Hey ya'll, sorry it took me a while to update. And I know this is sorta sucky, but its better than nothing. I'm swamped with school. I have two Advanced Placement classes, not to mention Show Choir rehearsals and such. I promise to try and update more, though. I'm not givin' up that easily! :]
He doesn't think she notices the way he shuts himself down when he's in public, away from the rest of the world. I mean really, the whole town considers him to either be a little creepy, or still thinks of him as that pothead kid who ran around causing trouble and throwing wild parties. But he doesn't blame them. Even he is still wary of that part of him, the part he knows is just dying to come out.
No, he has more control than he did then. He knows he does.
But still, he puts on a charade, pretending nothing bothers him. He doesn't talk much, generally keeping to himself. He ignores the stares, and occasional glare, he receives when he runs to a store. He ignores how the friendly cashier suddenly becomes more reserved, barely offering a 'thank you' once he pays. He doesn't let it bother him.
She knows better than that.
She knows no one is that indestructible. He isn't invincible, he's a young man trying to make a life for himself. He's trying to erase mistakes from the past, pretend that Ali's ghost isn't still haunting him, and patch up a broken relationship with his parents. Those people aren't helping him any. How is he supposed to get redemption when he can't even get something to eat without remembering something he's done wrong?
When her friends ask her why she cares, she answers with a diplomatic, "Its just... wrong." After all, everyone knows Aria Montgomery loves to fix things, people in particular.
But somewhere, she knows its more than that. She's seen the vulnerable, upset boy he is. Not very often, and only briefly, but she knows he's there. She knows there is more to him than that brick wall of a man everyone else sees. And she's determined to peal of his mask, no matter what it takes.