Keep Your Friends Close

"Can I see you again?" Ezra asked me as I pulled out my wallet to pay for my several drinks.

I paused for a moment before answering him. I knew that Jason wouldn't like it, but I wanted Ezra in my life. "As friends?" I asked with a smile.

His face immediately softened and a grin took over his mouth, "Friends," he said with a nod.

"Friends buy other friends drinks," Ezra said as he put his hand over mine to stop me from digging for cash. "I've got you covered," he said with a chuckle as he pulled out money and slid it between us.

I blushed at my lack of cash, "Thanks," I muttered quietly.

"No problem. Friends also don't let friends drive drunk," Ezra said with a smirk, "Come on, I'll drive you home."

I thought about what Jason would say if Ezra dropped me off, what he would do.

I shook my head with downcast eyes, "I'm not so sure that's a good idea," I said softly.

He looked at me with his head cocked to the side, "Why's that? Jason insecure?" he asked with a laugh.

I tried to smile, "Something like that," I murmured.

Ezra nodded, "Ok. I'll drop you off down the street from your house. Say you got a cab, and that's why you have no cash," Ezra said with a chuckle.

I laughed, "Deal."

We walked side by side to his silver car that I knew all too well. I sighed as I slipped into the familiar leather seat and was overwhelmed with memories. Memories of him picking me up in the pouring rain, the tension and fear I felt wondering if he would kiss me again knowing that I was his student now. The memory of him coming to meet me in the woods during "Camp Mona", him begging for me to forgive him, me refusing, Hanna seeing us making out in his car, the note "I see you" etched into his back window by Noel Kahn. He remembered everything about us, but I did, too.

"Has a lot of memories, I know," Ezra said softly as he turned the key in the ignition.

I nodded silently as I took a shaky breath. I knew that I wanted Ezra as more than a friend, but it wasn't an option right now. I knew that I shouldn't have ever let him go, I should've fought for him, but I was too young to know this was my one epic love – I was only seventeen at the time.

"My house is up there, so you can just drop me off here," I said quietly as he pulled over.

"Aria," he said softly as he turned his body towards me.

"Ezra," I whispered, "I – we can't do this."

Ezra's smile melted my heart, "Do what?" he asked with his eyebrows knit together.

My eyes searched his face for answers before my lips crushed into his in a fit of passion and a lapse of judgment. I felt his tongue trace my bottom lip familiarly, and my mouth opened to let him in. My fingers tangled in his curly mess of a hair as I moaned into his mouth.

I pulled away suddenly and quickly, "I'm sorry. That was a mistake," I said as I got out of the car, "Thanks for the ride," I slurred as I slammed the door and ran towards my house.

I didn't know if I was dizzy from my alcohol buzz or from the sudden lack of air in my lungs. I could still feel my lips tingling with his touch, I could still taste him. I tried to shake it off as I pushed my key into the lock.

My phone rang as I turned it in the lock. The girls and I had stopped panicking every time our phones went off, because "A" had left us alone for almost a year now. It seemed as though that dark chapter in our lives might be over. Emily and I attended Hollis together, Hanna worked in a high end boutique in Philly, and Spencer was attending UPenn. My heart jumped at a text message for the first time in months as I turned around and scanned the street for anyone who could've seen us.

"My, my, Aria, I wonder what Jason would say if he could see you now. – A"