042, out of the frying pan, into the inferno
warning! mentions of drug overdose ( attempted suicide )
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

AFTER MAKING sure Spencer's okay after the having it rough the past few days.

Aspen arrives back at her apartment hearing her phone buzzing in her pocket, "Oh hey, Aunt Pam. Everything alright?" Aspen questions answering her Aunt's phone call.

"Yeah. Sorry sweetheart, for calling you so late. Emily received some stuff off Nate─ sorry Lyndon's family and I just don't want her to be alone. Do you think you could spend the night with her?" Pam quizzes.

"Of course. I'll be over in ten minutes." Aspen responds quickly ending the call and sending Jason a text explaining that she won't be home for the night due to Emily needing her.

Aspen arrives at Emily's place knocking on the front door immediately being brought into a tight hug off her Aunt, "She's upstairs. Claimed she was super tired." Pam explains.

"Alright. Thanks. Get some rest, okay? Love you!" Aspen states walking upstairs and knocking on Emily's bedroom door, "Mom─ I said I'm fine!" Emily calls out.

"I'm not Aunt Pam. But I am someone who cares deeply for you. Are you okay?" Aspen inquires taking a seat on the girls bed taking note of her teary gaze looking at the cards she made over the years for Alison.

"I just hate the thought of him touching any of this." Emily mutters.

"Me too, Em. Me too." Aspen sighs leaning her head against Emily's shoulder trying to comfort her cousin.

"Thanks for coming over. You always drop everything for us. And that's why I love you." Emily says.

"Em, you and the girls are my family. I'd drop a limb for you if I had to." Aspen responds with a smile being brought in for yet another tight hug─ this time from Emily instead of her Aunt.

"Is that Ali's biology book?" Aspen questions looking at the said book in Emily's hands, "Yeah. Which is weird." Emily mumbles.

"Alright. Well, I'm staying the night so move over and make some room for me." Aspen demands, "Oh yay. I'm sure Jason won't like a night away from his fiancée." Emily sighs.

"God. That sounds so weird still." Aspen responds blushing at the status of her and Jason's relationship.

"I really am happy for you, Spen." Emily murmurs laying beside her cousin─ who is looking at the diamond on her ring finger in awe, "Thanks Em." Aspen whispers.

✹

THE NEXT morning Aspen is awoken by her phone ringing on Emily's nightstand and note explaining that said girl had to get to work and she'll see her soon for her morning coffee.

Aspen chuckles getting changed into her day-to day clothing and agrees to meet Spencer, Hanna and Aria for their usual morning routine.

"Still recovering?" Hanna questions looking over at Spencer who's almost clinging onto Aspen since her arrival, "From the anniversary dinner." Hanna adds on so the Hastings girl can understand.

"Yeah. Yeah." Spencer says nodding discreetly looking at Aspen who already looks at her sympathetically, "Was he surprised?" Aria wonders.

Aspen gently grabs ahold of Spencer's hand feeling her stiffness and anxiety flowing off her due to the subject of her now ex boyfriend.

"Mm-hmm. It was a really big surprise." Spencer responds tightly squeezing Aspen's hand receiving a gentle one back from the blonde.

"And where were you last night? Were you with Caleb?" Aria questions gazing at Hanna.

"No, he's being really weird. Every time I try to make plans with him, he says he's busy, but he won't tell me what he's doing." Hanna explains.

"Why don't you just ask him? Be honest." Aria suggests with a shrug, "Wow. It's like the world's fattest man giving dieting tips. Hello! You're the one who's sitting on a secret the size of the "Natterhorn"!" Hanna exclaims looking at the Montgomery girl.

"Okay, if you're talking about Fitz and the kid, I'm gonna tell him today. And the goal was never to keep it from him," Aria lowly mumbles.

"I-I'd wake up every morning with the intention of telling him, and then I'd go to sleep every night feeling guilty that I didn't." Aria continues before releasing a loud sigh.

"At least you have your afternoons free." Hanna utters, "Nice bit of support, Hanna. Oh, and by the way, it's "Matterhorn." Muh," Aria voices placing her hand on Hanna's shoulder before looking at Spencer confused.

"Aren't you the one that's supposed to be correcting her?" Aria quizzes, "What?" Spencer asks confused.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Aria gently wonders noticing Spencer's quiet and gloomy behaviour.

"Uh, nothing. We didn't really get much of an anniversary 'cause Toby had to get up early for work the next day." Spencer explains.

"That sucks." Hanna responds, "Yeah, it does," Spencer mumbles tightening her hold on Aspen's hand once again before letting it go and stopping them just outside of The Brew.

"Listen, um, I'm gonna skip the brew today 'cause I have a lot of reading to catch up on, for English, so I'll catch you guys at lunch. Text me Spen?" Spencer suggests receiving a firm nod off the blonde before she hurries off away from her friends.

Aspen strolls beside Hanna and Aria towards The Brew noticing Emily walking outside just as they arrive, "Hey, Em." Aria greets.

"Hey." Emily responds, "So, can we see it? The stuff from his family?" Hanna questions, "Look, if it's, like, cards and stuff you wrote to Ali, you don't have to show us." Aria voices.

"It's fine." Emily responds gesturing to the table just to the side of them, "So, did Spencer tell you about the key that A dropped?" Emily quizzes pulling the stuff out of her bag.

"No. But Hanna did. Said you guys want to turn it in to the cops?" Aria questions passing the biology notebook to Hanna.

"So, what do you guys think?" Emily asks looking at Aspen and Aria wanting to hear their opinion.

"I think that the mold from my basement killed some of your brain cells." Aria states, "Guys, we are not prepared to tell the cops about A." Aspen mutters looking around the table.

"I guess you're right." Emily sighs hearing Hanna groan reading something in Ali's biology notes.

"I always hated biology. Who cares how a cell divides? It just does. I didn't know that you and Ali were in bio together." Hanna voices flipping through the pages.

"We weren't. I just lent her my notes to study for the exam." Emily explains, "Then how'd you have the time to write these?" Hanna questions passing the book to Aria who looks at her confused.

"Mhm. This is definitely Alison's handwriting." Aria asserts pointing at Ali's handwriting, "Yeah, but that's not mine." Emily firmly states pointing at the other person's handwriting.

"Wait. Who's "the beach hottie"?" Aria inquires sitting up straight reading the notes from Alison and the unknown person.

"What?" Emily quizzes confused, "'You need to tell the beach hottie tonight.'" Aria reads out loud for the others to hear.

"Then Ali says, "no way, he'll freak out." What are they talking about?" Aria queries.

"I want to know who they're talking about. Turn the page." Hanna demands having Aria turn the page to read the next few notes.

"Okay and that's not Spencer's writing, either. But I recognize it. Who does their "G's" like that?" Emily interrogates genuinely wanting to know.

"My grandma. Forget the "G". Look at the "T". There's someone in here that we do know." Hanna states.

"Why is Alison writing about Toby?" Aria questions shocked making Aspen look around keeping a promise to Spencer for now about the whole Toby being A and helping Mona.

✹

ASPEN WALKS through Rosewood High School after dropping by Mrs Lockman's classroom to discuss upcoming fashion shows seeing Spencer rushing towards her with tear filled eyes.

"Woah, Spence. What's wrong?" Aspen questions urging the brunette into a more private and quiet section of the school to help Spencer calm down.

"Emily knows about the breakup. But not about the other part." Spencer explains through a sniffle, "I didn't tell her. I promise." Aspen says.

"I know. I know. I wasn't accusing you of telling her. She gave me Ali's biology notes and I told her after reading those. He never loved me." Spencer sobs breaking down at the last part of her sentence.

"Shush... it's okay. I'm sorry, Spence." Aspen voices trying to soothe the sobbing brunette, "I appreciate you so much." Spencer mumbles tugging the blonde into a tight embrace.

"I love you, Spence. Always." Aspen responds running her hand up and down Spencer's back.

"I love you too. I, um─ need to get to class." Spencer explains sending a small smile of gratitude to Aspen.

Before excusing herself back into the noisy hallways towards her next class─ where she will make a mistake and fall face first into A's trap.

✹

EMILY PACES through the corridors in search of her cousin after finding a photograph in Alison's biology textbook.

"Aspen. There you are." Emily voices breathing deeply confusing the blonde.

"Here I am. What's up?" Aspen questions with a frown being handed the photograph of CeCe, Alison and herself in Cape May making her suck in a deep breath knowing she'll have to explain a few things.

"You were with them in Cape May?" Emily quizzes confused, "On and off, yeah. Not for long though. I went up there mainly with Jason." Aspen explains.

"So is this your handwriting?" Emily asks motioning to the book tightly held in her arm.

"No. That's not my handwriting. It's CeCe's." Aspen reveals shocking her cousin, "Why didn't you tell us this morning?" Emily questions frustrated.

"Because I didn't get a good look at it this morning─ and there are some things that you girls don't know about Ali, CeCe and myself. Things we want to be kept private." Aspen utters as the bell rings for lunch.

"This isn't finished. Come on." Emily gently suggests proving to the blonde that she isn't angry with her.

"Hey." Aspen and Emily simultaneously greet taking a seat on each side of Hanna, "Hey." Aria and Hanna respond.

"Uh─ Ri-Ri." Aspen voices nodding at the source of confusion noticing Ezra standing in the courtyard outside staring at Aria and the rest of them with a horrified look on his face before Aria stands up meeting him just beside the lunch table.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Aria asks confused, "Could I see you for a moment?" Ezra quizzes, "Sure, what's going on. Is everything okay?" Aria questions.

"Okay? I don't know. You tell me. Why was Spencer talking about Maggie?" Ezra wonders, "What?" Aria asks shocked.

"She said that I had─ that I have a son. Why would she say that?" Ezra questions lowly.

Hanna, Aspen and Emily share looks with one another knowing Aria should've told him a lot sooner considering A or someone else could've accidentally spilled─ which is what exactly happened.

"Look, can we just talk about this..." Aria inquires, "We're talking about this right now." Ezra firmly mutters.

"Ezra, please." Aria pleads making him walk outside for more privacy being followed almost immediately by Aria─ who's panicked and doesn't know what to do.

"I should go. I need to pick Bowie up from Sabrina's." Aspen explains packing up some of her stuff and her cardigan, "Our talk isn't finished." Emily states.

"Okay. Bye Hanna." Aspen voices leaving the high school to pick up her dog and go back to her apartment for the rest of the day.

✹

JASON WALKS into the apartment smelling something incredible and looking over at the couch seeing Bowie sleeping peacefully.

"Smells amazing." Jason voices walking up and wrapping his arms around Aspen's waist.

"Thanks. I just felt like cooking tonight. Help yourself." Aspen responds leaning her head back against Jason's chest taking in his cologne she loves so much.

"Oh. I will. Right after my shower." Jason responds kissing Aspen's cheek before strolling into the ensuite bathroom of their bedroom washing away the day his had.

Aspen flinches hearing a frantic knock on the apartment door making Bowie immediately perk up and start barking.

"Bowie, enough." Aspen demands looking at the dog while answering the door noticing Emily's shocked face.

"You know don't you?" Aspen asks tilting her head, "I spoke to CeCe. I just needed an explanation. You knew Ali was..." Emily questions.

"Shush. Jason's just inside. Give me a minute and we'll go downstairs and talk, okay?" Aspen suggests receiving a nod off Emily.

Aspen walks into the bathroom knowing Jason won't mind her walking in while his showering.

"Foods on the bench. I just gotta step out for a few. Em's here." Aspen voices peaking her head into the shower, "Everything okay?" Jason asks noticing the anxious look on Aspen's face.

"Everything's good." Aspen confirms before grabbing her jacket─ belonging to Jason off the countertop leading Emily downstairs into the Grille so she can tell her about that summer with CeCe and Alison in Cape May.

"Ali was pregnant?" Emily asks sounding shattered, "I don't know for sure. CeCe and I couldn't get an answer out of her but she thought she was. I told you, Em. That summer was all sorts of crazy. Jason was heavily addicted to drugs and non stop drinking at that point I kind of stepped away to try and help him─ not kill himself." Aspen reveals receiving a shocked look off her cousin.

"Come on, let's go to Aria's." Aspen suggests motioning towards the exit receiving a nod off Emily before following her outside towards where her car is parked after meeting with CeCe.

Emily and Aspen arrive at Aria's house quickly knocking on the door seeing Mr Montgomery answering the door to the two of them standing on the patio.

"We should talk." Aspen declares motioning to outside beginning to explain to Aria what she knows about that summer and Alison's possible pregnancy.

"If she were pregnant, wouldn't that kind of thing show up on her─ autopsy?" Aria quizzes shocked about hearing everything that went down with Alison, Aspen and CeCe in Cape May and also finding out about Jason's suicidal thoughts during that time of his life.

"Not necessarily. I looked online, and─ if it was really early on, she was buried over a year ago, so..." Emily explains slowly still trying to come to terms with the fact their best friend might've been pregnant.

"What shall we do now?" Emily questions hearing Aria let out a massive exhale of air, "I don't know." Aria mumbles.

"Look, if some guy in Cape May did get her pregnant and then threatened to kill her if he found out, this is a lot bigger than a key." Aspen voices looking at Aria.

"This needs to be turned over to the police." Aria firmly states, "Yeah. I was worried you were gonna say that. But I agree." Emily utters.

"I'll take you down to the station." Aspen firmly orders, "Then I'm coming with you two." Aria says.

"No, that's okay. We won't be alone. My mom will be there. I'll call you later." Emily responds standing up alongside Aspen.

"Okay." Aria answers looking down at her phone as the two cousins leave her house.

HEY, I'LL BE HOME LATER.
SORRY. EM REALLY NEEDED ME
I LOVE YOU.
─ ASPEN

"Is that going to Jason?" Emily questions as the two of them walk into the police station in search of Pam Fields.

"Yeah. I just messaged him explaining that I'll be home later." Aspen explains pointing at Pam sitting in the bullpen of the station.

"Why would the police want this?" Pam quizzes looking at the biology textbook the girls handed to her confused, "I don't know. Um, Ali wrote in it." Emily responds.

"Maybe there's something in there that could help them figure out who would want to hurt her." Aspen voices as a suggestion.

"Okay, let me find out who to give this to." Pam responds getting up from her desk and walking off into the bullpen somewhere.

Aspen looks up from leaning her head on her palms in exhaustion seeing Hanna being escorted into the station by a deputy.

"Hanna?" Aspen questions confused gaining Emily's attention as well who looks at the blonde beyond confused.

"Hi." Hanna groans in annoyance at being at the station, "What are you doing here?" Emily quizzes.

"And what's that smell? Is that─ tequila?" Aspen asks with a grimace of the strong smell of alcohol.

"No. It's actually gin. A little bit got in my mouth when, uh, the girl threw it in my face, so..." Hanna explains, "Who did? What happened?" Aspen questions with a frown.

"Nothing. I just─ I got busted for underage drinking, which I wasn't even doing. Unfortunately, "I'm just holding it" doesn't work on Betty the bouncer." Hanna mutters sighing due to being annoyed with herself.

"You were at a club." Aspen voices in disbelief looking at her cousin, "More of a bar." Hanna states, "What bar?" Emily wonders.

"Oh, it was more of a club. You wouldn't have heard of it. My mom's gonna kill me." Hanna groans at the thought of her mother's face once she comes to pick her up from the station.

"Oh great." Aspen mutters noticing who's walking towards them, "Hey, Aspen. Emily. Hanna. I just spoke with your mom, Emily. She said you and Aspen wanted to turn something in?" Detective Wilden quizzes looking at the three girls─ more so Aspen due to her knowing a few secrets of his.

Emily motions to the biology textbook on her mom's desk making Wilden grab ahold of it.

"What are you two doing?" Hanna asks in a hushed whisper shocked.

"The cops need to see that." Emily mumbles, "And unfortunately, he's one of them." Aspen lowly says.

"I appreciate you bringing this down. We'll return it to you as soon as we can." Wilden states standing in-front of the three of them again before walking away smirking at Aspen who grimaces in disgust.

"Oh, and Emily. Aspen─ you did the right thing." Wilden says almost taunting the two girls in a way.

"What are you both thinking?" Hanna angrily questions, "We're thinking we could end this. I'm gonna get a coffee. Do either of you want one?" Emily inquires.

"I'm good. Thanks Em." Aspen murmurs, "No thanks. I'll take a napkin, for blotting." Hanna explains pointing to her face and the messy makeup on it due to the drink being slashed on her earlier that evening.

"Em? What is it?" Aspen questions noticing Emily's wide eyed look staring at the picture board, "What's wrong?" Hanna quizzes noticing the same thing.

"Look who else was in Cape May." Emily voices pointing at the photo of Detective Wilden holding up a large fish with some of his friends.

"Well shit." Aspen sighs knowing more stuff is gonna come out about that summer.

✹

JASON LOOKS up hearing the apartment door open signalling Aspen's return, "Baby, are you alright?" Jason questions taking in her stressed figure.

"Um─ no. I'm not alright." Aspen responds with a very deep sigh as she places the jacket on the countertop.

"What's wrong?" Jason asks bringing his fiancée into his arms, "I know you don't remember much from that summer. But some stuff has come up and the girls know." Aspen explains.

"Okay?" Jason quizzes confused, "They only know about us being in Cape May together. And how Ali, CeCe and I were close." Aspen mumbles.

"Yeah? I thought that wasn't a big thing though." Jason shrugs, "Jace─ you tried to kill yourself that summer. I was the one who found you. You were," Aspen sniffles remembering finding him.

"You were on the floor choking on your own vomit. You swallowed a bunch of pills─ and when you woke up... you told me it my fault you tried." Aspen reveals shocking the dirty blonde.

"You don't remember any of this?" Aspen questions, "I don't. But Asp─ I'm so sorry. Whatever memory surfaces please come to me and don't keep anything to yourself." Jason pleads holding Aspen's hand tightly bringing her head tightly into his chest kissing the top of her head.

"I'm so fucking sorry for all of the shit I put you through when I was an alcoholic and addicted to drugs. I only remember some of it. But I do remember hurting you─ I didn't mean to," Jason mumbles.

"I know. Hey, Jace. I know you never meant to hurt me." Aspen softly says placing her hands on his cheeks taking in his beautiful eyes.

"I love you so much. And I can't wait to become your husband." Jason murmurs looking up at Aspen with nothing but love filled in his eyes.

"I can't wait to be your wife." Aspen smiles snuggling into his chest and wrapping her arms around his torso inhaling his fresh scent eventually luring off into a deep sleep feeling safe in the arms of her fiancé.

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

𝖊𝖑𝖘 𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖐𝖘 ⛧
i adore jaspen
so much
sorry this chapter
got so dark at the end

what did you like
about this chapter?

hope you enjoyed!

DON'T BE A GHOST READER.
VOTE AND COMMENT PLEASE

socials:
tt: hellfiresoulss
pin: hellfiresoulss
insta: hellfire.soulss