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ASPEN STANDS beside the others waiting for Emily to come out from the swimming competition the sharks just won.

"Where are they?" Spencer questions, "I told my mom we'd be studying at the library so that's covered." Aria explains.

"Good." Spencer nods swallowing with nerves, "You sure you wanna do this tonight?" Aria asks noticing the nervous look on Spencer's face.

"Yeah. Are you kidding? We have to find out what this guy knows about Ali." Spencer voices.

"And why his number was in Ali's... Vivian's coat." Aspen mumbles.

"And we finally got this meeting set. So it's gotta be tonight." Spencer states seeing Aspen look around anxiously since she's the one meeting this person.

"Look, we're gonna have your back the whole time." Spencer comments, "I know." Aspen smiles frowning seeing the look Aria giving her.

"So my mom talked to your mom, you know it wasn't just one sleepover. Spence, it's been a whole week. My mom just wants to know why you're not going home and I know Aspen doesn't mind you staying with her." Aria voices.

"I just— I can't deal with my family right now." Spencer explains seeing Aspen look at in sympathy knowing the reason why she's not going home.

"Can I help?" Aria wonders seeing Spencer exhale and look at her while cheers and applause are heard around them seeing the swim team walk into the school's hallway being congratulated.

Aspen quickly walks into the crowd leading the others, "Way to go, champ!" Spencer exclaims smiling at Emily who's hugging her cousin in a tight hug.

"Hey!" Emily gasps with a smile bringing Spencer into a hug.

Aspen smiles seeing Hanna standing beside her, "Em, my mom said that we could have the team party at my house." Hanna states, "That's great!" Emily voices.

"Yeah." Hanna nods seeing Aspen and Spencer's smiles drop noticing the police walking into the hallway towards Caleb who's sitting with his laptop on his lap.

Hanna frowns before excusing herself and walking towards her boyfriend leaving the others sharing confused and worried glances.

Aspen looks at Hanna who's walking back over to them, "What just happened?" Spencer whispers.

"Garret took Caleb's computer. Court order." Hanna states firmly, Aspen groans feeling and hearing hers and the others phones chime with messages.

NOW IT'S
CALEB'S TURN.
— A

Hanna looks at the others scared and turns towards Caleb sitting back where he previously was.

"Crap." Aspen mutters worried for her close friend noticing Hanna rushing towards said male pulling him into a classroom to talk privately.

✹

ASPEN WALKS out of the library after studying for her finals and her graduation in a month's time noticing Spencer ushering her over.

"I want to go talk to Jason. Can you please come with me?" Spencer wonders.

"Sure." Aspen shrugs placing her books into her locker and walking out of the high school towards the DiLaurentis office.

"I don't think he's here Spence." Aspen comments seeing the closed sign on the office door.

"Dammit," Spencer mutters before looking around and smiling at Aspen who looks at her confused.

"Found him." Spencer states nodding over to Jason who's standing at the fruit and vegetable stand with a brunette.

"Well, looks like his moving on." Aspen mutters under her breath before groaning seeing Spencer walking towards him noticing the brunette is Maya while said girl walks away from him.

"I've been looking for you. Your office is closed." Spencer voices, Jason clears his throat smiling at Aspen who looks anywhere but him before returning the smile once she snaps out of her anxious gaze.

"Yeah. I only work a couple hours a day. Getting the place up and running again. Did your father send you?" Jason questions seeing Aspen looking at the apples on the stand.

Jason smirks and hands the blonde one of his knowing how much she enjoys her red apples.

Aspen nods in appreciation biting into the said fruit sighing with delight at the juicy texture.

"No. I haven't talked to him." Spencer states answering the males question.

"You still don't believe it." Jason scoffs, "I believe it. That's why I haven't talked to him. I haven't talked to anybody about this... only Aspen." Spencer voices looking at Aspen happily biting into her apple.

"Well, you better talk to your dad." Jason suggests, "No. I'm talking to you!" Spencer snaps stopping Jason from walking away from her and Aspen.

Aspen looks up wide eyed hearing the way Spencer just talked to him and the sigh Jason releases before turning towards the two girls.

"Look, I didn't come back here to get between you and your father." Jason explains, "Well it's a little late for that." Spencer mutters.

"I'm sorry. I really am. This was never about hurting you." Jason says in sympathy.

"Well, what is it about? Please, Jason... you left town the night that I was arrested. I know parts of the reason but not all of them. So what made you come back now?" Spencer questions seeing Aspen bite her lip anxiously knowing him leaving was her fault.

Jason looks around noticing an empty seat across the street to them gesturing to it.

Spencer nods grabbing a hold of Aspen's hand begging for the blonde to stay with her during this time.

"It was another one of those boxes Ali liked so much. I found it under the floorboards of a room at my grandmother's." Jason explains.

"When I hide things they stay hid." Spencer voices confusing Jason who looks at Aspen.

"Something Ali used to say." Aspen explains gently seeing Jason sigh and nod.

"There were letters to my mom from your dad." Jason explains, "Love letters?" Spencer asks.

"Couple of those. Then I'm born... and he starts sounding like a lawyer. 'In light of recent events'. 'Under the current situation.'" Jason voices repeating what he has read in some of the letters.

"That's my dad." Spencer mutters firmly, "There was something else in that box. $15,000 in cash... in envelopes. $5,000 in each one." Jason explains shocking both Aspen and Spencer.

"Where would Ali have gotten that kind of money?" Spencer curiously asks, "Think about it." Jason comments.

"She found those letters and figured out what they meant and then she blackmailed my father to keep from blowing up both families." Spencer gasps.

"I know. It's hard to believe when you say it out loud." Jason mumbles.

"Yeah. But if anybody had the nerve to do something like that it was Ali." Spencer states seeing Aspen looking at her phone seeing the time.

"Crap! Spence, we've gotta go." Aspen shrieks seeing Spencer nod and thank Jason for talking to her.

"Hey Asp. Can we talk soon? Please?" Jason asks seeing Aspen nod and smile before following Spencer in a rush to said girl's vehicle to meet up with this mysterious man.

Aspen sits alone in a booth of a cafe sipping on her coffee with book Lolita placed beside her so the man knows who he is meeting, "So, you're a friend of Vivian's?" a male states looking at the book.

"Yeah." Aspen confirms, "How much money does she owe you?" the male questions, "Vivian owes you money?" Aspen repeats shocked.

"She owes me a lot more than money. She owes me a job and she almost owes me a girlfriend thanks to you calling that number." said male voices.

"You said that she cost you a job. What did she do?" Aspen wonders, "I worked at Allegheny Cellular, Human resources. Your friend came in asking for a job. But she didn't want a job. She wanted information... and she said she'd pay for it." nameless male states.

"What kind of information?" Aspen asks curiously, "I get it. You're Alison." he states, "Vivian told you about Alison?" Aspen questions shocked.

"She said she had a friend named Alison that was getting texts from somebody. The number was blocked and she wanted to know where they were coming from... and she'd pay to find out." the male explains.

"Did you find out?" Aspen asks, "Yeah, I found out. Then I made the mistake of telling your pal before I had the money in my hand. She dropped off the map and I got fired for accessing restricted information." said male states bitterly.

"What did you find out about the person that was sending those texts?" Aspen questions.

"Are you listening? I did not get paid. I want what she owes me." the male snaps seeing Aspen nod and pull out her purse.

"How much does she owe you?" Aspen mutters, "$2,000." the male reveals, "$2,000 dollars?" Aspen repeats stunned.

"That's the price today. But it could go up depending on market conditions. Don't ever use that number again... if you wanna do business. Call me here." the male demands handing Aspen a card with his number on it.

"Oh. Who do I ask for when I call?" Aspen wonders, "Tell 'em you wanna talk to Jonah." Jonah states leaving the cafe.

Aspen doesn't hesitate in getting up and sitting beside Hanna shocked at what just happened.

"He thought I was Ali. That means he doesn't know she's dead and if he finds out there won't be enough money in the world to make him talk." Aspen states.

"If this Jonah had real information. Ali might've known who A was and that's why she was killed." Emily voices.

"We have to find out what he told her about those messages." Spencer firmly states.

"What are we supposed to do? Throw a bikini car wash? Even if we talked Prudence Finn into a tube top. We wouldn't raise enough money." Hanna voices seeing Aspen sigh holding onto her head.

"Spencer?" Aria questions looking at the brunette who looks at the whole table shocked, "My account's been on lock down since we were arrested." Spencer states.

"So where are we gonna get the money from?" Emily wonders looking at everyone before all five leave the cafe.

"Are you staying at mine or Ria's tonight?" Aspen questions looking at Spencer in the passenger seat of her car.

"Yours." Spencer mumbles seeing Aspen nod and begin driving both of them to her apartment.

✹

THE NEXT day, Aspen and Bowie spend most of the day together walking in the park and talking to her neighbours.

Aspen drops Bowie off at her close friend's house to be puppy sat for the night while Aspen is at Emily's party.

Walking into Hanna's house Aspen frowns seeing Ashley on the phone smiling at the blonde as she enters the house before focusing on the phone call again.

"Frosting? Oo." Aspen smiles standing beside Hanna who chuckles, "Where's Em?" Aspen questions looking around not seeing her cousin anywhere.

"Upstairs with Maya." Hanna answers, "Put down the icing. We've been invited to the police station." Mrs Marin states walking back into the kitchen looking at Hanna who sighs anxiously.

"I'll see you later?" Aspen wonders seeing Hanna nod following her mother out of the house.

Aspen freezes as her phone chimes in her pocket with a text message, sighing while pulling the phone out of her jacket pocket exhaling seeing it's not from A and from Jason.

HEY, I KNOW WE HAVEN'T TALKED MUCH LATELY,
BUT I WOULD LOVE TO GET TOGETHER AND
TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING SOME
NIGHT THIS WEEK? LET ME KNOW?
— JASON

Aspen smiles seeing the message and immediately responds, "Hey. Thanks for coming." Emily states seeing her cousin standing in-front of the cakes and finishing them off.

"Of course, Em. Hey Maya." Aspen smiles seeing the brunette smile at her before walking out of the house seeing Spencer walking towards them.

Aspen explains that the police called Hanna and her mother down the station for who knows what.

"The cops called them down there? Which cops?" Spencer wonders following Emily and Aspen around the party goers.

"I don't know. Aspen told me when I came downstairs with Maya." Emily explains.

Mrs Marin and Hanna both walk in from the front door, after Mrs Marin walks upstairs the three of the rush over to Hanna, "Hey... what's going on with Caleb?" Spencer questions.

"I don't know. That's not why we were called down there. Wilden's back. He still thinks we had something to do with Ali's murder. There's a photo of the three of us outside the coroner's office looking for page five while Aspen was still in recovery." Hanna explains.

"A was following us?" Emily asks shocked, "No. Security cameras. But there's an investigation going on... he said the copies of that page are missing." Hanna voices.

"Copies? As in every copy?" Aspen asks shocked, "If the cops don't have it then it had to have been an inside job." Spencer states looking at Emily and Aspen.

"Garrett." Emily snarls, "Officer two-face is gonna open that laptop... I mean, what if Caleb goes to jail? It's gonna be all my fault." Hanna whispers.

"It's not gonna happen." Emily states firmly seeing Spencer grabbing hers and Aspen's coats, "What're you doing?" Emily asks confused.

"Jonah knows something that could help us figure out what really happened to Alison. Wilden is just gonna keep on coming after us. So we need to find out who killed Alison so we can prove it wasn't us." Spencer mutters seeing Aspen staring at her jacket confused.

"Okay. Unless you found $2,000 while I was out..." Hanna shrugs also confused, "Where are you going?" Emily questions.

"Home. Could you please drive me, Spen?" Spencer asks looking at Aspen who immediately nods and follows Spencer out of the Marin household towards her car driving Spencer home.

✹

AFTER DROPPING Spencer off at her house Aspen sighs picking up Bowie and driving towards Jason's house cursing at herself.

Aspen walks up to the patio knocking on the front door, "Asp?" Jason squints seeing the blonde on his doorstep, "Oh my god. Were you asleep?" Aspen gasps.

"No. I was just watching a movie. Come on in." Jason says stepping aside letting the blonde walk into the house with Bowie at her feet.

"Oh, you brought him?" Jason smiles hearing the puppy bark happily seeing the male.

"Yeah. Picked him up and then drove here. Sorry." Aspen responds awkwardly hearing her phone ringing in her jacket seeing Spencer's called ID.

"Hey Spence, you okay?" Aspen frowns sharing a look with her ex boyfriend.

"Yeah. Of course. His with me right now... we'll meet you at the Grille in ten minutes." Aspen confirms seeing Jason grabbing Bowie's lead once again and his jacket and walking out of the hall alongside his ex girlfriend.

Sitting inside the Grille once dropping Bowie off upstairs knowing he won't mind being alone for a few hours.

Spencer explains to Jason what her— their father told her earlier, "What? And you believe him?" Jason snaps.

"Yes. I do." Spencer nods, "He must've been really convincing." Jason scoffs, "I think that he was telling me the truth." Spencer states.

"If he didn't give Ali this money... then who did?" Jason questions with a shrug.

"Well, where is it now? The money." Spencer wonders, "Does he want you to get it back?" Jason questions.

"No. I already told you he didn't give it to her." Spencer explains.

"Just because you believe him doesn't mean I have to." Jason snaps, "If Ali was blackmailing somebody..." Spencer says.

"Not somebody, Spencer. It was your father" Jason interrupts, "Well... what if it wasn't?" Aspen speaks up for the first seeing in Spencer's eyes that she thinks her— their father is telling the truth.

"It has to be him." Jason mumbles looking at Aspen, "You don't want it to be someone else. You want it to be him so that you can keep on being angry." Spencer suggests.

Jason scoffs looking at Aspen and motioning upstairs in which she gives him her keys so he can go upstairs and be with Bowie for a little bit.

"Yeah. You were raised by lawyers." Jason mutters walking away from the table leaving Aspen and Spencer sitting together.

"Don't take it to heart Spence. I'm sure he's worried and a little hurt by the situation. I'm gonna go see him and calm him down." Aspen explains seeing Spencer nod showing her the SOS text from Hanna on her phone anyways.

✹

ASPEN WALKS into her apartment seeing Jason patting Bowie's head.

"Calm now?" Aspen wonders standing at the doorway next to the fridge, "Sorry." Jason sighs holding onto his head in frustration.

"I can't even pretend to know how you're feeling right now. Just don't take it out on Spencer... please." Aspen suggests.

"I don't mean to snap or be rude to Spencer. It's just so frustrating." Jason grunts hearing Bowie whine on his lap

"I think he really likes having you here again," Aspen smiles but sighing realising how much she does adores and loves Jason.

"I'm sorry for keeping things from you Jace." Aspen voices looking at the male.

"I know. And I'm sorry for leaving you during that hard time." Jason mumbles inhaling Aspen's vanilla-lavender scent and closing his eyes in comfort.

"God. I missed your smell so much." Jason sighs embracing the woman he loves with all his heart, "I missed you so much." Aspen mumbles softly seeing Jason smile.

"Come with me to apologise to Spencer?" Jason questions after a while of silence.

"Of course." Aspen smiles with a nod following the male out of her apartment.

After a five minute drive Aspen and Jason take Bowie inside the DiLaurentis house agreeing with one another that the blonde girl will stay the night.

Jason knocks on the Hastings back door seeing Spencer sitting on the sofa, "He's not here." Spencer says smiling at Aspen.

"I know. I checked for his car. I wanted to talk to you. Aspen helped me realise some stuff." Jason says seeing Spencer gesturing for both of them to come inside.

Jason breathes out deeply looking at Aspen who gently takes a hold of hand in comfort.

"Look... if I screwed up before. I am sorry. I don't really have an etiquette book for how people in our situation are supposed to treat each other." Spencer states.

"I'm the one who's sorry." Jason mumbles, "You are?" Spencer asks confused.

"Because you were right, Spencer. I don't wanna find out Ali was blackmailing someone else. I want it to be him." Jason states firmly, "Because?" Spencer shrugs not understanding.

"Because that would make things so much easier. But there's really nothing easy about this... is there?" Jason voices, "No. Not so far." Spencer responds sitting down beside Aspen.

"You know why we act like this, don't you? Why the two of us always seem to be facing off?" Jason questions, "Because we're wired the same." Spencer answers.

Spencer sighs looking at Aspen, "I think I know why Ali needed that money. At least a part of it." Spencer voices.

"Why?" Jason questions, "She was looking for someone. Someone that she was afraid of." Spencer explains seeing Aspen glaring at her.

As much as Aspen understands Jason should know about this she also knows the second he knows about certain things A will come for him.

"Who?" Jason asks, "I think that I can find that out... but I'm going to need you to trust me. A lot." Spencer says seeing Aspen's face grow pale.

"A lot?" Jason repeats looking at his ex girlfriend noticing the paleness on her face, "$2,000 worth." Aspen speaks up after a while.

"I will give you both the money on one condition. No more lying to me Asp... and you both update me on what's going on." Jason demands seeing Aspen suck in a deep breath.

"Deal." Spencer speaks up first looking at Aspen begging for her to accept the offer, "Okay." Aspen whispers with a nod.

"I'll give Aspen the money tomorrow." Jason states seeing Spencer nod and thank him while walking the two of them to the door.

Aspen sighs sitting on the sofa in Jason's family homes living room nervously.

"You okay?" Jason asks sitting beside the blonde who shrugs and looks at him with soft eyes.

"I love you." Aspen voices with tears gathering in her eyes, Jason looks at her shocked seeing the tears.

"Aspen... what's wrong?" Jason questions panicked seeing the state she's in, "I can't— I can't have kids." Aspen sobs finally admitting things out loud stunning the male.

"I was told not that long ago. Sorry I just didn't come to terms with it." Aspen cries seeing Jason shakes his head and bring her into his chest holding onto her head gently.

"Don't apologise baby," Jason mumbles running his hands through her soft hair and inhaling her familiar scent once again.

Eventually after a while Aspen calms down and lays on Jason's lap letting the male run his fingers along her jawline and in her hair, "And I love you more," Jason voices quickly.

"I never stopped." Jason explains seeing Aspen lay on her back and look up at him with stars in her eyes.

Aspen smiles softly before sitting up and placing her head against Jason's chest wrapping her arms around his torso and relaxing knowing Jason is doing the same by hearing his breathing slow down as the two lovers fall asleep in each others arms.

─────── ∘°❉°∘ ───────
TO BE CONTINUED...

𝖊𝖑𝖘 𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖐𝖘 ⋆
they're slowly
getting together again

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