My Life in Rosewood

Chapter Seven

Alison DiLaurentis was found dead the other day. I still can't believe that the Queen Bee of the town has been rotting in the ground for three years. What makes it worse is that they found her in the backyard of her own house. The fact that her poor family didn't even know she was there the whole time is a bit heartbreaking to think about. When the new people had moved in a couple weeks before school started they decided that they wanted to take out the ground cement from the gazebo and it turned out that Alison had been buried underneath it when it was filled in the summer she went missing, and her family had no idea. I may not have liked her but I'm glad her family is finally getting the closure they deserve. Their entire family is a nutjob and bullies but no one should go through what they did.

Today is the funeral and the entire town has a free school day off for people who want to go. For most of the night before I was wide awake, debating whether I should actually go to this. I mean, she basically kept Aria and Spencer for herself the whole time that they were friends by bullying me away. Not to mention she had the meaner popular kids calling me Four Eyes Brant or beating me up just because she could. But in the end I decided I would go. Why? To support the girls. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't show up for them?

"Ready?" I look over from my bed as I just put on my shoes, seeing the sadness in Spencer's eyes.

I nod slowly before I get to my feet. My red hair is in a normal ponytail today, but I'm wearing a black blouse and black slacks with black flats. Despite the fact that I feel totally uncomfortable, I know I have to suck it up for her and the girls. "I'm ready."

We walk outside and meet her parents, both getting into the back seat of her dad's car. Then I grab her hand and smile sadly at her when she looks at me, giving her a silent reassurance that I'm here. She smiles back at me gently before looking out the window when the car starts to move. She knows that I hated Alison, but the fact that I'm willing to go with her I know she's grateful.

They find a parking spot down the block from the church, a whole bunch of reporters standing across the street as we walk back to it. There are more people than I thought would be here if I'm being honest. Almost no one in this town liked her because of the type of person she was. I mean, if I had to guess on who killed her it would be hard to tell you. Because literally it could have been anyone in this town.

Before I can get inside I hear my name, turning my head and notice Aria walking up the steps with her parents. Her first reaction is to practically tackle me into a hug and I just wrap my arms around her right away. I look over at Spencer and she gives my arm a soft rub before she heads inside with her parents.

I rub Aria's back before I pull away from her as her parents pass us, both of them giving my head a kiss for being there for her. "Breathe." I finally say, seeing her anxious eyes on mine. "We're gonna go in there and it's going to be hard to be in this situation, but I'll help you move forward."

She does take the breath, watching me with a thank you. I've unfortunately gone through this already and I wouldn't let her feel as bad as I had when I was at the funeral for my family. Then she grabs my hand and we walk inside, heading through the aisle with her arm looped through mine now. We get to adults that are hugging, shaking hands and thanking people as they pass them and I realize that it's Alison's parents.

"Mrs. D." Aria says when we get to her and then looks at the man beside her, smiling a bit.

"Aria." Mrs. DiLaurentis says and hugs her as I give the father my condolences, "How are you?"

Aria slowly nods, "I'm okay."

Mrs. DiLaurentis smiles, thanking her for coming and then tells her that she can sit up front with her, her husband, and the other girls. She says that Hanna, Spencer, and Emily are already sitting there. I give Aria a smile and tell her that I'll find her parents so I can sit with them. She nods and walks off down the aisle to be with the others just as I spot the Montgomery's. I'm about to take off down the aisle too when Mrs. DiLaurentis grabs onto my arm, her face getting a bit dark.