Bloodlines

Alison POV

Time to come home bitches -A 

I heard someone come in. I was still in shock. My phone laid on the floor shattered from me dropping it. I never thought this would happen again. A was supposed to be gone. This can't be happening. 

Everything felt like an out of body experience. My phone was still ringing on the floor. Spencer was calling. Answer the damn phone I thought to myself. I had been focusing on packing, I didn't think about the fact that everyone is going to contact me at once. I was about to pick it up when my guest swooped in. 

“Spence, I got Ali, worry about the others.” Mona said and hung up, “finish packing. I'm driving you to Rosewood. Now.” I was thankful someone was able to keep it together. 

“What about the professor?” I asked. I was worried about the students but I had my own kids to worry about. 

“The professor and our jobs can wait. A is back. They need us back at home.”

The next 30 minutes were a blur. The only thing I remember was asking Mona why we couldn't take a plane. She went on and on about trackers and codes, I just stopped listening after a while. I still felt the shock taking over my body. 

Who’s A? 

God, I never wanted to ask that question ever again. 

Mona still had my phone that was blowing up. She became frustrated with the sound of it buzzing in the center counsel. She took it out, looked at the screen and answered. 

“She's fine Em, she's just in shock like the rest of you. We are on our way. We are on the other side of the country, it's going to take a minute.” Her voice was spitting with sarcasm. 

After hearing a couple of threats from my ex wife about if this was a sick joke Mona was pulling with the text, and how if she didn't hear my voice she was going to call the cops, I decided to take my phone.

“Hey Em.” My voice sounded broken. Probably because that's how I feel when I talk to her these days. 

“What did Ali say to me after she pulled me out of the barn?” I couldn't help but roll my eyes and be a little flattered. She was this concerned about me to the point of feeling the need to ask a security question. 

“You were always my favorite. No one loved me as much as you did. I gave you a choice to stay or to come with me. Now remember you can never ask that again because now Mona knows.” I said teasingly. 

“Don’t worry I have a lot of them.” Her voice sounded more like herself now. “Are you okay?” 

“Never better.” 

It must have been the shock wearing off or maybe it was talking to her, but I started to feel more comfortable in my own skin. 

“Are you going to the safe house? You shouldn't wait for me.” 

“We are waiting for you Ali. I want us all together when we leave. Just come to the house when you get here. We'll leave the next morning.” 

“Okay. Give the girls hugs for me. Keep them safe. I love you.” 

Panic floods my thoughts as I realize what I said. To my relief she said it back. I hung up and placed my phone back in the center console.

I knew Mona was staring at me.

“Yes?” I asked with an edge to my voice, knowing what's coming. 

“You love her?”

“Of course I do. Our divorce had nothing to do with us not loving each other.”

“Then why?”

Cause I started keeping secrets again. Cause I closed my heart again. Because of me. I know better than to think about it. She will show up if I get too caught up in my emotions. 

“Because I shot myself in the foot.” 

I was desperate to change the topic.

“Are you ready to see Hanna?” 

I knew I struck a chord in Mona when she sped the car up. 

“Okay, I wont ask those questions if you won’t.”

Mona had been in love with Hanna since high school. It was obvious to everyone on some level. Except Hanna. Or maybe Hanna was just in denial. 

My mind drifted back to A. In high school was one thing. It was still horrifying but it was always a test you didn't actually take or breaking you and your partner of 2 months up. Things are different now. We had kids, jobs, actual lives.

“Is there a chance this is Mary and Alex Drake?” 

“I don't know. I had my hands full with the professor. I haven't tried to track them the past couple weeks. Where is the safe house? I can just drive you there. The rest need to get to safety.” 

Shit. 

“I don't know where it is. Only Toby and Emily do. Toby isn't coming and Emily wont tell us. They built it for this purpose.” 

Mona gave me the ‘you have to be kidding me’ face. After an hour or so Mona spoke again. 

“Is the shock gone? I have an idea.” 

I nodded. It was true for the most part. Still had the shakes but was desperate to have it stop. Mona pulls the car over on the highway. 

“Do you think you could drive?”

“Yea, it will give me something to focus on.”

She pulled out a pill bottle from her purse. 

“These are pills i take for my…” she paused “beautiful mind. I won't be A but Ill be a little unhinged if I don't take them for a couple days. I'm going to stop taking them to get you to Rosewood faster. When I was A, I didn't sleep for days at a time. The pills help. Once I get you to the DiLaurentis house do not let me leave without taking at least 2.” 

“Thank you Mona.” And I meant it. Our friendship the past year has been the most surprising. We have come a long way from slapping each other.

We swapped places. Didn't take long before Mona was sleeping. I was calm given the circumstances now. Driving had been a big part of my run away days. There was something comforting in not staying in one place. I heard her laugh and whatever comfort I had was gone. My blood ran cold as the reality set in that I had to hide her from everyone. I look at the center mirror to see her in her red coat, smiling that signature DiLaurentis smile.