CANARY CRY [pretty little liars]

17. the badass seed

Adaline felt numb until the wave crashed onto her. Tears flooded her eyes, making everything blurry. She stood with her back towards Aria and Spencer, listening to their story.

Ian sensed their eyes burning into the back of his head. Nervously, he fidgeted with the mug in his hands. He knew he needed to get in front of the situation, so he thought up an excuse. "So I'm guessing she told you about us."

Spencer looked over at Aria. "Who?"

"Adaline." Ian sat the mug on the counter, waiting for a response. Clearly, Adaline didn't tell them about what happened, so that gave him a clear opening to wiggle in a lie. "At the beginning of that summer, Adaline and I met up a couple times at a party. I knew she was getting high, but I didn't want to embarrass her, so I didn't say anything. Until one night when she forced herself on me, and I was too drunk to stop it."

Both Spencer and Aria shared the same look. The same confused and betrayed look. Ian gave them a faux exasperated look and left, allowing them to soak in his lie. Almost immediately, Aria stood up.

"Her dad told my mom that she would be coming home tonight," Aria said ruefully. "I want to hear her side before I'd ever believe him."

Spencer nodded her head, agreeing with Aria. The two rushed out of Spencer's kitchen to the driveway, where they hopped into Spencer's car and took off, driving down the street to Adaline house.

"He's lying," Adaline whispered, her voice barely heard by the girls. "I never saw him in that context. I was never with him-" She took a shaky breath in. "Willingly."

Spencer started to connect the dots in her head. "He's the one who forced himself onto you."

Deafening silence filled the room as Adaline turned around to face her friends. Already, her face was painted with red splotches and tear stains. To Aria and Spencer, seeing Adaline cry was a rare instance. Even when Alison's body was discovered and later at her funeral, Adaline failed to show any emotions or signs of sadness. Seeing her breakdown in this manner was utterly heartbreaking. The person who had been strong for so long snapped in front of them.

Aria and Spencer practically ran to Adaline, pulling her into a hug. Adaline's loud sobs filled the room as Spencer spoke cooling words and Aria rubbed soft circles.

———

The following morning, Adaline woke up feeling like she was hit by a truck the previous night. She looked around her room, spotting Aria curled up in a ball in a chair while Spencer sat on Adaline's window seat.

"How long have you two been up?" Adaline asked, her voice extremely groggy.

"Not long," Spencer replied, glancing over at Adaline, then back out the window. "We're supposed to go to the school in a little bit, but we can-"