Okay, I know I said that this wouldn't be out for a long time and it would be a long oneshot, but the more I thought about it the more I realized it would work better as a chapter story. Plus, I would get it up faster. So, enjoy the beginning of this crossover.

What about now? What about today?

What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?

What if our love never went away?

What if it's lost behind words we could never find?

Baby before it's too late, what about now?

Daughtry

Prologue

She had no idea the car was there until it was too late.

The cool night air annoyingly kept blowing Aria Montgomery's bangs in her hazel eyes, but she really didn't care as she continued walking down the street back to her home. She held her camera against her leg, glad she decided to take the photography class. It took her mind off her problems and worries, and let her finally enjoy something.

Until she had taken her first picture in the class, Aria had no idea how much of her life 'A' had taken away. Most of her days were spent checking her phone or laptop wondering when the next taunting, personal, and threatening message would come. She had built up so much stress from the secrets and lies dealing with her family, friends, and relationships. Even though many times she had attempted to have a normal life, but every time she tried 'A' would take it away from her.

She couldn't help but cry for hours when she went to bed the night Mona was caught, Maya's body was taken away on a stretcher, and the search for 'A' had ended. She didn't care that her tears had left dark stains on her beautiful Masquerade dress. The tears continued to fall, even when she thought they were through. The tears were of mixed emotions, of joy, of sadness, of fear, of pain, and most of all…relief.

Yes, relief; the one feeling Aria was glad to really experience. And this time it was real.

She had experienced relief before, but it always turned out to be false:

When Alison's body was finally found, she felt relief that Alison was not taunting her…until the text came after the funeral, reminding her that 'A' was still out there.

When Hanna informed the girls that she knew who 'A' was, Aria felt relief that the search and the torture were over…until Hanna got hit by a car and the girl was wrong about 'A's identity.

When Ian fell to his death in the church building, she felt relief that Alison's killer was dead…until his body went missing and everyone thought they were liars.

When Ian's body was finally found, she felt relief that Ian had finally confessed to killing her once best friend…until Emily discovered it was a forged note.

When she and Ezra finally came out to her parents, Aria felt relief that they could now freely date and not hide…until her parents went berserk, and the couple had to continue dating in secret.

She had experienced the fake relieved feeling so many times in the past year that it was almost unrecognizable when she cried that night after the masquerade in her bed. Aria first thought her mind was playing tricks on her and that soon another event would force her back to reality.

But this time, the relief was real…

Yet, Aria was still plagued with nightmares from the traumatic events, still dealing with the consequences of her lies, and still dealing with the idea her boyfriend was no longer in the same city and had to settle for a long distance relationship.

That was why she signed up for the photography class in the first place. Even though 'A' had brought her, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily back together again, the girls had mutually decided to spend some time apart. It's not that they didn't enjoy each others' company, it was just most of their conversations had something to do with 'A' or Alison. Time apart gave them the chance to have a normal life and give them something in common besides Alison.

Photography was Aria's route to normalcy. She first tried writing, but all she could think about where the horrors and pains she experienced. Her mother suggested photography, saying it allowed the camera person to see things through a new perspective. Aria was hesitant first, even hesitant when she sat down in the classroom. Sitting down in the back, she didn't really pay much attention to the instructor. However, when the instructor presented some of her photos, Aria was mesmerized. The lighting, the shadows, the angles; everything about the photography surprised and fascinated her. It once seemed so simple, yet now there was so much detail and work put into it.

It was the perfect distraction. Ever since the first class, Aria took as many pictures as she could of anything and everything. The bird sitting in the tree with the sunset behind it. Her mom sitting at her desk working intently on her lesson plans. Her brother practicing lacrosse in the backyard. The old ice cream shop with the sun's rays shining behind it. Aria had discovered a new passion.

But still, there were still reminders of 'A' and the trauma she had dealt with. However, through the photography class, Aria learned how a simple change of lighting or angle could change the whole picture. A new perspective…a new beginning.

Aria glanced up at the nighttime sky, covered with millions of stars and large silver, full moon. She grimaced at the fact her camera wasn't really good at capturing nighttime sky pictures. For some reason, the constellations seemed to be more evident that night. She found herself lifting her finger up and tracing the images in the sky. They never seemed to fascinate her that much before. But something about them seemed to draw her attention.

The seventeen-year-old girl had no idea she was starting to basically walk in the middle of the street. The stars were so enchanting, so beautiful, so mysterious, but she had no idea what was so appealing about them. She wanted to fly up to the sky and touch each individual star.

Suddenly, an extremely loud car horn sounded behind her. Aria slightly turned her head to see a large SUV speeding toward her. She had no time to react when the SUV slammed into her, causing Aria to fly through the air. After what seemed like forever, she slammed into the pavement, her head crashing into the road. Aria thought she could see the driver smiling at the accident, but she suddenly fell out of consciousness.

Glad you made it down here! Hope you guys like it! I'm going to write a few more chapters before I post another chapter of this. I'll also be working on other stories. So, click on the review button and tell me what you think! See you next time!