Friday 11:30 PM, New York City
Autumn's whole body shook as she rushed out the small bar. She ran up to the first person she saw. Honestly, all she wanted to do is get back to her nice warm bed and forget about this. "P-please, can I borrow your phone?" Autumn begged the young stranger. "Of course." He nodded handing her his cell phone with a concerned look.
Just as Autumn's shaking hands started to dial a familiar number a loud, terrifying voice boomed, "Get back here Hastings!" Scared, Autumn dropped the stranger's phone running off as quickly as she could.
Soon she found herself running down a dark alleyway and behind her Autumn heard a loud gunshot making her turn around startled. "I'll find you Autumn Hastings!" A pained voice yelled. So Autumn turned back around and continued running in case he was insane enough to actually follow her.
Finally Autumn made it to a pay phone, getting 5 dollars out of the pocket of her now ruined jeans. Quickly, she dialled a number and after two or three rings they picked up.
"Hello?" Spencer answered. "I need your help. Please Spencer, I'm in over my head... I-I thought I had everything under control b-but... Just please come." Sobbed Autumn into the phone. "Autumn? Where are you? We've been looking for you everywhere." Replied Spencer surprised.
Autumn let out a shaky breath trying to pull herself together. "I'm in New York... God, what have I done? This wasn't supposed to happen." She sniffed her voice cracking a little. "We're on our way."
Saturday 1:30 AM, Rosewood- The Hastings' Household
Silently, Autumn stared at the food placed in front of her. Toad in the hole. "Don't you want to eat something?" Melissa asked worried. "It's all my fault." Whispered Autumn to herself. "What is?" Tanner asked trying to get some answers out of the blonde.
Autumn Hastings had been reported missing over a week ago and obviously after Alison DiLaurentis' murder everyone feared the worst. But here she was, barefoot with mascara running down her face, her blonde hair messed up, a bloody nose, a black eye and covered in mud/blood. So far, these had been the first words Autumn had uttered since the phone call to her sister and she sure as hell wasn't answering any of the Rosewood P.D.'s or her family's questions.
Instead of answering Autumn stabbed at her food. "Autumn, please just eat something. We've been worried about you." Veronica said pushing the plate closer to Autumn. Suddenly Autumn pushed the plate over the counter making a mess of glass and gravy on the floor.
"I'll get the mop." Spencer muttered standing up. She couldn't bear to see Autumn like this anymore. Obviously something horrible happened and it seemed like maybe something in Autumn snapped.
Saturday 10:30 AM, Rosewood- The Hastings' Household
Autumn sat in her bed staring at a family photo. It was from about five years ago and the five of them were smiling widely. Too widely. Then suddenly she threw it against the wall and the talking from downstairs went quiet and there were footsteps rushing up. "Autumn what happened?" Hanna frowned confused. She didn't answer instead, Autumn stood up walked over to the smashed picture frame and picked the unharmed photograph up.
For a moment, Autumn just stared at it before ripping it up. "What was that for?" Spencer asked a little hurt. In reply, Autumn just smiled. Then suddenly out of nowhere, Autumn hugged Spencer tightly. So hesitantly Spencer hugged her back.
"Do you hate me, too?" Whispered Autumn. "No. Autumn you're my sister, I love you." Spencer replied sincerely as she pulled away looking Autumn in the eye.
Autumn just sighed and pulled her hands away from Spencer then walked over to her window. "Please just tell us... What happened in New York?" Asked Hanna. "You ask too many questions. Bad things happen to curious people." Replied Autumn not looking away from her window. "Well, you can't just disappear and not explain yourself. Everyone was worried, we thought you died." Said Spencer crossing her arms.
"Yes, I can. I've kept secrets my whole life. What makes you so sure I can't keep this one?" Snapped Autumn turning around to face Spencer and Hanna. "Because everyone's actually paying attention for once. They're all trying to figure out what happened to you." Hanna replied.
At the reply, Autumn just laughed. "They'll get tired soon. Everyone does and I'll be left here, with all my secrets still untold." She said with a bittersweet smile on her face.
"No, not this time. This time we will find out, Autumn." Spencer replied determined. "Then I suppose you'll be buying flowers for my funeral. I wonder what it'll say on gravestone..." Replied Autumn as she looked at herself in her mirror.
Flashback- Summer of 2008:
"What do you think? How does this look?" Autumn asked Ali who was lounging on her bed reading a magazine. Alison looked up, "You might not want to wear that in front of Em." She snorted. "Why not?" Giggled Autumn confused. "Seriously? Didn't you see Emily checking us out?" Ali asked Autumn raising an eyebrow. "She was checking us out? I thought she just liked our outfits." Replied Autumn twirling her blonde hair around her finger as she lay down next to Alison.
The comment made Ali laugh. "What like all the boys on the lacrosse team were?" Teased Alison with a smile. "Yeah. They really seem to like our outfits, like all the time." Agreed Autumn with a smile. "Oh sweetie..." Ali said shaking her head at Autumn.
Then there was a knock on Autumn's door. "Come in." Alison said for Autumn. The door opened to Justin Jameson with a bouquet of flowers in his hand making Autumn's eyes widen in surprise. Crap. "Hey." He said with a grin on his face. "Hey Justin. What are you doing here?" Autumn asked as brightly as she could muster. "Uh... I just wanted to see how you were." Justin replied with a smile. "I'm good, doing better without you." Replied Autumn unable to keep the venom from her voice.
"Yeah. Well, I was thinking... Maybe we could try again." Said Justin looking down at the flowers in his hand. "Sorry, no can do. See you were just walking in on me and my girlfriend about to totally do it. By the way, she's better in bed then you ever were." Shrugged Autumn.
When Autumn said that, Justin looked at her in shock. "No. This can't be happening." Hissed Justin glaring at her. "It really is. But thanks for the flowers." Replied Autumn standing up and taking the flowers from Justin. "Come on baby, don't do this. We can work it out." Begged Justin. "I'm the only one who gets to call her that. So why don't you turn around and get out of here before I make you." Alison said suddenly behind Autumn.
"Oh, what are you gonna do? Paint my nails until they fall off? Braid my hair?" Justin snorted crossing his arms. In return Alison smirked then took hold of Autumn's face and pressed their lips together. The action made Autumn gasp quietly in surprise but they heard the door slam so Ali pulled away.
Then she grinned at Autumn. "I'm your girlfriend now?" She sniggered. "Sorry, couldn't think of anything else." Autumn giggled. "It's fine. I'm happy to help, he seemed like a total creep." Alison replied.
"Ugh, he is. Once I found him taking pictures of me in my sleep." Replied Autumn wrinkling her nose. "No way." Ali laughed. "Way! He's such a weirdo." Giggled Autumn.