002, the goodbye look
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ASPEN AND the others look around the greenhouse alarmed about the recent discovery of Ian being alive.

Aspen and the others flinch as the door clatters shut, "Is it just me or did things just get incredibly worse?" Aspen frowns.

"I can't believe this. Ian's dead." Emily states firmly, "No. Zombie's don't text, okay? He is alive somewhere." Hanna exclaims.

"Spence." Aria mumbles looking at Spencer.

"I have to get this phone home before Melissa realizes that it's gone." Spencer replies looking at the four girls surrounding one another

"Okay. You put it back. And then what do we do?" Emily wonders as Spencer goes to leave the greenhouse.

"Do we call the cops?" Aria questions, "Oh yeah. Because that always works out so well for us." Hanna sarcastically replies.

"Why is Ian texting Melissa?" Aria whisper shouts, "And why is Melissa answering him?" Hanna wonders.

"Is she? I mean... we don't know how long this has been going on." Aspen mutters panicked.

"Spencer, look. You've gotta find out what Ian told Melissa. You're the only one who can find out what he wants." Aria replies and Aspen gently grabs Spencer's arm seeing how overwhelmed Spencer is getting.

"And where he is." Emily states, as a pine cone clatters on the greenhouse roof above panicking the five teenagers more.

"Let's get out of here!" Spencer exclaims as the five of them rush out of the greenhouse and away from the dark and creepy greenhouse.

Aspen and the others walk along the dirt road leading to Spencer's driveway.

"Let's finish this in the morning, okay? I'm cold, damp and scared. We can talk at school." Hanna states.

"We can't talk at school, remember? The five of us are supposed to be having 'separate time.'" Aria explains looking at the others.

"Doctor's orders." Emily mutters, "So, what are we supposed to do... not talk to each other? We're in the same classes." Hanna states confused.

"We just have to play it cool." Spencer explains

"I don't have school tomorrow anyways. Off day for studying." Aspen shrugs as a rubbish bin opening and closing is heard.

Spencer looks at Aspen shocked seeing the source of the clattering, "It's Jason." Spencer says shocked.

"Did he move back in?" Hanna wonders looking at Aspen, "What is all that?" Spencer questions.

"That's all that stuff that those people left on the curb when Ali went missing. Those tributes." Aria answers.

"Maya said her family kept those things when they moved in. They didn't have the heart to throw them out." Emily says hugging herself due to the cold.

"Apparently Jason's moved on." Spencer explains.

Aspen looks everywhere but the girls and the house where a lot of their memories were made.

"What's he doing back in that house?" Hanna curiously wonders watching as the male walks into the Dilaurentis house unaware of the stares the five girls are giving the dark and gloomy house.

The five girls eventually break off onto their own going back to their own houses.

Aspen curses at herself for stepping on the Dilaurentis's porch knocking on the two large front doors.

"Asp." Jason states confused seeing the blonde girl hugging herself due to the freezing weather outside.

"Sorry. I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm cold, damp and can barely feel my hands." Aspen mumbles.

"Come in. Get warm. Please excuse the mess." Jason states stepping to the side to let the young woman into the house.

"Sorry... if you were going to bed or anything. I just didn't want to drive home." Aspen explains sitting on the couch

"Asp, don't apologise. You know you're welcome here whenever. You were with Spencer. I'm guessing?" Jason asks handing the blonde a cup of hot coffee which she gladly takes warming up her stone cold hands.

Aspen nods looking around the house where the ex couple spent a lot of time together, and the friend group as well before Alison's death.

"I can't believe you moved back into this house, Jase." Aspen says.

"Didn't exactly have anywhere else to go so here it is." Jason frowns smiling at the nickname she used.

"Well... I better go. Thank you for the coffee and allowing me to warm up." Aspen smiles.

"Stay Asp. It's late and I don't want you driving home and plus I remember you don't really like driving home late at night." Jason chuckles earning a soft laugh from the blonde girl who nods.

"Okay." Aspen nods, "You can have my bed and I'll sleep on the couch. Come on." Jason says motioning upstairs helping the blonde girl stand up from the couch

"Don't be silly. We've shared a bed together before Jase. You need a good nights rest as well." Aspen states climbing onto the large bed before plumping down on the pillows smiling at the male who shrugs laying down also.

Aspen frowns knowing he can't sleep with a shirt usually but doesn't say anything due to it not being her place and soon dozes off into dreamland unaware of her ex boyfriends loving gaze staring at her from behind.

The next morning Aspen wakes up with her head on Jason's chest, Aspen shrieks springing up from the male's chest accidentally hitting him awake in the process.

"Fuck. I'm sorry." Aspen mumbles awkwardly seeing the male's confused and dazed face.

"N— nope. It's all good, Asp." Jason replies with his raspy morning voice.

Aspen nearly melts hearing the soothing sound of his morning voice, "I've gotta go. I've got to study." Aspen explains looking at the male.

"You always did love to study extra hard." Jason mumbles smiling at the memory.

"Yeah. Well I've gotta graduate somehow." Aspen shrugs smiling at the male before looking around for her keys.

"Downstairs. By the door. I put them there last night when you fell asleep." Jason explains, "Thanks Jase. We'll talk soon?" Aspen asks receiving a nod from the male.

"Sounds good." Jason mumbles still laying in bed.

Aspen chuckles leaning down to kiss Jason's cheek before walking out of the main room grabbing her keys and phone seeing a bunch of mixed phone calls and texts from her friends.

Reading the message 'the videos are gone. like completely and my laptop is messed up.' from Emily's number.

Aspen gulps walking out of the DiLaurentis household towards her vehicle to head back to her apartment to start studying for the day unless plans come up randomly.

✹

SPENCER KNOCKS on Aspen's apartment door hearing the blonde girl coming towards the door.

"Spence, you okay?" Aspen asks confused seeing the plate of brownies on the brunettes side.

"I need you to come with me to talk to Jason. He won't send me away if you're with me." Spencer states looking at the stunned blonde girl who bites her lip but nods sliding into her shoes and grabbing her keys locking her apartment door and walking down to Spencer's vehicle so they two of them can go see and talk to Jason.

Well more so Spencer can talk and Aspen can just stand there awkwardly knowing that she saw the male already this morning

"You already saw him today, didn't you?" Spencer asks breaking the silence in the vehicle.

"Wh— what? No!" Aspen stutters seeing the unconvinced look on Spencer's face.

"Fine. Yes. I stayed with him last night. And before you jump to the automatic telling me off part of this conversation Spencer. I'm older than you and I know what I'm doing." Aspen states firmly seeing Spencer nod pulling up to the DiLaurentis house.

Aspen and Spencer stand together at the doorstep, Spencer ringing the doorbell as growling is heard from behind them.

Aspen frowns before seeing the small dog scratching at the tarp, "Hey. What you doin', buddy?" Spencer says softly towards the dog before the front door opens and Aspen is gently moved out of the way.

"Get out of here!" Jason shouts throwing a newspaper at the said dog leaving the animal to run away whimpering from the sudden shouting

Aspen and Spencer look at Jason shocked at the sudden loudness coming from the male, although Aspen looks down still feeling one hand on her waist.

"Hey Asp. Hey Spencer." Jason says taking his hand off Aspen's waist and putting both of them on his hips.

"Hi. Sorry. I saw that you were back. I thought I'd try to beat the welcome wagon." Spencer states handing the male the plate of brownies.

"Ah... thanks. That's great." Jason nods putting the plate inside before closing the front door stopping Spencer from coming inside.

Spencer looks at the male awkwardly, before looking at Aspen who shrugs hugging herself once more due to the cold.

"Are your parents coming back?" Spencer asks curiously.

"No. And it's just gonna be me for the time being." Jason explains while Aspen smiles softly seeing him wearing the shirt she bought him while they were together.

"I heard what happened. Are you okay?" Jason asks looking at Spencer and then towards Aspen.

"I'm working on it. So you know what's been going on?" Spencer wonders as Aspen curses at herself under her breath realising how awkward this really is

"Just what I get from the news. The cops in this town don't really talk to me. Yeah, I'm the brother of a murder victim. But mostly they see me as a big pain in the ass. I ask too many questions." Jason states looking at how awkward Aspen is smiling at the frown on her face.

"Is that why you're back? The questions?" Spencer asks.

Jason softly nods wanting to bring Aspen into his chest to warm her up as she's shivering in the corner.

"Uh... I'm gonna go wait in the car. I'm freezing and this conversation kind of doesn't involve me. Sorry Spence. See ya Jase." Aspen says breaking the silence receiving looks from both of them.

Silently pleading for the blonde not to go, Aspen frowns walking away towards the car leaving Spencer and Jason alone to discuss things.

Spencer curses to herself seeing Aspen's retreating figure walking towards her vehicle.

"Maybe I can help?" Spencer suggests looking at the male watching the woman he loves walk away, "Okay. The bell tower." Jason starts, "What about it?" Spencer wonders.

"I heard that you told the police that Ian confessed to killing Ali and doing other things to Asp. Is that what happened?" Jason asks walking towards the steps on his porch.

"That's being referred to as our 'version' of events. The police think Ian ran away. But not because of your sister... or Aspen." Spencer explains noticing the confused look on Jason's face.

"Did he confess?" Jason questions, "Yeah. I think he did." Spencer softly replies, "You think he did?" Jason interrogates.

"Well... he wanted people to believe that I killed her and that I pressured Aspen into saying those things." Spencer explains.

"And how did you do it... according to Ian?" Jason questions ignoring the part about Aspen for now.

"I pushed her... she fell and it was an accident. Jason, I'm sorry. I know that you and Ian were once close and with the whole Aspen thing..." Spencer starts.

"Did he say he killed her?" Jason interrupts, "That's what he meant." Spencer states.

"That's what he meant. That's what you think! Did Ian say, 'I killed Alison?'"Jason questions.

"Not those words." Spencer says, "Not those words?" Jason repeats, "No." Spencer denies.

"It's getting late. And I've got a lot to do inside." Jason explains after a while of silence between the two of them, "Can I help? Can Aspen help?" Spencer wonders.

"You already have. Good night." Jason mutters.

"Wait. Did you know about what Ian did to Aspen? Or are you like everyone else and don't believe her or us?" Spencer asks unaware of Aspen walking up to the porch once again

Jason turns towards Spencer angry at the suggestion.

"I believe her. Because I love her and I was the one who stopped it from going any further. I ended up with busted hands for weeks knowing what my 'friend' did to my girlfriend. So don't ask me about that again." Jason states angry slamming the door in the process leaving a startled and slightly emotional Spencer on the doorstep.

"Good night." Spencer mumbles turning around seeing Aspen looking at the double doors in shock before facing the brunette who gasps realising Aspen heard everyone Jason just said.

"Go, Spence. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Let him unwind." Aspen nods seeing Spencer nod and walk towards her house leaving Aspen on the doorstep thinking about the past.

——— "Alison. Alison, hey! Damn it, Alison. Come here. Come here. Hey! Stop messin' with my stuff!" Jason shouts stopping Alison in front of the girls lounging around in their front yard.

Alison smirks looking at her older brother unaware of Aspen checking him out from the back.

"All right? You and the Powerpuff girls just stay out of my room." Jason snarls letting go of his sister's wrist and walking towards the house.

"What are you afraid I'd find in there?" Alison taunts, "Look, just stop messin' with people." Jason demands catching Aspen's eyes in the background sending a small smile towards her unnoticed by the others and Alison.

"No challenge with you and your little stoner buddies. All you need is something shiny on a piece of string." Alison states earning snickers from Spencer, Aria, Emily and Hanna and a glare from Aspen and Jason.

Jason smirks noticing the glare on Aspen's face before walking towards the front door.

"Watch him, ladies. He's got trouble with door knobs." Alison taunts as Jason slams the front door leaving the six girls outside.

"What's wrong with Jason?" Aria asks curiously, "He just thinks I stole one of his japanese cartoon porn books." Alison shrugs smiling.

"Did you?" Hanna asks, "Of course I did." Alison states smirking, "Aren't you afraid he's gonna rip apart your room?" Emily asks sitting beside Aspen.

"Wouldn't do him any good. I have hiding places all over the house. In the yard, too. When I hide something... it stays hid. Until I want it found. That's why your secrets are all so safe with me." Alison explains smirking as Aspen gets up from the ground.

"Bathroom break." Aspen announces smiling at the girls before walking inside seeing Jason looking around angrily.

"You all good, Jase?" Aspen asks walking closer to him, "I don't care about the damn porn magazine. I'm worried about her finding all the photos of you and I. Her reaction would be like the end of the world." Jason mutters.

Smiling at his girlfriend coming in and checking on him bringing her in for a kiss before she walks back outside to the others. ———

Aspen pounds on the front door knowing Jason will be inside tearing himself up about what just happened with Spencer.

"I said goodnight Spencer. Leave me alone!" Jason shouts from inside the house, "Not Spencer. Come on. Let me inside, Jase." Aspen states.

Jason rushes towards the front door allowing the blonde inside seeing her looking at him wide eyed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't tell you about the whole busted hands when it happened." Jason states letting out of sniffle before feeling a gust of wind and a figure wrapping their arms around him.

"Thank you." Aspen whispers snuggling into Jason's embrace inhaling his scent.

"You know I'd do anything for you, Asp. Walking in on that happening to you with forever haunt me." Jason explains tightening his hold on the blonde girl and nods her head on his chest.

"Stay here again?" Jason whispers, "Of course." Aspen confirms allowing the male to carry her up to his bedroom.

"Didn't you have stuff to do around the house?" Aspen smirks, "Nope. Just couldn't be bothered answering more questions." Jason shrugs slipping out of his shoes and sitting on his bed bringing the girl into his chest.

"He did actually attack Spencer, you know? I heard it on the phone." Aspen says looking up him.

Jason nods believing Aspen over anyone.

"I know it sucks Jase. You two were friends and then everything happened." Aspen whispers.

"The moment he hurt you and made you uncomfortable was the moment our friendship was over." Jason states looking down at the blonde laying on his chest and lap.

Aspen walks out of Jason's bathroom after showering seeing the male asleep on his bed shirtless.

Aspen smiles climbing into the bed laying beside the male snuggling into the pillows feeling an arm folding over her waist bringing her into his chest.

Eventually the ex couple fall asleep falling into old habits in the comfort of one another's arms.

✹

AFTER RECEIVING an SOS text from Spencer, Aspen quietly leaves Jason's house leaving a note on his forehead making sure he knows she didn't leave without an explanation.

Aspen sighs sneaking over to Spencer's seeing the house dark with a hole smashed through the side door, "Spence? Spence! Spencer, are you here?" Aspen calls out into the dark and creepy house.

"Spencer!" Aspen shouts once again as running footsteps are heard coming from upstairs.

Aspen looks at the black hooded figure in shocked before shrieking being thrown against the nearby bookshelf

"Ouch." Aspen whimpers holding onto her wrist and dialing Spencer's number to have the brunette to come home.

After the phone call and Aspen stating she was injured Spencer rushes home seeing the blonde leaning against the couch holding onto her side and wrist.

"They came from upstairs. I'm all good. Go check." Aspen nods as Spencer rushes up the stairs.

Aspen goes towards the freezer grabbing some ice and grabbing the first aid kit out of the drawer Spencer said it was in.

"I've called the police. Everything looks all right upstairs. Are you sure you're okay?" Spencer asks worried for her best friend's injuries.

"Yeah. My dignity broke the fall." Aspen grunts wincing from the wound on her hand from the broken glass.

"Aspen, hey. Are you sure that you're okay? Do you want me to call Jason?" Spencer asks genuinely curious.

"Yeah. Yeah, I—I'm fine. Nah don't call him. He was sleeping when I left." Aspen explains looking at Spencer who nods.

"The fact that A can just... break into our houses. Sometimes I think that's the worst part of this and the fact A tricked you into thinking it was me sending the sos message makes me more angry." Spencer mutters.

"Emily said that somebody broke into their garage... and stole some camping gear. Aunt Pam also said that there's been a whole bunch of break-ins around town." Aspen explains holding the bag of ice against her bruised side.

"What would A want with camping gear?" Spencer wonders, "You tell me." Aspen shrugs grimacing from the pain, "What if it's not A?" Spencer asks.

"Who else would it be?" Aspen curiously questions, "Somebody who knew what was on Emily's computer. Somebody who needs camping gear and survival stuff. Somebody who's on the run and someone who likes to taunt you about that certain thing." Spencer lists as Aspen grows pale with realisation.

"Ian." Aspen states panicked, "We though that A wiped Emily's hard drive because that's the kind of thing that A would do. But Ian is the only other person who would want those videos destroyed." Spencer explains.

"Do you think that that was Ian upstairs?" Aspen wonders, "I don't know. Melissa's out in the barn. What would he want in the house?" Spencer asks confused.

"You?" Aspen murmurs quietly looking at Spencer alarmed just as the kettle starts whistling behind Spencer startling both of them.

Aspen sits in her apartment as the rain pours down around the town, knowing it's Mr Fitz's last day teaching at Rosewood High.

Aspen frowns before her phone chimes on her desk.

CAN'T BELIEVE YOU
LEFT ME WHILE
I WAS SLEEPING,
RUDE MUCH? ;)

Aspen chuckles reading the text message from Jason.

SORRY, SPENCE NEEDED ME,
I'LL SLEEPOVER AGAIN
SOMETIME THIS WEEK
OR YOU KNOW, MY PLACE
IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE AS WELL

Aspen replies as another text message chimes off Spencer asking her and the others to meet her at the greenhouse.

"It was in the pocket of her raincoat. And her raincoat was wet. So were her boots." Spencer explains showing the girls Melissa's sonogram of her baby.

"She lied to you about being out?" Aria asks, "Well, she didn't go far. I checked the driveway and it was dry under her car... it hadn't been moved all day." Spencer explains.

"Who would she want to show this to?" Aria wonders, "I can only think of one person who would care." Hanna explains, "Ian." Aria mumbles as Aspen gulps.

"If she didn't take the car. That means he must be close." Emily states a little freaked out as Aspen gently holds onto her injured bandaged hand.

"You guys... Hanna's right. This is the worst time for us to be splitting up. We have got to stay together." Spencer firmly states, "Yeah. No matter how much lying it takes." Hanna nods.

"Well... we could all meet up at my apartment. Go in through the back way. It's a lot more private?" Aspen suggests looking at the others who nod before leaving the greenhouse into the dark once more.

Aspen groans at the coldness and knowing she has to drive home in the dark

"What is that?" Emily asks noticing the tarp in the DiLaurentis's garden.

"Jason?" Spencer asks confused seeing him shining a flashlight on the five of them.

"Oh. It's you." Jason mutters before looking at Aspen smiling softly at her, "Yeah. It's only us." Aria explains.

"Um. What are you doing?" Spencer asks curiously while Aspen stands there awkwardly already aware of the male's plans.

"I've been replanting all day. And I'm putting up a fence." Jason explains.

"A fence? Why? For what?" Hanna asks looking at Aria standing beside her.

"Privacy. Security. There's a lot of curious creeps in the world... and one way or another. People are gonna mind their own business." Jason replies.

"Fair enough. But can you say it a little less creepy next time, Jase?" Aspen shrugs.

Jason chuckles before looking back at the others again.

"You girls better go home." Jason suggests, "Mee-oww." Aspen says doing a gesture with her hands signalling a cat hissing.

Turning towards Spencer's house leading the others away unaware of the smirk on Jason's face while he walks towards the backyard knowing he missed Aspen's feisty behaviour.

"Who's he trying to keep out with that fence?" Hanna asks looking at the front yard.

"Keep out or... keep in?" Aria questions, Aspen groans walking away from the girls.

"Come on... it's late and I'm tired." Aspen demands motioning for the girls to follow her, which they do.

Aspen walks upstairs to her apartment seeing Jason leaning against the hallway waiting for her.

"Why did I think you'd be here waiting for me?" Aspen smirks unlocking her apartment door leading both of them inside.

"Because you know me so well and considering you saw me not even ten minutes ago with a jacket on outside of my house looking and I quote 'creepy.'" Jason chuckles.

"'You girls better go home'. Jase... you sounded like you were hiding something... killer ish." Aspen mocks before facing the male who chuckles.

"My bad gorgeous. But you know me so well. You know I wouldn't and couldn't be a killer." Jason frowns before snapping out of his zone seeing Aspen smiling at while sitting on her couch

"Your apartment is nice by the way." Jason compliments looking at the artwork and the other things around the living space.

"Why thank you, handsome. I designed it all myself." Aspen giggles opening her bottle of water and sipping on it.

Jason takes a seat next her allowing the blonde girl to lean against him while she puts on a movie on her large television.

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TO BE CONTINUED...