Chapter 17
Best Friends, Sometimes More
Over time I have had people frequently ask me about writing a Sparia chapter. Well I have finally given in so here it is! For those of you who aren't into Sparia, I still put some Ezria (just the two of them at the end! There is NO Aria, Spencer, Ezra combo (meaning NO threesome). Just Sparia in the beginning then Ezria in the end.)
Thank you all so much for the reviews! I love reading your comments, thoughts, and reactions!
Spencer's POV
"Emily seems to be having a great time with Samara." I mutter with a hint of jealousy.
My best friend Aria leans her petite body up against my side to glance at my phone. Emily posted a photo to her Instagram of her and Samara hanging out with all of Samara's friends.
"I'm glad she is happy and comfortable in her own skin finally." Aria replies with a faint smile on her beautiful light pink lips. Her lip gloss shimmering in the light as she moves her lips to talk.
"I need a refill. Where does Fitz keep the booze?" I grumble in dissatisfaction.
"I left the bottle out, it is sitting next to the stove." Aria directs then hands me her own glass for another refill as well.
If anyone would have ever told me I would be in one of my teacher's apartments late at night drinking with my best friend, I would have sent them to Radley. Yet, here I am with Aria drinking Fitz's scotch and sitting on his living room floor eating Rose of Sharon and working on homework. Ezra went up to New York to spend the day with a friend of his. Around six ish Ezra called Aria to tell her he decided to spend the night since they were going drinking in a bar for a while tonight.
Swaying across the room I can feel the copious amount of alcohol I have consumed thus far begin to kick in. Placing the glasses back down on the coffee table in front of Aria I set the bottle of scotch down between the two of us.
"Is Fitz gonna be pissed when he comes home to find we cleared him out of alcohol?" I stutter out of curiosity.
Aria shakes her head in denial before taking a large gulp of the amber liquid. "As long as I only drink here and don't go anywhere afterwards, he doesn't care what I drink of his."
Throwing back the rest of my glass I slam it down on the coffee table. Popping off the top I refill my glass for the third time tonight. "Good, cause at this rate nothing is going to be left."
"Take it easy Spence," Aria warns noticing my drastic intake.
I merely grunt back at her in rebuttal.
Aria closes her notebook for History class then shoves it into her black school bag along with the rest of her school work we had completed tonight. Twisting around to the end table behind her, Aria grabs the remote to flip on some random movie for us to watch.
Watching Aria move about this apartment so carelessly without even an ounce of hesitation tugs at my heart more than it should. All three of the girls have a significant other aside from me. Emily and Samara have been going strong for a couple weeks now so they are spending all of their time together. Hannah is pretty much always wanting to jump Caleb's bones as he isn't useful for much more than that. And then lately, my closest friend Aria has the insanely hot relationship with our English teacher. It is taboo and yet it is undeniably sexy and kinky to me. I had been getting close to this guy at the country club named Alex but my mother ruined that relationship for me before it could even begin.
Sighing heavily out of frustration I struggle to turn my attention to the TV and off of the never ending pity party taking place in my head. Aria pulls me up off of the ground to sit on the large leather couch. Grabbing the knitted throw blanket off the back of the couch she drapes it over our laps and leans into my side stating she is cold.
Aria and I have spent the past hour curled up on Ezra Fitz's couch watching TV and getting drunk. Needless to say it has been a rather pleasurable Saturday night despite my sorrows about being single and aching for someone to spend time with romantically.
"Alors si je peux me permettre de te donner un conseil, c'est: oublie qu'tas aucune chance, va-y, fonce. On sait jamais, sur un malentendu, ça peut marcher." I quote along with the movie we were watching.
"I love when you speak French; it is very sexyyyyy." Aria slurs with a giggle midsentence.
I turn my head lazily and mumble, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?"
"What does that mean?" Aria asks a moment later with big, curious eyes.
Shaking my head I snicker to myself. "Nothing meaningful."
My gaze is torn away from Aria's when my phone buzzes. Reaching out for the offending device I flip it open to see a text from Emily.
Want to spend the night at Samara's. Can you cover for me if my mom calls? She thinks I am with you. – Em
Rolling my eyes cynically I type back a short yes in agreement.
"Oooo Em is going to get some tonight!" Aria shouts playfully in a suggestive tone.
"I wonder what it is like," I state blandly.
Aria mutes the TV and turns to look at me. "Wondering about what?"
"Kissing a girl."
Aria playfully nudges my side with a drunken giggle. "Spence you have kissed a girl before."
Rolling my eyes I tilt my head down to give her a look. "Yeah but that was when we were 12. You and I didn't know what we were doing or what it meant to actually kiss someone for a reason. That was more so goofing around for you to 'practice' for kissing Noel at the Halloween party that had been on the horizon."
Aria pushes herself up on the couch to hover right next to me. A second later Aria crashes her plump lips against my own. Our lips dance together in sync for a little longer than two friends probably should have. When she pulls away about an inch from my face I struggle to open my eyes.
"How was that?" Her melody voice asks with a hint of happiness.
Mindlessly nodding my head I find myself at a loss for words.
Something within me causes me to grasp the back of her neck and bring our lips together once more. Maybe it was the alcohol in my system. Maybe it was my long term loneliness bubbling up and taking over. Maybe it was the fact that I have always secretly held a school girl crush for my adorable and equally sexy friend.
Aria doesn't show even an ounce of hesitation during our kiss. In fact, she seems to be pushing against me slightly harder with each second passing. Wanting to test her boundaries I start to direct her body to lay down flat on the couch as I crawl on top of her. Aria's arms loop around my neck keeping our lips connected the entire time. The faintest moan falls from her breathtaking lips and she wraps her legs around my waist.
I cannot believe this is happening. I cannot believe I am making out with my best friend Aria Montgomery in her boyfriend's apartment who happens to double as our teacher.
"Mmm Spence… Spencer." Aria mumbles against my lips to slow things down.
Her hands fall from around my neck and instead drift down my sides to rest on my hips.
"What are we doing?"
"I don't know. What do you think we are doing?"
"Are we just kissing or do you want this to lead to more?" Aria nods over towards the bed to further confirm her subtle question.
"You're stunning, you know that?" I whisper faintly as I stare down into her astonishing hazel orbs completely avoiding her question.
Aria blushes under my gaze. Slipping my hand under her loose fitted white tank top I smile softly feeling her delicate skin.
"Spence?" Aria whispers almost silently thus bringing me back to her previous question.
"If you want to stop and pretend nothing ever happened, then we will stop. But…" I trail off as I place kisses to her stomach and hover over the two metal buttons holding her jeans together. "If you want more I am more than happy to keep going."
Aria chews on her bottom lip in excitement as I mindlessly fiddle with the metal buttons that are about to determine whether or not we carry on. Aria nods her head with a daring smile.
"Let's move to the bed then." Aria giggles in a carefree tone.
Lacing her hand in mine I pull her up off of the couch and lead her over to the full sized bed. I lightly push on her petite hips to guide her backwards onto the mattress.
With Aria situated on her back in the center of the bed I use this opportunity to undress her. Reaching out I pop the buttons on her dark wash skinny jeans and peal them down her body. With the hem of her top grasped in her little fingers, Aria sits up slightly to discard the item. In front of me lies Aria in a light pink lace lingerie set that looks impeccable against her skin tone. Her long and curly chestnut locks are fanned out on the pillow beneath her.
Aria halts my movement's right as I shift to climb onto the bed.
"Nah ah ah. It's your turn to strip down for me." Her tone is seductive and her face portrays her playful demeanor.
Grinning to myself I begin to remove my clothing as well. A minute later my plaid button down shirt along with my dark wash denim jeans lie in a pile on the hardwood floor with Aria's clothing. I hesitate for a moment before deciding to discard my plain black bra and panties as well.
My lips begin their trail of kisses from the inside of Aria's right ankle and move upwards towards her panties. Unable to contain myself even in the slightest I remove her panties within seconds. My eyes roam over her already glistening vaginal lips. Gnawing on my bottom lip I stare in awe at her enticing pink pussy.
Aria runs her fingers through my hair and knots my straightened hair around her fingers for a firm grip. Aria spreads her legs wide for me whist wiggling her hips with excitement. Not wanting to lose my current courage, I dive right in. Bowing my head down I bring my lips to her wet pussy.
"Damn Spencer!" Aria releases a long drawn out moan. "A little faster baby. Oh! Yes Spence, right there!" Aria squeals loudly and her hips shoot up off the bed in delight.
My tongue plays around with her wetness for a bit wanting to explore the concept of truly eating a girl out. Watching Aria squirm around underneath me has got to be the sexiest thing my eyes have ever witnessed. My fingertips lightly trace up and down the insides of her thighs thus making her quiver.
Aria gasps loudly in response to my tongue returning to focus on her clit.
"Cum for me Aria. Come on babe you know you want to. The thought of your best friend eating you out in your boyfriend's bed while he is out of town is too hot not to get off on."
I encourage her to let go of her release she is hanging on to. Moments later Aria finally gives in and is sent soaring. She squeals loudly in pleasure given to her body merely by my tongue. I lick her pussy clean then hover over her with a smirk.
"You are something else," I smile at her in pure happiness.
Aria throws her arms around my neck to crash our lips together. I grin in pleasure upon feeling Aria thrust her tongue into my mouth and fight for dominance in the kiss. I moan loudly due to Aria flipping us over to claim her place on top of me. She straddles my right legs and presses her wet core up against mine. Aria doesn't so much as hesitate for a moment before her hips start to grind up against my own wet vagina.
Tossing my head back into the pillows I struggle to contain my squeals of pleasure. My eyes are locked on her sexy body that is literally humping me and grinding on my pussy. She looks like pure sex on top of me.
"Holy Fuck!" I swear harshly; her hips are now rotating round and round.
"God you feel so good Spencer!"
Aria's hands drift up her body to grope her breasts. I damn near lose it when I see she is tugging on her nipples and moaning at the self-gratification.
The view above me is too much to bare especially when factoring in the feeling of her wet pussy rubbing against my own. Aria slips one hand down to caress my clit sensing I am on the verge of losing my fucking mind.
"Oh god… Aria! Holy hell. I am so close!"
Aria leans over to hover over me. Her lips capture mine in a heated kiss with tongue.
"Cum for me. Now." She growls in a low, sexy as hell tone.
It is as if I have absolutely zero control over my own body. Everything falls numb and all I can see is white. A harsh scream that will bring pain to my vocal cords escapes my mouth as I struggle to breathe properly.
"Yes, that's it. It feels good doesn't it, Spence? Oh yes Babe!" Aria teases while slowing down her hip movements.
We both ride out our highs then collapse in a heap of sweat.
"Jesus," seems to be the only thing I can manage to say. Aria's sweet laugh fills the room in response.
Aria wiggles over in bed to rest damn near on top of me. Her hand comes up to brush my crazed hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear.
"Let's get some sleep, shall we?"
Nodding my head in agreement I find myself drifting off rapidly. Aria curls her naked body into my side and pulls the lightweight grey sheet over our body.
"Night Spence." Aria presses a gentle kiss to my shoulder after flipping off the nightstand light.
"Goodnight Ar," I barely manage to mutter prior to drifting off.
Aria's POV
Waking up in bed with Spencer was both a shock and a blissful moment. Last night was a lot of fun and definitely an experience I am up for recreating any time Spence is up for it. There is something drastically different sharing yourself with a girl compared to an adult male. Ezra is gentle yet firm when teasing and pleasuring my body. Spencer on the other hand was full of determination the entire time.
Reluctantly I force my body to sit up slightly. Wanting to check my phone, I carefully lean over my current bed buddy to retrieve it from the nightstand. I see I have three new text messages from Ezra.
Goodnight Aria. Hope you have sweet dreams. I'll talk to you tomorrow. – Ez (11:37pm)
Morning honey! If you aren't busy I would love to spend the day with you when I get back into town. – Ezra (9:22am)
Oh, by the way I will be back about one o'clock this afternoon. (9:24pm)
Glancing over my shoulder the clock reads 11:27 in the morning. I have just over an hour and a half until he should be getting home.
Perfect! Cannot wait to see you, Sexy. You've got me for the day. I'll be waiting for you. – xoxo Ar.
I frown slightly knowing I am going to have to wake Spencer up. She looks completely at ease though; I feel bad pulling her from her stress free mindset. Tossing my phone back down on the nightstand I make a rash decision to climb on top of Spencer's naked body. The sheets remained tangled on top of me thus keeping my naked body nice and toasty warm.
My lips pepper her skin in kisses till I glide over her sweet spot that I discovered last night while exploring her body.
"Wake up, Spence." I purr lowly into her ear without halting my mouth's actions.
She grumbles lowly in protest only leading me to suck just a tad harder on her skin. It takes me a few minutes but I am finally able to wake her up. Spencer instantly reciprocates the actions I started. Her hands caress my bare sides before slipping a hand behind my neck to crash our lips together. Her pouty lips are full of excitement as they smash against my own.
"We need to get cleaned up; Ezra is on his way home." I mutter breathlessly once I regrettably break our kiss.
I playfully gasp at her when she rolls her eyes at the news of my boyfriend's return. She rolls us over to make her on top now. With both of us lying horizontally, she grasps the back of my left leg and pulls it up over her hip. I moan harshly feeling her press her leg up against my awakening pussy.
"Then I guess we should enjoy the last little bit we have until he gets here."
A loud pant leaves my lips at the feeling of her hand slipping between my thighs to caress my pussy. It is truly mind boggling how wet this situation is making me and I only just woke up five minutes ago.
"Did I mention how much I love your perky breasts?" Spence admits as she brings her attention to them.
With one hand between my thighs and her mouth on my breasts I am moaning like no other. My eyes are closed and my head is leaned back in Ezra's pillow basking in the feelings my best friend is giving my body.
"Mmmm yes Spence… Oh god keep rubbing me just like that."
My hips rock up into her hand seeking more pressure from her.
"You like that?" She grins against my skin and flicks my clit once more. Nodding my head furiously I beg her to do it again. She does. I curse loudly enough for it to echo in the studio apartment.
"Yes. Oh YES! I love it, I love it so much. Please, please don't stop." I beg with desperation.
The familiar feeling in the pit of my stomach begins to build. I hold my breath once my body stiffens and my toes curl. Pulling roughly on her hair I moan harshly at the peak of my orgasm.
Before I knew it I lay collapsed on the bed with a light sheet of sweat on my body. My stomach and chest rapidly rise and fall struggling to fill my lungs with oxygen. Spencer kisses random places along my entire body while I attempt to calm myself down from such an intense orgasm.
As soon as I have gathered myself, I flip us over. Spencer smiles brightly and gets comfortable on her back watching as I situate myself between her thighs. At first I place kisses along the insides of her thighs. After while I pepper her outer pussy lips in kisses. My tongue starts off with slow, long strokes wanting to savor her taste.
Spencer's breathy, light moans are music to my ears. Her head is tilted to the side to stare at me as I devour her. Roughly a minute or two later I retract my mouth from her aching core.
"Hold on. I am going to do something to you that'll wipe that put right off your face."
She looks at me with a mix of curiosity and anticipation when I sit up to get settled on my knees. Sitting right next to her right hip, our thighs brush together. Starting down at her face I bite my lip in delight. I want to try and do something to her that Ezra has recently started doing to my own body.
I start off by trailing my fingertips ever so lightly down her torso to tease her skin. Once the fingers of my right hand drift down between her thighs I stroke her a couple times. Spencer bites her bottom lip in response to me easing my middle and ring fingers into her hot core. I playfully thrust my fingers in and out of her to get her accustomed to the feeling.
"Are you ready?" I ask playfully.
Spencer nods her head in confirmation. "I am ready for anything with you."
My fingers move a little deeper and a little faster. It takes me a little longer than anticipated, but I am soon able to locate her g-spot. Spencer's eyes damn near rolled back in her head the moment I grazed the sensitive spot. Her right hand is clawing at my thighs in desperation to gasp onto something. Her left hand is bracing her body firmly to the bed by pushing off of the bookshelf above the bed.
"Jesus Christ Aria!" She shouts loudly.
By now her eyes are clenched shut and her entire body is harshly trembling. I encourage her verbally and physically to bask in the pleasure and not to hold back at all.
It isn't much longer until her hips are rocking up off of the mattress. Pressing my left hand down on the front of her mound I rub her even faster and harsher.
"FUCK!" She screams loudly and squirts all over the bed.
I smile to myself in satisfaction knowing I am the one who made my bed friend cum like this.
Sitting back I allow her to slowly fall from her most intense body numbing orgasm.
"Your neighbors certainly heard me that time; though I am nearly positive they heard us all last night too." Spencer flushes with embarrassment.
I merely wave her off with a knowing look. "Please, they are used to hearing me all the time when Ezra and I fool around; it isn't like they aren't used to it by now."
Spencer turns her head to glance at the clock. 12:10. We both pout sadly at the realization.
"I guess we should get cleaned up." Spencer mutters mindlessly.
Nodding my head I frown knowing this random act of passion might not ever happen again. Not wanting to end our moment too soon, I grab her hand to pull her into the bathroom with me where we shower together. With the water turned all the way over to warm I pull her in with me to clean us up.
Thirty minutes later we emerge from the shower with freshly washed hair and squeaky clean bodies. We also took care of a few bodily needs during that shower that I probably shouldn't mention, though I do have to say, my pussy couldn't feel any better than it does right now from all of the attention it has received.
"I better slip out of here before Fitz gets home. I'll see you in the morning at school." Spencer frowns slightly after glancing at her watch.
I peer over at the clock on the stove that reads 12:45. Ezra should be home in roughly fifteen minutes depending on traffic. Nodding my head silently, I walk her to the door. We say our goodbyes then I shut and lock the door behind her. Leaning against the wood doorframe I sigh in happiness and close my eyes thinking back to the past sixteen hours.
Shaking my head of the thoughts I move about the apartment to finish straightening up. Throwing away the now empty bottle of scotch I grin devilishly as more images of last night flash through my mind. Scurrying around I rinse our glasses and set them next to the sink.
Turning on my heal I gather my clothing from the floor and toss them into the hamper in the corner of the bathroom. Tossing our towels in there as well I look around to see if I am missing anything else. Deciding the only thing left is to change the sheets and straighten the bed I smile at my speediness.
I hear the front door unlock and swing open just as I am re-fluffing the pillows and smoothing out the fresh sheets he keeps as backups in his linen closet.
"Hey honey!" Ezra greets cheerfully upon seeing me.
Walking across the apartment I loop my arms around his neck. "Hi babe, I missed you."
Ezra tangles his arms around my waist to firmly press my body against his.
"Mmm did you spend the night here?" He asks curiously taking in my damp hair and my attire consisting of only one of his t-shirts.
"Yeah, I needed a night out of my house away from the fighting."
"I'm glad you were able to have a nice quiet night in." Ezra places one last kiss to my forehead then struts past me.
"I am starving, have you eaten yet?"
Shaking my head in denial I tell him I was waiting for his return with the intentions of eating together.
"If you want to pick something to eat I am going to jump in the shower. Anywhere that'll deliver, it's up to you."
"Okay, I'll look and see what I can find."
Ezra heads off to the bathroom a moment later. Walking over towards his desk I fish out the takeout menus from the bottom drawer.
"I guess I will get some laundry done today since our basket is overflowing, I saw you changed the sheets too." Ezra mutters mindlessly when he reenters the living room.
"Yeah, I figured it was about time we changed them." I respond in a monotone voice struggling not to grin at the mention of my actions with Spencer.
"Aria," Ezra gasps softly. "What happened to your leg? Are you okay?"
Straightening up I spin around to look at his worried face. "What are you talking about?" Glancing down at myself I don't see any marks.
"The inside of your thigh looked like it was bruised when you were bent over."
A scarlet blush covers my cheeks. Spencer must have left her mark behind on my thighs when she was sucking and biting on them during my orgasm in the shower.
"Oh, it's nothing." I wave him off in hopes of making him get past it. "I am fine Ez, I promise."
Noticing he is still a tad skeptical I bring myself to stand in front of him. Running my hands along his bare chest I kiss him longingly. I wasn't expecting him to deepen the kiss with dominance. Before I realize what is happening, he has scooped me up and carried me over to his bed. He plops me down on the mattress and climbs on top of me.
"I know it was only one night, but I missed you a lot." He confesses with pure love shining brightly in his eyes.
Ezra wraps my legs around his waist and lowers his weight on me slightly knowing I love feeling him over me. We carry on our heated make out session for a few more minutes until I break the kiss.
"I thought you were getting in the shower?" I grin at him playfully and shoo him away out of bed.
"I was emptying out my pockets before throwing my pants in the hamper. We ended up over here because you are just so damn irresistible."
We climb off of the bed to resume our previous tasks prior to us getting side tracked. Returning my attention to the takeout menus I struggle to decide what I want.
"Did you have a party last night or what?" Ezra asks jokingly though there is an underlying tone of seriousness to his question.
Glancing up at him I notice him pointing towards the empty bottle of scotch in the trash.
"Oh, yeah um Spence came over last night to work on homework with me." My heartbeat quickens in fear of him discovering that really happened here last night… as well as this morning.
"You two must have been awfully drunk while getting your school work done; that bottle was three quarters of the way full."
"I'm sorry. We were both kind of having a crappy night. We didn't drink it all at once, it was a long night. We didn't go anywhere after our first glass. Spencer actually ended up sleeping here just to be safe."
Ezra walks closer towards me to shorten the gap between us. "You have nothing to apologize for. You know I don't care if you have the occasional drink while you are here. I am just happy you were both smart and safe about it by staying here for the night and not going out anywhere."
I offer up a faint smile without verbally replying. Ezra places a swift kiss to my lips then announces he is in fact finally going to shower.
Just as he is entering the bathroom I call out his name. Ezra spins around instantly with a curious look.
Unable to keep my actions a secret I end up spilling the truth. "Spencer didn't just stay over because we were drinking."
"We kissed last night and well…" I trail off unsure of how to tell my boyfriend I fooled around with my best friend in his own apartment.
"You two kissed?" He gaps at me in shock. Boy if only he knew that is nothing compared to the events that occurred last night.
"We um actually did a lot more than that. At some point we ended up in bed… naked… and um well. I slept with her, Ezra. Spencer and I kind of fooled around for a bit and we slept together."
Ezra stares at me in complete shock. "Here? In our bed… last night while I was out of town with Hardy you slept with Spencer."
"Technically this morning as well." I mutter on accident.
"You guys did it again this morning!" He is completely caught off guard at the moment.
Nodding my head in conformation I respond in a way he certainly wasn't expecting. "It was kind of two additional times. When we woke up we did in bed, but then we kind of did it again in the shower."
A huge weight feels like it has been lifted off of my chest. I have been nervous all afternoon about keeping this from him. However, we agreed early on we would not keep secrets from each other under any circumstance.
Ezra runs a rough hand through his hair in shock. Walking over to the end of the bed he sinks down onto the mattress. Following behind in suit I move to stand directly in front of him. I can tell his thoughts are running ninety to nothing in his head.
"Are you mad?" I whisper ever so softly. The last thing I want is to upset him and hurt his feelings.
Ezra denies my question without hesitation. "I am not mad at all honey. I am a little thrown off, but I am not mad. If it is something you enjoyed which I am assuming you did since there were repeat occurrences this morning then I don't have a problem with it. She isn't going to steal you away from me, is she?"
Now it is my turn to shake my head in denial. "Never. No one could steal me from you! It was just a fun experience between two best friends."
Feeling the tension in the air dissipate I feel as if I can breathe easy now. Hooking my fingers in the bottom of the yellow Hollis top I now stand in front of him naked. Ezra's eyes roam up and down my body.
"I might as well show you now. Those bruises you saw were given to me from her in the shower earlier."
Ezra reaches out to trace his fingertips along all of the markings Spencer left on me.
He abruptly grabs my hips firmly in his large hands and pulls me against him. His left hand snakes up my body to grasp the back of my neck. Our lips crash together in desperation.
"You are the sexiest woman there is." Ezra mutters against my lips.
He manages to pull me onto the bed and climbs on top of me.
"I'm not going to even bother lying. The idea of you and your friend sexually pleasing one another in our bed is really sexy." Ezra buries his head in my neck to leave a few love marks of his own.
"I guess I really am irresistible." I giggle lightheartedly to tease him.
Ezra bites down on my sweet spot hard enough to have left bite marks.
"You have no idea, baby." He growls in satisfaction.
Biting my lip I close my eyes in pleasure knowing full well his mouth is going to leave deliciously naughty marks all over my skin to match what Spencer did. Good thing it is chilly out because I know once he is done I am going to be stuck wearing long sleeved and jeans for a while.
What an unbelievable 24 hours.
Okay guys there is the Sparia chapter! Hope that fulfilled some of your desires. The following chapter is Lucian at the TCA! 25 reviews and I will post it this Saturday (8/12). If so, that gives you three chapters within a week and then review count will drop back down to 20.