby, or lose Toby.

•

Halle sat in her car outside the the gates to the Hastings' driveway. She honked the horn. They needed to get going soon if they wanted to confront A; Emily had already left ten minutes ago for the greenhouse. Halle and Spencer should really have been on the road by now. Halle honked again, her hand staying on the horn longer this time. The blare drew out, and Halle only hoped her car was hidden enough by the hedges that none of their nosy neighbours saw. At the very least, she was further down the street so her parents couldn't see.

Her left knee started to bounce up an down out of nerves. Spencer was always on time — got on Halle's back for being late — so why on earth did Spencer choose now to be tardy? Emily needed them. They were going to catch A tonight. This was too important to be late.

A chime alerted her to her phone. Her eyes darted down to it. In the cup-holder, she saw the screen of her flip-phone light up. Jason's name flashed along with his message.

I'm back.If you're ready to talk.From: Jason

Room 1-1-6.

It was the same one every time. It had been since That Summer, and as time was pressing onwards — as more time passed them by — it was becoming increasingly obvious that neither of them had moved on. Jason was predictable. So was Halle to an extent. They both were, at least to each other they were. Something finally had to give, and it shifted the night of the arrest.

Even before then.

They never needed much. Jason and Halle were sat on the bed of the grim motel room, him laid on his side while she was sitting cross-legged; the pair ate takeout put in between them. Halle smiled as he avoided eating her spring rolls. She ordered them not him, so he never even considered taking one. Still, she offered.

"How's community service going, then?" he asked. It had been two weeks into their plea-deal with the court since being arrested. The charge was tampering with evidence, and Mrs Hastings had bagged them a good exchange. She negotiated them a month's worth of community service. Halle was grateful, but it didn't mean she had to like it.

Joking, she light-heartedly quipped, "Well, I'm lucky orange don't wash me out, it's one of my many colours."

Jason chuckled. He appreciated her wit even at a time like this, but he craved more. He wasn't meeting her in motel behind backs to get surface-level, he wanted something deeper. The girl from That Summer, the one who told him her biggest fantasy was getting out of Rosewood but was doing everything to ensure she remained.

"No — but seriously, how are you holding up?" Jason asked.

Halle's smile went soft. "You're sweet." She noticed his face didn't waver, nor was he moving on from the conversation. Halle recognised Jason cared strongly about her, and she didn't like the idea of letting that slip from her fingers again. Putting down her chopsticks, Halle admitted, "I'm okay, not great or good but okay — and it's the best I've felt in a long time, to be honest. This—" she stressed, gesturing to the space between them on the bed, "this is the best I've felt in a long time. It's the safest I've felt, too, which also terrifies me."

"Why?" asked Jason. He, too, put aside his utensils and food. He zeroed in on Halle, focusing on only her. Under his stare, she fiddled with her fingers and her voice got quiet. Jason saw a more fragile, more vulnerable girl in front of him.

"Because I've thought about this a lot," Halle confessed to him. "Ever since the start of the year, with Alison's... with the anniversary and then her body being found, and whole lot in-between, I've been thinking That Summer and you — even this gross motel room." She gave a small chuckle and asked, "Don't you think it's funny how we always end up back here, with each other?"

"Unfinished business," Jason told her, and she looked up, meeting his gaze. "I've thought about this moment a lot, too. I've thought about you a lot," he mentioned after, motioning to her.

She swallowed whatever resignations she had and asked him, "Is it true?" Halle watched confusion stretch its way onto his face and sighed, choosing to elaborate. "About coming back for me... that I'm the type of girl you come." She closed her eyes during the space, the dread seeping into her heart and pumping its way through her body. Halle could feel her heartbeat in her fingertips. The lightness in her chest made her dizzy; this meant too much.

"Why are you asking? You already know it's the truth," Jason replied.

Halle's eyes opened, her hard heart beaten tender by honesty. "I think I've been waiting for you. You were always there, at the back of things."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, eyes glinting with playful mischief as Jason hummed in amused acknowledgement. He chose to tease her. "Waiting for me, hmm."

"Not like that, you perv," she shot out, laughing. She tossed a spring roll at him, him darting back as it his cheek. He laughed, too. "I meant this — us," she explained, eyes flitting between them.

Jason nodded. "I get that," he kindly returned. "I've waited for this moment for a long time. I've waited for this— us— for a long time." He used her words, reciting them back to her because of what it meant to her — to them both. Jason meant them too; he felt the weight of them on his chest. This was the most he'd ever gotten out of Halle. It mattered to him if she wanted him as much as he wanted her. The idea she might not want him the same drove him insane.

Halle didn't do much to sooth that doubt, either. She told him she needed time to think straight after her confession and he left for Georgia the next day. That was two weeks ago, and Halle had nothing but time to think. The absence of him made her so uneasy — threw her completely off-centre — and Halle knew she needed Jason to gain balance. She hadn't felt safe since he left. Jason was her greatest source of safety.

Reaching out for the phone, Halle almost picked it up but the passenger door opened abruptly. She jumped back, startled. Halle felt she was caught doing something she shouldn't have, and Spencer was the one to catch her.

"Jeez, what took you so long?" asked Halle. She tried to steady her breathing after, hand over her chest.

Spencer shut the door and moved to grab the seat-belt. She sighed and said, "Toby showed up. Did you say something to him?"

"No. Why?" Halle answered a little too quickly, focusing on pulling the car off than she was the question.

"He said we're acting like Alison was still alive, playing by her games," Spencer mentioned. "He sounded a lot like you."

Halle's tongue came out to wet her lips, anxiety building up inside. Guilt started to niggle at her. "Well, I didn't say anything," she lied. "Why would I risk telling him?"

"Yeah, I suppose," agreed Spencer. She looked down at the time on the dash and commented, "We should hurry, Emily's close and Hanna just left."

"Aria?" asked Halle, taking the turn out of Bridgewater Terrace.

"I don't know, I'll call her," said Spencer. She went to grab her phone when Halle's lit up again, a ping sounding. "You want me to get that?" she asked.

"No, no, it's just my mom," said Halle, lying again. "It's a repeat notification, ignore it," she added, shooting her friend a reassuring smile.

The drive was short. The pair got there in record time. They parked off a secluded road on the opposite side to where the greenhouse was and began walking through the trees, heading for the clearing. The crisp leaves crunched below Halle's boots while the night's bitter air nipped at her cheeks. She cursed the cold, wishing she had brought a thicker jacket with her.

Spencer was on the phone with Aria as Halle held up a flashlight on the ground below. "Oh, my god," Spencer said in shock, causing Halle's head to snap up. "He told your parents?" There was brief pause, left empty for the side of the phonecall Halle was absent to. Spencer stopped in her tracks suddenly. Her face paled. "No. No—"

"What? What?" Halle cut off Spencer, alarmed by the abrupt change in tone. She froze in her tracks, turning back to stare at Spencer. 

"—This is not good," Spencer said, her voice shaking.

"What's not good?" Halle asked, persistent.

"—On her way, I hope," exclaimed Spencer, high-pitched and panicked.

"Em," said Halle, eyes drowning in fright.

The two made haste. They had some way to travel, so picked up the speed. Spencer struggled to type out a text while she kept up pace with Halle. Halle was bounding through the woods. Low branches hit her face as she did her best to swat most of them away. She missed one; a twig-end sliced at her cheek, but she kept running. Feet hurried across the ground, moving as fast as they could. The greenhouse in the near distance.

"Hurry!" said Halle loudly. She leapt over the steep bank's edge and carried on running. Emily's screams made Spencer pick up, too. The two burst into the greenhouse, almost toppling over each other as they rushed in.

Emily was on the floor, fighting fiercely. A was on top of her with a trowel aimed at her, their looming figure hidden by the black hoodie. "No! No!" Emily shielded her face with her hand.

"—Emily!" cried Spencer.

Halle charged forward. Fear switched into raging adrenaline, and Halle went for A without hesitation. Halle tackled A back and the pair collided into the wooden table. She grasped at A's wrist and bashed it again the wood hard. After three hits, the trowel was thrown from A, clattering across the floor, but Halle was also pushed down with such force that she ended up on the ground also.

Aria bolted in from the other side. She and Spencer clutched at makeshift weapons — a spade and gardening fork — and closed in on their masked assailant, blocking the exits.

Crawling, Halle's jeans scraped against concrete. She dragged herself over to Emily, the swimmer gasping for air. Halle helped release the scarf from around Emily's neck, relieving some of the choking. "Are you okay?" she asked over the panic engulfed the greenhouse. Emily gripped at her, holding Halle close as she sucked in as much breath as she could.

SMASH.

Alaunched a plant-pot up at the ceiling. The glass above shattered, splintering off into tiny pieces. The girls screamed and ducked low, covering themselves from the impact. Their tormentor broke in the fast sprint and escaped, pushing Halle forcefully on their way out to keep her down.

"Are you okay?" Aria asked, screeching.

"I'm fine — go!" Emily yelled.

"Quick! Quick!" Halle said, finding her feet again.

Spencer was out first. "You guys, come on!"

Hanna's car was outside, headlights on, as the blonde climbed out. Pure shock coated her features, shaken and slightly stunned.

"Hanna!" screamed Spencer. She was hurdling towards the woods as the other three followed her out. They ran into the forest area, hunting down the black hoodie. They were hot on A's trail — so close to catching up — but after one sharp turn, the five lost Ain the shrubbery. The girls came to an open clearing, all panting hard and out of breath. With their flashlights up, they searched the treeline frantically.

Emily hunched over in pain, unable to steady her breathing like the others. She winced as she reached for her neck again, not capable of shaking the feeling of being strangled.

"My god, I don't believe this!" Spencer screamed. She was immensely frustrated, veins in her neck protruding purple as she threw out another scream.

"Hey," Aria spotted Emily in pain and went to her, "you okay?"

Halle put her arm under Emily to support her. "Em, you good?"

Panting heavily, Emily gasped at her words. "Yeah, I think so," she wheezed.

Hanna, in complete shock and horror, asked, "Did I just hit who I think I did?"

"Yes!!" Spencer cried. She slapped in thighs in annoyance, so peeved they messed it up. "And now they're gone!" Anger. There was only anger burning in her eyes. Pure and hot, the type to turn her knuckles white as she balled her hands into tight fists. "We've got nothing! We've got nothing!" She aimed it at them as she backed away, all that distain thrown at her friends. Spencer couldn't be around where they lost A, not when they were so close.

A heavy sigh left Halle. She looked between the three stood there still — Aria defeated by the great loss, Emily clutched at her neck as she still tried to loosen the already-untied scarf around her neck, and Hanna who was taken aback by the whole thing. Halle shook her head and said, "Let's just go home."

Halle hated how it turned out as well. She wanted to yell and punch a wall. She wanted to kick something and then bash her fists against something else. This was supposed to go right. They were supposed to catch A. This was supposed to be over. It wasn't. They had just succeeding in trapping the bear and poking it; the claws would come out to hurt them again soon.

Also, Halle couldn't be with Jason if they still had A. Not in the way she wanted to, not completely. Jason was a liability, Halle knew that. A needed to be gone first.

Reaching the greenhouse again, Hanna's car lights were noticeably still on. "Was it Garrett or Jenna?" asked Hanna, the only apparent options for A.

"How could it be Jenna?" questioned Spencer incredulously.

"She's blind, and I don't think Garrett has enough smarts about him to figure out that escape," Halle said, beating herself up over it.

"I couldn't tell," said a solemn Emily.

"Well, was it a boy or a girl?" asked Aria. Her question was for Emily since she got the closest.

Emily, despite her demure frame at being attacked, was just as frustrated as the rest of them. She snapped, "I don't know!"

"Any sense of boobs?" asked Hanna, genuinely curious.

"Hanna," scolded Spencer.

"What? It could be a clue," Hanna replied, with a slight shrug.

Nodding her head, Halle strangely agreed with the logic. "Girl makes a solid point." Then, Halle spied Spencer zeroing in on something. Her eyes followed and went to a device in the road. "What's that?" she asked.

They all noticed, and Spencer circled in around it. "That's not mine," she stated first.

"It's not mine," Emily said.

"Ditto," Halle voiced.

Odd looks were exchanged between them before Hanna finally said, "It's none of ours."

Not wanting to get hopeful but feeling it rise inside her, Aria asked, "Do you think think... when A bounced off the car?"

"That's A's cellphone," whispered Spencer in delight, a proud smile making its way to her face.

Tonight wasn't a complete waste after all. The game A forced them into wasn't over, but at least they were still players. It was their turn again.

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