[editing]
A year had passed since Alison DiLaurentis disappeared off the face of the earth, and the five ex-friends of the powerful, vindictive girl were entering their junior year of high school.
Although it was strange to be entering another year...
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A/N: I skipped episode eight, because I felt as though it was quite pointless, so instead I moved onto episode nine.
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Hiding things from your loved ones was extremely difficult. Ivy would say that it was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. The lies would generally overtake her, and she would crumple under the pressure.
With 'A's return, Ivy had told herself to become stronger. She needed to, to protect her family. But she knew if any of her loved ones asked, she would crack.
Discovering that Maya's website was full of videos, blogs, and pictures, was frustrating, as the girls wanted to protect Emily from the truth, due to the joyous bubble she was in with Paige.
They would feel terrible if they destroyed Emily's happy state. But they were also conflicted because they knew they needed to tell her. Friends told each other everything, especially when it involved them.
Ivy found herself exiting the school with Hanna as the school day ended. She was digging through her bag for her car keys whilst Hanna stared down at the ringing phone in her hands.
"Are you gonna get that? Or are you going to pretend like you don't even see it?" Ivy wondered with a teasing grin.
Hanna met her gaze, pressing the decline button on her phone. "I'm declining it."
"Han? Ivy?" A voice called out. "Hey, wait up."
The girls spun round to find Emily coming towards them, and finally falling into step with the two.
"Hey." They smiled.
Ivy could feel the panic rising in her. She couldn't lie to Emily. If Emily asked, Ivy would have no choice but to tell her.
"Where's Paige?"
"Headed home. We're gonna meet up later." Emily told them. Although her face turned serious, as she changed topics, "Look, I know you're not telling me something. I haven't heard an update about Maya's website in a few days. If it even is Maya's. I mean, we always knew that Mona might be playing a trick, and if that's what you guys aren't telling me—"
Ivy interrupted her with a shake of her head. "This isn't a trick."
Emily's movements paused. "Then what is it? Do you know?"
Ivy glanced over at Hanna with worry. She didn't know what to do. Hanna met her gaze, but quickly spun back to Emily.
"Caleb found a way around the password." Hanna sighed. She realised that there was no point in keeping the secrets from her. "It's this site where Maya kept stuff. Photos, blog entries, videos..."
"Videos? Videos of what? Of Maya?" Emily wondered.
