chapter thirty three
i must confess
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Josie had been called over to Hanna's early the next morning by Hanna, apparently Emily was gone. "Yeah, we weren't sure, we just thought that maybe she–" Spencer said into the phone but cut herself off as someone else spoke from the other end as Aria and Josie looked through Emily's closet. "Yeah, thanks." Spencer said before hanging up and turning to the girls. "She's not at swim practice." she told them. "I told you, she's not allowed near the pool." Hanna commented. "Guys, all of her clothes are here." Aria said as she walked away from the closet, "That means she must have left with her clothes she wore to bed then, and means she didn't need a change of clothes." Josie assumes as she takes a seat on Hanna's bed. "You think she did something crazy?" Aria asked worriedly as she looked at the girls.

"Like what?" Josie asked with a frown. "Like jump in her car and burn rubber till she hits Texas." Aria said bluntly. "And leave everything behind? She didn't even take her phone." Spencer said as she held up Emily's phone. "I wouldn't either if I were her." Aria said as Josie nodded in agreement. "The only thing I'd leave behind." she added."'A' had his/her/its hands around her neck and kept reminding her!" Aria said sadly. "She hasn't slept in weeks." Hanna admitted making Josie more worried than she already was. "Who has?" Aria asked rhetorically. It was true, none of them had slept well since this all started. "Hanna, did you not see this?" Spencer spoke up as she looked at a picture on Emily's phone, causing Josie to get up and walk over to them to see.

"Is that you?" Josie asked Aria as the Montgomery girl took the from Hanna to get a closer look. "Yeah, of course it's me." Aria answered as she grabbed the phone and looked at the photo of her and Ezra kissing. "Well, unless you're Aria's mom, just assume it's Spencer slutting it up." Spencer said sarcastically, making Josie snort quietly. "When did she get that?" Josie asked as Spencer took the phone back. "3:07 am and it came with a text." Spencer answered.

Clue Ella in and I'll let you out
⎯ A

The message shocked the girls. "Give me this." Aria snapped as she grabbed the phone from Spencer. "Aria, Emily would never send that to your mother or hurt you." Josie said, hoping to help Aria relax. "Well, of course she wouldn't because she can't, 'cause we have her phone and she left in the middle of the night!" Spencer said bluntly, causing Josie to run her hands down her face in exhaustion. "Where the hell is she?" Spencer added as she looked at her friends. "What about Dr. Sullivan?" Josie asked, making the girls turn to her. "If Emily needed someone outside of us to talk to, she's most likely go to Dr. Sullivan, so how about, let's go there, and just wait for her or see if she's there, that way we can eliminate where she might be, I also had Richie looking out for her as well in case." Josie said and the girls nodded in agreement and it wasn't long before the girls were at Dr. Sullivans, waiting for Emily, who hadn't been there, but they were hoping she'd stop by.

The girls waited in Silence until a knock was heard from the door and Anne gor up to answer it as the girls waited. "Hi. I'm ready to talk." they heard Emily say, making them sigh in relief, knowing where she was. "Good. Come in and join us." Anne said, confusing Emily until she walked in and saw the girls. "Your friends have been worried about you." Anne said, as the girls looked at Emily, they could tell she was stressed.

"Em... why didn't you at least wake me?" Hanna asked from where she sat on the arm of a chair in Dr. Sullivan's office. "I was sleeping five feet away from you." Hanna added. "I can't keep asking my friends to take care of me." Emily answered, causing Josie to frown. "Emily, look, if you were seriously thinking about going to Texas you–" Aria started but Emily cut her off. "I didn't have any plans." she said. "I just knew that the longer I stayed here, the worse it was gonna get and I'm not gonna be used as a bowling ball to knock down my best friends." Emily snapped. "Emily, we're sitting here because of you." Josie said gently. "None of us think that you–" Spencer started but Emily cut her off. "That I'm the weakest link." Emily answered. "Yeah, well, somebody else does." she said.

"Who? Who's using you to knock down your friends?" Anne asked, making the girls share a look as Emily sighs. "Somebody that's been trying to hurt us." Spencer admitted, shocking Dr. Sullivan and making Josie shift in her seat, she didn't know if telling her was  a good idea, she didn't wanna get her involved, she barely tells Richie anything anymore, afraid he'll get hurt. "For a long time." she added. A few moments later, everyone sat down, knowing they had to finally tell someone what was going on. "When did these threats begin?" Anne asked as she looked at the girls.  "Did the texts start coming after Alison's funeral?" she asked again. "Before." Emily answered. "At first we thought they were coming from Alison," Aria started. "But then they found her, her body." Emily finished her sentence. "And you don't have any clue who this 'A' person might be?" Anne asked as

"We do, but..." Hanna trailed off, not knowing what to say. "We've been wrong before." Spencer said. "'A' is an expert at making other people look guilty." Josie spoke up as she messed the end of her skirt. "Do we think this person goes to your school?" Anne asked again. "Maybe, but it's not like we go home and we're suddenly safe." Hanna said as she shook her head. "'A' is everywhere, constantly on us," Aria said sadly. "Like a shadow." Josie mumbled, frowning. "And I'm the first person you've told about this?" Anne asked, making Josie sighed. "I've told my boyfriend some things, but never enough to put him on this person's rader." Josie answered and Dr. Sullivan nodded. "Why have you waited this long to say something?" She asked the other girls, but they stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

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Later that day, the girls and Richie were sitting outside in the courtyard, they had caught him up with what had happened, but not the 'A' text, Josie didn't want him to know about that, he only knows they told Dr. Sullivan about 'A' "You don't think we should have mentioned her?" Hanna asked as the six of them looked at Jenna who was sitting across the courtyard. "How could we without spilling everything about that summer?" Spencer asked her as Josie picked at her food. "It just kinda makes us look like we're making it all up." Aria said as she looked at Spencer. "She probably thinks we're insane." Josie mused as Richie shook his head no, indicating that she probably doesn't. "Guys, after the fashion show, even our parents think there's somebody out there messing with us." Emily said as she looked at the girls. "My dad still wants to sue." Hanna said, making Richie and the girls confused.

"Sue who Hanna?" Richie asked with a confused face. "Everyone." she answered, making him snicker in amusement before Hanna turned to Spencer. "Hey, did you bring them?" she asked. "Bring what?" Josie asked, confused as she stole food from Richie's plate, making him send her a playful glare. "I'm gifting Kate at the rehearsal dinner so she'll forget I talked smack about her and Isabel." Hana answered and the girls nodded while Spencer grabbed the book from her bag and handed them to Hanna.

"You're giving her a book of horse pictures?" Aria asked, confused. "Yeah, it's classier than a calendar." she answered as she held the books. "No, classy would be buying something new, Hanna, she's gonna know that these are used." Spencer answered as she looked at Hanna. "No, she won't, and besides, you have a staff that dusts your books." Hanna said. "Oh, look, horse doing a wheelie, Kate will love that." Hanna added sarcastically as she showed them the front cover, making Josie and Richie laugh. "Hanna, your step-sister wants to see you trampled by a horse, Why are you–" Aria started as she laughed but Hanna cut her off. "It's not about her, okay?" Hanna said, sounding defeated. "It's about my dad. We're finally getting along, and I'm not about to blow it the week he's getting married." Hanna said, making Josie sigh.

"It's not what we agreed on." They heard Jenna, making them turn to see her on the phone before turning back to each other. "Do we think that she sent me that picture of Aria and Fitz?" Emily asked. "Yeah, we think she had help from Garrett." Spencer answered. "Yeah, but why?" Aria asked. "It's not like torturing us is gonna give her back her sight." Aria continued. "Plus, the person she really wants to hurt is already dead." Josie added as she linked her hand with Richie's for comfort. "Yeah, well, she probably had help with that, too." Spencer said in a hushed voice, making sure no one around them heard.

"No wonder I didn't recognize you." they heard suddenly, making them turn to see Hanna's grandmother. "Grandma!" Hanna said, excited and shocked. "You have a salad in front of you." Hanna's grandmother mused. "I've never seen you eat anything green before." she said, making everyone laugh. "Howdy, girls, boy," she said, making them smile and greet her as Richie waved with a smile. "Hey, Gran." Hanna said. "What are you doing here?" Hanna asked, confused. "Don't we have a dinner to go to?" Hanna's Gran asked.

"That's tomorrow night." Hanna replied with a smile. "Yeah, well, I guess I just ran a couple stop signs, got here early, I need your house keys." she said and Hanna nodded as she grabbed them for her grandmother. "They got a little girls' room near here?" she asked the girls. "Yeah, it's just inside to the left." Aria answered with a smile. "Oh, perfect." she said before looking at Hanna. "Hanny, come with." she said as she held her hand out for her granddaughter before facing the girls and Richie. "She'll be right back, I just need to wipe the dew from my lily." she said, making everyone cringe.

"Okay, grandma, no. Walking now." Hanna said as she pulled her grandmother inside the school, leaving everyone at the table confused and disgusted. "Well, I'm no longer hungry," Richie muttered, pushing his food away. "What does that even me–"Emily started but was cut off. "It doesn't matter." Spencer said. "I'm now officially done eating....forever." Spencer said as Josie and Richie nodded in agreement. "Same Spence." he said. "No." they heard Jenna again. "Guys," Aria whispered, making them look over at Jenna. "It's not what we agreed on." she said into the phone. "Maybe we should've skipped Dr.Sullivan and gone straight to the police." Emily said, making Josie sigh and shake her head. "Garrett is on the force, Em. Jenna got there first." Spencer whispered.

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"How do you feel about telling Dr. Sullivan?" Richie asked as he and Josie relaxed on the couch in Richie's living room later that day, after school. "I don't know." Josie confessed. "I just don't think involving her was the right idea, she could get hurt, and i didn't even wanna tell you about it, that was scary enough." Josie said as she rested her head on his chest as he ran his hands through her hair. "I think you and the girls did the right thing," he admitted, causing her to look up at her boyfriend. "Why?" she asked.

"You girls finally have someone to talk to about this stalker thing, of course it was a good idea." he answered. "I just don't know, she could get hurt or worse killed, we know this person doesn't care, they almost killed Hanna, they ran her over." Josie said as she relaxed back into Richie. "I know Jo, but you've gotta tell someone who might be able to stop it, and Dr. Sullivan might be that person." he said, causing her to nod, "Yeah i guess." she mumbled as Richie kissed the crown of her head as they continued to lay there in comfortable silence as the sounds of the movie they had put on goes on in the background.

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The next day, the girls were shocked to hear that Dr. Sullivan was doing a speech at the school. Josie was between Richie and Hanna. "The pressure you're under at this point can be overwhelming. choosing the right college, getting in, leaving home, it can all be scary. a few weeks ago your principal asked me to come and talk about some of the tough choices you're facing." Anne said, making the girls sigh and Josie shifts in her seat. "But how can you make any good choices...when you're not in a safe place?" Anne asked, making the girls sigh. "Many of you don't feel safe. you feel like you can't make a move without someone judging you or challenging you... or worse, threatening you. bullies have been around since the first caveman invented the club." she continued. Richie grabbed Josie's hand and rubbed this thumb across her knuckles in hopes to keep her calm.

"When I was in school the attitude was, kids are cruel, but being roughed up a little built character. Today's bullies can cause a lot more damage, they have better weapons. they can keep hitting 'send' over and over, and hide behind the anonymity of a text or an email, which is about as cowardly as it gets." she said, as she looked at the student, though it feels like she's looking right at the girls.

"Would it be bad if we ran to the bathroom right now?" Hanna whispered to Josie who shook her head. "Way bad." she whispered back to her. "Why is she doing this?" Hanna asked in a hushed whisper. "Shhh!" Emily shh'd them, interrupting their conversation. "These vicious attacks sent through electronic means, may as well be carved in stone. if you think a college admissions board, not to mention a jury, won't examine the evidence, you're sadly mistaken. All it takes is for the victims to stop being afraid and decide to speak up... and speak out." Anne said, finishing her speech.

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"Am I the only one who thinks she's made things worse?" Hanna asked as the group of six walked out of the school. "Why would it be worse?" Emily asked, confused. "Because she just tore our clothes off, basically, in front of the entire school." Hanna said bluntly, making Josie shake her head. "She didn't betray us, Han." she said softly as Richie wrapped his arm around her. "This is someone trying to help us take down the enemy." Emily reminded her. "Is your phone back on?" Spencer asked as she looked at Hanna. "Yeah. why?" Hanna asked, confused. "Well, Sullivan finished ten minutes ago, and we haven't heard from the beast. so that's progress." Spencer said to Hanna. "Or the quiet before the storm." Hanna replied before noticing Aria wasn't in the conversation. "What are you looking at?" Hanna asked, startling Aria. "Hmm? Nothing." she said.

"Look, Sullivan's right. it was time to speak up." Aria said, trying to reassure Hanna before they heard Tapping, making them turn to see Jenna.  "I'll talk to you guys later." Aria said, going to walk away when Jenna heard and turned back around.  "Aria?" she asked, making Aria freeze in her spot. "Did you go to the assembly?" she asked, making the girls confused. "Yeah, we all did, jenna. Why?" Spencer replied, hesitantly. "Just curious," she answered. "What did you think of the shrink's speech?" she asked. "Too little too late, huh?" she mused. "What's that supposed to mean?" Josie asked. "It's just a shame St. Sullivan wasn't around when your friend Alison was ruling these halls." she said with a smirk, making Josie grip Richie's hand tightly. "I guess it takes one bully to know another, Jenna." Emily said. "Could you please move your stick? there are people trying to get past you." she added before walking with the rest of the group following as Richie stifled a laugh.

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Josie and Richie's mothers were working another late night shift at the hospital so Richie had decided to cook him and Josie dinner that night. "You didn't have to do this, you know? We could have ordered in or went out," she said as she watched Richie chop up some food. "I know I didn't have to but I wanted to do something special for you," he answered, making her blush. "Thank you," she said quietly as she stood up and went to grab her and Richie a drink while he cooked. "I think Caleb's my half-brother," she blurted out, making him drop the knife and look at her. "What?" he asked, confused.

"Think about it," she said, standing up and walking to her boyfriend. "One, I know everyone in our year, and let's say I'm glad I'm not related to them." she said, making him chuckle. "And second, he's new, I don't know where he's from," she said as Richie sighed. "Jo, Love, do you really think Hanna's ex-boyfriend is your half-brother?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a hug. "It's a theory, okay, I just wanna find my brother," she said softly as Richie kissed the crown of her head. "I know you do, but maybe talk to your dad, maybe he can help," he suggested. "He hasn't been answering my calls," she admitted, making Richie frown.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "We've had so much going on, my dad not answering me was the least of out problems," she said, as she looked up at her boyfriend, who frowned. "We'll figure this out, okay? I promise you." he said before leaning down and kissing her, making her wrap her arms around his kneck and kissing back, they eventually pulled away when Josie's phone went off.

Emily Fields
Get to Dr. Sullivan's office.
She knows who 'A' is.

Josie gasped as she looked up at Richie after reading the text. "Can you drive me to Dr. Sullivan's office?" she asked, making Richie nod before they walked towards the front door, grabbing his keys from where he placed them once he and Josie came back from School. "Why am i driving you to Dr. Sullivan's office?" he asked as the couple jumped into the car. "Because Dr. Sullivan knows who our stalker is," she said, shocking Richie. It didn't take long before they arrived there, just as the others were. The group quickly walked inside and walked into Dr. Sullivan's office, only to find it empty. "Dr. Sullivan!" Aria called out, hoping she was somewhere. "Where is she?" Josie asked, confused.  "Okay, are you sure that she said to meet her here?" Hanna asked Emily to make sure. "I'm positive. she said, "meet in her office."" Emily confirmed. "So, where is she?" Richie asked, just as confused as the rest of the girls. "She's not here." Aria said just before the girls' phones went off. "Oh god no," Josie mumbled as she pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket and checked her message, along with the rest of the girls.

The doctor is out
⎯ A

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapter <3