047, will the circle be unbroken
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

STANDING IN the courtyard of the high school, Aspen looks around hoping to spot Spencer before she has to go and quickly hand off some new designs to Mrs Lockman.

"I was hoping she'd be here, but she isn't." Emily sighs, "Do you think Spencer just didn't get your SOS?" Aria questions.

"Maybe, but she must have gotten one of the other twelve messages we sent." Emily states.

"Okay, you guys, she has ditched school before. All right? It's not a big deal." Aspen mumbles.

"Yeah, you're right, I guess." Aria responds with a hum at the end of her sentence.

"Okay, we just need to get through today. If she doesn't call or show up, we'll go to her house after school." Emily states in a demanding tone as the bells rings overhead signalling it's time for classes.

"I've gotta get these designs to Mrs Lockman." Aspen utters gesturing to the box of clothes while the others nod agreeing as they begin walking closer to the corridors of the school.

"Girls, good, you're all together," Mr Hackett voices startling Aspen before she looks at the others confused.

"I think you know Spencer's sister, Melissa." Mr Hackett states motioning to Melissa beside him.

"Have you seen Spencer? Have you talked to her?" Melissa anxiously questions looking at the four girls.

"Not today." Emily responds a little confused, "Mel, is something wrong?" Aspen asks sensing Melissa's stress.

"Spencer didn't come home last night. She's not answering her phone. I was hoping she was here with you. Which is why I came here before I went to the police." Melissa explains.

"Police?" Hanna quizzes, "I understand Spencer's been a little "distracted" lately. Was there something on her mind that she shared with you? Anything about her plans?" Mr Hackett questions.

"No, Mr Hackett, um... she hasn't said anything to us." Aspen explains looking at the others while responding.

"You're her friends. She must have said something." Melissa suggests looking around at the four girls before stopping on Aspen noticing her shaking her head in response.

"You can, uh, call the police from my office." Mr Hackett kindly offers motioning for Melissa to follow after him towards the main offices to call the police.

"Thank you." Melissa responds before Mr Hackett faces the girls once again.

"Let me know if you hear from Spencer." Mr Hackett demands, "Sure." Aspen responds nodding her head.

"Yes, sir." Aria says as well looking at the vice principal nervously.

Aspen quickly excuses herself to drop the designs off to Mrs Lockman before agreeing to meet up with the girls after school hours to hopefully get some updates on Spencer's whereabouts.

✹

ASPEN EVENTUALLY meets up with the others at the entrance doors.

"Melissa must have the police looking for Spencer by now." Emily voices, "I do not need more police in my life." Hanna grumbles.

"Yeah, none of us do." Aspen says looking at the others blonde knowingly.

"Okay, the only thing that counts right now is finding her. Now, are you sure that Spencer didn't say anything about what she was going to do?" Aria questions facing Emily.

"Just that I should stop looking for Toby." Emily responds.

"What are we supposed to do, just sit in our rooms and do our homework?" Aria quizzes.

"Ha. Not me." Aspen murmurs thankful she doesn't need to do exhausting homework anymore.

"We look for her. We look where the police won't look, because we know her better than them." Emily firmly states.

"Like that bookstore that she likes." Aria says, "Or that crazy lab theatre at Hollis." Hanna speaks up looking at the others.

"We look, we keep talking, and we check in with Melissa in case she hears anything." Aspen firmly demands receiving nods of confirmation from the others before separating for the day.

Strolling into her empty and quiet apartment, Aspen pouts before sighing to herself grabbing some carrot sticks and a bottle of water from her fridge.

"My very, very boring life." Aspen murmurs taking a seat on her sofa and pressing play on her television looking at her phone for the updates from Aria and the others about Spencer.

SPENCER'S OKAY!
─ EMILY

Aspen sighs in relief re-reading the text over and over again from her cousin to her, Hanna and Aria and for them to meet at the Brew as soon as possible.

✹

ASPEN WALKS into the Brew waving at the others while Emily passes her a coffee.

"Melissa wanted me to know that Spencer was in Radley, so she came in on her way out there. Dr Sullivan called her." Emily explains.

"What's Sullivan have to do with this?" Aria asks confused.

"Sullivan found Spencer at Radley. That's where the rangers sent her." Emily responds, "What? Where was she?" Aspen worriedly questions.

"Melissa said that Spencer was in the woods all night." Emily states, "Wait, she was just wandering around in the woods? Why?" Hanna asks.

"Was she looking for Toby?" Aria also questions while Aspen bites her lip nervously.

"I don't know." Emily shrugs, "You guys, we have to go there. We have to talk to her." Hanna utters.

"Family visits only. It's some kind of mandatory evaluation." Emily explains.

"I don't like the idea of Melissa being the only one that's able to get in there." Aria states.

While Hanna gently taps the side of Aspen's arm showing her an incoming text message off A of her mom and Wilden─ the night Ashley ran said male over with the car Aspen and her dumped in the lake.

"I know. That's why I left Dr Sullivan a message." Emily responds agreeing with Aria's previous statement.

"Guys..." Hanna voices nervously showing Aria and Emily the photo with A's initial on the side of it.

The four girls separate once again for the night, Aspen strolls into her apartment once again feeling incredibly lonely before showering and calling it a night to sleep off her loneliness.

✹

THE NEXT day, Aspen lounges around her apartment for most of the day watching her favourite show while sipping on her mineral water.

Finally deciding to swallow her self pity party, Aspen makes her way towards Hanna's house since the blonde girl is gonna stay with her while her mother's in New York for a job seminar.

"I can't stop thinking about Spencer in that place." Aspen mumbles sitting on Hanna's bed while said girl throws clothes into her suitcase, "We'll get her out." Hanna firmly responds.

"Shouldn't we have seen it coming? If I'm being honest, I thought it would've been me." Aspen voices admitting the truth that she thought she would've been the one having mental, physical and emotional breakdowns due to Jason's departure from Rosewood with their dog.

"Okay, I have to split myself between disasters. It's after three, so I'm thinking about my mom." Hanna states.

"Han, if Wilden wants to come after you, he will. It's not like New York is in some other country." Aspen voices looking at the Marin girl.

"New York is on another planet. I don't know if she'll get the job, but... I want her to have the option in case things get worse." Hanna says in response.

"So, what did Wilden tell people about his car?" Aspen questions leaning back on Hanna's pillows due to her back absolutely killing her with its intense pain.

"Emily said he reported it stolen." Hanna states.

"Don't you think they'll find it? I mean, don't all cop cars have GPS?" Aspen questions anxiously.

"No, it doesn't work under water." Hanna responds.

"It doesn't? I swear I read somewhere that police vehicles have different tools and equipment." Aspen shrugs panicked.

"Nothing works underwater, it's a scientific fact." Hanna utters.

"You actually think you'll go to New York?" Aspen inquires looking at the blonde.

"If it's to keep my mom safe from Wilden, then... I'll make the sacrifice." Hanna mumbles with a sigh.

"Yeah, I hear it's awful primitive out there." Aspen voices smirking at the look Hanna's currently giving her.

✹

"HOW ARE your designs going?" Hanna questions as Emily, Aspen, Aria and herself crowd together in the school's bathroom.

"Kinda having a burnout. But I'm sure something will come to me again." Aspen responds sighing since fashion is her go to for her sadness and she's currently got absolutely no inspiration for anything.

"We could just say that we're Spencer's cousins." Hanna shrugs, "Hanna, nobody's ever gonna believe that." Aria states.

"We have to find out why she's so sure Toby's dead." Emily says.

"Well, they have to let her out after 72 hours." Hanna responds, "No. They don't have to let her go at all if she's really cuckoo for coco-puffs." Aspen states.

"What are you saying?" Emily asks looking at her cousin like she's the insane one.

"I'm saying, A's been turning the screws so long, one of us was bound to snap a string. Just never thought that it would be Spencer." Aspen firmly responds.

"I did." Hanna voices, "Why?" Emily questions shocked, "Because there's a downside to being too smart." Hanna states in a duh tone.

"You were never the weak link, Emily. Spencer was." Aria utters.

Aspen turns to face the door as it opens revealing Mona stepping into the ladies room.

"Yeah. Nope. I'm leaving." Aspen mutters glaring at Mona.

"Agreed." Hanna mumbles following Aspen as the Fields-Harley girl goes to step out of the ladies room.

"So, where's the fourth musketeer? Haven't seen her today." Mona questions breaking the silence capturing Aspen, Hanna, Aria and Emily's attention from the doorway.

"If you mean Spencer, I think you know exactly where she is, she's in Radley, and you're the reason why." Aria responds snarling at the girl.

"Radley?" Mona repeats shocked, "Don't play dumb, Mona." Hanna mutters stepping closer to Aria.

Aspen remains by the door still glaring daggers at Mona, "Could've gotten through senior year and been finished, but you wouldn't leave it alone." Emily firmly states.

"Listen to me..." Mona begins to voice what she wants to say.

"No, you listen. If Spencer doesn't get better, and she doesn't get out of Radley, you're gonna wish you broke your neck when you fell off that cliff." Aria snarls venomously at Mona while Aspen looks down at the floor with a satisfied smirk.

"Attention. Aria Montgomery, report to the Principal's office. Aria Montgomery, to the office." The woman on the PA system voices demanding Aria's presence in the office area immediately.

"Oh. Drop the smirk, Mona." Aspen mutters annoyed before leading the others out of the bathroom and watching as Aria walks towards the office with a confused look present on her face.

✹

HANNA STANDS beside Aspen as Ashley unpacks the suitcase belonging to Hanna.

"Do you have all the contact info?" Ashley questions looking at Aspen.

"Saved. And labeled as your information." Aspen confirms nodding her head.

"Okay. Good," Ashley smiles before facing Hanna bringing her in for a tight hug, "I will call you as soon I get to the hotel." Ashley states.

"Okay. Don't worry, mom. I'll be fine." Hanna firmly states while Ashley looks at Aspen wanting confirmation.

"We'll be okay, Mrs Marin." Aspen explains with a smile, "I love you." Ashley says, "I love you." Hanna responds with a smile.

Aspen turns around looking at all of Hanna's suitcases, "Geez, Han. Did you pack enough for three days?" Aspen playfully questions.

"If I forgot something, I can always go back." Hanna shrugs before noticing Detective Wilden standing across the street staring at her and Aspen creepily.

"Ignore him. Come on, Hanna. You don't have to talk to him." Aspen states.

"You know what, Spen? Sometimes you poke the bear, and other times, the bear pokes you," Hanna exclaims noticing Aspen frown in confusion.

"It's from a movie." Hanna explains walking closer to Wilden to talk to him.

"Hello." Hanna greets flatly, "Hello." Wilden responds smugly before turning towards Aspen.

"This is a private matter. Go away." Wilden demands making Aspen chuckle.

"Yeah, if you think I'm gonna leave you alone with her. You're wrong. Talk. Before I report you." Aspen orders holding her phone ready to press record incase she needs to get something on the record.

"Are you following me? Me and my mom?" Hanna asks cutting straight to the point.

"Why would I do that?" Wilden wonders, "I don't know. I'm just wondering if you are." Hanna states.

"No, I'm not following you." Wilden responds, "Well, then go away." Aspen speaks up shrugging as the suggestion sparks a nerve in the detective.

"I went away." Wilden states, "Right. You went fishing." Hanna mutters.

"That's right. And now I'm back. And while I was away, I did some thinking. You, me, and your mother. It's complicated. I don't think any of us have been completely honest with each other about things." Wilden states.

"Honesty is tough." Hanna shrugs, "Yeah, but you could make that easier on everybody, Hanna. Even you, Aspen." Wilden utters looking at the two blondes.

"And how could we do that?" Aspen questions folding her arms across her chest glaring at the man.

"The car, Hanna." Wilden voices, "The car?" Hanna asks.

"Just give me the keys, and tell me where you left it. That's all you have to do. And then there's no more trouble from me. All I want from you and your mother is that car." Wilden states determined to get his vehicle back.

"I'd advise for you to leave now. Bye, bye." Aspen states waving mockingly while Wilden steps back and drives away from the two blonde girl.

"Fucking creep." Aspen mutters before helping Hanna carry her suitcases up to her apartment and locking the door behind them.

"Your room is set up." Aspen explains looking at Hanna who nods gratefully.

"Thanks for this, Spen." Hanna whispers hugging Aspen knowing she's battling a lot inside her head with the breakup between her and Jason.

"Always and forever, Han." Aspen responds lowly closing the blinds of her apartment before going into her bedroom for the night. Not before wishing Hanna a good night's rest.

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

𝖊𝖑𝖘 𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖐𝖘 ⛧
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