Ch 1

Jason DiLaurentis had spent a tense evening with his sisters Alison and Cece. He still had problems coping with the fact that their parents had let him think that their brother Charles or as he had called him Charlie had been a figment of his imagination and that Charles was now Cece/Charlotte Drake a girl he had dated for a year before Ali disappeared, dumping him the day after Alison disappeared. He got over her taking over Mona's A game especially after what Ken did to her as a young child. But, what he was having a hard time forgiving was allowing him to pursue her knowing he was her brother. It made him sick to his stomach knowing he had dated two of his sisters, but Melissa Hastings had been as ignorant of this as he was at the time. Alison had begged him to give their sister a chance, to really get to know her so while he was home Jason was doing his best to do so, but if was still uncomfortable for him.

After his and Allison's visit to Welby he dropped her off so she could meet up with Noel, and he went to pick up his date. Jason had met Taylor a couple days after he got back from Haiti last month where he had been working with Habitat for Humanity the last few months. His friend Nicole was doing a booth hoping to get some volunteers from Hollis. She had asked him to help out and he had agreed. Taylor had been one of the students interested in learning more about the organization, she had made it more than clear that she was interested in learning more about him as well and gave him her number. He almost threw it away, but Nicole had encouraged him to give her a chance. He had been seeing Taylor since.

Tonight, he and Taylor were meeting a few of her college friends and a couple of his at a bar that was usually not crowded. When Jason walked into the bar that night with the beautiful blonde on his arm they had easily spotted the group as only one other patron was in the place sitting at the bar. He led the willowy blonde bombshell to the group, of laughing people seated the tables pushed together talking loudly. Ever the gentleman Jason made sure Taylor was seated before taking the seat next to her. He said a quick hello before texting Nicole and Toby to see where they were. Nicole texted back that she was close and Toby texted that he was heading out the door when he got Jason's text. Relived Jason went to the bar and ordered Taylor's usual white wine and a water for himself anxious for Toby and Nicole to arrive, he didn't really have anything in common with Taylor's friends except Taylor.

Jason met Nicole over Christmas at the Brew. He had been talking to Toby and Emily, who was home for Christmas, and she introduced them to Nicole when she seen the her come in. Nicole always on the lookout for volunteers asked them if they would be interested; before he knew it Nicole had him signed on for a project the following month. Toby still reeling from the breakup with Spencer had ended up signing on as well. Over the next few months Nicole, Toby and Jason had grown close, Toby and Jason had been an asset since both had experience working on houses and Jason already spent time volunteering in Ethiopia after everything went down with Cece. Toby and Nicole were going with him the following month for a project in Uganda.

When he got back to the table he sat Taylor's wine in front of her and took the vacant seat beside her, then kept his eye on the door anxious for Toby and Nicole to arrive. Taylor touched his arm flirtatiously so he turned toward her to see what she wanted, "Babe we're having dinner with Betsy and Rob tomorrow night at their place"

Jason hated when Taylor made plans for him without asking. The longer they dated she was doing ot more frequently, but he never called her on it like right now, he just gave a stiff smile and agreed, "Sure." He heard the door open, turning hoping it was Toby or Nicole, but instead a tiny brunette walked in heading straight for the bar. She reminded him so much of Aria he did a double take until he reminded himself that it was October, she would be in Savanna. He watched as she signaled the bartender ordering something, she then dug her wallet out of her purse showed the bartender with a nod Jason seen him sit out three shot glasses.

Taylor rubbed his arm again to gain his attention, "You okay babe?" She asked

"Yeah just watching for Toby and Nicole so they know where were sitting" he said lamely, like Toby and Nicole could miss them beside their group in the only other patrons was the guy at the bar and the brunette girl who'd just walked in.

Taylor hid a grimace of displeasure. She didn't really care for Jason's friends, especially Toby, he didn't try to hide his dislike from her, but until she could change the situation she had to put up with them. "I really don't think they will have any trouble finding us babe," she said, fake smile firmly in place, "it's not like this place is crowded. "He was distracted more than usual and she had already lost his attention, gritted teeth she turned her attention back to her friends.

Jason had turned back to the brunette, but she wasn't at the bar anymore. He thought she had left feeling slightly disappointed, then he heard music coming from the jukebox, she was standing in front of it swaying to the beat a drink in her hand as she continued to make her selections. He continued watching, she was so much like Aria, if he didn't know that she went to college in Savanna he would have sworn it was her. She finished making her selections and made her way to her stool, she even moved like Aria and he felt his body tighten in response. He chugged the bottle of water, suddenly thirsty.

He turned to look at Taylor quickly wondering if she noticed that he hadn't been watching the door when he picked up on her conversation with her best friend Betsy. They were talking about a class they had taken that tuned out to be difficult instead of the easy A they thought it would be. Would he heard Taylor something about a Professor Montgomery, he knew they had to be talking about Byron which drew his attention back to the other girl. He wondered if she looked like Aria up close curious. He lifted his bottle of water to his lips only to find he had already drained it.

"Do you want anything?" he asked Taylor

Taylor smiled she had noticed that he had been listening to her and Betsy's conversation and had his attention back and had noticed she was almost finished with her wine. "Sure" she smiled, "Betsy needs another daiquiri," the smiling redhead lifted it to show that it was almost empty, "anyone else need anything, Jason's going to the bar" Jason gritted his teeth as Rob, Betsy's boyfriend deep in conversation with one of the guys only lifted his Heineken in response, every time they went out with Betsy and Rob he ended up paying for everyone, the rest of the group were sharing pitchers and said they were still good. Taylor smiled at her rubbing his arm flirtatiously, "That's it babe, thanks."

Jason rolled his eyes as he turned away from the table. He noticed the guy sitting at the bar had made his way over to the brunette girl, who was pointedly ignoring his presence. Jason as stepped up to the bar pushing himself between the girl and the drunken man not taking the hint that she was not interested. He opened his mouth to say something to Jason about his intrusion, but all it took was a glare from intense green eyes and the man was scurrying back to the stool he had previously vacated. With a smirk the bartender he looked at Jason and with a nod indicated that Jason to go ahead with his order. After he finished he turned to the girl who had ignored the exchange, and his eyes widened shock "Aria?"

She turned with slightly glazed hazel eyes, more of a brown now. "Well if it isn't Jason DiLaurentis" she smiled when she seen him. "What are you doing here?"