Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Pairing: Aria/Jason. Some Aria/Ezra. Others are mentioned.

Summary: She never meant for this to happen but it did and now she has no clue what to do about it. Jason/Aria.

Author's Note: Hope you all like! This goes out to my youngest sister who is an even bigger Aria/Jason shipper than me. Lol. Love ya, kid!

seven day fool

chapter 4

You were at an end breaking at the bend

heaven was an awful lot to lose

what if I'd of prayed

If I would have stayed

If I would have thought about you

I just covered your eyes and let you crumble down down down on the inside

All this trouble is mine

I let you crumble down down down on the inside

I can't lie love,

I'm sort of Delilah

And I know

that I let you down, I let you down, I let you down

Anna Nalick- Sort of Delilah

Thursday morning

It starts when she wakes up in the morning. The sun is streaming through her room, there's a slight chill in the air and when Aria stretches in her bed, her outstretched arm sweeps over her bedside table and her palm connects with a lamp. She sees is wobble side to side and she watches in acute horror as it tips over and falls to the floor, crashing into a thousand little pieces.

"I got you a lamp." Allison says, a small smile gracing her lips.

Aria cocks her head to the side. "A lamp?"

She nods. "I figure since you have trouble sleeping, a lamp would be better than trying to read and write against the moonlight."

"That's really sweet, Allie. Thanks."

She takes the lamp and looks over it. It's exquisite in its design. It has an antique look and feel to it.

Allie runs a fingertip over the side. "The man who sold it to me said that it was made over one hundred years ago and the maker was a very religious man. He carved the word Veritas on it, branding the lamp to bring the truth to light. The maker was said to have studied witchcraft and before he died, he placed a curse against the lamp. Whoever broke it, would have bad luck. A lifetime of bad luck and would see the light evaporate before their very eyes, drowning them in darkness and loneliness."

She tells the tale quietly, whispering it, even though they're the only two people in her room. Aria's lip quivers. She doesn't believe in curses. She doesn't believe in witchcraft, but listening to Allison retell the story in her sudden airy voice, in her calm cool demeanor, scares Aria. "You got all that from one street vendor in Madrid?"

"I'm just repeating what he said."

Aria smiles and hold the lamp just a little tighter. "I promise to keep it safe."

"Good." Allison says, she crosses her arms over her chest and smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I'd hate for you to have bad luck."

Aria is snapped out of her memory when her parents rush into her room. She glances up at them and then stares at her lamp. "It fell. I accidently hit it."

Her mother breathes out a sigh of relief. "That's fine." She places a hand over her heart. "God, that scared me. Okay, we'll get this cleaned up."

"I can't believe it's broken."

"Aria?" Her father calls out. He places a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it honey, things like this happen."

After she washes her face, brushes her teeth and slips into her clothes, Aria makes her way downstairs. She doesn't know how it happens, but she slips and falls hard on her backside. She yelps and the tears come instantly. Her back hurts and her ass is aching.

Mike is standing at the bottom of the stairs and he looks at her while she struggles to get up and her parents are fussing over her. "Well," he says, "You're just having a shitty start aren't you?"

When she gets into her mother's car, her phone beeps and Aria fishes through her bag to reach it. Bad start to the day? Don't worry my little liar, it's just gonna get worse. A.

"Something bad is going to happen." She whispers to her friends as she meets them in front of the school.

"What do you mean?" Hanna asks as she, Spencer and Emily huddle around Aria.

Aria shakes her head. "A. She's going to do something." She looks at her friends and they're all staring at her worriedly. God, she's been lying to them, to them, her three best friends for so long. "Listen, there's something I have to tell you guys-" The bell rings and they all look at each other.

"We'll talk after class?" Emily asks.

"Wait, guys, really-"

"Geometry calls." Hanna deadpans.

"I've got French." Spencer sighs. "See you guys at lunch?"

"Done and done." Emily agrees as she picks up her bad and walks into the school.

Aria stays outside the school for a few more moments, suddenly wishing that she never got out of bed this morning.

Thursday afternoon

It happens after lunch. She's in World History class when her phone beeps and she looks at it, she can feel the blood rush out of her. She feels faint and suddenly, she can hear her labored breathing. Oh God. OhGodOhGodOhGod.

Because there she is, in a high definition picture, in Jason's car, mouths firmly attached to each other. His hand in her hair and her hands gripping his sweater pulling him tighter, closer to her.

There's a caption underneath; This is what happens when liars don't tell the truth. It ends up coming out anyways. Who says blondes have more fun? A.

It's like a simultaneous catalyst. Almost every phone in the class goes off and she can feel the stares, the laughs, the gasps. With shaking hands, she grabs her books and shoves them in her bag as she stumbles out of her chair and into the hallway. She runs to the quickest bathroom and locks herself in a stall.

Oh God.

She feels the vomit in her throat and Aria barely has enough time to turn around, head bent over the toilet before she retches out her lunch.

(In her gut, Aria knew that this was going to happen, she just fucking knew).

"Jason, Aria? Jason?" Surprisingly, it's Emily that's the most enraged out of all of them. They're all crowded in the third floor bathroom, huddled around Aria, whose head is bent over the sink.

Hanna looks around when the door opens and shakes her head. "It's occupied. Get out."

The girl stands and looks at them. "Who the hell made you queen?"

Hanna scoffs and walks towards her. "I did. Now get the fuck out." She pushes the girl out of the bathroom and shuts the door, as she stands against it, blocking it. "Okay. We need to breathe. Just breathe…what the hell were you thinking?"

"Obviously," Emily snaps, "she wasn't."

"It was just a one time thing." Hanna reasons.

Spencer hasn't said anything, she just stares at Aria. "It wasn't. It wasn't just a one time thing, was it?" Spencer finally asks.

Aria shakes her head miserably. "No."

"Are you and Ezra broken up?" Spencer asks calmly.

"No."

"You cheated on him?" The disbelief and hurt is evident in Hanna's voice and Aria has never felt like the biggest bitch in the world then she does at this moment.

"Yes." Yes. She did cheat on him. She could try to deny it, she could try and say that it was just something to pass the time with, but the truth of the matter is, yes, she did cheat on Ezra, With Jason.

"Jesus, Aria."

"Do you like him?" Spencer asks.

"Yes." The word tumbles out of her mouth faster than she can stop it. "Yes. He makes me laugh and he makes my stomach flutter and he excites me and he's such a good kisser and he fits perfectly against me. He makes me forget and most of all…most of all he likes my pink hair."

The three girls are silent as Aria rinses her mouth out with water.

"This is what you made Spencer promise us, isn't it?" Emily asks. "Yesterday, when Spencer told us that you made us promise to always be here for you when shit hits the fan, this is it, isn't it?"

Aria nods.

"I hate that you cheated on Fitz." Hanna announces. "Like, I honestly hate it and if you weren't my best friend, I'd call you…so many names."

"You can." Aria sniffles. "Call me names. I know you want to."

Hanna shakes her head. "No. No I don't. I'm not Allison. I would never use this against you."

Wonder how the boyfriend is dealing with the betrayal? A.

Aria all but runs to Hollis. She doesn't care that her heels make obscene noises as she runs down the halls, past the trophies and past the black and white photos of previous graduates, she just runs until she reaches his office. She doesn't know what to say. She hasn't rehearsed it. All she knows is that she doesn't want him to find out like this. Not like this. Not from A.

She runs into his office and stops dead in her tracks. He's staring blankly at his computer screen. His face twisted up in devastation and hurt radiating from his eyes.

"Ezra." She croaks.

He looks at her, eyes so hurt, so betrayed. (Oh, God. She didn't realize how much this would hurt). "Aria…" he sounds so lost. "I don't…what?...tell me this is Photoshop."

She closes her eyes and when she opens them, she knows that her eyes are pooling with unshed tears. "I want to. I want to tell you that this is a joke, but it's not. I want to tell you I regret it, but I don't. I'm just…I am so sorry that this has hurt you. I never…you're…I…" She breaks off, tears spilling over her cheeks. "Oh, God. Ezra, I am so sorry."

He gapes at her and then he shakes his head. "I just…I don't…how could you do this?" His voice is quiet. He's not yelling, he doesn't even sound angry, he just sounds disappointed. (Aria can't help but want him to get angry. She wants him to yell and to throw things. And damn-it she wants emotion).

And because she's so sick of lying and because she's so sick of always second guessing herself, she opts for the truth. "Because somewhere along the line, I think I stopped loving you so fiercely."

(And Oh God, the truth has never felt so good coming out of her mouth).

Thursday evening

She walks aimlessly around Rosewood. Her feet hurt. Her whole entire body hurts. She sits on a park bench and closes her eyes.

(Ezra didn't yell at her. He didn't call her names. He didn't say anything. He just stared. "I think you should go." He says, his voice devoid of any emotion. And so, she left. She left and went outside. She waited outside against the chilly air. She waited and he never came out. He didn't fight for her. And she thinks that if he loved her, he'd fight for her. But he didn't).

"Aria?"

She opens her eyes and her breath catches. He's standing in front of her; coat bundled up around him, hands in his pockets. His hair is falling into his face. "Hi."

He's staring at her, worried expression on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." She answers automatically. She looks down at the ground. "No."

"I figured." He takes a seat next to her. "So, I got an interesting picture message today."

"I figured."

They sit in silence as the day blends into night and soon the air is getting colder and Aria can suddenly see white wisps of air as she breathes. The sky blackens; the moon glows and the stars shine above them.

Jason sighs and turns around to face her. "Come with me."

"Where?"

He shrugs. "I don't know, anywhere. Let's just get out of Rosewood."

She wants to tell him no. She wants to tell him that he's done enough. She wants to tell him to never contact her, to never look at her, to never think about her. She doesn't. She doesn't say anything because he looks at her, his eyes wide and pleading. "Okay."

She follows him to his car and fastens her seatbelt, staring ahead as he starts his car and starts driving.

It's only when they're driving past the You're Now Leaving Rosewood sign that Aria sighs with relief. She shares a smile with Jason and looks out the window.

(Because Aria has never felt so content as she does when she's with Jason. This she will admit).

Didn't anyone ever tell you not to run away? No worries. I'll be here when you get back. A.

Oh. Chapter four! You guys are awesome. You know that? Just totally awesome. I love you all! Seriously, you guys rock. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you all think. Your reviews mean so much to me! Thanks again!

HUGE SHOUTOUT: msbookworm93, rjt040190, cherry-orchid, The-Esscence-Of-Everything, Maiqu, LoiRoko, ME LOVEY JAZZY, Ebony-Miracles, JacksMannequin102, greysluver13, halegranger, I hope I haven't forgotten anyone! If I have, let me know and I will personally send out a HUGE THANK-YOU. Because you guys are just awesome. Honestly. I can't thank you all enough for your support!

Thanks again!

Bex.

P.S. Any mistakes are mine. I apologize if I offend anyone with them.