.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

♥ 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓈𝒽𝓎 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒶𝓏𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈 & 𝓂𝒶𝓇𝑔𝒶𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒶𝓈 ♥

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

Scarlett mumbles a sigh as she aimlessly smashing her protein oatmeal around the bowl, tuning out the weather man as the news carries on in the background. She makes it a point to check the weather every night to plan her outfit for the next day, then she checks back in that morning just to be sure nothing changed. But this morning, she couldn't be bothered to pay all that much attention.

"In other news, Rosewood detective Darren Wilden held a press conference this morning." The news anchor announces. Now that gains her attention, although she thought his name was Wilson.

She grabs the remote, turning up the volume as she narrows her eyes at the Detective who pops up on screen. Ew— he's ugly. Ashley could do so much better.

"The coroner did release his finding this morning and although Alison DiLaurentis' body did show signs of a blunt-force trauma the cause of her death was suffocation."

Scarlett stares at the tv, blood running cold as her vision starts to blur at the lack of blinking. His words become static in the background as her ears start ringing.

♥

"Hey kiddo." I hear a muffled voice that sounds off in the distance. A hand grabs my shoulder causing me to jolt and snap my head up.

Dad.

My heart beats so fast it's uncomfortable as Dad tilts his head down to look at me beyond his copper-colored glasses.

"You alright?" He asks. Alister Mave may not care about much, or that often, but it's times like these I remember he cares about something other than his music and being in the studio.

Even if it's just for a moment.

I plaster on my signature commercial smile, letting the confidence that's second nature take over my body.

"Of course."

"M'Kay." He nods, rolling the toothpick that's never not in his mouth around with his teeth. "I'm heading to the studio." He squeezes my shoulder. "Need any lunch money?" He asks, knowing good and well I have about three cards and plenty of cash in my wallet. But he wouldn't be dad if he didn't offer. My smile softens as I hold out my hand and he places two hundreds in my palm before leaning over and kissing the top of my head. "Tell your mother it'll be a late night again." He says on his way out to the garage.

I let out a sigh. "Always is." I mumble to myself, letting the chair scrape across the wooden floor as I place my bowl, untouched, into the sink and head upstairs to get ready.

As if mom won't have a late night as well?

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎
𝟹ʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴘᴏᴠ

"I had to look twice make sure that was Hanna." Ella Montgomery makes conversation with Aria at the breakfast table, recalling the funeral.

"Right?" Aria exclaims, still not use to Hanna's transformation since only being back a few days. "Scarlett sure did a number on here." She shakes her head. She couldn't believe the 'heartless one' of the group took Hanna under her wing like that. Though she herself knows Scarlett isn't heartless all the time... only when she wants to be.

Aria couldn't believe how much one year would change. How much losing Ali would change.

"That was some funeral dress." Ella continues. "Her mother didn't buy that from Curvy Girl." Aria giggles as her father walks in, only hearing the back half of their conversation.

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎

Scarlett tries her hardest to drown out all of her thoughts and emotions on the drive to school, fidgeting with the radio every ten seconds. Better than what she really wants to do... who she really wants to call.

Maybe some coffee would help, she smirks to herself, making a last minute turn.

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎

As Scarlett rounds the corner outside after checking to make sure they could have dance practice outdoors today, she spots Spencer. She hums to herself, sashaying over to her sweaty cousin with a green smoothie in hand and her coffee in the other. She thought she may run into a certain Hastings out here finding any spare minute to practice, and she was feeling pretty generous, which was rare.

"Morning." Scarlett sings as Spencer lines up to take her next shot, practicing field hockey solo.

"Morning." Spencer squints, raising her head up. "You seem awfully chipper."

"Mmm, daddy gave me two Benjamin Franklin's this morning." Scarlett winks. "So enjoy." She holds out the grass-like drink. "My treat."

Spencer's face washes over with relief as she graciously accepts. "Oh, you are a life savior! All I had to eat this morning was a banana."

Scarlett shakes her head, though she can't speak due to her non-existent breakfast. "Spence, God, we need to have a girls weekend full of trashy magazines and margaritas so you can relax." The Mave girl tells her, Spencer knowing that's her 'won't take no for an answer' look.

It was weird, since Ali's passing the girls haven't spoken more than maybe ten words every few weeks to one another, only seeing each other at the occasional family dinner. But their run in at the mall, the dinner with Melissa, and the funeral seemed to reignite their close-cousin bond.

"Maybe after tryouts." Spencer smiles, holding her drink out towards Scarlett. "You mind, I have one more round."

Scarlett scoffs, but takes the cup all the same. "Only because it's you, and just the once." She hums. Spencer rolls her eyes, hiding her amusement as she positions herself once again, nailing the third ball in the line.

"Nice!" A voice lets out causing Scarlett and Spencer to spin around, eyes landing on Emily and another girl that looks oddly familiar to Scarlett, though she can't put her finger on it, nor does she want to. "So I hear you're gunning for varsity captain." She says to Spencer, nodding to Scarlett as she does.

Scarlett gives a wave as she sips on her drink.

"Well, I have a shot, so..." Spencer shrugs, keeping it modest as always.

Scarlett rolls her eyes. "She has more than a shot." She knows Spence will get it, just as she was honored varsity captain for the dance team.

"If a Hastings has a shot she takes the shot." Emily comments knowingly as she continues walking til she's right in front of the cousins.

"Is that a drinking game?" The girl with Emily asks confused and curiously, causing Scarlett to toss her a bored glance, already forgetting Emily wasn't alone.

"Yeah, it should be." Spencer nods strongly, chuckling causing Emily and the other girl to join in.

"Trying to make it one." Scarlett gleams at Spencer, not letting her forget the relaxation proposal, which was more of a demand.

"Scarlett, Spencer, this is Maya." Emily finally introduces.

"Yeah, we met the other day." Maya says lightly, remembering their first encounter was not a nice one as she motions to Scarlett, who's brows to knit together as she thinks back.

"Oh." Spencer's smiles fades causing Scarlett to glance at her at the corner of her eye.

"Yeah, new girl who moved into dead girl's house." Maya states and the other three girls all look at each other, Scarlett and Spencer's faces matching one another, turning to stone, as Emily looks away in awkward embarrassment.

It then dawns on Scarlett this was the girl she had an unfortunate run in with when she stopped at Alison's house the other day...

If looks could kill, Maya would be ten feet under as Scarlett stares her down for her idiotic, insensitive comment.

Realization quickly washes over Maya as she shuts her eyes before looking down in shame. "I can't believe I just said that."

"Yeah, I can't believe you just said that either." Spencer says lowly.

"I think Brad Pitt and I are missing the same sensitivity chip." Maya adds, only making her case worse.

"Oh, Maya, is it? That's right." Scarlett smiles vindictively as she takes a step closer to Maya, letting out a curt chuckle. "We had an unfortunate run in the other day, hmm? Ah, yes, and another one now." She narrows her eyes harder as she looks down to the girl with a much less hideous hair style than the other day. "The only reason this coffee isn't being poured down your back as we speak is because you're with Emily, and I like Emily." Scarlett's tone drips dangerously low. "But if you ever speak like that in front of me again, well, she won't be enough to save you next time." She clicks her tongue across her teeth. "Are we clear?"

Emily's eyes remain staring at the grass as Spencer can't help but gain chills all through her body from Scarlett's threat. She hasn't forget just how vile her cousin could be during their distance, though it's been a minute since she's seen Scarlett's wrath in action.

"Mhmm." Maya nods slowly, biting her lip as Scarlett shoves past her to leave.

Spencer clears her throat. "It's fine." She says to Maya. "We're all trying to find a way to deal with it." She smiles awkwardly, and a bit nervously, indicating Scarlett's reaction.

"Um, Maya and I are going for some caffeine." Emily finally speaks up. "Do you wanna join?" She smiles.

"Oh, I'd kill for a latte... but, um, this is my only time to practice, and Scarlett brought me this," She shakes the drink Scarlett passed back to her. "So..." She finishes with a smile of thanks.

"We'll catch you later." Emily understands, nodding to Maya and they take off.

"She's intense." Maya says once they're out of reach.

"If you knew her parents, you'd understand." Emily explains her high-strung friend.

Maya smiles at the bit of information Emily shared before sighing. "And Scarlet..." She trails off, regretting having a bad first impression, twice now.

Emily nods slowly. "Ah, yeah." She laughs slightly. "If you knew her parents you'd understand as well." Funnily enough, Emily has had very few interactions with or even seen Scarlett's parents over the years of their friendship, which seems to explain her statement quite enough.

The few times she did Scarlett's mom seemed very cold, or didn't even acknowledge them, or Scarlett, at all. And Emily couldn't even recall seeing Scarlett's dad but maybe a couple times passing through, Scarlett telling them long ago he's usually always at the studio working. Alister Mave is a music producer, the owner of the studio actually. But if anyone understands an absent father due to work, it was Emily.

"They're cousins actually." Emily continues, Maya's brows shooting up in surprise. "Their moms are sisters, and trust me, if you ever saw them, you could tell. Like twins." Maya listens intently, absorbing everything. "Anyway, that's just how Scarlett is, to everyone." Emily adds, also defending Scarlett much to Maya's surprise, once again. "I wouldn't take it personally."

"Noted." Maya nods as they continue on.

♥︎ ♥︎ ♥︎

0𝒷𝓊𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒷𝒾𝓈𝒸𝓊𝒾𝓉7 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓀𝓈!

Hellooo lovelies <3

Sorry I left y'all high & dry for a month after updating lmao. I've really just been needing & meaning to edit tbh, but I've had so many other books to update/publish for the month of June.... but anywayssss WELCOME BACK!!

Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!! Got more insight about Scarlett's parents, a cute little Spence-Scar moment bc even tho she's heartless she has her occasional moments lol, & Scarlett showing Maya why she is the bitchiest liar 💋

Don't forget to comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions!! Until next time, mauh!