Back to Me

Just Friends

The next day at school I entered the cafeteria and was immediately approached by Hanna.

"Hey, Spencer, I'm glad I found you. I already got Aria and Emily to sit with Mona and me so please say that you'll sit with all of us. We've been apart for too long and my goal for junior year is to reunite all of us." Hanna said very quickly and excitedly.

"I'd love to, Han." I smiled and I could imagine that she was smiling too.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, I promise you won't regret this. It's going to be so much fun and there won't be any Alison to ruin things." She said sounding even more excited than before as she lead me over to the table where the others were seated.

"Hey, Spence," Emily greeted me as I sat down beside her.

"Yeah, it's so good to see you." Aria said.

"Okay, Spencer, so Emily is to your right and Aria is on Emily's right. I'm across from you and Mona is to my right but your left." Hanna stated, it was a change to hear her take the lead.

"Hi, Spencer, and Hanna meant to that I'm next to her on her left and your right." Mona clarified.

"Left right, this that, whatever." Hanna mumbled. "Who cares anyway? We're both sitting across from her."

"So, Spencer, how was dinner with your sister's fiancé last night?" Emily asked trying to start some conversation.

"It was good. But how did you know about that?"

"Because your parents have been calling everyone in town and gushing about how lucky Melissa is and how happy they are." Emily replied bluntly.

"Yeah, and Melissa is definitely making sure that everyone knows. I saw her walking around town this morning on my way to school and it's impossible to miss her gigantic rock of an engagement ring." Aria added.

"Sadly, none of that is surprising." I mumbled sarcastically. "Melissa says that she loves Wren but part of me thinks it's just because he's going to be a doctor which means maintaining her rich and luxurious lifestyle."

"I met him in the Grille this morning and he didn't seem like one of Melissa's typical boyfriends." Hanna commented.

"I know what you mean, Hanna. And that's exactly one of the reasons that I think she's just with him for his money."

"Hey, speaking of being with people, is it true that you're dating Jason DiLaurentis?" Mona asked speaking for the first time since clarifying Hanna's mistake.

"Excuse me, what?" I asked raising my voice.

"There's a rumor going around that you two are dating." Mona told me.

"I don't know how that rumor got started but like most rumors, it's not true. Jason and I are just friends." I clarified.

I would have told them that Jason is my brother, because Jason and I don't care about who knows. But his parents and my parents act like the world would end if anybody knew.

"And some of the best ships are set sailing by the winds of being friends first." Aria stated poetically.

"Yeah, what she just said." Hanna agreed. "Just look at me and Sean. For years I had that huge crush on him. Then one day we just started hanging as friends and now we're together and things are great."

"And don't forget that the two of you are going to be Homecoming King and Queen." Mona added.

"Really, Mona, it's the second day of school and you're already thinking about Homecoming?" Emily teased.