Rosewood, Pennsylvania - Sunday Evening

[new_it_girl]

After the incident outside Radley last night, Hanna realized just how much Caleb seemed to still be invested in her life. Not in a creepy stalker way, but more protective. It was actually kind of nice, even if it annoyed her at the same time.

She wasn't surprised when he stopped by tonight right before she left for the train station. They were sitting outside on the steps as she waited for a cab.


"So how long has Lucas been acting like the crypt keeper," Hanna asked, concerned.

"You mean how long has he been cryptic?" Caleb replied, smiling at her adorable misspeak.

"Whatever," Hanna said, rolling her eyes. "You know what I mean, obviously."

"I know," Caleb replied, grinning teasingly. More seriously, he added, "Sometime in the summer. He's been kind of weird since everything with Mona..."

Hanna considered that for a moment. Was Lucas part of everything? It made his visit with Mona much more suspicious. Of course, Hanna was suspicious of everyone lately. That's what paranoia did to her. At least she wasn't as intense as Spencer was when it came to being accusatory.

"I feel bad for him," Hanna said guiltily. She felt responsible anytime he got all dark like this. The last time it happened was when he destroyed Ali's memorial. Alison was so terrible to him when she was alive, and Hanna stood by and let it happen.

"It doesn't give him the right to start fires and treat you like he did last night," Caleb said, as if he was reading her mind. He knew her that well.

He knew her enough to know she wasn't telling him everything, too. "Are you gonna tell me what else is going on with you?"

Hanna shrugged. "What's there to tell? All this stuff with Mona just has me confused. I know I shouldn't even bother with her, but...she was my best friend once. I can't just turn that off, you?"

Caleb sighed. "Just be careful with her, okay? What if Lucas is right about her?"

"Then I'll deal with it," Hanna said honestly. "Just leave it alone for now, okay? I don't want to fight about it anymore."

"For now," he said, repeating the most important words in that sentence.

She stood up when the cab arrived. "Guess it's time to go."

Caleb pulled her into a hug before she got in the car. "It was good to see you."

Hanna smiled. Caleb hugs were always nice. "I'll see you when I'm back in town."

With that, she climbed into the cab, waving until Caleb was no longer in view.

Being around him always made her question her decision for them to just be friends for awhile.

[nfi,nfb; not part of the canon catch up series, just something I felt like adding last minute]