Author's note: Well, it was a long time ago since I wrote any fanfiction and I'm currently suffering from a bit of a writer's block on my original fiction, so I thought, I'd go back to this for a while. And I must say, it was fun!

So, this is a Pretty Little Liars fanfic that will focus mostly on the relationship between Aria and Ezra, or maybe more so the eventual outcome of it... That's not clear at all, I know, but by the second chapter or so, it should become a lot more... clear? But I guess you could say, that the premise is that Aria went away for college, and things didn't really turn out as she and Ezra would have hoped. And some years later, someone comes back to Rosewood... Who is it? Well, you'll find out soon enough.

I hope you enjoy this read, and tell me if you liked it!

Chapter One

"Hey, I'm proud of you." He said it with a smile, even though it broke his heart.

"You are?"

"Of course, are you kidding me?" he smiled again. Ezra hated the way it made them both feel. Especially her. This was something she had worked hard for. Having been her teacher, he knew it better than anyone. She deserved this.

Aria let the large envelope take flight. It landed with a thump on the kitchen table. She sighed.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I haven't decided... yet."

"What?" Ezra took her hand in his, leading her to the couch. "Aria, you can not seriously be thinking about not going to-"

"It's just one of several colleges, and I haven't heard from most of the others yet." she interrupted him, standing up again. "I haven't even heard from Hollis yet!"

"You'll get into Hollis, that's the least of your worries."

Aria caught herself nodding, but Ezra just smiled at her confidence. He was right, Hollis wasn't the problem. The problem was California and the distance. The long distance. The two of them had been through a lot so they could be together. But Aria wasn't so sure they could survive this. Her going to off to the West Coast and Ezra staying in Rosewood. It wouldn't matter how much they loved each other, the distance would be far too great. She knew she would be content with staying in Rosewood and attending Hollis too. It had been apart of her plan, even before she met Ezra. Hollis was a good school, there was no doubt about it. But it was something about going off, leaving the place where she felt the most safe to explored something so different, it was something about it that excited her. And of course, a degree form University of California didn't sound so bad either.

As though he'd read her mind, Ezra spoke.

"Hollis is a great college, that's not what I'm saying. But Aria, you have a chance to go to UC Berkeley." he said, almost spelling it out to get it across. As if the large envelope with the dark blue seal wasn't enough. "I wouldn't want to stand in your way of that."

And there it was. Her big hazel eyes grew even bigger and her mouth fell open, drawing a horrified breath as Ezra looked down. He sighed, feeling her hands come up to his face, her thumb gently stroking his three day scruff.

"And I don't want you to think like that." Aria said, trying to be as convincing as possible. "You-"

"It's true, though." Ezra looked at her. "You know, just as well as I do that you wouldn't be staying here because you didn't want to go to Berkeley."

"No, you're right." Aria let her hands fall to her lap. "I would love to go to UC Berkeley. But you know what I love more? You."

Ezra let out a little laugh.

"What's so funny?" She wasn't sure what to make of it, but having conversations like this had always been somewhat of thorn to their relationship.

"That's crazy, Aria." he said, simply.

"Why is that so crazy?" she was starting to become irritated with him. "Go ahead, enlighten me. Please."

"You are 17."

He sounded very final, it surprised Aria somewhat. But she was far from done. He walked over to the window, and for some time, he just stood there.

"What does that have-"

"You are 17."

"Don't you think I know that? What's going on with you? One minute you're happy for me, the next we're rehearsing for that stupid play all over again!"

Ezra frowned. "What are you talking about?" He took a second look at her, as though there were clues left in her face. But there were no clues. Instead her usual ivory complexion was tinted with red.

"You know, I would think you don't get involved with a student on a whim." Aria blurted out, at first not sure if she should regret it or not. But she decided quickly that she didn't care. He'd gotten her worked up, he'd have to deal with that. "I thought we were both sure where this was headed."

"We've had this conversation before, Aria." Ezra sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know I love you."

"Yes, we have, but you seem to keep changing your mind!" Aria smacked a book back in place on the shelf. "And suddenly, I'm not so sure what to think."

"About what?"

"If you love me, why wouldn't you want to me stay here?"

"Because I can't stand knowing I held you back. Trust me, Aria, I want you to stay. But I can't have that hanging over me. I can't have that on my conscience."

There was a long pause, none of them said anything. They just stood there, on opposite sides the room. And even though Ezra's apartment was small and the distance between them in fact wasn't much, Aria had never felt further away from him. She had no words, and it was a first.

"You don't get it..."

"You're right. I really don't." Aria took her bag from one of the chairs, flinging it over her shoulder and with quick steps moved towards the door.

"Aria, don't-" Ezra took hold of Aria's arm, making her stop. She wouldn't look at him, but she wasn't pulling away either. "Aria, please... Look at me. You don't have to leave."

Ezra felt her tiny arm flex underneath the palm of his hand and he loosened his grip. She slowly turned around. She wasn't tearing up, she wasn't crying, but Ezra could see the anger in her face. Somehow, that was worse. He had never seen her like that.

"You're more concerned about the well-being of your own conscience, than trusting that I know what's right for me? You know, that's just as selfish."

"Aria... I'm-"

She shook her arm out of his grip, putting her hand on the door knob. "And for you to think I would ever hold it against you..."

Aria closed the door behind her. Not even slamming it just made it worse, and Ezra had to sit down.

What had just happened, he wasn't sure of.

TBC