☪︎⋆｡˚ ⁀➷｡˚
𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲 𝑻𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼
chapter one: the beginning.

BELLE STOOD IN ROSEWOOD MALL, looking through the racks of clothing. shopping for the new school year, beside her was her childhood friend, Nick.

It has been a year since the disappearance of Alison dilaurentis. Belle could barely stand on her own two feet every time she would see these "still missing" posters that all had the same exact photo of the golden blonde.

The affects of her disappearance was brutal. Not only did she vanish but the five friends who lost their best friend — the same girls that seemed inseparable — lost contact with each other.

After the five girls separated — meaning Aria Montgomery moved away to Iceland with her family, Hanna Marin became the 'IT' girl alongside Mona Vanderwaal, Spencer Hastings became the teachers pet, Emily Fields blending in with anyone she could find — and Belle Carter become what you call a perfectionist.

Belle was currently searching for a dress for her father's welcome home party whilst Hanna Marin, one of her old friends was preparing to steal some sunglasses on the level below her.

Belle pulled the dress off the hook to get a better look at it, "that would look very stunning on you." The raven haired girl turned around to find her neighbour and ex-best friend, Spencer Hastings, standing behind her.

Belle sent the girl a small smile, "It would, wouldn't it?" She questioned, "but this red is to much for the occasion."

Spencer let out a chuckle as she tucked a piece of her hair behind her ears and shook her head at her old best friend, "but it would look great on you," Belle continued as she glanced between the dress and the brunette. "And not that blouse."

Nick let out a groan as he snapped through the racks of clothing, pulling out maroon dress, "here take this," he told Belle as he placed the maroon dress in her hands while he also grabbed the red dress from her hands and pasted it off to Spencer, "and you take this."

Spencer and Belle glanced over towards each other before bursting into laughter, "I see you haven't changed one bit, Nick," Spencer commented.

Belle nodded and went to speak but a voice cut her off, "I can't believe Spencer Hastings actually has time to shop," Belle glanced over to see their old friend, Hanna Marin, "I mean Spencer's interning for the major, taking classes at hollis, and redoing her barn and in your leisure moments you facebook and twitter." Hanna smirks lightly at her ex-best friend.

"You know me," Spencer chuckled, Belle's smile faded away as her eyes scanned her face as she thought. The brunette that the raven haired girl had also was gone to for any problem, her shoulder to cry on. Did she really know her? She did once. Not anymore, "I like to stay busy."

Hanna turned towards the raven haired girl, "and Belle, you've been busy with fashion and art at Hollis. . . You both know it's called summer vacay, right?" Hanna questioned.

Belle looked down at her fiddling fingers. The last summer vacation she had, their best friend went missing. Nick had notice the slight mood change and placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort.

"You spent yours sunning and shopping," the brunette replied to the blonde.

"Tweet. Tweet," Hanna replied, making the three girls laugh as Nick glanced over towards the raven haired girl, a small smile creeped his way onto his face.

Belle smiled in content that even though their time apart it was easy for the three girls to fall back into old habits.

"Did you see the paper today?" Spencer sighed after a few moments of silence between them.

Hanna's demeanour changed and she frowned, "yeah."

"She's gone, but she's everywhere." Spencer replied as Belle shifted her weight between her feet.

"You can say that again," Nick mumbled to himself.

"I can't believe it's been a year. . . A year," the Carter girl sighed. The three girl's once happy mood now completely forgotten.

"Do you remember what Ali said that night? About our secrets keeping us close?" Spencer asked them, glance over at both the girls. Belle had wish she could forget that night, but it keeps repeating in her head, "I think it was the exact opposite."

"Cute dress, what's the occasion?" Hanna asked as she eyed the red dress in Spencer's hand. "oh, family dinner. We're meeting Melissa's fiancé."

Hanna nodded glancing over towards the raven haired girl, "what about you, Belle."

"Dad's 'Welcome Back' party," Belle stated.

Hanna nodded and turned her attention back towards the brunette, "did Miss. Perfect find Mr. Perfect?" The blonde said, a teasing smile on her lips making Belle chuckled at the blonde in amusement.

"He's a med student so everyone's thrilled." Spencer replied in a sarcastic tone.

"And we all thought she'll end up with Cameron," the blonde murmured so the other two girls and Nick wouldn't hear.

"Well, good luck," Belle told her, a shy smile plastered her tanned features, "we have to go get ready." The raven haired girl waved the two girls goodbye as grabbed onto Nick's arm, guiding both of them out the shop after paying for the dress.

"She's hasn't changed one bit, has she?" The blonde questioned the hastings girl.

"Still the same Belle," Spencer commented as they watched the raven haired girl faded out of their sight.

Hanna pulled her sunglasses down from the top of her head, putting them on her face, "I need to get go too. see you on the playground."

"See you," Spencer said as Hanna turned around and exited the mall as Spencer hesitated between the dress that Belle once held and the blouse. Sighing she made her way to the register to buy it.

▂▂▂▂

          "IS EVERYTHING IN PLACE?" Belle questioned as she glanced around the living room, "the banner is a little crooked on the left," she told Nick to which he had fixed. Belle ran a hand through her hair as she leaned against the kitchen island.

Nick carefully made his ways down, "that shall do it." He stated as he stood beside Belle.

Belle's eyebrows knitted together as her eyes glanced over the kitchen, "hey," Nick spoke catching the raven haired girls attention, "it's perfect."

Belle hummed in response, her eyes widen as she realised she forget something, "the flowers!" She exclaimed.

"I don't think it really matters," Cameron told her, "does it?"

Belle sighed as she rubbed her forehead, "It has to be perfect."

Noah went to response to his sister but the sound of the front door shut made Belle push the older Carter into place as she stood beside the island. "Surprise!" They both yelled as soon as hank walked into the kitchen.

"Oh, wow," Hank mumbled as he placed his bags on the floor, he walked over towards the raven haired girl, wrapping his arms around her frame, "hey, sweetheart."

"Hi, dad," Belle mumbled, "how was the flight?"

The older Carter smiled at his father, giving him a tight hug, "hey dad."

"Like it always is," Hank told her, "tiring."

Belle nodded as she leaned over the island to grab one of the many plates, "I saw Aria back in town." Hank told her, "I think you should call her. Get Nick out of your hair for once."

Nick chuckled, "doesn't sound bad."

Belle didn't know even know Aria was back, the only person she still talked to was Spencer. But that was once in a blue moon, the two would have small talk on their rans or in the classes they had together. "I had no clue," she mumbled, "but I'll be sure to do that."

"Oh, come on Bell," Nick teased, "thought you loved me."

▂▂▂▂

BELLE AND NICK WALKED BESIDE EACH OTHER as they made their way into their first period class, English. The classroom was almost full, but the teacher hasn't stepped into the room yet. Belle spotted the brunette in her usual spot, Belle sighed as she flopped beside the Hastings girl while Nick took a seat behind the both of them.

"It's the first day back and you already have your head in the books," Belle teased as she sling her bag off her shoulder.

Spencer gave the raven haired girl a pointed look, but there was a smile on her lips. "Just a little light read."

Nick jokily rolled his eyes, "you call that light reading?"

"Anyways," Belle muttered, changing the subject, "I heard the new teacher's hot."

Spencer's eyebrows knitted together as she turned her attention back to the raven haired girl, "where'd you head that from?" She asked.

"A good gossip girl never reveals her sources," Belle smirked as she leaned back into her seat, earning a slight eye roll from the brunette as a perfectly dressed man walked into the room.

His back facing the students, Belle watched as him move around the room, writing his name in big letters on the chalkboard before turning to face the class.

"Holy crap," where the first words his uttered to the class. Making the class chuckle, and a fluster hue raise on his cheeks, "uh, I'm Mr Fitz, you're new English teacher."

"I told you," Belle stated in a hushed whisper to Spencer, "hot."

▂▂▂▂

BELLE RAN HER HAND THROUGH HER HAIR AS SHE MADE HER way towards the florist to get a bouquet of flowers since she had forgotten to them before hand. She took in her surroundings of the small town that is rosewood. She had notice how everything had changed in the span of one year, from her mother packing up her things and leaving without saying a word — to her group of friends. She missed them, missed how they all hang out with each other, making her feel as if she had belonged to something special.

At least that's what Alison would tell them all.

After a solid thirty minutes of finding the right bouquet, she had made her way towards the small cafe. Entering the small cafe, she walked up towards the registers, bumping into somebody in the way, "oh," she gasped, "I'm so sorry."

The voice chuckled, "don't worry about it." The source of the voice finally moved down to grabbed the flowers she had dropped and held it for her to take. Belle which made her freeze more as she was met by a handsome, freckled face, which made her fluster a bit, hoping he wouldn't notice the pink tint, but considering they were standing arm lengths apart he probably had notice. The tan boy chuckled, "here you drop these. Let's hope maybe the person you're giving that to is into dropped flowers."

Belle let out a nervous laugh, "right," she muttered, grabbing the bouquet out of her hands.

"I'm Nate," he introduced himself, smirking as he took in the raven haired girl.

"Belle."

Nate delicately held her hand and softly touching the knuckles with his lips made the blush in Belle's cheeks darker, "a beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

"Why, thank you," Belle said.

Nate sent her smirk, "I hope to see you around."

"I hope so."

Belle watched as he pushed opened the cafe doors and hopped into his jeep. Her phone vibrating from her pocket. Belle pulled her phone from her pocket and flipped it open. Her eyebrows furrowed as she saw the text wasn't from Nick or her father, Hank, but it came from a blocked number instead. She opened the text and made her lips part in surprise and her eyebrows knitted together.

𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬?

— 𝐀

Belle's eyes widen as they read through the message, she frantically looked around her surroundings. Her eyebrows knitted together, she swore to herself she wouldn't dare tell anyone about that summer.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*