A/N: I am so so so sorry I have not updated for ages! It was initially the holidays and I didn't really get on the computer much, and then school started and I have been swamped with work, but that is no excuse. And I promise I will update much much much more regularly. I know this chapter isn't that great, but I hope you enjoy.

Aria stood on the smooth pavement smelling the fresh, clean air. The grass around her was crisply cut, giving an illusion of a green sea that was crushed in segments by her classmates feet. She looked up at the protruding brick building and hugged her books closer to her petite figure. She did not want to go back into Rosewood High School. Not when Mona stood in the hallways, with nothing stopping her from hurting the four girls again. Aria felt her hands knees start to quiver and took a shaky step back.
"Hay babe. It's gonna be alright. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you." Noel whispered in her ear while placing a comforting hand on the small of her back. All Aria had to do was take one look into his eyes, and she instantly believed him. Replacing her frown with a shy smile Aria took a step forward. Then another.

Soon later she found herself at her locker, her forehead closely pressed against the cold metal. Aria could hear the many whispers of the students in the corridor as they stared at her. Someone with concerned faces, others with looks of despair. It was too much for her.
"I can't do this. It's too much." Aria muttered to herself. She feared that someone was going to ask her questions, questions that she didn't have the answers to. A thought crossed her mind before she could stop it, what if she did have the answers? What if someone asked her something that sparked a memory that would reveal too much?
"Maybe you could take a picture, it will last longer." Hanna yelled down the corridor approaching her friend. The corridor soon cleared out and Aria sent an appreciative stare at Hanna.
"How are you holding up?" Hanna asked handing Aria a cup of coffee from the cafeteria.
"I just want to go home Han." Aria replied in a shaky voice before letting the warm liquid fall in a silky wave down her throat.
"No. We only have gym and then we can go. One more class okay?" Hanna smiled leading Aria to the gymnasium.
"Yeah. One more class." Aria smiled pulling her sleeves further over her wrists. If anyone saw these scars there would be more whispering, more judging. The two girls made their way over to the gymnasium in silence until they got into the girls locker room.
"Are you going to get changed?" Hanna laughed pulling on her black running shorts. The locker room was empty, but Aria was still scared to remover her blazer. Too scared to show her wrists.
"Yeah. You go, I'll be out in a minute." Aria smiled pulling her gym gear out of her bag. Hanna went to say something, but thought better of it and left Aria in the locker room alone. Aria let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and quickly got changed. She knew her wrists were bare and smiled when she remembered that she had Noel's jumper in her bag. Pulling it over her head Aria ran into the gymnasium, ready for her last class of the day to be over.

Two hours later, Aria sat in The Brew staring in to her coffee cup. Trying not to think of all the whispers and stares that surrounded her during school.
"Hey stranger. I feel like I haven't seen you all day!" Noel smiled placing a kiss on Aria's forehead before sitting down.
"That's because I've been hiding from everyone," Aria cringed avoiding his eyes, "I mean Hanna found me before gym but I managed to get away from them after school."
"Aria, they're your friends. They want to be there for you." Noel sighed knowing he was going to lose this argument. He felt like they had had it a million times. Aria was going to keep pushing everyone away and Noel would have to stand on the sidelines and watch.
"Spencer needs them more than I do. I was attacked months ago. Her hurt is pretty new. Finding out. About Toby." Aria shrugged, truly feeling horrible for her friend. She was so sick of people pretending to care about her petty hurt. Noel shook his head in response. His girlfriend could be stubborn at times, but this took things to a whole new level. Refusing any offer of help, of love. It hurt Noel to see her so broken.
"What? I can't care about my friend now?" Aria asked raising her voice as a new anger filled her body. Noel scoffed, amazed that Aria could think that was what he implied.
"I shook my head because you wont let anyone care about you, help you. Yet you are saying that Spencer needs it, even if she doesn't want it. You two girls need to let somebody in, bottling things up. It doesn't help."
"Noel. I'm fine! Great! I don't need anyone to hold my hand." Aria yelled, causing a few of the customers surrounding them to look up in surprise.
"Please just listen to me," Noel replied in a steady, quiet voice. "I can see you are hurt. We all can. Just let me help you."
"I don't deserve it." Aria replied in a shaky voice. Barely louder than the faint whisper of the autumn air. Hearing this Noel rose from his chair taking Aria's figure into his chest.
"I hate that you feel this way baby. I promise that I will do anything and everything to make you happy. You don't have to worry about a thing."

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