DARKEST BLUE

1

Flattening out her patterned dress, Aria stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked down; hating what she saw. Her hair felt lifeless to her, her eyes heavy, her body weak. She looks away from the mirror grabbing her make up bag, putting on her mask to disguise her sleepless nights. She stared at her reflection again, her stomach feeling sick. She pulled on her leather jacket and grabbed her book bag. Ignoring her parents she walked out of her house and into her car driving straight to school.

Pulling up she saw her friends waiting for her at the steps. Her gut churned; they looked worried which could only mean one thing: A. She got out slowly, she'd hoped they wouldn't notice her but when Hannah called her name it was too late to hide.

"Hey, what's going on?" She asks, trying to sound casual. Trying to sound strong.

"We've been trying to call you all night." Spencer said before the other girls could say anything.

"My phone died." Aria says. She fights back the memory of a panic attack and turning off a fully charged phone the night before. She shrugs trying to remain cool "what's happened?"

One by one the four girls showed her their phones 'everyone has secrets... And soon everyone will know yours... A'

Aria gulps. Her mouth dry. She was tired of being the strong one. Why did they have to come to her with this? She sighs. "Guys. Whatever secrets she has on us. To tell anyone would mean she has to come out of hiding. To do that she's showing everyone what a sick coward she is. Alison is dead. This...is just a sick person trying to get their kicks. Panicking like this...its letting them win." Aria watches them. She can tell that her words hit them more then they hit herself. She wished she could believe in herself like they did. Without giving them a chance to say anything, she starts walking. "Going to be late for class."

Before going to her English class she headed to the bathroom. She looked at her reflection, even with her make up on she could see the cracks in her mask start to form. She splashed her face with cold water and with shaking hands took her phone from her pocket; turning it on she closed her eyes waiting for her message tone to go off.

The bell to signal first lessons were starting rang loudly making her jump. she pocketed her phone and headed towards her class. She smiled at Emily who was just walking in, a part of her was glad that the class room had single desks a good distance away from the next one, it meant there was less chance of Emily starting a conversation about ' A' in the lesson. Relief washed through her as she thought she could have two hours of being like a normal teenage girl, where all she had to worry about was doing the work and hoping that smiling at her boyfriend from across the class didn't seem so obvious. Okay so maybe dating her teacher wasn't quite normal. Opening her book she started to read the work Mr Fitz had set, for ten minutes all felt normal and then she felt it. Her mobile phone vibrating in her pocket.

Trying to keep her eyes focused on the reading but failing as the words started to blur. She brought a hand to her head and rubbed small circles on her temple; it always used to calm her down when she was younger. Though when she was younger all she had to worry about was fitting in in school and what outfit to wear. She wasn't too sure when her life suddenly became so hard. And then she remembers, and then her phone vibrates again.

"Hey, are you okay?" Aria jumps when she sees Ezra Fitz crouching down in front of her. His hand placed discreetly on her knee under the desk. She blinks at him dazed; she can't feel his hand on her, all she can feel is her phone constantly vibrating against her. "Aria?" He asks, concern thick in his voice.

"I..." She stops talking, her mouths to dry. She sounds weak. She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. Trying to calm herself down.

"Do you want to take a breather?" He asks softly, his hand squeezing softly now. She shakes her head. Walking out of the class would draw too much attention to her. Attention from people she really did want attention from. "Take it easy yeah," He whispers. She nods slowly and starts to read through her work once more. He moves away from her slowly, sitting back at his desk he watches her.

The class goes on slowly, Aria reads the same line over and over again her eyes aching with effort to keep them open. When was the last time she'd had a real nights sleep? This week? Last week... She looks up at Ezra and her lips form an automatic smile, she remembers the last time she had a perfect night sleep. He'd cooked her dinner, asked her to stay. She couldn't refuse. They had curled up on his bed, she had been wearing one of his old tees and a pair of his boxers and he wore an old pair of sweat pants. Her head on his chest as they watched an old black and white film. His fingers threading through her hair lightly and she'd fallen asleep. Dreams of her past hadn't haunted her that night. That night felt too long ago now.

The bell goes and she packs away slowly. She doesn't write down the homework assignment, she'll ask him for it later. Everyone files out quickly, all in a hurry to meet friends or go to their next lesson. She stands up slowly, she can feel his eyes on her and she feels protected. She walks over to his desk and leans on it, her body feeling weak without the support. When everyone's gone he rushes round to her and steadies her. "Aria..." He whispers.

"I...Got a lesson." She mumbles.

"You're not feeling well." Aria says watching her closely. "You can barely focus. Please, go home." She shakes her head violently. Home is the last place she wants to be right now. It's too noisy. Too tainted.

"I...I'm fine, really." She pulls herself together again. A robot tightening her hinges. "Just tired. Couldn't sleep."

He nods, he doesn't believe her. Lately she's been different. Not the care free girl he met at the bar before school started; equally as beautiful, equally as enchanting, but different. Troubled. He didn't want her to be troubled. He wanted to help take her worries away. "Tonight, come to mine? Sleep in my arms so I know you're actually sleeping?" he whispers. She nods. She wants that; needs that. His arms would keep her safe. The bell goes and they both share a groan of disappointment. A chaste kiss to her cheek, a small smile on her lips.

"I should..." He nods and she walks out of the class room slowly. Ezra watching her, waiting to see if she stumbles so he could be at her side to help. She doesn't. She heads to her next class and he stays in his class, his mind completely on her.