Outfits in the external link 

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", in the school courtyard, Caleb and Dakota were talking.

Hanna: (voice over) "Previously on Worlds Colliding (Pretty Little Liars)"

"Hey, if you need a place to stay..." Dakota trailed off. "There's an old couch in my basement."

Dakota took out a piece of paper, writing down her address, holding it toward Caleb. Caleb took it, smiling a small smile, backing away, turning around, leaving. Dakota smiled slightly.

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", in the pool room, during practice, Emily, Dakota and Paige were racing.

Paige: (voice over from 1.16 Je Suis une Amie) "Was there a second watch? Was anyone else keeping time?"

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", in the locker room, the girls were talking to Coach.

"It was a tie, Paige," Coach told her. "You and Dakota tied."

From 1.12 "Salt Meets Wound", outside the Cavanaugh House, Jenna and Toby were sitting on the porch.

Jenna rubbed her hand over his knee, leaning closer to Toby. "You need to be home..." She ran her hand up his chest to his face. "Where you're safe."

Toby took her hand off of him. "You could chain me to this porch, and I'd still never touch you like that again."

Jenna angrily slapped Toby in the face. 

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", outside the Fields House, Emily opened the door to her house to see a soaked Paige standing outside in the rain. "Paige?"

"I'm sorry," Paige told her. "I just wanted you to know that."

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", outside the Cavanaugh House, Spencer and Toby were sitting on the porch.

"I think maybe you're being framed," Spencer told him.

"What changed your mind?" Toby asked.

"I think somebody might be trying to do the same thing to one of us," Spencer answered. "Maybe the same person."

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", in the school courtyard, Aria and Dakota were talking.

Dakota couldn't hold it in anymore, because the guilt was tearing her apart every time she was with Aria. "I gave your mom the museum ticket."

"Why would you do that?" Aria asked.

"A made me do it," Dakota answered. "A has something on my--"

"A has something on all of us, Dakota," Aria told her. 

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", in the McCoy House, Caleb and Dakota were sitting on the stairs. 

Dakota took a deep breath, trying to brush off the sadness. "You don't have to sit here and listen to this. Just go take your shower."

Caleb stood, turning to walk upstairs. Dakota looked down, tears in her eyes, angrily and guilty, hot and sad tears.

Caleb saw how badly she was affected, sitting beside her again. "It can wait."

Dakota looked at Caleb, pushing back the tears, managing a small smile, looking away.

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", in the Hastings House, Melissa and Peyton were talking.

Melissa smiled. "We're pregnant."

Peyton was stunned, not knowing how to react.

From 1.16 "Je Suis une Amie", in Spencer's room, Spencer was looking through the book that Toby gave back to her, finding a note inside, taking it out.

Peyton walked in. "Spencer, we need to talk."

Spencer showed Peyton the note she found in the book. "Yes, we do."

Peyton walked closer to read the note.

I found this in Jenna's room. you may be right.

-- Toby

Between the words was a shading sketch that suggested Toby had sketched over braille work, revealing a pattern in dots.

---- / -----    

Day One 

Night - Hastings House - Spencer's Room 

Spencer, Peyton, Hanna, Madison, Emily and Lucy were sitting on Spencer's bed. Dakota and Pen were sitting in two chairs. Aria was sitting by the window, pissed at Dakota. Dakota was looking guilty.

Hanna looked at Spencer and Peyton. "Your sister's pregnant? How'd that happen?"

"I figure pretty much the usual way," Spencer answered.

"It's not really a 'how' question, it's more of a 'why' question," Emily told them.

"Well, I mean, I guess Melissa could have gone all maternal, but I doubt it," Peyton told them.

Madison groaned. "This is so creepy. Where are they now?"

"Philadelphia," Spencer answered. "Shopping."

Dakota looked toward Aria guiltily, looking down.

The girls looked at the braille message from Toby.

"What do you think this means?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know, but Toby wanted us to heave it," Pen told them, typing on her computer. "There." She pulled up a braille translator. "It's in braille, so..."

Aria looked toward them.

"You want to see this, Aria?" Lucy asked.

"No," Aria answered. "I can see just fine from here."

Aria glanced at Dakota, looking away, which only made Dakota feel more guilty.

"Okay," Pen told them. "The first letter's a 'B'. 'A'. It's an 'A'."

Pen wrote 'BA' onto her notebook.

"I think it's gonna tell us who A is," Hanna told them.

"'D'," Emily told them. "B-A-D."

"'Bad'?" Dakota asked. "That's the whole message? 'Bad'?"

"What's it supposed to mean?" Madison asked.

"It means we got punked," Dakota told them. "Toby doesn't trust us. I don't blame him."

"No, I don't think he'd mess with us like this," Peyton told them.

Aria looked at Dakota. "You'd be surprised what people are capable of."

Dakota looked away.

"You guys, we have to figure this out," Spencer told them. "This might be a joke, but it could be something real."

"Look, either way, Toby's not the enemy," Lucy told them.

Aria stood, grabbing her stuff. "You know what, guys? I'm gonna go."

Aria walked out, leaving.

"What was that all about?" Pen asked.

"How should I know?" Hanna asked.

They looked at the message in the notebook.

'BAD'.

---- -----

Opening Credits

(Song:) Secret - The Pierces

A closeup of Lucy's brown eyes showed her applying mascara to her lashes.

The Pierces: (voice over) "Got a secret."

Dakota applied lipgloss to her lips with a small brush.

The Pierces: (voice over) "Can you keep it?"

Spencer fastened her black high heel.

The Pierces: (voice over) "Swear this one you'll save."

Hanna curled a piece of her blonde hair.

Madison painted her nails pink.

The Pierces: (voice over) "Better lock it."

Aria applied eyeshadow to her eye.

The Pierces: (voice over) "In your pocket."

Pen stood next to Alison's coffin, closing her eyes.

The Pierces: (voice over) "Taking this one."

Emily folded Alison's arms over her chest.

The Pierces: (voice over) "To the grave."

Mara, Lucy and Emily closed the coffin.

The Pierces: (voice over) "If I show you then I know you."

The girls were standing around Alison's coffin, all in black funeral dresses.

The Pierces: (voice over) "Won't tell what I said."

There was a closeup of Pen. She put a finger to her lips. "Shh."

The Pierces: (voice over) "'Cause two can keep a secret."

Pen disappeared.

A message appeared in the clouds that had been behind her.

Worlds Colliding (Pretty Little Liars)

The Pierces: (voice over) "If one of them is dead."

(Song Ends)

---- -----

Day Two

Morning - McCoy House - Kitchen

Dakota and Jean were getting ready to leave and go to work.

Jean looked into the safe that Dakota had put the money inside.

"Doesn't look like very much," Dakota told her.

"Well, it's all we have," Jean told her. "The rest is gone. Invested. Once the investment is settled, whoever comes knocking on our door or tries to have your father locked away forever can have their money back."

Dakota sighed, conflicted. "Why are we still helping him?" Jean looked at her. "After everything that happened with the creeps that took me, tortured me, and starved me, and Dad was still not going to give up that money. He was going to let them kill me, so why are we still helping him stay out of prison for the rest of his life?"

Jean walked closer. "Because we love him, and there's nothing that he can do that can make us hate him forever. That's just the way it works, Kota."

"I hate the way that it works," Dakota told her.

Jean smiled a small smile. "I know, sweetie. But trust me. After we get what we need, and we put the money back where it belongs, this nightmare will finally be over. Okay?" Dakota nodded. "Okay." Jean kissed Dakota on the forehead. "I'll see you tonight."

"All right," Dakota told her. "Bye, Mom."

Jean walked out, leaving.

Dakota made sure that she was gone, standing, walking toward the basement door, opening it.

Caleb walked past her into the kitchen. "I left a wakeup call for nine."

Dakota closed the basement door. "Well, I got to be to work in less than an hour, so do you want something to eat?"

"You mean this is one of those basement breakfast places?" Caleb asked.

Dakota poured them some cereal. "I don't know how long we can keep doing this."

"Well, it won't be long," Caleb told her. 

Dakota walked toward the fridge, pulling out some milk. "You'd go back to your foster parents?"

Caleb chuckled. "Not a chance." Dakota poured the milk into the cereal bowls. "But I've almost saved up enough to get out to Arizona. I have a friend in Flagstaff." Dakota looked up thoughtfully, sighing. "What? You gonna miss me?"

Dakota smirked. "Well, it was nice knowing when something goes bump in the night, it's you."

"What have you got to be afraid of?" Caleb asked.

Dakota didn't get a chance to answer before they heard the front door open.

Caleb stood, running out the backdoor to the patio, hiding.

Dakota saw Caleb's hat on the counter, grabbing it hurriedly, putting it in her bag.

Jean walked in, picking up a file. "Forgot this. Honey, you should be heading to work."

Dakota nodded. "I'm already on my way out the door."

Jean nodded, walking out of the house.

Dakota sighed in relief.

---- -----

Rosewood High School - Cafeteria

Aria was walking along in the school cafeteria, looking out of the windows to see Dakota and Caleb talking, and seeing Dakota take out his hat from her bag and hand it to him. They smiled and headed separate ways.

Dakota walked inside.

Aria walked toward her. "Hey."

Dakota managed a small nervous smile. "Hey."

"I can't do this anymore," Aria told her. "Last night after I left, I felt awful."

"I'm sorry for what I did, and--and what almost happened," Dakota told her.

"I should have figured it out," Aria told her. "At least, I should have listened to you."

"Yeah, well, it was terrible," Dakota told her. "But all I could think about what my mom and my dad."

Aria sighed, taking Dakota by the hands. "I'm sorry. I was so mean."

"Well, I had it coming," Dakota told her.

Aria shook her head. "No. Okay, you've had enough punishment coming from everyone in this school, and on top of that, I started to punish you. I was thinking... A could have given that ticket to my mom, but they made you do it just to make it hurt more."

"I want to say that it's all A's fault, but I'm the one who gave your mom that ticket," Dakota told her. "And I don't like knowing what I'm capable of."

"Yeah, but you didn't go through with it," Aria told her. "Okay? That's the difference. Okay, just--just tell me what happened, and I--I'll listen, and I'll understand. Please. I have to know what's going on with you, otherwise it's gonna start crushing you, all right? After everything you been through just this year..."

Dakota sighed in relief, nodding. "I'll tell you. I promise. I'll tell you everything."

Aria and Dakota smiled small smiles in relief.

---- -----  

Elsewhere

Ezra, Mara and Ella were sitting at a table with a few other faculty members, eating lunch. 

"It was a silent auction, and a private book signing and coffee with the author," Ezra told them.

"I really liked his early work, that book about the teacher in the Newark," Mara told them.

"So, do you want coffee with Leonard Adams and an autographed book?" Ezra asked.

Mara smiled. "Count me in."

"What was the name of the Newark book?" Ella asked.

"'Loose Leaf'," Mara answered.

"That was good, wasn't it?" Ella asked.

"Well, why don't you come with us, Ella?" Mara asked. She looked at Ezra. "How many people can you bring?"

"As--as many as I want," Ezra answered.

"Well, come with us, Ella," Mara told her.

Ella smiled, nodding. "All right, I will."

---- -----  

Elsewhere

Pen, Emily, Lucy, Peyton, Spencer, Hanna and Madison were sitting at their tables.

"You know, Aria and Dakota might be right about this," Pen told them. "Toby does have every reason to give us a hard time."

Spencer sighed. "I suppose, but that's just not the feeling that I got from talking to him. Do you know what I mean?"

Emily nodded. "Yeah, I do."

Aria and Dakota walked up to them, sitting down.

"Hey," Madison told them. She looked at Dakota. "What is with you and the artful dodger?"

"Who?" Lucy asked.

"Caleb," Hanna answered.

Peyton looked at Dakota. "I thought that thing at the swim meet was a one-off."

"It was," Dakota told them.

"We just saw you talking to him," Lucy told her.

"And you gave him a hat," Hanna added. "What are you doing with his hat?"

Dakota shrugged. "Why shouldn't I have his hat?"

"Dakota, I know you think that you have a dark side, but Caleb makes you look like the light," Pen told her.

"Pen, I do have a dark side, but at least I can admit it," Dakota told her. "And he's not that dark. No darker than I am. And he's no Arthur Dodger, whoever that is."

"Yeah, he's just... had it tough," Aria told them.

"Are you two on speaking terms again?" Madison asked.

Aria smiled, nodding. "Of course we are."

Dakota smiled.

Spencer looked at Dakota. "You need to be really careful about that guy."

"Well, it seems to me we had this conversation once about Toby," Peyton told them.

A man in a suit walked in, walking toward the faculty table where Mara, Ezra and Ella were sitting. "I'm looking for Coach Fulton."

Paige saw the man, stopping in place with her tray.

"Is the coach expecting you?" Mara asked.

"The coach is avoiding me," the man told her. "That's what the coach is doing."

Mara stood. "Are you a parent?"

"Yes, I'm a parent," the man answered. "Nick McCullers. My daughter is Paige McCullers."

Students looked toward where Paige was holding her tray.

"I see your daughter as in the guidance office from time to time," Mara told him. "I'm Mara Fields."

"The coach," Nick told her.

"Tell you what," Mara told him. "Why don't we walk down to the principal's office and see if we can't find Coach Fulton?"

"I've seen the principal, and all I got was a lot of politically correct double-talk about the agenda in this place that's penalizing my daughter," Nick told her. "Taking opportunities away from her and giving them to an explosive student that clearly has some issues to deal with, coming from a freakish family, a girl who doesn't deserve them. A girl that should have treatment instead of reward."

Paige looked down in embarrassment.

Everyone looked toward Dakota.

Dakota looked down, sighing.

Emily put a hand on Dakota's arm comfortingly.

Mara was trying not to lose her patience. "Everybody gets a fair chance here, Mr. McCullers. We go out of our way to make sure that that's how it works."

"My girl is the best swimmer on that team, and you can't give it to somebody just because the coach takes pity on the girl that--" Nick started.

Mara was clearly about to say something that she would regret. The girls knew the way that Mara got when someone was harassing one of them, anticipating her to lose her temper.

Ella stood, placing a hand on Mara's shoulder to calm her down, looking at both Mara and Nick. "You're in a cafeteria, Mr. McCullers. Filled with kids trying to have lunch. I don't think that's the audience you want, is it?" Mara held her arm toward the door, gesturing for Nick to go. Nick walked out, leaving. Ella turned to Mara. "I know you mean well, especially when it comes to the girls, but blowing up at a parent would likely lead you to losing your job."

Mara nodded in agreement. "Mm-hmm. Thank you."

Ella nodded. Ella and Mara followed Nick out of the room.

The girls looked toward where Paige had been to see that she was gone now.

Dakota looked at the other girls, looking down. "And the hits just keep coming."

---- -----  

Office - Ashley's Office

Ashley was sitting at her desk, looking at a picture of Hanna and Madison on her desk.

A man walked in, so Ashley stood to shake his hand.

"Hello, Mrs. Marin," the man told her. "I'm James Leland."

"Have a seat, Mr. Leland," Ashley told him. "I'm sorry, my regular assistant didn't make your appointment." They sat across the desk from each other. "All I know is, you need to speak to an officer."

"I'm Esther Potter's nephew," James told her. "She died recently."

"Yes, I'm sorry," Ashley told him. "She was a loyal customer."

"I'd like to talk to you about her accounts, her safety deposit box," James told her.

"Um, actually, we were under the impression Mrs. Potter had no living relatives," Ashley told him.

"She certainly was the last of the Potters," James told her. "But her sister married my grandfather up in Syracuse. That's where I'm from. I think technically that makes me a great-nephew."

Ashley nodded in agreement. "Yes. Well, the state revenue agency will need to see your ID before I can release any information or give you access to the safe deposit box."

"I thought so," James told her.

"Yeah," Ashley told him.

James pulled out papers from his jacket. "I brought copies."

Ashley was surprised and impressed. "Oh. Good." She took the papers, looking them over. "Leland & Daley?"

James chuckled. "Yes, we're architects."

"I will get these to the revenue agency," Ashley told him. "It's a little late in the day to expect a response."

"I have business in the area," James told her. He stood. "I'm here for a few days." Ashley stood. James handed her a piece of paper. "My cell number's on there."

Ashley took the paper. "Of course. Were you and your aunt close?"

James shook his head, putting his hands on his hips. "For most of my life, she was a birthday card with a $5 bill in it. But she never missed a birthday."

Ashley smiled a small, sympathetic smile. "I understand."

"How about you?" James asked. "How well did you know my aunt? Uh, my great-aunt."

"She came in once a year," Ashley told him. "Like Santa Claus." They both chuckled. "She was very sweet."

"When I called, they told me that you had spoken to her just before she died," James told her. "I'd like to know what you thought of her."

"I don't know what I could tell you," Ashley told him. 

"We could talk about it over drinks," James told her.

Ashley was surprised, chuckling. "I don't know."

"Consider it," James told her. "You've got the number."

Ashley nodded, holding up the papers. "I will get these to the revenue office."

"Thank you," James told her, walking out of the office.

Ashley sat at her desk, thoughtfully.

---- -----  

Rosewood High School - Hallway

Emily and Dakota were in the hallway, at Dakota's locker.

"I can't believe a parent would say something like that about you in front of everyone," Emily told her.

Dakota closed her locker. "I'm getting used to being put down in public."

Dakota turned to see Paige approaching, sighing.

"Listen, I didn't know my dad was coming," Paige told her. "He wanted to know how somebody could beat me. He wanted to know if I slacked off, but I didn't. You know I didn't. I told him we tied, but you got the slot."

"Because of the coach taking pity on me?" Dakota asked.

"No," Paige answered. "He must've asked around, or seen the video online, but I didn't tell him. I swear."

Dakota looked from Paige to Emily. "I have to go to class. You two have fun."

Dakota walked away, walking past Ella and Byron as she did.

"So you can't make it to any of the teacher conferences?" Ella asked.

"I can do them, I just need to reschedule them for tomorrow," Byron told her.

"Well, you don't have to see all of them," Ella told him. "You should meet the French teacher, Mr. Carinci, and... Oh, are you going to meet Ezra?"

"Ezra?" Byron repeated.

"Ezra Fitz, the English teacher," Ella answered. "Aria's crazy about him, and I can see why. He's very smart, he's attractive, sensitive."

"Does he also play guitar?" Byron asked.

"Uh, not that I know of," Ella told him. "Oh, you should've been at the school lunch today. Nick McCullers showed up."

"McCullers?" Byron repeated. "From the library board?"

Ella nodded, turning to face Byron. "The same one, with the very same paranoia. He was about to launch into a pity agenda right there in the cafeteria, dragging Dakota down more so than recently. Mara barely managed to calm the waters without firing at Nick herself, so I helped her out. It was something to see."

Byron nodded. "Hmm. Well, I'm sorry I missed that."

Ella sighed, shaking her head. "Dakota... that poor girl. She can't ever seem to catch a break.But you should meet Ezra. You'll like him. I'm late."

Ella turned to walk away.

"Listen, Ella," Byron told her. Ella turned back. "I thought maybe we could just pick up where we left off. Maybe next Friday?'

"Sure," Ella told him, before she remembered something. "Uh, I can't. I'm actually going to a book signing with Mara and Ezra. Leonard Adams."

"A--Adams?" Byron repeated. "I thought you hated Adams."

"I liked his early stuff," Ella told him. "Rain check?"

"Yeah, rain check," Byron answered.

Ella turned around, walking away. Byron was puzzled, frowning.

---- -----  

DiLaurentis House (Temporary) - Pen's Room 

Pen and Evan were studying in her room, laying on her bed.

"It's a good thing we're almost done with this, because since my guardian right now is Jason, he's going to the parent teacher conference thing instead," Pen told him. "He's a pretty lax guardian, but he can be a pain in the ass."

Evan chuckled. "Sounds about right. Any parent or guardian is a pain in the ass. And they feel the same way about us."

Pen was gazing off distractedly. "Yeah..."

"You are totally not focused on this," Evan told her.

Pen shook her head in agreement. "Nope. Just distracted."

"And what's got you distracted this time?" Evan asked.

"This time?" Pen repeated in amusement. "What do you mean, this time?"

"Pen, you are always distracted," Evan told her.

Pen shook her head. "I am n..." Evan gave her an amused look, waiting for her to finish. Pen sighed. "I totally am." Evan nodded, smirking. "I'm sorry."

"What's up?" Evan asked. "Thinking about those pictures and stuff that people keep sending?"

Pen nodded, licking her lips, looking guilty because she couldn't tell him the full truth, but was protecting him from it. "Just all this with the memorial, and the investigation, the pictures... it's getting to me." She decided to change the subject because she didn't want to think about it, turning to Evan, pulling him closer, smiling. "You say that I'm always distracted."

Evan nodded, smirking because he knew where she was going with this. "Mm-hmm."

"So distract me from being distracted," Pen told him.

Pen and Evan smiled, kissing slowly but deeply at first, then more deeply and passionately as time went on.

Evan pulled away to tease her. "I don't know, schoolwork can be pretty distracting, too."

Pen knew that he was messing with her, hitting him lightly on the chest teasingly, smiling and laughing a little. "Seriously?"

Evan smiled. "Someone's got to get you to smile and to laugh."

They chuckled, continuing to make out.

---- -----

Cavanaugh House - Outside

Spencer walked up to the house, seeing that the Cavanaughs had replaced their mailbox.

Toby walked out of the house to see her.

"Toby?" Spencer asked. "Can I talk to you a second?"

"I can't talk," Toby told her, walking down the porch steps toward Spencer, pointing to a car down the street. "Something's up with the DA. The lawyer's driving me over to my dad's office."

"Just tell me, was that supposed to be a joke?" Spencer asked. Toby frowned in confusion. "Were you just trying to get back at me? Because if you were--"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Toby told her.

"I'm talking about what I found in my book," Spencer told him. "The braille that you wanted me to have."

"That was no joke," Toby told her.

"'Bad'?" Spencer asked. "The whole message was 'bad'. What does that mean? Am I supposed to go buy an old Michael Jackson album?"

Toby shook his head. "You're reading it wrong. I can't do this now. Come back Saturday in the morning. Jenna will be out at her flute lesson."

Toby walked over to the DA's car, getting in.

Spencer watched him go in confusion. She looked toward Jenna's window to see that the curtains were moving, but didn't see Jenna. Her phone went off. She took it out, looking at the text.

Jenna is gonna be soooo pissed

-- A

Spencer looked around but didn't see anyone.

---- / -----  

Night - Fields House - Emily's Room 

(Song:) No Excuses - Aunt Martha 

Pen, Emily and Lucy were sitting on Emily's bed, studying, speaking over speakerphone over five way calling, talking to the other girls.

"Dakota, I think you're taking a big chance with this guy," Emily told her.

Dakota was at home, cooking. "I am a very good judge of character. I called that Noel Kahn was a bad guy. I called that Toby Cavanaugh was a good guy."

Hanna and Madison were at home, doing each other's nails and talking over speaker.

"Okay, I see your point," Madison told her.

Mara walked up to Emily's room to see Emily, Lucy and Pen studying and talking over the phone. "Hey. Who you talking to?"

"The girls," Lucy answered. "Dakota's at home. Spencer and Peyton, and Hanna and Madison, and Aria are, too."

"We're three way calling the other two sets of sisters, who are three way calling Aria and Dakota into the call to make it a five way call," Pen told her. "Technology at its best."

Mara smiled. "Yeah, I can see that. Hi, girls."

All the girls spoke over the phone. "Hi, Mara."

Spencer and Peyton were studying in Peyton's room.

"Hey, Mara, were you gonna jump down Paige's dad's throat for coming after Dakota like that at school?" Peyton asked.

"Probably if Ella hadn't stopped me," Mara answered. "You know how I can get a little carried away with guys coming after my girls like that."

Aria was in Ezra's apartment, sitting on the bed. "Like Wilden?" 

"Like Wilden," Mara answered. "Probably would've lost my job if your mom hadn't stopped me, Aria, but it might have been worth it if he comes after you like that again, Dakota."

"Speaking of, Dakota, did you tell your mom about what happened?" Hanna asked.

"No point," Dakota told them. "She can't be in the house long enough for me to tell her before she goes off to her next job."

Mara smiled a small smile. "I'll leave you guys to talk."

Pen, Emily and Lucy nodded.

Mara walked out of the room.

Spencer sighed. "Paige is such a knob."

"I don't think it's all her fault," Emily told them.

"What do you mean?" Hanna asked.

Emily didn't answer.

"Dakota, Aria, what's going on between you two?" Lucy asked.

"It's nothing you should be worried about," Aria told them.

"You two were snarking at each other like you were on a reality show," Peyton told them. "'The Real Teens of Rosewood'."

Dakota chuckled. "Well, I already had the reality show breakdown."

They all chuckled.

"Spencer, tell us about Toby," Madison told her.

"He says we have what he wanted us to have," Spencer told them. "It's the right message, we're just reading it wrong. He wants me to come to his house Saturday."

"Are you going?" Pen asked.

"If I don't, how are we gonna figure this out?" Spencer asked. "Pey and I are shut out with Melissa and Ian."

They heard a fire truck siren through the phone, but not from outside.

"Where are you guys?" Peyton asked.

"What do you mean?" Emily asked. "We're right here."

"Any fire truck you can hear at your houses, we can hear at ours," Hanna told them.

Madison smiled. "Oh, my God. Aria, are you in his apartment. Are you on the bed?"

Aria hurriedly stood up from Ezra's bed. "No, I'm not on the bed."

"Is he there?" Emily asked.

"N--Not exactly," Aria answered.

"Is he taking a shower?" Dakota asked.

"He's getting take out for dinner," Aria answered. 

"And this call's becoming very 1-900," Pen told them. She smiled teasingly. "'To talk to a hot English teacher, press 3'."

"Call ending now," Spencer told them.

"Tomorrow?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, tomorrow," Peyton answered.

They each hung up.

(Song Ends)

---- -----  

Ezra's Apartment

Ezra walked into the apartment to join Aria, with takeout food. 

"Hey," Aria told him.

"Hey there," Ezra told her, handing her food. "Sorry it took so long."

"It's okay," Aria told him.

They kissed.

"Looks like Rose of Sharon has been discovered," Ezra told her. "Big crowd at the takeout counter. I meet your dad tomorrow."

"I know," Aria told him.

"I was thinking this is gonna be a bit more complex than the usual parent-teacher discussion," Ezra told her. "I mean, I can see your mom's a colleague, she's safe. But your dad is your dad. Which is complex."

"You will like him, he'll like you," Aria told him. "Just be your normal incredible self."

---- -----  

Marin House - Foyer

Madison and Hanna walked downstairs.

Ashley was getting ready to leave.

"Where you going?" Madison asked.

"I am having drinks with a client's great-nephew," Ashley told them.

"What?" Madison asked.

"Just a nephew cleaning up after a distant relative," Ashley told them.

"Well, what are you gonna be drinking?" Hanna asked. "Because you get ditsy after the second martini."

The doorbell rang.

Madison opened it to reveal James outside, looking at him critically. "Hi."

"Hello," James told her. "I'm looking for Mrs. Marin."

"Yeah, you're looking for my mom," Madison told him. "So you're gonna be nice."

Hanna tried to keep from laughing.

Ashley walked closer, giving her youngest daughter a look. "Madison."

James chuckled. "It's okay. I can understand a daughter being protective of her single mother."

"Please, come in," Ashley told him, letting James come in, closing the door. "This is Hanna and Madison, my daughters."

"Hello," Hanna told him.

"Hello, girls," James told them.

Ashley turned to grab the papers from the office. "Oh, I forgot to get your signature on this. It's just part of authorizing you to look at the safety deposit box."

"Sure," James told her, taking out a pen, signing.

Hanna and Madison watched them critically, tilting their heads.

"Thank you," Ashley told him, putting the papers down, picking up her jacket. "Okay." She looked at Hanna and Madison. "I won't be late."

"Okay," Hanna told her.

Ashley and James walked out, leaving.

Madison turned to Hanna. "Mom said that he was an architect from Syracuse, right?"

"Yeah, why?" Hanna asked.

"Because he had a crappy plastic pen," Madison answered.

"So?" Hanna asked.

"So, architects draw for a living," Madison answered. "They tend to be pen snobs, strictly Mont Blanc and beyond."

"And you would know this only because your ex-boyfriends' dads are architects," Hanna told her. "Both Ben and Noel. Wow."

"Uh, Noel's dad owns half of Rhode Island," Madison told her. "I don't think he built it or designed it."

"Whatever," Hanna told her. "That doesn't explain why you're creeped out by the guy that just took Mom out on a date."

"Well, why does this guy creep you out?" Madison asked.

"He doesn't creep me out," Hanna told her.

"Yes, he does,"  Madison told her. "You get a bad vibe from the guy. Come on, let's get our Veronica Mars on and figure this out."

Hanna smiled, shaking her head. "All right."

Madison smiled.

---- -----  

McCoy House - Kitchen

Dakota was still cooking.

Jean walked in, seeing food. "Oh, thank God. I need something to eat to tide me over so I can go to the next job and make it through the night."

Dakota smiled a small smile. "I figured that you would." Jean put her things on the counter. Dakota hesitated, pressing her lips together. "Mom?"

Jean looked up. "Hmm?"

"I'm sorry," Dakota told her. "For getting myself fired and making you work even harder than you were before."

Jean sighed, walking closer. "Oh, honey." She put a hand on Dakota's cheek. "It wasn't your fault. I know that."

Jean walked over to get dinner.

Dakota sighed, speaking under her breath. "If you only knew."

They heard the doorbell ring.

---- -----  

Foyer

Dakota and Jean walked toward the door, opening it.

Caleb was outside. "Hi."

Dakota was surprised. "Caleb. Wow."

Caleb looked at Jean. "Hello, Mrs. McCoy. Dakota thought it was about time you and me met."

Dakota raised her eyebrows. "I did?" Caleb smirked. Jean looked at Dakota. Dakota nodded. "I did. Mom, this is Caleb."

Caleb stepped inside. "Rivers."

Jean closed the door. "Nice to meet you, Caleb."

"Mrs. McCoy, you have a lovely home, from what I've seen of it," Caleb told her.

"Please, call me Jean," Jean told him.

Dakota took a deep breath. "Caleb is new to Rosewood this year."

Caleb nodded in agreement. "They brought me in to class the place up."

"I see," Jean told him. "Kota, is he your boyfriend?"

"What?" Dakota asked. "No."

Caleb shook his head. "No, no."

Jean nodded, looking at Dakota. "I got to say, I'm a little surprised. Usually, we move too much, or you work too hard to ever have time to talk to a boy, let alone invite him over as a friend."

"Yeah, look who's talking," Dakota replied.

Caleb smiled in amusement.

Jean looked between them, smiling a small smile. "You two have fun. I'll be out late."

Jean walked out with her dinner, leaving.

Dakota closed the door behind her, turning to face Caleb. "What are you doing coming through the front door like that?"

Caleb shrugged. "I thought it was a better way to meet your mom than her tripping over me behind the furnace."

"Yeah, but just knocking on the door?" Dakota asked. "I mean, why couldn't you ask me?"

"You would have said no," Caleb answered.

Dakota sighed, exasperated, putting her hands to her head, turning around, walking toward the kitchen. "You want something to drink?"

Caleb smirked at the reaction, following. "Sure. I'm parched."

---- -----  

Kitchen

Caleb sat at the counter.

Dakota opened the fridge, pulling out juice, pouring two glasses.

Caleb watched her for a moment, debating on whether or not to bring this up. "You know, I heard what you and your mother were talking about earlier, this morning. Before she almost caught us."

Dakota placed his glass in front of him. "Turning into an eavesdropping stalker, much?"

Caleb picked up his glass. "No. I'm just a very good listener." Dakota took a drink. Caleb looked at her curiously. "You were the one in the news about being kidnapped for ransom, weren't you?"

"They never mentioned my name in the news or in the papers," Dakota told him.

"Yeah, because of the protection of minors," Caleb told her. "But you went missing around that time period, and while some people thought you had just ditched school like the rebel and troublemaker you are, others really believed that you were missing. And you were, weren't you?"

Dakota sighed, looking down. "Yeah."

"And it's all because of your dad?" Caleb asked what sounded like a statement. "He had the money they wanted, and he would rather let you die than give it up?"

"He said that he didn't have enough," Dakota told him. "And he was right. He didn't have enough to pay for what they were asking for. But he sure did have a hell of a lot more than he let on."

"No wonder the things that are happening to you are happening," Caleb told her. "What about the money and the investments that your mother was talking about?"

Dakota hesitated, looking away. "It's complicated."

"Tell me," Caleb told her. "I like complicated. And like I said, I'm a good listener."

Dakota looked at him quizzically, tilting her head, debating on whether or not to tell him.

---- -----  

Day Three

Morning - Rosewood High School - Ezra's Classroom

Ezra and Byron were sitting at Ezra's desk, talking.

"Aria does a great deal of independent reading," Ezra told him. "You can see she's excited by the idea of fiction. It's one of the things that makes her such a good student."

Byron smiled fakely. "So you're taking my wife out."

"Uh, sorry?" Ezra asked.

"Well, you're going out with my wife to some book event?" Byron asked, clearly jealous.

Ezra nodded. "Right, right. The book signing next week. It's an event for an author we both like, Leonard Adams."

Byron nodded sarcastically. "Leonard Adams. Do you--do you think he's good?"

"I like some of his stuff very much," Ezra answered. "Ella's a fan, too."

"Well, I think he's a fake," Byron told him. "Very overrated."

"He has his critics," Ezra told him. "He certainly wouldn't fit in to what I'm trying to do with Aria's class."

"Is he really your idea of a good writer?" Byron asked.

"Well, I like a lot of writers for a lot of different reasons," Ezra told him.

Byron chuckled fakely. "Yeah, Ella used to hate him. I mean, I can remember she threw his latest novel clear across our bedroom. She was so angry. But, uh, look at you. You've turned her around. How'd you manage to do that?"

Ezra smiled nervously. "A silent auction for charity."

---- -----  

Clothing Shop

(Song:) In Your Arms - Kina Grannis 

The girls were in the clothing shop.

Lucy, Madison, Pen and Peyton were just walking in.

Lucy looked at Peyton. "When is Spencer supposed to see Toby?"

"Tomorrow, when Jenna's at her music lesson," Peyton answered.

They saw Dakota, Aria, Spencer, Emily and Hanna across the store.

Aria pushed a dress into Dakota's hands. "Take it."

"No," Dakota told her. "No, you take it. I don't have enough for that."

"But you love it," Aria told her. "I saw the way you were looking at it. Come on, I'll help you."

"Aria, you know that I don't like you guys helping me out with this stuff, because it feels like I owe you something," Dakota told her.

"You don't owe me anything," Aria told her.

Hanna smiled. "The storm has passed. What was going on with you two?"

Dakota looked at Aria, sighing, nodding.

Aria looked at the other girls. "Okay, so you know how I went to that museum with Ezra?" They nodded. "Well, A tried to get Dakota to ruin it."

"Ruin it how?" Emily asked.

"A gave me another ticket and made me give it to Aria's mom," Dakota answered.

"God, Dakota," Pen told her. "Why didn't you tell us what was happening?"

"Well, I tried to stop it," Dakota told them. "I mean, her mom's car didn't just stall. Caleb fixed it to keep her from getting there, and that's why I owe him."

"Yeah, and he's the one who's been breaking into vending machines at school," Madison added. "I mean, he's practically living there."

"In school?" Spencer asked.

"They found his stuff, so he's not sleeping there anymore," Dakota told them. "He's sleeping in my basement."

The girls looked at her in surprise.

"Wait," Hanna told her. "Rewind that a little for me."

"Does you mom know?" Lucy asked.

"No," Dakota answered. "But--it's just for a couple of nights."

Aria smiled.

"A couple of nights?" Peyton repeated. "Are you crazy?"

Emily looked past them. "Guys."

They walked toward where a saleswoman was fitting a dress onto Jenna.

"I want it to be perfect," Jenna told her. "He likes lace."

The girls exchanged a look, looking toward Jenna.

(Song Ends)

---- / -----  

Ezra's Apartment

Ezra and Aria were talking about the conference.

"I'm telling you, your dad came to me like he wanted to chop me off at the knees," Ezra told her.

"And I'm telling you, that's not my dad," Aria told him.

"Well, I recognized him from the picture you showed me of everybody on the glacier," Ezra told her.

"I'm serious," Aria told him.

"So am I," Ezra told her. "I'm trying to act like I'm not in love with his daughter, and he's acting like he wants to challenge me to a duel over your mother."

Aria chuckled in confusion. "I don't understand."

"I do," Ezra told her. "He hates me."

"He doesn't hate you," Aria told him. 

Ezra nodded. "He hates me. Or he's crazy."

Aria shook her head. "No, he does not hate you. He couldn't."

"Then he's crazy," Ezra told her.

Aria shook her head, looking away.

---- -----  

Hastings House - Peyton's Room

Spencer and Peyton were recoding the braille to see how they were reading it wrong.

"Spencer, there's numbers next to the letters underneath each code," Peyton told her.

"So..." Spencer trailed off.

"So what if it's not letters?" Peyton asked.

Spencer realized what she was getting at, knowing she was right. "It's numbers. Peyton, you're a genius. I love you."

Peyton smiled.

Spencer and Peyton started to crack the code using numbers instead of letters.

---- -----  

Rosewood High School - Hallway

Jean was walking out of a classroom during conferences.

Mara saw her. "Jean."

"Oh, hey, Mara," Jean told her. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," Mara answered. "I was gonna call you. But then I saw you were coming in for the parent-teacher conferences. I just want you to know that the school is not gonna be bullied by Nick McCullers. And I'm not gonna let him drag Dakota down anymore than she's been dragged down lately."

Jean frowned in confusion. "What about Nick McCullers?"

"Uh, well, he came in making a big deal about how he thinks Dakota's getting special treatment because of what happened with the kidnapping and the videos online," Mara answered. Jean was surprised and irritated. "Everybody knows Dakota's the better swimmer, except McCullers, no matter what they might think of her otherwise."

"He came to the school and said that?" Jean asked.

Mara nodded. "In front of everyone. Students, teachers."

"Was Dakota there?" Jean asked in concern.

"She was," Mara answered.

Jean looked away.

---- -----  

Cavanaugh House - Outside

Spencer walked up to the house, knocking on the door, but it started to open on its own. "Hello?"

---- ----- 

Hallway 

Spencer walked in, looking around. "Hello?"

---- ----- 

Jenna's Room 

Spencer found Jenna's room, looking inside to see porcelain dolls lying around. She walked toward a shelf of glass knickknacks, picking one up, listening to the lullaby that was playing from it.

Toby walked up to the door. "You better put that back." Spencer jumped slightly, turning to face Toby. "Put it back where you got it or she'll know you were in here."

"I'm sorry," Spencer told him. "I knocked. The door was open."

"I heard you, but I couldn't answer the door," Toby told her, walking toward her. "I was on the phone. My lawyer called. The DA is dropping the charges against me."

Spencer nearly dropped the snowglobe in her hands in surprise. Toby caught it, having his hands over Spencer's. They looked at each other before Spencer lowered her gaze to the snow globe.

"They're not gonna charge you with killing Alison?" Spencer asked.

"I didn't get the details, but he said the blood evidence was corrupted," Toby told her. "The district attorney can't go to trial without it."

They both smiled.

"They're finished with you?" Spencer asked.

"Not finished," Toby answered. "They can charge me anytime they find new evidence. But... for right now, I'm free, once I get this ball and chain off my leg." Spencer smiled, letting it fade. "I'm waiting for my dad to take me to the courthouse for that."

"I could drive you," Spencer told him. "If you want me to."

Toby smiled, placing the snow globe back on the shelf.

---- -----  

Marin House - Kitchen

Peyton, Pen, Hanna and Madison were standing at the counter, talking.

"So your mom didn't believe you when you told her that this Leland guy was shady?" Peyton asked.

"You don't sound surprised," Pen told her.

Peyton shrugged. "I'm used to it. I mean, hello, Melissa doesn't believe me and Spencer when we tell her that Ian's shady."

"That's why I called Syracuse university," Pen told them. "Talked to a nice lady at the school of architecture about how I was thinking of applying, and did she know a local guy named James Leland?"

"You just called up and asked?" Madison asked.

Pen nodded. "People love to talk." They smiled. "And guess what? James Leland went to SU and opened an office in town." 

"See?" Hanna asked. "He's legit."

Pen laughed sarcastically. "Yeah. He was a pretty good architect..." She showed them a picture of an elderly man on her phone. "Right up until he dropped dead two years ago. Introducing James Leland."

"Wait," Madison told them. "No, our mom said his ID checked out."

"Right," Pen told them. "You ask a computer, 'Is James Leland related to Esther Potter?' The computer says yes. But you didn't ask if James Leland was still alive. Knowing the right questions is better than having all the right answers."

Peyton nodded in agreement. "Right. I'm impressed, Penny."

Pen smiled.

Madison looked at Hanna. "But what are we gonna tell Mom?"

Hanna and Madison exchanged a worried look. Peyton and Pen looked at them sympathetically.

---- -----  

Cavanaugh House - Outside

Jenna was getting out of a cab to go home at the same time that Spencer and Toby walked outside, stopping when they saw her.

"Toby?" Jenna asked. "Mr. Dugan called with the good news. Did you hear?"

"He told me," Toby answered.

"We can get that awful thing off your leg right now," Jenna told him. "The cab's waiting."

"That's all right," Toby told her. "I've got a ride."

"Dakota?" Jenna asked. "Or one of the Fields' girls?"

"No, it's me," Spencer answered.

"Spencer," Jenna realized. "It's really very nice of you, but I'm here now."

"I'm going with Spencer," Toby told her, taking Spencer by the hand, leading her down the stairs, past Jenna toward Spencer's car across the street, opening the door for her to get in.

Jenna whispered to herself angrily. "I see."

---- / -----  

Marin House - Hallway

Ashley, Hanna and Madison walked out of the kitchen into the hallway.

"Hanna, Madison, the man's ID checked out," Ashley told them.

"It checked out because there was a James Leland related to Mrs. Potter," Hanna told her. "But this isn't him. This is somebody else."

"So you're telling me that the man is an imposter," Ashley told them. 

"Yes," Madison answered. "And you have to do something."

"I'm not doing anything based on what you and your friends came up with," Ashley told them. Madison and Hanna rolled their eyes, tilting their heads in identical gestures of exasperation. "Leland's coming to the bank this afternoon, and I will show him the safe deposit box. And... we will go from there."

"All right, well, call us when he leaves," Hanna told her.

"I will," Ashley told them, walking out of the house.

Hanna and Madison exchanged a look, sighing.

---- -----  

Montgomery House - Living Room

Aria was sitting down, drawing.

Byron walked in to see her, surprised. "Hey. I thought you were gonna be gone all day."

"Uh, change of plans," Aria told him. 

Evan walked in. "Hey, Dad, you still planning on taking us out for dinner?"

"Yeah," Byron answered.

"Good," Evan told him. "Mike's impatiently waiting in the car. Let's go."

"Hey, Dad?" Aria asked. "How were the parent teacher meetings?"

"Oh, they were fine," Byron answered. "You know, I really like that one teacher, your French teacher."

"Well, how do you like Mr. Fitz?" Aria asked.

"He was okay," Byron told them, turning to walk away.

Aria stood. "'Okay'?"

Byron turned back. "All right, listen, I'm gonna tell you the truth. I thought he was a lightweight."

"What do you mean?" Evan asked.

"Well, there's just not a lot of depth there," Byron told them. 

"Boy, that's--that's funny, 'cause we like him," Aria told him. "He's a good teacher."

"Well, I can see why he's a hit with the kids," Byron told them. "I mean, he's a nice-looking guy, he's easygoing. He does that boyish smile thing a little too much, but I figure that must work for him."

"What's that thing about judging a book by its cover?" Evan asked.

"Well, sometimes you can get a pretty good idea what's inside based on the cover," Byron told them.

"Well, you know, he's published," Aria told him. 

"Online journals aren't 'published'," Byron told them. "'Published' is ink and paper."

"Well, you were with him for, like, what, half an hour?" Aria asked. "I'm in his class every day. Evan is, too, and you like him, don't you, Evan?"

Evan shrugged. "Better than most teachers."

"Well, every English department has one," Byron told them. "Full of charm and promise. It's--Look, I understand that you--and your mother--see more of him than I do, but perhaps that's why I have a clearer perspective."

"What's Mom have to do with this?" Evan asked.

"Well, she's not immune to that kind of charm," Byron told them. "This book signing thing he's taking her to..."

Evan realized that was why he was reacting this way, rolling his eyes. "That's not just Mom. Half of the teachers in the English department are going. Mara subs for English, so she's going, too."

Byron was embarrassed for the overreaction. "Well..."

Evan sighed, rolling his eyes again. "Can we go to dinner now? Great. I'll be in the car with Mike."

Evan didn't wait for an answer, walking out. Byron and Aria exchanged a look. 

---- -----  

Bank - Ashley's Office

Ashley was showing 'James' Mrs. Potter's safety deposit box.

"Three thousand dollars?" 'James' asked.

Ashley nodded, clearly testing him. "3,275."

"It's funny," 'James' told her. "You don't have expectations, and then you end up having expectations." Ashley nodded. "The family myth was that Aunt Esther had a lot of cash socked away somewhere. A lot more than three thousand."

"The bank doesn't encourage people to keep cash in safe deposit boxes," Ashley told him.

"So, she spoke to you about keeping money in here?" 'James' asked.

"No," Ashley answered. "We never talked about it."

"Who else besides you would have access to this box?" 'James' asked.

"An officer," Ashley answered. "Of course, you'd have to have the customer's key, or the master, like I used. What are you thinking?"

'James' smiled fakely, shaking his head. "Just thinking."

"Where do you bank, James?" Ashley asked. "In Syracuse?"

"Where do I bank?" 'James' repeated. 

"Your personal accounts, business accounts," Ashley told him. "What's the name of your bank?" 'James' didn't answer. "It doesn't matter. The rules on access are the same, industry-wide." Ashley picked up her phone, holding it toward 'James'. "Call them and ask? They have Saturday hours, don't they?"

"Like I said, it was just a family myth," 'James' told her, putting the money back.

Ashley closed the safety deposit box.

---- -----  

Rosewood High School - Hallway

The conferences were still going on, so the hallway was pretty full of students, parents and teachers.

Swim practice was over. Emily walked out in her uniform toward Lucy and Mara.

Jean was waiting for Dakota, pulling her aside. "Come here."

"I don't need a ride," Dakota told her. "My car is in the parking lot."

"No, I need to ask you a question," Jean told her. "I need to know something before I talk to the school."

"Talk to the school about what?" Dakota asked.

"Is it true that Mr. McCullers came to the school saying you got some kind of preferential, pity treatment because of what happened with the men taking you and your outburst at your previous job?" Jean asked.

"Who told you that?" Dakota asked. She saw that Emily and Lucy were talking to Mara, realizing, sighing. "Oh, wait, no, let me guess. Mara."

"Yes, Mara," Jean answered.

"I don't want to talk about it," Dakota told her.

"Dakota, is it true?" Jean asked. "I mean, is it true? Because--"

"Yes, it's true," Dakota answered.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jean asked.

"Mom, you have enough to worry about without having to worry about me," Dakota told her.

"You are my daughter, and I am supposed to worry about you," Jean told her. "I'm supposed to be there for you when things like this happen. And I'm sorry that I couldn't be before because of how much we both overwork ourselves, but this needs to change."

Nick found Mara at the side of the hallway, walking toward her. "I was thinking about what you said about that McCoy girl. About her not getting special treatment since that video, and I realized that you're right. The students here have been downing her. If anyone's been getting special treatment, it's that girl over there." Mara followed his gaze to Emily. "I've asked around, found out about her different lifestyle and that she's been getting more reward than work. Talk about the gay agenda and pity agenda."

Nick was speaking loud enough for most of the hallway to hear them. Pen and Jason were walking out of a classroom for Jason's conference with Pen's teachers, seeing the confrontation and hearing what it was about.

Mara chuckled sarcastically, irritated and not even bothering to keep patient or calm. "Okay."

Jason smirked, looking down, knowing that he pretty much activated the protective side of Mara that led to her having no filter when it came to defending or protecting the girls.

Dakota, Pen, Emily and Lucy knew that Mara was going to go off and say something that could possibly get her fired, but knowing that it was Nick's fault for provoking her, Dakota and Emily.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Lucy told them.

Emily walked closer. "Mara..."

"No, I can stay calm when he's talking that way about a friend of my sisters', but not when he's talking about one of my sisters," Mara told them, turning to Nick. "Listen, Nick."

Everyone around them turned to watch the confrontation, including Paige and Pam.

Nick looked at Mara. "This isn't personal. You deal with your family problems and friend problems any way that you want. This is about what the school is doing to my daughter."

Mara scoffed. "Yeah. It's about your daughter. It's about you trying to make her into some kind of professional victim and using my sister and her friend to do it."

Nick looked toward Dakota. "Well, she seems to be playing the part of the professional victim pretty well. Why can't mine? I don't expect you to understand."

"Oh, I understand," Mara told him. "I understand that you always think there's someone else to blame when things don't go your way."

"Okay, you're upset," Nick told her.

"No, not yet," Mara  told him. "But I'm getting there. Dakota has a disorder, and she can have it under control when she's on her medication, and the only reason why she didn't have her medication that day is because someone broke into her home and ransacked her house. This was after two men kidnapped her and tortured her for ransom that her father didn't have enough to pay back, so Dakota and her mother Jean had to kick out of their house, out of this town. And my sister Emily, the one that you think is getting special treatment, she didn't get anything that she didn't earn. That's not how she was raised. That is who she is. Being the way she is doesn't change who she is, and she is a good person, inside and out. It doesn't matter who she loves, or she likes. Those two girls did everything they could to become the best swimmers on that team, and they earned it. So, you drop this, Nick." She looked around at everyone. "All of you drop it, or I'll show you what a real agenda looks like."

Everyone was speechless, especially, Jason, Pen, Pam, Emily, Lucy, Dakota and Jean, who were all very moved and awed.

Mara walked away.

Emily and Lucy followed her.

"Mara, are you okay?" Emily asked.

"I'm fine," Mara answered. "Come on, I'll take you home."

"Mara, that was amazing," Lucy told her. "But what if you get fired for that?"

Mara shrugged. "I'm sure that everyone who counts knows what this is about and will know that Nick was in the wrong, and he needed to be set straight. Along with the students in this place."

Pam walked closer.

Emily sighed. "Mom..."

"I'm not here to argue," Pam told them. "I'm here to agree with what Mara said." Emily, Lucy and Mara looked at her in surprise. "I still don't understand, Emily, but I love you." Pam looked as if she would cry. "I'm so sorry if I..."

Emily shook her head, wrapping her arms around Pam. Lucy and Mara smiled.

Mara looked toward Dakota and Jean, who both mouthed, 'Thank you.' 

Mara smiled, nodding. She and Jason exchanged a look from across the hallway, nodding slightly. She sighed, turning around, walking away, leaving everyone still reeling from shock.

Pen looked at Jason, smiling.

---- / -----  

Night - Rosewood Town Limits 

Toby was walking up next to the town sign to feel free and alive.

Spencer was watching from next to her car, smiling. "We could just keep going. If that's what you wanted."

"They could pull me back whenever they want," Toby told her. "Anyway, I don't like running. I've done too much of it."

They walked toward each other. The lights of the town were seen behind them.

"You could start to get your life back," Spencer told him.

"I'm not so sure I want it back," Toby told her. "Not the way it was. I have to make some changes."

"Peyton and I figured out what the message meant," Spencer told him. "Braille uses the same symbols for letters and numbers." Toby nodded. "It wasn't B-A-D. It was the number 2-1-4. What does that mean?"

"I don't know," Toby told her.

Spencer tilted her head. "Toby."

"I heard Jenna in her room on the phone talking to somebody," Toby told her. "I don't know who, but they were talking about you and your friends. Jenna used the embosser attached to her computer, and I slipped in and made a rubbing of what she printed out. 2-1-4. Does that number mean anything to you?"

"It could be anything," Spencer told him. "A house number, an area code."

"We have to figure it out, for both our sakes," Toby told her.

"Are you afraid of Jenna?" Spencer asked.

"I was," Toby answered. "I still have to be careful not to cross her. She's got the power in that house. But... I'm not afraid of her the way I used to be. That makes her nervous. You and your friends make her nervous."

"We do?" Spencer asked.

"I think she's afraid of you," Toby told her. "You older girls, you were there the night of the fire. And the younger girls knew about it."

Spencer looked down, obviously feeling guilty for that night.

---- -----  

Rosewood High School - Emily's Car

Emily got into her car to go home.

Paige got into the passenger seat, to Emily's surprise. "Listen, it's like your sister said, my dad is always looking for somebody to blame."

"I have to go home," Emily told her. "My family's waiting for me."

Paige nodded. "Right. They're waiting. God, why is everything so easy for you?"

"Easy?" Emily repeated skeptically. "What planet do you live on? I've spent most of my life trying not to feel the way I feel. I come out, and they ship my first girlfriend off to God-knows-where, and now maybe she's done with me. So, yeah, it's all about Emily. All Em, all the time."

Paige suddenly put a hand on Emily's head, leaning closer to kiss her, surprising her so much she didn't even close her eyes. She pulled away, looking scared. "Don't tell."

Paige got out of the car, walking away quickly.

Emily was still stunned and confused.

---- -----  

McCoy House - Kitchen

Caleb was pouring orange juice.

Dakota walked toward him. "Hey, not all of it. My mom will notice. She's gonna be home any minute."

Caleb smirked. "Tell her it's evaporation." He zipped up his bag, looking at Dakota in confusion. "You seem good for once. What happened at school?"

Dakota smiled, shaking her head. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. But you might believe it at school when everybody's talking about how the guidance counselor/sub teacher retaliated by humiliating the parent that humiliated me and Emily at school. Mara completely shut him up. It was amazing. You should've seen it."

Caleb chuckled, pulling his bag onto his shoulder. "Well, maybe there'll be a video about it on YouTube by tomorrow. Mara Fields can have a permanent seat right next to Dakota McCoy." Dakota smirked sarcastically, tilting her head in amusement. "Walk me home?" They walked toward the basement door. "Uh, so maybe your mom will let me hang around on the surface now?"

"And I thought you were in such a hurry to get to Arizona," Dakota told him.

Caleb opened the basement door, looking at Dakota. "Arizona will be there whenever I decide to show up."

Dakota smiled a small smile, looking down.

Caleb walked into the basement.

Dakota closed the door behind him, biting her lip slightly.

The doorbell rang.

---- -----  

Foyer 

Dakota walked toward the door, opening it to reveal an exterminator outside.

"Are you A?" the exterminator asked.

"Excuse me?" Dakota asked in surprise.

"Somebody called for an estimate," the exterminator told her. "Said you had some kind of infestation in your basement. Only name they left was A."

"Uh, no," Dakota answered. "You have the wrong house."

The exterminator nodded, walking away, leaving.

Dakota knew that A had set that up, hoping that Jean would be the one that they talked to so that Jean would find out about Caleb sleeping in the basement, relieved that Jean hadn't been home to hear that, sighing in relief.

---- -----  

Ezra's Apartment 

Aria and Ezra were making out on the couch, trying to ignore the ringing phone, laying down.

The answering machine picked up the voicemail. "Mr. Fitz, this is Byron Montgomery, Aria's dad." Aria and Ezra both immediately stopped and sat up in surprise, looking at the phone. "Look, I'm sorry about how our meeting went. I owe you a make-good on that. I've read your stories, and I'd like to talk to you, so maybe we could have a beer? Give me a call, okay? Thanks."

Ezra looked at Aria. "So, you want an egg roll?"

Aria nodded. "Sounds good."

They stood to get food.

---- -----  

On the Road - Spencer's Car

(Song:) Try - Zach Berkman 

Spencer was driving Toby home, listening to the radio. They were glancing at each other when the other wasn't looking, before looking away. They drove past a motel with the room number 214 for on the door.

(Song Ends)

---- -----  

Cemetery

The figure in black was walking through the cemetery with a bouquet of flowers, stopping next to Esther Marie Potter's grave, placing down the flowers for Esther, walking away.