To answer the question of a guest: This is a Sparia story, However, the traces of Ezria will be apparent. But trust me, It's going to be hardly. :)
Tuesday: Town Tour
Italics means thoughts, emphasized word or action. Bolded is a flashback. (….) is an indication that time has passed.
Leaning against the wall, staring out the window, Aria absentmindedly watches cars drive past her house as her mind plagues all over the thoughts that's running rampant in her head. Being with Ezra ever since she was in high school, her life basically revolved around him. She didn't mind it because she loved him but no matter how many times they have "broken up" during their course of knowing each other, you would think the pain would lose it's sting. But it doesn't. Because every separation bring them closer to the edge of completely falling off the cliff. In past times, after a break up, Aria would disconnect herself from everyone for a day or two as she reflects back on everything she has gone through with him but right now,
She's tired.
Just mentally and physically tired.
But, somewhere in the recollection of her past, her mind wonders to a particular face.
"Where would someone who's not from here go to pass time?" Aria questions aloud.
"Here?" Hanna's voice pans from the other end of the phone call, "Probably the town's center. Visitors would think it's exciting but we both know it's not. Why you ask?"
Aria turns around from the sight of the window to her room's walls as she begins to play with the small necklace around her neck, "No reason."
Walking the semi-busy streets of downtown Rosewood, Aria's eyes stay peeled as she passes the small shops that make up the town's center. Slowing down, peeking through every open business, Aria tries to spy that familiar face through the crowds. Checking out almost every bakery, coffee shop, bookstore and places of the sort for about 20 minutes, Aria comes around Rosewood's Park where she decides to sit and take a rest from her sudden adventure.
Ok, I'm being ridiculous. I'm scouting this entire area for someone I've seen twice in my lifetime. This…I'm crazy. I'm being crazy. Aria sighs to herself as the sun beats down on top of her. Running a hand back through her hair, Aria approaches a crosswalk and waits for the following car coming down to pass her. Holding out for a few seconds, Aria sees an opening and begins her walk towards the Park. As she holds up a hand to the car waiting for her pass, Aria's eyes catches a glimpse of someone in the far left behind the direction of where the car came from. Fitting what seems like the description of her mysterious visitor, Aria puts a pep in her step to cross the street. She doesn't know for sure if that's Spencer but it wouldn't hurt to find out.
Coming up from the side, the closer look of the giveaway height, hair and profile, Aria smiles to herself as she quietly moves towards the girl throwing bread pieces at the flock of birds in front of her.
"Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it. Wise words from Leonardo Da Vinci himself."
Turning her head to see Aria slowly walking towards her, Spencer chuckles to herself before she places attention back to the birds.
"Sounds like someone did their research."
"No need." Aria replies, standing next to her, "That man was a man of arts. Last Supper, Vitruvian Man, The Battle of Anghiari…." Aria nonchalantly shrugs with a smile, "You could say we share some things in common."
Spencer cocked her head slightly to the side as she pouched out her lips, "Someone who knows more than Mona Lisa. I'm impressed." She turns to look back at Aria, "Almost as impressed as to how you found me a day later."
"Well, Rosewood's not a big place. There is only but so many places you go as a visitor." Aria's lips quirked at the corners as she points in front of them, "Figured that you'd be somewhere chasing pigeons."
Spencer rips another piece of bread and throws it at the flock of greedy birds before she twists her whole body to face Aria with a small amused smile. "Looks like I owe you a small trip."
A grin creeps onto Aria's face as her eyes brighten, "Looks like you do."
Taking Spencer out of the commotion of downtown, Aria tours her around more of the "countryside". They walk down the streets of houses and old historic buildings, informing some facts she knows of her town. The two spend their afternoon making small talk and getting to know one another.
"What do you do for fun here, Aria?" Spencer asks as she focuses on her shoes.
"Honestly?" Aria takes a quick glance at Spencer before looking forward again, "Shop." She lets out a small laugh, "There's not much to do here. I have to go to different cities to have some kind of entertainment."
"Why don't you? Move to other cities?"
"I go to school here so…not much of an option to venture out."
"Hollis?" Spencer tilts her head, squinting from the sun as she looks at Aria walking beside her.
"Yep. Currently going after a bachelors In English."
"Do you like it there?"
"It's not bad." Aria bounces her head from side to side, "I like it for the most part."
"It's bad." Spencer nods as she looks forward down the street.
"What?" Aria beetled her forehead as she gave Spencer a short side-glance, "Why do you say that?
"When you go to a college-a university and someone asks you about it and your response is, "It's not that bad..." - it is bad. That is a place, somewhere you are choosing to spend another 4 to 8 years of your life. Completely optional. You should go to a school that makes you grateful for being able to have an experience with them. Not somewhere that you're content with because," Spencer shrugs with her mouth twisted to the side, "It's just there."
"Well, it's close to home." Aria tries to defend her choice of education as they continue to walk, "Fairly easy access to go back and forth."
Spencer shakes her head as she clicks her tongue, "Sounds like you're redoing high school to me."
"Do you have any place better for me to go?" Aria stops walking and puts her hands on her hips as she stares at Spencer who stops a few steps ahead of her.
"That's where you come in and think for yourself." Spencer spins in the direction of the smaller brunette stopped behind her. "Even if you rub my belly, I can't provide answers for you, Aria."
Aria lets out a small laugh of confusion as she narrows her eyes at the taller brunette, "Rub your belly?"
"Chinese proverb." Spencer gives off a small smile before she continues on their path and begins to walk ahead. Watching Spencer walking away, Aria's stare lingers on for a few seconds before she follows Spencer's lead.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Do you go to college?"
"I do."
"Where?"
"Somewhere that holds brilliance, ruined by snobbery, competition and insane pressure on students." Spencer holds her head up with a sway in her walk and boastful grin as she mocks the altered, typical description of her University.
"Distinctive not only for its high achievers but also another thing."
Walking in silence, waiting for the punchline, Aria extends her neck as she looks at Spencer to finish what she was saying, "…But also another what?"
"What do you think what is?" Spencer challenges Aria with an arch of an eyebrow.
Aria ponders for a second before she replies with an answer, "Distinctive by its high achievers and…location?"
"Nope."
"The alumni?"
"Its high suicide and mental illness rates." Spencer replies with her lips curved in a little half-smile, "Although, I'm not sure if the enormous prestige makes up for all the suffering."
Stuck on the fences if Spencer was completely serious or not with such a grim response, she grimaced at her with one eye.
"And you chose to go to a school like that? As an experience?"
"Precisely," Spencer looks at Aria's confused expression with a bright smile. "With the acceptance rate of 18%, it's rated one of the five top best global universities."
Aria chuckles to herself as she observes Spencer's humor and atypical way of thinking.
Although it's different,
She won't lie.
It's definitely draws her attention.
Getting back to the center where Spencer's car was parked, Aria and Spencer loiter around the parking lot after their small walk around.
"I know it's wasn't much but…" Aria crosses her arms as she leans against Spencer's car. "this is where you planned to stay for your visitation soooo….thought you might enjoy to see what you're surrounded by."
"It's a nice scenery," Spencer nods as she looks around at the people minding their own business, going on with their day. "Nice and quiet community."
Aria nods in agreement as she looks down to the ground with silence. That awkward silence of not knowing what to say next. Spencer glances down on her and sucks in a breath.
"Would you like to go somewhere more livelier than Rosewood?"
Aria raises her head to find Spencer awaiting an answer with a small but noticeable twinkle in her eye. "Um, s-sure." Aria fumbles out, "Where did you have in mind?"
"Ooooh, somewhere..." Spencer twists her body in a mockingly, innocent way, "Why don't you met me here again tomorrow? I have things I have to do throughout the day but if you can meet me, let's say, in the evening? five-sixish? Whatever is fine with you."
"Uhm, six." Aria agrees, "Six would be good."
"Great." Spencer smiles as she unlocks her car door and swings it open. She leans against the door as Aria looked onto her with curious, narrowed eyes. "What?" She asked, trying to hide her smile.
"What do you have planned, Spencer?"
"Come here at 6 and you'll find out, Aria." Spencer imitates her sentence structure as she emphasizes her name. Aria continues her stare down as a playful smirk creases on her lips. Spencer chuckles to herself as she waves to the smaller brunette.
"Goodbye."
"Mhmmm." Aria steps away from Spencer's car and watches her hop into her driver's seat, putting her keys in the ignition and starting her car.
Spencer rolls down her window and pokes her head out with a smile, "Thank you for showing me around, Ms. Aria. You were a marvelous tour guide. I'll be sure to write you a good review on Yelp." Spencer gives one more final wave of her fingers before she sits forward in her seat, switches gears, and pulls out of her parking space, leaving Aria behind in the rearview.
"Goodbye, Spencer."