CANARY CRY [pretty little liars]

24. the goodbye look

JULY 2009

"Addy?"

Adaline closed her eyes and sighed. "Hey Jason, what are you up to?" She could hear his confusion through the phone.

"Uh, nothing. You?"

Adaline had just gotten off the phone with a very apologetic Alison who told her that she wasn't going to make it to the party Adaline was already at. That's what she gets from catching a ride with Noel's older brother.

"Is there any way you can pick me up?" Adaline asked nervously. "I'm like an hour out of town, and I'm too scared to call my dad, and I don't know anyone else with a car."

Jason didn't miss a beat. "What's the address?"

"Um, it's the Kahn's cabin. I don't know what the exact address is."

"I know where it is," Jason replied. "I'll be there soon."

"Thank you," Adaline said quickly before hanging up. The sounds of the people chattering, screaming, and singing drunkenly made Adaline's stomach twist around. And the cherry on top of that messy sundae was that Ian Thomas was only a few paces away from her.

Ever since she arrived at the Kahn's cabin with Eric, Ian's eyes had not left her. She tried to duck into empty rooms or slip out the back, but he was always there. It used to not bother her. She could tolerate him so long as Alison was there. But Alison was caught up with dealing with her mother and CeCe Drake. Adaline told them it was a stupid idea, and they still went along with it. The three of them were supposed to be at this party together, but now it was just Adaline, sitting on a rock, all by herself.

Time passed slowly. Every once and a while, Eric Kahn ventured her way to check in on her. For the most part, she assumed he was a sleeze, but something about him having too much to drink just made him a bit more kind. She regularly turned down offers of drinks from him, and let him find himself back into the body of the party.

Adaline checked her phone and the timestamp of when she called Jason. He had to be getting close at this point. Just as she thought the dreadful night was coming to an end, she spotted Ian Thomas walking her way.

"Alison bail on you, Little A?" he asked, a red cup in his one hand.

Adaline looked at the road in front of her, hoping that Jason's car would emerge sometime soon.

"No, she's just a little late," Adaline replied, averting her eyes away from him. She slipped her phone into the pocket of her skin tight jeans and stood up, tempting to start running. "She asked if I'd meet her alone."

Ian waved his hand, brushing away Adaline's last statement. "Ali loves me, she won't mind if I wait with you."

He took a step towards Adaline, causing her to step backwards. "Yeah, but I mind," she mumbled under her breath.