Holy cow! To pull out a megamind line, "Wow! What a turn-out!" I don't think I've had that much positive review on any story I've ever written. Not a single review has come in as negative or Arza. And those who didn't review put it up for a story alert! Really wonderful. And I mean it. I can't even keep track of how many people put this on story alert and there have just been so much love for this story. I really love you guys (though I'm kinda assuming you're mostly girls) So here's Jason POV, which shed's a little more light on the proceedings. Oh and when you're done reading, I need opinions on the next chapter.

Jason's POV

I sat down, like I did every night, with takeout (Chinese) and soda. Patterns and habits are good, but this was just plain boring. Even though it smelled great, I hate having to eat alone. That's why I had looked forward so much to the dinner at the Montgomery's. Even though the night had ended horribly, to eat with anyone else besides the TV was wonderful. For a second, I debated packing up the food and walking over to the Montgomery's. No, stupid, I told myself. That would be rude. But maybe Aria wouldn't mind coming over.

I don't think it would be weird, she doesn't have a boyfriend that I know of. Shoveling some more food down as I called her, I swallowed as she picked up. "Ye-es, Jay-son?" Aria drew out my name funny, and there was loud music in the background.

"Aria? Are you okay?"

"Jay-son, I am drunk! I feel fantastic!" She giggled as my heart sank.

"Where are you?"

"Scooter's."Aria hiccuped and sneezed several times before I could speak again. "Don't leave Aria. Don't move."

I grabbed my keys and headed straight for the door.

Scooters wasn't the most reputable bar in Rosewood. Two blocks from Hollis it was usually occupied by frat boys, what passed for the town prostitutes and general weirdos. Why the devil Aria and her friends chose to go there completely escaped me.

I couldn't help thinking about her as I drove. Aria had always been so alive. Dying to get the heck out of this town and one of Alie's friends who didn't live under her thumb. But lately, she'd looked like so much was bothering her. Whatever it was, it seemed to physically be pushing her down. Maybe that's what made her drink tonight. I know it's done it for me before. But for crying out loud, it's a Wednesday night! She still has school tomorrow!

I parked haphazardly in the parking lot and headed in, locking the car doors behind me.

The bar was mercifully empty of anyone, but some everyday old guys and the college-aged bartender who, at least to my eyes, was obviously giving Aria enough to drink just to get him some. With a glare that sent him to the other end of the bar, I walked up to Aria, who was setting up her sixth tequila shot. She downed it before I could stop her and turned, arms wide. "Jay-son! You're here!" She cheered.

"Yeah. I am. It's time to go Aria." I used my best adult voice, hoping to get through to her.

"No it's not! I just got here!" Aria turned back around and gestured for the bartender to bring her another one, but I glared again and he pretended not to notice her. "Did you walk?"

"Yeah, I did. I'm so proud of me. I'm going to walk home too. Isn't it great?" She began to chatter at length about the benefits of walking and how healthy it made her feel, while I guided her out to the car. She hopped in the passenger seat easily enough, and even put on her own seatbelt. By the time I'd climbed in my side, she was passed out.

I had turned down the block to her house when I saw the police cars. Two of them, in front of the Montgomery's. I pulled up and parked just behind a huge willow, and killed the lights. The drapes were open and I could see a cop unlocking a set of handcuffs off Mike. Byron looked worried and Ella had her face in her hands. Bad idea to take Aria into that mess. I pulled a U-turn and drove back to my house, and parked it for a little while. I couldn't take her back to her house. Aria wasn't in any condition to see anybody and Ella and Byron didn't deserve that. If the police saw her underage drunk, she'd be in huge public trouble. I couldn't do that to Aria.

Looking over at her, still sleeping peacefully in the passenger seat, I decided. She could stay here the night and go home early in the morning. Her phone was sticking out of her pocket and I wiggled it out, flipping through her contacts. Hanna had always been the best at lying among the girls when they were younger. I texted her from Aria's phone. I need you to cover for me tonight. Please?

Having done that I put the phone back in her hand and gently shook her awake. "Aria? You need to wake up." She stirred and looked at me through sleepy eyes. "Jason?"

"Yeah. Come on, just inside the house." She stumbled out of the car and up to the porch. I unlocked it and let her in. The takeout was cold, but I wasn't hungry anymore. I left her standing in the living room before I went to the bathroom. When I got back though... She had turned on the music and was dancing around the living room.

Worse, I noticed that she was missing her shirt. It was hard to notice as her long hair covered up her shoulders and she was behind the couch, but when she moved away I noticed. It became impossible not to.

"Aria? Where's your shirt?"

"I'm not telling!" She sang over top of the music. I turned it down a few more notches and settled down. The blinds were all shut, and I knew from testing them that you couldn't see in. I like my privacy. She continued to dance around, singing out loud whatever she was thinking. I knew better then to believe most of it. She got sad and quieter for a little while, when she started in on the alphabet. She was standing in the middle of the kitchen, staring down at the floor. "And there's Z, he's an X now, because of Jackie. It's all her fault to make Z change." I moved to stand in front of her. "Maybe Z needs to be X. Things change."

"I don't know. And then there's A. Stupid, sick and twisted A. A's out to get me you know." She looked up, a frown creasing her forehead. "I'm tired."

"I'll show you your room." She started up the stairs ahead of me and almost tripped. I wrapped an arm around her middle and kept her from falling up any more stairs. I took her to my room, the only room in the house that had a bed worth sleeping in. The rest of them were dirty and disgusting. She climbed in and fell asleep almost immediately, curling up under the blankets.

I fell asleep on the couch for a few more hours before school.

My cell phone woke me up really early and Aria hadn't come downstairs, so I assumed she was still asleep. I started to make coffee and found Aria's shirt and phone next to the creamer in the fridge. I set them down next to the coffee and headed upstairs.

I snuck into my room, where Aria was still sleeping. She looked so peaceful, even though I could see she'd kicked off the blankets last night. I grabbed some clothes and headed back out, shutting the door behind me quietly. She could sleep a little longer and with any luck her hangover wouldn't be so bad.

After the shower I headed back to room, still getting the water out of my hair to wake her up. I opened the door and there she was, looking very panicky.

We talked, and I took her downstairs where we drank some coffee and I explained everything to her. She seemed wary, but willing to except that I was telling her the truth. The concern and love I saw on her face when I mentioned Mike was something. Alie never would have loved me as much as Aria loves Mike.

I drove her home right afterwards, so she could get ready for school. It's Thursday after all. I almost didn't want to let her go. It was so nice to have someone in the house again. I bid a completely unregrettable goodbye to my shirt. It seemed a small price to pay for Aria's friendship.

I saw her again, sitting down to Ezra Fitz's Hollis College pitch. She was still wearing it, but she'd girlied it up a bit. It looks so much better on her then me. We had one of those no talking conversations from across the room, and I realized how gorgeous her smile is. Lucky is the guy who gets her…

Having done that… What did you think? Jason is so gooooood… Sorry (smiles). So for those that are still holding onto the feeling that says Jason isn't bad, I'm thinking of a different story plot to do that explains the pictures and everything separate from this one. But on this story, what do you think? I noticed that Jason is not much of a talker. So I think he's a thinker and an action taker, hence the most thought dialogue here. Now for the hard part. Vote, right now, via reviews. I have a half-baked idea rolling around in my head for an Ezra POV that gives you a peek at the actual break-up and then wraps up the story nicely. Do you want it? Or are you happy like this?