A/N: Hi everyone! Please let me know if you're enjoying this fanfic so far; it really helps me to know what I can improve on and if I should continue the story :) Thanks for reading, enjoy!

"What did you just say?!" Hanna asked excitedly, trying not to get her hopes up. The last time Aria remembered a name, it never happened again, so she didn't want to throw a party just yet.

For the first time in weeks, Aria's face lit up. It wasn't the fake kind of joy that you present for the sake of others, when you feel forced to have fun. This kind of joy was the kind that originates from the heart, and carries out through the entire body. Hanna couldn't help but smile when she realized her best friend was back; the beaming expression on Aria's face said it all, even without her following words. "Hanna, it's me. I remember…"

Suddenly Aria's face dropped, as all the unfortunate events that made up her last year hit her all at once. "Oh my god, I remember everything." It wasn't long before the tears came.

Once Hanna had left at the very last possible moment to get to work on time, Aria immediately pulled out her cell phone. There was only one person that she really wanted to spend her first day back in reality with. "Hey… it's me. I'm back. Can you please come visit me tomorrow? I need to talk to you. I'll make sure that everyone isn't around. I know it's a school day, and you'll be busy marking midterms, with teaching AP English and all, but please. I need you here, Ezra."

His voice was both excited and serious all at one. "I'll be there."

A sharp noise interrupted Aria's sleep, and made her aware of the uninvited visitor entering her room. Still feeling exhausted, Aria glanced over at her clock. Who could be visiting her at 1:30 am? The room was very dark, and with the guest wearing all black, it was hard to tell who it was. It wasn't until the voice that haunted her for the past few months, and would for many more to come, that true fear kicked in. Noel. She made sure to be on the offence this time, even though that any threats she could make would be empty ones. "Noel, you have ten seconds to tell me what the hell you're doing here before I call for security."

The more petrifying thought wasn't that Noel was here altogether, but that he almost chuckled at her angry comment. He was not scared of her. "Relax princess, I thought you'd miss me. The least I could do for getting you in this mess is at least pay you a visit and keep you company. And we both know that I could snap your neck before you even finished the first syllable of a pathetic cry for help."

When Aria didn't answer, unsure of what to say and what he wanted, Noel proceeded to frighten her. "Please, if I wanted to kill you, I would have snuck in silently and done it already. No, what I have in store for you is going to be much more fun. I'm done with you, you pathetic piece of crap. Your curves no longer satisfy my male needs, and having you stay at my house is more troublesome than useful. Instead, I think I have a better idea. There's a lot of things I need done, and I think you will do exactly what I say from now on, okay?" Noel taunted, challenging her to find a way out of her big mess.

Even though Aria knew what his answer would be, it was worth a shot. "Or what, Noel? What would make me ever want to do anything for you ever again?"

"You know the deal. Refuse or reject my orders, and your old boy toy, Mr. Fitz, gets it. And now that he's back as your high school teacher again, he really does have a lot to lose. I wonder how he looks in orange…"

"Okay, fine, Noel. I'll do what you want. Right now, trapped in here with a broken leg and a constant group of makeshift body guards by my side, I really don't see how I can help you." Aria really hoped that she was right, that for at least the next couple of days or however long she was to be in here, that she was off the hook.

Unfortunately, Noel had other plans for her besides catching up on the latest King novel and creating mini pop art paintings. "See, now, that's where you're wrong. I'm guessing now that you remember everything, the very first person you called was your gross schoolgirl crush, Fitz. Here's what you're going to do. When you see him next, you're going to convince him that you're in love with me. I need you to break Fitz' heart, because it is when people are in a vulnerable state that they are the most gullible and naive." She didn't even want to try and imagine what Noel could want with Ezra now all of a sudden.

As he departed her room just as quickly as he had slipped in, Aria was brainstorming up a plan. She was done with Noel, and there was no way she was going to let him wreck her life for just one second longer.

The next afternoon was spent gossiping with Hanna, Spencer, and Emily. The more Aria talked with her friends about old times, the more she felt like things were actually starting to get back to normal. Even though the very thought of Noel going after Ezra shook Aria to her core, there was nothing she could do right now. All she could do was enjoy the good company in front of her, so that's what she did. Apparently the talk of the school was Prudence Finn's new boob job, with Noel being the first guy to take action. All of the other senior girls were very excited by Mr. Fitz' return to Rosewood High, as nothing makes class as interesting as the person teaching it being a "total hottie," as they call him. The girls eventually had to return to their lives out in the real world, which Aria was beginning to feel like she would never see again.

The time was passing very slowly for her, but finally Aria heard a light knock on the door.

"Come in," Aria said quietly, trying to conceal her excitement within.

It's been so long since she'd seen him that she almost forgot how beautifully his face was constructed. His short dark curls, paired with his cute boyish smile, made him look all the while more adorable. His dark eyes locked with hers the second he walked inside the room, and didn't leave them until he was sitting at the end of her bed.

"Wow…" was all he could say. It was easy to forget how terrible she looked most of the time, but Ezra's shocked expression returned her to that place. Her brunette locks were slowly growing back on the right side of her head from where they had to shave it before surgery, and makeup helped cover most of her droopy eyelids and fading bruises, but it was still undeniable; Aria was not in good shape. The bandage atop her head, and the giant cast on her leg didn't help the situation, either.

"Yeah, I know… it's bad, isn't it?" Aria replied.

Ezra looked sad for a moment, but then sported a small smile. He enclosed her small hand with his, and began rubbing circles with his thumb on the back of her soft skin. "Honestly, I'm just glad you're okay. I was so scared, Aria. When I first heard, I was terrified that you were gone. I know things are really complicated right now, but I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you."

His reaction was so sincere, and triggered a similar one in Aria. "It's okay, Ezra. I'm here, and I'm alive. Everything will be okay in time."

Like on the stairs in the basement, they just sat in the comforting silence for some time, simply appreciating the other's presence. Everything was so complicated, but right now, everything felt okay. Aria actually believed her words, that everything would be okay eventually. Unfortunately, she had to break the silence, because she did ask him to come here for a reason. "Listen, I know this probably isn't the time or place to discuss this, but, there is a Jackie, you know."

Ezra's face went placid, and remained motionless for several moments. "I know, I do, really. I do have a fiancée, yes, but you need me right now, Aria. I am not going to abandon you again."

"Ezra, I don't know where you got that crazy idea from, but I don't need you. I never have. I loved you, and I always will, but I can survive without you. And, actually, you know what, if you have a fiancee, then why did you come here today? Because if the only reason you came here was because you actually believe that I need you, then the door is right behind you." Aria sternly stated, muscles tightening.

He paused for a moment, before he quickly paced out of the room. Aria slightly jumped in her skin when the door slammed shut behind him, his parting words echoing in her mind and piercing her skin like goosebumps.

"Well, have you considered the possibility that maybe I need you, then?"

Needless to say, sleep didn't come easy that night for either of them.