chapter one — pilot
[ season one, episode one ]
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THEN

Gwen laughed along with her friends as they all sat around Spencer's barn, they were one friend short. The five girls were still waiting on Alison DiLaurentis to show up, probably fashionably late, as usual. "It's bad, huh?" Aria laughed as Emily tried the drink that was being passed around. As Spencer was taking a tip of the drink, the music cut out, as did the lights, courtesy to the raging storm outside. "Woah, what happened?" Hanna asked as Aria turned on a flashlight. "It must be the storm." Spencer responded as she got up and lit a candle.

"You okay?" Gwen looked to see Hanna looking at her. It was well known that Gwendolyn McKnight hated storms, a childhood fear. "I'm okay Hanna Banna," she assured the blonde, just as a rumble sounded through the barn, something from outside. "Something's out there." Aria whispered before one of the doors to the barn opened, making them all turn to it. "Guys..." Gwen trailed off, not liking this. She linked her hand with Hanna as they all slowly stood up, still staring at the open bar door.

They moved quietly, and together with Aria in front, holding the flashlight in front of her. They moved slowly towards it as a sudden crash sounded through the air, like glass on concrete making them all gasp, but kept walking, the flashlight aimed towards the open door. "Gotcha!" Alison yelled, making the girls scream and jump backwards in fright as Alison laughed. 'Of course it was Alison playing a trick on us' Gwen thought.

"That's so not funny, Alison!" Spencer hissed as they moved out of her way so she could lead them back to their seats. "I thought it was hilarious, girls." Alison admitted, and now that the panic had worn off, the girls were giggling about it as well while moving back to their seats. "Ali, did you download the new Beyoncé?" Hanna asked excitedly. Alison groaned. "Not yet," she responded. "I'm loving her new video." Emily admitted as she sat down between Hanna and Gwen.

"Maybe a little too much, Em." Alison remarked, causing Gwen to furrow her brows, confused as the others giggle while Emily's face falls slightly. Alison grabs the red glass filled with drink they were passing around earlier and reaches it out to Aria. "Your turn. Go on." She encourages her and Aria grabs in and takes a moment before taking a larger sip, making them all laugh. "Careful, Aria. Take too much, and you'll tell us all your secrets." Spencer laughed as she ate some of the food they had there.

The girls giggled at her comment as Aria shot her a look. "Friends share secrets, that's what keeps us close." Alison said, making them look at her as held a look on her face, one Gwen couldn't decipher. Alison then turned back to Aria. "Drink up." she said and Aria took another sip of the drink.

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Aria was the first to wake up out of her friends, and once she sat up and looked around, she noticed Spencer and Alison were missing. She decided to try and wake her friends, starting with Gwen. Gwen woke up to someone shaking her, making her open her eyes to see Aria above her. "What time is it?" She asked groggily as Aria woke Emily while Gwen nudged Hanna. "Em," she whispered, shaking her leg. "Whoa," Emily whispered as she woke up. "Where's Ali and Spencer?" Hanna asked.

"We don't know." Aria responded before she and Gwen got up and decided to walk towards the open barn door. They saw someone heading their way. "Ali? Gwen called out. "She's gone." Spencer told them as she walked closer to the barn, making them realize it was Spencer and not Alison. "What do you mean she's gone?" Aria answered. "I've looked everywhere for her," Spencer said as she walked into the light. "I think I heard her scream." she admitted, making Gwen's heart drop to her stomach.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

NOW

"Hey Hanna Banana," Gwen greeted as she walked into the Marin Household. After everything with Alison's disappearance, the girls went separate ways, Spencer focused on hockey, Emily on swimming and Aria moved to Iceland, but Gwen and Hanna? They stayed close and became friends with Mona Vanderwall. Afterall when Gwen's mom would work a late night shift, she'd always been at the Marin house.

"Hi Gweny," Hanna greeted her as she turned and smiled at her. "Are you ready to shop till we drop?" Gwen asked as she leaned against the kitchen island. "Duh," Hanna responded. "Well, let's go, can't keep Mona waiting, remember last time?" Gwen asked and Hanna laughed as the two walked out of the house and left to meet Mona at the Rosewood Mall.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

Gwen was standing with Hanna at the counter while she tried on sunglasses while Mona tried on scarfs behind them, which she had a feeling they were gonna steal. She had tried to talk sense into them about how stealing is bad, they've never listened. "Could I see the Pradas in the front?" Hanna asked. "I'll have to put some of this back." the store clerk told her."But they're all maybes." Hanna told him as she took off the pair of sunglasses she had on and smiled at him.

The guys smiled and grabbed the ones she wanted to see as Mona called out to them. "Hey, is this me?" she asked, making them turn to see her wearing a scarf with a weird pattern. "It's a little too much your mother." Gwen and Hanna told her with a laugh as Mona wore a disgusted look before walking off to find something else as the two friends looked back at the store clerk, who handed Hanna a different pair of sunglasses.

Hanna tried them, looking at herself in the mirror before turning to Mona. "I am loving those glasses. How much?" Mona asked. "350." Hanna answered as Gwen spotted Spencer Hastings on the top level. "Han," Gwen said quietly, pointing towards Spencer. "I'll be right back." Hanna said to the store clerk before she and Gwen went to meet Spencer. "I cannot believe Spencer Hastings actually has time to shop." Hanna joked, making Spencer look towards them.

"I mean, you're interning for the mayor, taking classes at Hollis, and redoing the barn." Hanna listed. "And in your leisure moments, you facebook and tweet." Gwen quipped. "You guys know me, I like to stay busy." Spencer told them. "Spence, it's called a summer vacation for a reason." Gwen said as she crossed her arms. "You two spent yours sunning and shopping." Spencer teased. "Tweet-tweet." Hanna responded, making the three of them laugh.

"Did you see the paper today?" she asked and Gwen sighed. Despite her mothers attempt to hide the paper, she had seen it. "Yeah," Hanna responded. "She's gone, but she's everywhere." Spencer said. "I can't believe it's been a year." Gwen spoke softly. "Do you remember what Ali said that night, about our secrets keeping us close?" she asked and they nodded. "I think it was the opposite." Spencer replied and they shared a sad smile.

"So! What's the occasion?" Hanna asked, changing the subject. "Family dinner, we're meeting Melissa's new fiance." she answered, causing Gwen to gasp playfully and hold her hand to her heart. "Did Miss Perfect, find Mr. Perfect?" she asked as they followed Spencer to a different isle. "He's a med student so everyone's thrilled." Spencer teased. "Then that's not the right top." Hanna told Spencer as she walked toward a rack of clothes. "You need to turn heads." Gwen adds as Hanna picks out something for Spencer.

"Away from Melissa? Please." Spencer scoffed. "She doesn't always have to win." Hanna told her as she pulled out a beautiful burgundy singlet before handing it to Spencer, who took it with a smile. "See you around the playground." Hanna said. "See you." Spencer responded as Gwen waved goodbye before they walked away and down the escalator and walked past the security guard as Hanna put the glasses on but before they could actually leave, someone called out to them, more like Hanna.

"Hey, Miss!" someone called out, making them turn to look as the security guard grabbed Hanna's arm and Gwen's heart stopped momentarily but he just held up Hanna's bag. "You forgot your bag." he told her, making Hanna smile, glad she wasn't caught. "Thank you." she thanked him before taking the bag from him before the twins continued to walk and Mona met them. "I so thought you were busted." Mona said to Hanna. "Nice scarf." Hanna complemented Mona's new scarf. "Nice glasses." Mona complemented Hanna's new glasses. "You two are gonna get caught one day." Gwen scoffed.

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Hanna and Gwen were the first two of the trio to walk into their first period English class, Mona followed after them shortly. The three stood around their desks, talking when Hanna and Gwen noticed Emily and Aria looking at them, Hanna waved thinly with her fingers while Gwen nodded at them with a polite smile.

Gwen then turned to see Spencer walk into the room as well. She gave Hanna and Gwen a tight lipped smile as if they hadn't laughed together the day before. The bell ringing made the three friends sit down in their seats. Mona next to Hanna and Gwen in front of Hanna. The new English teacher was at the front of the room, writing his name on the board before underlying his name, grabbing his mug and turning to face the class. "Holy crap." he uttered, staring at someone, making the class turn to where he was looking. Aria.

Gwen turned and shared a look with Hanna as Aria's phone went off, causing to lean down and grab it from her bag. "Sorry," Aria mumbled as she opened her phone as the new teacher cleared his throat. "Uh, I'm Mr. Fitz, Your new English teacher." He introduced himself.

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Gwen was at home, her mother had gotten home yet, but apparently she was about to leave, so Gwen was getting things ready. She had cooked for her and her mom. Her phone went off, making her turn away from the stove to her phone that was placed on top of her kitchen island. She walked over to him and grabbed it, thinking it either her mom, Hanna or Mona, but when she read the message, her face to fall

UNKNOWN ID
what would dear mummy say about
your summer activities?
⎯ A

Gwen breathed in and out to calm herself but was distracted by the sounds of sirens. Gwen turned the stove off quickly and rushed outside, watching as a police car drove down the street, down Alison's street. Gwen quickly grabbed her keys and locked up the house before driving to Alison's house and when she arrived, she noticed the amount of reporters, police and a coroner van. She got out of her car and walked closer, being able to see them wheel the body out of the house.

She was in a haze, tears lining under eyes when she noticed Spencer joined her side, they didn't say anything, they didn't need to. It wasn't long before Aria joined them as well, standing between Spencer and Gwen. All three of them were facing the house with sadness. "I heard the cops took Hanna to the police station today." Aria told them, making them both look at her.

"Wait... you don't think she'd ever talk about—" Spencer started but was cut off. "The Jenna thing?" Hanna guessed as she joined them, standing next to Spencer. "We made a promise." she added. Gwen let out a breath and gazed at Ali's house once more before bidding the girls goodbye and walking back to her car, wanting nothing more than to head home with her mom right now.

When Gwen got home, she noticed her moms car was parked out front as well, she let out a slow breath before getting out and walking into her house, hearing the news. "Current owners of the residence were in the process of demolishing the structure to make room for a renovation project when workers made the gruesome discovery. The parents of the deceased were unavailable for comment but a family spokesperson has confirmed the gazebo was under construction the summer 15-year-old Alison DiLaurentis disappeared." the news lady said as Gwen walked into the living room, seeing her mother watching the news sadly.

"Tonight, the family is asking for privacy as they come to terms with the sad ending to a year-long mystery and local authorities are coming to terms with the fact a killer is at large in Rosewood." she finished. "Thank you–" the news was muted, making Gwen look away from it and to her mother, who was looking at her. "She's really gone mom." Gwen said as she started crying. Sophia got up and rushed to pull her daughter into a hug, letting her cry onto her shoulder.

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Gwen and Sophia had gone with the Marin's to Alison's funeral. Once they arrived they came across Mrs. DiLaurentis. "Mrs. DiLaurentis," Gwen greeted, making her look over at her and Hanna and their mothers. "Oh Gwendolyn, Hanna, it's good to see girls, I wish it was under different circumstances." She said as she pulled the girls into hugs, them not minding. "I've asked the other girls to sit together up front, it's what Alison would have wanted." she said as the two friends nodded and bid her goodbye before moving towards the front where Spencer and Emily were sitting.

When Gwen noticed Aria slowly waking up next to them, staring at the picture of Alison, she decided to grab Aria's hand in comfort, making the girl turn to her. Gwen softly smiled before the four girls moved down so Aria could sit next to Gwen. "Poor Ali," Emily muttered sadly. "Can you believe what a scene this is?" Hanna asked. "Ali would have loved it," Gwen responded. "Popular in life and death." Spencer remarked.

Hanna looked over at Emily, who wore a frown before grabbing something out of her purse and held it out for Emily. It was a flask. "No thanks I don't–" Emily started. "Today I think you do." Hanna said, cutting her off. A moment passed before Emily took the flash from Hanna just before Aria's phone rings, making her look down at her purse and grab it out. The girls were tense as they watched Aria check the message. "Anyone we know?" Hanna asked, causing Aria to turn and look at the girls, who were all looking at her.

"No, it's just my mom sending me a text." Aria responded and they were silent for a moment as the girls were still tense, making Aria look back at them, while they looked at her. "Emily and I aren't the only ones who got messages from 'A' are we?" she asked, making all share a look before they heard everyone murmuring, causing Spencer to look behind them.

"Oh, my god," she said softly. "It's Jenna." she added, making the others turn to see Jenna walk down the aisle before sitting down with help. The girls stared for a moment before turning back around just before Mr and Mrs. DiLaurentis sat down next to them. "Did you see that Jenna Marshall was here? I didn't realize she and Ali were friends." Mrs. DiLaurentis said to them. "They weren't," Spencer responded before looking back at her. "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away," The priest started.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

After the funeral, Sophia bid her daughter goodbye as the girls were planning to get something to eat. They walked out of the church in groups. Aria, Hanna and Gwen were walking in front of Spencer and Emily. As they were walking away, someone called out to them. "Emily, Spencer, Aria, Gwendolyn and Hanna," he said, as they turned to him. "Do we know you?" Spencer asked. "I'm Detective Wilden, I understand you were all good friends with the victim" he said, grabbing a card out of the inside of his jacket and handing it to her.

"Yeah, we were," Gwen responded. "I'm gonna need to talk to each one of you," he told them. "We talked to the police when Alison went missing." Spencer responded, confused. "And I intend to go over every one of your statements as this is no longer a missing persons investigation, it's a murder," he explained. "And rest assured, I will find out what happened that summer," he added before walking away.

The girls watched him disappear into the crowd and then they shifted their gaze onto Jenna, who was getting into a car but then they caught sight of Wilden, leaning against a tree and watching them before they turned around, forming a circle so they were facing each other.

"Do you think he knows about..." Aria began only to be cut off by Hanna. "No. How could he?" she asked before their phones rang in unison.

"Oh, my God." Aria mumbled.

"It's from." Gwen and Hanna said.

"I got one too." Emily Stated.

"I'm still here, bitches . . ." Spencer began reading the text.

"And I know everything. A." They all finished reading the text as they shared small looks but were still so shocked.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
hi !! i hope you guys enjoy this story as much as you do my others, this takes a different approach to pll since it's a caleb rivers love interest <3