Bright lights, layers of different color fabric. Spread throughout the hall, that walked into the banquet room. Upon standing in the archway of the door, i smiled seeing the disco lights spinning and the blue and white banner saying. "GO SHARKS".
Its Rosewood High School's 10 year reunion, and I am here standing with my husband of five years. "Chad Brown" He stands tall next to me with our hands clasped together. I giggled when I saw a few of my classmates doing some kind of boogie dance out on the dance floor.
"Aria" I head my name being called. "How are you?" Mona Vanderwall ran up to me, embracing me in a tight hug.
"How are you?" I giggled as we pulled away.
"I'm great. I've been working in public relations in San Francisco" She squealed. "Is this your husband" She did a little wink at me.
I nodded "This is Chad Brown." I introduced the two "Have you seen Hanna, Emily or Spencer?"
Mona giggled and pointed the way of the open bar. "Hanna Marin, what are we going to do with her?"
I rolled my eyes. "All I have to say is, she better have saved me some Vodka" I joked and linked arms with Mona.
Mona had became like our fifth wheel, when we were all going through our 'A' problems. Even though we had lost connection when we had all graduated from High School. We would still Email once in a blue moon, just to say hey or tell the other when we were having a bad day.
Spencer, Hanna and Emily. That's a different story, we all went to the same college and then went off into a different world. As our career's took off, all we had left were our week long vacations that we would plan at once. That way no matter what happened or happens in our lives, we knew we could stick together.
"You better have saved me some?" I joked as Mona and I tapped Hanna from behind.
"Oh My Gosh! I thought you and Chad weren't coming?" She squealed and tossed her drink over the bar. "How are you?"
"I'm good, Chad had a lay over so we drove down from Philly. We leave in a couple of days" I explained and went in for another hug.
"Hey Chad. How's my nephew?" Hanna bounced up and down.
"Rascal little one, he's just like his father." I gushed "Who I love"
"You better love me. I was the one that let you squeeze my hand to death" Chad commented.
"If I recall, it take's two. So I am not all to blame here" I swatted his arm. Chad and I had meant my Junior year of College. He was in his Senior year, when I had bumped into him in a coffee shop, spilling his double soy latte all over him. It was a miracle to meet someone like him.
"I know, I love you honey" Chad lent over and gave me a kiss to the cheek.
"Excuse me. I thought this was a reunion" Spencer chimed in. "I missed you guys so much."
" We missed you too." Mona, Hanna and I all came in for a hug. "Where's Em?" Hanna asked as she grabbed a round of drinks.
"She's coming, we had a little problem. Who would have thought a professional swimmer would care about what shoe's to wear" Spencer shook her head "She's in the parking lot."
"Ah" I giggled "Not enough tennis shoe's I see" I joked and linked classes with with Hanna.
"I can't believe it. 10 years, and look at us." Hanna gushed. "You and Spencer have a wonderful marriage. Mona, Emily and I all working with fabulous careers. And I might add thank you for wearing the dresses that I made" She pointed to Spencer, Mona and I.
"When are you coming out with your men's line?" Chad asked taking a sip of his drink "I thought you said it would have been out in spring? It's coming to the end of summer."
Hanna rolled her eyes "I say a lot of things. I can't rush perfection okay, give me time."
"It's about time?" Mona yelled out "We thought we lost you for a second."
"Hey Em. I see you finally found your shoe's?" I joked and gave Hanna a high five.
Emily shook her head with an eye roll "I actually ran into someone outside. Mrs. Welch"
"Really?" Spencer laughed "I can't believe she's still here."
"I know. She was a pain, in a sweet kind of way" I shrugged not choosing my words right.
"Mrs. Welch?" Chad asked as he arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, She was like a cock blocker" Mona commented "She wanted this hot teacher that we had Junior year, I swear she tried every thing in the book to get with him" I closed my eyes trying my best to not think about it.
"Mona, that's enough" Hanna said pulling her away. "Let's dance" Spencer said pulling Emily to the dance floor.
"That was odd" Chad told me taking my drink away and wrapping his arms around my waist. "How about you and I get some fresh air. I love your friends but you Skype them all the time." He smiled and gave me a soft kiss to my lips.
"Alright." I mumbled against his lips and led him outside into the warm summer air of Rosewood. "I can't believe I grew up here."
"Why don't we ask this Mrs. Welch person if we could take a long lost tour of the school? I want to see where exactly my wife went too, and plus you never really showed me Rosewood when we come to visit your parents.. We just stay in the house, or go to the Grille"
I shrugged "that's because, this is the past." I sighed "So many things happen here, some good and some bad. But there's more to my old life that I would rather not remember."
"Honey" Chad graced my cheek and rested his hand on my arm "I know you don't like to talk about it, but I'm always here." He kissed my cheek. "Plus I have a surprise for you"
"Really? What is it?" I asked excitedly "Can you tell me now? Or just give me a little hint." I begged.
Chad shook his head, letting out a little chuckle "This trip, will be our last. I want to settle down with you and our son. I'm tried of traveling, I know you still want to teach. And I am so grateful, that I have you to stand by me. But this time, I want you to live out your dreams. Whatever you want to do, I'll be there. Where ever you want to go, I'll stand by you." He finished.
"Really?" I choked "I love this surprise. I can't wait, but what are you going to do? What about your fan's?"
"I can still write books, or maybe something else... You and I have been dragging our son along, I just want to settle down and buy a house. I want to watch our son grow up the right way."
I felt a tear run down my cheek, "I love you." I smiled giving my husband a kiss.
"Aria?" I heard a familiar voice call out. Chad and I pulled away and when I turned around. It was him, the one that had left me over twelve years ago, for a job. "Mr. Fitz"
"How are you?" Ezra took a couple of steps toward us, placing his hands in his pockets.
I shrugged "I'm great. This is Chad Brown my husband" I said proudly.
"Ezra Fitz, Great to meet you." Chad and Ezra shook hands. "You too."
"Are you the guy, that Mona Vanderwall was talking about?" At that saying I turned my head and closed my eyes.
"What do you mean?" Ezra asked.
Chad chuckled "I don't know. Mona was talking about Mrs. Welch, saying she was a cock blocker." Ezra chuckled and I turned my attention to Chad shaking my head.
"Yes, that was me. It was my first year at the High School, but I was already in love." He sounded guilty and I looked up at Ezra. "I made a mistake, and left her. It wasn't one of my proudest moments."
"Oh, Mona made it seems as if you were single. I didn't realize"
"I think that's enough. Have a good evening," I blurted as the conversation had just gone for awkward to a totally mess.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Ezra rushed as I started to pull Chad, back into the concert hall.
"We have nothing left to say." I replied
"Please, Aria. It'll only take a few minutes." I could hear the begging in his voice, something that I could never say no too.
"Why, don't you go find Spencer and the girls. I'll be in soon." I said kissing Chad and watching him go through the double doors.
"What do you want Ezra?" I said crossing my arm's over my chest.
"You look beautiful" I knitted my eyebrows and shook my head. "Nothing's changed"
"I'm married." I spitted out. "What are you even doing here?"
Ezra shrugged "I came back, a couple of years ago. I had gotten my old job back at Rosewood, and I am working with your mother."
"She never told me that?" I asked confused "Why did you even come here?"
"Mrs. Welch asked some of the teacher's to attend. I was one of them, but I never expected to see you. Your name wasn't on the list."
I nodded "Yeah, it was a last minute kind of thing. I called Spencer this morning and told her I would be here. Chad had a few things to take care of in Philly" I explained.
"Chad, seems to be a great guy."
"He is" I choked out. "I have to go, I'm sure he's waiting for me" I said turning around, but Ezra gingerly grabbed my arm.
"Please have lunch with me tomorrow? At the same place" Ezra sighed "I know you hate me for taking that Job, but please. Meet me tomorrow at noon, if you don't show. I promise to leave you alone."