CHAPTER EIGHT
Jason didn't get home until after 10:00pm. After dropping Aria off he didn't go straight home. He drove to a hardware store out of town to buy photo developing liquid. He had run out and needed to pick some more up. He had rolls upon rolls of film he had found that he wanted to develop. He had converted the woodshed in his backyard into a darkroom, so he could do so. He wasn't sure who all of the film belonged to, but he knew some of it was his and some was Alison's. A lot was his mother's as well. The first five rolls were all of Alison as a child. Jason had made a few appearances in those photos, but it was like their parents didn't want anyone to know that he existed.
He drove back to Rosewood and went to the shed. He took down the photos that were dried and hung up the newly developed ones. Even he was a little creeped out by the photos he had just hung up, but he would be lying if he said they weren't beautiful. Just creepy. He thought about starting another roll, but it was late, and he was getting tired.
Jason went inside and changed out of the suit he had been wearing for most of the night. He hated dressing up, but he did it for his mother. Most of the things he did were for her. He didn't have anyone else to do anything for. Once he had changed he climbed into bed and plugged his phone into it's charger on his bedside table.
He had been in the same room for as long as he could remember. He changed it a lot over the years, but it was always his room; even now as an adult. He could have chosen any other room in the house, but he stuck with his room. He remembered years ago when it would always smell like weed and air freshener. Occasionally beer. He didn't usually drink in his bedroom, but he did smoke and then try to cover it with air freshener, like his parents didn't know. Everyone knew.
Alison's room was just down the hall and she had her friends over quite a bit. He had to blast his music just, so he didn't have to hear them talking about whichever boys they liked or giggling over random shit. Alison would often bang on his door and shout at him to turn his music down, but he never did. He would only turn it down to a reasonable decibel when his parents were home and he knew he would get in trouble if it was too loud.
There were other reasons Jason liked this room. Most of them had to do with a girl with pink hair. Aria was so much different than Alison's other friends. She seemed much more mature than they were. Without Alison's knowledge, Aria and Jason spent a lot of time together. When Ali and the other girls were sleeping, and Aria was not able to she would usually go to Jason's room. They would never do anything inappropriate, she was way too young for him and they both new that, but she liked to spend time with him and he liked to spend time with her. It was nice to have someone to talk to who wasn't just like him or part of that stupid made up club that he didn't even want to be a part of. He never did any filming, he was just there to watch, even if he didn't want to be. It was his young sister and her friends. It was sick.
FLASHBACK
"These are really good," Aria said looking at the photos on Jason's camera. There were action shots of people playing basketball at the park and some of just scenery around Rosewood, "You could start a business," Aria said.
"Now, I'm not that good," Jason said, "I had to take an elective for school and photography seemed like fun."
"You're good at it," Aria said and focused the camera on Jason while he was looking at his phone. She snapped a quick photo hoping he wouldn't notice until he went through his camera later. He looked pensive and brooding from the profile shot she had taken. It wasn't far off his usual expression, but it didn't seem like he was looking at his phone.
"Hey!" Jason exclaimed trying to take the camera from her, "You shouldn't be taking pictures of people without permission," he said, "It's rude."
"But you look nice," Aria said showing him the photo.
"I look like I'm contemplating killing someone," Jason said.
"Probably me," Aria said, "Because I took that picture."
"Never you," Jason said taking the camera from her. She sat down beside him with her legs stretched out in front of her, "I like your hair too much."
"And here I thought we were friends," Aria said.
"We were until you did that to me," Jason said.
"Take my picture then," Aria said, "Make it even and we can be friends again."
"That's not gonna work," Jason told her, "You didn't warn me. I have to do it when you're not expecting it."
END FLASHBACK
A few days after the fashion show Aria went to school after having a very intense dream about Jason. Aria rarely remembered dreams she had, but this one was so vivid she thought it was real life and when she woke up she was kind of disappointed. But at the same time, she wasn't. She didn't want to remember only part of an experience like that, which is what she remembered. She only remembered part of making out naked in bed with Jason in her dream last night. Or this morning. Whenever it was. She didn't care. It happened, and she needed to get her mind off of it. That was a hard feat when the man she was thinking about was walking the halls of the school and one of her best friends was grilling her about him.
"Why is he here?" Emily asked as Jason walked by. He waved at her with a smile on his face. She waved back, "And why are you blushing?"
"He counsels kids on substance abuse," Aria said.
"That's nice, but it's only half of what I asked. Why are you blushing?" Emily asked.
"Because I had a dream about him last night, okay. Now stop asking question," Aria said and walked away.
"What kind of a dream?" Emily said quickly catching up to her.
"We were in bed making out, naked and then my alarm clock went off and I woke up," Aria told her.
"How could you?" Emily asked.
"I can't help what my brain does when I'm sleeping, Em," Aria said.
"Did you like it?" Emily asked.
"Did who like what?" Hanna asked joining the two of them.
"Aria had a sex dream about Jason," Emily said.
"It wasn't a sex dream. We were kissing," Aria defended.
"Naked," Emily said.
"ARIA!" Hanna exclaimed making everyone in the courtyard look their way. The three girls started walking again before they continued their conversation, "You had a sex dream about Jason?"
"He could be a killer!" Emily whisper-yelled.
"Jason is no more dangerous than you all thought Toby was a while back," Aria reminded her.
"Kinda true," Hanna said.
"Toby was never linked to a weapon that could have dented Ali's skull," Emily said.
"Also, true," Hanna said.
"'Could have' doesn't mean he did," Aria said.
"True again," Hanna said, "So far Aria is winning this argument, Em," Hanna said.
"Look, I can see why you're attracted to him. He's mysterious and wounded and we all know you love to fix things, but you're playing with fire," Emily said.
"You forgot to add that he's really hot," Hanna said, "I mean for a maybe murderer."
"He's not a maybe murderer!" Aria whisper-yelled this time, "He's a good person and you guys are being too judgy and if you would get to know him you would see what I see and not what everyone else is making you see."
"'Everyone else' meaning Spencer?" Hanna asked.
"Spencer and the rest of this town," Aria said, "I love Spencer, but she jumps to conclusions way too quickly and she is so quick to judge it's insane. So, I'm not just going to stop hanging out with him because you three are afraid of him."
The next day Aria was at Spencer's. They were working on a history project and decided to work at Spencer's house. There was way too much going on at the Montgomery home. With her parents fighting all the time and trying to figure out what was going on with Mike it was always so loud, and Aria just didn't want to be there.
"Food break?" Spencer asked after about an hour of working.
"Definitely," Aria was quick to agree, and the two girls went down to the kitchen to find something to eat.
"So, do you know why Jason is so protective of his woodshed?" Spencer asked Aria while they waited for their food to cook.
"No, why?" Aria asked.
"Because yesterday on my way home from school I saw him and some guy clearing trees and brush in the yard, when the guy went over to the woodshed Jason rushed over there like his head was on fire and yelled at the guy not to never open it," Spencer told her.
"I don't know anything about a woodshed," Aria said, "The only time I've been over there is to look at the photos for the slideshow and I wasn't even there that long. And it's not like he said 'Hey, let's take a trip out to my woodshed," Aria said sarcastically.
"I think we should go see what's in there," Spencer said, "He was so protective of whatever is in there I think it's worth finding out."
"Why?" Aria asked, "Whatever is in there is his. He can do what he wants with it," she said.
"What if there are dead bodies in there?" Spencer asked.
"Oh, get a grip, Spence," Aria said, "He's not a killer. But if there are dead bodies in there it's his issue and we shouldn't get involved," she said.
"But we're Team Sparia," Spencer said with a slight pout, "Can't we just go look? I know he just left to take his mom back to the airport which is a good hour and half away, so he should be gone for a while," Spencer told her, "Please? I just want to see what's in there. We won't take anything. We won't even touch anything. I promise."
"He will get so mad at me if he finds out I went in there without asking him," Aria said, "I think I'm probably the only person he trusts even a little bit and I'll be breaking that trust if I do this."
Spencer was about to say something when Aria's phone went off.
UNKNOWN: Team Sparia better go check out Jason's shed, or these will be sent to mommy and daddy. -A
Attached to the text was a photo of Aria and Ezra in Iceland. How would 'A' even have these? How would they get them at all? Did they follow her there? She didn't even have photos of them on her phone. Maybe Ezra did, and they got into his phone? But this photo was taken from a distance and both Ezra and Aria were clearly visible.
Aria read the text out loud and Spencer didn't know whether to be happy or scared. She very much wanted to look in Jason's shed, but the fact that 'A' was using this as a threat to Aria scared her. Spencer didn't know who the other person in the picture was, but it was someone Aria didn't want her parents to know about, obviously. And now would be a bad time for them to find out. Especially, with everything going on with Mike.
"I guess we're going to check out Jason's woodshed," Aria said putting her phone in her pocket.
Spencer turned off the oven and they both put their shoes and jackets on to head over to Jason's. It was getting dark out. When they got over there they noticed that his car was still gone, thankfully. Spencer led Aria over to the woodshed and reached for the key Jason had above the door.
"I don't like the idea of breaking into Jason's shed," Aria said.
"It's not breaking in if you have a key," Spencer said, "Plus, I don't think you want to find out what is going to happen if you don't do what that text says," Spencer told her, "It will be really quick. Just trust me."
Spencer opened the door and the two girls walked inside. Aria closed the door behind them. It was pitch black inside the shed except for the flashlights they were carrying. Spencer bumped into something making a roll of film to fall to the floor. Aria picked it up and looked at it.
"What is that?" Spencer asked.
"It's film," Aria told her and set it on the closest surface.
"Let's keep going," Spencer said, and they walked further into the room.
"What is this place?" Aria asked seeing photos hanging everywhere. Spencer turned on the red tinted light, so they could actually see what they were looking at.
Looking on the floor she saw a photo of someone's lips.
"It's Jason's darkroom," she said and continued looking around the room. Everything needed for developing photos was set up neatly around the room. All around the room were photos hanging up, drying.
"Whose face is this?" Aria asked already knowing the answer but wanting confirmation from Spencer.
There were lips and closed eyes and even hands. Aria knew it was her, but she wanted Spencer to say it.
"Oh, my god, Aria. It's you. They're all you!" Spencer exclaimed, "That's why he's been being so nice to Mike. So, he can get closer to you," she said.
"Can we just get out of here?" Aria asked, and they started towards the door, "What is that?" Aria sked when she saw Spencer looking in a box near the door.
"Jason's camera equipment," She said, "Like, surveillance equipment."
"For his house?" Aria asked.
"For spying on people," Spencer said.
"What are you saying?" Aria asked, "You think—" she was cut off by the sound of a car door slamming.
"He's home!" Spencer shouted, "Forget it," she said, and they ran out of the shed Spencer dropping her flashlight on the way out.
When they got out she quickly locked the door and put the key back where she got it. They both ran and hid before Jason could see them as he got to his shed. They watched him go inside and close the door behind him before running back to Spencer's house.
"You said he would be gone for a while," Aria said when they got back to the Hastings' house.
"I guess he left earlier than I thought," Spencer said.
"Ya think?" Aria said, "I told you there wouldn't be any dead bodies in there," She told Spencer.
"But there were tons of photos of you sleeping," Spencer said, "You have to admit that's creepy, Aria."
"It is," she said, "But before anyone goes jumping to conclusions about anything I'm going to talk to him. I mean we did break in. He could call the police," she said.
"Aria! How are you not getting it yet?" Spencer asked, "He may have killed Alison and you act like he hasn't done anything wrong."
"Don't say anything about the photos to anyone until I talk to Jason about it," Aria said, "Not even Toby."
"Fine, but talk to him soon, or I will," Spencer told Aria.
AN: Longest chapter so far. I hope you like it. Please review and let me know. I hope to have another chapter up today, but my dad is home for the next few days (He has been working in Tennessee for almost a year now and only comes home for a few days at a time so we don't see him much). ALSO, Supernatural is on tonight so that is a priority.
RANDOM SIDENOTE: Has anyone seen The Greatest Showman. That movie was amazing. Just saying.
ANYWAY, please review and let me know what you think. If I can get a few reviews today I will post the next chapter tonight or early tomorrow morning.
