Aria

It was July 22nd- Aria Montgomery's 17th birthday- and she was spending it the best way she could imagine- out with her best friends, at the vintage-themed nightclub. Normally, she wasn't one for loud parties or crowds of people dancing, but she had to admit it was nice to let go of some of her pent-up stress, and she could have the best time of her life anywhere as long as Spencer, Emily and Hanna were there.

Speaking of Hanna... Aria paused from chatting with Spence and glanced around. She hadn't seen her blonde bombshell of a friend for a while. Eventually she spotted her chatting up some guys by the bar, and rolled her eyes with a smile. Typical Han. She was no 'dumb blonde-' the girl was a great friend, and smarter than most knew, but she would never say no to a night of tall, handsome boys and a few drinks.

Aria returned her attention to Spencer, but the tall girl was already neck deep into a discussion with a slightly older boy about... neurology? She shook her head, smiling, and deciding to scout for Emily. She didn't know most of the people there- it wasn't a party for her, just a crowded place where she occasionally hung out with her friends- and she spent several minutes scanning unfamiliar faces before finally spotting the sporty beauty dancing in the midst of a large crowd.

Slightly surprised, since Em was usually more on the quiet and shy side, but smiling widely, Aria joined her and spent the next twenty minutes working off the calories of her birthday cake.

Eventually she excused herself to get a drink, and stepped outside for a minute to cool off. Her overheated body thanked her immediately as she came into contact with the cool summer air. It reminded her of her last trip, when she and her family had traveled to Rome for a few weeks. Ever since their stay in Iceland when she was 15, which should've been a year long but was unexpectedly cut short, her entire family had caught the travel bug. They constantly were saving up for another trip, another adventure. At 17 years old, Aria had been to a dozen countries, and enjoyed every second of it.

She used her travels as inspiration for her stories, which were often mysteries and romances, with a little magic thrown in to keep it fun. Aria dreamed of being published one day, maybe soon, since she'd already finished two novels and was well into her third. Writing was her passion. She spent hours bent over poetry and short stories, weaving words into beautiful, colorful stories that everyone delighted in reading. She loved photography too, and had often thought about working at a publishing firm, or the office of the local newspaper.

I'll definitely apply there this summer, she thought. Usually, she was so busy with school and planning trips- when she wasn't away on one- that her only jobs were odd things she picked up to help with travel fare, like being a cashier at the local organic grocery store.

Aria took a deep breath of the cool night air, returning to reality, and turned to reenter the club. She smiled as she made her way through the throng of people- it might not be 'her scene,' but Aria was really enjoying herself tonight, and could understand why other people liked this place. Time to get those drinks for me and Em, she thought, feeling slightly guilty for making her friend wait so long. She walked over to the bar and ordered two spiked lemonades, casually flashing her fake ID for the bartender to see. She didn't often break the law, but it was her birthday, after all, and she'd been using a fake ID for years. Aria and her friends knew how to have fun.

Ezra

Ezra Fitzgerald- or, as he was known these days, Ezra Fitz- was having a pretty okay day. I mean, considering that he'd had a rather unpleasant run-in with his ex, the moody Jackie Molina; gotten into a fight with his younger brother over what to do about their imperious mother; nearly gotten fired from his job and only source of income; and he'd dropped his favorite book- The Great Gatsby- into a puddle of muddy water from yesterday's sudden rain. His only comfort on the matter? Now, he was here in one of his favorite places, reading his second favorite book, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

To anyone who knew Ezra, it would seem odd that he enjoyed hanging out in a nightclub, even if it was vintage-themed. He would then have to explain in further that a few years back, he was pulled in with some friends and found refuge from the pounding music in a tiny cafe-like area of sofas and coffee tables. Perfect for him.

He'd been here for an hour or two already, although it didn't seem that way to him- it was so easy to get lost in his world of stories and words. He remembered the 'good old days,' when he'd come here with Jackie. One of the reason he'd fallen so hard for her was because she was smart, and appreciated his love of literature. They would come here and read together, sharing cups of coffee... He shakes his head slightly to clear it. Jackie turned out to be a manipulative cheater, and he knew he shouldn't waste anymore time thinking about her. It'd only lead to regret, and he had no desire to wander back down that road.

Turning another page, Ezra absentmindedly found himself thinking about traveling. Although, he'd only just gotten back from his last trip- he had gone to Italy with some buddies after graduating from college this spring, and was amazed by its splendor. It had inspired him to write again, and since then, whenever he wasn't reading or studying, he was toying, or scribbling in the notebook he always carried around.

Ezra slipped his bookmark into his Huckleberry Finn book and set it aside, pulling the worn brown notebook from his back pocket. He wrote a few words, crossed them out, tried again to no avail, and swore under his breath. There was nothing more frustrating than writer's block, and he'd been having it more and more lately. Maybe it's time for another trip, he thought to himself dryly.

Realistically, he knew he was saving all his cash for paying rent. He really needed a job better than at some tiny publishing company... What he wanted to do was teach, but there hadn't been any opportunities so far. He'd keep looking. Maybe Rosewood High had an opening- he'd thought it would be a bit odd teaching at the place he'd gone to school, but he couldn't exactly afford to be picky now. Yes, he'd look into job opening there tomorrow morning.

Something caused Ezra to look up in that moment, and he was immediately glad he had. Standing by the bar not 15 feet away, showing her ID to the bartender, was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. She had long dark brown hair in soft waves, and her gorgeous hazel eyes sparkled as she spoke in a soft voice that was only heard by the man receiving her order.

Those eyes, thought Ezra, transfixed. They were such a deep, beautiful color, but more than that, they seemed wise beyond their years, and so full of emotion he thought he could drown in them. Her pink, kissable lips curved into a small smile as she thanked the bartender and waited patiently for her order, tapping her foot to an unknown rhythm and glancing around.

Embarrassed for staring and dreading the idea of being caught doing so, Ezra lowered his gaze quickly. It fell onto his blank page, and he smiled to himself as he began to write.

Aria

As she waited for her drink, she happened to look just past the bar to a small area full of soft couches and wooden coffee tables. That looks cozy, she though to herself with a smile. There were only a few people there, and one in particular caught her eye- a guy with a head full of dark curly hair was bent over a worn notebook, scribbling furiously, with an obviously treasured copy of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn waiting patiently by his side. One of my favorite books, Aria smiled.

Just then, the young man looked up, revealing a strikingly handsome face, probably a few years older than her own. His bright blue eyes immediately collided with her own, almost jarringly, and she quickly lowered her gaze, mortified to be caught staring. He looked hurriedly away as well, a slight blush staining his cheeks, and she couldn't help but smile softly at his embarrassment.

The bartender placed her drinks on the counter, startling her out of her reverie, and she thanked him, taking the tall twin glasses. Turning slightly, she started to head back to Em, but something stopped her and, in an almost dream-like state, she carried her drinks over to the mysterious boy- no, man- instead.

He looked up in surprise as she sat on the loveseat opposite him and placed her drinks on the table between them. "Hey," she spoke softly, in a slightly breathless voice, shocking herself with the words. Hey?! What do you mean, 'hey,' Aria? You've never met this guy before! In fact, let's take a moment and back up even further. What the hell are you doing?

Ignoring the overly-sensible voice in her head, she tucked a long, dark lock of hair behind her ear and smiled slightly at the guy. "This probably seems strange, and I'm really sorry, you can just tell me to get the hell away if you want. It's just- I was getting some drinks for me and a friend, and I saw you, and I love that book-" she nodded to his copy of Huckleberry Finn- "and I thought there was no harm in saying hello."

She blushed, realizing she'd been starting to babble, and looked down. Well, this is going perfectly, now isn't it? He'll think I'm some crazy person, with no filter. Or maybe that I'm a slut! No, he wouldn't think that, not with the way I embarrassed myself. Still...

She was surprised to hear a soft, low chuckle. She looked up to see him smiling at her, a look close to amazement in his eyes. What's he so astounded by? My ability to mortify myself repeatedly?

"It's no trouble," he said in that soft voice that made her want to curl up in his arms with a good book and- get a grip, Aria! "Actually, I was trying to work up the nerve to say hi to you. But I'm certainly glad you beat me to it. I suspect I would've ended up embarrassing myself completely."

He chuckled softly, and she laughed as well, relived beyond measure he didn't think she was a creep. "What, like I didn't?" She smiles. "I'm almost worried for your sanity, if you didn't think I sounded like a crazy person..." "Well, if you love Huckleberry Finn as much as I do, I'm sure you're certifiably sane," he laughed.

Aria beamed at him, then blushed again. "So, do you go to Hollis?" she asked casually. He smiled back at her. "No, actually, I just moved back here from Oregon, where I just graduated from college. I grew up here, though, and I came back for both sentimental and family reasons. I forgot how nice it was... I think I'll be staying a while. What about you, have you graduated?"

Aria panicked briefly, struggling to keep a carefree smile on her face. "I'm a senior, actually," she answered smoothly. Just... in high school, not college, she added mentally. The handsome stranger nodded with a smile, and she had to stop herself from swooning has those deep, piercing blue eyes met hers again. No matter how this night turned out, she could tell it would be one to remember.

Ezra

He was in shock. He'd been trying to get up the nerve to approach this goddess, when suddenly she came over, sat next to him, and said hey as though they were old buddies. Either someone was playing a trick on him, or... Ezra studied her face. She's so beautiful... Is this even real? Her eyes glittered like mossy emeralds as she laughed at something he said- again, she's laughing at something I said. This can't be real- and her lips- dear god, those lips.

She was perfect, so damn perfect. And here she was, flirting with him. She was only a year younger than him- for some reason, he thought she seemed younger- and she was going to a college right near where he now lived. He was captivated by her laugh, her smile, her hair, every detail about her.

"I'm so sorry," he smiled after a pause. "I just realized I never got your name, how rude of me. I'm Ezra."

"Ezra," she repeated, smiling, and the sound of those lips saying his name took his breath away. "I'm Aria," she continued, tucking a soft strand of hair behind her ear- he wanted to be the one to do that, so badly- and looking at him through those long, thick lashes.

"Aria," he smiled, saying her name the way she'd said his. "It's a beautiful name. I think it suits you perfectly." He immediately wondered if that was an odd thing to say, but she blushed- he hadn't realized it was possible for her to be more beautiful, but clearly she could do what no one else could- and smiled at him. "Thank you," she whispered. "Ezra's a pretty great name, too," she continued, grinning. "Like the poet... Ezra Pound."

He smiled at her, pleased she was the kind of person who knew about his namesake, a famous poet of the 20th century, who'd been a major influence on modern poetry. "Exactly. Most people don't automatically make that connection... Do you read a lot of poetry?" She laughed. "You could definitely say that. I love poetry, both reading and writing it, although my area of expertise is more in stories."

He was stunned. This was literally the girl of his dreams. "You write? Not to sound so surprised, it's just, I'm impressed. I'll admit that I don't know many girls who are as beautiful as you and enjoy great literature as well as writing." Aria blushed, looking down shyly. Crap. Did I blow it?

"Well, that's very sweet of you to say, Ezra," she smiles, and the way she says his name- he can't get enough if it. Barely fifteen minutes of this girl, and she has me gasping for breath. "But you write, don't you? I'm sure your work is much better than any of mine." He shakes his head, smiling. "I highly doubt that. How did you know I write, anyway?" He didn't remember mentioning it, but at the rate his mind was spinning, he could only hope he wasn't embarrassing himself by saying this now.

"I could just tell," she murmurs, blushing again and shrugging slightly. "From the way you spoke about literature... I could tell you had the passion to write amazing works of your own." It's his turn to blush again- who is this girl? Her voice, the look in her eyes when she meets his gaze, the curve of her petite frame- she's everything he's ever dreamed of. For the first time in months, he hasn't thought once about Jackie. All he can think of now is how to keep this vision from leaving him behind and returning to whatever heaven she came from.

She hesitates a minute before reaching over and taking his hands in her soft, tiny ones. "Ezra?" she whispers, and it takes all of his remaining self control not to lean over and press his lips to those soft, slightly parted ones. He tears his gaze away from them and meets her gaze, pulse racing. "Yes?" he murmurs.

"I... I really want to get to know you better," she smiles, and his world explodes in color. "I want to get to know you better too, Aria," he replies with a soft chuckle, and in that moment, that perfect, movie-like moment, they both lean in.

Aria

Is it possible to fall in love in twenty minutes? Aria wonders as she leans in towards Ezra's perfect mouth.

"Aria?" Em appears suddenly, swaying slightly and grinning down at them. "Looks like you forgot about me... Can't blame you, he's cute." She reaches down to the table, grabbing her spiked lemonade... that I completely forgot about, Aria groans inwardly. Biting her lip, she sighs, a bit annoyed at Em for ruining the moment, but mostly at herself for letting herself got so... distracted.

Meanwhile, Em takes another swig of alcohol, swaying even more, and Aria narrows at her. "Em... Are you drunk?" The tall, sporty girl shrugs sluggishly. "Nah, I've barely had anything... C'mon, the others have been looking everywhere for you. I can't wait to tell them you were hitting it off with College Kid over here." She grins at the two of them, ignoring Aria's panicked expression.

Aria turns to Ezra, eyes wide. "I'm so sorry, I have to go. I... I know I'll see you again. This'll be really quick, I promise-" with that, she grabs Em's arm and pulls her through the crowd. Her head is spinning, although she's barely touched alcohol. How did this happen?

One minute, she's just having a good time with her friends... then she's 'hitting it off,' with the most amazing guy she's ever met... and now she's dragging her slightly drunk friend through the crowd, looking for her other friends.

College Kid. Aria suddenly recalls Ezra's age. He just graduated college... He's at least 22. She sighs. I guess it wouldn't have worked. I mean... How could it have?

Her sensible side speaks up, as usual, but she just wants to slap that voice away. No. We had this... amazing connection. I'll find him again. I'll work something out. Maybe he'll call, she thinks hopefully, before a sudden realization stops her in her tracks.

She never gave him her number, nor did he give her his. They both assumed they'd have more time. What if I never see him again... Aria immediately shakes her head, refusing to think that way. She'd go back, she'd find him, after finding Hanna and Spencer and leaving Em in their care.

"Where'd you last see them, Em?" she asks desperately, scanning the sea of unknown faces. Emily just shrugs again, vaguely moving along to the music. Aria sighs and continues to pull her through the crowd, her mind still on the perfect guy she's walking away from,

All she can think of is their would-be kiss, how perfect she knows it would've been. Okay, I'm officially crazy... I seriously don't think it's normal to fall for someone that quick. Someone she might never see again... Aria bites her lip and shakes her head. People with that kind of connection don't just never see each other again. There's a reason we met tonight, and that reason will bring us back together. I have to believe that.

Aria can't help but think how this is like one of her stories- a serendipitous meeting, and love at first sight... Maybe that's what this hope is. I just want this to be like a perfect story. Maybe I was just telling myself it was perfect the whole time, because I want a happily ever after...

Right, because getting involved with a guy five years your senior is a great idea, and will totally make you happy, she thinks dryly to herself.

Aria sighs, but before she can get dragged down by pessimistic thoughts, she spots Hanna dancing at the edges of a crowd, and without wondering where Spence is, she hurries over. All she can think of is getting back to Ezra.

Ezra

Before he can do a single thing to stop her, before he can even stand, she's gone- melting into the crowd as suddenly as she first appeared. For a moment, Ezra just sits in shock, staring after her.

Gone. Just like he was afraid, she disappeared. He never even got her number. No, he thinks desperately. This can't be the end. We had something... magical. I need her back. He stands hurriedly, forgetting his notebook and Huckleberry Finn copy on the sofa.

Ezra moves into the crowd, unused to navigating large groups of people, and is lost almost immediately. He spins around, looking desperately for Aria's beautiful doe-like eyes and soft lips. But she's nowhere to be seen.

He pushes past people with a growing air of desperation, ignoring everyone's annoyed grumbles and confused stares. He needs to find her. He needs her. In all the stories he's read, about true love; love at first sight; and chanced meetings- he never thought he'd find someone like this.

And he knows she felt the same way- he could see it in those beautiful hazel eyes. Their connection was palpable. He can't go back to living the way he was. He can't go back to living any life without her in it.

After several minutes of fruitless searching, he resorts to calling her name, not caring who else hears him. Most people assume he's looking for a girlfriend and brush past him, rolling their eyes at his obvious desperation. Others wonder if he's really lost someone, and shoot him sympathetic glances.

"Aria?" Where is she? She couldn't have gone far... But this place is like a maze.

"Aria?" He already feels so lost without her... Without her soft, kind, gorgeous gaze on him.

"Aria?" It's too much, already. How could this happen? He knows he seems overly desperate, but he doesn't care. This girl... was absolutely perfect. And he doesn't want to lose that. He doesn't want to lose her.

Ezra walks in circles in the nightclub for what feels like hours, desperate and hopeful at first, but eventually he continues searching while burdened with the knowledge that Aria is long gone. And his only chance with her may be over.

After a while he leans against the wall and just thinks about her, trying not to forget a single detail.

She was wearing a short black skirt, a fitted white camisole, and a black and white pinstripe blazer. When he first saw her, he thought that her blazer was something nobody else could pull off, yet on her it looked like it was meant to be.

Her hair was a beautiful chocolate, and it had looked so soft. He wished he could bury his fingers in it while kissing her deeply.

Her eyes- god, her eyes. He had never seen someone with eyes so open, so expressive. If eyes are the windows to the soul, those beautiful hazel irises were like giant cathedral stained glass windows, each a detailed work of art, letting her emotion shine through like the bright sun.

Jackie's eyes weren't like that. She was so closed all the time... I should've realized sooner that she wasn't the person she said she was.

It's the first time he's thought of her since meeting Aria, but Ezra realizes it's not like when he usually thinks about her. Usually, he's remembering their happy times, and wondering when it changed, or comparing other girls to her. But this is different. She is no comparison to Aria, and Ezra knows if he can find her, he'll never think of Jackie that way again.

After an hour or more, he decides to look through the dance floor one more time, then call it a night. Remember, she goes to the college right next to your house. You're going to see her again.

He sighs, and shuffles through the last stragglers dancing, glancing at each face without much hope. He glances down, and spots something on the floor- something black, white, and pinstriped.

Her blazer. Feeling ridiculously like the prince in a cheesy movie, he bends down and picks it up. It looks like a few people have stepped on it, but overall there's not much damage. And it's hers.

He tucks it under his arm, reasoning that if he's going to find her, if he's going to see again, he can just give it to her then. He also can't help that notice that it smells like her- like chai tea and books.

For the first time in the last hour and a half, he smiles. It's a start.

Aria

This is a mess. After finding Hanna, it was immediately obvious that she was even more intoxicated than Em, and even Spence was tipsy. Sighing, Aria had no choice but to drive her friends home, holding back tears the whole time, knowing she may have just lost the perfect guy.

Once all her friends were at her house and they were ready to start their planned sleepover, she realized she'd lost her favorite blazer at the nightclub. She hurriedly put Spencer in charge of covering for her, made each of her friends some tea to revive them, and headed back to the club.

The entire drive, she couldn't deny she was hoping he'd still be there. She knew it was a long shot- Ezra had probably left not long after her. He'd probably given up. But... still. She was allowed a bit of hope, right?

Unfortunately, by the time she arrived, the nightclub was closing. The janitor was locking up just as she pulled up, and she barely managed to convince him to let her in to look for her blazer. Kinda Drunk Hanna had pulled it off in an effort to get Aria to 'shake it,' with her. But it was nowhere to be found on the dance floor, and eventually she resorted to looking in the small cafe-like area in the back.

No blazer to be found. Aria couldn't help but sit where she had before, with the guy of her dreams, and sighed ruefully. Then, glancing at Ezra's seat, she realized he'd forgotten something- or rather, two things. His copy of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and his notebook both sat on the sofa, abandoned.

After a moment of hesitation, she reached over and picked them both up, feeling slightly guilty about it, but ended up slipping them into her bag. After all, if I'm going to see him again, if I'm going to find him- I can give them to him then.

She smiles slightly, standing up, walking to the door, and thanking to the janitor- who just grunts and slams the door- a new thought crossing her mind.

At least it's a start.