Hey all,

Sorry it has been so long. I haven't really had much of a chance to write, and the previous stories I have written have actually been critiqued quite a bit. (It was when I was younger, still learning how to write, and obviously not checking my spelling and grammar). So that has been an...eye opening experience to say the least. Many have been quite harsh towards my old writing and it hasn't had the best effect on my motivation either. Anyways (sorry for going off on that mini tangent), I have things to fix in here and add that I haven't had the time to do yet. As of now, this is the chapter, but it may, and probably will, change later. (I have ideas from other readers whose input I would love to add into my story). Keep an eye out for the change. I will let you know when it happens. Thanks for continuing to read and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

[PLEASE READ BELOW:]

P.S. I am thinking of putting this story on Hiatus. Just for a while until I can find some time to write and check it over more thoroughly. In other words, updates more frequently and a soon completed story will most likely happen in the summer. Thanks for your time and support!

"So…" Aria stated anxiously.

"He seems pretty cool," Jason said still sitting down while peering up at her. "You're brother."

"He is," Aria said awkwardly. Feeling out of place, she stepped forward and took her seat next to him again. "I haven't felt like I've belonged somewhere in a while," she admitted.

"Aria, about that day when school got out," Jason trailed. Immediately Aria stepped in by giving an understanding look. "I get it now."

"Get what?" he wondered thrown off a bit.

Aria swallowed and glanced down to her hands. "Keeping her a secret – not telling anyone about having another sibling – I did it to. I still am, so I think I'm starting to get it."

Jason glanced at her, either analyzing her or still confused. She wasn't sure how to explain it to him better, but she finally understood what it was like to be in his shoes a bit. She didn't exactly have a crazy sibling like he did, but she did have Peter. Like Courtney, Peter was out of place in their lives. Although Courtney became crazy, Peter was different from the start. There would be no way either of them would be able to adapt to Rosewood now or then. The small town was too much for even her or Jason to handle sometimes. And Aria had to admit, when she was up on stage singing her songs, all she could think of is how much she missed Jason and all the good times they had. She didn't want to let him go. And she was less mad now that she comprehended the situation a bit better. They shared the same boat almost.

"Why didn't you tell anyone about him?" Jason wondered now staring directly at her. Aria thought about the question for a few seconds before answering. "I wanted it to be all mine you know? I didn't want anyone else knowing that secret about me. For once, I could keep something just to myself. Plus," she said tipping her head to the side, "I was scared. I mean, when I first came here to find who I was…"

Aria let the phrase go. It wasn't how she wanted to explain things. She was scared, yes, but that wasn't why she wasn't telling people. It could have been because of 'A', but it was also something that Aria just wanted to keep to herself. "It's like living two separate lives. Rosewood was one and Oklahoma is another. Each of them is totally different places, but one came with a new beginning and fresh start."

Staring back at Jason, it seemed like he understood. He swallowed hard, and looked away for a second, only to glance back at her. "When you brought up Courtney it took me a second to remember that I did used to have another sibling." His voice slightly shook in the beginning and Aria knew what he was saying was true. "I hadn't thought about her in a long time and I was never supposed to. I was young when she went away…"

Jason's jaw clenched a bit. He wasn't using that as an excuse considering he looked frustrated with himself, but he was trying to justify things. "She did some horrible things and like you said…Rosewood just couldn't handle a person like that. Its probably why my mom shipped her off," he said leaning closer to her.

"And that's why you don't talk about her anymore?"

"I think our whole family wanted a fresh start," he pointed out as he stared at her. "And in order to do that, we had to cut her out of our lives. Courtney created this reputation for herself and dampened our own family that my parents took charge and erased the slate with pushing her out. I don't think they really knew how else to handle it. "

"What did she do exactly?" Aria wondered. "What made it the last straw for your mom?"

"She tried to drown Ali in the swimming pool," Jason answered with a sullen face before trying to give her the background story. "Ali must have pissed her off somehow – probably frustrated with Courtney trying to be just like her when they were in the backyard – and it set the two of them off the edge. You know how Ali can get when she wants to be mean… She said some things to Courtney and it made her flip out."

Aria sat there blown away. Eric wasn't kidding when he said Courtney had gone crazy.

"Aria…what are we doing? I mean, finding things out from each other by somehow getting whipped into it or hearing it around places... We are fighting constantly and barely in a relationship anymore."

Aria pursed her lips and then went to bite down on them.

"I don't know what's going on with us, but I don't want this year to be like this. I can't stand being around without you. It's hard enough as it is-" Jason trailed off.

Aria stopped thinking. Drowning out his voice as he continued again, she impulsively leaned over and kissed him. His words were cut off and his shock was evident through his lips, but once he registered it, the kiss became good. Force was used from both of them, both not having been used to the feeling in a while. As he dominated his lips over hers, he brought her closer and tried to get more out of their kiss. Sizzling at the passion, the two of them broke apart for a quick breath.

Keeping her close, Jason set his forehead against hers and kept his hand framed against the side of her face. Her skin was still as smooth as he remembered.

"How about a fresh start?" she suggested.

"That sounds really good right about now," he replied, cracking a smile as she beamed. Giving him another quick kiss, Aria parted from him and set some money on the table.

"Thanks Carol," she called as she hauled Jason out of the club. Carol was the bar manager Aria had become good friends with during her stay in Oklahoma this week.

"Glad I could help sweetie," Carol chuckled as she finished drying a cup before locking the place up.

"So we are all good on the Jason Aria love boat?" Spencer asked when they both walked outside hand in hand.

"I think so," Aria smiled, peering up to Jason.

"Well then I guess I get to do that whole brother boyfriend speech right?" Peter said stepping up from the crowd.

"What? No!" Aria protested quickly, leaving go of Jason's hand to shove her brother away. Laughing along with Peter as he continued to tease her, she pushed him back to stand with Zoë.

"Alright, I'll save it for later," he noted with a twinkle in his eyes.

"No," Aria laughed as she went back to hug Jason.

"So what'd you guys do out here?" Jason wondered to the group.

"Talked…laughed…figured out the dirt on Aria," the three girls answered. Wondering what they were talking about, Aria raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, don't worry, you can explain everything later. Especially the story about getting your haircut?" Spencer claimed.

Blushing profusely, she gaped at her brother for tattling that story on her and hid into Jason's side. She still couldn't believe she just told Clark to cut it off. That was about the bravest thing she did here besides getting up on stage to sing.

"And since you're doing this whole singing thing here, I think you owe us some songs," Hanna stated with a determined look.

"Your brother was telling us how you guys are really into that," Emily added.

Feeling like a ripe tomato, Aria wished she could become invisible.

"You get that blush from mom you know," Peter spoke up with an arm around his girlfriend. The light air died down and Aria glanced up at him still touching her warm cheeks.

"She got embarrassed easily, even when they were good things that happened." Peter's voice was still happy and bright; he talked about their mom like it was an everyday type of thing. It threw Aria off guard a bit, but she liked that – knowing random things about their mom at times.

"Alright, well I'm heading out," Tommy said with the rest of the band near him. Giving Peter a man clap, he hugged Zoë and turned to Aria.

"Stay out of trouble… or should I say drama, in your case," he teased as he hugged her.

"Shut up," Aria said nudging her elbow in his ribcage.

"Ow," he protested. "For a little bunny you can get nasty."

Hating when he called her that, especially since it encouraged Spencer to agree and everyone else to laugh, she hit Tommy on his arm.

"Ow! Okay, I'm leaving sheesh," he said ducking and covering. Gaining some distance between them, Tommy broke down into the boxing stance and pretended to go pick a fight with her

"Get out of here loser," Josh said shoving him lightly. Laughing as Tommy gave a wince and rubbed his arm, Aria leaned up and hugged Josh as he approached. "You did great tonight. I can't wait for more."

"Trust me, I couldn't have done it without you," Aria stated with a smile as they pulled away. Hugging Chris next, they did a little rock out skit as they turned to leave, causing a Peter and Zoë to laugh at their weirdness.

"Drive safe!" Zoë called as their band members walked to their car shoving each other and goofing off.

"So where are you guys headed for the night?" Aria wondered with her hands in her pockets as she turned back to her friends. Aria had to admit she felt a bit off since her friends were here – like it was harder to act like herself – but she pushed through it and tried to make the best of it.

"The same B&B you stayed at apparently," Hanna acknowledged. Uncomfortable with the spotlight, Aria nodded and was thankful for Emily helping her out. "Peter gave us directions to your guys' place so we'll stop over tomorrow."

"We should get going," Peter added with that, nodding to Aria that she should hop in the truck. Passing quick hugs all around, Aria felt warm and fuzzy when Jason came and kissed her head. "I'll see you tomorrow," he murmured with his hand behind her neck staring into her eyes.

"If I have to witness all this PDA…" Peter joked to his girlfriend as he got into the car waiting for Aria.

"Oh shut up," Zoë said hitting him lightly, enjoying Aria's happiness and budding romance.

"I'll see you later," Aria blushed as she leaved go of him to get in the car.

"Bout time," her brother grumbled. Both girls hit him this time causing him to cuddle up against the driver side door. "Hey now!" he called in injustice. Rolling there eyes in sync, Peter shook his head and drove off into the night, making sure his little sister's friends made it out too.

By the next morning Aria woke up to the sun shining and her brother making breakfast with Zoë. Their dad was nowhere to be found – not on the sofa with a beer or in the bathroom. Aria wanted to ask, but she knew her dad was a touchy subject with her brother.

"Morning," she called grabbing some coffee.

"Morning sleeping beauty," Peter said flipping some pancakes. Trotting over and planting a kiss on his cheek, Aria waved to Zoë and sat next to her on the island.

"So what are the plans for today?"

"We thought-"

"Morning everyone," their dad said coming in the house with fresh picked flowers and some groceries in his arms. "Oh, I see you got breakfast ready."

"Morning?" Aria said strangely making it more of a question as the three younger adults looked at the man like he was a foreign object.

"What?" her dad asked after setting some grocery bags down on the counter and moving to put them away.

"Seriously, what is with the act?" Peter asked. Aria swallowed hard knowing a fight was about to come on.

"I'm telling you, I'm not acting. This is who I am."

"Who you are is a drunk who used to beat on the woman he supposedly loved. You're also a workaholic who doesn't pay attention or care about anyone but himself," Peter snapped. Their dad's eyes filled with rage and then simmered into guilt and sadness as he took in account everyone in the room. "I'm not like that anymore," he replied. "Things change."

Everyone in the kitchen was quiet – so quiet that Aria could almost hear the horses outside. "Give me another chance," their father pleaded.

"I don't believe in second chances," Peter replied.

"Do you?" Their father asked to Aria.

Aria shifted uncomfortably in her seat. In truth, she wasn't a person to believe in second chances, but for him she wanted to. He was her father and she wanted to get to know him like she has been with Peter. Plus, if she answered no, she feared that their father would go back to being the mean old drunk he was when she first got here. But then again, by saying yes, she would be lying to herself and Peter and it would make her brother upset.

"Its hard to say," Aria said hoping she could reach middle grounds. "I don't usually but what does it matter?"

"I would like a second chance. With you both," her father answered.

Peter looked thoroughly pissed and frustrated with the topic.

"Baby steps," Aria said watching her brother before turning her attention back to their father. "We can't really trust you considering what went down last time. Prove yourself. Prove this is the real you."

"How?" he wondered.

Aria shrugged, "I don't have the slightest clue. But if you want this so much, you'll try."

"Okay," their father said looking at his two children. "I will."

He sighed a big contract there, Aria thought to herself. She knew how much she wanted to believe it, and by the way Peter silently reacted after their dad said he would try, it looked like Peter had the same hope and want that she did – he just didn't want to admit it.

So breakfast ended up being slightly awkward. Their dad hung around, talking to Aria about her favorite types of flowers (he tried to pick up some at the market for her but didn't know her favorite kind), school, hobbies, singing, and much more. It was nice to have chatter flowing, yet at the same time it made Aria worry that Peter was going to be mad. After breakfast, Peter went heading for the bathroom and Aria sped over to catch him.

"Are you mad?" she wondered catching his arm before he walked in the door. Peter had barely spoken a word, even when Zoë tried to get him to talk. He was either clearly still pissed off about before or upset from something else they were talking about.

"Not at you," he sighed. "I just don't believe he can change."

"Are you going to give him a shot?" Aria wondered.

"Did you want me to?" Peter wondered with a raised eyebrow as he analyzed his sister.

"Would it be a bad thing if I said yes?"

Peter and Aria stared into each other's eyes for a while, reading each other silently. "I get that you don't," Aria spoke up. She glanced down at her hands and saw her nervous habit at work. Fingers twisting in each other, she made herself look back up to Peter. "You went through a lot more than I did, and probably saw the other side of him. I mean, I barely know the man," Aria added. Swallowing hard, she bravely continued, "but it's our chance at a family. Aren't you tired of being angry? What if he has slightly changed? I'm not asking to eat dinner with him every night and not sleep with one eye open, but I at least want to try to be civil."

Peter kept quiet, weighing his options in his head.

"Just think about it," Aria pitched.

"Okay," he sighed. Kissing the top of her head, he walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Aria heaved a sigh, still standing in the hallway. Was he really going to think about it or was he just giving in to please her? Aria wasn't sure. He was somewhat hard to read sometimes. A small chirping sound came from Peter's room and Aria went to go find her phone.

"Hey Em," Aria greeted.

"Hey, are you still busy. We were thinking of doing something with you today."

"I'm free," Aria said glancing around Peter's room. "Did you guys want me to meet you guys?"

"Actually…" Emily said, "we are outside your house right now."

Puling a surprised face, Aria went down the hall, past the people in the kitchen and opened the front door to the outside.

"Surprise?" Emily asked as she saw her friends and her boyfriend all in his car.

"Okay, well, I'm going to change my clothes…you guys stay there," she said waving to them before hanging up.

"Everything okay?" Zoë wondered as Aria shut the door and came back into the house.

"Yea, my friends just got here. I'm going to change in Peter's room."

"Okay," Zoë smiled as she finished cleaning up the meal with their father. Giving them both a small smile, Aria quickly rushed around and changed her clothes.

"Hey, where are you off to?" Peter wondered as he knocked on his bedroom door.

"Out with my friends, did you want to come?" Aria asked quickly zipping her jeans and opening the door.

"Where are you taking them?" Peter wondered.

"Not sure," Aria said thinking about it. "Maybe into town I guess."

"I think I'm going to stay here with Zoë. We might go hang out with the guys or her friends I think."

"Okay," Aria smiled now turning back to go find her earrings.

"Ri," Peter said checking the hallway and stepping into his room. Shutting the door behind him, he waited for her to pay attention to him. "I don't want you being in here alone with dad. Same rules still apply okay?"

Aria hesitantly nodded. It was for the better yes, but she didn't like it. "I'm sure you'll be out all night but hang around the barn till I get back okay? Text me if you get bored and I'll head home."

Giving him a look like he shouldn't have to do that, Peter rolled his head and kissed her head. "Have fun with your friends."

"You too," Aria replied. Hugging him one more time, Aria grabbed her phone, wallet, and headed outside.

"When will you be back?" her father asked as she walked to the door. Aria looked back at him and shrugged. The situation was kind of awkward. She would be inserting some snarky remark here but she didn't think it was too appropriate.

"She'll be fine," Peter said leaning against the hallway wall.

"I don't want her out late by herself," their dad spoke up.

"I'll be with friends," Aria spoke up.

"I don't want you out too late with them either," he added. Aria glanced to Peter wondering how to approach this subject. Was she really about to get a curfew now?

"She's almost 19 dad. I think you can let her go."

"Peter I am the father here. I-"

"No, you're not," he snapped back with his arms crossed over his chest. His muscles tensed and Aria could tell how upset he was getting. "You can act like it, but lets face it. You haven't been a dad in a long time."

"Peter-!"

"Enough," Zoë said tired of the starting argument.

Thank you! Aria thought in her head.

"Aria is a responsible girl. I'm sure Peter will be home by the time she is, and if she's not, she can text us and we will be home too. Peter is right; she is a 19-year-old girl. I'm sure she doesn't have a curfew at home."

"No not really," Aria added embarrassedly. "Don't worry, I wont be out too late. I'll see you guys later."

"Be careful," Peter and their dad said at the same time. Peter's jaw clenched and their dad looked just as annoyed.

"Will do," Aria breathed as she opened the door and shut it behind her.

"You definitely do not look happy to see us as a surprise," Spencer commented as Aria got into the passenger seat.

"No its great," Aria said trying to pull a happy face on. "Can you drive?" Aria asked Jason concerned about Peter and her dad. At any moment she was waiting for her father to march out from the house and give her a curfew or Peter to start a brawl and her friends would all hear the dishes breaking inside the house. Jason gave her a confused look, clearly analyzing her but putting the car in drive to speed off.

"What's going on?" he wondered.

"…Just stuff…" Aria replied generically with a sigh as she glanced down at her lap.

"Did you want to elaborate on that?" he asked carefully.

"Not really," Aria said with a dry laugh.

"Okay, well where are we going then?" Hanna asked sticking her head up from the middle of the backseat.

Thinking about it for a little bit, Aria decided to take them to go meet Clark and Mario. While telling Jason the directions every so often, she listened to her friends tell her about their night. After about 10 minutes, they arrived into the area and Aria had Jason park down the street.

"Come on," she smiled, as Jason caught her hand to slip into his. Bringing them into the small town barbershop, Aria brightened even more when she saw her friends.

"Look who it is," Mario called, sitting in one of those old barber chairs to get his haircut again.

"Good to see you," she replied going over to hug him.

"Hey Clark," she smiled hugging him next.

"So I see you brought friends," Mario said with a smile.

"I did," Aria laughed. Turning to her friends, she introduced them all to Mario.

"Met this girl when she decided to chop her hair off."

"It wasn't all of it," Aria replied with an eye roll.

"Most I've cut off in a long time," Clark added in with a jolly laugh. Everyone chuckled. Since her friends were all demanding the whole story again, Mario told it from his exaggerated point of view.

"And she just went in here asking like that?" Spencer wondered.

"If I didn't think any better, it was more like a demanding march," Mario stated.

"Was not," Aria said with a light eye roll.

"Either way, it was very unlike you," Emily complimented.

"What can I say? It's the place," Aria smiled back.

"Nothing like Oklahoma!" Clark cheered. Everyone laughed again. After the barbershop, Aria walked them around town and shared more stories about her time here with Peter. She filled them in about her favorite diner here and even introduced them to more locals around the place.

"Does anyone else know you've been down here all this time?" Spencer wondered.

"Eric," Aria answered cautiously.

"As in Eric Kahn?" Emily asked.

Aria bit her lip and nodded. "He helped me think of a cover for the first time I came out here during mid winter break. That whole thing with Noel and Jenna…it was just a cover. I was here the whole time and the two of them didn't even know I used them for my story."

"So he just stole their trip information for you?" Spencer wondered again.

"Pretty much," Aria shrugged. "We're friends. He knew I wanted to do this so he helped me out."

"Right," Hanna said skeptically.

Aria sighed knowing her friends would be like this. They would read into the situation and spin it in any way they liked. Spencer had been the one to think Aria was changing because of him and that group in the first place. Taking a glimpse at Jason, Aria noticed how he was walking beside her (with his hand still in hers) analyzing her. She wasn't sure if it was for his benefit or for hers (like he was making sure that she was okay or not).

"So that's it," Aria said as they got back into the car after finishing the short tour.

"Hey Aria, I didn't think about it sooner but where's your brother?" Hanna wondered.

"Hanging out with his girlfriend," Aria answered, "I think they went out with some other people or something."

"What should we do for the rest of the afternoon?" Emily wondered. Aria sat in the front seat staring out the window. Ideas weren't exactly popping into her head, until one fun one actually did.

"Have you guys ever been horse back riding?" she asked them all with a smile.

Aria took Jason and her friends back to the barn. She gave them the whole tour of the inside, showing them the horses, the upstairs where her and Peter hung out frequently, and the new spot her and her brother cleared off for stargazing. They took off part of the roof and made it into a door so they could climb up and sit on top of the barn to watch the outside. (They could either do that or open the hatch and just lay back inside the barn) – either was a memorable time for the two of them.

"Is this where you guys write all your music?" Emily wondered as she spotted a guitar and keyboard.

"Most of the time," Aria said stepping over to her friend. "Other times its in Peter's room. We actually write in the car a lot too…or the diner…or with Zoë or Clark. They actually help out a lot."

"So Zoë and your brother are like…cool?" Hanna wondered. Aria furrowed her eyebrows wondering what that meant exactly.

"Hanna, that doesn't even make sense," Spencer said as she walked around the upper level.

"How long have they been dating?" Emily wondered.

"A while," Aria shrugged. "Before I found Peter that's for sure. They really like each other. And they are cool in the sense that they chum around with me. I think Zoë thinks of me like a little sister."

"What's her story?" Spencer wondered.

"Only child raised by her mom and grandma. She comes from a good home, really sweet family," Aria said with a smile.

"Think they'll get married?" Hanna asked.

"Hopefully," Aria replied, smiling up to Jason as he came to sit with her on the couch. "When are you flying back?" he murmured.

"Sunday," Aria sighed with a crestfallen face. It was already Friday evening.

"Well school's almost out. I'm sure you can spend summer here," Spencer said coming to plop down next to Aria.

"And tell my mom what? I'm out in Oklahoma with my biological brother?" Aria wondered skeptically.

"Maybe Peter can come to Rosewood," Hanna pitched. Aria shook her head. Peter in Rosewood? Rosewood wouldn't want him and Peter wouldn't want Rosewood. Aria was certain she would be too worried for him if he did come to see her anyways.

"What are you going to tell your mom when you get back?" Emily wondered.

"That I had fun and that's that. She doesn't need to know more."

"But if she asks for more?" Emily prodded. Aria bit her lip. It was obvious what she had to do then – lie.

"Why not just tell her?" Hanna asked. "What's the worst that could happen?"

"I don't want her knowing," Aria replied. "I don't want anyone knowing." It was hard for her to explain, but she didn't want her mom feeling like she was trying to look for a different family. And she didn't want that small place where she lived to know more about her, especially with 'A' still lurking around. "I don't want these two lives to mix. With everything that happened in Rosewood…"

"Here is a fresh start," Jason answered, knowing exactly how Aria was in his same shoes when it came to Courtney from their previous talk.

"Yea," she said with a nod to him. Aria tried to convey to her friends that Oklahoma didn't have 'A' here either, but it was hard considering Jason didn't know about the new 'A' and they weren't getting the drift.

After hanging around the loft some more, Aria talked to them more about the horses and texted Peter that she was home. She didn't need him to come hang with her or her friends, but she thought it was best to let him know, especially when her father spontaneously showed up in the barn.

"Aria, who are your friends?" her dad wondered with his hands in his pockets. He walked down here from the house, still sober and friendly as usual.

Feeling awkward and nervous, Aria fiddled with her hands and put on a fake smile as she stepped forth. "Umm…this is Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and my boyfriend Jason," she answered pointing to each one.

"Ah," he said shaking each of their hands. "I'm Richard – Aria's dad." Her friends all warmed to the man, shaking his hand and giving smiles. If only they knew Aria thought in her head. Spencer would be ripping the man a new one, Hanna would have Aria bolting out of there and Emily would be putting on a fierce (yet polite) face followed by snarky attitude.

"Boyfriend huh?" her dad asked when he gripped Jason's hand. Jason read all of the nervous feelings on Aria's face but he showed nothing but strength and bravery.

"Yes sir," Jason answered respectfully. The two of them shook hands and stepped back, each glancing to Aria.

"So how'd you two meet?"

"I was friends with Jason's sister," Aria answered.

"Oh, which one?" Richard asked looking to the girls.

"She's not here. She uhh…died," Aria answered. This couldn't get any worse right now Aria groaned in her head. It put a huge damper on the conversation but her father couldn't seem to pick up on that.

"What happened?"

"Kind of unknown still. The police are still investigating it," Aria answered again, looking to Jason to make sure he was doing okay. There was still so much mystery with Ali and her body (particularly involving her coffin and body which was still missing).

"Would she approve of this relationship?" her dad wondered. Another awkward and horrible question to ask.

Trying to ignore the question, particularly because it was a touchy subject and awkward thing to ask, Aria shifted her stance and tried to think of a polite way to have him leave. "We were actually going to go out right now. So…" Aria was hoping that would get him leave them alone now, but her dad didn't seem to move an inch.

"Where were you headed to?"

"They're going out with me," Peter answered coming into the barn. Aria exhaled with a huge relief, no longer able to hold up the act of bravery. Glimpsing at her friends, she noticed Jason giving her a pellicular look.

"What are you doing home? I thought you went out with Zoë?" their dad asked shifting his arms to cross over each other.

"Came back for Ri and her friends. They wanted to go out so I'm here to pick them up," Peter answered nodding for them to get a move on. Rushing her friends, she pushed them all ahead of her. Jason stayed next to Aria slipping his hand in hers. Something wasn't right here and he was going to ask her about it the first chance he got.

"They don't have a car?" Richard interrogated.

"Going green – car pooling," Peter said putting a hand on Aria's back as they left.

"I'll see you later sweetie," their dad called as Aria left. A large lump in her throat made it hard for Aria to swallow. Something didn't feel right at that time. It wasn't because he was acting strange but because he made things so awkward with all his questions.

"You okay?" Peter murmured as he went to help Aria get in her side of the truck.

"Glad you came," she muttered back, giving him a quick hug before getting in the passenger side and letting him shut the door.

"So where are we going?" Spencer wondered.

"A party," Peter answered, starting the engine and taking them out of there.