"Spencer I do care more than you know," the blonde girl said to Spencer, although others might not identify this Barbie doll with the quirky girl that had gone to Rosewood High, Spencer knew it was Aria.

It was those eyes, those solemn hazel eyes. Later Spencer was unable to identify why exactly she had sat back down when she had been convinced that she was going to walk out, but if she was truthful it was something in Aria's eyes, sadness, that prompted her to stay in the restaurant.

Spencer resumed her seat at the table and gazed up at her famous ex-best friend, Aria still looked solemn as she said,

"Unlike Ezra, I thought you would be less than keen to take on my case. So I decided I needed to find some sort of evidence for you. I know this is only a small bit, but I found some financial documents I think you might find compelling."

Aria handed a small pile of pages to Spencer who began reading the pages with deadly precision to detail.

Ezra hoped Spencer was convinced, given the amount of work it had taken to get that one bit of evidence.

Previously that week…

Ezra had been completely serious when he said he wasn't leaving Aria's side whilst she remained working for Gary. The only issue was how to do this without Gary thinking he was trying to "screw his girl". Aria had been equally as serious when it came to her vow to find evidence to implicate Gary.

When Aria had learnt that Ezra was arranging a meeting with Spencer, she knew that her former friend would want evidence before even talking to them. Aria thought it would be easiest to find evidence of his financial misdeeds before anything else. Raymond, Gary's accountant, would be easy enough to distract and Aria knew exactly how.

Raymond was notoriously flirty; not in a bad or threatening way particularly… he just loved flirting with an attractive partner.

"It would be the perfect way to distract him while I get the papers detailing the accounts," Aria told Ezra excitedly.

"Wait, I thought you were distracting Raymond?" Ezra asked, confused.

Aria laughed slightly, "Me? Distract Raymond, no Ezra you'll be doing that particular job," she said.

Needless to say Ezra wasn't particularly thrilled that he'd be doing the task of distracting Raymond however he reluctantly agreed, knowing the necessity of the evidence.

Together Aria and Ezra worked exactly when the accountant left his office unlocked, and realised the prime opportunity for Aria to sneak in was when Raymond went to the toilet.

Aria would try to seize the papers as quickly as possible, but to give her enough time Ezra would have to hold up Raymond in the corridor.

….

On the afternoon on the mission, the duo were staked out on the floor above Raymond's office over-looking his door.

"How does one even flirt?" Ezra asked, as though he'd never heard the word before. They were preparing to enact their plan and he was having last minute doubts about his role.

Aria sighed. "Ezra Fitz, you know very well how to flirt; if I remember correctly your old tactic of pretending you played the song on the jukebox works well?"

"Hey!" He softly exclaimed, "I didn't lie, and I wasn't flirting, I just being sincere with a girl I was immensely attracted to. I'm not attracted to Raymond, how on earth do I flirt with him?"

"Ezra, just make something up, you'll learn how to fake-flirt pretty quick," Aria insisted.

"I guess I do have an experienced teacher."

Aria laughed, throwing her blonde hair back,

"So rude!" she joked, "Ezra Fitz I ought to smack you for your cheek."

They both laughed, and suddenly Ezra caught sight of a small man coming out of his office.

"Raymond's left his office, go Aria!" he urged her. She gave him a last smile and darted down the stairs.

Ezra meanwhile, remained outside the men's room on the floor above, watching out for a certain accountant whilst at the same time keeping an eye on the office door. After around 5 minutes he saw Raymond leaving the bathroom about to return to his office. Aria hadn't yet got the papers and he knew he needed to stop him catching her in the act.

"Hey Raymond!" he shouted over to the stocky man, who turned and gave him an appraising look.

"Hello… Ezra is it?" Raymond asked.

Ezra smiled, "Yeah it is, I just wanted to talk to you about…err…retirement plans!" he said, getting rather enthusiastic as he actually worked out something to talk to the accountant about.

"Erm… okay? I'm actually very busy right now, but I'll arrange a meeting with you at some point," he said sounding bored, he turned away from Ezra.

"Wait!" Ezra called, tapping Raymond's shoulder and stopping him in his tracks, "I was actually thinking we could do it over dinner some time?"

Ezra saw a flash of interest in the shorter man's eyes, but his tone remained cool,

"I have many offers of dinners, why would I want to bring you out?" he asked.

Ezra, panicking, leant forward and whispered in the older man's ear,

"I'd show you the time of your life Raymond."

Ezra was slightly proud and slightly embarrassed that he'd thought of such a thing to say, but it seemed to work.

The accountant smiled at him, "I think I'd like that," he said, and reached around Ezra to stroke his bottom. Ezra was shocked and stood there gaping.

"See you around Ezra," Raymond said with a wink,

Ezra had been so shocked he hadn't noticed Aria, who had got what she needed in Raymond's office and was now doubled over with laughter. When he had gone, Aria held up the papers triumphantly.

...

Yes, it had certainly taken some effort on his part to obtain the documents. He was no financial expert but Ezra was sure that Gary must have some financial dodgy dealings going on. Despite his certainty, his heart was pounding as Spencer looked up at he and Aria, having finished her reading.

"Well..." Spencer said, reluctantly, "It does seem like he's absorbing a large amount of your profits for himself, Ms. Montgomery, among other financial irregularities."

Ezra nodded, but Aria scoffed slightly, forgetting herself,

"Spence," she said covering her former best friend's hand with her own, "There's no need to call me "Ms. Montgomery", you're practically family. Besides that's my mother's name, not mine."

Spencer removed her hand from under Aria's and shook her head.

"There is a need to call you Ms. Montgomery, I'm taking on your case..." she replied.

With that statement Ezra practically scooped up Aria into a hug, in his celebratory mood he kissed her on the mouth joyfully with a loud smack. When he released her, he gave Spencer a quick peck on the cheek,

"Thank you so much."

Aria looked rather pale and said nothing.

Spencer sighed,

"Stop Ezra," she said, holding up her palm, "I'm not doing this because "we're practically family", I'm taking this because it's a good case and it'll increase my profile. I'm not doing this because I feel sorry for you. We're to have nothing more than the basic lawyer/client relationship. I am not friends with her. And certainly not family."

She said the word family with revulsion, and normally Aria would have felt stung by the bitterness in Spencer's tone. But she wasn't offended, she was starting to believe Spencer was right about her.

The way he had embraced her told Aria that he was under the impression that that they were in some sort of romantic realised she had made Ezra fall in love with her, he was too good to love her, far too good.

...

As they walked along the brightly lit street towards Ezra's car, Aria was in solemn silence. Ezra picking up on this, softly said,

"Don't worry about Spencer, she'll come round."

Aria smiled meekly.

"It's amazing that's she's agreed to represent you. We're sure to win now," he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and gently bringing her towards him. The embrace, although small, had an implied intimacy about it, and Aria felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Ezra..." she said, quietly looking at her feet as they walked along the sidewalk, "I think I might have been leading you on, and it would be wrong of me to do that. I care for you so much. But I'm not ready to be in the kind of relationship you want."

Ezra opened his mouth and closed it again. He was taken aback, a part of him had assumed that they would quickly fall back into the familiar pattern of love. He felt exasperated and so sighed deeply,

"Aria, you are in a sexual relationship, so don't give me that line. Obviously you don't feel that way about me anymore. Just be honest with me," he replied.

"Okay I am sorry Ezra if I led you on," she retorted, "But I don't want to be in that sexual relationship remember?"

Ezra realised what he had said. Shit, he felt like a complete jerk for bringing up Gary. He felt sick for feeling jealous of Aria's abuser. Ezra exhaled.

"Of course you don't," he said, apologetically, "That was a low blow. I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize," Aria said, "I've been toying with your feelings. I'm the one who should be sorry. I'd understand if you want to stop this now."

Ezra frowned,

"Stop what?" he asked.

"The lawsuit? Our plot? Working for Gary? Our acquaintance? I mean if I'm not giving you anything in return then you shouldn't help me I guess." Aria said this with no trace of irony or sarcasm, she was looking at the ground in some unknown solemn emotion. Was that shame Ezra detected on her beautiful face?

She was ashamed that she wasn't "giving anything" to him, Ezra saw this is what Aria had been reduced to, trading sexual deeds for help. Her life had been so devoid of love in the last few years that she had forgotten what kindness and friendship was.

"Aria, you don't owe me anything. Maybe you're not in love with me, but I love you. I'm not sure if it's a romantic love, or just love. But all I know is that you owe me nothing," Ezra said.

Throughout this exchange they had continued walking but after hearing this declaration Aria halted.

"Do you know how long it's been since someone has loved me?" she said, looking up at him, her huge hazel eyes illuminated by the golden streetlamp, "God knows I'm a terrible person but I must have done something right to have you in my life."

She moved closer to Ezra, and licked her full lips, he could smell her vanilla scented breath.

"I'm going to kiss you," she said, "I want you to know it doesn't change what I just said but I have to. I've never wanted to kiss anyone more."

With that Aria kissed Ezra like her life depended on it. He, aware that this would be a one off opportunity to share a kiss with the girl he loved, was totally absorbed in the forbidden kiss. Perhaps they should have paid more attention to their surroundings. Particularly to the raised camera phone across the street...

Oooh mysterious!

I'm struggling to strike a balance between plot and romance/humour/angst/fluff which I love! Hope I'm managing to keep the plot moving along as well as making it enjoyable! Feedback as ever is welcome!

A few people have asked whether this story is based upon the Kesha thing. It's actually not, hadn't heard about that when I thought up the premise of this story. But it's so interesting how fiction can echo real life! Whilst it's not based on that, I'd like to give my full support to her.

I also would like to give my full support to anyone affected by any issues in this story ie drug abuse, body image issues but especially those in abusive relationships. Please recognize emotional abuse as well as physical abuse. Also remember some of the ways Aria deals with it in the story, is not how you should deal with abuse. Always seek help, and never tolerate abuse of any form.

I'm emotionally attached to this story and it will be finished. But I'm burdened with school/work/everything else I do and struggle to update more than once a month. Please don't give up hope. I now have mapped out what I'm doing with the story so hopefully I'll be motivated to write.

Please read, share and review!

Lots of love xoxoxo