A/N: This is my first fan-fiction. This story begins during the naked truth. Slightly AU: Aria never had a crush on Noel, she has always disliked him. Also Ezra never met Aria in episode 17, he broke up eith her instead. Anything I don't change remains the same. I don't own pretty little liars.

Secrets. If there is anything Aria knows, it's how to keep a secret. Keeping secrets is easy for Aria, after all she learned from the best. Allison was the master of knowing and keeping secrets. The difference being while Allie kept secrets to use as collateral, Aria kept them to protect. To protect her family, her friends, and Ezra. That secret was the worst for her. If it ever got out that she and Ezra had dated his career would be over, and she would be given an even worse reputation than she already has. The fact that they broke up doesn't matter. It still happened and "A" still knows. She once heard the truth will set you free. But at was cost was her freedom? Was telling the truth worth it?

Which brings her to the school at night time. Truth up day. Principal Tamborelli's genius idea to help the students form new friendships by telling the truth. Aria didn't want new friendships. Making new friends wasn't something she was interested in, there was to much danger in her life to add anyone else. However, the truth, now that was something Aria wanted. She had so many questions she needed answers to. What was Allie hiding? Why was she pretending to be Vivian ? Who did that phone number belong to? Who did Holden meet in secret? Why did he have all those pills? But most importantly Aria wanted to know who was "A"? And why did they enjoy torturing her and her friends so much? The likelihood of these questions being answered tonight were slim to none. So with a reluctance she found herself dragging her feet to her destination.

Walking into the classroom Aria bumped directly into a statuesque Caleb. Glancing at his face she noticed the angry expression he wore. Following his gaze she was annoyed to see Jenna playing the piano. Great, not only did she have to do this truth up day but she had to do it with Jenna.

"Hey did you know she was gunna be in this group?" Caleb whispered.

"No" she exchanged glances with Caleb and they began to walk into the room "If I did I would've given myself a fever this morning."

Caleb chuckled at aria's words empathizing with her reluctance in being there. Jenna turned around as if looking at them. Chills ran down Aria's spine, it was as if Jenna could see her. But Jenna couldn't see anything, and Aria was partly to blame. "Come on Aria, lets go sit down." Caleb suggested as he lead the way to two chairs.

Aria released a breathe she had been holding and followed Caleb. Suddenly very grateful that he was here. They hadn't known each other very long but she trusted him. And with him here she began to think maybe this truth up thing might not be as hard as she thought. She smiled at him as she took her seat beside him.

The beeping sound of Aria's phone gave her an all to familiar feeling of anxiety. Quickly pulling it out of her pocket she saw a message from Emily.

Mona is in my group. This is going to be a long night.

-Emily.

Aria giggled a little and showed the text to Caleb who laughed in response.

"You better turn that off Tamborelli has banned them." he told her as she began to reply to Emily's text.

"I know, I will "

Hang in there Em at least your not stuck with Jenna.

-Aria.

Opting to set her phone on silent instead of turning it off, Aria looked up to see the supervisors walk in. The first was Mrs. Hastings and the second had her heart practically jumping out of her chest, Jason. He looked good, really good. His head glanced around the room as he entered it. Once his eyes found hers he stopped moving for a moment and stared at her.

"You have got to be kidding me" Aria sighed in a shaky breath her eyes locking on Jason's.

"What do you know that guy?" Caleb asked, noticing how Aria's eyes remained glued to Jason's. Jason shot her a small smile before fixing his gaze on the floor and walking towards the desk.

"Yeah , its Allison's brother."

Caleb shot aria a questioning look. She just rolled her eyes and looked around the room that seemed to be shrinking around her. She was stuck in a room with Hannah's boyfriend ,Spencer's mom, Allie's brother and the girl she helped turn blind. She was supposed to tell the truth in this room. She was supposed to hear the truth in this room. Wanting the floor to open up and swallow her , she nervously jumped up .

" I can't do this" she was ready to book it out of the room when Caleb stopped her.

"uh I don't think you have a choice." the look he gave her was full of seriousness.

"Besides if everybody's spilling their guts today, some of us might have a lot to say. I know I do."

Her stomach began doing flip flops as she watched Caleb glare at Jenna . He had no idea what he was getting himself into. Taking on Jenna was only going to get him hurt, especially if she was "A". Her eyes drifted to Jason and found him staring at her again. The look lasted only a moment before he turned around to sit on the desk with his back to her. But in that small moment Aria's nerves had settled. As strange as it was, Jason calmed her down. The same Jason that was a possible "A" suspect. Crossing her arms she continued to look at Jason unable to keep her eyes off him. Where had he been? Why was he back? Why was he helping out today? Why did he have to always look at her like that? Why was he so hot? More questions for aria to stress over.

The silence of the room was interrupted by beeping. Aria quickly realized it was her phone again. Students gawked at her the way they always do. Aria, Spencer, Hannah and Emily were the bad girls in their eyes. Mrs. Hastings also gawked at her, a looked that said "really Aria?" It was the same look she gave Aria when she showed up at Spencer's with her pink hair. Caleb chuckled beside her shaking his head.

"Sorry I forgot to turn it off" she explained. Forgot because I was distracted by Jason and his new haircut was something she kept to herself.

Truth hurts sweetie. May hurt your new pal more than you.

-A

Great the bitch is in a playful mood tonight. Is "A" here? Jenna is digging around in her bag, but then she pulls out a piece of gum. A few kids are on their phones are any of them "A"? Jason still has his back to her, did he send the text? How can she suspect Jason but feel so safe when he's around? Aria feels like she's going crazy with all her suspicions. Actually turning her phone to silent this time, she tries to push these thoughts from her mind.

"Okay let's get started" Mrs. Hastings's voice travels through the room. Commanding attention and gaining it instantly. Jason stands and joins her in the front of the class. Aria once again finds herself staring at him, not hearing a word Mrs. Hastings says. Jason on the other hand seems to be looking at anyone but her.

2 long hours later they are allowed a 15 minute break. Torn between checking in on her friends and catching up with Jason, Aria watches everyone file out of the room.

"Aria you coming?" Caleb questions as he heads for the door.

"No" she replies, watching Caleb's eyes travel to Jason and back to her. He smirks and exit's the room leaving aria and Jason alone. He is preoccupied with reading one of the truth up books as she timidly approaches him. He has his back to her. She stands there frozen wondering what to even say. She turns to leave, and then quickly turns back to him. Still at loss for words she just stands there looking at him with her heart beating out of control.

"Just say it" his voice startles her.

"Say what?" she whispers, her voice still not fully returned.

"Whatever it is you want to say to me," he turns to face her closing the book in his hand. He's wearing a kind smile and Aria can't help but mirror it.

"Hi" her voice has returned and her heartbeat has begun to calm down. However she now has annoying butterflies swirling around inside her.

"Hello aria," His kind smile is replaced with and amused one, "is that really what you were having a hard time getting out? Hi?"

"Where were you?" She finds herself blurting out.

"Georgia, helping on my grandmother's house," his eyes drop from hers , he turns his back to her again, and starts walking away, "You should go Aria you only have 10 minutes of break left."

"Are you back for good?" she follows him.

"I don't know" he says over his shoulder.

"Then why did you come back?" grabbing his arm to halt his movement, Aria feels a tingle run up her arm. She quickly drops her hand as he turns to face her again. Refusing to meet her eyes but standing very close to her.

"I have some things to take care of ," is his vague reply. He's wearing an annoyed expression on his face.

"Like what?" her question causes Jason to finally look her in the eyes. All she can see is anger behind them.

"Why are you always interrogating me?" his voice is a few octaves away from yelling, and his body language is signaling how defensive he is. It doesn't scare Aria, it just fuels her own anger.

"I'm sorry. I'm just shocked that you are here," Aria takes a step back from him and keeps her voice calm, "Jason you disappeared without a goodbye."

"Why would I have said goodbye?" His question hurts Aria more than she would admit to anyone.

"I thought we were friends," her tone is quiet ,and although she thinks she's doing a good job at hiding her sadness, Jason can see right through her. Always has. Her eyes look to the floor and her fingers begin to pick at her nail polish, "my mistake."

Brushing her hair out of her eyes Aria begins to walkout of the room. Leaving Jason to feel like a complete jerk.

"Aria wait," his voice stops her as she reaches the doorway , "I'm sorry okay. The truth is I'm back dealing with some family business and it's stressing me out."

Aria laces her fingers in front of her and slowly walks back towards him, "Apology accepted," she softly tells him. The sweet smirk on her face has him wanting to touch her. The fact that she is now right in front of him, and all he would have to do is reach out his arm isn't helping.

"Jason why didn't you say goodbye?" her eyes look so hurt he almost feels bad about leaving the way he did. Then he remembers why he did.

"I thought putting some distance between us was a good idea" because you are unavailable "not that it did any good."

"What does that mean?" placing her hand on her hip she tilted her head at him. Aria was getting very tired of his cryptic answers.

"Nothing ," shrugging at her, his tone have a bitterness to it.

"What do you keep snapping at me? Did I do something?" Aria was beyond confused by his behavior "Jason are you mad at me?"

He sighed and rubbed his face in a tired way.

"No Aria, but you were mistaken. We weren't friends," the hurt that crept on to her face had Jason momentarily wanting to take back his words. Instead he continued, "and we' re not friends now."

"Jason…" aria could feel the tears start to form.

"No aria," he cut her off walking away from her again, "I can't do this with you right now okay?" He walked to the other side of the room and leaned against the wall. He needed to stand as far away from her as possible. Being in this room alone with her was torturing him.

"You don't want to be friends with me?" she whispered in disbelief. She couldn't figure out why he suddenly disliked her. Even during his stoner days Jason always had been nice to Aria. Once even telling her she was his favorite out of Allie's friends. Her sad question and quiet voice made Jason look at her. He could tell she was fighting back tears. He hated that he was causing them. He wanted to hold her, to make her feel better but he couldn't, she was unavailable. And it was killing him.

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't Aria," his voice was strained, " I can't be your friend." his voice was quiet and his eyes were looking into hers.

"Okay I got the markers but I don't know where the flashlights are." Mrs. Hastings's voice caused both of them to jump, and look around anxiously.

"I do," Jason's voice was still quiet. He quickly left the room as a confused Mrs. Hastings approached Aria.

"Sweetie are you okay," she asks with a concern that reminded Aria this women is on her side.

Aria can't find her voice again so she slowly nods instead.

"Did Jason say something to you?" the fear in her voice isn't lost on Aria.

"We were just talking about Allie," she softly whispers.

Aria feels guilt in using her dead best friend like this, but she know it's the best way to get people to shut up. Just say her name and people get all uncomfortable. Exactly how Mrs. Hastings looks right now. She just gives a sympathetic nod and walks to the desk. Taking a deep breath Aria tires to calm herself. We're not friends. Those words hurt her more than anything. Even more than Ezra saying they shouldn't see each other anymore. Why was the idea of Jason not being her friend so painful? She had already decided she didn't need new friends. Maybe it's because he wasn't new. Jason already new her. He knew the good and most of the bad. He understood her, as she did him. Maybe it was for the best that she wasn't friends with Jason. How could she be ? With "A" constantly meddling in her life , anybody she let close to her gets put in danger. Then there is the possibility that Jason could be "A".

***Thanks for reading let me know what you think. Should i continue?