Chapter Text
The barn was now completely transformed. Multicoloured streamers hung from the ceiling, a large banner was strung up and small balloons made it nearly impossible to see the floor.
Somehow in a day, Hanna had managed to find a fair few people who wanted to celebrate with them. Spencer was under the assumption it would just be the five of them, but many people turned up, filling the barn with chatter and excitement.
Hanna had also magically had time to scour around for presents that both Mona would like and were things they would logically get her.
Alison was to give her a bottle of perfume. It wasn't the one Mona usually wore, because they all knew Ali wouldn't have done that much research for Mona.
Bath Salts, candles and some lavish bath stuff was Emily's present. Emily always preached about the wonders a bath can do, so it felt justified.
Earlier in the day Hanna had bought Aria some wool, so she could knit something. Spencer had noticed in the picture of Mona on the beach, she had only worn a coat without a scarf or a hat.
Aria had spent all day knitting Mona a matching hat and scarf set. They were light blue with white patterns. The two were nicely made and certain to keep her warm.
Several second hand, and new books were her presents. She flicked through the worn out pages of a thin, scruffy looking one. Small writing, in paragraphs of various lengths filled the book.
It was a book of French poetry.
Briefly wondering if her favourite poem was there, she turned to the index. It wasn't. She was sort of glad, that poem was for her and Toby. She wanted Mona's gift to be original, not filled with the highlights from her previous relationship.
Wrapping the book in paper, she placed it on top of the book equivalent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Which was sat on a table with other brightly coloured presents.
And her bracelet.
She wasn't sure what Hanna's present was, she had only told them theirs. It would definitely be nice, Hanna could shop for anyone. And buying it for her sort of best friend was probably a piece of cake for her.
_
The party was all set up. The barn definitely looked ready. She thought it almost felt a bit much, but then remembered it was for Mona. She sort of deserved it.
It was perfect, except for one thing. The birthday girl was yet to arrive. Suddenly she realised no one had actually called her.
She grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts. She felt momentarily confused when she couldn't find her under 'M' or 'V'. Then she remembered she had saved Mona's number with the contact name 'Crazy Bitch'
She really had to change that. Quickly changing the name to 'Mona' and adding a smiley face for good measure. She rang the number. It rang for three dials before Mona picked up. She didn't even give Mona time to say hello before she started talking.
'Mona, you've got to get over here. It's -A. We're all at the barn, come quickly.'
Perhaps it was wrong to bait her using -A. However, how else would she get her to come over without Mona catching on. Spencer didn't usually randomly invite her over without some sort of reason.
Using -A meant she'd definitely come over without suspecting a thing.
'Yeah of course,' Spencer could hear her moving around in the background. 'I'll be right there.'
Spencer wanted to wish her a goodbye of sorts, but they had never done that before. It would look weird to start now, right?
Her mouth betrayed her as the words came flooding out her mouth.
'Alright, drive safe. See you soon.'
She had never uttered those words to Mona before, but the words didn't feel foreign to her. Shouldn't it feel strange? Seemingly Mona had thought nothing of it, responding automatically.
'See you.'
The call hung up and Spencer was left standing looking down at her phone, feeling sort of funny.
_
All the work they put in felt worth it when she saw the expression on Mona's face. Several emotions flickered across her face, almost too quick for her to see them. Once the initial shock passed over she saw Mona's eyes scan over the faces of the people in the barn before finally finding hers.
Spencer smirked at her and began to leisurely stroll over to her. She was almost close enough to talk to her when Hanna bounded past her and tugged Mona into a hug and an exclamation of celebration.
'Happy birthday, Mona.'
Hanna said excitedly, and for a moment Mona smiled into her shoulder. Spencer suspected she'd never really gotten over her less than subtle crush on Hanna, and liked to bask in the moment. Then she looked up at Spencer and the way her face lit up made her think she actually had gotten over it.
'Thanks Hanna, this is really thoughtful of you.'
Their eyes met from a few paces away and Spencer knew what she said was actually meant for her. She gave Mona a smile, and Mona winked back at her, making her stomach leap in a way she didn't mind so much. The hug ended and Mona sent her an apologetic look as Hanna pulled her over to the other side of the barn to show her the presents.
_
Spencer had to say for a party involving Mona Vanderwaal she was enjoying it quite a bit more than any other party she'd been to in the past. It ticked all her boxes for a successful party, not too loud, all the guests were mostly people she knew and there wasn't too much excessive drinking.
Although Alison and Emily were stumbling around on the dance floor a bit too much to be simply tipsy.
For the last five minutes or so she'd been loitering about the back wall with a cup of coke and vodka in hand. She would occasionally take a small sip then immediately regret it. Hanna had poured it for her, which meant it was mostly vodka with a splash of coke. So when she took a drink, it would burn down her throat painfully.
She was absentmindedly scanning the room, her eyes catching bits and pieces of the party. Watching Alison take yet another shot with a close to passing out Emily, and her eye drifted over to a group of people dancing in the centre of the room.
Hanna was dancing aggressively, Spencer could tell she was very close to grinding onto Caleb. In a few songs it was something that was inevitable and which they would be kicked off the dance floor for.
An unconscious smile started to creep onto her face as she spotted Mona who was jumping around and dancing with a few girls Spencer was unfamiliar with.
'Who are you smiling at?'
Spencer almost leapt out of her skin, spilling a few drops of her drink onto her trousers. Seemingly she had gotten so distracted she hadn't noticed Aria sidle up to her. And she was wearing her chunky boots that clacked on the floorboards, so she wondered how she had missed that.
'No one.'
She muttered gruffly while rubbing at the small wet patch on her left leg.
'Spencer it's rude to call people no one, even if it is Mona.'
Aria said, smirking at her, to which she turned her nose up at her and looked the other way. Spencer could tell she'd had a few drinks by the way she swayed slightly and giggled behind her hand.
'I was not smiling at her, that much.'
It wasn't like she was smiling at her like she left a coat hanger in her mouth, she was smiling a little bit. The sort of way she did when she realised she had biology next, not french.
'Yeah you were. You were looking at her all smiley-like. Like this.' Aria then pulled the sappiest adoring face she could, adding a loud sigh for emphasis.
'I did not look like that.'
The face Aria pulled looked really quite pathetic. It was the sort of face she made when she used to sit in English and doodle hearts with her and Mr Fitz's initials in the margins of her book. Spencer was almost certain she didn't look like that, she had too much pride and self respect to be someone who pined hopelessly after people.
'Yeah you did, you think she's pretty.'
Her words slurred as she spoke and she almost stumbled over, having to grab Spencer's arm roughly to right herself. Spencer didn't say anything, she just blushed and looked over Aria's head to where Mona was still dancing.
'Maybe.'
She muttered, more to herself than Aria. Oh course she thought Mona was pretty, how could she not, it felt obvious that she was.
'You know Mike once told me it was easy to fall for her. He said for him, it happened almost overnight.'
Huh, that felt oddly familiar. She had always wondered why Mike and Mona had been a couple, sure Mike was cute enough but it'd never made sense to her. It had made sense when Hanna was interested in him years ago, however at the time she kind of thought Mona could do better than Aria's little brother.
'At the time I didn't believe him but it seems believable now.'
Aria leaned into her conspiratorially, like she was sharing some massive secret, rather than an out of left field conversion about her brother.
'Why?'
She wasn't really sure what had changed between then and now, only that Mike and Mona weren't together anymore. Aria laughed almost hysterically in her face, clearly knowing something she didn't.
'Isn't it obvious?'
She shook her head, starting to get annoyed with this conversation now.
'C'mon Spence, use that big brain of yours.'
Aria tapped the side of her head condescendingly several times, then kept doing it. Spencer was slightly worried she was going to hurt herself, or pass out.
'I'm sure you can think of a reason why a few days ago you absolutely hated her, and now you stare at her longingly from across the room.'
Aria slurred, waving her arm and pointing her finger in Spencer's general direction. Her finger was supposed to point Spencer in the face but due to Aria's drunkenness it didn't stay there very long. She pouted to herself, Spencer Hastings did not stare longingly at anyone, thank you very much.
Admittedly she had been staring ever so slightly, but not that pitifully, right?
'Anyway, toodles.'
Then Aria bounded off, wobbling dangerously as she strutted towards the drinks stand. Spencer really doubted she needed another drink.
Aria's words started to settle in, and Spencer felt like she was being hit in the chest by their implications. When drunk, Aria generally had no filter, so anything she thought she would say, bluntly and honestly. Meaning she sincerely believed Spencer was in love or at least had a crush on Mona.
Now that idea was ridiculous, utterly and bafflingly ridiculous.
She just thought she was pretty, and attractive, and witty, and annoying but in a hot way. She liked the way her hair curled, all pretty and princess-like, the way her eyelashes fluttered, dainty and dangerous. A smile snuck onto her face as she thought about the way Mona was her intellectual equal.
Oh God, she did have a crush on her. An embarrassingly fat crush on her.
On one hand she had tortured them for the best part of two years. On the other, she'd sort of paid her dues for that after spending almost six months in the Dollhouse and from helping them so much. And she was really, really hot.
So a solid mix of pros and cons.
_
The party was beginning to trail off. With most of the drunker people leaving ungracefully, as they stumbled out the door only to be helped by a friend. A few people stayed to help clean up, but they didn't stay too long. It was annoying but made sense, she wouldn't have wanted to do it at most parties.
By the end most people had trickled out, leaving Hanna, Mona and Spencer in the barn. All the lights had been properly turned back on and the sound system was dismantled. Spencer was armed with a dustpan and brush, picking up various bits of glass from a bottle that had smashed.
Mona was swirling a mop around the floor, wiping up sticky puddles of strawberry daiquiris and one pile of vomit she had looked disgusted at. Spencer hadn't even asked her to stay, she just did. She was sure if she asked Mona would make some excuse about picking up the presents, but she didn't really need to.
She was just grateful she stayed.
Hanna was tapping about on her phone, not really being that helpful if Spencer was honest. She was supposed to be on litter duty, but the black bin liner in her hand was sitting limply and there were still cups and cans lying around, so she wasn't too impressed. She was about to bark at her to finish working when Hanna jumped up.
'Are you guys alright if I head home? I have work in about,' She pulled out her phone from her pocket and checked the time. 'eight hours and I'd really like to get some sleep in.'
Spencer had barely enough time to shrug before Hanna was out the door and she could hear the engine revving up. Luckily they didn't have too much cleaning to do, really all they needed to do was pick up Hanna's slack.
Walking over to the bin to throw away the pieces of glass, she stopped by the table of presents. Mona had started to shuttle some back to her car though many still remained there. She looked at the box with the bracelet in, picking it up and putting it in her pocket.
If someone asked her why, she wouldn't have an answer but she wanted to give it to her personally. A card felt so formal and distant, she wanted to see the look on her face when she opened it.
After chucking the rubbish away, putting the dustpan and brush back in the cupboard, she walked up to Mona. Who was half heartedly mopping the floor in concentric circles, it looked sort of like a dance. Scrolling through the music on her phone, she eventually found a slow song, putting it on medium volume.
For a moment Mona looked confused by the sudden music, but ultimately shrugged and continued to mop. This time her movements had some fluidity to them, as she was slowly swaying to the music.
'Mind if I cut in?'
Gently taking the mop from her hands, then placing it in the bucket, and quickly making sure it wouldn't fall. She took Mona's hand in hers, lightly bringing her other hand to her waist and they began to sway.
'Why not?'
Mona's voice was sultry, husky after all the talking over the music she'd had to do to be heard. Her hand was on Spencer's shoulder, however by the way she pulled her closer it was clear she was leading.
'I got you a present.'
She said, as the chorus of the next song began. This one wasn't really appropriate to slow dance to, however they still stayed swaying in circles, the thought not even occurring to them.
'Another one?'
Mona raised her eyebrows at her. Spencer could see her trying to figure her out, and could practically see the cogs turning in her head racking her brain for answers. It was sort of cute, the way her eyebrows furrowed inquisitively.
'This one is sort of an apology gift.' Spencer smiled at her, unable to keep the grin off her face for too long.
'Because I was forcibly handcuffed to you?'
Mona said, smirking back at her. Either she’d given up looking for Spencer’s angle on this, or figured out something she wasn’t privy to.
'Yeah.'
She wasn’t really sure why her answer had come out so ineloquent, perhaps it was the way Mona smiled at her or the way Spencer felt being so close to her was distracting.
'You know it wasn't awful, in fact I'd go so far to say I'd be handcuffed to you again.'
For a moment she imagined what it would be like to do this every year, it could be a tradition of sorts they could have. If she suggested it, she suspected Mona wouldn’t object to it much, giving in after some mild and not entirely serious protests.
ABBA began to blare out her phone, it was one of their slower ones, Fernando. Part way through the first verse she held her hand up above Mona's head, indicating her to spin. She did so, grinning widely as she came back to face Spencer.
At the end of that song, she brought the box out of her pocket and presented it to her, still holding her other hand. It would have made things easier for Mona to unwrap her gift if Spencer let go, but now holding her hand felt natural to her.
It reminded her of the way she felt when she would hold Toby's hand. Except hers were nice, and warm and perfectly soft, unlike his large, often rough hands.
Spencer took the wrappings back into her pocket, rather than dropping them on the floor. Mona held the bracelet in one hand, examining it with a smile.
She wasn't sure why she was surprised by the kiss on the cheek that followed, but it caught her on guard nonetheless. Even with high heels on Mona still had to lift up to her tiptoes, and it was over as quick as it began.
'Thanks.'
Lost for words, she just smiled jerkily, taking her hand to dance again. She felt the cold metal of Mona's bracelet against her palm as it held between them. Mona regarded her, curiosity swimming in her eyes.
Spencer had always thought her own eyes were plain, they had always been brown and boring. Toby told her they were beautiful, she wasn't sure if she believed him. Mona's eyes however, were different. Where Spencer's eyes were murky, hers were rich and full.
They were beautiful, like her.
Spencer wasn't sure why she was drawn to her. Truthfully she'd always had been, from middle school up to now she'd been interested in her. Perhaps it was her loneliness or her desperation for intimacy, she wasn't sure. Regardless of all that, she found herself cupping Mona's cheek and leaning in.
Her lips were soft, and she could taste the sweet, sugary taste of strawberry daiquiris clinging to her lips. A fiery warmth spread through her chest as Mona took a hand to her hair, tussling her hand into her hair and scalp. The way she tugged gently as she kissed Spencer back made her want to moan.
A hand on Mona's hip pulled her closer towards Spencer, Mona slung both arms now over her shoulders. A spark of what felt electric ticked her lips and sent pleasant shockwaves down her body as their bodies pressed together.
'Took you long enough.'
Mona pulled away from her just enough for Spencer to still feel the smirk on her lips. Mona's breath tickled her face, and she could smell the bittersweet smell of alcohol on her breath. Apparently out of the two, she was the more sober and she couldn't decide whether that was good or not.
'Now, take me to bed darling.'
Mona purred, just inches away from her lips. The sincerity woven in her voice, made Spencer incapable of anything but kissing her again before taking her hand to go upstairs.
Maybe this wasn't safe and she knew it, but nothing really in her life was. Mona wasn't easy or secure like her past relationships, she was complicated and twisted. Really she was too, they truly were two sides of the same coin.
She knew what her friends and family would say, they would scorn her, wary of the danger. But the way Mona smiled at her or kissed her so wonderfully made all her worries dissipate. They'd never understand the way two broken girls found salvation in the other.
They could never understand that she was doomed from the first moment their hands were cuffed together.
_