A/N: So, erm, thank you for the 25 reviews on the first chapter...that's pretty much quadrupling my requested amount! XD Seriously though, I can't believe how much positive response I got for this story! It was truly overwhelming! :D The reason I wrote it was because it is indeed different, and it will continue to be as the chapters progress(: Well, here we go! Chapter 2 is ready for you...

Disclaimer: PLL isn't mine... *sigh*

She smiled at his familiar touch, but silently took a quick peek toward the direction where the guard once stood. However, he was gone, and obviously not concerned about a teenage girl trying anything to jailbreak either man behind bars. "Hi," Aria whispered shyly. She was still wearing her outfit he had seen her in hours ago, but her hair was a little messy and her makeup was smeared from tears.

"Hey," Ezra replied back just as quietly.

They were interrupted by a low voice. "Damn, Ezra, she is hot!"

Ezra whipped his head around to find Tommy standing and peering over his shoulder to look at Aria. He sighed, "Tommy, do you mind?"

The older man rolled his eyes. "You have no sense of humor, Man."

Ezra ran a hand through his hair slowly and took a deep breath. "Given the circumstances, nothing is funny at the moment." When Tommy shook his head and climbed back to the top bunk, he turned back to Aria and continued, "What are you doing here? I mean, I love that you came to see me and all, but how –"

"I SOS'd Hanna to pick me up," Aria answered. "I sneaked out, knowing there was no way in hell that my parents would let me go willingly. They figured out that the girls were always my alibis, so I couldn't use that as an excuse..."

Ezra cringed at the word 'parents', meaning that Ella knew what had happened as well. He already saw how Byron felt about the situation and extremely hoped that Ella would be a bit more understanding. Realization soon hit Ezra once more: Hanna. "I take it that your friends know about us too, considering Hanna brought you here."

Aria suddenly took a deep interest in the floor by fixing her eyes on it. "Yeah, they've known for a while actually...since Hanna was hit by the car."

Ezra only nodded in response. Her friends knowing was at the least of his worries at the moment, unless it was one of the three girls who had turned them in. "Who did this to us?"

Her head shot up, exposing unshed tears in her eyes. Aria grabbed the bars tightly in her hands and said through gritted teeth, "The bitch known as A."

Noticing how white her knuckles were becoming, Ezra lightly released her hands and held them in his. "Who the hell is this person, because if you know, then I swear I will kill them."

Aria attempted to laugh, but it came out as a choked sob. "Don't do that... It will just get you into even more trouble." He chuckled with her a little, but stopped when she added, "I was heading out to my car when the police arrived and asked me to step back inside. At first, I thought they were going to question me about Ali's case like they always do, but instead..."

"Instead what?" he asked, wanting her to continue.

Aria took a deep breath. "They brought up your name and A in the same sentence, causing me to nearly faint. Plus, they had my parents in the room, which totally made the entire situation awkward... They had proof of us together, Ezra, so there was no way of denying anything."

Ezra knitted his eyebrows together. "What type of proof?"

A deep shade of red rose to Aria's face, obviously embarrassed by what was given to the authorities. "Um, pictures of us from that day in the back of your classroom."

"Oh." Ezra knew exactly which day that had been.

"Yeah, and when I asked who gave them the pictures, the only thing they got was a note with the letter A on it," Aria spat in disgust.

His eyes widened. "That's it? Did they ask you any questions?"

"They tried to, but I told them that I refused to answer any without a lawyer present. My parents were a little shocked by my maturity in it, but I ignored them. Next thing I know, the cops took me to their car and we were driving. I thought we were going to the station, but we ended up at your apartment, and you know the rest..." Aria explained painfully. She tilted his chin up to make eye contact with him since he had looked away. "Have you been okay?"

Ezra nodded. "I'm holding up just fine; don't worry about me."

Aria gasped in shock. "I can't not worry about you, Ezra! You're in jail and it's all my fault!" Tears freely fell down her face, continuing to cover her cheeks with more smeared mascara.

"Aria," Ezra said, much like the night she had told him about 'The Jenna Thing'. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this! We will get through it together; we've always have."

"And if we don't?" she asked.

Ezra's lips made a firm line as he reached his arms through the bars to wipe her tears away. "We will," he confirmed. "I promise you that."

She hesitantly nodded, hoping he would follow through. "I forgot to tell you that your trial is in a week. With Rosewood being a small town and all, they can get us in quickly," Aria informed as her sobs subsided. "My dad said that's what the second cop told him while the other was…arresting you."

Ezra nodded. "Okay."

Aria sighed, then joked, "I need to go; Hanna's probably left me by now."

"Aria..." He guided her face to his. "I love you, no matter what happens."

Smiling at him, she said, "I love you, too, Ezra. I'll see you soon." She gave a small wave while backing away from the cell, and then turned to walk down the stone hallway.

Ezra stayed near the bars until the clicking from the heels of her boots could no longer be heard. He huffed and plopped down on the bottom bunk, deciding that he might as well attempt to sleep since there was nothing else better to do.

One Week Later

He had been transferred to the Philadelphia prison two days later, where his cell was a lot nicer than Rosewood's, but could still use some work. He wore an orange jumpsuit, ate disgustingly mashed food, and occasionally worked out at the gym. Ezra could describe his one week there as the definition of boredom. Writing poems and short stories use to be his hobby and joy in life, but now they were just a way to kill time.

What bothered him the most, however, was the fact that he hadn't spoke to or seen Aria in a full seven days. But he would soon, for an officer was driving him to the Rosewood Courthouse on a Friday evening. His trial was to begin in about half an hour with himself, his lawyer, Aria, and a few members in the crowd present.

He was led into the courthouse handcuffed, much to his surprise. I'm not a murderer, for Christ's sake! he thought while being pushed through the small aisle forcefully. When Ezra reached his chair at the front of the courtroom, the cop released him from the metal. Rubbing his wrists slightly, the English teacher surveyed the room looking for Aria, but she was nowhere to be found.

Mrs. Hastings walked up to the table, holding out her hand as a greeting, which Ezra politely shook. Spencer's mother had agreed to take this case after much of her daughter's pleading, even though she wasn't exactly comfortable with the whole situation. She sat in the chair next to Ezra and opened her briefcase to reveal many different papers that were supposedly going to help Ezra clear his name. After all, that's what she was being paid for...

Suddenly, a stern looking bailiff stood at the front of the courtroom. "All rise...this court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Oxford presiding."

Every occupant stood to their feet as a man with silvery gray hair took his seat at the head of the room. To Ezra he looked like a man who hated his job and only did it because it paid well. The expression on his face resembled a scowl and beads of sweat were already appearing at the edge of his forehead. "Please be seated," his smooth, yet powerful voice boomed throughout the room, causing everyone to obey his order. "We're here on the account of Mr. Ezra Fitz's actions with one of his students. It says here that he is an AP English teacher at Rosewood High just out of Hollis College..."

Judge Oxford's eyes skimmed across Ezra's file silently but swiftly. "No criminal background of any kind, good... However, this case is honestly quite interesting. In all my years of being at this stand, I have never stumbled across anything like this," he admitted, and unfortunately caught eye contact with Ezra. "And you must be Mr. Fitz!"

"Yes, Your Honor," Ezra confirmed with a shaky voice from a lump forming in his throat.

Judge Oxford gave a large, sarcastic smile. "Well, no wonder you took the heart of a student; you're quite handsome, if I do say so myself. What's your secret?"

Mrs. Hastings put a hand in front of Ezra. "Do not answer that question."

He obeyed and remained silent, causing the judge to huff in annoyance. "Alright, since no one, with the exception of me, here wants to make this case light-hearted, we'll get down to business then. Aria Montgomery to the stand!" Judge Oxford barked aggressively.

Ezra held his breath as he turned his head to see Aria stand slowly and smooth out her dark purple dress. She made her way to the front of the courtroom with her head held high, and he could practically see the determination in her eyes on the situation laid out before her. Never did she make any move to look at him, though, as she stepped between the aisles and past the table in which he sat.

He finally let go of the drawn in breath, knowing that he had a long day ahead of him.

A/N: Okay, so this is basically a filler chapter. Number three is going to be INTENSE, because I did a little research on Pennsylvania laws... Oh boy, it's going to be interesting. Haha :P

Again, I don't think I can express my happiness for the amount of reviews this story has received! Y'all are the BEST! :D I really would appreciate if you all reviewed chapter 2 as well, but if you don't... Oh well :P I wanna go for 35 reviews TOTAL, so at least 10 on this chapter before I post the next one...and remember, you aren't going to want to miss that! ;)

Thank you to randomness 101-Fanfic Freak for clearing up whether it was Mr. Hastings or Mrs. Hastings that was the lawyer...so, I went back and changed it! :)

Thank you all again and don't forget to review!

XxLadyStrengthxX