My Life in Rosewood

Chapter Twelve

Hi all, I know it's been a while since I've updated this story. I apologize. Here's the next chapter for you!

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Aria was not in the best of moods when Andrew dropped us off at her house. I'm sleeping over tonight and thank goodness because a lot went down that she quickly explained before Andrew got into the car after the dance. When I first saw her I started to ask her what was going on, intending to tell her about the text but then it escalated to more very quickly. I was in the front seat and she was in the back, Andrew got held up from a friend talking to him outside. She let me know that she was feeling overwhelmed from her parent's situation, which was understandable but then she talked about how Emily had come to the dance with Toby Cavanaugh, who people still feel is the town freak for accidentally blinding his step sister in a fire years ago and just being an awkward kid growing up. She also feels like Toby would hurt Emily because the police had told them that he had given Alison his sweater the night she got murdered, and that he never told anyone. The police let them know there was blood on the sweater when they found Alison's body.

Now Emily hasn't been seen since the dance was almost over, she went missing just like Alison had disappeared and none of the girls can get a hold of her, thinking that Toby took her. This was not the type of conversation I expected to have at all, but it seemed to have the text make more sense as she talked. I'm just still not 100% sure of what the first text I got the same day we found out about Uncle Bryon would have been about.

I honestly think they are over exaggerating about Toby though, because I knew Em was going with him before anyone else. She had confided in me about wanting to go with him, but she was scared because of the rumors that had always loomed over him. When he came back to school a few weeks back I didn't hesitate to talk to him when we had a couple classes together because I never found him creepy, or weird, or anything. I always saw him as the cool older guy in school who was one of a few people that talked to me when Alison tortured me in middle school. So it didn't surprise me when Emily said she felt that they had a lot in common and truly liked him. Especially since he had saved her from her ex-boyfriend, who tried to take advantage of her in the locker room after one of her swim practices. No one knew she would show up with him till she walked through those doors today, not even her mom was told.

Now that we are in front of her house I kiss Andrew on the cheek, thanking him for an amazing night and for dropping us off. He smiles at me and then leans in for a proper kiss just before I grab my overnight bag for the sleepover and then get out of the car. Aria smiles and thanks him as well and follows behind me. We both head to the front door as she pulls out her keys and walks inside when she gets the door open with me behind her. When we get to the stairs Uncle Byron sees us from the living room and asks how the night went. So we give him a quick rundown of things and he just smiles lovingly before asking for me to come back downstairs for a talk with him and Aunt Ella whenever I'm settled into my PJs.

"Everything okay?" I ask cautiously considering they aren't on the best terms.

He smiles more, which I hadn't seen a true smile from him since before that letter from A was sent to the house. "Everything is fine. We just wanted to talk to you about something. It's been put off long enough."

"Oh, uh...okay then. I'll be right back." I stare at Aria in complete confusion as I head back to her still waiting for me on the steps, wondering if she had any idea what that was about. She just shrugs and tells me no, now following her upstairs.

Once I shower I head back into the room to put my dress and uncomfortable shoes away. I'm now in my Harry Potter Themed PJs, as if I'm still 11 years old and reading the books for the first time. Aria just gives me a smile, not being able to believe my goofiness to loving this fandom enough to own a full PJ set for it before I walk off to the stairs to go back downstairs. Aunt Ella is now in the living room with Uncle Byron, talking to each other in a civilized tone for the first time in weeks. When my feet hit the bottom they turn to look at me.