Shay Mitchell is excited to act her age when Pretty Little Liars returns this winter with a five-year flash forward.

“All of the girls, when they come back to Rosewood, are carrying something with them that has happened from where they’re living, and it’s going to be interesting to see how they all come back and what relationships they’re all in and all of that,” Mitchell, 28, tells PEOPLE while promoting Stella Artois’ “Host Beautifully” campaign. “But I mean, just having the time jump of being five years older is so much fun.”

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As seen in the last few minutes of the explosive summer finale, someone forces Emily (Mitchell), Spencer (Troian Bellisario), Aria (Lucy Hale) and Hanna (Ashley Benson) to return to Rosewood High – where Ali (Sasha Pieterse) is basically the new Mr. Fitz as a hot, young teacher. Odds are the culprit’s name is spelled with a capital ‘A.’

But the second half of season 6 won’t be all doom and gloom: A preview shows the Liars still chill at the Brew, though Mitchell says their beverages of choice have changed like any college grad’s.

“Instead of drinking coffee, we’re having beer,” she says, laughing. “It makes it a lot more fun to now play closer to our age and also closer to our fans’ age that have grown up with us.”

The summer’s gripping twist – CeCe Drake (Vanessa Ray) was really Charlotte DiLauerntis, who was born as Charles DiLaurentis, who was Big A, with the help of Sara Harvey (Dre Davis) as Red Coat and Black Widow – also won’t be forgotten five years later.

Creator I. Marlene King told PEOPLE back in August that CeCe will appear in the winter premiere, and Mitchell suggests we haven’t seen the last of Sara, either.

“I think so, yes!” she says slyly. “I think she will be around.”

Which leads us to the eternal question: Why is Emily so trusting of shady love interests who turn out to be psycho? (See: Sara, Nate, that time Paige tried to drown her, though she’s since been redeemed.)

“I know, you take them to prom, you date them,” Mitchell chides her character. “I think Emily always hopes for the best for everybody, gives everybody the benefit of the doubt until they mess up. And then when they mess up, that’s it.”

PLL