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Awkward Encounters

Aria had been back in Rosewood for two weeks. Things were a bit on edge around the apartment. Quinn knew that her sister wasn't out with her girlfriends on nights that she said she was, that she was with Ezra instead. After all, she had to sneak around with her fair share of guys when she was sixteen and knew every lie in the book. Quinn was also anxiously awaiting word from Jason or anything more from A. Without any new text messages or notes it seemed like whoever was doing this seemed more content to watch the girls squirm.

It was finally the weekend and both Montgomery sisters knew they needed time to relax. Quinn had the music turned up in her room, both girls going between each other's bedrooms to raid each other's closets. Aria was going to a party with her girlfriends that night while Quinn had a date. Aria finally settled on black shorts with knee high socks, a black sleeveless top, and a white vest. Quinn chose a pair of skinny black jeans and a pink tank top. The girls were both in the bathroom now, doing their make up.

"Do you care if Spencer stays here tonight?" Aria asked, starting her eye make up. "She doesn't really want to stay at her place."

"Yeah, of course," Quinn nodded, fluffing her hair before starting on her own make up. "What happened?"

"You know Melissa's fiance, Wren?" Aria asked, doing her other eye.

"The doctor or something, right?" Quinn asked, apply blush to her cheek bones; Aria nodded.

"Yeah, he might have kissed Spencer," Aria admitted; Quinn's mouth dropped open as she locked eyes with Aria in the mirror. "I know."

"What is it with your group and older guys," Quinn mumbled, starting on her eye make up now. In the mirror, she could see that Aria looked hurt; Quinn sighed. "Ok, ok," she gave in, looking to her sister. "I don't think it's a good idea."

"You made that clear," Aria said, applying lip gloss.

"But," Quinn continued, ignoring the comment. "I'm the last person that should make comments on people's dating choices." There was a reason she had to sneak around when she was in high school.

"What are you saying?" Aria asked, looking over to her sister now.

"That you can keep seeing him," Quinn said, turning back to the mirror to finish her eye shadow. "I say keep because I know you didn't listen." She was smiling at Aria's reflection as she said this.

"Thanks Quinn," Aria grinned, adjusting her hair. "He really is a great guy, you'd like him a lot."

"Well, hopefully he never gives me a reason not to," Quinn said, finished with her make up now as she observed her look in the mirror.

"Hey, you never told me who your date was with tonight," Aria commented. Just then, Quinn's phone started vibrating on the edge of the sink; it was a text from Garret.

Hey, I'm here

"No way!" Aria said, reading the text. "You're finally giving Garrett a shot?"

"Why do you say it like that?" Quinn laughed, grabbing her phone and leaving the bathroom for her bedroom.

"He's only been after you since you were in high school," Aria said, following her sister and collapsing on her bed while Quinn searched for her black flats, grinning. "He's really cute."

"The uniform doesn't hurt," Quinn smiled back as she slipped on her shoes and then grabbed her bag.

"Isn't it going to be weird though?" Aria asked. "With him and Jason and all?"

"No one's heard from Jason in a year," Quinn brushed it off, taking her car keys and tossing them to Aria. "You can take my car tonight, just please no drinking."

"Promise," Aria assured her. "Thanks, have fun!"

"Thanks, you too," Quinn said, leaving the apartment now.

She made her way down the two flights of stairs where Garrett was waiting for her outside her building, wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, and an unbuttoned plaid blue shirt. He was smiling that same shy smile he'd been giving her since they were about fifteen. Garrett had always been sweet to her and she knew that his feelings were no secret. Because of her history with Jason though, he had never tried to ask her out before; that was, until a few days ago. Quinn figured that over the last year people had stopped seeing her as Jason's girl. But, did she?

"Hey Garrett," she smiled at him.

"Hey," he grinned back. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," she nodded, following him over to his car where he opened the door for her. "So, what do you want to do?" she asked as he got in. "We could go to Joe's, or I think there's a back to school party over on fifth. Or-"

"I was thinking we could go to the Grille," he told her, starting his car. "Then catch a late movie."

"Oh ok," she nodded.

"We could do something else," he offered. "It's just...that's the date I always planned on taking you on in high school."

"That's sweet," she smiled at him. "Let's do it." She relaxed back in her seat, reflecting on previous high school dates. "And, hey, maybe after the movie we can make out at the kissing rock."

"That's the second date, at least," he smiled back as he continued to drive to the Grille.

Being Friday night, it was fairly crowded at the restaurant. Soon after they arrived though they were seated at a booth in the back corner. They hadn't done much talking in the last few months, so they took time to catch up. Garrett told her about how he was doing and what it was like being a cop now. She talked about school and how nervous she was about being Aria's guardian.

"Speaking of Aria," Quinn said, feeling her phone buzzing in her bag. "Sorry, I just want to make sure she doesn't need a ride."

"No, no, go ahead," Garrett insisted as Quinn pulled her phone out. It wasn't Aria calling her though. The contact name at the top of her phone read Jason DiLaurentis. Not having changed her phone settings since last summer, his ID picture was still a picture of the two of them kissing.

"Oh, it's just some girl from class," Quinn rolled her eyes, hitting ignore and tossing her phone into her bag again. "She probably needs the assignment or something."

"On a Friday night?" Garrett laughed.

"Bookworm," Quinn shrugged, picking her menu back up. "So what are you getting?"

They made it through dinner without any more awkward phone calls. After dinner, they went to the movie where Garrett gently held Quinn's hand on the arm rest. After the movie, they drove back to her place and talked outside the door on the stoop for awhile. After a little while though, the air started to cool and Quinn shivered.

"Well, I guess it's getting kinda late," Garrett commented; Quinn nodded. "I'll call you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, definitely," Quinn told him. He seemed nervous as he went in to kiss her, but the nerves went away once they started kissing. They really sank into it, Quinn leaning back against the wall of the building as Garrett continued to kiss her, his hands on her waist.

"Ahem," they heard someone clearing their throat. They turned their heads to see Aria and Spencer standing at the bottom of the stoop. "Sorry," Aria said. "We just, uh, can't get in."

"Right, yeah," Quinn said awkwardly her and Garrett edged out of the way. "I'll see you upstairs." She bit her lip as she watched Aria and Spencer go inside and head upstairs to the apartment.

"I'm sorry," Garrett apologized.

"Not your fault," Quinn shook her head. "Guess this is part of being a guardian huh?" Garrett laughed. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," she told him, kissing him lightly before heading inside herself. When she got there she found Aria and Spencer on the couch, parked in front of the tv. They turned their heads from the to look over the back of the couch when they heard her enter.

"Is that ice cream?" Quinn asked, walking over to the couch and leaning over the back. Spencer and Aria had been eating right out of the carton; Aria handed her sister her spoon.

"So," Aria grinned, stifling a giggle. "How was your date?"

"It was great," Quinn admitted. "He was sweet, we talked...and then he kissed me."

"Oh no," Aria said. "What?"

"I don't think I felt anything," Quinn complained, her head falling forward.

"Aw," Aria said sympathetically, rubbing Quinn's hair.

"Maybe just try again," Spencer suggested. "First kisses can always be awkward."

"Maybe," Quinn shrugged, standing back up straight. "You are the smart one after all," she teased; Spencer smiled a little. Quinn was glad to have Spencer over, especially after what happened with Melissa. "All right, well, I'm off to bed. Night."

"Night," the girls responded, turning back to their movie.

Quinn went over to her bedroom, closing the door behind her before kicking off her shoes. She pulled her phone from her bag, tossing it on her bed before dropping her bag on her floor. Going over to her dresser, she grabbed a spare hair tie and piled her hair in a messy bun before changing into her pajamas, cotton shorts and a tank top. As she got into her bed, she took her phone to check for messages. There was the missed call listed from when Jason called her, followed by a text that arrived shortly after the call.

Seriously? You call me twice then ignore me

She rolled her eyes as she went to respond.

You're one to talk

Without any other messages on her phone, she plugged it into the charger before setting in on her nightstand. Turning off her bedside light, she turned over to go to sleep. She was just drifting off when her phone went off to let her know she received another text message.

"Typical," she grumbled, recalling many late night texts from Jason in the old days that woke her up. It wasn't Jason messaging her though, it was someone else.

Looking to Jason for help?
Maybe the cop can try to keep you safe ;) - A

Quinn felt sick again, the way that she always used to when she heard from A. She didn't know what to do or who to talk to about this. How could she even begin to explain this situation to Garrett? Jason was the one that had been there, who had experienced A's torment as well.

The texts started in the month after Ali disappeared. Whoever A was they seemed to know everything about them, things they thought that no one else knew. Jason was the only one that Quinn had told when she caught her dad cheating on her mom, but A somehow seemed to know that too. Whoever they were, they threatened to tell not only her mom, but Aria as well. Not only would the cheating be exposed, but so would Quinn for covering for her dad. Those weren't the only secrets she was afraid of getting out.

It was late, but she dialed him anyway. She anticipated getting his voice mail, but instead he answered.

"Hello?" Jason mumbled sleepily. She felt her breath catch in her throat, unable to speak. "Quinn, is that you?" She still wasn't able to answer him as tears filled her eyes. She couldn't believe they had gone this long without talking. "Dammit Quinn, would you say something?"

"I'm sorry I called you so late," she said quickly, hanging up on him. Soon after she hung up, her phone vibrated with another text message from Jason.

I'll be home in two weeks
I'll see you then

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