Chapter Text
Hannah Wells was good at survival. She had survived finals week, living on two hours of sleep and too much coffee. She had survived living with a roommate who thought personal space measured two millimeters and oversharing was a constitutional law. She had survived the worst heartbreak, putting all her feelings into a breakup song she swore wasn't about anyone specific.
So a summer spent at a lakehouse couldn't possibly break her, right?
Her best friend Allie had announced that she needed "to get out of the city, get some fresh air and find some inspiration" . She had desperately pleaded her to come along. At first, Hannah had said no. But of course, Allie had somehow turned a casual “maybe” into a confirmed “yes” - and that’s how Hannah found herself in the back seat of Dean's Mercedes AMG on the way to spend a summer at his family's lakehouse.
"You're going to love it there", Allie rattled. "It's so peaceful, the perfect place to channel your inner muse and write songs. The house is so cute, as well."
"You know what's cute? Puppies. And I hardly believe that a house filled with half a hockey team can compare to that in terms of cuteness", Hannah replied.
"Ouch, that hurt!", Dean clenched his hand above his chest and grimaced like she had stabbed him.
Allie turned around, shooting Hannah a mean look while popping some cashews from the snack bag in her lap into her mouth.
"Stop being so bitchy about it, Han. You need a breather, get away from the city and your routines. You'll have a good time. You're not going to sit in the apartment for three months wallowing over unfinished lyrics."
The worst part was - Hannah knew that she was right. She desperately needed a distraction. For the past couple of weeks, she had been trying to write new music, finding the perfect chords and harmonies for her final compositions in her music studies.
But somehow, the melodies and words just wouldn’t come. Every time she sat down at the piano, her mind went blank. Nothing. The worst part wasn’t even the blank pages. It was knowing she used to write effortlessly. So maybe some time in nature would really help.
______
"Jesus Christ, Dean, how did you even get your license?! You're driving like a madman! How does this car not look like a pile of junk already?!" Hannah tightly gripped the handle of the door.
The dirt road led them through a lush forest, nevertheless it wasn't made for going 20 miles above the speed limit in a lowered sports car.
"I've got comprehensive insurance, baby".
Dean winked at her in the rearview mirror. She couldn't help but snort and roll her eyes at him.
"Well, money's no object, huh?"
He barked out a laugh, steering the car around the next corner and finally- the lake house came into view.
“Here we are, ladies. Welcome to the DiLaurentis summer estate. Mi casa es su casa.”
She got now why Allie liked this place so much. The two-story house was nestled in a forest of oak trees. A large veranda stretched around it, the railing decorated with string lights. Flowers were blooming everywhere, large patches of hydrangeas and daylilies in the colors of summer. A short gravel path led down from the house to the waterfront, where a pier stretched into the lake. It was absolutely breathtaking.
Hannah turned around slowly, trying to take in everything at once.
"Did I promise too much?", Allie asked, one eyebrow raised skeptically.
She squeezed her best friend’s shoulder and pulled her in tightly.
"No, no you-- it's beautiful", Hannah answered, a small smile tugging at her lips.
The place truly exuded a sense of calm and inspiration. A glimmer of hope began to stir within her. Maybe she could write lyrics here.
With a satisfied grin Allie jabbed Dean into the ribs with her elbow. "See? told you she would love it!"
"Yeah baby, you did. You always know best." Heaving their suitcases out of the trunk, he leaned in, pressing a kiss to his girlfriend's cheek.
Dean DiLaurentis could be a dickhead, but he was a real sucker for his Allie-Cat. They were disgustingly sweet together. They were an unlikely pairing, but their relationship seemed to work better than anyone would have ever expected. They had started hooking up after last year’s Drunk Shakespeare, and eventually it had turned into something more. It had taken Allie weeks to admit to Hannah that she was seeing someone – let alone Dean, of all people. But Hannah didn’t judge – she was happy that they'd found one another. She wished that she would find a love like that for herself, eventually.
The sound of another car pulled her out of her thoughts. A black Jeep was pulled up next to Dean’s car, and her stomach clenched. She knew exactly whom that car belonged to.
Of course it was him. Garrett Graham. Briar U-hockey captain. Serial flirt. The kind of guy who smiled like consequences didn’t apply to him. Annoyingly, unfairly attractive. The problem was, he knew it and acted like it. Six foot two, with an athletic physique and these stupid brown curls, he had girls trailing after him all the time.
“What is he doing here?” Hannah barked as Garrett got out of his car.
“Well, great to see you too, Wellsy.”
“It’s Hannah”, she bit back.
“I like Wellsy.” He smirked at her while pushing his curls out of his forehead.
“So Dean, which room’s mine? I’m exhausted, gotta take a nap before beating you at volleyball.”
Hannah stared at him for a second.
“You’re staying here, too?” She should have known. He was part of the team, so why shouldn‘t he be there, too?
Garrett looked at her and grinned widely. “Aw, don’t sound so excited.”
Dean shrugged. “Top floor, same room as always. It’s next to Hannah’s.”
Garrett’s eyebrows lifted. “Great.”
Her stomach sank. God help her. But she could survive, right?