Chapter14-Hannah's Realization

"She's still not talking to you?" Spencer asked me quietly. Her voice was hushed, trying to stay only with our small huddle. Hannah was close yet I hadn't seen her all morning.

I sighed. "Nope. No one is." No one but her anyway.

"You mean... Emily's not talking to you, either?" She asked, looking surprised.

"Not much. I mean, we say hi but I think she's taking Hannah's side." I said, closing my locker. I didn't know who I was friend's with or not right now. Did it have anything to do with who my boyfriend was?

"This stupid fight is tearing us apart. We don't need that. Especially when A could be closing in on us." She said, trying to make sure no one could hear her whispers.

"I'm going to see Hannah tonight. At least to work things out." I hoped it would help. But I didn't feel very hopeful.

"I can... come with you if you need me." She offered in her weird, sort of... anxious way.

"Um... I'll let you know. But thanks for offering." I said, giving her a weak smile. I took a deep breath and trudged off to class. Unfortunately, I had English class first period. I was just glad I didn't have Ezra teaching anymore.

"Aria, over here!" Hannah yelled, waving urgently.

I was hesitant about going over. Was it just a trick to embarrass me? Once I saw Ezra, I raced across the room and took the seat. "He's our sub?"

Emily nodded sadly. "I didn't think he'd come back after all that happened."

I took an unsteady breath. "Me, neither."

"I still think he's better looking than Jason." Hannah mumbled as the bell rang.

I sighed then and pulled a pen from my purse. I knew I wouldn't be able to pay attention today. My mind was on too many things. Even if one was the substitute teacher standing at the front of the room. Now that I was bigger, I was getting a bigger appetite. I was hungry all the time.

I wasn't paying attention when he called on me. My book wasn't even open. It was total embarrassment. The whole class knew that.

"Ms. Montgomery, the answer?" He asked, watching me closely. He seemed tense and rigid. Unhappy to be my teacher.

I stared at him for a few seconds, speechless. I was blushing so hard my whole face was red. I just wanted to scream. I just shrugged, knowing it wouldn't make him happy.

He sighed, the typical I'm-disappointed-in-you-look every teacher gave to students who didn't pay attention. "Maybe you should pay better attention."

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was paying attention, and went back to staring at my purse. My phone wasn't out but it seemed like I could see right through to it.

Hannah looked over at me and smiled. "Nice."

"Ezra was there." I mumbled, running a hand through my dark hair.

Jason's arm around my shoulders tightened a little. "I thought he wasn't allowed back there."

"My dad never pressed charges, Jason. He has no reason to stay away from me." I said, feeling worse the more I talked about it all. That's what Ezra seemed to do to me know.

"Other than the fact that you hate him." He said, kissing the top of my head.

I looked up at him. "You have no idea."

He smiled. "I'm glad you told me about this but I'm sorry he made you so uncomfortable."

"It was just a weird day all around." I mumbled, hiding my face in his side.

He stroked my hair gently. "It's almost over."

"I still have tomorrow and forever after that. It's kind of hard to ignore it all." I couldn't just act like I didn't see Ezra. Like he wasn't being super mean to me. What right did he have? He's the one who dumped me... at least, I think. He's the one who wanted nothing to do with the baby. Kind of hard when we were a package deal.

"You can now." Jason said, breaking the silence.

I pulled away from him and sat so I could face him. Being in his car was starting to become suffocating... or more claustrophobic at least. I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling like a younger girl now. Back before A and my baby interrupted my life. "Someday things won't be so screwed up. I won't have to worry about this drama."

"It'll be better for you, Aria. You need it... even now." He said, taking my hand.

I looked up at him and smiled. "Maybe we should spend some more time alone."

He smiled. "That would be entertaining."

I grabbed my bag and slung the strap over my shoulder. "Thanks for bringing me."

"Anytime."

I leaned forward and kissed him. "See you."

"Bye, Aria." He said softly to me.

I climbed out of the car and walked half the block to Hannah's house. I knocked on her door before coming in. "Hi, Hannah."

She smiled her half smile at me. "I'm surprised you stopped by."

I shrugged. "My mom let me out for once. I came here as soon as I could get out."

She turned and walked toward the kitchen. "I saw you making out with Jason." She made an upset type of sighing noise, a fake noise. "You don't have to hide it from me."

I walked slowly towards her in the kitchen, afraid she'd yell at me like she had before. "I was trying to keep it from looking so obvious."

She looked over her shoulder as she dug through the fridge. "I thought I heard someone rummaging through the garbage out back. When I went to look, I saw you guys. I think A planned it all... the noise and everything. At least, it seems like she would."

"It wouldn't make me feel too good knowing that A could be out there. Especially being home alone."

She nodded, pulling out a few bowls of food out. "Spaghetti?"

"Uh, thanks." I was hungry. I hadn't eaten since lunch. And though that was big, I was always up for food.

She stuck the bowl in the microwave. "Have you got any texts lately?"

"Not from A. It makes me feel like my phone's shut off or something."

"That wouldn't stop A, Aria."

I nodded and took a seat at the table. "I know."

Hannah walked over to me and pulled out her phone. "I got this from A right after I left Spencer's yesterday."

'Glad you got the bitch out of your life. Don't intend on keeping that friendship. -A'

A was going to hurt me? When? Did that mean my baby would go to?

"I didn't want A to have the advantage of you being alone. I didn't want you being alone this morning. Not with things being so crazy." She said, scrolling through her phone. "But I got this after class."

'You traitor! I'd be better off killing you along with Aria. -A'

"She wants me dead and the rest of you out of the way." I said softly, my hands instinctively moving to my stomach.

"We're all going to protect you and the baby, Aria. It was stupid of me to be mad at you in the first place."

"It's only a baby." I said softly. "And I get that you can't stand Jason. Not many people can."

"But he's proved himself to you. And I know that you mean a lot to him." She said, jumping when the timer when off.

"He doesn't have anyone. And it already made me feel bad thinking of keeping my baby from him. Our baby."

"Well... it's the right thing even if I hate it." She said, handing me a plate.

"Did you make this?" I asked, taking a bite.

She laughed. "No, are you kidding? I can't cook anything."

I smiled. "It's good."