Whispers in the Garden | PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

001 | Pilot

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PILOT
Season 1, Episode 1
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Lilliane Lyon stood in the doorway of her bedroom in Rosewood, taking in the familiar sights and smells that she had missed over the past year. The walls were still painted the same soft lavender, and her bookshelf was still crammed with novels and knick-knacks from her childhood. She took a deep breath, feeling both comforted and overwhelmed by the memories that flooded back.

She set her suitcase down by the bed and began to unpack, carefully placing her clothes into the dresser drawers. Her mind wandered back to Europe, where she had spent the past year while her mom, who had been relocated, worked at a hospital in London and her sister was finishing up with her final year at Oxford. It had been a whirlwind of new experiences, but she had missed Rosewood more than she had realized.

Just as she was hanging up a delicate, floral dress in her closet, her phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand. The room was filled with the soft, golden light of the sun, casting long shadows on the walls. Lilliane's heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the screen, recognizing the familiar name flashing brightly. Her pulse quickened, and she didn't hesitate for a moment before answering, a smile already curving her lips.

"Hey," she said, her voice softening at the comforting sound of his voice.

"Lilliane, hey," his voice was warm and familiar, wrapping around her like a cozy blanket. Instantly, she felt more at ease, the tension of the day melting away. "How's it feel to be back home?"

"It's... strange," she admitted, her eyes wandering around her room, taking in the familiar yet somehow alien surroundings. "I missed it, but it feels different now. How about you? How's London without me?"

"It's not the same," he said with a chuckle that sent a pang of longing through her. "I miss you already. We had a good thing going here, didn't we? Being able to be together out in the open without anyone knowing."

"Yeah, we did," Lilliane agreed, her heart aching a little at the bittersweet memory. She could almost feel the cool English breeze and hear the distant hum of city life. "But I'm glad we got to experience it together. How are you holding up? Have you started packing for New York?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, filled with the sound of his breathing as he gathered his thoughts. "I'm doing okay. Just trying to adjust. It's been... tough, you know..." he sighed heavily before changing the subject. "Um, yeah, I'm halfway done with packing and everything."

Lilliane's heart sank. She had almost forgotten the weight of his situation. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you."

"Thanks, Lil. It's been rough, but talking to you helps," he said, his voice tinged with a sadness that tugged at her heartstrings. He had always struggled to open up, and it had taken a long time for him to feel comfortable sharing his emotions with her. "Have you seen any of the girls yet or talked to them?"

"Not yet," Lilliane replied, sitting down on the edge of her bed, the mattress sinking slightly under her weight. She stared at the framed photos on her nightstand, memories of happier times. "I've only just started unpacking. Once I'm finished with my clothes, I'll head over to Spencer's. Melissa said I should be in the clear to head over without her seeing me since she's getting ready to go to the mall or something, and knowing Spencer, she'll take a while picking something that will please her parents. I'm assuming Melissa is introducing them to Wren tonight."

"Why do you say that?" he said.

"Totally doesn't have to do with the fact that Wren asked if it was alright to bring me as emotional support," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. She picked up a photo of her and Spencer from last summer, their smiles wide and carefree.