Aria walked out of Ezra's apartment, where she stayed last night. Aria's and Ezra's relationship was going great, until Jason DiLaurentis had told Aria about feelings towards her. Right now she was torn between the man she couldn't love, whom she could have a public relationship with or the man who made her shine with self-confidence but, could not have a public relationship with.

She loved Ezra, but deep in her heart she was fighting her desire for Jason. Her phone buzzed, she picked it up.

Meet me at Instincts in 5

-Jason

Aria called her mother, making sure she wasn't overly worried about her not being home last night.

"Hello?" Aria said into the receiver.

"Aria, where were you last night?" Ella's worried parent tone coming clear through the phone.

"I was just at Spencer's house, we played board games and watched movies like old times…" Aria said, lying to her was almost becoming second nature when it came to her parents.

"Okay, well come home soon!" Ella said just before hanging up the phone. Aria Checked her watch, it was 11:34am, she was having lunch with Jason, it wasn't a date, it was just a way to clear everything up and to start anew, as friends.

Aria walked into Instinct's (a new sandwich place in downtown Rosewood) Jason was already sitting at a table near the window, she waved. Aria sat down at the table.

"Hey" Aria said, starting the conversation.

"Hi, I just wanted to say sorry for overwhelming you two nights ago, I shouldn't have done that." Jason said.

"But?" Aria said, knowing something was coming.

"But, I want you to know that I still and will always care about you, I know you're not available right now but I hope one day we could be something more than friends or whatever we are right now." Jason poured his heart filled with all the emotion to Aria, a girl he cared about.

Aria didn't know what to say about that, this gorgeous man just spilled his guts and she was speechless.

"Please, just say something…" Jason was pleading, his eyes filled with rejection and the feeling it was coming at a harder pace straight for his heart.

"I don't know what to say, thank you for being honest, I would be lying if I said I didn't have feelings for you, I do, and I don't know how to cope with them right now." Aria said in utter cluelessness.

"Say you'll be with me" Jason said reaching for her hand which was firmly placed on the table.

"I love Ezra… I think the best option for us would be to be friends." Aria said suddenly stiffening up, Jason pulled his hand back, Rejection washed through him like an ocean hitting him all at once. Hearing his name Ezra made him livid, if only he'd have tried harder for Aria.

"But, I love you." Jason said, in full awareness that this could ultimately destroy him because she was only one who had enough of him to break his heart.

"Listen, I think we should be friends right now… to get to know each other on more of a friend basis" Aria suggested.

"I guess, I'll try, will I ever get the chance to meet this incredibly lucky guy?" Jason said, trying to keep his cool, one step farther and he could snap.

"Sometime, I'm not sure it'll be soon though." Aria said, she had feelings for this amazing guy, even if her friends didn't see it, he was really nice.

"I understand. listen, I've got to go pick up some boxes to clean up some of Ali's stuff, maybe you'd like to have some of it?" Jason said, changing the topic.

"Umm… Sure, when?" Aria asked, accepting the subject change with open arms.

"I'll call you" Jason says.

Aria put her number down in Jason's phone, "It was nice talking to you Jason" Aria says as she stood up, Jason stood up, picking up his jacket from behind his chair. Aria hugged him and kissed him on his cheek before she left the sandwich shop. Jason left one minute later, walking with complete contentment that Aria had hugged him.

/:/

Spencer and Emily sat in Spencer's garden, catching some rays.

"This whole A thing has gotten out of hand. I hate how A can be so manipulative. The way A got the secret out that you were well…. Anyway… are things still off with you and Samara?" Spencer said.

"Afraid so, I mean, I can't believe that A made me do that, I was happy for once in my life and A had to go and ruin it." Emily sounded hurt, like she was going to burst in tears at any moment.

"But Em—" Spencer said, only to be cut off by Emily.

"How am I the weakest link? Just because I am gay or because I am literally weaker?" Emily said truly angry now.

"Em, Calm down… we all hate A, you're not going through this alone" Spencer sat up and hugged Emily, letting her know that it was going to be all right.

They tried to forget about A for the rest of the afternoon. They spent their time gossiping and watching old movies.

/:/

Aria walked home, just before she got to her door Jackie suddenly appeared outside her door.

"Hello Aria" Jackie said, smirking.

"Hi… What are you doing here?" Aria asked.

"Just here to talk to you, about Ezra" Jackie said completely serious.

"Okay," Aria said, suddenly cautious.

"I made a mistake when I ended out engagement, I was young and stupid and I didn't know what I wanted. Right now I do, I have the job, the apartment but now all I need is the man. Whether you like it or not, Ezra will always see you as a kid. I am the only one who truly understands him, now I've come back to get what was originally mine. The relationship between you and Ezra won't work out. Leave him alone, he's mine." Jackie said, she smiled and walked away as if she had just been told she won fifty million dollars. That Bitch Aria thought. She walked into her house and flopped on her bed.

Looks like Ezra and Jackie are getting they're happy ending, too bad your just the ugly witch in they're way. Or should I say Bitch instead?

-A

Aria sat up and wiped the tears away and looked out the window looking for any signs of A, a black car suddenly sped away, tinted windows made it impossible to see inside.

/:/

Jason bought large cardboard boxes and brought them home, first he went into his new dark room for his pictures. The clothespins all held up pictures of "The group of five" as Jason like to call it. His eyes immediately caught on Aria in her hands were roses, red to be exact. He looked in the background of the picture and saw himself in his old regular stoned stage. Jason smiled at how he could've been so blind to the fact that he didn't need drugs to keep him sane, he needed Aria.

/:/

Aria decided she would call Ezra, to see if Jackie had gotten to him.

"This is Ezra, please leave a message, unless this is Hardy. Beep!" Aria loved the sound of his velvety voice.

"Hey Ezra, I was just calling to see if you were free tomorrow…I was looking through a brochure and there's a reading of your favourite book 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is being read at the community centre. Just wanted to know if you'd like to come. Bye, by the way this is Aria," Aria felt like such an idiot whenever she talked to him, it was like he stole her ability to speak.

Aria gave up trying for the night and fell asleep.

/:/

Aria woke up, she got dressed and walked over to Ezra's, she knew she was being paranoid but with Jackie's confrontation she couldn't take any chances with letting Ezra go.

She got to his apartment and picked up the key underneath the place mat and opened the door.

"Hello? Ezra?" Aria called out.

"Aria? Is that you?" Ezra said. He walked out of the kitchen and gave her a hug.

"Can we talk?" Aria said, suddenly serious.

"Yeah, sure. Is everything okay?" Ezra said, leading her to the couch.

"Since Jackie has come back I've had these dreams about you and her together and I've been scared that I might lose you, I love you, and you know that, I just , I don't want to lose you." Aria said, not looking in his eyes.

"Aria, I love you too, I just I thought we were over this jealousy phase, nothing is happening between me and Jackie, even though I was engaged to her before doesn't mean I feel the same way about her now, you are in my life and I want you to be in it for a long long time… that's why…. Where is it?" Ezra stood up, looking around until he pulled out a blue velvet box from a drawer.

"Oh my Gosh! This isn't what I think it is?" Aria was shocked. Was he proposing?

"It's a promise ring, so you'll be mine, hopefully, eventually, this'll be replaced with an engagement ring, I want you to be mine and only mine" Ezra said, completely sincere. Aria's eyes teared up as he opened the blue box to reveal a silver band with a jade crystal in the middle. Ezra chose this ring because it represented Aria in every facet and shade of green. The whole ring together was a unique combination, which brought out Aria's quirky and different personality. The shine of the silver represented her shining confidence and self-esteem.

"It's gorgeous, I love the color combination" Aria squealed with excitement, she kissed Ezra, he deepened the kiss. She ran her hands through his hair. She leaned back so they she was lying on the couch, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. That night they lay in Ezra's bed, they slept softly in each other's arms.

They woke up, Ezra cooked Aria pancakes. He loved the sight of her sleeping with his ring on. She was going to be his.

Ding dong!

Ezra opened the door. Who could it be?

"Hello Ezra"

"Hi" Ezra couldn't believe who was at his door.

Jackie.

-;-;-;

Hey guys!

I was on a bit of a hiatus but im back!

Mwah my neonites

Kat