A/N~ Remember last chapter when I said I'd try to update more frequently? What I didn't tell you was that I also lie. And that my teachers lie. And give me a small mountain of homework on an almost nightly basis. But the worst of it is over so I'm going to try not to leave such long gaps between updates any more.
"You don't have to be strong all the time". The words bounced around Aria's head as she entered the classroom in time for English. She felt, rather than made, her grip on Spencer's hand tighten.
As she entered the room all chatter stopped and every face turned to her with mixtures of questions she didn't want, sympathy she didn't need, and reassurance she didn't trust.
Spencer's fingers shifted slightly and for a terrifying second Aria thought Spencer might let go, but the taller girl just held her hand tighter.
Spencer began to walk over to her desk, and Aria found herself following. Spencer looked at the empty desk next to her and scanned the room questioningly. She saw Toby sitting a few rows back in what she remembered to be Aria's desk and at her glance her mouthed "I switched". She smiled gratefully.
"Good morning class" a vaguely familiar voice called as a woman entered and stood at Ezra's desk. Spencer jolted in place and she sat down in her usual seat, surprised when Aria didn't sit next to her.
"Aria, honey, why don't you take a seat?" the substitute teacher asked.
"Right. Sorry." Aria quickly slumped in the seat next to Spencer. The teacher smiled and Spencer noticed that Aria tensed even more. She must be thinking of Ezra.
"Aria, it's okay. She won't hurt you." Spencer reassured her, debating whether she should reach out to her Soulmate.
"No. Spencer. It's not like that." Aria whispered, eyes locked on where the teacher was writing on the chalk board, back to the class.
"Then what's wrong, Ar?" Spencer frowned, not sure why Aria was so tense.
"She's my mother." And Spencer's eyes widened and she had to keep from gasping because of course Aria was nervous. She probably hadn't told her mom what was happening. The next hour was filled with silent reading for the rest of the class, silent whimpers from Aria whenever her mom walked past her desk, and silent cursing from Spencer. She should have thought of this, considering Aria's mom was basically Rosewood's only substitute teacher, which something should really be done about but right now the problem was… Mrs Montgomery? Ella? What do you call your soulmate's mother? Spencer wondered what Mrs Montgomery's reaction would be if Spencer called her "mom". She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
The longest hour of her life drew to a close, marked with the clanging of the school bell. She noticed how Aria rushed to shove her books into her bag, clearly trying to get the out as soon as humanly possible, and she followed suit. They were almost at the door when Mrs Montgomery called "Aria, can I see you for a moment?"
Aria froze in her tracks, her eyes getting impossibly wider. Spencer spontaneously threaded her fingers through Aria's reassuringly, feeling Aria squeeze back. Mrs Montgomery pinched her lips when she saw Spencer hang back, too, clearly intent on staying with Aria.
"Aria, since you didn't come home last night, I would like to know what happened yesterday. I've heard rumours, Aria. I would like an explanation."
"Rumours?" Spencer asked.
Mrs Montgomery closed her eyes in frustration before they flew open again. "Aria could you explain why I have heard a rumour about my daughter getting into her teacher's car last night and why I am not seeing you again until this morning."
"Mrs Montgomery, if I may?" Spencer began, as Aria's fingers tightened and her other hand came up to cling to Spencer's elbow.
Ella ignored her. "Aria, I would like you to explain, not Miss Hastings." Spencer felt Aria shrink behind her at Ella's words. Ella's eyebrows raised and Spencer shot her a pleading look. "Aria, honey, why don't you give me and Spencer a minute?" Aria glanced at Spencer and Spencer smiled reassuringly.
"I'll wait for you outside, Spence." Aria said, not fully looking at either woman. Spencer released her hand and Aria let go of her elbow, retreating into the hallway and away from her mother's prying eye.
"Spencer, can you tell me what's happened to my daughter?" Ella demanded.
Spencer took a deep breath. "Okay, Aria hasn't told me the full story yet, but from what I can piece together Ezra Fitz has been abusing her. She said something about letting it continue so she probably didn't know he was her teacher when she got involved, and when she tried to end it, he began to abuse her. Yesterday in class we were paired together and out hands touched and we got Soulmarks" Spencer rolled up her sleeve, not even pausing in the narrative, "Fitz freaked out and Aria ran. He stopped her around the parking lot, threw her into his car and Caleb, Toby and I tracked him to his apartment. When we got there he was-" for the first time since she had begun Spencer found herself choking on her words. "He was… hurting her. He had raped her. We got her out of there and Toby arrested him. I brought Aria back to my place because my parents were out of town and she wasn't ready to answer any questions you might have had."
At some point Ella had frozen as was staring at the purple Mark Spencer bore with tears in her eyes. She stood for almost a minute, clearly absorbing everything Spencer had told her before a choked sob had burst from her mouth. She pulled Spencer into a hug. Spencer, caught unawares, stood still until Ella stepped back. "Thank you for taking care of my baby." She offered the girl a watery smile which Spencer returned. "Aria?" She called. Her daughter pushed the door open slowly, her glistening eyes telling them that she heard everything. Ella opened her arms and Aria shot across the room like a bullet, relishing in her mother's embrace. "I'm so sorry I listened to rumours. I'm sorry I didn't realise what was happening sooner. I'm sorry for letting that creep get near you. I'm sorry" Ella repeated it like it was a mantra and Aria's shoulders shook like she was crying. Spencer felt like an intruder.
The mother and daughter pulled away with the saddest expressions Spencer had ever seen. She wanted to reach out and hug Aria, kiss her, hold her hand, just anything to show her she was there. Before she could, Aria walked the few feet to Spencer and wrapped her arms around her, muttering a "thank you" into the taller girl's chest. Ella's sad smile was replaced with a real one as she saw the contentment on her daughter's face and the calm in her posture. Spencer kissed the top of Aria's head.
"Oh, shoot. You girls will be late for your next period. Unless you want me to write you a note, or, anything you need?"
"No, mom. We'll get going. Spence?" Aria asked, readjusting the strap of her bag. Spencer nodded.
"Be right with you, Ar. I just have to go through the drawers. I did an extra credit project for Fitz I was meant to pick up. But I'll meet you in class." She smiled. She saw the way Aria flinched at the phrase "extra credit" and decided to ask about it later. Aria nodded, leaving to make her way to chemistry. The second the door closed behind her, Spencer faced Ella again. "And you should know that is the first and only time I will ever lie to your daughter." Ella raised an eyebrow. "Look… don't tell Aria I told you this, but if Alison DiLaurentis, who I believe is in your class next period, should wind up in detention for bullying and spreading rumours about your daughter…"
"She what!?" Ella exclaimed.
"She's probably the one spreading those rumours. This morning she was at Aria's locker and started just… tormenting Aria about Fitz. I found Aria in a closet having a panic attack."
Ella's jaw clenched. "Thank you for telling me, Spencer." The bell rang. "You should probably get going."
"Okay. Thanks Mrs Montgomery."
"If anyone's going to be thanking anyone it should be me thanking you, Miss Hastings."