Aria POV:

"Somebody call 911!" I frantically shouted.

"Keep your eyes open! Don't you dare close your eyes!" I told the love of my life, Ezra Fitz.

"Do you hear me? Don't close them!"

"I'm so sorry," he whispered quietly. "I'm sorry, Aria."

He reached up to touch my face. "I love you," Ezra managed to sputter out before his eyes fluttered shut.

"NO!" I yelled, sobbing hysterically. "I forgive you! I love you."

But it was too late. Alison cried, "No, Ezra, no!" I was furious at her.

"Don't you dare, Ali. You can't try to steal him from me. And you sure as hell can't expect us to forgive you right away. Stay away from my boyfriend."

"Whoa, Aria." Alison said. "Calm down. First, I wasn't trying to steal anyone. Second, he's your ex. And third, you two deserve each other. I'm not trying to come between you. At all."

"You know what, Ali? I don't give a flying crap right now. We can't figure out who A is tonight; I need to make sure Ezra's safe. SO SOMEONE GO GET ME A DAMN PHONE!" I shouted.

Emily said, mumbling, "Noel has our phones!"

"NOW!" I roared.

Spencer and Hanna, who were both crying, ran down the stairwell until I heard Noel's voice moving closer to me.

"Aria," Noel began, but I interrupted him. "Just hand me the phone, Noel."

He handed it to me, and with my extremely shaky hands I dialed the Manhattan Police.

A woman's voice answers the phone. "Manhattan PD, what's your emergency?"

"My... teacher's just been shot and needs to get to a hospital- immediately. We need help." I gave the woman the address of the building, and hung up. I reached down to stroke Ezra's face.

"It's okay, Ezra. It'll all be okay. I love you- so much. So, so much- more than I'll ever be able to tell you. I forgive you. Keep breathing. Please, for me. Keep breathing."

I heard the sounds of a wailing alarm, and soon paramedics came up the stairs. They checked for a pulse, and one of the paramedics introduced himself as John.

John said, "Sorry, honey. His pulse is barely there- however, he still has one. Is he your boyfriend?"

"No." I replied. "He's my teacher, and a friend of the family. Can I have the hospital address?"

John gave it to me, after he gave me a weird look, and the paramedics carried Ezra down the stairs and drove away.

Emily grabbed my phone away from me and dialed my mom's number. She picked up on the first ring.

"Aria! Where are you girls? We're worried sick!"

"Mrs. Montgomery," Emily choked out.

"Emily? Are you okay? Is Aria okay?" My mother worriedly asked.

"Umm…" Em said. "She's a bit… in shock at the moment."

"What?" My mom asked. "What's going on, Emily?"

"Mr. Fitz- he," Em couldn't continue, so Ali took the phone. At this point I was too numb to care.

"Ella- It's Alison. I'm alive. We're in Manhattan, and Ezra just got shot." She was crying too. "Ezra and I used to date- I led him to believe I was older. Long story. We need your help; Aria needs you to come pick her up."

Alison gave my mom the address, and the last thing I saw was Ali looking at me and saying, "Aria? Can you hear me?" And everything went black.