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Five hing, she got out of the car, strode up the walk, and rang the bell There were footsteps, and then the door swung open Jason DiLaurentis stood on the other side, his blond hair co ratty jeans and a Penn T-shirt When he saas Eether The last tiedly denting his car The heated look on his face otten

"Hey," Ehtly "I’ht herself just before she said Ali

"Uh, sure" Jason yelled Courtney’s na, unapologetic look E statue that was sitting on the console table just for so to do with her hands

"So you and Courtney are friends now?" Jason asked finally "Just like that?"

"Yeah" So? she wanted to add

"Hey!" Ali bounded down the stairs Her blond hair was in a ponytail, and she earing a sky blue T-shirt, a color she’d alorn back in seventh grade because it drew out her eyes "What a nice surprise!"

Emily turned back to Jason, but he’d disappeared "Hi," she answered, feeling dizzy

"Let’s go to the den," Ali suggested, whirling around and disappearing into a roo, square, and dark, and sainst the corner, heavy velvet curtains were pulled across the s, and a striped candy dish full of pink M&M’s sat in the middle of the coffee table A bunch of photos lay on the floor, propped up against the chairs and bookcases

Emily leaned down to look at the photo on top of the pile It was a picture of the DiLaurentis parents and children--only two children, not three Ali was in seventh grade, her face slightly rounder, her hair a little lighter Jason stood next to her, hisbut his eyes serious The DiLaurentis parents rested their hands on their kids’ shoulders, grinning proudly as if they had nothing to hide

She stared again at Jason’s ie, still shaky from their interaction in the hall "Are you sure your brother doesn’t knoho you really are?" she whispered

Ali slumped down on the couch and shook her head vehe look "And please don’t tell him My family has to believe I’m Courtney It’s the only way they’ll think I’ a squeaky noise under her legs "I promise"

Then she reached out and touched Ali’s hand It was cold and a little cla I wanted to ask you"

Ali stared at Ehtly "What?"

Emily’s heart thumped "Well, there’s a school Valentine’s Day dance tomorrow"

Ali htly

"Anyway, I ondering if you’d…" E in her throat "If you’d want to go with me Like as a date We could double with my sister and her boyfriend It’ll be really fun"

Ali pulled her hand away "Em…" she started The corners of her lips shook, as if she was suppressing a laugh

Emily’s stomach plummeted All at once, she was transported to Ali’s tree house, moments after she’d leaned over and kissed Ali’s lips Ali kissed back for a delicious few et so quiet e change during gy into the corner of an enormous marble chessboard on the coffee table The white queen wobbled, then tipped over "I have to go"

Ali’s face fell "What? Why?"

Emily fumbled for her jacket over the back of the chair "I just remembered I have homework"

Ali’s eyes were round and troubled "I don’t want you to leave"

Emily’s chin wobbled Don’t cry, she told herself

"I meant what I said the other day about how I feel about you" Ali grabbed Eht flickered on "But I have to get ether first, okay?"

Emily searched for the car keys in her coat pocket It was probably an excuse Ali would befun of her for it by tomorrow Emily shouldn’t have trusted her so quickly She clearly hadn’t changed thatto ditch you," Ali proh E is that we’re friends again We can still hang out at the dance And I want all of us to get ready together"

"All of us?" Emily blinked

"You, me, Spencer, Hanna…" Ali looked hopeful "Maybe even Aria? I was thinking that we could go to my family’s Poconos house afterward" She squeezed Eain, like things used to be"

Emily sniffed, but she put her keys away

Ali patted the cushion beside her "Please stay We need to talk about the dance, now that I know you’re going I bet you haven’t even picked out a dress yet"

"Well, no I was thinking of wearing so of my sister’s"