Disclaimer: I don't own PLL.

A/N: Hey guys, just letting you all know I'm not really happy with how this turned out but hope you enjoy it anyway :)

Enjoy :)

Chapter 4

The fresh breeze is cool on my face as I swing back and forth gently on the chair just outside my front door.

I take a deep breath of clean air, and close my eyes when the smell of freshly cut grass fills my noise briefly reminding me why I'm so tired.

It's a moment of peace sitting here staring out at the road and listening to the crickets chirping and not hearing the squeal of tyres on the pavement.

I reach forward and pick up the engagement ring from the table in front of me and twirl it in my fingers while watching it glisten in the setting sun.

I take this moment to really think through the decisions I've made in my life to lead me to this moment.

I finally come to terms with the fact that Jason left me, and I'm truly grateful for that.

I was becoming tired of whom he was molding me in to and I want to take the time to rediscover myself.

I can't bring myself to regret making the rash decision to move to a small town in the middle of no where – I don't even regret following Jason here.

Because it lead me to the misunderstood man across the street whose ghostly smile shows how hurt and damaged he is under all those layers.

Today I started to peel those layers off and I will continue to do so until I see the beautiful soul underneath and discover the hurt he feels everyday.

I want him to come to peace with this hurt, and I want to be there for him every step of the way.

I smile at the engagement ring in my hand before getting up and walking down my porch stairs.

I make my way down the quiet road, enjoying the view in front of me.

Twenty minutes later I come across a beautiful lake and I give my ring one last look before tossing it into the water.

I feel a strange calm wash over me as I see the ripples in the water disappear.

I slowly make my way down the grocery aisle; the only sound to be heard is the small squeak of protest the wheels of my shopping trolley make as I push it along.

I pause at the pasta and decide if I feel like fettuccine or spaghetti pasta. I finally reach for the fettuccine as Jason never like the thickness.

I smile as I place it in my trolley for the first time in years and continue along the aisle.

I don't look up again until I hear the sound of metal connecting and feel my trolley running into another.

I look up apologetically to be met with Jason's cold green eyes.

I feel a lump form in my throat as I take on a deer caught in the headlights look.

"Jason." I give him a curt nod and suddenly wish this aisle were wider so I could move past him without a problem.

I'm suddenly contemplating ditching my trolley here and fleeing the store.

"Aria, what are you doing here?" He asks, forgoing the pleasantries.

"I live here." I reply simply.

"Since when?"

"Since recently. Why do you care?" I throw back at him.

"I don't, I'm just surprised." He tells me, his eyes analyzing me.

"You look different." He continues, his eyes still taking me in.

"Decided it was time for a change." I tell him, referring to my new look and new place of residence.

"Look, Aria. I know you took our break up hard but I don't know how much healing you can do here… you're just setting yourself up for more hurt." He tells me with fake sincerity.

"I think I can take it." I tell him, my blood boiling.

"Aria, I know it was a shock when I left you but you just weren't enough for me anymore." He tells me his tone of voice mocking me.

"I'm not as torn up about you as you think Jason. So get over yourself already." I tell him trying to calm down before I explode.

"You followed me to the middle of no where. That's… very stalker like."

I narrow my eyes at him, feeling the need to punch him in the face.

"I don't have to answer to you anymore. I don't have to please you anymore and I sure as hell don't have to stand here and listen to your whiny voice anymore, so move the hell out of my way before I make you." My eyes are glaring at him, trying to convey how serious I am.

I storm out of the store, my groceries forgotten.

I stalk angrily down the main street kicking a stray rock, not caring who is watching my little tantrum.

I groan as I hear the rapping of knuckles on the front door an hour later, I bury my head further into the pillow hoping it goes away.

I lift my head reluctantly after it becomes clear that who ever it is doesn't go away.

I roll off the couch and on to my feet and stalk to the front door.

My mouth opens in surprise as I see Ezra on the other side, in the back of my mind I recognise that this is progress. He's come to my door this time.

I blink at him a few times before noticing the grocery bags in his hands.

"You left these at the store." He tells me awkwardly.

"But I hadn't paid for them yet…"

"I know. But you seemed upset so I thought I'd get them for you." I feel a huge smile break out onto my face at his thoughtful gesture.

I usher him inside and he places the bags down on my kitchen counter.

"Thanks, Ezra. You didn't have to do this." I tell him moving to start unpacking the groceries.

"No problem. I needed to talk to you anyway." He tells him fiddling with his hands nervously.

"Sure, what's up?" I tilt my head in question, the smile still on my face.

"I'm starting to understand why you were interested in getting to know me." He starts off cryptically.

"Why's that?" I ask trying to judge his mood.

"I saw your fight in the store." He tells me, seemingly switching topics.

"Yea. The nerve of that asshole. Accusing me of moving here because of him! It may have been true at first but that doesn't give him the right to assume! What an ass!" I rant at him, feeling the rage surface again.

"Yea, you know what they say about assuming…" Ezra trails off which causes a huge smile and giggle from me.

"Yea, well he really is an ass." I tell him, happy that he's here.

"Look, I finally get it now. Why you seemed to care about me, and I actually believed you maybe wanted to be friends or something but it's ok, I may not have understood before but I do now." Ezra tells me, looking at his feet.

"Ezra, what are you talking about?" I ask anxiously, not liking the way this is going.

"You wanting to teach that husband of yours a lesson. So you turned to the towns bad boy because you wanted to get his attention." His eyes are now staring into mine and I'm shocked by the emotions within.

"No, Ezra that's not true. He's not my-"

"Don't try to deny it, I saw you playing with that ring." He tells me, his eyes going hard.

"But Ezra-"

"I don't need some desperate housewife." He spits at me, before walking out of my house slamming the door as he goes.

A/N: Please review and let me know your thoughts.