Chapter Text
The night Mona was locked away in Radley carried a rare quiet the girls almost didn't trust. They piled into Spencer's living room with blankets and popcorn, trying to settle into the unfamiliar shape of relief. The lamp light was warm and low, the curtains drawn tight against the April chill. For once, their happiness and calm mood wasn't forced. It was real and unfamiliar for the past year and 7 months.
"It's finally over." Emily smiled, handing Spencer glasses of soda, the fizz hissing as the drinks were set down on the coffee table.
"It's about damn time." Hanna smirked, curling into the couch with her drink.
Spencer looked out the window as she went over to the door, one hand grazing the curtain. The quiet outside felt too heavy, like a secret pressing against the glass. "I don't know. Something feels off. I don't feel as relieved as I should be."
"Why don't we throw a party to celebrate A being gone?" Emily smirked. "Toby and Caleb can obviously be there too."
"Sounds fun." Spencer said, looking out the window.
"Spencer, would you relax? Mona's not going to be able to threaten us anymore." Hanna said, feeling conflicted because despite all the threats, Mona is still her friend who went shopping with her and hung out when she and the other girls weren't talking after Alison disappeared until they all got that first threat form A. Ironically, Mona was the one who brought them back together.
"I know, but something still doesn't feel right about this. It feels weird without our phones constantly going off, terrifying us." Spencer said, looking back out the window as if someone's going to jump out at them.
"We were normal before Alison disappeared and we got A texts, we can do it again." Emily said, smirking.
"She's right. We had a life before Alison disappeared when A wasn't around and Mona is not a threat anymore. We just have to channel that normal feeling again after a year." Aria said, smiling at the possibility.
Toby was invited by Emily while Caleb was invited by Hanna. When Toby got there, he instantly ran over to Spencer and greeted her as he put his arms around her, which made her jump before she realized who it was. Smiling half fake because of her worries and half real because he's there with her, she looked at him. "Hey."
"You okay?" Toby asked, knowing instantly.
"Just tired after everything." She replied, turning back to the window.
He met Emily's eyes and everyone else's. "How about we go up to my family cabin for spring break, and your birthday." He replied, turning to Spencer. "We all could hang out and relax for the whole week."
"Would your dad be okay with it?" Emily asked, looking at him.
"He hasn't been there since what happened to my mom, so I highly doubt he'll have a problem with it." Toby replied, still wondering what happened to her.
"Sounds like a fun spring break trip." Hanna smiled, happy to have some distractions from what's been going on lately.
They all got their stuff together while most of the girls texted their parents to let them know they'll be out of town for a week and were with the others for Spencer's birthday. Spencer and Toby just held each other.
"Done." They all replied before loading the bags into Emily's car and drove off with Spencer and Toby in his truck and the others riding with Emily.