Pretty Little Liars - Perfect.

by Sara Shepard.

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE....Have you ever had a friend turn on you? Just totally transform from someone you thought you knew into someone...else? Im not talking your boyfriend from nursery school who grows up and gets gawky and ugly and zitty, or your friend from camp whom youve got nothing to say to when she comes to visit you over Christmas break, or even a girl in your clique who suddenly breaks away and turns goth or into one of those granola Outward Bound kids. No. Im talking about your soul mate. The girl you know everything about. Who knows everything about you. One day she turns around and is a completely different person.Well, it happens. It happened in Rosewood.Watch it, Aria. Your face is going to freeze like that. Spencer Hastings unwrapped an orange Popsicle and slid it into her mouth. She was referring to the squinty-eyed drunk-pirate face her best friend, Aria Montgomery, was making as she tried to get her Sony Handycam to focus.You sound like my mom, Spence. Emily Fields laughed, adjusting her T-shirt, which had a picture of a baby chicken in goggles on it and said, INSTANT SWIM CHICK ! JUST ADD WATER ! Her friends had forbidden Emily from wearing her goofy swimming T-shirtsInstant Swim Dork! Just add loser! Alison DiLaurentis had joked when Emily walked in. Your mom says that too? Hanna Marin asked, throwing away her green-stained Popsicle stick. Hannaalways ate faster than anyone else. Your face will freeze that way, she mimicked.Alison looked Hanna up and down and cackled. Your mom shouldve warned you that your b.u.t.t would freeze that way.Hannas face fell as she pulled down her pink-and-white striped T-shirtshed borrowed it from Ali, and it kept riding up, revealing a white strip of her stomach. Alison tapped Hannas shin with her flip-flop. Just joking.It was a Friday night in May near the end of seventh grade, and best friends Alison, Hanna, Spencer, Aria, and Emily were gathered in Spencers familys plushly decorated family room, with the Popsicle box, a big bottle of cherry vanilla Diet Dr Pepper, and their cell phones splayed out on the coffee table. A month ago, Ali had come to school with a brand-new LG flip phone, and the others had rushed out to buy their own that very day. They all had pink leather holsters to match Alis, toowell, all except for Aria, whose holster was made of pink mohair. Shed knitted it herself.Aria moved the cameras lever back and forth to zoom in and out. And anyway, my face isnt going to freeze like this. Im concentrating on setting up this shot. This is for posterity. For when we become famous.Well, we all know Im going to get famous. Alison thrust back her shoulders and turned her head to the side, revealing her swanlike neck.Why are you going to be famous? Spencer challenged, sounding b.i.t.c.hier than she probably meant to.Im going to have my own show. Ill be a smarter, cuter Paris Hilton.Spencer snorted. But Emily pursed her pale lips, considering, and Hanna nodded, truly believing. This was Ali. She wouldnt stay here in Rosewood, Pennsylvania, for long. Sure, Rosewood was glamorous by most standardsall its residents looked like walk-on models for a Town & Country photo shootbut they all knew Ali was destined for greater things.Shed plucked them out of oblivion a year and a half ago to be her best friends. With Ali by their sides, they had become the girls of Rosewood Day, the private school they attended. They had such power nowto deem who was cool and who wasnt, to throw the best parties, to nab the best seats in study hall, to run for student office and win by an overwhelming number of votes. Well, that last one only applied to Spencer. Aside from a few twists and turnsand accidentally blinding Jenna Cavanaugh, which they tried their hardest not to think abouttheir lives had transformed from pa.s.sable to perfect.How about we film a talk show? Aria suggested. She considered herself the friends official filmmakerone of the many things she wanted to be when she grew up was the next Jean-Luc G.o.dard, some abstract French director.Ali, youre famous. And Spencer, youre the interviewer.Ill be the makeup girl, Hanna volunteered, rooting through her backpack to find her polka-dotted vinyl makeup bag.Ill do hair. Emily pushed her reddish-blond bob behind her ears and rushed to Alis side. You have gorgeous hair, chrie, she said to Ali in a faux-French accent.Ali slid her Popsicle out of her mouth. Doesnt chrie mean girlfriend?The others were quick to laugh, but Emily paled. No, thats pet.i.te amie. Lately, Em was sensitive when Ali made jokes at her expense. She never used to be.Okay, Aria said, making sure the camera was level. You guys ready?Spencer flopped on the couch and placed a rhinestone tiara left over from a New Years party on her head. Shed been carrying the crown around all night.You cant wear that, Ali snapped.Why not? Spencer adjusted the crown so it was straight.Because. If anything, Im the princess.Why do you always get to be the princess? Spencer muttered under her breath. A nervous ripple swept through the others. Spencer and Ali werent getting along, and no one knew why.Alis cell phone let out a bleat. She reached down, flipped it open, and tilted it away so no one else could see. Sweet. Her fingers flew across the keypad as she typed a text.Who are you writing to? Emilys voice sounded eggsh.e.l.l-thin and small. Cant tell. Sorry. Ali didnt look up. You cant tell? Spencer was irate. What do you mean you cant tell?Ali glanced up. Sorry, princess. You dont have to know everything. Ali closed her phone and set it on the leather couch. Dont start filming yet, Aria. I have to pee. She dashed out of Spencers family room toward the hall bathroom, plopping her Popsicle stick in the trash as she went.Once they heard the bathroom door close, Spencer was the first to speak. Dont you just want to kill her sometimes?The others flinched. They never bad-mouthed Ali. It was as blasphemous as burning the Rosewood Day official flag on school property, or admitting that Johnny Depp really wasnt that cutethat he was actually kind of old and creepy.Of course, on the inside, they felt a little differently. This spring, Ali hadnt been around as much. Shed gotten closer with the high school girls on her JV field hockey squad and never invited Aria, Emily, Spencer, or Hanna to join them at lunch or come with them to the King James Mall.And Ali had begun to keep secrets. Secret texts, secret phone calls, secret giggles about things she wouldnt tell them. Sometimes theyd see Alis screen name online, but when they tried to IM her, she wouldnt respond. Theyd bared their souls to Alitelling her things they hadnt told the others, things they didnt want anyone to knowand they expected her to reciprocate. Hadnt Ali made them all promise a year ago, after the horrible thing with Jenna happened, that they would tell one another everything, absolutely everything, until the end of time?The girls hated to think of what eighth grade would be like if things kept going like this. But it didnt mean they hated Ali.Aria wound a piece of long, dark hair around her fingers and laughed nervously. Kill her because shes so cute, maybe. She hit the cameras power switch, turning it on.And because she wears a size zero, Hanna added.Thats what I meant. Spencer glanced at Alis phone, which was wedged between two couch cushions. Want to read her texts?I do, Hanna whispered.Emily stood up from her perch on the couchs arm. I dont know.... She started inching away from Alis phone, as if just being close to it incriminated her.Spencer scooped up Alis cell. She looked curiously at the blank screen. Cmon. Dont you want to know who texted her?It was probably just Katy, Emily whispered, referring to one of Alis hockey friends. You should put it down, Spence.Aria took the camera off the tripod and walked toward Spencer. Lets do it.They gathered around. Spencer opened the phone and pushed a b.u.t.ton. Its locked.Do you know her pa.s.sword? Aria asked, still filming.Try her birthday, Hanna whispered. She took the phone from Spencer and punched in the digits. The screen didnt change. What do I do now?They heard Alis voice before they saw her. What are you guys doing?Spencer dropped Alis phone back onto the couch. Hanna stepped back so abruptly, she banged her shin against the coffee table.Ali stomped through the door to the family room, her eyebrows knitted together. Were you looking at my phone?Of course not! Hanna cried.We were, Emily admitted, sitting on the couch, then standing up again. Aria shot her a look and then hid behind the camera lens.But Ali was no longer paying attention. Spencers older sister, Melissa, a senior in high school, burst into the Hastings kitchen from the garage. A takeout bag from Otto, a restaurant near the Hastings neighborhood, hung from her wrists. Her adorable boyfriend, Ian, was with her. Ali stood up straighter. Spencer smoothed her dirty-blond hair and straightened her tiara.Ian stepped into the family room. Hey, girls. Hi, Spencer said in a loud voice. How are you, Ian? Im cool. Ian smiled at Spencer. Cute crown.Thanks! Spencer fluttered her coal-black eyelashes.Ali rolled her eyes. Be a little more obvious, she singsonged under her breath.But it was hard not to crush on Ian. He had curly blond hair, perfect white teeth, and stunning blue eyes, and none of them could forget the recent soccer game where hed changed his shirt midquarter and, for five glorious seconds, theyd gotten a full-on view of his naked chest. It was almost universally believed that his gorgeousness was wasted on Melissa, who was totally prudish and acted way too much like Mrs. Hastings, Spencers mother.Ian plopped down on the edge of the couch near Ali. So, what are you girls doing? Oh, not much, Aria said, adjusting the cameras focus. Making a film. A film? Ian looked amused. Can I be in it? Of course, Spencer said quickly. She plopped down on the other side of him.Ian grinned into the camera. So what are my lines?Its a talk show, Spencer explained. She glanced at Ali, gauging her reaction, but Ali didnt respond. Im the host. You and Ali are my guests. Ill do you first.Ali let out a sarcastic snort and Spencers cheeks flamed as pink as her Ralph Lauren T-shirt. Ian let the reference pa.s.s by. Okay. Interview away.Spencer sat up straighter on the couch, crossing her muscular legs just like a talk show host. She picked up the pink microphone from Hannas karaoke machine and held it under her chin. Welcome to the Spencer Hastings show. For my first questionAsk him who his favorite teacher at Rosewood is, Aria called out. Ali perked up. Her blue eyes glittered. Thats a good question for you, Aria. You should ask him if hewants to hook up with any of his teachers. In vacant parking lots. Arias mouth fell open. Hanna and Emily, who were standing off to the side near the credenza,exchanged a confused glance.All my teachers are dogs, Ian said slowly, not getting whatever was happening.Ian, can you please help me? Melissa made a clattering noise in the kitchen.One sec, Ian called out.Ian. Melissa sounded annoyed.I got one. Spencer tossed her long blond hair behind her ears. She was loving that Ian was paying more attention to them than to Melissa. What would your ultimate graduation gift be?Ian, Melissa called through her teeth, and Spencer glanced at her sister through the wide Frenchdoors to the kitchen. The light from the fridge cast a shadow across her face. I. Need. Help. Easy, Ian answered, ignoring her. Id want a base-jumping lesson. Base-jumping? Aria called. Whats that? Parachuting from the top of a building, Ian explained.As Ian told a story about Hunter Queenan, one of his friends who had base-jumped, the girls leaned forward eagerly. Aria focused the camera on Ians jaw, which looked hewn out of stone. Her eyes flickered for a moment to Ali. She was sitting next to Ian, staring off into s.p.a.ce. Was Ali bored? She probably had better things to dothat text was probably about plans with her glamorous older friends.Aria glanced again at Alis cell phone, which was resting on the cushion of the couch next to her arm. What was she hiding from them? What was she up to?Dont you sometimes want to kill her? Spencers question floated through Arias brain as Ian rambled on. Deep down, she knew they all felt that way. It might be better if Ali were just...gone, instead of leaving them behind.So Hunter said he got the most amazing rush when he base-jumped, Ian concluded. Better than anything. Including s.e.x.Ian, Melissa warned. That sounds incredible. Spencer looked to Ali on the other side of Ian. Doesnt it? Yes. Ali looked sleepy, almost like she was in a trance. Incredible.The rest of the week had been a blur: final exams, planning parties, more get-togethers, and more tension. And then, on the evening of the last day of seventh grade, Ali went missing. Just like that. One minute she was there, the next...gone.The police scoured Rosewood for clues. They questioned the four girls separately, asking if Ali had been acting strangely or if anything unusual had happened recently. They all thought long and hard. The night she disappeared had been strangeshed been hypnotizing them and had run out of the barn after she and Spencer had a stupid fight about the blinds and just...never came back. But had there been other strange nights? They considered the night they tried to read Alis texts, but not for very longafter Ian and Melissa left, Ali had snapped out of her funk. Theyd had a dance contest and played with Hannas karaoke machine. The mystery texts on Alis phone had been forgotten.Next, the cops asked if they thought anyone close to Ali might have wanted to hurt her. Hanna, Aria, and Emily all thought of the same thing: Dont you sometimes want to kill her? Spencer had snarled. But no. Shed been kidding. Hadnt she?n.o.body wanted to hurt Ali, Emily said, pushing the worry out of her mind.Absolutely not, Aria answered too, in her own separate interview, darting her eyes away from the burly cop sitting next to her on the porch swing.I dont think so, Hanna said in her interview, fiddling with the pale blue string bracelet Ali had made for them after Jennas accident. Ali wasnt that close with many people. Only us. And we all loved her to death.Sure, Spencer seemed angry with Ali. But really, deep down, werent they all? Ali was perfectbeautiful, smart, s.e.xy, irresistibleand she was ditching them. Maybe they did hate her for it. But that didnt mean any of them wanted her gone.Its amazing what you dont see, though. Even when its right in front of your eyes.

1

SPENCERS HARD WORK PAYS OFFSpencer Hastings should have been sleeping at six-thirty on Monday morning. Instead, she was sitting in a therapists blue-and-green waiting room, feeling a little like she was trapped inside an aquarium. Her older sister, Melissa, was sitting on an emerald-colored chair opposite her. Melissa looked up from her Principles of Emerging Markets textbookshe was in an MBA program at the University of Pennsylvaniaand gave Spencer a motherly smile.Ive felt so much clearer since I started seeing Dr. Evans, purred Melissa, whose appointment was right after Spencers. Youre going to love her. Shes incredible.Of course shes incredible, Spencer thought nastily. Melissa would find anyone willing to listen to her for a whole uninterrupted hour amazing.But she might come on a little strong for you, Spence, Melissa warned, slapping her book closed. Shes going to tell you things about yourself you dont want to hear.Spencer shifted her weight. Im not six. I can take criticism.Melissa gave Spencer a tiny eyebrow-raise, clearly indicating that she wasnt so sure. Spencer hid behind her Philadelphia magazine, wondering again why she was here. Spencers mother, Veronica, had booked her an appointment with a therapistMelissas therapistafter Spencers old friend Alison DiLaurentis had been found dead and Toby Cavanaugh committed suicide. Spencer suspected the appointment was also meant to sort through why Spencer had hooked up with Melissas boyfriend, Wren. Spencer was doing fine though. Really. And wasnt going to her worst enemys therapist like going to an ugly girls plastic surgeon? Spencer feared shed probably come out of her very first shrink session with the mental-health equivalent of hideously lopsided fake b.o.o.bs.Just then, the office door swung open, and a pet.i.te blond woman wearing tortoisesh.e.l.l gla.s.ses, a black tunic, and black pants poked her head out.Spencer? the woman said. Im Dr. Evans. Come in.Spencer strode into Dr. Evanss office, which was spare and bright and thankfully nothing like the waiting room. It contained a black leather couch and a gray suede chair. A large desk held a phone, a stack of manila folders, a chrome gooseneck lamp, and one of those weighted drinking-bird toys that Mr. Craft, the earth science teacher, loved. Dr. Evans settled into the suede chair and gestured for Spencer to sit onthe couch.So, Dr. Evans said, once they were comfy, Ive heard a lot about you.Spencer wrinkled her nose and glanced toward the waiting room. From Melissa, I guess?From your mom. Dr. Evans opened to the first page of a red notebook. She says that youve had some turmoil in your life, especially lately.Spencer fixed her gaze on the end table next to the couch. It held a candy dish, a box of Kleenexof courseand one of those pegboard IQ games, the kind where you jumped the pegs over one another until there was only one peg remaining. There used to be one of those in the DiLaurentis family den; she and Ali had solved it together, meaning they were both geniuses. I think Im coping, she muttered. Im not, like, suicidal.A close friend died. A neighbor, too. That must be hard.Spencer let her head rest on the back of the couch and looked up. It looked like the b.u.mpily plastered ceiling had acne. She probably needed to talk to someoneit wasnt like she could talk to her family about Ali, Toby, or the terrifying notes shed been getting from the evil stalker who was known simply as A. And her old friendstheyd been avoiding her ever since shed admitted that Toby had known all along that theyd blinded his stepsister, Jennaa secret shed kept from them for three long years.But three weeks had gone by since Tobys suicide, and almost a month had pa.s.sed since the workers unearthed Alis body. Spencer was coping better with all of it, mostly, because A had vanished. She hadnt received a note since before Foxy, Rosewoods big charity benefit. At first, As silence made Spencer feel edgyperhaps it was the calm before the hurricanebut as more time pa.s.sed, she began to relax. Her manicured nails dislodged themselves from the heels of her hands. She started sleeping with her desk light off again. Shed received an A+ on her latest calc test and an A on her Platos Republic paper. Her breakup with Wrenwho had dumped her for Melissa, who had in turn dumped himdidnt sting so much anymore, and her family had reverted back into everyday obliviousness. Even Melissas presenceshe was staying with the family while a small army renovated her town house in Phillywas mostly tolerable.Maybe the nightmare was over.Spencer wiggled her toes inside her knee-high buff-colored kidskin boots. Even if she felt comfortable enough with Dr. Evans to tell her about A, it was a moot point. Why bring A up if A was gone?It is hard, but Alison has been missing for years. Ive moved on, Spencer finally said. Maybe Dr. Evans would realize Spencer wasnt going to talk and end their session early.Dr. Evans wrote something in her notebook. Spencer wondered what. Ive also heard you and your sister were having some boyfriend issues.Spencer bristled. She could only imagine Melissas extremely slanted version of the Wren debacleit probably involved Spencer eating whipped cream off Wrens bare stomach in Melissas bed while her sister watched helplessly from the window. It wasnt really a big deal, she muttered.Dr. Evans lowered her shoulders and gave Spencer the same youre not fooling me look her mother used. He was your sisters boyfriend first, wasnt he? And you dated him behind her back?Spencer clenched her teeth. Look, I know it was wrong, okay? I dont need another lecture.Dr. Evans stared at her. Im not going to lecture you. Perhaps... She put a finger to her cheek. Perhaps you had your reasons.Spencers eyes widened. Were her ears working correctlywas Dr. Evans seriously suggesting that Spencer wasnt 100 percent to blame? Perhaps $175 an hour wasnt a blasphemous price to pay for therapy, after all.Do you and your sister ever spend time together? Dr. Evans asked after a pause.Spencer reached into the candy dish for a Hersheys Kiss. She pulled off the silver wrapper in one long curl, flattened the foil in her palm, and popped the kiss in her mouth. Never. Unless were with our parentsbut its not like Melissa talks to me. All she does is brag to my parents about her accomplishments and her insanely boring town house renovations. Spencer looked squarely at Dr. Evans. I guess you know my parents bought her a town house in Old City simply because she graduated from college.I did. Dr. Evans stretched her arms into the air and two silver bangle bracelets slid to her elbow. Fascinating stuff.And then she winked. Spencer felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest. Apparently Dr. Evans didnt care aboutthe merits of sisal versus jute either. Yes.They talked a while longer, Spencer enjoying it more and more, and then Dr. Evans motioned to the Salvador Dal' melting-clocks clock that hung above her desk to indicate that their time was up. Spencer said good-bye and opened the office door, rubbing her head as if the therapist had cracked it open and tinkered around in her brain. That actually hadnt been as torturous as shed thought it would be.She shut the therapists office door and turned around. To her surprise, her mother was sitting in a pale-green wing chair next to Melissa, reading a Main Line style magazine.Mom. Spencer frowned. What are you doing here?Veronica Hastings looked like shed come straight from the familys riding stables. She was wearing a white Pet.i.t Bateau T-shirt, skinny jeans, and her beat-up riding boots. There was even a little bit of hay in her hair. I have news, she announced.Both Mrs. Hastings and Melissa had very serious looks on their faces. Spencers insides started to whirl. Someone had died. SomeoneAlis killerhad killed again. Perhaps A was back. Please, no, she thought.I got a call from Mr. McAdam, Mrs. Hastings said, standing up. Mr. McAdam was Spencers AP economics teacher. He wanted to talk about some essays you wrote a few weeks ago. She took a step closer, the scent of her Chanel No. 5 perfume tickling Spencers nose. Spence, he wants to nominate one of them for a Golden Orchid.Spencer stepped back. A Golden Orchid?The Golden Orchid was the most prestigious essay contest in the country, the high school essay equivalent of an Oscar. If she won, People and Time would do a feature story on her. Yale, Harvard, and Stanford would beg her to enroll. Spencer had followed the successes of Golden Orchid winners the way other people followed celebrities. The Golden Orchid winner of 1998 was now managing editor of a very famous fashion magazine. The winner from 1994 had become a congressman at 28.Thats right. Her mother broke into a dazzling smile.Oh my G.o.d. Spencer felt faint. But not from excitementfrom dread. The essays shed turned in hadnt been hersthey were Melissas. Spencer had been in a rush to finish the a.s.signment, and A had suggested she borrow Melissas old work. So much had gone on in the past few weeks, it had slipped her mind.Spencer winced. Mr. McAdamor Squidward, as everyone called himhad loved Melissa when she was his student. How could he not remember Melissas essays, especially if they were that good?Her mother grabbed Spencers arm and she flinchedher mothers hands were always corpse-cold. Were so proud of you, Spence!Spencer couldnt control the muscles around her mouth. She had to come clean with this before she got in too deep. Mom, I cantBut Mrs. Hastings wasnt listening. Ive already called Jordana at the Philadelphia Sentinel. Remember Jordana? She used to take riding lessons at the stables? Anyway, shes thrilled. No one from this area has ever been nominated. She wants to write an article about you!Spencer blinked. Everyone read the Philadelphia Sentinel newspaper. The interview and photo shoot are all scheduled, Mrs. Hastings breezed on, picking up her giantsaffron-colored Tods satchel and jingling her car keys.Wednesday before school. Theyll provide a stylist. Im sure Uri will come to give you a blowout.Spencer was afraid to make eye contact with her mom, so she stared at the waiting-room reading materialan a.s.sortment of New Yorkers and Economists, and a big book of fairy tales that was teetering on top of a Dubble Bubble tub of Legos. She couldnt tell her mom about the stolen papernot now. And it wasnt as if she was going to win the Golden Orchid, anyway. Hundreds of people werenominated, from the best high schools all over the country. She probably wouldnt even make it past the first cut.That sounds great, Spencer sputtered.Her mom pranced out the door. Spencer lingered a moment longer, transfixed by the wolf on the cover of the fairy tale book. Shed had the same one when she was little. The wolf was dressed up in a negligee and bonnet, leering at a blond, na*ve Red Riding Hood. It used to give Spencer nightmares.Melissa cleared her throat. When Spencer looked up, her sister was staring. Congrats, Spence, Melissa said evenly. The Golden Orchid. Thats huge.Thanks, Spencer blurted. There was an eerily familiar expression on Melissas face. And then Spencer realized: Melissa looked exactly like the big bad wolf.

2

JUST ANOTHER s.e.xUALLY CHARGED DAY IN AP ENGLISHAria Montgomery sat down in English cla.s.s on Monday morning, just as the air outside the open widow started to smell like rain. The PA crackled, and everyone in the cla.s.s looked at the little speaker on the ceiling.h.e.l.lo, students! This is Spencer Hastings, your junior cla.s.s vice president! Spencers voice rang out clear and loud. She sounded perky and a.s.sured, as if shed taken a course in Announcements 101. I want to remind everyone that the Rosewood Day Hammerheads are swimming against the Drury Academy Eels tomorrow. Its the biggest meet of the season, so lets all show some spirit and come out and support the team! There was a pause. Yeah!Some of the cla.s.s snickered. Aria felt an uneasy chill. Despite everything that had happenedAlisons murder, Tobys suicide, ASpencer was the president or VP of every club around. But to Aria, Spencers spiritedness sounded...fake. She had seen a side of Spencer others hadnt. Spencer had known for years that Ali had threatened Toby Cavanaugh to keep him quiet about Jennas accident, and Aria couldnt forgive her for keeping such a dangerous secret from the rest of them.Okay, cla.s.s, Ezra Fitz, Arias AP English teacher, said. He resumed writing on the board, printing The Scarlet Letter in his angular handwriting, and then he underlined it four times.In Nathaniel Hawthornes masterpiece, Hester Prynne cheats on her husband, and her town forces her to wear a big, red, shameful A on her chest as a reminder of what shes done. Mr. Fitz turned from the board and pushed his square gla.s.ses up the bridge of his sloped nose. Can anyone think of other stories that have the same falling-from-grace theme? About people who are ridiculed or cast out for their mistakes?Noel Kahn raised his hand and his chain-link Rolex watch slid down his wrist. How about that episode of The Real World when the housemates voted for the psycho girl to leave?The cla.s.s laughed, and Mr. Fitz looked perplexed. Guys, this is supposed to be an AP cla.s.s. Mr. Fitz turned to Arias row. Aria? How about you? Thoughts?Aria paused. Her life was a good example. Not long ago, she and her family had been living harmoniously in Iceland, Alison hadnt been officially dead, and A hadnt existed. But then, in a horrible unraveling of events that started six weeks ago, Aria had moved back to preppy Rosewood, Alis body had been discovered under the concrete slab behind her old house, and A had outed the Montgomery familys biggest secret: that Arias father, Byron, had cheated on her mother, Ella, with one of his students, Meredith. The news. .h.i.t Ella hard and she promptly threw Byron out. Finding out that Aria had kept Byrons secret from her for three years hadnt helped Ella much either. Mother-daughter relations hadnt been too warm and fuzzy since.Of course, it could have been worse. Aria hadnt gotten any texts from A in the last three weeks. Although Byron was now allegedly living with Meredith, at least Ella had begun speaking to Aria again. And Rosewood hadnt been invaded by aliens yet, although after all the weird things that had happened in this town, Aria wouldnt have been surprised if that were next.Aria? Mr. Fitz goaded. Any ideas? Mason Byers came to Arias rescue. What about Adam and Eve and that snake?Great, Mr. Fitz said absentmindedly. His eyes rested on Aria for another second before looking away. Aria felt a warm, p.r.i.c.kly rush. She had hooked up with Mr. FitzEzraat Snookers, a college bar, before either of them knew he would be her new AP English teacher. He was the one whod ended it, and afterward, Aria had learned he had a girlfriend in New York. But she didnt hold a grudge. Things were going well with her new boyfriend, Sean Ackard, who was kind and sweet and also happened to be gorgeous.Besides, Ezra was the best English teacher Aria had ever had. In the month since school had started, hed a.s.signed four amazing books and staged a skit based on Edward Albees The Sandbox. Soon, the cla.s.s was going to do a Desperate Housewivesstyle interpretation of Medea, the Greek play where a mother murders her children. Ezra wanted them to think unconventionally, and unconventional was Arias forte. Now, instead of calling her Finland, her cla.s.smate Noel Kahn had given Aria a new nickname, Brownnoser. It felt good to be excited about school again, though, and at times she almost forgot things with Ezra had ever been complicated.Until Ezra threw her a crooked smile, of course. Then she couldnt help but feel fluttery. Just a little.Hanna Marin, who sat right in front of Aria, raised her hand. How about that book where two girls are best friends, but then, all of a sudden, one of the best friends turns evil and steals the other ones boyfriend?Ezra scratched his head. Im sorry...I dont think Ive read that book.Aria clenched her fists. She knew what Hanna meant. For the last time, Hanna, I didnt steal Sean from you! You guys were already. Broken. Up!The cla.s.s rippled with laughter. Hannas shoulders became rigid. Someones a little self-centered, she murmured to Aria without turning around. Who said I was talking about you?But Aria knew she was. When Aria had returned from Iceland, shed been stunned to see that Hanna had morphed from Alis chubby, awkward lackey to a thin, beautiful, designer-clothes-wearing G.o.ddess. It seemed like Hanna had everything shed ever wanted: she and her best friend, Mona Vanderwaalalso a transformed dorkruled the school, and Hanna had even nabbed Sean Ackard, the boy shed pined over since sixth grade. Aria had only gone for Sean after hearing that Hanna had dumped him. But she quickly found out it had been the other way around.Aria had hoped she and her old friends might reunite, especially since theyd all received notes from A. Yet, they werent even speakingthings were right back to where theyd been during those awkward, worried weeks after Alis disappearance. Aria hadnt even told them about what A had done to her family. The only exbest friend Aria was still sort of friendly with was Emily Fieldsbut their conversations had mostly consisted of Emily blubbering about how guilty she felt about Tobys death, until Aria had finally insisted that it wasnt her fault.Well, anyway, Ezra said, putting copies of The Scarlet Letter at the front of each row to pa.s.s back, I want everyone to read chapters one through five this week, and you have a three-page essay on any themes you see at the beginning of the book due on Friday. Okay?Everyone groaned and started to talk. Aria slid her book into her yak-fur bag. Hanna reached down to pick her purse off the floor. Aria touched Hannas thin, pale arm. Look, Im sorry. I really am.Hanna yanked her arm away, pressed her lips together, and wordlessly stuffed The Scarlet Letter into her purse. It kept jamming, and she let out a frustrated grunt.Cla.s.sical music tinkled through the loudspeaker, indicating the period was over. Hanna shot up from her seat as if it were on fire. Aria rose slowly, shoving her pen and notebook into her purse and heading for the door.Aria.She turned. Ezra was leaning against his oak desk, his tattered caramel leather briefcase pressed to his hip.Everything okay? he asked. Sorry about all that, she said. Hanna and I have some issues. It wont happen again. No problem. Ezra set his mug of chai down. Is everything else okay?Aria bit her lip and considered telling him what was going on. But why? For all she knew, Ezra was as sleazy as her father. If he really did have a girlfriend in New York, then hed cheated on her when hed hooked up with Aria.Everythings fine, she managed.Good. Youre doing a great job in cla.s.s. He smiled, showing his two adorably overlapping bottom teeth.Yeah, Im enjoying myself, she said, taking a step toward the door. But as she did, she stumbled over her super-high stack-heeled boots, careening into Ezras desk. Ezra grabbed her waist and pulled her upright...and into him. His body felt warm and safe, and he smelled good, like chili powder, cigarettes,and old books.Aria moved away quickly. Are you okay? Ezra asked.Yeah. She busied herself by straightening her school blazer. Sorry.Its okay, Ezra answered, jamming his hands in his jacket pockets. So...see you.Yeah. See you.Aria walked out of the cla.s.sroom, her breathing fast and shallow. Maybe she was nuts, but she was pretty sure Ezra had held her for a second longer than he needed to. And she was certain shed liked it.

3

THERES NO SUCH THING AS BAD PRESSDuring their free period Monday afternoon, Hanna Marin and her best friend, Mona Vanderwaal, were sitting in the corner booth of Steam, Rosewood Days coffee bar, doing what they did best: ripping on people who werent as fabulous as they were.Mona poked Hanna with one end of her chocolate-dipped biscotti. To Mona, food was more like a prop, less like something to eat. Jennifer Feldmans got some logs, doesnt she?Poor girl. Hanna mock-pouted. Logs was Monas shorthand term for tree-trunk legs: solid and unshapely thighs and calves with no tapering from knees to ankles.And her feet look like overstuffed sausage casings in those heels! Mona cawed.Hanna snickered, watching as Jennifer, who was on the diving team, hung up a poster on the far wall that read, SWIM MEET TOMORROW ! ROSEWOOD DAY HAMMERHEADS VS . DRURY ACADEMY EELS ! Her ankles were hideously thick. Thats what girls with fat ankles get when they try to wear Louboutins, Hanna sighed. She and Mona were the thin-ankled sylphs Christian Louboutin shoes were meant for, obviously.Mona took a big sip of her Americano and pulled out her Gucci wallet diary from her eggplant-colored Botkier purse. Hanna nodded approvingly. They had other things to do besides criticize people today, like plan not one but two parties: one for the two of them, and the second for the rest of Rosewood Days elite.First things first. Mona uncapped her pen. The Frenniversary. What should we do tonight? Shopping? Ma.s.sages? Dinner?All of that, Hanna answered. And we definitely have to hit Otter. Otter was a new high-end boutique at the mall.Im loving Otter, Mona agreed.Where should we have dinner? Hanna asked.Rive Gauche, of course, Mona said loudly, talking over the groaning coffee grinder.Youre right. Theyll definitely give us wine.Should we invite boys? Monas blue eyes gleamed.Eric Kahn keeps calling me. Maybe Noel could come for you?Hanna frowned. Despite being cute, incredibly rich and part of the ber-s.e.xy clan of Kahn brothers, Noel wasnt really her type. No boys, she decided. Although thats very cool about Eric.This is going to be a fabulous Frenniversary. Mona grinned so broadly that her dimples showed. Can you believe this is our third?Hanna smiled. Their Frenniversary marked the day Hanna and Mona had talked on the phone for three and a half hoursthe obvious indicator that they were best friends. Although theyd known each other since kindergarten, theyd never really spoken before cheerleading tryouts a few weeks before the first day of eighth grade. By then, Ali had been missing for two months and Hannas old friends had become really distant, so shed decided to give Mona a chance. It was worth itMona was funny, sarcastic, and, despite her thing for animal backpacks and Razor scooters, she secretly devoured Vogue and Teen Vogue as ravenously as Hanna did. Within weeks, theyd decided to be best friends and transform themselves into the most popular girls at school. And look: Now they had.Now for the bigger plans, Mona said, flipping another page of her notebook. Sweet seventeen, she sang to the MTV My Super Sweet Sixteen melody.Its going to rock, Hanna gushed. Monas birthday was this Sat.u.r.day, and she had almost all the party details in place. She was going to have it at the Hollis Planetarium, where there were telescopes in every roomeven the bathrooms. Shed booked a DJ, caterers, and a trapeze schoolso guests could swing over the dance flooras well as a videographer, who would film the party and simultaneously webcast it onto a Jumbotron screen. Mona had carefully instructed guests to wear formal dress only on the invites. If someone turned up in jeans or Juicy sweats, security would not-so-politely turn them away.So I was thinking, Mona said, stuffing a napkin into her empty paper coffee cup. Its a little last-minute, but Im going to have a court.A court? Hanna raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow.Its an excuse to get that fabulous Zac Posen dress you keep frothing over at Saksthe fitting is tomorrow. And well wear tiaras and make the boys bow down to us.Hanna stifled a giggle. Were not going to do an opening dance number, are we? She and Mona had been on Julia Rubensteins party court last year, and Julia had made them do a dance routine with a bunch of D-list male models. Hannas dance partner smelled like garlic and had immediately asked her if she wanted to join him in the coatroom. Shed spent the rest of the party running away from him.Mona scoffed, breaking her biscotti into smaller pieces. Would I do something as lame as that?Of course not. Hanna rested her chin in her hands. So Im the only girl in the court, right? Mona rolled her eyes. Obviously. Hanna shrugged. I mean, I dont know who else you could pick. We just need to get you a date. Mona placed the tiniest piece of biscotti in her mouth.I dont want to take anyone from Rosewood Day, Hanna said quickly. Maybe Ill ask someone from Hollis. And Ill bring more than one date. Her eyes lit up. I could have a whole load of guys carry me around all night, like Cleopatra.Mona gave her a high five. Now youre talking. Hanna chewed on the end of her straw. I wonder if Sean will come. Dont know. Mona raised an eyebrow. Youre over him, right?Of course. Hanna pushed her auburn hair over her shoulder. Bitterness still flickered inside her whenever she thought about how Sean had dumped her for way-too-tall, Im-a-kiss-a.s.s-English-student-and-think-Im-hot-s.h.i.t-because-I-lived-in-Europe Aria Montgomery, but whatever. It was Seans loss. Now that boys knew she was available, Hannas BlackBerry inbox was beeping with potential dates every few minutes.Good, Mona said. Because youre way too hot for him, Han.I know, Hanna quipped, and they touched palms lightly in another high five. Hanna sat back, feeling a warm, rea.s.suring whoosh of well-being. It was hard to believe that things had been shaky between her and Mona a month ago. Imagine, Mona thinking that Hanna wanted to be friends with Aria, Emily, and Spencer instead of her!Okay, so Hanna had been keeping things from Mona, although shed confessed most of it: her occasional purges, the trouble with her dad, her two arrests, the fact that shed stripped for Sean at Noel Kahns party and hed rejected her. Shed downplayed everything, worried Mona would disown her for such horrible secrets, but Mona had taken it all in stride. She said every diva got in trouble once in a while, and Hanna decided shed just overreacted. So what if she wasnt with Sean anymore? So what if she hadnt spoken to her father since Foxy? So what if she was still volunteering at Mr. Ackards burn clinic to atone for wrecking his car? So what if her two worst enemies, Naomi Zeigler and Riley Wolfe, knew she had a bingeing problem and had spread rumors about her around the school? She and Mona were still tight, and A had stopped stalking her.Kids began filtering out of the coffee bar, which meant that free period was about to end. As Hanna and Mona swaggered through the exit, Hanna realized they were approaching Naomi and Riley, who had been hiding behind the giant swirling Frappuccino machine. Hanna set her jaw and tried to hold her head high.Baaaarf, Naomi hissed into Hannas ear as she pa.s.sed. Yaaaaak, Riley taunted right behind her.Dont listen to them, Han, Mona said loudly. Theyre just p.i.s.sed because you can fit into those Rich and Skinny jeans at Otter and they cant.Its cool, Hanna said breezily, sticking her nose into the air. Theres that, and at least I dont have inverted nipples.Naomis mouth got very small and tense. That was because of the bra I was wearing, she said through clenched teeth. Hanna had seen Naomis inverted nipples when they were changing for gym the week before. Maybe it was just from the weird bra she had on, but heyalls fair in love and the war to be popular.Hanna glanced over her shoulder and shot Naomi and Riley a haughty, condescending look. She felt like a queen snubbing two grubby little wenches. And it gave Hanna great satisfaction to see that Mona was giving them the exact same look. That was what best friends were for, after all.

4

NO WONDER EMILYS MOM IS SO STRICTEmily Fields never had practice the day before a meet, so she came straight home after school and noticed three new items sitting on the limestone kitchen island. There were two new blue Sammy swim towels for Emily and her sister Carolyn, just in time for their big meet against Drury tomorrow...and there was also a paperback book t.i.tled Its Not Fair: What to Do When You Lose Your Boyfriend. A Post-it note was affixed to the cover: Emily: Thought you might find this useful. Ill be back at 6.Mom.Emily absentmindedly flipped through the pages. Not long after Alisons body had been found, Emilys mother had started surprising her with little cheer-me-ups, like a book called 1001 Things to Make You Smile, a big set of Prismacolor colored pencils, and a walrus puppet, because Emily used to be obsessed with walruses when she was younger. After Tobys suicide, however, her mother had merely given Emily a bunch of self-help books. Mrs. Fields seemed to think Tobys death was harder for Emily than Alisprobably because she thought Toby had been Emilys boyfriend.Emily sank into a white kitchen chair and shut her eyes. Boyfriend or not, Tobys death did haunt her. Every night, as she was looking at herself in the mirror while brushing her teeth, she thought she saw Toby standing behind her. She couldnt stop going over that fateful night when hed taken her to Foxy. Emily had told Toby that shed been in love with Alison, and Toby had admitted he was glad Ali was dead. Emily had immediately a.s.sumed Toby was Alis killer and had threatened to call the cops. But by the time she realized just how wrong she was, it was too late.Emily listened to the small settling sounds of her empty house. She stood up, picked up the cordless phone on the counter and dialed a number. Maya answered in one ring.Carolyns at Tophers, Emily said in a low voice. My moms at a PTA meeting. We have a whole hour.The creek? Maya whispered. Yep. Six minutes, Maya declared. Time me.It took Emily two minutes to slip out the back door, sprint across her vast, slippery lawn, and dive into the woods to the secluded little creek. Alongside the water was a smooth, flat rock, perfect for two girls to sit on. She and Maya had discovered the secret creek spot two weeks ago, and theyd been hiding away here as much as they possibly could.In five minutes and forty-five seconds, Maya emerged through the trees. She looked adorable as usual, in her plain white T-shirt, pale pink miniskirt, and red suede Puma sneakers. Even though it was October, it was almost eighty degrees out. She had pulled her hair back from her face, showing off her flawless, caramel-colored skin.Hey, Maya cried, a little out of breath. Under six minutes? Barely, Emily teased.They both plopped down on the rock. For a second, neither of them spoke. It was so much quieter back here in the woods than by the street. Emily tried not to think about how she had run from Toby through these very woods a few weeks ago. Instead, she concentrated on the way the water sparkled over the rocks and how the trees were just starting to turn orange at the tips. She had a superst.i.tion about the big tree she could just make out at the edge of her backyard: if its leaves turned yellow in the fall, she would have a good school year. If they turned red, she wouldnt. But this year, the leaves were orangedid that mean so-so? Emily had all sorts of superst.i.tions. She thought the world was fraught with signs. Nothing was random.I missed you, Maya whispered in Emilys ear. I didnt see you at school today.A shiver pa.s.sed through Emily as Mayas lips grazed her earlobe. She shifted her position on the rock, moving closer to Maya. I know. I kept looking for you.Did you survive your bio lab? Maya asked, curling her pinkie around Emilys. Uh-huh. Emily slid her fingers up Mayas arm. How was your history test? Maya wrinkled her nose and shook her head.Does this make it better? Emily pecked Maya on the lips.Youll have to try harder than that to make it better, Maya said seductively, lowering her green-yellow catlike eyes and reaching for Emily.They had decided to try this: sitting together, hanging out whenever they could, touching, kissing. As much as Emily tried to edit Maya from her life, she couldnt. Maya was wonderful, nothing like Ems last boyfriend, Bennothing, in fact, like any boy shed ever gone out with. There was something socomforting about being here at the creek side by side. They werent just togetherthey were also best friends. This was how coupledom should feel.When they pulled away, Maya slid off a sneaker and dipped her toe into the creek. So we moved back into our house yesterday.Emily drew in her breath. After the workers had found Alis body in Mayas new backyard, the St. Germains had moved to a hotel to escape the media. Is it...weird?Its okay. Maya shrugged. Oh, but get this. Theres a stalker on the loose.What?Yeah, a neighbor was telling my mom about it this morning. Someones running around through peoples yards, peeping into windows.Emilys stomach began to hurt. This, too, reminded her of Toby: back when they were in sixth grade, he was the creepy kid who peeked into everyones windows, especially Alis. Guy? Girl?Maya shook her head. I dont know. She blew her curly bangs up into the air. This town, I swear to G.o.d. Weirdest place on earth.You must miss California, Emily said softly, pausing to watch a bunch of birds lift off from a nearby oak tree.Not at all, actually. Maya touched Emilys wrist. There are no Emilys in California.Emily leaned forward and kissed Maya softly on her lips. They held their lips together for five long seconds. She kissed Mayas earlobe. Then Maya kissed her bottom lip. They pulled away and smiled, the afternoon sun making pretty patterns on their cheeks. Maya kissed Emilys nose, then her temples, then her neck. Emily shut her eyes, and Maya kissed her eyelids. She took a deep breath. Maya ran her delicate fingers along the edge of Emilys jaw; it felt like a million b.u.t.terflies flapping their wings against her skin. As much as shed been trying to convince herself that being with Maya was wrong, it was the only thing that felt right.Maya pulled away. So, I have a proposal for you. Emily smirked. A proposal. Sounds serious. Maya pulled her hands into her sleeves. How about we make things more open? Open? Emily repeated.Yeah. Maya ran her finger up and down the length of Emilys arm, giving her goose b.u.mps. Emily could smell Mayas banana gum, a smell she now found intoxicating. Meaning we hang out inside your house. We hang out at school. We...I dont know. I know youre not ready to be, like, out with this, Em, but its hard spending all our time on this rock. Whats going to happen when it gets cold?Well come out here in snowsuits, Emily quipped.Im serious.Emily watched as a stiff wind made the tree branches knock together. The air suddenly smelled like burning leaves. She couldnt invite Maya inside her house because her mother had already made it clear that she didnt want Emily to be friends with Maya...for terrible, almost-definitely racist reasons. But it wasnt like Emily was going to tell Maya that. And as for the other thing, coming outno. She closed her eyes and thought of the picture A had texted her a while agothe one of Emily and Maya kissing in the photo booth at Noel Kahns party. She winced. She wasnt ready for people to know.Im sorry Im slow, Emily said. But this is what Im comfortable with right now. Maya sighed. Okay, she said in an Eeyore-ish voice. Ill just have to deal.Emily stared into the water. Two silvery fish swam tightly together. Whenever one turned, the other turned too. They were like those needy couples who made out in the hallway and practically stopped breathing when they were separated. It made her a little sad to realize she and Maya could never be one of those couples.So, Maya said, nervous about your swim meet tomorrow?Nervous? Emily frowned.Everyones going to be there.Emily shrugged. Shed competed in much bigger swimming events than thisthere had been camera crews at nationals last year. Im not worried.Youre braver than I am. Maya shoved her sneaker back onto her foot.But Emily wasnt so sure about that. Maya seemed brave about everythingshe ignored the rules that said you had to wear the Rosewood Day uniform and showed up in her white denim jacket every day. She smoked pot out her bedroom window while her parents were at the store. She said hi to kids she didnt know. In that way, she was just like Alitotally fearless. Which was probably why Emily had fallen for both of them.And Maya was brave about thiswho she was, what she wanted, and who she wanted to be with. She didnt care if people found out. Maya wanted to be with Emily, and nothing was going to stop her. Maybe someday Emily would be as brave as Maya. But if it was up to her, that would be someday far, far away.

5

ARIAS ALL FOR LITERARY REENACTMENTSAria perched on the back b.u.mper of Seans Audi, skimming through her favorite Jean-Paul Sartre play, No Exit. It was Monday after school, and Sean said he would give her a ride home after he grabbedsomething from the soccer coachs office...only he was taking an awfully long-a.s.s time. As she flipped to Act II, a group of nearly identical blond, long-legged, Coach-bag-toting Typical Rosewood Girls strode into the student parking lot and gave Aria a suspicious once-over. Apparently Arias platform boots and gray knitted earflap hat indicated she was surely up to something nefarious.Aria sighed. She was trying her hardest to adjust to Rosewood again, but it wasnt easy. She still felt like a punked-out, faux-leather-wearing, free-thinking Bratz doll in a sea of Pretty Princess of Preppyland Barbies.You shouldnt sit on the b.u.mper like that, said a voice behind her, making Aria jump. Bad for the suspension.Aria swiveled around. Ezra stood a few feet away. His brown hair was standing up in messy peaks and his blazer was even more rumpled than it had been this morning. I thought you literary types were hopeless when it came to cars, she joked.Im full of surprises. Ezra shot her a seductive smile. He reached into his worn leather briefcase. Actually, I have something for you. Its an essay about The Scarlet Letter, questioning whether adultery is sometimes permissible.Aria took the photocopied pages from him. I dont think adultery is permissible or forgivable, she said softly. Ever.Ever is a long time, Ezra murmured. He was standing so close, Aria could see the dark-blue flecks in his light-blue eyes.Aria? Sean was right next to her.Hey! Aria cried, startled. She jumped away from Ezra as if he were loaded with electricity. You...you all done?Yep, Sean said.Ezra stepped forward. Hey, Sean is it? Im EzI mean, Mr. Fitz, the new AP English teacher.Sean shook his hand. I just take regular English. Im Arias boyfriend.A flicker of somethingdisappointment, maybepa.s.sed over Ezras face. Cool, he stumbled. You play soccer, right? Congrats on your win last week.Thats right, Sean said modestly. We have a good team this year. Cool, Ezra said again. Very cool.Aria felt like she should explain to Ezra why she and Sean were together. Sure, he was a Typical Rosewood Boy, but he was really much deeper. Aria stopped herself. She didnt owe Ezra any explanations. He was her teacher.We should go, she said abruptly, taking Seans arm. She wanted to get out of here before either of them embarra.s.sed her. What if Sean made a grammatical error? What if Ezra blurted that theyd hooked up? No one at Rosewood knew about that. No one, that was, except for A.Aria slid into the pa.s.senger seat of Seans tidy, pine-smelling Audi, feeling itchy. She longed for a few private minutes to collect herself, but Sean slumped into the drivers seat right next to her and pecked her on the cheek. I missed you today, he said.Me too, Aria answered automatically, her voice tight in her throat. As she peeked through her side window, she saw Ezra in the teachers lot, climbing into his beat-up, old-school VW Bug. He had added a new sticker to the b.u.mper ECOLOGY HAPPENS and it looked like hed washed the car over the weekend. Not that she was obsessively checking or anything.As Sean waited for other students to back out in front of him, he rubbed his cleanly shaven jaw and fiddled with the collar of his fitted Penguin polo. If Sean and Ezra had been types of poetry, Sean would have been a haikuneat, simple, beautiful. Ezra would have been one of William Burroughss messy fever dreams. Want to hang out later? Sean asked. Go out to dinner? Hang with Ella?Lets go out, Aria decided. It was so sweet how Sean liked to spend time with Ella and Aria. The three of them had even watched Ellas Truffaut DVD collection togetherin spite of the fact that Sean said he really didnt understand French films.One of these days youll have to meet my family. Sean finally pulled out of the Rosewood lot behind an Acura SUV.I know, I know, Aria said. She felt nervous about meeting Seans familyshed heard they were wildly rich and super-perfect. Soon.Well, Coach wants the soccer team to go to that big swim meet tomorrow for school support. Youre going to watch Emily, right?Sure, Aria answered. Well, maybe Wednesday, then? Dinner? Maybe.As they pulled onto the wooded road that paralleled Rosewood Day, Arias Treo chimed. She pulled it out nervouslyher knee-jerk response whenever she got a text was that it would be A, even though A seemed to be gone. The new text, however, was from an unfamiliar 484 number. As notes always came up unavailable. She clicked READ .Aria: We need to talk. Can we meet outside the Hollis art building today at 4:30? Ill be on campus waiting for Meredith to finish teaching. Id love for us to chat.Your dad, ByronAria stared at the screen in disgust. It was disturbing on so many levels. One, her dad had a cell phone now? For years, hed shunned them, saying they gave you brain cancer. Two, hed texted herwhat was next, a Mys.p.a.ce page?And three...the letter itself. Especially the qualifying Your dad at the end. Did he think shed forgotten who he was?You all right? Sean took his eyes off the winding, narrow road for a moment.Aria read Sean Byrons text. Can you believe it? she asked when she finished. It sounds like he just needs someone to occupy him while he waits for that s.k.a.n.k to finish teaching her cla.s.s.What are you going to do?Not go. Aria shuddered, thinking of the times shed seen Meredith and her father together. In seventh grade, she and Ali had caught them kissing in her dads car, and then a few weeks ago, she and her younger brother, Mike, had happened upon them at the Victory Brewery. Meredith had told Aria that she and Byron were in love, but how was that possible? Meredith is a homewrecker. Shes worse than Hester Prynne!Who?Hester Prynne. Shes the main character in The Scarlet Letterwere reading it for English. Its about this woman who commits adultery and the town shuns her. I think Rosewood should shun Meredith. Rosewood needs a town scaffoldto humiliate her.How about that pillory thing at the fairgrounds? Sean suggested, slowing down as they pa.s.sed a cyclist.You know that wooden contraption with the holes you can stick your head and arms through? They lock you up in it and you just hang there. We always used to get our pictures taken in that thing.Perfect, Aria practically shouted. And Meredith deserves to have husband-stealer branded on her forehead. Just st.i.tching a red letter A to her dress would be too subtle.Sean laughed. It sounds like youre really into The Scarlet Letter. I dont know. Ive only read eight pages. Aria grew silent, getting an idea. Actually, wait. Drop me offat Hollis. Sean gave her a sidelong glance. Youre going to meet him? Not exactly. She smiled devilishly.Ohhhhkay... Sean drove a few blocks through the Hollis section of town, which was filled with brick and stone buildings, old bronze statues of the college founders, and tons of shabby-chic students on bicycles. It seemed like it was permanently fall at Hollisthe colorful cascading leaves looked perfecthere. As Sean pulled into a two-hour parking spot on campus, he looked worried. Youre not going to do anything illegal, are you?Nah. Aria gave him a quick kiss. Dont wait. I can walk home from here.Squaring her shoulders, she marched into the Arts Buildings main entrance. Her fathers text flashed before her eyes. Im on campus waiting for Meredith to finish teaching. Meredith had told Aria herself that she taught studio art at Hollis. She slid by a security guard, who was supposed to be checking IDs but was instead watching a Yankees game on his portable TV. Her nerves felt jangled and snappy, as if they were ungrounded wires.There were only three studio cla.s.srooms in the building that were big enough for a painting cla.s.s, which Aria knew, because shed attended Sat.u.r.day art school at Hollis for years. Today, only one room was in use, so it had to be the one. Aria burst noisily through the doors of the cla.s.sroom and was immediately a.s.saulted by the smell of turpentine and unwashed clothes. Twelve art students with easels set up in a circle swiveled around to stare at her. The only person who didnt move was the wrinkly, hairless, completely naked old drawing model in the center of the room. He stuck his bandy little chest out, kept his hands on his hips, and didnt even blink. Aria had to give him an A for effort.She spied Meredith perched on a table by the far window. There was her long, luscious brown hair. There was the pink spiderweb tattoo on her wrist. Meredith looked strong and confident, and there was an irritating, healthy pink flush to her cheeks.Aria? Meredith called across the drafty, cavernous room. This is a surprise.Aria looked around. All of the students had their brushes and paints within easy reach of their canvases. She marched over to the student closest to her, s.n.a.t.c.hed a large, fan-shaped brush, swiped it in a puddle of red paint, and strode over to Meredith, dribbling paint as she went. Before anyone could do anything, Aria painted a large, messy A on the left breast of Merediths delicate, cotton eyelet sundress.Now everyone will know what youve done, Aria snarled.Giving Meredith no time to react, she whirled around and strode out of the room. When she got out onto Holliss green lawn again, she started gleefully, crazily laughing. It wasnt a husband-stealer brand across her forehead, but it might as well have been. There, Meredith. Take that.

6

SIBLING RIVALRYS A HARD HABIT TO BREAKMonday afternoon at field hockey practice, Spencer pulled ahead of her teammates on their warm-up lap around the field. It had been an unseasonably warm day and the girls were all a little slower than usual. Kirsten Cullen pumped her arms to catch up. I heard about the Golden Orchid, Kirsten said breathlessly, readjusting her blond ponytail. Thats awesome.Thanks. Spencer ducked her head. It was amazing how fast the news had spread at Rosewood Dayher mother had only told her six hours ago. At least ten people had come up to talk to her about itsince then.I heard John Mayer won a Golden Orchid when he was in high school, Kirsten continued. It was, like, an essay for AP music theory.Huh. Spencer was pretty sure John Mayer hadnt won itshe knew every winner from the past fifteen years.I bet youll win, Kirsten said. And then youll be on TV! Can I come with you for your debut on the Today show?Spencer shrugged. Its a really cutthroat compet.i.tion.Shut up. Kirsten slapped her on the shoulder. Youre always so modest.Spencer clenched her teeth. As much as shed been trying to downplay this Golden Orchid thing, everyones reaction had been the sameYoull definitely win it. Get ready for your close-up!and it was making her crazy. She had nervously organized and reorganized the money in her wallet so many times today that one of her twenties had split right down the center.Coach McCready blew the whistle and yelled, Crossovers! The team immediately turned and began running sideways. They looked like dressage compet.i.tors at the Devon Horse Show. You hear about the Rosewood Stalker? Kirsten asked, huffing a littlecrossovers were harder than they looked. It was all over the news last night.Yeah, Spencer mumbled.Hes in your neighborhood. Hanging out in the woods.Spencer dodged a divot in the dry gra.s.s. Its probably just some loser, she huffed. But Spencer couldnt help but think of A. How many times had A texted her about something that it seemed no one could have seen? Now she looked out into the trees, almost certain shed see a shadowy figure. But there was no one.They started running normally again, pa.s.sing the Rosewood Day duck pond, the sculpture garden, and the cornfields. When they looped toward the bleachers, Kirsten squinted and pointed toward the low metal benches that held the girls hockey equipment. Is that your sister?Spencer flinched. Melissa was standing next to Ian Thomas, their new a.s.sistant coach. It was the very same Ian Thomas Melissa had dated when Spencer was in seventh gradeand the same Ian Thomas who had kissed Spencer in her driveway years ago.They finished their loop and Spencer came to a halt in front of Melissa and Ian. Her sister had changed into an outfit that was nearly identical to what their mother had been wearing earlier: stovepipe jeans, white tee, and an expensive Dior watch. She even wore Chanel No. 5, just like Mom. Such a good little clone, Spencer thought. What are you doing here? she demanded, out of breath.Melissa leaned her elbow on one of the Gatorade jugs resting on the bench, her antique gold charm bracelet tinkling against her wrist. What, a big sister cant watch her little sister play? But then her saccharine smile faded, and she snaked an arm around Ians waist. It also helps that my boyfriends the coach.Spencer wrinkled her nose. Shed always suspected Melissa had never gotten over Ian. Theyd broken up shortly after graduation. Ian was still as cute as ever, with his blond, wavy hair, beautifully proportioned body, and lazy, arrogant smile. Well, good for you, Spencer answered, wanting out of this conversation. The less she spoke to Melissa, the betterat least until the Golden Orchid thing was over. If only the judges would hurry the h.e.l.l up and knock Spencers plagiarized paper out of the running.She reached for her gear bag, pulled out her shin guards, and fastened one around her left shin. Then she fastened the other around her right. Then she unfastened both, refastening them much tighter. She pulled up her socks and then pulled them down again. Repeat, repeat, repeat.Someones awfully OCD today, Melissa teased. She turned to Ian. Oh, did you hear the big Spencer news? She won the Golden Orchid. The Philadelphia Sentinel is coming over to interview her this week.I didnt win, Spencer barked quickly. I was only nominated. Oh, Im sure you will win, Melissa simpered, in a way Spencer couldnt quite read. When her sistergave Spencer a wink, she felt a pinch of t