Disclaimer : I don't own Pretty Little Liars.
Author's note: I think I could wrap this up in one or two more chapters. But for now, enjoy. I wrote the conversation between Ella and Aria just now. I just think that Aria shouldn't ever say that to her mom on the last episode of Pretty Little Liars. I could understand that she has strong feelings toward Ezra Fitz, but when she said that to her mom, I think that cross the line. Ella is nothing but trying to understand her. But Aria acting like a child. But considering that she is a child, I think we have to understand her. But Ezra? Anyway, enjoy…
The girls all are looking at Jason with widened eyes. "What?"
Megan looking at the girls and Jason with raised eyebrows. "What is A?" She is curious how the girls reacted with just one alphabet.
They all are ignoring Megan and focused to Jason. "She can't be A. How can she be A?" Hanna said.
"Yes."Emily agrees with her.
"We just found out about her. How can she know that much about us?" Spencer also said.
Megan suddenly coughs, make their attention back to her. "I don't understand what is this A that you're talking about. But she knows a lot about all of you."Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin and Emily Fields." The girls rolled their eyes, demanding more explanation. "She always talks about you when I was visiting her."
"Ali talks to her about everything." Jason said. "She always said Courtney is her personal deposit box. There are no place safer than her."
"Why is she trying to hurt us?" Hanna asked.
"What? That is impossible." Megan said. "She will never hurt any of your. She always said to me how lucky Alison was to have friends like you. All she wanted is get to know you. There is no way that she is trying to hurt you."
"Well, that's not true. We've been through a lot because of A. The things that she makes us do." Hanna protests.
"Just like Alison." Spencer said. Spencer looks drowned in her thought. "A never really hurt us." They all looking at her with a disbelief looks. "Think about it. She always threatened us, but never really does it. Just like Ali."
Aria, Emily, and Hanna looked at each other. They all are having the same expression on their face. They didn't agree with Spencer's opinion. "You can't be serious?" Emily asked to make sure. Spencer just shrugged. "I know it's overwhelmed that A might be your sister. The one that you never even met. But this is A, Spence."
"Could we just found her first before deciding anything? She's out there by herself. Alone." Megan said again.
"This is why I brought you in, Meg. You're the closest person to her beside Ali." Jason said. He looked at Megan. "Do you have any idea where she could be right now?"
Megan shook her head. "I already try to find her in all the places that I could think of. But still no luck."
Jason sighed. "She is dangerous. If we haven't found her soon, I have to call the police."
Megan glared at Jason. "She is your sister, Jason. She isn't some psycho. Why can't you give her benefit of the doubt like you give Alison?"
Jason glared back at her. "Because Ali almost died that day."
"She stabbed herself!" Megan shouted.
Jason looked at Megan. "Fine. I know my sister. She is capable to do something like that. But it doesn't make any difference. Courtney already locked up for years and Ali is dead."
Spencer looked at Jason. "I can see now how much you cared about Ali. I always thought that you hated each other." Spencer suddenly said. "Courtney is your sister too. She even looks like Ali. Why you can't love her like you love Ali?"
All eyes are looking at Jason. He feels cornered. "Because I don't know how!" He never thinks about that before. He just speaks his mind before he even knows what to think. The others look surprise to hear that statement from Jason. But they don't judge him, so they didn't say anything. "It had been the two of us for a while. Sometimes I forget that I have another sister." Jason looked at the others. "Ali was my only sister for years. My injured little sister." He added to Megan. "I was the one that stayed with my mom when Ali was brought to the hospital. Her clothes were covered in blood. I spent nights there, praying that she'll be okay. When she finally opened her eyes, the first thing she said is Courtney stabbed her."
Megan just about to protest again, but Jason raised his hand, stopping her. "When we asked Courtney what happened, she didn't say anything. She only gave us a creepy smile like she was proud of what she did." Jason looked at the others again. "I can't help but feel embarrassed. I don't want that kind of person to be my sister." Jason said with a sad tone. They can feel how guilty he feels because he felt like that toward his sister. "My parents admitted her to psychiatric hospital. She had been stayed there ever since. That is the last time I saw her."
"She really misses you." Megan said quietly. Jason raised his head and looked at Megan. "She talks about you sometimes. She asked Alison about you. But Alison never answered her. So she asked me. She wanted to know how you are. She cares about you. Just give her a chance."
Jason shifted his eyes. They all are can see the guilt that he feels. But he quickly shrugged it off. "It doesn't matter now. The important thing right now is find her, before she could do more damage." Jason said. "She is dangerous, whether you wanted to admit it or not. She is dangerous to other and herself. Maybe you were right, Courtney did this for Ali. But the needs to fulfill what Ali wanted; it isn't a good thing too. Who knows what else she would've done for Ali."
Megan sighed. She knows that what Jason said make sense. "I will try to find her again." Megan said.
Spencer, Hanna and Emily looked at each other. They notices that Aria hasn't said a word after Jason told her Courtney is A. They know that both of them are gonna need time to talk. "We'll help you." Spencer said. Hanna and Emily nodded.
Aria is just about to follow them, but Jason called her. "Aria."
Emily patted Aria's shoulder. "Just talk to him."
Hanna gives Jason a cue with her eyes to talk to Aria. Jason nodded. They all are leaving the room. Now there are only the two of them in the room. But none of them says anything.
That makes Jason frustrated. He wanted to know what is Aria thinking of. He can feel how angry and hurt she is right now. "Talk to me." Jason whispered. He still hasn't decided whether he wanted to hear this or not. But they never gonna get to the bottom of this if they aren't talk to each other.
"I don't know what you expect me to say." Aria raised her head and looking straightly to Jason, make Jason revised his mind about her being angry. She is furious. "I can't believe that you will keep this huge secret from me."
"I never meant to keep anything from you, Aria. I told you before; I don't like keeping secret from you. I always wanted to tell you everything." Jason tries to explain.
"And why didn't you?" Aria glared at him. How can he said that he doesn't want to keep secrets from her when he hiding this huge secret in his closet. Jason couldn't say anything else. The truth is, he did hide this from her, and form anyone else. He doesn't want anybody to know about this.
"You hide this huge secret from us. From me. Courtney is A. Your sister is A." Aria stated.
"I didn't know at first. I swear to you. I just found out these last couple of days." Jason said.
"But you do know later. And you're still keeping this from us. You know how we feel about A. But even so, it doesn't matter to you. Spencer, Toby and Caleb almost fall down the cliff for this. If you tell us from the beginning, none of this could have happen." Aria shook her head.
"I screw up!" Jason shouts. "I made the wrong choice and I'm sorry." Jason said. Jason looked at Aria. "I thought it was so important to keep Alison's privacy. I didn't know that it'll be like this. If I know, I will tell you from the beginning."
Aria looked at him with her teary eyes. He can see it in her eyes now. Furious isn't his biggest problem at the moment. "I thought I could always count on you for everything. You know our situation. What danger we're facing! But you're the one that put our lives in danger. You're the one person that should never lie to me." She was so disappointed in him.
"I'm so sorry, Aria. I was wrong. I'm sorry." Jason said. Jason handed out his hand, trying to reach Aria's hand. "Please, Aria. Forgive me."
Aria is just looking at him for a while with her wet eyes. And then she shook her head. "I can't. I don't know if I can trust you again." Aria turned her back on him and ready to walk out from the room.
There is nothing that Jason could do at the moment. He broke his leg, so he can barely move from the bed. The one thing he could do is shouting out her name. "Aria! Aria, please. Don't give up on us." Aria stopped and turned to him again. "After everything that we've been through, please don't give up on us. I love you, Aria. And I know that you love me too. So please."
Aria shook her head in tears. "I cheated on Ezra because of you. I eat my own guilt for him because I want to be with you. I stood up to my friends for you. You know why?" Jason couldn't say anything. "Because I love you. I don't care what other people thinks of you. I know you're worth it. Because I know that you're the one. But I'm not so sure anymore."
"Please, Aria. Don't do this. I made a mistake. I'm sorry." Jason keeps trying. He can feel that Aria is about to give up on them. And he can't let that happen.
"I think we better walk our own way from now on." Aria isn't holding her tears anymore. She let it stream down her face. "I'm thinking myself too high. I thought that I could stand by you through anything. But I can't. I'm sorry." Aria immediately opened the door and walked out from the room before Jason could say something anymore. But even so, she could hear him shouting her name from behind the door. She toughens herself and walks away.
Aria immediately walked to her room as soon as she arrived at home. She doesn't even notice Ella said to her that she is heading out. Out of curiosity, Ella follows her. She worried for her daughter.
"Hey. Can I come in?" Ella stopped in front of a half open door room.
Aria forced herself to smile and nodded. "Sure."
Ella carefully sits on the edge of her bed and observes her daughter. She is clearly been crying. Her eyes are red and she looks so tired. "Talk to me, honey. What's wrong?"
Aria looked hesitant for a minute before she shrugged. "It's nothing. I'm fine." She forced a small smile on her face.
Ella shifted closer to her. She knows that there is something happened with her, and she won't just gonna back down this time. Aria looks so broken right now. "Are you fighting with Jason or something?" Ella asked right away. When you boyfriend is lying on the hospital, you are supposed to looks sad, not broken like she is right now.
Aria raised her head and looked at her mom. Actually she really needs someone at this moment. Her eyes start to water. "No. We broke up."
Ella immediately embraces Aria before she broke down crying. "Oh honey, what happened?" Ella asked.
"He lied to me." Aria said between sobs. Ella wanted to say something but she holds it, because she knows that what Aria needs right now, is vent. So she let her be. "I trusted him. But he kept this huge secret from me. I gave him everything." Ella flinched when she said that. Aria also caught that. "Not what you think of, mom." Aria quickly said before Ella gets the wrong idea. And then she thinks of Ezra. Sweet and caring Ezra. "I did something awful to someone." Her tears stream even faster when she thinks of Ezra. "I hurt someone that loves me because I love Jason. And he just lied to me."
Ella looked at her. She wasn't sure whether she had to say what she is about to say. "Someone that you are talking about, it's Ezra Fitz, right?"
Aria widened her eyes out of surprise. She always thought that she was being careful and that now that relationship over, she never really thinks about that anymore. "How did you –? Mom, I can explain this." Aria immediately said before the situation turned to worse. She knows that she can't lie again right now.
Ella sighed and shook her head. "You don't have to explain anything, Aria. I don't even want to know. I'm just glad that it's over." Ella looked at Aria. "It is over, right?"
"Yes!" Aria immediately answers. She observed her mom. Ella doesn't look too upset about this, so she thinks she can ask more. "How did you figure that out?"
Ella scoffed. "I'm not stupid, you know." Ella said to Aria. Aria understands that Ella is disappointed in her because she was lying about Ezra and Spencer. "I saw Spencer and Toby in the diner once. Spencer orders roasted chicken while Toby orders grilled salmon. When their order came, Spencer gives Toby the mashed potato and Toby gives her broccolis. They like a couple." Ella looked at Aria. "The couple that has been through a lot and already understands each other so well. That hit me. Spencer couldn't be the one that has been with Ezra Fitz. So I think maybe you cover for someone else. And then I think about your other friend. Hanna and Caleb are inseparable. Emily is gay. That just leaves you. And that actually make sense."
"You aren't mad? I'm so sorry, mom. I never meant to hurt anybody. Especially you and dad." Aria said.
Ella shook her head and smiles a little at her. "I don't understand why that could happen. He was your teacher. That is inappropriate. That is just wrong. But then I saw you with Jason. I can see how happy you are with him. So I can't be mad anymore. It doesn't matter what happened between you and Ezra anymore. It's over. You're with Jason. And you're actually happy. Happier than I ever saw you." Aria has a question on the back of her head, but she wasn't sure whether it is okay to ask her mom. Ella could see the expression on Aria's face. "There is something in your mind."
Aria looked at Ella and decided. "Why you approved Jason and you hated Ezra so much? Is this about our age differences? Because Jason and Ezra, they are practically the same age."
"I didn't hate Ezra. I think he is a great guy. I'm sure anybody will be so lucky to get him. But that doesn't include my daughter. He was your teacher, Aria. Your mentor. He was supposed to teach you the good things. Parents can't always be there for their child. But we're trying the best that we can do. The rest, we trusted the teacher could teach our child anything else. You're young. That can be understood if you choose the wrong way. You still try to discover who you are, and that for that you might make a few other mistakes. But he should know better. He is the adult. And he was your teacher. Teachers aren't supposed to have a romantic relationship with their students." Ella explains. Ella looked at Aria. "It's different with Jason. Because I knew him since he was little. You two grew up together. I'll never think about your age differences with him. To me, he was the boy that sent you home on a blizzard day because you broke your heels."
Aria remembered that day. It is the first day of school when she was still on junior high. That is the first pair of high heels that she got. She still tries to get the hang of it. But the heels are stuck on concrete and when she tried to pull free, the heels broke. She almost fell down if Jason wasn't there and catches her. That is the first day Jason and Ali's family move into town. There is a blizzard that day, but Jason insisted on take her home because he was worried that she would lost on the blizzard because of her tiny figure. That was the exact words that he said to her that day. Thinking about that makes her missing Jason more than she already is.
Ella looked at her daughter again. "I'm sure Jason must have a reason for doing that, honey. Everyone can see how much he loves you. He won't just lie to you without any reason. I'm sure he has his difficulties. He won't just hurt you on purpose. He loves you." Ella said again.
Aria scoffed when she thinks of that. She understands that the needs that Jason feels to cover that secret. But she didn't understand why Jason prefers to still keeping this secret and led her and her friends in danger. "It doesn't matter whatever reason he has. If isn't because of him, none of this would have happened."
Ella raised her eyebrows. "Are you talking about the accident? Jason is the reason for this accident?" Aria immediately keeps her mouth shuts. She knows that she slipped. She wasn't supposed to talk about that. What if her mom curious about this and tries to find out? She knowing about any of this wouldn't do any good. Ella also understands when she sees the expression on Aria's face. She won't ever gonna talk about this. "Looks, I don't know what happened. But whatever it is, even it is Jason's fault, I think he already paid his share." Ella said, remembering that Jason is lying on the hospital.
Aria huffed. She knows that Ella was talking about the fact that Jason is the only one who had to be admitted to the hospital. "It never would have happened if he doesn't insist on keeps this secret from us. My friends are hurt because of what he did!" Aria starts to tear again.
"I get it." Aria raised her head and looked at her mom. "You disappointed in him. You're hurt because he wasn't supposed to be the one that hurt you. You feel betrayed." Aria looked at her mom. She can't believe that her mom can see through her like that. But she is her mom after all. She gave birth to her.
Aria's silence is actually a confirmation for Ella. She knows that she is right. "Honey, no one is perfect. What Jason did to you, I'm sure that he is sorry. I know you know that he isn't meant to hurt you. This is only proving that he isn't perfect, like the rest of us." Ella reached for Aria's hand. "In case you forget, he is the one that lying on the hospital bed right now while most of you walk away without a scratch. He is trying to make this right." Ella said. "Just calm down and think this through. I think what you have with Jason, is worth fighting for." Ella gives Aria's hand a little squeeze. "Are you okay to be alone right now? I have to accompany your dad for the faculty event. But I can stay if you want me to."
Aria shook her head. "No. Its okay, mom. I need some alone time to think, anyway."
Ella nodded. "Walk me out?"
Aria looked at her mom and smiled. "Sure." She stand up from the bed, linking her arm with Ella's and walked her out of the house.
After that, she walked back to her room. But she isn't the only one in there. Someone is there. She almost dropped her jaw when she sees her standing in her room. "Ali?"
The girl that looks like Alison smiled at her and shook her head. "Guess again." Even her voice is the same like Alison.
And she doesn't even to think hard. "Courtney."
She smiled again at her. "I figured you've found out about me."
Aria stared at her. She feels so weird. She knows that Alison is dead. And this girl that standing in front of her is her identical twin sister. But she can't help but feels Alison. Aria can feel Ali inside of Courtney. "We've been looking for you."
Courtney smirked at her. "I know about that too. I'm A, remember that? I know everything." Aria gasped.
Aria wishes this moment a hundred of times before. That they finally will stand in front of A and demand an explanation. But seeing Alison's face who standing in front of her, she can't help but wonder. Just like Spencer said. A isn't really actually trying to hurt them. She never had. In fact, she killed Ian to protect Spencer. But when she was thinking the things that she makes them do.
"I thought we cut the small talk about we're pretending that you aren't already know that I'm A." Courtney said again with a smirk on her face. She isn't just looks like Alison. She is even acts like Alison. If they didn't know there are two of them, they'll never figures out that they are twins.
"Why?" Aria doesn't need to explain what is that she is asking for. Courtney already knows for sure what is that Aria wanted to know.
Courtney stared at her. "I can give you the answer that you've been looking for. I'll tell you everything you wanted knows. There is no point in it, anyway. You've found out about me. The fun is over." Courtney said. Aria sees the changes in her expression. Suddenly the smirk is gone from her face and turned serious. "Just don't leave Jason." She said again. Aria widened her eyes. That is the words that she never expecting will come from Courtney.
"Seriously?"
"My brother had been through a lot. It wasn't something easy when you had Alison DiLaurentis as a sister. She was your best friend. You understand how hands full Ali could be. She gathered all our parents' attention. They barely had any time left for Jason. He's not really love to get high, you know. He just needs someone to care for him."
Hearing what Courtney said, Aria knows that she is care about Jason. And she understands him. This is the first time she saw any difference between her and Alison. Alison never really cares about Jason. She always used him. And Jason always let her because he loved her. And for Jason, Alison was his only sister. His injured little sister.
"You really care about him." Aria said to him. She can't help but feeling surprise. The A yang she had on her mind isn't someone who cares about anybody else.
"I can say the same thing about you." Courtney said back to her. Aria stared at her. "Jason never had anybody who cares about him. You're the only one. That's what makes you so important to him. Losing you, it will destroy him." Courtney said. Courtney looked at Aria. "You know that he will never intentionally hurt you."
Hearing what Courtney said to her, make Aria realized something. "That is the reason why you come to see me." Aria stated.
Courtney didn't deny that. "All of this is supposed to be fun. Alison always talked about you. So I wanted to know you. I never meant it to go this far."
Aria rolled her eyes on her. "That seriously your best excuse to any of this?" Aria asked with a disbelief tone.
"How can I get to you guys? Ali is dead. And you don't know about me. If you come to your door step, you're just gonna shock to death." Courtney said.
"It doesn't mean that it was okay to taunting us." Aria said.
Courtney smirked at her. "Nobody likes a downer, Aria. I just wanted a little fun."
"Well, it isn't fun for any of us, at all."
Courtney giggles. "Fine. Back to that. Do we have a deal or not? I'll tell you everything and you don't leave my brother."
Aria rolled her eyes on her. "If you are A, you know me so well then. You know that I will never agree to that." Aria said again. She looked at Courtney. "If Jason and I are gonna work on this, it will be because of us. Not you."
Strangely enough, Courtney smiled at Aria, sincerely. "Couldn't hurt to try, huh." She said like she knows that it isn't gonna work out. Aria will never gonna agree with that. And she is actually looks okay with that. She looked at Aria again with a serious expression. "I'm already texted Megan. She and the girls will be right here soon. I will tell you everything then."
Aria couldn't help but wonder. "Why? After all of this time, you're just gonna tell us everything?"
Courtney keeps her serious expression. "I just wanted have some fun. I never meant to hurt any of you, especially Jason." And Aria has her answer. It is because she seriously considered of leaving Jason that makes Courtney comes out from her hiding. Aria doesn't know whether she could trust her, but one thing she does know is Courtney cares a lot about Jason.
Aria's thought interrupted by the sound of the door knocked. "It must be them." Courtney said. She was about to preceded Aria to come out from the room, but Aria immediately stopped her.
"You're not going anywhere." Aria stated. "It could be just my parents or Mike. They will be shocked to death if they're sees you." Aria said, repeating what Courtney said earlier. Courtney just smirked and throws herself on Aria's bed. "Just stay here. Don't go anywhere."
"I'm the one that come here. I'm not going anywhere." Aria doesn't know why but she feels that she can trust her right now.
Aria walked down the stairs and opened the front door. The one who is standing in front of her isn't who she expected. "Jason? Why are you here?"
Jason is standing so weakly in front of her with his hand clutching to a cane that supported his weight. Without even thinking about this, Aria immediately reached out to him and throws his arm around her shoulders so she can help him stand. She is supposed to be still mad at him, but she can't do that now when he needs her help.
"I can't just let you go. Not like this." Jason said.
"Just come in and sit first, okay?" Aria carefully guided Jason to walk into the house. "You broke your leg. You shouldn't be on your feet." Aria said.
"I don't care about my leg. I don't care about anything else. I just care about you. There is nothing more important to me than you, Aria." Jason said. He pulled out his hand and looked straight at her. "I made a mistake. I'm really sorry. If I could take it back, I would. But I can't. It happened. But I'm not gonna give up. I will do anything to fix this. Just tell me what I can do. I can't lose you."
Seeing Jason like this, all Aria can think of is what Courtney just said to her. Jason looks so broken. He needs her. What Courtney says is right. Nobody cares about him. Even his own parents rarely think of him. He doesn't have anyone else. Aria is the only one he has. Without think about it any longer, Aria throws her arms at Jason and hug him tightly. Looking at him so broken also makes her broken inside.
"Just don't ever lie to me again." Aria whispered to Jason's ear.
"I promise." Jason said and squeezes her tighter. He couldn't believe that Aria is in his arms again. And he swore that he will never ever gonna let her go. Ever.
A voice brings him back to reality. "You're welcome, brother." Jason doesn't even have to think who the owner of this voice is. He knows her so well. He hears it every night on his nightmare. Jason pulled away from Aria and looked at the person who standing on the stairs.
"Alison."
to be continued...