SAFE AND SOUND

Summary: Spencer never warns Ezra about Jason. Due to Ezra's lack of intervention, a friendship forms between Aria and Jason that causes Aria to further question her feelings for both men.

A/N: This story begins when Jason invited Aria over to his house, because he wanted to give her some of Ali's old stuff. Because Spencer doesn't warn Ezra about Jason, Ezra doesn't show up to pick up Aria. Also, I apologize that this first chapter is so short. It's more of a prologue than anything. Future chapters will be longer.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pretty Little Liars.

Aria shuffled her feet and looked around Jason's yard as she waited for him to return. It was cold out, so it would have been nice to go inside with him instead of waiting in his front yard. However, her friends had advised her to at least attempt to practice caution while around Jason, especially after the pictures-of-her-sleeping debacle.

While Jason had already debunked that mystery, she still felt that it would be best to wait for him outside just to be on the safe side.

She glanced up as she heard footsteps approaching her and noticed that Jason had exited the house. He looked her in the eyes as he walked toward her with a wooden-looking box in his hands.

Aria found his confidence to be a bit impressive. She instinctually felt as if he should have been a bit more abashed after her rejection of his advances the other night. Instead, he seemed to be easygoing and calm.

He handed the box to her, never breaking eye contact.

"This is for me?" Aria asked him as she took the box from his grasp.

He gave a slight nod, causing his hair to slightly fall into the corner of his left eye. "Yeah," he replied.

Aria smiled. "Thanks."

They stared at each other for a beat without saying anything. It should have felt awkward, but it didn't. There was something about Jason's relaxed body language that put Aria at ease as well.

I want to tell you something," Jason said as he intently looked at Aria and waited for a response.

She nodded to encourage him, secretly hoped that he wouldn't try to make another move or say anything to make things awkward between the two of them.

"I want to apologize for the other night. I feel as though I may have made you uncomfortable when I kissed you," Jason started. "I do have feelings for you, but I don't want to do or say anything to make things weird between us. I want us to be friends."

Aria hesitated, unsure of what to say. While she wouldn't mind being friends with him, she worried that a friendship between the two of them might encourage his feelings for her. Even more so, she worried that it might encourage her feelings for him.

But then again, it wouldn't hurt to try to be his friend. Technically, he hadn't done anything to be unworthy of her friendship, and he did deserve a chance. Maybe their feelings for each over would dissolve over time, and Jason would turn out to be a good friend. She considered all that he had done for Mike already, from not reporting Mike's attempted break-in to bringing the youth center card to her house for him.

She looked at Jason as he patiently waited for her response.

"I want us to be friends too," she said with a smile.

"Great." Jason smiled as well. "I'll see you around, Aria."

Aria gave him a small wave before walking toward her car and putting the box on the seat next to hers. She started her car and began driving home.

As she drove away, she wondered what exactly a friendship with Jason would entail.

A/N: Please let me know what you think. :)