Liar

12 - Salt Meets Wound

"Why are you taking that off?" Aria asked as they all walked into Hanna's house.

"I'm not. I'm trying to keep it on. Believe me, I don't wanna see the autograph that's under it." Hanna said.

"Messing with it will just mess up the sticky part, Han." Katherine said.

"Well, we can get you another sticker." Spencer said.

"Yeah, this time, why don't you try something mellower like, save the planet." Aria said.

"Hey, there were not a lot of choices, okay? It was either Humpty Dumpty or Jesus is coming. Look busy." Spencer said.

"Oh, god, it's still there." Hanna said, peeling off the sticker.

"Hanna, quit messing with it." Katherine said.

"Right. Yeah. Sorry." Hanna said, smoothing it back down.

"Kat's right. Don't look at that. Look around you, you're safe, you're home, and you're alive." Spencer said.

"No, I thought I was safe in my hospital room, too. You know, what's going on with Noel Kahn? Is he A? Have you talked to him?" Hanna said.

"For fucks sake." Katherine groaned, irritated that it was brought up.

"No, I avoid him. I keep telling him I'm busy." Aria said.

"With your teacher?" Katherine asked, giving Aria a look and using a tone that Alison would've killed to master.

"Busy freaking out every time I look at him." Aria said.

"Right." Katherine muttered under her breath.

"Yeah, well, try being run over by him." Hanna said.

"Oh my god. Noel did not run you over. He isn't A." Katherine said, her voice raising.

"Who got you this panda? Sean?" Emily asked, changing the subject so Katherine wouldn't get in a fight with the other girls.

"Lucas." Hanna said.

"Oh, sweet." Emily said.

"Anyone else starving or is it just me?" Hanna asked.

"You mom said she left a special dinner for you in the fridge." Spencer said.

"Pass." Hanna said, making a face. "No, I want a pop-tart." Everybody tried to hold in a laugh. "What? I've been on hospital food for three weeks. I wanna eat something that doesn't look like it's already been chewed."

"Okay, well, why don't you eat while we go get the rest of your stuff." Aria said.

"I'm gonna go. See you later." Katherine said, walking out the door and going home.

...

"Gatsby was more than just a pretty face." Ezra said at the front of the class.

"Like Katherine, she's got a pretty everything." Justin Michaels said, winking at Katherine who just rolled her eyes from her seat next to Noel.

"Anyways, he was ambitious, ruthless, charming, and the themes of change and loss are central to both novels. Did everybody get their papers back?" Ezra said. "Perfect!" He said as the bell rung. "See you Wednesday. Oh, chapters one and four. No study guides, please. Read the man, not the blogger."

"What a piece of shit." Noel whispered to Katherine, who nodded in agreement.

...

"Mr. Fitz?" Noel said, walking into the classroom with Katherine right behind him. She really didn't want to be there but she also wanted to see how this would go down. "Got a second?"