Chapter 2

"Thank you Spencer, I don't know what I would have done without you." Aria sighed as she sat her bag down on Spencer's couch.

"Don't mention it Aria. I'm happy you got out of there. Now, you remember our deal right? I have to patch you up." Spencer called as she walked to the powder room for a first aid kit.

"Yeah, I do. Thanks for this." Aria waited for Spencer to come back, and then proceeded to take off her sweater and jeans. She flinched as she did so, remembering her past with Jason. Even though it reignited the feeling of fear within her, she kept repeating to herself that it was ok. It was only Spencer bandaging her injuries.

Spencer looked at Aria sitting on the couch and looked at her haplessly. She had no clue to start because she had cuts and bruises everywhere. She decided to work her way up, beginning with her calves, heavily bruised by the relentless kick of Jason's work boots. Her knees were bruised and scraped, and there were a few cuts near the top of Aria's upper thighs; cuts that Spencer prayed weren't self inflicted. There were cuts and gashes along Aria's back, from a belt she assumed. A ring of bruising around her neck, and scrapes along her face. Spencer internally cringed, getting just a taste of what her friend had gone through.

Spencer had finally finished bandaging Aria, and Aria dug in her bag and found pajama shorts and a sweater. She got dressed and then hugged Spencer as tight as she could. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too Aria. Are you tired?" Aria nodded, and glanced at the clock that read half past three. "Come on, I'll set up the guest room. It's right across from mine, so if you need anything, just shout out." She picked up Aria's bag and led the way upstairs, then setting the bag in the room. "I know you don't have much, so I'll take you to breakfast tomorrow then we can go to the mall. And don't even think about using your money." Aria opened her mouth to protest but was met with a yawn instead. Spencer chuckled, and then made the bed as Aria unpacked her things.

"This means the world to me Spence. Truly, thank you." She smiled weakly, and hugged her one more time before climbing into the huge bed, a bed she had to herself.

Aria awoke to light streaming through the translucent curtains and stretched under the sheets. She kicked her legs over the bed and hopped down. She put on black jeans and a yellow sweater. She peered into Spencer's room, who was already up, obviously. She walked downstairs, and was met with Spencer drinking coffee at the counter.

"Hey, good morning! Did you get enough sleep? It's only seven thirty." Spencer smiled, and got up and went over to the coffeemaker. "Do you want anything to drink? I've got coffe obviously, tea, water, orange juice, milk, and maybe red Gatorade?" Aria chuckled before answering.

"Coffee is fine. I haven't had it in forever."

"That's absolutely terrible! May I ask why?" Spencer dramatized, grabbing another mug.

"Jason thought it would make me infertile." Aria rolled her eyes, poking fun at the stupid superstition. "He chalked coffee up to be the reason I wasn't getting pregnant. The real reason is I got my tubes tied. He'd kill me if he found out." Aria sighed, drinking the coffee Spencer put in front of her.

"I am so sorry Aria, thats awful."

"It's ok, don't apologize. Can we eat?"

"How about the Apple Rose Grill just like college?"

"Sounds great."

Aria and Spencer sat down at a table in the back, and both glanced at the menu. The grill was bustling, servers rushing back and forth, just how Aria liked it. Constant chaos was the norm for her, and the blur of noise made her feel comfy. Soon, the server approached.

"Can I get chocolate chip pancakes and milk please?" Aria asked, and the server nodded, scribbling down acronyms and abbreviations.

"I'd like a vegetable omelet please, and coffee, black." Spencer said, before handing him the closed menu. The server gave a nod, and quickly walked away. Spencer glanced at a text on her phone, sighing softly.

"Hey Ar, we need to stop at school before we go to the mall. I called in for the rest of the week off, but I have to go to a mandatory meeting. You can just wait in the teachers lounge, ok?"

"Ok." Aria nodded.

"God I hate being an AP Economy teacher. I just want my law degree already." Spencer complained, drinking the coffee that was just set in front of her.

After breakfast, they walked into Rosewood High together, Spencer showing Aria the way to the teacher's lounge. Aria sat in a chair towards the back, and opened her book.

"I'll be an hour at the most. Don't get into any trouble." She winked, and then briskly left the room. Aria thumbed through her book until she found the chapter she left off on, and continued Pride and Prejudice.

A while after she began reading, the door opened, and Aria saw a young man walk in. He looked around the room and saw Aria and confusion spread across his face.

"I don't know if I've seen you before. Are you a new teacher?" He asked, slowly approaching her, messenger bag in tow.

"Oh no, my friend is a teacher and she has a meeting. I'm waiting here until she's done." Aria explained quietly. This man was quite attractive, for a high school teacher anyway.

"Got it. Pardon my confusion, it's just weird to see someone my age around here," He said, coming closer to her and then glancing down, "reading Pride and Prejudice, no less."

"I just never got the chance to read it in high school, so I thought now would be a good time to start." Aria said, closing the book. "So who are you exactly? Spencer complains about almost all of her colleagues, and I don't know if she's mentioned someone as young as you." Aria said, giggling. She was surprised with herself being this open to someone she didn't know.

"Ah, so you're a friend of Spencer's? Well it's good to know that I made the cut in Spencer Hastings' eyes. I'm Ezra Fitz, I teach AP English." He outstretched his hand which Aria shook.

"Ezra Fitz? Spencer has mentioned you!" Aria realized.

"Oh no..."

"No no, in only good ways. She tells me you go out with her and Toby on Fridays sometimes. She speaks highly of you." Aria told him, setting her book to the side.

"I'm sure Spencer would've mentioned having a friend as cute as you." Ezra said cautiously, nervously awaiting her response.

"I, I don't know what to say..." She began softly.

"At least take my number?" Ezra asked, hoping she wasn't creeped out, and released his breath when she quickly nodded. Just as Ezra's number which was quickly scrawled out on the back of a hall pass was given to Aria, Spencer came back in the room, and she let out a short laugh.

"Don't tell me Ezra's giving you a bad time." She chuckled, before helping Aria gather her things.

"No no, quite the opposite." Aria blushed, looking at him through the corner of her eye. They began to leave and Aria waved before Ezra called out.

"Wait! Will you at least tell me your name?" He asked.

"Goodbye Ezra!" She called out.