Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars or these characters. Not written for money, only enjoyment.
The fighting between her parents had gotten so bad that Mike and Aria just left. He headed to a friends and Aria was stumbling down the street. They were doing construction on the sidewalk so she was in the road. Crying had always been the way Aria dealt with things and it seemed like tonight was no different. She didn't realize that she had wandered into the middle of the road until she heard the tires screeching to a stop and the head lights of a car blinded her.
"What are you doing?" The male voice yelled at her.
"I…" she mumbled looking at her feet.
"Aria?" the voice asked. "What's wrong? Why are you walking down the middle of the road?"
Looking up she realized it was Eric Kahn, "I needed out of my house. I…" she started to explain when a car horn blew.
"Come on. Get in." Eric said leading her to his car.
Once they were inside Eric drove to the small park that was near the end of her street. Stopping the car he turned to look at her, "What's going on?" he asked gently.
"I needed away from the fighting. I was trying to get to Ali's but I must have gotten turned around." She admitted.
"Well I'm headed that way, would you like a ride so you don't get honked at anymore."
"Yeah." She sniffled.
"Hey Aria?" he asked unsure
"Yeah."
"Can I trust you?" he asked nervously.
"I don't know you very well, but yes."
"I want to be more with Alison."
"Be more?" Aria asked confused.
"Yeah. I mean we hook up and everything, but I want be more than just a hook up. For the first time in a long time I actually want to date someone."
"Wow. You're different than Noel." She admitted honestly, not knowing what to say.
"Do you think she would go for that?" Eric asked hurriedly
"I don't know honestly. All you can do is try. I mean Ali is full of surprises."
"Very true. Thanks Aria." He said starting his car back up and driving toward the DiLaurentis house.
Alison was anxiously waiting for Eric to arrive. He was already 10 minutes late and she was beginning to believe that he had found something better to do with his night. She would never admit this to anyone but she wanted to be more than a hook up with him, she wanted to date him. Never really seeing the point in dating someone she wanted to try because things with Eric were different, he was different. About to grab another water from the fridge she heard the doorbell ring.
Rushing she went and opened the door to find Eric standing with a very upset Aria, "What's going on?" she asked apprehensive.
"Is Jason home?" Aria asked quietly not looking at her friend.
"He's up in his room." Alison said moving so Aria could get by.
"What's wrong with her?" she asked Eric when he came in.
"I'm not sure. She told me had to get away from the fighting in her house. I almost hit her with my car because she was walking down the middle of the road." Eric explained.
"The fighting at her house?" Ali questioned and then the light bulb came on, "Oh my God! Now I know why she slept with Jason last night."
"She slept with Jason?!"
"Not in the way you and I sleep together."
Alison stood in the entry way to her house with Eric and couldn't believe she hadn't put the pieces together sooner. Aria's parents were fighting because her Mom had finally discovered the affair her Dad had had. Looking towards the stairs and back to Eric she couldn't decide which way she wanted to go. She knew that Jason would take good care of Aria and Eric had come over to be with her. Taking his hand she moved them into the living room and put in the movie he had brought over.
Sitting down the twosome snuggled and Eric rested his head on Alison's. This is what he wanted. He wanted nights where they wouldn't have sex, but just hang out. Holding Alison was something he loved to do, her hair always smelled like strawberries and her skin was like baby soft. Running his fingers up and down her arm he decided to ask.
"Hey Ali can I ask you something?" he asked quietly.
Alison shifted in his arms, "What?" she asked with wide eyes.
"Can we be more than a hook up?"
"You want to be more than a hook up?" she said in disbelief.
"Yes. You're different and you deserve to be more than just a hook up." Eric explained.
Alison just wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, "I've been too nervous to ask you that exact same thing." She told him giggling.
Eric kissed her back and pulled her in closer to him.
Laying her head against Eric's chest she wondered how things were going up in Jason's room.
Aria had left Eric down stairs with Alison and didn't mind going to Jason alone. She wanted someone who would hold her and make her feel better. Walking up the stairs she was nervous. Knocking on his door all she wanted to was run away and never look back, she couldn't keep running to him when things in her life got hard.
Jason opened his door to find Aria on the other side looking scared and on the verge of tears. Gently he picked her up and brought her into his room and shut the door. Holding her close he laid down on his bed and let her cry out whatever she was feeling. He had gotten the feeling earlier in the day when they had texted that things at home weren't going smoothly.
Aria's head had found the same crook it had been in last night and she snuggled into Jason. He was just holding her and running his hands through her hair. She loved that feeling, it had always relaxed her. Feeling her body relax she gently sat up and straddled Jason.
"How are things at home really going?" he asked smoothing his hands over her thighs.
"Loud." She admitted playing with his shirt.
"Aria."
"I didn't want you to come get me."
"I would have stayed there with you and Mike. You don't have to face this alone." He told her.
"It's just… Mike has been having a really hard time and I don't know what to tell him or how to make it better." She stated starting to cry.
Jason just reached up and laid her back down on his chest. Holding her he knew she was safe and okay.
Aria gently shifted on top of Jason and sat up again looking at him. He just stared back at her and sat up leaning against his head board. Again she leaned close to him but this time she kissed him. Slowly Jason snaked his arms around her little body and pulled her close deepening the kiss. He loved the feeling of her lips against his. Aria pressed her body into Jason's and let him hold her. Gently pulling away Jason kissed her on the head to let her know he would always be there for her. Neither of them had any idea that Ali had seen them kiss.
Alison had wandered upstairs to check on Aria, but when she opened Jason's door she saw that her friend was fine. Her brother and best friend were in a lip lock and it looked like nothing was going to break them apart. Quietly shutting Jason's door she realized what had happened the night before. They had showed how they cared for each other. Skipping down stairs she decided to let them be and enjoy her night.
Agreeing Jason and Aria headed down stairs to join Alison and Eric. Walking into living room Aria took Jason's hand, he looked down at her but all she did was squeeze and keep walking. Alison and Eric moved to make room on the couch and the four finished one movie and started another. None of them saying a word. Before the second movie was started Ali grabbed Aria's hand and led her towards the kitchen.
Standing in the kitchen Alison gave Aria a hug, "I can trust you." She whispered. Aria just hugged her friend back and nodded. The two girls didn't need to say anything. They both knew then that they could trust each other and that nothing would be able to stand in their way.
