Vodka Kisses

0522-To Plea or Not to Plea

"I can't believe this is happening." Hannah looks as though she might actually puke.

I glance over at Aria, who's a bit further away from us in the courtyard and on the phone to Jason.

Hannah overheard Mrs Hastings telling Miss Marin that Ali is being offered a plea bargain to tell the court who worked alongside her to 'kill' Mona. That person they believe is Hannah.

"Allison is not going to take the plea, she's innocent and she knows Mona planned this scheme." Emily tries to reassure.

Honestly, I don't believe that Ali won't take the plea. Ali said she wouldn't put Cyrus behind bars and then did.

"Well it's not going to be easy to prove!" Hannah exclaims in pure panic. She's scared and she has every right to be.

"Even if she does take the plea she won't name you as her helper, she wouldn't sink that low." Emily again tries to reassure.

I don't say anything because I don't believe a word Ali says.

"I want to believe that but we all know that Ali looks out for herself first and I'm the easy target!"  Hannah points out.

We glance over at Aria to see if she's off the phone, she isn't.

"I'll go to the jail and talk to her." Emily says.

"I could?" I offer and they both turn to me.

"You would do that?" Hannah asks and I nod.

"It's harder to disappoint Emily but there's a lot more riding on our friendship and she needs to know she can't do this to you." I tell Hannah and she gives me a smile full of gratitude.

"Thank you, but I should go. Maybe if she sees me it will make it harder for her to ruin my life." Hannah shrugs.

"Hannah." I sigh knowing that's not how it works.

"Hannah, you can't go. You'll just be giving Tanner more ammo." Emily tells her.

Hannah's phone rings as Aria gets off of the phone with Jason.

"What did Jason say?" Hannah asks immediately as she gets back to our side.

"Her dad is with her now but she's not taking any other visitors." Aria tells us.

Fuck, there goes my after school plan.

"Why would she do that?" Emily asks.

"Because she doesn't want to face us." Hannah points out and I nod.

"You guys, Jason said her lawyer got her so rattled about the trial, she's considering taking the plea." Aria says and we all turn to look at Hannah as her face falls.

"Hannah she still might not." I try to reassure, it's not nearly as convincing as Emily.

"I've got to go." Hannah says grabbing her bag. "I've got to go to Caleb's." She tells us and then rushes away from us.

Aria, Emily and I head back into school to head to our classes as if I'll be able to concentrate.

"I'm going to call Spencer." Emily tells us. My eyes widen. No way.

Spencer had an interview a day or two ago and there was blood in her purse. When Aria told me it sounded horrific, I will not be getting on a plane anytime soon.

"No, if you tell her about the plea she'll either bomb her interview or she'll skip it and come home. Do you seriously want to be responsible for her not getting into St Andrews?" Aria asks.

"No." Emily defends. "But she'll kill us if we don't tell her what's going on."

"I know, but let's hold off until we know something." Aria tells her.