Aria went home after that dreary lunch, throwing her bag on the counter and walking up the stairs to her room with heavy footsteps and a long sigh escaping her mouth.

Plopping on her bed, she went over the long day she seemed to be having. First Spencer's drama with her dad, then the terrible lunch with Mrs. DiLaurentis and now puling out photos of her dead best friend. Swallowing that lump in her throat while also trying to push away the grievance she wanted to do, she moved off from her mattress and went on the hunt for a certain box of photos.

It only took her a few moments to find the specific box of pictures that held the most recent pictures of Ali. As she flipped through each one, she could remember the day and the specific memory of when the image was taken.

"You know I can call Jessica if this is too much," Aria's mom said walking into her room.

"No, its okay," Aria said with unshed tears and a pretty well composed face. "Just a lot of memories and good times."

"Its nice, what you girls' are doing," Ella said now going to sit across from her daughter. "It's very sweet."

"Thanks," Aria said in the smallest tone. It may have been a good thing to do, but it didn't really feel like it. To be honest, it didn't really feel right. Wearing Ali's things and dedicating the show to her. Sure, it was her best friend, but to be honest Ali could be a bitch sometimes and Hanna was right too. Ali had those dresses on. It was her body, her flesh and skin, against the fabric and now they each had to wear them.

"I like this one," Mrs. Montgomery said, picking up a picture sprawled across Aria's bed. It was Ali, in her yellow shirt when she first got out of the cab. It was taken the afternoon before she went missing and that made Aria sick again.

"Thanks mom," Aria said swallowing hard. Thinking that she was helping, Mrs. Montgomery smiled patted her daughter's leg and got up, leaving the room.

They sat close to each other at one of the bench tables in the courtyard. Just an inch or two was between them, with a laptop sitting there. Aria tried as hard as she could, keeping her composure and dealing with Jason at the same time. She went through photo after photo, smiling at some as they discussed what was appropriate for the show and not.

"Where was this one taken?" Jason asked as he caught Aria happy.

"I don't know," she replied, hiding the tiny smile that came over her with her hand. So many great memories. "The Hastings's lake house maybe."

He nodded, glancing over to her again before going back to look at the screen. As the two paused for a second, Aria looked over to Jason. He seemed tense.

"What?" she wondered softly. He took in a deep breath then and looked at her with his hands crossed. "Did my mother ask you guys to this?"

Aria's thoughts went back to the lunch the three of her best friends and Mrs. DiLaurentis had just a while ago, and Aria quickly banished the thought.

"What? No," she said trying to give him a smile while glancing down towards the screen. As she looked back up to him, he gave a knowing look and she dropped the façade. "Okay, yea."

He sighed at that answer, looking away for a second so he composed himself.

"It's okay. I mean, we get it. How did you know?" Aria wondered.

"It's just something she would do," he shrugged. The two stared at each other for a while, almost like they were reading each other's souls. With a blush, Aria looked back down to the screen and changed the picture.

It was the one her mother had picked out, the shot that Ali didn't seem to see as it was taken of her smiling as she got out of the cab.

Aria again, grinned at this photo. It was her off to the side that her best friend was beaming at. It was the happiest she had seen Ali too. She was so much lighter and a lot less snappy towards them.

"This is the last one of her that we took. It was when she got back from your grandma's in Georgia. She came straight to Emily's," Aria explained with a small laugh laced in her voice. It was funny how much Ali really knew them too. Somehow she always knew where to show up and when.

"Use it," Jason encouraged Aria, as he stared at her, soaking up her beautiful smile. "She seems really happy there."

"You know, right after she left us, she went straight home for dinner and then head to Spencer's for the sleepover."

"So?" Jason asked, somewhat confused.

"I just wondered…you know, if you remember?"

"I don't," he said turning to her. "Aria, I told you, I don't remember anything except the next day when the police asked me questions." She stared at him for those seconds then. "You know," he scoffed, "this feels like an interrogation. What are you trying to get at?" he wondered.

"I just-…" Aria sighed. "I didn't know if it would maybe jog your memory, or if this would be too sensitive for your mom to handle."

"I wouldn't really know," he said now getting edgy, "my mom and I live on completely separate planets."

"I know…I mean, right, I just-…" she stumbled. How could she possibly tell him anything and without explaining or giving away 'A'?

"Aria, why did you ask me here?" Jason wondered. He now, was staring to feel used and hurt. His interpretations of why Aria wanted him here was wrong and now he felt like a fool.

"I thought you might know what pictures to use," Aria explained, while trying to keep to herself that it was also because she wanted to see him and be near him. She wanted answers like her friends too, of course, but she also wanted to help him and see him. Was that so bad?

"You know what," he said getting up, "use whatever you want. I'm sure whatever you guys pick will be fine."

"Jason," she said shutting her laptop and now feeling really bad. He was mad – at her. Her thoughts Spencer and the rest of them had been pushing at her, that Jason had been hiding something, was getting to her and she just wanted some answers.

"This was a mistake," he said holding back anger, "and I know now not to make the same one again." He took his black leather jacket in his smooth, warm hand and walked off.

Aria sighed, tossing her head up to the sky while blinking away some tears. She had just blown it with Jason and she knew it was all her fault. She had poked and prodded him when really she didn't want to do that at all.

Rehearsal for the fashion show was up next and Aria was ready to pull her hair out. Mona was in charge and she was knit picking everyone about everything. First the girl wore flats instead of heels, then another girl needed to learn how to 'walk better' and now she was making fun of Aria's legs. Aria had had enough and she couldn't wait to get this ball rolling.

As Spencer walked away to go talk to Toby, it was the three of them left, standing near the back of the stage talking.

"So how did it go with Jason?" Hanna wondered.

"Not as good as I pictured," Aria sighed.

"What do you mean?" Emily wondered.

"I brought a picture of Ali that we took when she first got out of the cab, coming back from Georgia. Anyways, I sort of questioned him about it. He got upset with me and stormed off…not that I blame him."

"Why…?" Emily spoke confused.

"The guy doesn't remember anything and I kept pestering about it, I guess. I don't know, I feel bad for trying to accuse him of holding something back from me."

"Well, we do have our suspicions," Hanna said in that 'I know what I'm talking about' kind of way.

"Do we?" Aria asked her friends.

"Aria," Emily sighed.

"Guys, lets not start this now," Hanna said before going to walk down the runway as Mona called for her.

So after rehearsal was over, it was time to get ready for the actual show. They were all sentenced to either go home and pick up their things or start getting ready back stage. As Spencer had gone home, the three girls headed to grab a spot in front of the mirror and went to get ready.

"Hey Em, where's your dress?" Aria wondered as she applied on some make up.

"Here as we speak," she smiled, glancing into the mirror and seeing Samara walking in with it. As the girls' chitchatted, Aria focused on her make up and wondered what Jason was going to think of her. She really messed up and in all honesty, she wanted to look perfect for tonight…and him.

"Was it just me or did they seem clingy?" Emily asked her two friends.

"Maybe a little," Aria shrugged, while putting on her blush.

"Well…" Hanna said ready to start a full on ramble (and that's what she did).

Aria's makeup was now done and her best friend seemed to be just staring out into space after the whole Samara thing. "Emily?"

"Did you need help getting into your dress?" Hanna asked.

"I'm sure Samara will be here soon to check on you," Aria pitched.

"Yea, I'm fine – I got it," Emily answered, putting down a make up brush and walking away.

"We need some drinks," Hanna said standing up.

"Is that really a good idea?" Aria wondered to her.

"We need it," Hanna stated before walking off. So now it left Aria all alone and to herself. She was unsure what to do since her make up was all ready and all was left was her clothes. Sitting there in front of the mirror, she let her thoughts wander for a little while before pushing it away with a shrug and going for some hand lotion.

At that time, Jessica DiLaurentis was walking by, along with Jason right behind her. Jason had looked up in the slightest and Aria seemed to have caught his eye. He stopped almost right in front of her – her mouth being agape preparing to say something. As he looked into those beautiful eyes he loved, ready to compliment her, he remember what had happened between them earlier.

Pushing his feelings away, he dug his hands further in his pockets and followed his mother along to go on stage. He looked to Aria occasionally though. He couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from her beauty and body. She was in a short robe, a dark red and black that looked absolutely stunning on her.

As Hanna walked by, Aria's attention was carried elsewhere, but that didn't stop Jason from drinking her in.

"I thought you were getting champagne," Aria said to Hanna.

"They were out," was Hanna's sigh as she sat back down. With a weary smile to her, she looked back to Jason, who was still staring at her. Trying to convey with her eyes how sorry she was to him, all he could do was look at her, before he was announced onto the stage with his mother.

It was show time and Mona was stressing hard. Poor Spencer looked like she was about to pull her hair out, or smack the squeaky little girl. Mona directed them all perfectly, even though she acted like a tyrant. They walked out two by two and it was actually really fun.

All four girls strutted their stuff down the runway and Aria tried not to pay much attention to Jason who was sitting in the front row, staring at her every move.

"Keep your eyes forward," Mona scolded to Aria, as she got ready to walk down the runway again.

The show was going by fast and all the girls were having so much fun. Jason was no longer the only thing on her mind, as she could see her mom along with her friends' moms.

With cameras snapping and flashes going all around, Aria actually felt at peace. Well, for a while anyways. The last part of the show was coming and it was time to give memory to Ali. Aria tried not to feel sick as she put on her dress, along with the other girls and got in line to walk down the runway.

Pictures of Ali appeared on the screen behind them and Aria went to put on a smile. This was for their best friend. The one who brought the four of them together – for that, she would always be thankful.

Music began to play and both Aria and Hanna walked down with a nervous smile. Each of them looked beautiful in their own way and it felt good to show off Ali's style. Swinging their hands together as they walked, the pair waited for their other friends, creating a new memory to share as they made it.

Jason couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of Aria, yet Aria wasn't sure if that was because it was his sister's dress she was wearing or because of her. Either way, she enjoyed the attention she noticed from him and hoped he saw how sorry she was for earlier.

Suddenly the music changed and it was announced 'the bitch is back!'

The lights changed to reds and yellows and the four girls were bewildered to what was happening. Ali's pictures were now being modified and the rush of fear they felt was on high. Was this 'A's doing? Was she/her/they here? What was going on? How did they do this?

Spencer seemed to be the first one to gather her bearings as she ran off the stage and went over to Noel for him to stop it. As for Hanna, Aria and Emily, they seemed beyond lost. Hanna was shouting to Aria over to the music asking what to do while Emily just seemed terrified. Grabbing Emily's hand, Hanna walked them back down the stage and towards the exit of it all.

Now it was only Aria, who was looking to Spencer and the crowd to do something. The poor girl seemed frozen in place wondering how such a thing could be happening right now. Poor Mrs. DiLaurentis, and Jason. God, why were people this cruel?

As the production stopped, it was Mrs. DiLaurentis who got up and walked away first. She looked beyond heartbroken and when Jason stood up, looking to Aria who was still standing on stage, he gave her a sorrowed look and walked off to find Jessica.

The girls' changed clothes before getting together to talk. Spencer had tried to contact Mrs. DiLaurentis to say how sorry she was but Jason said she was too emotional to talk. It happened all so fast.

"Who do you think did that?" Emily wondered.

"I don't know, but of all the times, poor Mrs. DiLaurentis," Aria sighed.

As they continued on, the microphone squeaked and the projector lights turned on.

My dresses. My game. My rules bitches –A

'A's message startled them all, and with already being shaken up, they wanted to bolt out of the place as fast as possible.

"You coming?" Spencer asked to Aria as she was empty handed and looking somewhat lost.

"Yea, I just have to grab my stuff. I'll catch up with you guys later," she said rushing off as the message disappeared. Going back behind the stage, Aria grabbed her bags and quickly stuffed her things inside there. This was all too chilling and unsafe for her. Who was 'A' and where was she?

"Did you want this back?" Noel's voice asked, startling her from behind. How long had he been there? Feeling a pit rise in her stomach and chill down her spine, she drew in a breath and looked to the CD in his hand. "I would hate for it to get you and your friends in trouble."

His voice was laced with a hidden meaning and she felt a little more than frightened. Aria swallowed hard, subtly backing away a few centimeters again as they talked. Noel's stare was hard, cold, and seemed calculating. What was he going to do?

"I assumed that that was yours," Aria replied boldly. He stared at her then and she made sure to keep the stare level with his. She would not back down; she would not look frightened. And thank God when it was Jason who walked over to her, scoffing his shoes against the floor to announce his presence as he stood somewhat near her.

Aria finally took a glance to him, whose hands were in his pockets and looked to her swallowing hard. He put on his tough guy look and glanced to Noel with his CD. "What's that?"

"The unplanned finale," Aria answered as Noel tried to stare the DiLaurentis down.

"Hand it over," Jason commanded to the other man. Noel just stared at him some more, which made Aria all the most tense and freaked out. Noel did finally hand it over though and it was Jason who broke it in two.

Both Noel and Aria seemed a little surprised at his move, but Aria was more thankful than Noel who looked severely pissed. Giving one last glare/stare to Aria, Noel made his way out and Jason then stood in front of her.