Page 34 (1/2)

"And was it romantic?"

Spencer quickly tried to conjure up so the appetizer Drunkenly dancing to Shakira She caught herself What was the point? It didn’t matter anymore

The clouds started tohere, so sweetly trying to s up The way she’d taken an interest in Foxy, the way she’d urged their parents to forgive her…and Spencer had repaid her by stealing Wren and ripping off her old econ paper Even Melissa didn’t deserve this

"I have so to tell you," Spencer blurted out "I…I saw Wren"

Melissa barely flinched, so Spencer pressed forward "This whole week I’ve gone to his new apart But…I think it’s over now" She curled into the fetal position, ar herself for when Melissa started to hit her "You can hate o tell Mom and Dad to kick me out of the house"

Melissa quietly held Spencer’s preppy seersucker pillow to her chest It took a long tiht I won’t tell the to tell you You reht, when you couldn’t reach Wren? You left five es?"

Spencer stared at her "H-How do you know that?"

Melissa gave her a tight, satisfied s all too clear I’ve been seeing soht

"Because Wren wasn’t in Philly," Melissa answered nonchalantly "He was here, in Rosewood With ot up off the bed and pushed her hair behind her ears, and Spencer saw the hickey on Melissa’s neck, practically in the same spot where Spencer’s had been Melissa couldn’t have been more deliberate if she’d circled it with a Sharpie

"And he told you?" she ed "You knew, all this tiht" Melissa ran her hand over her chin "Let’s just say I got an anonyripped her bedspread A

"Anyway," Melissa lilted, "I ith Wren last night, too, when you were at Foxy" She tilted her head down at Spencer, giving her the sahty look she used to make when they played Queen, back when they were little The rules of Queen never changed: Melissa was always Queen, and Spencer always had to do what she said Make my bed, loyal subject, Melissa would say Kiss my feet You’re mine forever

Melissa took a step toward the door "But I decided thisI haven’t told hi to see hiain" She paused, considered her words, then suess you won’t be seeing hiain, either"

34

SEE? DEEP DOWN, HANNA REALLY IS A GOOD GIRL

The first thing Hanna heard on Sunday"Alison"

"ALLLLLison, I know this world is KILLING you!" It was a guy, his voice loud and grating like a laer Hanna threw her covers back Was it the TV? Was it someone outside?

When she stood up, her head felt like it was full of cotton candy She saw the Chloé jacket she’d worn last night thrown over her desk chair, and everything ca back to her

After her mom retrieved her from the Four Seasons, they’d driven home in stony silence When they pulled into the driveway, Ms Marin jammed the Lexus into park and storot to the door, her mom slammed it in her face, and there was a loud, solid clunk Hanna stood back, stunned Okay, so she’d outed herfaux pas, and that was probably a badher out?

Hanna pounded on the door, and Ms Marin opened it a crack Her eyebroere drawn together "Oh, I’m sorry You want to come in?"

"Y-Yes," Hanna squeaked

Herto insult and disrespect me in front of your father, but you’re not too proud to live here?"

Hanna had y, but her mom stormed away She did, however, leave the door open Hanna had scooped up Dot and run to her room, too traumatized to even cry

"Ohhhhh, ALLLLLison…I know this world is KILLLing YOU!"

Hanna tiptoed to her door The singing was cos started to shake Only a crazy person would be stupid enough to sing that "Alison" song in Rosewood right now The cops would probably arrest you just for hu it in public

Was it Toby?

She straightened her yellow camisole and stepped into the hall At the sauy stepped out

Hanna put her hand to her uy had a towel--her white, fluffy, Pottery Barn torapped around his waist His blackish hair stood up in peaks A silent screaot stuck in Hanna’s throat

And then he turned around and faced her Hanna took a step back It was Darren Wilden Officer Darren Wilden

"Whoa" Wilden froze "Hanna"

It was hard not to gawk at his perfectly formed abs He was definitely not a cop who ate toothat?" she finally asked

Wilden looked e"

"I thought you were…" Hanna trailed off What the hell was Wilden doing here? But then she realized Of course Herany calmer What if it had been Toby? What would she have done? She would probably be dead