A/N: Hey everyone… let's keep the ball rollin' shall we? Ok so….

Rosewood, Subtract All Tragedies

Chapter Seven:

** Three Years Ago **

Aria was walking out of school later than usual one day, after having stayed after for extra help with her math project that was due at the end of the week. She readjusted her backpack on her shoulders and checked her phone for the time. She was supposed to be at the DiLaurentis' for dinner at six, she had just enough time to go home and change before she headed over. Her mother had offered to have Jason over the next day, it was like they were switching off houses – but it worked, for them.

She was walking down the street when she started coming up on Ben's house. She could hear who was in the yard before she could see them, so she made a split second decision to duck behind a tree.

"… No, Ben," Alison said angrily, "You're not with me. You're with Emily."

"I'm not with anyone," Ben refuted, sounding even angrier, "I took Em to the dance because you told me if I did, you would go out with me."

"Ha, fat chance," Ali said, "You didn't really believe me, did you Ben?"

"I'm not going to ask Em out," Ben said, "She's not for me."

"You will ask Emily out, Ben," Alison said, "If you want to stay in this group of friends."

"Don't act like we're all under your thumb," Ben said, annoyed, "We're all our own people here, Ali."

"That's cute," Ali chuckled, "Emily likes you, so it won't be that hard for me to say something to get all the girls against you, Ben. Then, where the girls go, the boys follow. Jason's with Aria, Sean's with Hanna, and Toby's with Spencer. Do you really think they'll have time to hang out with each other, their girlfriends, and then find time to fit you in separately?"

"Why're you such a bitch, Alison?" Ben asked, "I can't believe I liked you."

"You still do," Alison smirked, "Face it, Ben. I run this town, I've got everyone wrapped right around my finger. Ask Em out, ok? I promise, you'll be happy you did. She's a great girl."

"I'm not doubting that she's great," Ben said, "She's just not my type."

"Ben, you don't have a type," Alison said, "You're just lucky she has a thing for you. I don't know many girls who do."

"I don't know that I want to involve myself with anyone who'd be friends with you."

"Don't cross me, Ben," Alison said, ending the argument, "Call Em, tonight."

** Present Day **

Jason stopped right in his tracks, this was not something that he had thought of.

"Well, he kissed me," Aria scrambled to explain, "But I didn't-"

"When?" Jason asked and Aria took a deep breath.

"At the dance, on Friday," Aria told him, "After Hanna returned to the dance, we went to the library to talk because we were clearly having issues. Then we were fighting, because I was upset, and then he said some things that were – and then he kissed me. I made him stop but—"

"You didn't want him to," Jason nodded understandingly, "Aria, I knew long before that that I'd lost you. Don't worry about it. I've still got Alison."

"What're you going to tell her?" Aria asked, slightly taken off guard.

"I'm going to tell her that I ended it," Jason said, taking a deep breath, "That I just wasn't in love with you anymore."

"Why're you doing this, Jason?"

"Because I love you," He said simply, "Because if the truth is what's presented to her, you and Ezra will never be at peace. That's all I want for you, Aria – I want you to be happy and this way, Ali has the chance to approve you guys – if you play your cards right. And if he hurts you, I'll kill him."

"She's never going to approve," Aria said, choosing to ignore the last bit, and he nodded.

"Well, I'll give you a hint," He smiled, "No one in this town cares what she thinks, other than our group of friends. And Aria, this town is used to us. I'd rather you and Ezra have a shot to be accepted rather than just be a scandal."

"You're an amazing guy, Jason," Aria said, and he rolled his eyes, "You are going to make some girl happier than you could ever make me someday."

"It's what anyone would do," Jason smiled slightly as he leaned in and kissed her forehead, "Goodbye, Aria. Give me a little while ok?"

"Sure," Aria said, her heart sinking to see the slight hurt in his face – he was an expert at hiding his emotions – he had to be living with Alison.

"I just need a few days," He smiled weakly, "We'll talk soon. I'll call you, or tell you when I'm ready, ok?"

"Ok," Aria said, making a mental note, "Still one of my best friends?"

"That could never change, Aria," He said, as he headed for the door, "I just need to process – a break – I promise, I'll always be there for you. I just need a couple day to… recover."

"I'm so sorry, Jason."

"There's no reason to be," He said as he opened the door, "Aria, you were only a little girl when we started dating. You're growing up, and that means changing."

Jason left before Aria could say another word, and Aria collapsed onto the couch. She took a deep breath, waiting for the tears to start to come, but they didn't. She wondered if she was in shock, and stood up. They had ended things to amicably, maybe she would be alright.

"Aria?" Ella asked as she walked into the room, "Was that Jason? He could have stayed for dinner."

"No, he couldn't have," Aria said and Ella looked at her daughter a little strangely, "We just broke up."

"What?" Ella was shocked, "Why? Don't worry honey, I'm sure it won't last."

"No, mom – Jason and I are done," Aria formed the words very carefully, "We've resolved that in time, we can be friends – but we're not together, anymore."

"Are you ok with this?" Ella asked.

"I think I will be," Aria replied as she picked up their junior prom picture off the mantle, "But would you mind taking these all down?"

"Of course."

Ezra had walked home from school, Jason had offered him a ride, but he hadn't felt right taking it. He walked into his house after noticing a foreign silver car in the driveway. He wondered vaguely whether his mom had a visitor as he walked up the walkway towards the house. He walked through the door and his mother was waiting for him in the overly decorated living room.

"You're later than usual," She observed, not unkindly, "I thought Jason drove you home from school?"

"Oh, I didn't want it today," He shrugged.

"Would this have something to do with Aria?"

"What? No, mom," Ezra said frantically and she nodded, pursing her lips.

"Because I am on committees with Mrs. DiLaurentis, Ezra," she said, "And I don't want any bad blood."

"Don't worry about it," Ezra said, and she nodded.

"That's what I like to hear."

"Who's car's in the driveway?"

"Yours," She replied, "I know you're too good to ask for one, but we're not in the city anymore. You'll need wheels to get yourself around."

"Thanks," Ezra said, surprised at his mother's thoughtfulness.

"And, there's a benefit dinner for the public gardens in a month, I want you to come with me."

"Mom-"

"I know, it's not really your scene," His mother said, handing him the key to the car, "But…"

The car was a bribe.

"I would have gone with you without the car," Ezra told her, his eyebrows raised.

"I know," Mrs. Fitz said, "But first impressions are very important in this town, and this will be the first dinner since I've joined."

"Ok," Ezra said, putting the car keys into his pocket.

"Just don't tell your brother, ok?" She said, "He's still in New York, he doesn't need one. But, if he finds out you have one…"

"He'll need one," Ezra knew his brother well enough to know that his mother was right.

"So, do you like the Montgomery girl?" She asked, mostly out of morbid curiosity.

"She's with Jason."

"She may not be forever," She pointed out, "But how close are you with Jason?"

"He's ok, he's a friend," Ezra said, "Last time I checked."

"Yeah, Mrs. DiLaurentis is like that too," She said, and Ezra took a deep breath, "The reason I'm asking is because Mrs. Montgomery…"

"Mom, it's been a long day," Ezra said, not wanting to discuss the Montgomery's any further, "Can I just go get cleaned up?"

"Oh, of course," She said, "Then, how about we go out to dinner? Give you an excuse to drive the new car."

"Mind if I just go out with Toby?"

"Toby Cavanaugh?"

"Yeah."

"I guess so," She replied, "This Toby runs in the same crowd?"

"He does," Ezra said, from his room where he was changing into a t-shirt rather than the usual dress shirt style he wore to school.

"Ok." She replied as his phone went off on his bed.

Jason and Aria just broke up. Call me. ~Toby

Aria was sitting on her couch with her dinner. Her mother had been hesitant, but had to leave her at the house to go to Mike's game, which Aria hadn't felt up to going to. Her father brought her a pint of Chunky Monkey when he got home from work—she was sure on her mom's request. It was waiting for her in the freezer, but she was much more concerned with what was waiting for her when she got to school the next day.

"You ok, Aria?" Byron asked as he walked out into the room from his study.

He had, on Ella's request made up an excuse to stay home – he had too many papers that needed grading.

"Yeah, dad," She half-smiled, and he nodded.

"You really think Jason's not him, huh?"

"No."

"What about Ezra?"

"Dad," Aria's eyes expanded.

"Oh, c'mon," He said, "I can't be too far off, can I?"

"Dad, Jason and I just broke up," Aria said and Byron nodded.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked," He said as he went to put himself back into his study.

Before he could get there, someone knocked on the door. He made for the door, and saw Spencer, Hanna, Emily, and Alison standing on his doorstep. He smiled at them, Emily was carrying what looked like homemade cupcakes.

"Can we see Aria?" Ali's sickeningly sweet voice asked.

"We baked her cupcakes," Emily said.

"One second, girls," Byron said, and he closed the door and went to Aria, "Your friends are here, are you accepting visitors?"

"Which ones?" Aria asked.

"Hanna, Spencer, Alison, and Emily," He rattled them off, taking her empty dinner plate, "Who else would you be expecting?"

"No one," Aria breathed, "You can let them in."

"Ok," Byron said, taking a small detour only to drop Aria's plate in the sink and then went and opened the door for them.

"Aria, you haven't been answering your phone – we were worried," Emily said as they all traipsed into see her sitting on the couch.

"I shut it off."

"My brother's such an ass," Ali said as they all plopped down on the couch with Aria.

"Did he give you a reason?" Spencer asked.

"He already changed his status on Facebook," Hanna said, and Aria tried not to think about it too hard – after all she had just de-Jasoned her whole house.

"He said he just wasn't in love anymore," Aria said, and Hanna looked down at the ground as everyone supplied her with little bits of comfort.

"That's what he told me, too," Alison said, "He's being an idiot, Aria. He'll come around."

"I don't think he will," Aria said and Alison's face contorted a bit.

"He'll come around, don't worry about it, Aria," She said, "He loves you – even if he's too pigheaded to realize right now."

"Where is he?" Spencer asked, all riled up, "I could talk to him right now."

"He's at the house with Sean and Ben," Alison said, "I already tried talking to him once today, though."

"Where's Toby?" Hanna asked.

"He said something about Ezra's mom going ballistic," Spencer said, "They're going out to dinner, then I think Toby's going over to Jason's."

"Awe, a man date."

"Guys, I think Jason and I've just grown apart," Aria said and Ali rolled her eyes.

"These things can be fixed, Aria," Ali smiled controllingly.

Aria had had a feeling that things would not be as simple as Jason had said they would.

"No, guys," said Aria, "I'm fine. It was a good break up, we're still going to be best friends, and after a few days there'll be no change, I promise."

"Oh, Aria," Ali said patronizingly, "You're so strong. You don't have to be. Jason will be yours again in no time."

"Ali, please don't."

"I know you're hurt right now, but I know you'll do what's best."

Ezra was sitting in his new car with Toby in the front seat. He had just finished filling Toby in on everything that had happened in the past four days. Toby was speechless.

"So what happened?" Toby asked, "Did Aria break up with Jason, or did Jason break up with her?"

"I don't know," Ezra said, "She asked for space, and I intend on giving her that until she tells me otherwise. She just broke up with Jason after five years, it'll be a while."

"I have to get over to Jason's," Toby said, looking at his phone, "He says to bring you with me."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Ezra panicked.

"Relax, Jason's much cooler than you know," He said, "Ben and Sean have a game tonight. It would be too suspicious if you didn't come too."

"And what if they're all just waiting there to beat the shit out of me?" Ezra asked and Toby shook his head.

"Jason's not like that, Ezra," He said, "C'mon, you know that."

Ezra took a deep breath as he started up the engine again, and they headed over to the DiLaurentis' house. Sean and Ben were coming out of the house as they pulled into the driveway and Ben smiled.

"Nice wheels, Fitzy," He said friendly.

"Thanks, just got 'em," Ezra said as they got out of the car.

"How is he?" Toby asked Sean and he shrugged.

"A little torn up," He said, "But he seems like he'll be ok. Won't hear a bad word against her."

"Cracked," Ben said, "C'mon, Sean – we're going to be late."

"We'll see you guys later," Toby said, putting a hand on Ezra's back and forcing him into the house.

"Hey, guys," Jason said as he walked in, he noticed how scared Ezra looked right off the bat, "Ezra – dude – take a breath. I'm not angry with you. Aria told me everything. I just needed to talk to you – you both. I figure you already filled Tobes in?"

"Yeah, he told me," Toby said when Ezra didn't say anything.

"I'm really sorry," Ezra said and Jason waived it off.

"Ezra, it was bound to happen," Jason said, "Aria was never as in to me as I am to her. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone came along. And the way it happened I had a couple months to come to terms with it. I'm just glad it's you, a nice guy I know'll treat her well. But hey, the story is that I broke up with her because I just wasn't feeling it anymore."

"What? Why? Why would you do that?"

"Because," Jason said, "If you and Aria are going to have any shot of a chance, she needs to be the victim. It's not like I'm going to be dating anyone any time soon. It's just easier. I'm sure she'd have done the same thing for me. Aria and I's relationship, we've always had a good head about it. We told ourselves the whole way that we were best friends first, and our relationship came second. A best friend could never make her deprive herself something like this, and neither can I."

Ezra went quiet as Toby and Jason went back and forth trying to figure out how Alison was going to do. His mind was reeling, did this mean that he and Aria – there was actually going to be a him and Aria? What if she changed her mind? What if she already had? Or maybe she was just giving it a few days? It would be a while before it would seem acceptable for her to be seeing someone new, but he was terrified now that she was free of Jason, maybe she'd realize how great Jason was. What if he couldn't match up? Either way, for all he knew she still wanted space.

"Hey, Ez," Jason extended his hand, "Still friends, no hard feelings?"

"Yeah, of course," He absent mindedly shook Jason's hand.

"What's wrong, dude?" Jason asked, "You look how I feel."

"It's just – a lot."

"If you punk out and hurt her, I will kill you," Jason said, immediately and shook my head.

"No, no it's the opposite," Ezra told him, "I'm starting to worry she'll change her mind."

"She won't," He said, and Ezra nodded, "Anyways – I'm exhausted and could do with a little alone time. Could you guys go? I can give you rides home if you want."

"No, Ez's got wheels," Toby said and Jason raised his eyebrows.

"My mom just gave it to me," Ezra said flashing his keys and Jason nodded.

"I'll see it tomorrow?" He asked, and Ezra nodded as Toby ushered him out of the house.

"Hey, Toby, Ezra," Mrs. DiLaurentis greeted them with smiles, "Jason!"

"Hey mom," Jason said.

"What's wrong?" Mrs. DiLaurentis asked as she stopped Ezra and Toby, "Why're you boys leaving? I'm about to cook dinner."

"Aria and I broke up," Jason told his mother, "They just came by to check in on me."

"You and Aria broke up?"

Toby and Ezra took their cue to go, thanking Mrs. DiLaurentis as they headed for Ezra's car. They hopped in and pulled away from the house just as Toby's phone went off in his pocket.

Did you say Ezra's got wheels?It's really dark out now, do you think he'd mind giving Em, Ali, and I a lift home? ~Spencer.

"Spencer wants to know if you can give the girls rides home from Aria's," Toby said, "I'll just tell her no."

"No, I'll do it," Ezra said.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll do it. They'll just have to come out," He said, "I don't think I have enough seats in the back though."

"Hanna lives across the street," Toby said and Ezra nodded as he drove over to Aria's house, and parked out front.

"Ezra," Emily said, like she had found the holy grail as she and the other two piled into the back of his car.

"Yeah, Em?" He replied, hoping that he was wrong about the direction the conversation would go.

"Good idea, Em," Alison said, "Ezra, I know you and Aria are having a tiff or something at the moment, but you should go in and talk to her. Tell her Jason'll be back before she knows it."

"Yeah, she's like in shock or something," Emily said.

"I don't think me going in there will make anything better," Ezra said, taking a deep breath, "She's pissed at me, I'm sure she doesn't even want to speak with me, never mind have me just walk right into her house."

"Oh, c'mon, Ezra," Emily said, "This is no time to stay away just because of some stupid fight that you had with her. You're her closest guy friend now that Jason's being a jerk."

"I'm sure she'd love to see you," Alison said, in that weird all-knowing voice, "You can't bail on her now."

"Do you three want rides home or not?" Ezra asked.

"I can't believe you're not going to be there for her," Spencer sounded livid, "After all she's done for you."

"Fine," Ezra got out of the car, shutting the door just a little too hard and headed for the front door.