EMPTY GOLD.
001. | ❛ friends share secrets. ❜

Elena Davis sat in the bean bag chair in the Hastings' barn where her and her best friends in the world where hanging out. Thunder bolts could be heard from outside but couldn't be heard over the radio that was playing Light 'em Up by Fall Out Boy blasting out the storm that was passing Pennsylvania. The fifteen year old girls were lounged around giggling and laughing while a clap of thunder passed and must of turned the power off.

The laughing died down as the five girls- Hanna Marin, Emily Fields, Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, and Elena Davis- as the girls looked at the bulbs that were flickering. Elena grunted and got off her bean bag and towards her IPhone to turn the music off. This is their eighth grade sleepover before school started, or as most of us considered it the last day of summer but this storm was ruining their final day.

"What do you think happened?" Emily asked looking at the girls.

Spencer grabbed a bunch of candles and a lighter and started lighting them to try and brighten up the barn, "It must be the storm." Spencer responded

Elena noticed that it was getting late and Alison still hasn't arrived, after all it was Alison's idea to have this sleepover but she knew that Alison wouldn't bail on them. During the eight grade, Alison started forming this new 'clique' of girls that had nothing in common whatsoever. Hanna Marin- a optimistic and cheerful blonde who even though was a little chubby but was the sweetest, Emily Fields- a MVP swimmer with a cute boyfriend named Ben, Spencer Hastings- who was the smartest out of all of them but was already making plans for the future and getting in UPenn, Aria Montgomery- who was a girl who was 'finding' herself and by finding herself she decided to dye a strip of her hair hot pink, Alison Dilaurentis- Queen B of the clique and the one who brought them all together with blonde luscious hair and the smoothest skin who could make anyone bow down to her knees, and Elena Davis- a petite brunette who didn't know what she wanted, in addition thought that Aria's hair looked cool so she dyed a strip of hair red.

Then, there was a loud crash that caused all the girls to jump to their feet and huddle together. Aria held a flashlight and shined it towards the source of the crash. "Something's out there." Aria muttered nervously pointing the flashlight towards the door.

"It's probably a bird that hit itself on the side of the barn or something. Why are we getting freaked out over nothing?" Elena muttered rolling her eyes while another crash was heard outside the barn as the door of the barn swung wide open. "I take that back, not a rabbit maybe a deer?" Elena said questioning herself. The girls started to make their way slowly towards the door, pushing Elena to the front to provide protection.

"Guys" Hanna whispered gripping Elena's wrist cutting off her circulation as they walked slowly to the door. Every worst possible case scenario rushed towards Elena's mind as the neared towards the door.

As they were only inches from the door, a figure with blonde curls and yellow blouse that was brighter than the sun jumped from behind the door, "Gotcha!"

We all jumped back and were relieved when it was just Alison. " My god Ali, that was so not funny!" Spencer said. "Please guys, I thought it was hilarious, girls. You guys were so scared." Alison was always doing little pranks to set off us sometimes. We all laugh and settle down on sofas.

"Ali, did you download the new Beyoncé?" Hanna asked

"Not yet."

"I'm loving her new album." Elena said swaying her feet on the side of the sofa.

"I know. I'm loving her new video."

"Maybe a little too much Em." Alison reclaimed. Elena noticed that Alison was always saying stuff that were suppose to mean something. Alison gives a glass to Aria, "Your turn. Go on." Aria was a bit hesitate to drink but she started to gulp down the drink.

"Careful, Aria. Take too much, and you'll tell us all your secrets." Spencer exclaimed.

"Friends share secrets. That's what keeps us close. Drink up." We all clicked our glasses together and started drinking. One thing is certain, whatever it is we're trying to hide, we're never ready for when the truth gets naked. That's the problem with secrets... Like misery, they love company. They pile up and up until they take over everything, until you don't have room for anything else. Until you're so full of secrets you feel like you're going to burst. The thing people forget is how good it can feel when you finally set secrets free. Whether good or bad, at least they're out in the open. Like it or not. And once your secrets are out in the open, you don't have to hide behind them. But the problem with secrets is, even when you think you're in control... You're not.

Elena woke up, looked around to see that the girls were still asleep. She quietly tried to step lightly to sneak out of the barn. The storm had died down a little and Elena made her way over to the front of the Hastings' house. She looked next door at the Dilaurentis' house and saw a familiar brunette on the porch that she intended to meet. As she got closer she could tell that Jason looked a bit unhappy as he had his head down. As she stepped on the first porch step, the wooden plank creaked and Jason looked up. "Why do you look so glum?" I said with a smile trying to lighten up the mood. I sat on the spot next to him and went to reach for his hand but he whacked it away. "What's wrong?"

"Elena.. I don't think we should do this anymore." he said with uncertainness.

"I don't understand. Did someone say something to you?" I said tilting his head to face me to look into those soft blue eyes. I could see the resent in his eyes as if he wanted to take back everything he has just said. He then yelled," Are you serious right now ? I never liked you, everything was just a game to me. My friends were in on it and we made a bet to see if I could make you fall in love with me. And guess what? I won." He left after that rant and Elena could feel the tears coming out of my eyes and down my check. She cried, tears pouring down her face, blood shot, glassy eyes. Makeup smeared, red face. Her racking sobs shaking her thoroughly with the knowledge that she had been betrayed - that nothing would ever be the same again. Gasping for air, she turned her head and sobbed some more. Elena started to make her way back to the barn when she bumped into Alison.

Elena wiped her tears," Alison, what are you doing out here?"

"Please Lena. don't play games. Stop feeding yourself with lies darling. He didn't fight for you, and it's not because he's just not like "other boys", he just doesn't give a fuck about you. Go for someone who at least calls you back dear god."

"Ali, I swear it's not like that."

"Please Elena save me the lies. I knew about you and Jason long before tonight. I saw the way you two looked at each other, I believe that when you love someone, and that person loves you in return you are uniquely vulnerable, and once you fall in love with someone, I don't know if you can ever shake them."

"Ali, I just don't think that I could feel any better." I said crashing into her arms.

"Just because it's all you want, doesn't mean it's all you need.Think about it like this once we've served our time for all the bad things we've done, then it's just about letting go and moving on." she said cradling her.

"Maybe you're right. I don't need anyone who treats me like an option. I'm not a fucking option." She said pushing herself off of Ali.

"Maybe I was crazy Ali thinking this could work." I said making my way inside the barn and laying down on the sofa.

"Well, crazy or not, that kind of love never dies." She whispered as Elena closed her eyes and fell asleep.

But, sometimes, we break our own hearts. We think so much about what could be, that we actually believe it, and when it doesnt happen we are dissapointed, and we blame them for our broken heart, when its a broken dream. But someone... kept telling me that it was ok to feel... No matter how much it hurt... That our emotions would make us human, good or bad... And to never lose hope. I'm not okay but I'll get better.

Elena was woke up by the girls chatter. She noticed that Spencer and Ali where the only ones missing. Spencer then comes into the barn as Aria opened the door. Elena got quickly onto her feet and made her way to them.

"Ali?"

"She's gone" Spencer said

"Spenc, what do you mean she's gone?" Elena asked with her arms crossed

"I've looked everywhere for her. I think I heard her scream."