Aria closes her eyes as the wind gently brushes her face. Last week, her life had finally become a little quieter. It gave her time to take a deep breath, to put things back in order and to come back to find herself again.

Every day, she tried to get in touch with Jason to find out how he was doing. She realizes how much he appreciates that someone is listening to him and she is happy how much he trusts her. Aria knows that she plays an exclusive role in his life, but she hopes that their relationship will eventually be truly become exclusive.

"Aria?" Only the questioning voice of her friend Spencer brings her back to the present: to the city park, where they sit together on an extended blanket. "The daydreaming has happened remarkably often lately", Hanna says with a grin.

"Sorry, I was just…lost in my thought", Aria quickly tries to evade when she sees Alison critically scrutinizing her. "Oh yes?" Alison now asks provocatively. "Who's bothering you so much?" Waiting for her answer, all four of her friends look at her.

Every look of her friends speaks for a different purpose. While Emily looks as if she wants to help her friend, Alison only looks as if she wants to expose her. Spencer doesn't seem interested, while Hanna waits anxiously for the answer.

Aria feels pushed into the corner. She has to give an answer now. "I was just thinking… about…about Noel", she says evasively and regrets it immediately. She didn't actually want to use him, not even as an excuse.

"Noel?" Spencer asks, who raises her head with interest. "He told me he likes me very much and I just don't feel for him that way." Alison looks at her with a frown. "It's Noel, Aria. You should be happy he's even interested in you."

"Ali", Emily hisses. But she doesn't dare to contradict. "Come on, just choose another athlete, the choice for you is huge", Alison says mockingly, pointing at the men playing basketball on the other side of the park.

Aria automatically looks in that direction and stares at one man, who is also playing basketball there. The man who actually controls her thoughts. Jason stands there in shorts and sweaty shirt and laughs. He's not just laughing, he's laughing and there's a girl standing right next to him and she is laughing too.

She laughs because he's obviously flirting with her. He gently takes her hands and shows her how to hold the ball to do a free throw. He's standing right behind her and stabilizing her position. This is enough to make Aria feel sick.

Laughing, Jason holds out his hand as the ball lands in the basket so that the girl can high five him. As he turns around, his gaze hits her and he sees that Aria has been watching him. Aria looks away quickly, only to notice with a quick glance that Jason keeps watching her.

Aria can't believe it. She thought her life had finally calmed down a little, and then one afternoon shattered her whole world again. It wasn't just the sight of Jason with another girl that had shaken her happiness.

On the way home, the group of girls had dispersed until Aria had gone the last mile only with Alison. She had stopped abruptly when she suddenly saw her father's car standing at a corner. And then she saw what finally destroyed that day.

Her father kissed another woman. Long and deep. Her father is having an affair with another woman.

Her eyes froze and immediately fill with tears. It hurts so much to see her father how he looks at another woman passionately. When his gaze passes the woman and he recognizes his daughter, he pushes the woman away in shock and calls Aria's name. But Aria just turns around running away.

"Don't tell your mother, Aria. You're just ruining everything. Your dad saw you. He's going to end it anyway because he's too afraid you'll tell your mother everything. Believe me, it happens in all families", Ali says, handing a handkerchief to her friend as they stand in the kitchen of the DiLaurentis family.

There's a bell on the door. "I'll be right back", Alison says giving her an uplifting smile. The steps creak quietly as Jason comes down the stairs hesitantly and then quickly as soon as he sees Aria standing in the kitchen.

"Hey", he greets her. When Aria hears his voice behind her, she quickly wipes tears from her cheeks and turns to him and smiles at him. When Jason sees her red eyes, he frightens and walks towards her. He gently puts his right hand on her upper arm.

As soon as she feels his hand on her skin, Aria starts sobbing. Jason doesn't hesitate for a second and pulls her into his arms. "Ali will be right back", Aria whispers softly into his chest. It is not a statement, it is a warning. Alison shouldn't see them together like this. "I don't care", Jason answers carelessly.

He really doesn't care. He cares about Aria. He can't ignore her tears and pretend it doesn't hurt him to see her so lost. The warmth of his body surrounds her and she has the feeling to find stability for a moment. The storm that piled up around her ceases and she doesn't feel so lost anymore.

"Are you crying because of me?" Jason whispers after some time. Aria loosens from his arms and looks at him irritated. But then she remembers. The sight of her father with another woman had already supplanted the sight of Jason with the other girl.

The sight had also been painful, but Aria had forbidden herself to shed a tear. "No, why should I? Everything is fine between us", she replies as convincingly as possible. But her smile seems forced.

Aria sighs loudly before telling him why she sits crying in the kitchen. "I saw my father. I saw him kissing another woman", she tells him in a trembling voice.

With her words, another tear rolls down her cheek. Jason puts his hand on her cheek and gently strokes the wetness of her skin with his thumb. "I'm sorry", Jason murmurs softly. "It's not your fault", Aria replies.

Jason smiles slightly and looks at her apologetically. "He's a man. I'm one too. I feel like that automatically makes me guilty. " Aria laughs as she wipes another tear from her cheek.

"You can prove you're better than him", Aria says in a serious tone. "I'm trying, but don't get your hopes up. I've disappointed a lot", he replies, looking deeply into her eyes.

Aria is about to reply, as she sees Alison standing in the arch of the door in the corner of her eye. "Leave her alone", Alison hisses as she re-enters the room. "Calm down, Ali. " Annoyed but calm, Jason turns away and takes a cooled bottle of water out of the fridge.

Jason knows he's lucky she didn't come back sooner. If she'd seen them both in the comforting embrace, she'd be in rage. "Aria doesn't need advice from someone who can't handle his own life", Ali snaps at her brother.

Jason turns to his sister and looks at her for a long time without saying anything back. Her words hit him more than he wants to admit. "Stop it!" Aria shouts at her in tears. Both Ali and Jason look at her in amazement because of her heavy reaction. "Leave Jason alone, Ali", Aria hisses. Almost threatening, she walks towards her friend. "Jason and I are friends and I'm tired of hiding it from you."

Alison looks at her horrified. "What?" Alison exclaims angrily. "Jason and I have been friends for a long time and he's important to me. You may have something against it, but if you want me to choose, you will lose, Ali. I promise you." Aria snaps at her with angry eyes.

Alison wants to say something, but the words are suffocating in her throat. Instead, she leaves the room angry and runs up the stairs. For a moment, Jason and Aria look after her silently. Aria is still breathing heavily and Jason feels his heart beating fast in his chest.

"You didn't have to do that", Jason murmurs after a while. "I had to Jason", she contradicts him. "Ali can't talk to you like that. She always puts you down and that's not okay. I'm not ashamed of our friendship. I'd tell everyone if you let me", she assures him and grips his fingers tenderly.

"After seeing my father with that woman, I was hoping you'd be home", she whispers, looking down to the floor. "A hug from you helps me the most when I feel bad."

Jason's taking a deep breath. Aria's making it hard for him. He tenderly wipes the wetness from her cheek and puts a strand of hair behind her ear. For a moment, his gaze sinks into her tearful eyes and he has to remember that he only wanted friendship.

Sighing, he presses her to his chest and embraces her with his muscular arms. "I would do anything to stop you crying", he murmurs, kissing her tenderly at her hairline.

It's been a long time... I was just wondering if anyone is still interested in this story. So please let me tell if you read it and like it. Maybe I will continue writing and publishing it.