chapter twenty eight
never letting go
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"Why would 'A' show us that part of the video?" Aria asked as she folded a program. "To keep us on our toes and watching over our shoulders." Josie guessed. "Or to tell us there's more to what happened that night." Emily added. "Guys, Ian tried to kill me in the bell tower to get back his perverted videos, and he went after Ali for the same reason." Spencer said, interrupting their conversation. "Yeah, but 'A' had us convinced that Ian killed Alison, and now it's, what, two miles from the kissing rock to Ali's house." Emily said. "Did she turn off the camera and walk home in the dark, alone?" she asked.

"Yeah, someone could've been waiting for her and surprised her when she got home." Hanna said. "Like who?" Aria asked. "Like ian." Spencer said. "Just because he didn't kill Alison at the kissing rock doesn't mean that he didn't do it an hour later." Spencer added. "If Ian didn't kill Ali, did 'A'?" Hanna asked, making all the girls share a look. "So, uh, did you invite Ezra to the show?" Josie asked Aria, changing the subject.

"No, he's out of town presenting a paper at a conference." Aria explained. "Did you invite caleb?" Aria asked Hanna. "Why would I do that?" she asked, confused, "Because you kissed him." Josie said. "How was it?" Emily asked. "Well, I wore the total wrong gloss. you know the kind that looks wet, but it's really sticky?" Hanna explained making the girls nod. "Oof, the wads of hair get stuck to your mouth." Emily said with a grimace. "It's all fun and sexy till somebody hacks up a hairball." Aria said, making the girls laugh. "Hey, could we please keep folding? I needed these done yesterday, and I've already missed a million committee meetings." Spencer said as a message tone beeps, making the girls look at Aria.

"Can I get it? it's just a text." she said looking towards her friends. "If it's from Ezra, then yes." Spencer said as she folded a program. "wow. Toby has turned our boss into a romantic." Emily teased making the girls laugh. "I was always a romantic!" Spencer said, defender herself. "You know, under a thin veneer of pragmatism and a few shockingly bad choices." she added. "guys, uh, i'm gonna go deal with this." Aria said, holding up her phone before she got up from Emily's bed. "Do you realize that we finally all have boyfriends/girlfriends at the same time?" Spencer asked. "Okay, i do not have a boyfriend!" Hanna and Josie said in unison. "Hanna, yeah, you do. you just don't want to admit it and Josie, you're an idiot if you haven't noticed Richie's in love with you." Emily said. "Tell Ezra we say hi." Spencer teased Aria, making Aria shake her head as the girls giggled before she looked at the message she had from Jason DiLaurentis.

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"Oh, they've made some nice changes to the menu, haven't they? Hanna, what are you gonna order?" Mrs. DiLaurentis asked. "ahem, um, chinese chicken salad." Hanna said, making Alison's mother look at her. "Alison's favourite." she said with a smile, and it was silent a moment before Josie spoke up. "You must be really happy that Jason's moved back." she said, hoping to start a conversation. "Happy? I don't even think of that as our house anymore." she said, making the girls share a look.

"Actually, we all thought Jason moving back was kind of odd." Emily said. "Jason came into family money, and it's his choice what to do with it. he definitely marches to his own drummer, both my kids do. Did." she said, correcting herself making the table fall silent. "you know what? I was gonna wait until after lunch, but..." she said as she stood up. "Now I'm thinking, "why wait?" she said as she passed around boxes to all the girls with a giggle, as the girls opened the boxes, recognizing the dresses that Alison had shown them once, making the girls share a look. "Did Ali ever show you these?" Mrs. DiLaurentsu asked.

FLASHBACK

"I know you like this one, em. don't I look hot?" Alison asked as she wore a sparkly black, v cut neckline dress as she turned to the girls who sat upon Spencer's bed. "Those feathers are really pretty." Emily admitted as Hanna held up a dress. "This stretch-side is to die. Can I try it on?" she asked as she looked at Alison.

"There's not that much stretch." Alison said dismissing Hanna, making Josie sigh as she looked over at a light blue dress with a heart-shaped neckline. "It's a nice haul, right? all one-of-a-kind, and all mine... just like you guys." Alison said, looking at her friends as they all shared smiles.

FLASHBACK OVER

"She picked these out." Emily said as she dropped her dress back in the box. "She did and..." Mrs. DiLaurentus paused. "it's a shame that she won't get to wear them." she said sadly, making Joise frown, "You know, I gave so much away so fast. Ali's father thought that it would help, but there were certain things that I just couldn't... and when I heard that the five of you were doing the show, I thought, 'wouldn't it be nice if Ali's dream could be realized, at least, by her best friends?'" she said with a smile as the girls shared a look.

"Um, I don't really know what you're asking." Spencer said with a smile. "Mrs. DiLaurentus, are you asking us to wear these?" Aria asked as she pointed towards the box in her lap. "in the fashion show?" Emily asked. "Ali would've loved it." Mrs. DiLaurentus said. "it's the four of you that are keeping her memory alive." she added as she looked at her daughter's friends. "Please say yes." Mrs. DiLaurentus begged, as she looked around at the girls again with a smile on her face.

A little while later Mrs. DiLaurentus had left, leaving the girls alone. "I won't, I can't," Hanna said, making Josie close her eyes in frustration. "Why not?" she asked as she looked at Hanna. "Because it's freaky and weird! we can't just march around in her clothes, it feels like we just buried her." Hanna said, explaining herself. "Alison never wore them." Emily said, trying to get Hanna to agree. "Well, she tried them on. freaky enough." Hanna said.

"Hanna, it's a tribute. some pictures of Ali, a couple songs that she liked? you get where her mom is coming from." Aria said. "Yeah, well, she needs to go back." Hanna snapped. "You don't need a degree to see that the woman's in pain." Spender said. "She ordered a second bloody mary for her dessert." she added. "Yeah, that was her dinner." Josie uttered as she twisted her ring around her finger. "Well, she was sober enough to run it by the board, so we don't have much of a choice." Spencer pointed out. "I'll let the student committee know." she added.

"Do you want to take charge of photos?" Spencer asked Emily. "Do we have to pass the pictures by her mom, make sure she's okay with the ones we choose?" Emily asked. "I could run them past jason." Aria offered, making her friends look at her confused. "I mean, it just might be easier for him, emotionally." she explained. "But are you sure you want to go to that house?" Josie asked softly. "I'll just ask him to meet me after school." Aria said with a shrug. "I don't know. you might not want to get him involved." Spencer pointed out. "It's his sister. He already is." Aria explained. "She's not wrong," Josie muttered as she nodded.

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"It'll be fine, you'll do great." Richie said, trying to assure Josie while she tried on the dress that Mrs. DiLaurentis had given her. The one Alison had. "I mean–I loved this dress when she brought it but now that i'm wearing it....it seems like i shouldn't be wearing this." she said as she walked out in a light blue dress with a heart-shaped neckline, the one of Alison's dresses she loved. She didn't seem to notice Richie's stare as she looked into the floor length mirror she had in her room. "So–what do you think?" she asked as she readjusted the dress neckline

"I–I think you look beautiful Jo." he said with a smile as he stared at her. She turned to see him looking at her. "What?" she asked, laughing a bit, as she suddenly felt shy under his gaze. "No–Nothing, it's just, I've never seen you in a dress like that." he said as he shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I'm hoping I never have to wear this again, it doesn't feel like it's mine, it feels like Alison." she said before walking into her bathroom to get changed out of it.

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The girls were at where they were holding the fashion show, reshersing. Hanna, Emily, Josie and Aria were standing on the runway while Spencer was sitting next to Mona. "Hold!" Mona said as she watched someone walk across the runway. "I said no flats, becky. I need to be 100% sure you can walk in heels." Mona said, making Josie roll her eyes in annoyance. "Mona, take it easy." Spencer said with a laugh. "Reset!" Mona exclaimed, ignoring Spencer before she sat down again. "I think I feel a migraine coming on, so I'm just gonna take a quick break." Spencer said, jumping up from her seat, probably going to see Toby who was setting up the lights.

"Do any of you guys have an extra ticket for tonight?" Hanna asked the girls as Josie shook her head, she had used an extra ticket for Richie instead of him buying himself one. "Did you change your mind about caleb?" Aria asked as she looked at Hanna. "It's for my dad." Hanna answered, shocking the three girls. "He's still in town?" Emily asked, frowning slightly. "Yep, and he's in no rush to get home to Isabel." Hanna said, making Josie furrow her brows.

"What does that even mean?" she asked, confused. "There's no way your mom and dad are getting back together." Josie said, as Hanna shrugged her shoulders in response before Mona called out to Aria. "Aria montgomery! less talking, more walking." she called out, making Josie sigh before walking on to the runway before Mona stopped her. "Um!" Mona cleared her throat, getting her attention, making Josie turn to her. "Are your legs always that short?" she asked making Josie raise her brows

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"Oh, did you figure out what's going on with your dad yet?" Aria asked Hanna from next to Josie, who was sitting next to Emily. Hanna let out a sigh. "it's not even worth a recap." she said, before turning to Emily. "Where's your dress?" she asked her as Emily looked through her mirror, seeing Samara with her dress. "Being delivered as we speak." she said before getting up and greeted Samara.

"Will you try it on?" Samara asked. "I trust you." she said, assuring her head. "Way too much. I need to see how it falls." Samara said before the girl next to her spoke up. "She's not gonna let up until she knows that it's perfect." she said laughing before turning to Emily. "Hey, I'm quinn." she said, introducing herself. "Hey, nice to meet you." Emily said, shaking Quinn's hand. "Same here." Quinn said with a smile. "Why don't you guys go take a seat while I get dressed?" Emily offered.

"Looks like a big crowd out there." Samara said, pointing outside the dressing room before turning to Quinn. "may end up sitting on your lap." she said with a smile. "wouldn't be the first time, right?" Quinn asked, mirroring Samara's smile with a laugh, making Hanna and Josie share a look behind Emily's back.

"We'll be back in a few." Samara said, before her and Quinn left, causing Emily to turn to her friends. "Did they seem a little touchy-feely to you?" she asked and Josie nodded. "A little." she said as she put eyeshadow on her eyelids. "How come I have no date, and you have a date who brought a date?" Hanna asked rhetorically, making Josie laugh. "You have a date. you just didn't ask him to come." Josie said smiling at Hanna shook her head playfully.

A little while later, the girls were still in the dressing room, as Emily stared at herself in the mirror as the girls continued to touch up their makeup. "Em? Do you need help getting into your dress? I bet Samara's gonna be here in a little bit." Aria offered as she looked at her friends.

"I've got it." Emily assured her and got up from her seat and the girls watched her go. "We need some bubbly. I'm gonna go hijack some champagne." Hanna said, getting up but Josie spoke up. "are you...are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked hesitantly as Hanna looked over at her. "I'll be right back." Hanna said before walking away making Josie sigh before she shared a look with Aria. "So how are things with Richie?" Aria asked, making Josie blush. "We're good, still just friends if that's what you were asking," Josie said, making Aria laugh and it wasn't long before Hanna had come back while the announcer started talking.

"I thought you were stealing champagne." Josie asked as she turned to look at Hanna, not before noticing Aria and Jason staring at each other. "They were out." Hanna said as she shrugged. "sharing lessons in generosity at rosewood high. Please give a warm welcome to mrs. Jessica dilaurentis." the announcer said as the crowd applauded and it wasn't long before Emily walked over to them, the girls noticed her saddened look. "You okay?" Aria asked as she turned to Emily as she walked behind her.

"Yeah, everything's fine." she breathed out as Mona walked into the dressing room. "Okay, last looks, people! Ladies, I need my first three models lined up!" she yelled out to the room of girls as Spencer walked in behind her. "I'll get your dress." Josie offered as she jumped up and got Spencer's dress for her. "Thanks." Spencer said as Josie gave her her dress. "I'll do touch-ups." Hanna said as she got up and touched up Spencer's make-up for her.

"I think I saw Caleb out there." Spencer said as Hanna did some blush for her making the girls turn to Hanna. "Caleb? Did you change your mind?" Emily asked her, confused. "I didn't ask him to come." Hanna said before turning back to Spencer. "Open." she said and Spencer did and Hanna fixed her lipstick. "So he just showed up?" Josie asked as she folded her arms over her chest.

"Looking really hot." Spencer added, making Josie laugh. "Hmm, didn't notice. blot." Hanna said, ignoring what the girls were saying. "Hanna, he wants you back. you want him back. What's the problem?" Spencer asked. "We are not gonna be angry at you if you give him a second chance." Aria assured her. "We are your friends Han, we just want you to be Happy," Josie said, as she gave her a smile. "You need more mascara." Hanna said to Spencer, making Josie sighed and shook her head. "Spencer!" Mona exclaimed, into the dressing room before walking away making Spencer look at Hanna. "How do you not strangle her?" Spencer asked her, causing the girls to laugh before she went to change before Aria spotted a loose hair. "Oh!" she said before spraying the hair into place.

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While the girls were on the stage, Josie finally felt free, like no one was wanting to harm her or her friends as they showed off some clothes to a room full of people and it wasn't long before it was time for the tribute to Alison. "Ladies and gentlemen, the rosewood high student committee would like to take a moment to pay tribute to one of their own, Alison DiLaurentis." the announcer said as the girls walked out in the dresses that Mrs. DiLaurentis had given them to wear. Josie had gone first then it was Hanna and Aria then Emily and Spencer and they all stood at the end of the runway while a song played for Alison

Josie's eyes had locked with Richie's and her Mothers as they gave her big smiles just as Rock Music started playing, startling, not only the girls but everyone else as well. "Wake up, everybody, because the bitch is back!" rang out making Josie looked at her friends shocked, she was frozen she couldn't move, even as Hanna dragged her to stand with her and Aria so she wasn't alone as Spencer ran off to try and shut it done and it did eventually as the music stopped.

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After everyone had gone, the girls stood near the runway, changed out of the dresses as Spencer walked back to them. She had tried to contact Mrs. DiLaurentis. "Did you speak to her?" Aria asked. "Jason picked up her cell phone, said she was too upset to talk." Spencer responded with a sigh. "Just when we were in the spotlight doing something decent." Emily said in disbelief.

"'A' makes the spotlight extra harsh." Hanna said before the girls noticed Caleb standing around, obviously, waiting for Hanna and pointed to him. "I'm just gonna..." she trailed off and it wasn't long before Hanna joined them again. "Maybe we should just send Mrs. DiLaurentis a note or something?" Josie offered as she lifted her shoulders in a shrug.

"I don't think there's a section for 'I'm sorry you got traumatised' cards." Spencer said sadly. "Maybe flowers." Emily said as the sound microphone feedback went through the area, making the girls look up before the wall of the runway lit up, like it did earlier for Alison's tribute, but this time it was a message for the girls which said.

MY DRESS.
MY GAME.
MY RULES.
⎯ A

"Can we get out of here?" Emily asked urgently as the girls stood on the stage to leave. "I'm right behind you." Josie said shakily. "I just gotta grab my stuff." Aria said before going backstage to get her stuff.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapter ! this took me awhile to write, because i kept getting distracted lol sorry