A/N: This is a sequel to my previous FanFic "A Uninvited". I highly recommend that you read that before you start this piece. It's up to you, though, and I will try to give some background as I write. *Spoiler Alert* Ezra is A, and was using Aria to try to find his secret love, Alison (Who is still alive) Thank you, and enjoy!

Chapter 1

Whispers echoed throughout the hallway of Rosewood High as Aria Montgomery walked to her first class. Some people stepped aside as she passed, as if Aria was Moses and the students made up the Red Sea. Not a single kind glance was given to her. Aria scanned the many faces that looked disapprovingly upon her, searching for the faces of her three best friends. But she knew that they weren't there. All of them were probably already in English class. No one knew that Aria was returning to school today.

English class. Most students dreaded Algebra, or AP Chemistry. But Aria's stomach sank at the thought of sitting in her regular seat, listening to the substitute drone on for an entire period. All eyes turned towards Aria as she walked into the half-empty classroom. Spencer stood up as Aria approached her usual spot next to her best friends.

"Aria," Spencer said gently, "I didn't know you were coming back to school today."

Aria nodded. She could feel Hanna's disapproving eyes scanning her outfit. Nothing really mattered to Aria anymore, she didn't have anyone to impress when she came to school now. Her outfit was plain and unflattering. The jeans Aria wore hung loose on her hips, but whether it was because of the fit or because Aria had lost excessive weight, no one could tell. Aria's gray, long sleeved t-shirt revealed her sunken collar bones. And the ratted converse on her feet were so not in season.

"Neither did I." Aria mumbled, her eyes transfixed on the empty desk at the front of the room.

"Aria," Emily touched Aria's shoulder softly, "Are you sure you want to be here?"

"No." Aria snapped, jerking away from Emily's touch, "I don't want to be here. But I can't just keep running from this forever. We all know that's what they would have wanted."

"Yeah, well Ali got what she deserved." Hannah broke in, "So now you need to live the life that you deserve."

Aria stared off into space again. That was just it, Ali didn't get what she deserved. She had pleaded insanity and was now locked up at Radley Sanatorium. It was hardly a suitable punishment for torturing the girl's as A for over a year. As for Ezra, he was behind bars for having a teacher student relationship, and stalking. Aria would never see him again, and she wasn't sure if she wanted it to be that way.

The bell rang, and Aria snapped out of her train of thought as the rest of the class began filing into the classroom.

"Hey Montgomery!" Noel Kahn yelled across the room, "The new sub is a girl. Unless you play for that team I don't think you're going to have much luck with this one!"

Aria shoved her books back into her backpack and stood up. Emily got up after her,

"Aria, don't listen to them." Emily said.

"No, you guys were right." Aria's voice shook, "I can't do this. I'm not ready to be in this classroom. I'll see you at lunch."

Aria bumped into the substitute teacher as she shot out of the classroom. Spencer, Emily, and Hanna glanced at each other with a worried expression after she left.

"Asshole." Hannah muttered, glaring at Noel Kahn out of the corner of her eye.

Aria ran through the hallways of Rosewood, not seeing anything but Ezra everywhere she looked. She passed the hallway of teacher offices and tears began to fall down her face as she saw Ezra's abandoned office. Aria didn't realize where she was going until she was at the guidance counselor door. The door pulled open just as Aria reached for the handle, and she found herself face to face with an oh-so familiar figure.

"Jason." Aria whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. "What are you doing here?"

"The guidance counselor wants be to do some work with the low-life's of Rosewood." Jason DiLaurentis explained, "But she's not in right now. So I'll have to come back later."

Jason looked into Aria's teary eyes and scanned her disheveled appearance.

"Aria what's wrong?" He asked.

Aria stared blankly at him, searching for the right words to say.

"Sorry. That was a stupid question." Jason apologized, "What could possibly be right?"

"It's just. . ." Aria trailed off as her eyes welled up with tears again, "Being back here. . . everything's different. No one looks at me the same anymore. Everyone sees me as the skank who slept with my teacher. Even my friends, they're walking on eggshells with me. I know they're happy that Ali's gone but. . ."

Aria cut herself off, remembering that she was in fact talking to Ali's older brother.

"Sorry." She said, breaking eye contact with him, "I didn't mean. . ."

"No, don't be sorry." Jason spoke sternly, "Alison was a terrible person. She tortured people. She tortured you. She's gone to a place where she can't do that anymore and I could not be happier."

"I just don't understand why she would do that to me." Aria whispered, staring at the ground, "What did I do to deserve this?"

Jason put his hand on Aria's shoulder, causing Aria to jolt and look up at him.

"Aria, listen to me," He said, "You did nothing wrong. Ali is cruel, all she every wanted was to hurt people. You deserved nothing that she did to you."

"But I could have stopped it." Aria argued, thinking back to all the times that Ezra and her had nearly broken up and wishing that they had before it was too late. Then she wouldn't have been in the position she is now.

"Ezra Fitz abused his power with you." Jason's voice rose, "That's not your fault."

"I let him." Aria protested.

"Aria you can't let this ruin your life." Jason said, his voice gentle again, "You have so much ahead of you."

"Yeah? Like what?" Aria questioned, "Being mocked all throughout high school? Having colleges look at what I did with Ezra and not wanting me at their school because they're scared I might do the same thing to their reputation? People walking on eggshells with me because all they ever see me as is Alison DiLarentis's friend? That sounds just wonderful, Jason."

Aria spun on her heel and began to walk away from Jason. He reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into him. She shook with heavy sobs as she cried into Jason's chest.

"It's going to be okay." Jason cooed, rocking Aria's tiny frame in his arms.

Jason clutched Aria tightly, scared she would collapse if he let her go.

"But what if it isn't?" Aria cried into his chest, "Then what?"
"That's not an option, Aria," Jason said firmly, "It's going to be okay, because I said it is. I won't let you not be okay."

They stood in the hallway for a good five minutes, until Aria's sobbing ceased and they were just standing in silence. The bell rang, and Aria looked up at Jason.

"I should go," She whispered.

"What class do you have?" Jason asked, "I'll walk you there."

"Study hall." Aria croaked, "It's in the library."

Jason gestured in the direction that they needed to walk in order to go to the library, "Let's go."

Surprisingly, no one made comments as they walked through the hallway. Aria only got a few sympathy stares. Jason stopped when they reached the Library.

"Look," He said, his voice low, "Why don't we go out somewhere after school? Do you want to get coffee? My treat."

"Sure," Aria nodded, "That sounds really nice. Bye Jason."

Aria turned and left Jason standing in the Library doorway with a dazed expression on his face. He watched as Aria scanned the room, and as she located her usual friends and hurried over to the table where they were sitting. Jason left when Aria sat down at her table.

All heads turned towards Aria as she sat with Hanna, Spencer, and Emily.

"Jesus Christ Aria!" Hanna Exclaimed, "You look like an absolute train wreck."

"Hanna!" Spencer whispered, shooting her a sharp glare.

"What?" Hanna shrugged, "I'm just being honest."

Hanna looked at her friends and received nothing but blank stares. She grabbed Aria with one arm, and her oversized tote with the other,

"Come on ladies, we're going to the bathroom." She ordered.

"Han," Emily protested, "We're in study hall."

"Fine," Hanna sniffed, "Stay here. But Aria seriously needs our help."

Emily and Spencer reluctantly got up and followed Hanna who was dragging Aria with her towards the study hall proctor.

"Mr. Williams," Hanna said sweetly, "We need to use the restroom."

"All of you?" The middle aged man raised an eyebrow.

"We're having girly issues." Hanna smiled.

Mr. Williams waved his hand, clearly uncomfortable with the topic of discussion. Hanna practically skipped down the hallway towards the nearest woman's restroom.

Hanna opened her tote and pulled out a huge makeup bag.

"Now, where to start?" Hanna asked turning towards Aria.

"How much stuff do you have in there?" Spencer commented, looking at the bag Hanna had pulled out.

"Just the necessities." Hanna tried to assure Spencer, "Nothing overboard. Now, Aria, let's see, your eyes have dark circles and you look kind of pale but other than that your skin is fine."

"Hanna what are you doing?" Emily asked,

"Giving Aria a makeover, duh." Hanna smiled. Emily rolled her eyes and began to play games on her phone.

Hanna brushed a bit of concealer on Aria's face, followed by blush and mascara. Aria just stood, shooting pleading glances towards Spencer who just smirked back at her.

"There, now you look alive." Hanna proclaimed, "But I don't think your hair is salvageable. I think I'll have to take you to get your hair done. How does after school sound?"

"I um, can't." Aria said, "I'm meeting Jason for coffee."

"Aria!" Spencer practically cheered, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't have time to talk." Aria shot a glare and Hanna.

"Sorry." Hanna hung her head sheepishly, "But you cannot wear that outfit on a date!"

"It's not a-" Aria protested.

"Hush." Hanna snapped, "I have a change of clothing in my locker, I'll be right back."

Hanna hurried out of the dingy bathroom and the door swung shut behind her.

"Well I guess you're her new project." Spencer joked.

"She does know that I'm not necessarily going to wear anything she picks out for me, right?" Aria asked.

"Try telling her that." Spencer's voice was her normal, sarcastic tone.

"How are you holding up?" Emily asked, "You don't have to put on a brave face for us."

"How do you think?" Aria returned her question with another question, "You've found out that the person you love isn't who you thought they were before too, you should know how it feels."

Emily's face fell, she had been in love with Alison. Aria saw Emily's expression and instantly felt remorse.

"Em," She pleaded, "I'm sorry. That was harsh."

"No," Emily said, "You're right. I do understand how you feel, and I'm here for you no matter what."

"So this thing with Jason tonight. . ." Spencer trailed off,

"Is just coffee and nothing more." Aria finished.

The door opened, and Hanna came rushing in, toting with her what looked to be an actually tolerable outfit.

"I know, I know, I'm the best." Hanna gushed.

"Um, sure Han," Aria said.

"What, you don't like it?" Hanna asked, looking at her vanilla colored sweater and dark high-waisted jeans. In her other hand, Hanna held a pair of brown boots.

"No, it's great. Thank you Hannna." Aria smiled. She really did appreciate her friends looking out for her. All she wished was that they didn't make such a big deal out of her going out for coffee.

Despite the slight height difference between her and Hanna, the outfit fit Aria perfectly. Since the jeans weren't two sizes two big, and the sweater didn't reveal Aria's bony chest, she actually looked slightly curvy and feminine.

"Damn." Hanna teased.

"I don't think it's going to be just coffee after Jason sees you in that!" Spencer winked at Aria with a laugh.

The bell rang, interrupting the four best friends' powwow.

"We should get to class." Emily broke in. The girls agreed, and all left the bathroom with giggles. Even Aria had a smile on her face. Maybe being back at Rosewood High wouldn't be so bad after all. With her best friends beside her, nothing could bring Aria back down again.

A/N: Hey guys! Well if you're previous fans of A Uninvited welcome back, it's good to be writing for you again. Newcomers, hello, nice to meet you. I hope this fanfic lives up to your hopes for a sequel. I might make this one a little longer than the last, but anyways, leave a review and follow if you like this, thanks!