Catch and Release

Chapter 4

Aria was grinning from ear to ear that night as she hung out with her friends wanting to tell them every detail of her possible new position. She knew she really shouldn't get her hopes up after all there were multiple applicants for this job and she was one of very few without profession experience to back her up, but she was good. Very good and she knew that no one could take that from her. She just hoped they could see that in her like she saw that in herself.

Aria pulled the door to the pub and smiled as she saw her friends Spencer, Hannah, Emily, Mona, and Allison sat waiting for her arrival. She couldn't wait to tell them about everything and to catch up on all that she had missed while they were away for the summer.

"Aria!" Spencer yelled from the table making Aria smile broadly.

Aria made her way to the table where Spencer took her into her embrace.

"Oh, me and the girls were all talking about how great it was to be back in Rosewood and talking about our summers, but we're all dying to know about that position of yours."

"Well there's not much to talk about. Right now it's all just a lot of paperwork, answering phones, putting out snacks for the artist were propositioning for that night, and making coffee. I mean yeah I'm learning a lot of stuff, but not as much as I want to at the moment."

"That's fine. Internships are a learning experience and they always have to start somewhere..." Spencer started before Allison interrupted her.

"Speaking of learning experiences tell us all about your boss, Aria. Is he a hottie like everyone claims he is?"

"I wouldn't know I don't think of him that way."

"Oh come on Aria, you can't tell me you haven't stared at that perfect ass all day every day and haven't once thought about banging him in his art studio."

Aria pressed her lips together not willing to tell Allison that she had banged him in his art studio. Hell she wouldn't even be surprised if she knew that he was also their teacher for this term. She wondered how that had happened. The last time she checked Ezra didn't have a teaching degree than again she didn't know Ezra from much than what was in his pants, but she wasn't going to let Allison know that common knowledge.

"Nope not once."

"Wow. Are you sure you're not gay?"

"Pretty sure Allison. Besides he's my boss I don't see him that way. Not all of us would spread our legs for everyone who asks."

"Wow. Looks like Aria grabbed some major lady balls over the summer or did you finally let a guy goes balls deep in you for a change?"

"Okay for one ew, We're in public can we please act like it and for two no I didn't let a guy go balls deep I'm waiting for the right one to come along." Aria said trying to not let her voice falter with the lie. She had let someone take her virginity this summer. She just wished she had known better and waited for the right moment instead of just letting her boss get hot and heavy with her. After that little session they had been constantly going at it. At least they wee. Now that he was teaching her English class she didn't know how much of a damper that would cause for their sex life. After all they weren't dating. I mean wouldn';t dating entitle more than dropping your pants for your boss behind a 7/11?

"Hello. Earth to Aria." Allison said interrupting her not so clean thoughts.

"What?"

"Shessh, don't you ever listen. I was saying that if your not in the mood to bang your boss than I can give you Jason's number for a good time."

"Are you seriously trying to pimp out your brother?"

"Why not? Jason needs to get laid. You need to get laid. It's a win win in my eyes. Plus Jason is always talking about how amazingly pretty you are. Like you're the only friend of mine he actually admitted he would go for. If you know what I mean."

"Jason doesn't need my help or your help for that matter when it comes to getting laid. He's an attractive guy I'm sure he can find somebody else."

"Suite yourself from what my brothers exes tell me he's amazing in bed and I'm sure Jason could show you a move or two if you're willing to let him offer you help instead of being so stubborn."

"I have all the help I need Allison, but thanks anyway."

"Your dildos and your unlimited stash of porn don't count Aria. You need some real experience under your belt."

"You mean like you? No thanks Allison unlike you I'm not comfortable sleeping with my dad's friend behind his back or does he not know about that. I mean seeing as how older men seem to do it for you. Isn't that why you and your ex broke up in the first place because your were also fucking his dad on the side along with him?"

Before Allison can say anything, Emily, who was usually the quiet one spoke up on Allison 's behalf.

"Aria I know Allison is laying it on extra thick for you today, but that's no excuse to bring up the subject of who she can and can't sleep with."

Aria bulked trying to find the words to respond to Emily with. Aria knew that Emily had had a crush on Allison for years, but sometimes Aria felt as if Emily was Allison's personal door mat.

"Look I know what I said was out of line, but Allison, you were provoking me and I just wanted you to stop. I didn't mean to bring up that time, but you just wouldn't leave me alone."

Allison rolled her eyes and collected her bag looking at all the other girls at the table.

"Be careful whose secrets you spill Aria it might come with some mighty fine consequences."

"Whatever Allison."

"Just don't say I didn't warn you Aria. Bye girls I'm out to go fuck one of the many dads in Rosewood. Hey maybe I'll even tell send a look towards Aria's dad since I know how much he goes for younger girls."

"What the hell are you talking about Allison?"

"I guess that's for me to know and for you to find out. All I can tell you is you better keep a close eye on that dad of yours. See you around."

Spencer grabbed Aria's hand shaking her head in a warning as they let Allison leave. What the hell did Allison have on her dad that she was hiding?

"Come on Aria. Just sit down with us. Ali is just having one of those days."

"What did she mean by that?" Aria said looking to Spencer for answers. It always seemed like she always had them.

"You know Allison, she just likes running her mouth, you know you can't trust a lot of the things she says."

"Then why do we hang out with her? If we find her sneaky and dishonest than why do we bother being her friends in the first place?"

"Because you know there's more to Allison than what she leads on. Seriously Aria she's not so bad when you really get to know her." Emily said looking down to the floor. Of course. Allison's personal cheerleader.

"It doesn't give her the right to treat her friends like shit especially you em."

"You just don;t get her like I do."

"Please Emily last week she accused you of sucking face with Paige and Maya and actually liking it. She knows you're with Ben and you're also her friend. I just don't get why she would start those kind of rumors."

"Just stop talking about things you don't know about okay? Now if you don't excuse me I gotta go. I'll see you guys at the party tonight."

"Emily I-"

"Don't. Seriously. I'll see you guys later."

"What with her today?" Aria asked watching Emily go.

"Things have been hard lately with her dad getting deployed again and with Ben as well. The rumors going around about Emily not being into guys has pushed Ben into demanding sex from Emily. Talk about a major dickwad." Hanna said putting her input into the conversation for the first time today.

"Poor Em, I didn't know."

"To be fair Aria besides what's behind your camera you don';t really notice much." Mona said applying some mascara.

"Whatever Mona. Just do me a favor and mind your own business. So what party was Emily talking about anyway."

"Noel Khan's of course." Mona answered not following Aria's advice like she usually did.

"Why is he having a party on a school night anyway?"

"You're such a nerd Aria. Why wouldn't he have fun on a school night. I take it you're not going tonight."

"On the contrary a party tonight sounds exactly like what I need right now. I'll just have to be fashionably late because I have my internship until 8."

"Then I guess we'll see you there." Mona said her voice challenging her.

"Oh you can bet you will."

And than Aria left the cafe to go to her internship and to confront Ezra about what exactly what was going on.