Disclaimer: I don't own Pretty Little Liars. So don't sue me.

Author's note: This is supposed to be the love story between Jason and Aria, so I'm sorry for the lack of suspense in this story. I'm not really sure how to write the suspense segment in this story so I don't really explore it very much. I just throw some suspense that connected to the drama that I was trying to write. Hope that you all still can enjoy it. Thanks.

When Aria finally walked into Spencer's room, the tapes are scrambled in the floor already, with three of her best friend watched the television with a serious expression. "Did you found anything?" Aria asked.

"Nothing so far." Hanna is the one that answered.

"These are all junks. These are just a bunch of tapes of girls in Rosewood." Spencer looked at Aria. "They've been busy." Spencer said sarcastically. Aria knows that Jason is the one that she meant.

"What happened with Ezra?" Emily asked.

Aria let out a big sigh. "He was there last night when we get out from the station." Aria said. They all know what she is trying to tell.

"He saw you and Jason?" Hanna asked. Aria nodded. "What do you say to him?"

"What can I say? I say that Jason is my friend." Aria said.

Emily and Spencer shook their head. "Have you thought about that?" Aria looked at Hanna. "Jason or Ezra?" Hanna didn't have to form the whole question, Aria gets it already.

"Please don't say Jason." Spencer said. Aria rolled her eyes on her.

"Hey guys." Emily breaks down the tension. The others immediately looked at her. Emily pointed the television. They can see in the screen that Ian and Garrett were arguing about something, but they can hear what they were argued about, because the distance of the video that was taken is too far. Ian and Garrett looked so tense with their argument. Even the girls can't hear it very clearly, but it looked like Garrett was upset about something and Ian tried to explained that thing to him.

"Jason, stop taping us!" Suddenly Garrett walked closer to the camera with an angry face.

The camera showed Jason's stoned face in the next frame. "Garrett is so mad. I'm so scared." Jason said with a mock expression, and then he laughed.

"He was stoned all the time." Spencer said, directly to Aria.

"He doesn't do that anymore." Aria said, defending him.

Spencer is just silent and back to watch the rest of the video. Jason's face still shows in the video and talking gibberish because how high he was. They can't even understand what he was talking about.

"This is a waste of time." Emily said.

"Stop talking." Spencer said. They all stop talking and looked at Spencer. "You guys hear that?" Spencer asked.

"Hear what?" Hanna asked.

"Even the video only shows Jason's face, we can hear Ian and Garrett argument in the background. But we can't hear it clearly because Jason keeps talking gibberish." Spencer said, looked at Aria again.

"Yeah, they still argue." Emily said and listened more intensely. "I think they said something about Ali." Emily looked at the girls. "We have to know what they were talking about."

"How? We can't hear anything." Aria said.

"But the only witness of this conversation is living next door." Spencer said. Spencer looked at Aria. "You have to talk to Jason."

Aria sighed. "I can't. I have to go meet Ezra." Aria looked at Spencer. "You go and talk to Jason. And please apologize for being rude."

"Tell me you aren't serious?" Spencer rolled her eyes on Aria.

"You need his help to explain this video. So you have to ask him nicely." Aria said with a satisfied smile in her face. "Keep me update. I will see you all later." Aria doesn't even turned around again and leave Spencer's house.

"She isn't serious about me has to play nice with Jason, right?" Spencer asked the others.

Hanna smirked and Emily shrugged. "We need to know. And you have to ask him. But considering how you treat him earlier, I doubt that he will tell you. So yes, you have to play nice." Hanna said.

"Fantastic." Spencer said, sarcastically.

Aria stands in front of Ezra's apartment. She took a deep breath and knocks. Ezra immediately opens the door. He smiled to Aria and let her in. Ezra makes Aria a cup of tea and they sat next to each other on the couch.

"You come here to talk, right? So talk." Ezra said, when Aria just quiet for a while.

"I don't know how to begin." Aria said. She sighed and tells the story to Ezra. Definitely not everything, because she can't tell him about A, so she tells him the same story that they told to the parents.

"Why Dr Sullivan played with you like that?" Ezra asked with furrow eyebrows.

Aria shrugged. "I have no idea. The police still can't find her. They didn't know where she is right now."

Ezra is silent for a while. Truthfully this isn't what he wants to know about. Ezra turned to Aria. "I told myself to let it go. Just ignore it. But I can't. I have to know. I can't do another one of this. Lie after lie. This is what happened with Jackie before. I wish we can be honest with each other." Ezra said. Aria knows exactly what he meant by that, but she still praying Ezra will say about something else. "You explained to me that Jason is a friend. But what I saw last night in front of the station and the fact that you two kissed, you two are more than friends." Ezra paused for a moment. "Aria, do you have feelings for Jason?"

And Aria couldn't hold it anymore. Her tears falls down to her cheek freely. "I'm so sorry, Ezra. I never wanted to hurt you. He is just – Jason."

Ezra sighed. Aria can see the disappointment in his eyes. "When it started?" Ezra braced himself to ask.

Aria looked at Ezra. She didn't want to tell this to him. But she knows that he wanted answer. He deserved an answer for everything that he had done for her. The least she could do is be honest with him. "Do you know that I used to have pink hair?"

"What?" Ezra rolled his eyes. He didn't know what it has to do with his question. But the fact that Aria used to have pink hair surprised him. "Really? Why?" He imagines what she looked like with her pink hair.

Aria let out a little laugh. She guessed what his reaction will be. "Everyone's reactions were the same as you. They all ask me why I did that. Jason is the only one that smiled at me. He didn't comment or asked anything at me. He just smiled. He never judged me."

Ezra understands now why Aria tells him that story. "You used to have a crush on him." Ezra said, more like a statement. "This is happened before we even met." Ezra said, come to realization why Aria answered his question with a story. Aria already had a feeling for Jason long before she met him.

"Yes." Aria confirmed it. "It feels weird to say it out loud. I never told anybody about this."

"Why?" Ezra is confused because she practically has no secret with the girls. They even know about him when he specifically told her not to tell anybody so he is confused why Aria keeps this from the others.

"Because he is Ali's brother." Ezra rolled her eyes. "He is Ali's – stoner older brother." Aria added.

"What?"

Aria can see the shock in Ezra's face. "You never heard of that? Everyone knows. Jason used to get high all the time. He was the black sheep of the family. Like me."

"Really? You were the black sheep of the family?" He thinks about Aria. How Byron and Ella treats her and the trouble that Mike is in right now. He can't picture her as the black sheep of the family. Her family seems perfect.

Aria smiles sadly. "You know me now. You don't know me back then. I had pink streaks in my hair. Alison DiLaurentis is my best friend. We are the mean girls at the school." Ezra widened his eyes. Aria saw that. "There are many things about me that you don't know about, Ezra. And I don't want you to know. Rosewood is a small town. Everyone knows what you did. And one you made a mistake, it will never be forgotten. They might not always bring it up, but they never forget. You are new. You don't know my mistakes. You don't know me. There are many things that I want to forget from the past. But Jason, he is the only thing that good from my past."

Ezra is almost sorry that he asks Aria about Jason. But he has to know. And now he knows how important Jason is for her. He questions himself. If he asks her the question that he wants to ask, is he going to lose her? But he has to ask her eventually sooner or later. "Is this mean that you want to be with him?"

Aria also knows that this question will be asked to her sooner or later. But she doesn't have the answer to that. Aria reached for Ezra's hand. "Ezra, I really do love you."

Ezra put his hand on top of Aria's hand. He looked at her deep in the eyes. "Then choose me." Ezra said. "You can have us both, Aria. You have to choose." Aria is just quietly stared at their joined hands. She didn't know what to say to him. "I love you, Aria. I know that you feel the same. This is just a bump in the road. We can get through this. The one thing that you have to do is choose me. Forget about Jason. I can do whatever you wanted me to do." Suddenly Ezra sat up. "Let's go to see your parents. Let's tell them about us." Ezra extends his hand to Aria.

Aria just silently looked at Ezra. How often she hoped to hear that words from Ezra the last few weeks. But right now she hoped that he isn't saying that. "We can't tell my parents right now." Aria said.

"Why? You wanted me to step up and tell them. Now I'm ready." Ezra said.

"But I'm not." Aria said softly. Ezra can hear it. He also knows what that means. She isn't sure that she wanted to be with him right now.

"Is this because of Jason?" Ezra bluntly asked. Aria can't say the truth to Ezra right now. How could she? She is only going to hurt him. But because she doesn't say anything, Ezra knows the answer. Ezra sat again next to her. "Why?" Ezra laughed sarcastically.

"I'm sorry." That is all Aria can say right now.

"Stop saying you're sorry and give me answer, Aria!" Ezra snapped.

"I'm so sorry." Aria can't blame him. He has every right to be angry right now.

Ezra leaned to the couch. "What happened with us? We are okay yesterday. And now – when did Jason become the huge rock in our relationship?" Aria knows better than to answer him. So she is just quiet. Ezra sighed. "You should go."

"Ezra –" Aria touched Ezra's arm.

Ezra turned to her and smiles sadly. "You have a choice to make. And clearly right now, you can't do it." Ezra put his arms on Aria's. "I'm giving you space. You know where to find me when you need me." Ezra leaned over to Aria and kisses her softly. Aria knows that is her cue to leave. So she sat up and walked out.

From Ezra's apartment, Aria comes back to Spencer's. She called Ella and told her that she and the girls will spent the night at Spencer's because her parents was out of town. She just has too much on her plate right now.

"How is it goes with Ezra?" Hanna asked. Emily looked busy watching the video but they know that she is listening too.

"Awful." Aria sighed.

"What happened?" Hanna asked again.

"He asked about Jason's stuff. And I have to tell him everything." Aria said.

"What? You tell him that you slept with Jason?" Emily isn't pretending to watch the video again and turned to her.

"Of course not! I'm not an idiot." Aria said. "I just told him about my feelings to Jason. After everything that he had done for me, the least that I could do is honest about my feelings."

"Aria." Suddenly Hanna's expression turned serious. "I know that you had a crush with Jason this whole time."

Aria and Emily looked at her. "How do you know?" Aria asked.

"That one time at Noel Kahn's party. Noel was talking to Jason. You keep looking at them. Ali thought you have a crush on Noel. But I know it was Jason. Because you are blushing when he came over even just to scold Ali." Hanna said.

Emily turned to Aria. Aria can see the judgment in Emily's eyes even she didn't say anything. "You should've told us."

"How could I? You knew Ali. You can imagine what she is going to do if she found out about that." Aria said.

"So you're in love with Jason DiLaurentis this whole time?" Emily shocked.

Aria isn't answering. "Ali is gone now." Hanna said, ignoring Emily's outburst. Aria turned to Hanna again. "You have a crush with Jason since forever. Now Ali is gone. There is no one standing between you and Jason, except Ezra. Aria, I know how you feel about Jason. You really like him a lot. You can't be together back then. But he is here now. I just don't get why you keep staying with Ezra when Jason is the one that you love. I just don't think it is fair for Ezra."

Aria looked at both of them. "He is the one thing that normal when I came back from Ireland." Aria said. "My dad had an affair and told me to keep it from my mom. He even shipped us all to Ireland for that. Ali went missing. And we were so far away from each other. Everyone knows what happened to Ali. They kept told me to be strong and others. I felt so overwhelm and got into bar that day. I met Ezra there. He didn't know me. I can be someone new. Clean slate." Aria's eyes started to well up. "He was there when you weren't." Aria finally said it.

Hanna and Emily looked at each other. Deep down, they feel terrible about what happened with them when Ali went missing. They supposed to be the best of friend and supported each other, but they only drifted apart from each other.

"It sounded that you are grateful that Ezra was there." Emily suddenly said.

"Of course I am." Aria said. "He might be the reason that I'm still sane after everything that happened."

"Grateful isn't love, Aria." Emily said again. Both Aria and Hanna looked at Emily. It never slipped in their mind that Emily can say that. "Don't get me wrong. I don't like Jason. I still don't trust him." Emily makes a statement. "But Hanna is right; I don't think it is fair for Ezra. You can't be with him when you aren't in love with him. You only feel grateful because he was there when you need someone. That isn't love, Aria. I think he proved more than enough that he loves you. I just feel bad for him."

Aria sighed and covers her face with her hands. "I know. I never meant to hurt him. And I don't want to keep hurting him. But I don't know what to do."

"You better figure it out soon, Aria. It won't end well for everyone. You have a choice to make." Emily said again.

Aria nodded slowly. "I just don't want to hurt anybody."

"That is the choice that you don't have. One of them will get hurt. You can't choose both of them." Emily said.

Aria sighed again. She looked at Emily. "If – I said if. If I choose Jason, will you approve it?"

Emily is just quietly looking at Aria for a moment. "This isn't about me. This isn't about Spencer and Hanna either." Emily added. "This is about you. It doesn't matter what I want. The important thing is what you want. Who you want to be with." Emily said. Hanna just smiled listened to Emily's words. She can feel that she soften to the fact that Aria has a crush on Jason long before she met Ezra.

"Thanks, Em. I really appreciated it." Aria smiled at her.

"Maybe you can talk to Jason." Hanna said.

Aria turned to Hanna. "Do you think it is a good idea?" Aria asked.

"I don't think you are confused about your feelings. You just need to convince yourself. That is why I think you better see Jason and talk to him." Hanna said.

"And while you at that, you can look how is Spencer doing over there. She is been gone a long time." Emily said, thinking about Spencer.

Spencer stands in front of Jason's house for ten minutes before finally she forced herself to knock. Jason widened his eyes when he sees Spencer stand in front of him. "What are you doing here? Want to yell at me some more?" Jason said sarcastically.

Spencer ignored his comment. "I need your help."

Jason rolled his eyes on her. "You've got to be kidding me, right? You just scold me earlier, and now you are asking for my help?"

Spencer groaned. She knows that Jason will say that to her. But she is Spencer Hastings. She stared at him. "It isn't just for me. Aria is involved in this too." Now Spencer has a secret weapon against Jason.

Jason sighed. Jason stepped aside and let Spencer in. "What do you need?" Jason asked immediately after he closed the door.

Spencer shows the tape to him. "We got this from Garrett's."

Jason shook his head. He really doesn't get these girls. How can they can be so fearless. "You are taking a big risk here. If he ever found out that you stole that, I can't even imagine what he would do." Jason said.

"We have no choice." Spencer said. Spencer looked at Jason. "You taped this video. Ian and Garrett were arguing. We can't hear clearly, but they were talking about Ali. We have to know what happened."

Jason takes the tape from Spencer and plays it in his video. He observed it for a little while. Spencer can see his furrow eyebrows when he watched the video. "Honestly I can't remember any of this." Jason said. "You can see that I was quite high." Jason gesturing the screen that shows him keep babbling. "I don't even remember saying all this stuff." Jason looked at Spencer. "I'm sorry. I can't help you."

"Not a thing?" Spencer asked one more time. Jason shook his head. She knows it quite a long shot considering how high Jason was at the time. "Well, let me know if you remember something? You should keep the tape." Spencer said.

Jason nodded. "I'll try to remember." Spencer smiled a little. She softens a bit after seeing how hard Jason was trying to help them. She is so rude to him earlier outside Garrett's apartment, but he still willing to help her for Aria. She knows at least his feeling to Aria is real.

"I'll be going now." Spencer said. Jason nodded again awkwardly. Spencer opened the door and found Aria is standing outside the door, ready to knock. "Aria."

"I'm just checking how you two are doing." Aria smirked at them.

"Don't worry. We haven't tried to rip out each other throat yet." Jason teased.

"Yeah, I've been very civil. You can ask him." Spencer also said. Aria just smiled and looked at Jason. Jason is also looking at her. Spencer is obviously uncomfortable standing between the two of them. "You two talk. I'll see later, Aria." Spencer walked really fast and leaves them both who walked in to the house.

to be continued...