In the distance, an owl screeched. She was alone in the dark forest and was scared to death. She heard something above her head and then it disappeared. The full moon cast its glow down onto a little path, where she finally made her way over to. She had cuts all along her arms and legs, and her tights had tears all in them. Blood stained her hands and dirt covered her face. The air was chilly and she had chill bumps. She shouted Ali out into the dark night, but she heard nothing but the echo of her own voice. She tried again and again, but the only reply she kept getting was her own echo. She decided to finally give up and stumbled down the little path she had found her way to, with only the moon light guiding her. She finally found her way to the road and eventually made it back to her house in Rosewood. She opened the house door quietly and made her way upstairs to her bedroom. She looked into the mirror and saw her horrid reflection staring back at her. She quickly ran across the hall to the bathroom and showered, washing away all evidence of what had happened. No one would ever know. No one would ever find out. These were the words she thought as she washed away everything she had done. She stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her and walked back to her bedroom. A quick glance at the clock told her it was a little past midnight. If her parents asked, she would say that she couldn't sleep and decided to take a shower. They wouldn't question her though, and she knew it. She put on her pajamas and gently slid into bed, letting sleep overtake her and she hoped that when she awoke in the morning that it would all be a dream, but she knew better.

*1 Year later*

Aria was getting ready for her first stay of her junior year at Rosewood High. She was meeting her three best friends Spencer, Hanna and Emily in the parking lot of the school twenty minutes before school started. She quickly thought back to 9th grade summer. There were five of them, not four. She tried not to recall what happened, but sometimes the guilt got to her and she had a mental breakdown, but soon recovered herself. She hadn't had one in a while, but when the other girls mentioned her, Ali, she would break down. They just thought it was because no one knew what happened to Ali and that she missed her since they were the closest out of the group, but if only they knew the truth. But Aria promised herself that she would never tell what happened to anyone. Anyone. She snapped back into reality and finished her makeup and then headed downstairs and grabbed a blueberry muffin, kissed her mom goodbye and made her way to her car. Once inside, she turned on the radio and made the all too familiar drive to the high school. She pulled into her usual parking spot next to Spencer and got out of her car. She was the last one to arrive, but she didn't care. They formed their colossal group and made the short trek to the entrance of the school.

"What's your first class?" Aria asked the girls. They all looked down at their schedules and replied one at a time.

"AP Lit," said Spencer.

"Same," said Emily.

Hanna looked at them and then looked down at her schedule again. "I have Spanish. That sucks."

"Let me see?" said Spencer. Hanna handed her the schedule and then Spencer looked at her like she was stupid. "Han, you have the same class as us. This is for next semester."

"Oops," said Hanna, while snatching her schedule back from Spencer.

The girls laughed and entered the building. They entered their first period class and found a seat. Aria sat in the next to last row in the middle, while Spencer sat up front with Emily behind her and Hanna beside Aria.

Hanna leaned over and whispered into Aria's ear. "I hear the new teacher is hot!"

Aria silently laughed and then leaned over towards Hanna's desk. "Well, if he is, I'm sure half the school's population that takes his English class will have a major improvement on their grades. The state won't even know what happened!" She laughed.

Hanna started laughing as well and the class all turned to look at them. They continued laughing and even when the teacher walked in, they kept laughing. He looked at them and then looked around the class before finally ending his gaze on Aria. She smiled at him and in response, he flashed a pearly white smile in her direction. Her heart sped up a little. He went to his desk and picked up the role sheet and proceeded to call the names.

He called the names and then when he got to Aria's he paused for a second. "Aria? That's an unusual name. I like it," he said before she said present. He looked up to the girl who had responded to the name and his gaze lingered on Aria a little longer than usual and then flashed her a smile again. He now knew who this girl was and he was sure going to find out more about her. He finished the role and then started to speak. "Hello class. My name is Ezra Fitz, but to you all, it is Mr. Fitz. Now, I have simple rules for my class. Rule number one, be on time. Rule number two, no cheating. And rule number three, always try your hardest to succeed in whatever you do. Any questions?"

Aria raised her hand and he quickly called on her. "Yes Aria?"

She smiled and then began to speak, "Have you ever travelled anywhere? And where did you go to college?"

"I have actually travelled. I have been to Iceland, Paris, and Venice, Italy. They are all very beautiful places, if I may say so myself. And to answer your second question, I went to college at Hollis," he said with a smile. He made eye contact with Aria and she with him. Their trance was suddenly broken when someone in the room asked a question.

"Mr. Fitz, what made you want to teach English?" It was Spencer.

"Well, I always had an interest in classic novels and I love to write, but I don't ever get far. Do any of you read classics or even watch classic movies?" he asked.

Aria raised her hand and to his surprise, she was the only one. "I also write," she said shyly.

He looked at her with amazement. Here sat this gorgeous girl with big, intriguing hazel eyes and a love for classics and a passion for writing… He had never met anyone like her before. "That's great! You must really have a passion for it. Like I said, I never get very far with it."

She smiled. "I do. It's my personal escape from reality," she said softly.

He nodded his head and then looked around the class, "Any more questions?" He scanned the class one last time and called on Hanna who had her hand raised.

"Do you have any kids?" she asked with curiosity.

"I do not, actually. I'm single, no kids. I am a twenty-four year old man living in a small, cozy apartment," he said with a chuckle.

Aria was in shock. How could a good looking man like him not be married or at least have a girlfriend? Something had to be wrong with him if he was single. She thought and thought, but nothing came to mind. Maybe he was just waiting for the right person to come along. She raised her hand to ask, but the bell rang.

"Well, it was nice meeting you all. Have a good rest of the first day back! Oh, and Aria, could I see you for a second?" he asked.

She was kind of in shock that he wanted her to stay after, but she didn't oblige. "Sure," she said as she got out of her seat. She walked over to his desk, swaying her hips as she went. "Yes?"

"You said you write? Would you mind if I read something you have written? It might inspire me to get back into writing and actually finish something for once."

"Sure, I'll bring you something tomorrow," she said with a smile.

"Oh, and Aria, this might be a little inappropriate, but you are stunning."

She blushed and the bell rang. He must not have a second period she thought as no one was in the class. "Thank you," she replied. "So, this might also be inappropriate, but why are you single? You're very handsome, love classics, and you're smart. Who wouldn't want that?"

He sighed, "Well, I had a girlfriend, Jackie. We were engaged and then she broke it off, saying she wasn't ready for commitment yet. That was about two years ago. I guess I just haven't found the right person yet. Maybe I'll find her soon, though."

"Maybe," Aria said with a smile.

"Well, I suppose you better get to your second period class. Here, let me write you a note," he said as he pulled out a notepad and wrote a pass on it. He handed it to her and she smiled and thanked him before walking out the door. He watched her as she went and wondered what on Earth he was going to do with himself all year with her in his class. He knew he wouldn't be able to just be her teacher, and everything going through his head at the moment was extremely inappropriate.

Aria finished school that day and made her way to the local coffee shop that afternoon. The bell above the door chimed as she walked in and she smiled at the woman behind the counter as she made her way over to it. She ordered her usual and then went to go sit in her normal spot and pulled out her journal to write a new entry, just like she did every day. She was so much in her own world that she jumped when the bell chimed above the door to alert another customer had arrived. She closed her journal and pulled out "To Kill a Mockingbird" and started to read it for the hundredth time. It was her favorite book and she never got tired of it. She wasn't paying attention to the surrounding world, and suddenly a body stood in front of her.

"That's one of my favorites," he spoke.

Aria realized that it was Mr. Fitz and set the book down on her lap and looked up at him. "It's one of my favorites too," she replied with a smile.

"I didn't think any students would be here in a place like this. It doesn't seem like the typical place for them to be," he replied with a chuckle.

"It isn't. I just love the place. It's quiet and I can focus on my work and read in peace without being bothered. I love places like these. What brings you here?" she asked.

"Oh, I just come in here to read and write. Like you," he smiled.

"That's nice, Mr. Fitz," she retorted.

"Please, call me Ezra out of school. So, are you hungry?"

Aria smiled at him. "A little," she replied.

"Would you like to come with me to get something to eat? We can go to that little restaurant around the corner here, if you'd like. They have excellent food," he said.

"That sounds nice. Just let me grab my things," she answered.

"Please, allow me," he said as he reached down to grab her things and then proceeded to grab the book out of her hands. Their hands brushed and Ezra swore he felt electricity run through his veins. He wondered if she had felt it too. He helped her up and then they walked out of the shop and over to her car.

"Backseat okay?" he asked her. She nodded her head and then locked the car back once he put her things inside. They made the short trek to the restaurant and once inside, they got seated right away. They talked about their favorites and about themselves before she almost let her darkest secret slip. Something she swore she would never tell anyone.

"Please excuse me, I really have to go. Dinner was lovely, thank you. See you tomorrow, Ezra." She quickly pushed the chair back and walked out and jogged to her car. Once inside, she turned on the air and laid her head back against the seat. How could she almost let that slip? He was just so easy to talk to and she was rambling on and on. She now knew she had to watch what she said around him. Tomorrow was going to be a long, long day she thought to herself. She went home and changed into her pajamas and got into bed. She normally didn't go to bed this early, but after everything that had happened; she thought it would be best. She drifted off, only to be haunted by her dreams. The dreams she hated having. The dreams that always brought back the horrible thing she had done. The thing she regrets. The thing that caused her to lose someone closest to her. Something she could never, ever take back. But more importantly, something she would have to live with for the rest of her life. And to be honest, Aria didn't know if she was going to be able to hold it in any longer.