"Aria, are you ready yet?" Jason called out for Aria as he walked into the apartment she had rented for the duration of her real estate and property course at college.
Her final year was coming to an end. Her time at college was a blur for her. She began it in a relationship with the literature teacher at Hollis and was ending it engaged to her deceased best friends' older brother who she has had a crush on for aslong as she could remember. Jason DiLaurentis. He was older than Aria. But years younger than Ezra Fitz - Aria's ex 'boyfriend'. "We were meant to be meeting Spencer twenty minutes ago.." Jason told her as he looked at his watch.
Aria came out of her room stumbling around putting on one of her platform heels with the other in the hand. "I'm sorry. Class finished really late."
"It's okay. I told Spencer we might be a little bit late anyway, just incase."
"Oh okay." Aria finished putting her shoes on "Sorry, hey.."and then gave Jason a kiss. "I missed you.." she kissed him again.
Jason moaned into her kisses. "I missed you too." The couple shared a few more kisses before it started to get heated.
"Let's go." Aria picked up her handbag and keys off the kitchen counter and followed Jason out of the front door.
Jason and Aria arrived at the italian restaurant around the corner from Spencer's house ten minutes later.
"Hey! Sorry we're late." Aria told Spencer and Wren - who Spencer had started dating after her high school graduation - as they approached the table.
"Better late than never eh?" Wren replied as he stood up to shake Jason's hand as Aria went to give Spencer a hug. "You looked good Aria! It feels like we haven't seen each other in so long." Spencer told her.
"Thank you! You do too - there's something different about you.."
Spencer shrugged. "I gained like 5lbs. That might be it."
"I don't know.." Aria bit her lip as she observed Spencer. "Anyway yeah! We haven't seen each other since Emily's party about two months ago right?"
"Yeah, no way. Have you heard from her since she moved to Manhattan?"
"Not as much as I'd expected to."
"Me neither."
"We'll have to go up some time to visit."
"Definitely."
The waitress serving them that evening approached the table and asked if they were ready to order.
Spencer ordered a spaghetti bolognase. Wren ordered risotto gamberi. Aria ordered spaghetti carbonara and Jason ordered a carne calzone.
As they ate they talked about Aria and Jason's wedding plans.
"So we were thinking of only having a small gathering. Like family and close friends. No one really cares for us apart from those so there's no point trying to be extravagant and trying to impress everyone there.." Aria told them.
"And we're thinking of having it out of Rosewood."Jason added.
"Why? Where are you thinking of?" Spencer replied as she finished off her glass of wine.
"You know the small quaint church about 10 miles from here which has the beach surrounding it.." Jason questioned.
"I know of it. It's a nice place there." Wren told them as Spencer tried to think of it. "Have you been to speak to them about dates and everything yet?"
"Yeah, we're able to have it there the day we wanted!" Aria answered excitedly. Jason and Aria had decided it would be romantic to get married on the same day Jason propseed to her.
"I can't wait." Spencer told them as she poured herself and Aria more wine.
"Neither can we." Jason wrapped his arm around Aria and pulled her closer so he could kiss her temple.
"So.. bridesmaids.." Spencer questioned already knowing the answer but wanting Aria to say it.
"You.. obviously. Em, Hanna and my cousin who is flying over from Australia. You've never met her but she's honestly the lovliest person you'll ever meet. How nice is she?
Aria asked Jason to back up her statement. "She's a sweetheart." Jason nodded as he took a swig from his beer.
"Dress fittings have been booked for two weeks on thursday. Are you free?"
"Free everyday for the next month." Spencer smiled.
They left the restaurant half an hour later, with the couples going their respective ways home. "So.." Jason pulled Aria closer to him and held onto her hips. "Are you staying at mine or am I staying at yours?" Jason asked as he leaned down to kiss her.
"You can stay at mine because you know David and I don't get along." David was a friend of Jason's from high school who was crashing at Jason's home until he could afford his own place.
"Well David's out of town so that's why I mentioned my house."
"Hmmm.." Aria stood there considering where she'd rather stay the night. "Well I have class tomorrow so let's go back to mine, unless you want to wake up early to drive me to my apartment and then to college.."
"How early?"
"I need to be there for 7.30."
"We're staying at yours! Let's go." Jason picked Aria up and wrapped her legs around him. Aria's petite stature was an advantage when she and Jason would play around. Jason loved being able to carry her whenever he wanted. "Ahh Jason the wind's blowing my hair so much I can't see!" Jason turned around so that they wind would blow her hair back to normal. "You're going to have to direct me because I can't see."
"Okay keep going, keep going, take one step to your right, keep going, keep going and stop." Jason released Aria and unlocked the car for her, opening the passanger door so she could sit inside. "Thank you!" 20 minutes later, they arrived back at Aria's apartment. Aria threw her bag and keys onto the couch. "I'm so tired."
"You want to go straight to bed?" Jason asked as he took off his jacket and leaned against the back of the couch.
Aria pulled a face. She felt bad that Jason was here and she wanted to go to bed. "I suppose we could watch a movie and if I fall asleep you can carry me to bed."
"Or.." Jason pulled Aria in between his legs and ran his hands up and down the back of her thighs as she ran her fingers through his hair "we could do something which doesn't require me to carry you to your bed at 1.30 in the morning."
"Like what?" Aria asked pretending to be naiive.
Jason laughed and shook his head. "Don't worry, I'll show you." Jason leaned forward and kissed Aria passionately. Lips still connected he stood up and walked them across the apartment and into Aria's room - unbuttoning his shirt as he did so.