Pretty Little Liars- 20 Years Later (A Next Generation Story)

Nineteen | A Hot Piece Of 'A'

"I'm just saying, if Adam wants to move on from Lucy the best thing to do is get back on the horse." Leo shrugged, his hands full of shopping bags as he led the way through Rosewood town center. 

"Because you're the expert on the ladies?" Adam laughed.

"I'm not even the expert on men." Leo admitted- he still hadn't talked to Dean since he'd kissed Frankie. "But hey, just because I'm gay doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two." Leo defended himself playfully. Tori and Julia giggled, but it's funny how quickly a laugh can turn to a frown. The group stopped in their tracks as just a few feet away, smiling at them, was Trudy Valentine.

It was one of those rare occasions where Alice's mother wore her ashy blonde hair down instead of up in a tight bun, and she stood there, a handbag hooked on her arm and a business suit dressing her, taking the four of them in and smiling that Valentine smile that somehow made you feel welcomed and exiled at the same time.

"Julia, Victoria, Adam- and Leo, thank you so much for helping us move back in last month." Trudy said warmly.

"No problem." Leo smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. He desperately hoped didn't know about his kiss with Frankie. 

"That being said, I was meaning to call all of you. I'm being rude by asking you all for another favor, but it would mean so much to me if you could do this." She said, producing a pile of flyers from her handbag and handing them to each of the teenagers. 

"A fashion show..?" Julia asked, the other three still reading through the flyer.

"In memory of Alice, all proceeds go to charity." Trudy added, her face falling slightly at the reminder of her deceased daughter. Walking in a fashion show was definitely not Adam's thing, but this was for charity, and he'd feel guilty on behalf of Alice if he didn't.

"We'll do it." Adam confirmed, without asking his friends. 

"Wonderful." Trudy smiled. "My number is on the flyer, call me tonight for the details. Ciao."  Trudy's high heels clacked against the sidewalk as she walked away, and Leo rolled his eyes at Adam when a message came through from Dean.

Need 2 Talk. -Dean

~

Leo dug his hands further down into his pockets as he turned the corner into Dean's streets. Leo could have driven here, but he figured he could use the fresh air to settle his nerves before coming face to face with Dean. Leo pulled his hood up over his head as the April wind picked up, and remembered that this was the same route he had taken when he had first visited Dean's house seven months ago.

Leo had left his friends in the town center, stopping briefly at home to drop off his bags before leaving again. He didn't bother to change or shower- this meet wasn't about making impressions like the one seven months ago, this was about settling a feud. A feud caused by Leo.

Leo walked up Dean's drive to the door marked 112, and rang the doorbell twice in quick succession. Dean answered immediately, clearly waiting on Leo's arrival, and gestured for him to walk through to the living room. The silence was unbearable.

"Your parents home?" Leo asked as he sat on the sofa, his hands tucked awkwardly beneath his legs.

"What do you think?" Dean forced a small laugh as he sat on an armchair in the corner of the room. Leo knew the answer- Dean's parents were away from home more than they were actually home, having conferences and meetings every other day around the world. Either way, Leo was glad that Dean could make a joke in a situation like this- it made him feel more at ease.

Leo sighed. "Well, I know what it's like to have two parents who never-"

"Who's -A?" Dean interrupted. The question caught Leo completely off guard- how the hell did Dean know about -A? Leo racked his brain, trying to think of when he could have possibly mentioned -A to his boyfriend, or how Dean could know anyway. Did he see one of -A's texts?