A/N: Sorry for such the long wait and thank you SOOOO much to all who reviewed! It made me so happy and don't worry, i'm getting a Beta for all the little things and hopefully some help. Thank you all again - two chapters for you all!
Ella Montgomery and her daughter cooked for hours on end. When most of the work was finished, she sent Aria to go get ready with a grateful thank you.
"Aria!" Byron called to his daughter as he passed her in the hallway. "Which one?" He held up two colored/patterned ties, neither of which looked very good with his dress shirt.
"Try wearing a white shirt and the black tie," Aria suggested to her father. Byron looked down at his clothes, wondering what was wrong with what he was wearing. Giving him a smile, Aria grabbed her things and went for a shower.
There was a small beep from Aria's phone on the counter and a feeling of fright ran through her as she washed her hair. Trying to ignore what the message could possibly be or whom it was from, she inhaled a breath and went back to washing the suds from her hair.
It could be nothing she tried to think. Maybe it was Spencer, or Emily. Hell, it could even be Ezra trying to still reason and talk with her. There was no possible reason for 'A' trying to ruin her life today…could there?
After stepping from the shower and putting on lotion, Aria checked her phone. It was just Hanna thank heavens, hoping she would have fun tonight. Quickly replying, Aria rushed around to get ready. The black dress slipped down her body nicely and her hair fell nicely into place after drying and styling it.
"Aria!" Ella called from downstairs.
Aria hopped to her door, putting on some heels in the process. "Yea?"
"Have you seen Mike? Is he up there?" she shouted. Aria's eyebrows furrowed. He couldn't have gotten far right? He was just there when her dad talked to him.
"No!" she called back confused. Aria heard murmuring between her parents then and she wondered what was going on. Where was Mike? What was he doing? Was he okay? Sighing, Aria pushed the thoughts aside, thinking it was just her rebellious brother. Making sure she was all ready for tonight, she went downstairs and finished helping her parents.
The Parthas arrived first, greeting the family courteously. As Byron was getting Nancy some wine, Elliot was on the phone worrying about their son. It was somewhat comical of course. Them with their first child could barely seem to leave their house long enough that they could go out and enjoy a night to themselves.
"So where's Mike?" Nancy wondered, sipping on her wine.
"Oh…he'll be here," Ella said putting on a nervous smile while glancing to Byron.
"He thinks its cool to show up fashionably late," Aria joked, trying to ease the tension and help her parents out at the same time. The adult Montgomerys gave their daughter a thankful smile as Nancy looked at Aria with a large smile.
"You know, if you ever needed a babysitter, I would be happy to help," Aria pitched when Elliot finally got off the phone.
"Oh that's so sweet of you," Nancy gleamed.
"Just stop by for an interview, blood test and a background check. It should only take about an hour," Mr. Partha answered. The Montgomery family gave a chuckle to his answer but Aria wasn't quite sure if he was serious. The doorbell rang breaking the semi conversation and it was Ella who stepped up to get it.
"Ezra," Ella smiled, taking the flowers from his hands.
Glancing up, Ezra noticed Aria, who now had turned around to see who was at the door. Giving her a small smile, Aria forced one back to him and crossed her arms over each other.
"Aria," he called, stepping forth to her as Ella went to put the flowers in some water.
"Ezra," Byron called, thankfully stopping him from saying anything more to Aria.
"This is for you," Ezra said giving him some scotch. As they talked about it and made little conversation, Aria went back into the kitchen to help her mother some more.
"Anything I can do mom?" she asked.
"Oh sweetie, can you just set the rolls out?" Ella asked while going to check her chicken. Doing as she was told, Aria took the basket of bread, setting it out the table.
The doorbell rang again and Aria announced she would answer it. Walking forth, she took note of her father introducing Ezra to Nancy and greeting Elliot. Swinging the door open, Aria came face to face with Jason, who was also holding a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers in his hands.
"Hey," Jason said staring at her in amazement. She looked beautiful, with her short black dress and tall heels. Her hair was rung in long curly stretched spirals, falling perfectly to frame her face.
"Hi," she said breathlessly. He too was handsome looking. Dressed in a crisp dress shirt and jacket, she took note of his sandy blond hair and gorgeous smile. "Come in."
Stepping back, he walked through the door. "Sorry I'm late," he announced sheepishly with his hands in his pockets. Handing her the flowers she smiled to him and glanced down again at the colorful plants. "It's okay…thanks."
Glancing back to the party in the living room she saw Ezra watching the two. A blush hit her cheeks and she shifted from foot to foot, still facing Jason.
"Come on," she mumbled, walking towards the company to introduce him. "So this is Elliot Partha and his wife Nancy."
Bringing himself forth, Jason shook both their hands, pulling back then and turning to Ezra then. "And this is Ezra…Fitz," she said awkwardly. Glancing to her, Jason quickly took in her change of demeanor and then shook the guys hand.
"Aria! Your phone," Ella called from the kitchen.
"Excuse me," Aria said touching Jason's arm briefly before walking away. Going over to her phone and noticing it was Spencer, she picked it up and listened to what she had to say.
"Don't you remember that summer?" Spencer asked, clearly distressed. "It's the same stick that Toby found from when Ali wanted to use it. Aria, it was also in her bedroom the whole summer – anyone could have had access to it."
"Wait. Are you sure?" Aria asked.
"Positive," Spencer declared. Looking all around, Aria quickly made an escape upstairs. Ella was still in the kitchen checking her food, Byron was talking with Elliot, Jason was chatting with Nancy, although glancing at her from time to time, and Ezra was glancing at Aria wondering whom she was talking to.
"Where is it now?" She asked fully alert as she made it up to her room.
"My dad took it. After Toby found it my dad just said he would handle it. He literally grabbed it from Toby's hands."
"How do you think it got in your backyard?" Aria asked.
"I have an idea and I know your not going to like it," Spencer warned.
"Spence," Aria sighed. Tonight just wasn't the night to hear the Jason bashing speech. "Think about it Aria! It was on the line of our yards. Don't you think his amnesia is a little convenient?"
"No, I don't," she snapped back.
"Aria! He is 'A', I know it," Spencer protested.
"A lot of things aren't adding up Spence! What about Ian? He was involved with Ali; he had the same chance of grabbing the stick and using it."
"Why would he come back and kill her after their little make out session on film?" Spencer asked with sarcasm in her voice. "And why would he die it on our property line?" Spencer knew Jason was looking better and better for this crime. If only her best friend could see it.
"Aria!" Ella called from downstairs. Aria turned to look over her shoulder at her mother's shout and sighed. "Look, I'll call you later. I have to go."
"Be careful," Spencer stressed right before they hung up.
Letting out a breath Aria's mind flashbacked to when Spencer, her and Ali were messing with that field hockey stick. Jason appeared then as she continued to think. That was one of the times he actually scared her. It wasn't his words, rather his actions. Aria knew Ali and Jason had a weird brother sister relationship, well truthfully they barely had one, but still. Their actions towards each other at that time were rather…violent. Was it just a coincidence that the field hockey stick was broken and their best friend's death could have resulted from that? Was it just a commonality that it was broken and buried?
A knock on her open door startled her and it was Jason who was looking worried for her. "You okay?"
"Y-y-yea," she stammered, shaking the nervous and fearful feelings she was thinking.
"Who was that?" he asked nodding to her phone.
"Just Spencer, rambling on like usual," Aria lied, letting out a nervous laugh to try and hide her anxiousness. It was a bittersweet feeling being in the same room with Jason. A huge part of her was swooning hard for him. Her feelings were growing and it felt good yet the other part of her of her was thinking of all the dangers of 'A' and who the heck could have killed Ali. Would it…could it have been Jason?
"It's you," Jason announced, breaking her out of her thoughts, which made her eyebrows furrow.
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked looking up to him.
"Your room," he said glancing around. "It's very you."
Aria blushed at that, biting her lip at the compliment. Jason took a few steps forward, now putting himself in front of the girl. Taking a chance, he raised his arm and pushed some hair away from her face. Of course, like he knew, that caused her to look up at him. Their gaze was steady and strong. Neither cared to break the link they were sharing.
"Aria!" Ella called. "I – oh!" she said stopping in her tracks when she saw her daughter and Jason in close contact with each other.
"Yea mom?" Aria answered quickly feeling very flustered. Both her and Jason were in such close proximity to each other it made her heart flutter. She swore he was about to kiss her too.
"Just wondered if you could help me downstairs. Its okay though, I got it," she said waving her hand with a gleam in her eye.
"No," Aria protested swiftly, "I'll come." Smiling (and blushing) to Jason, she walked past him and began following her mother. Jason followed the two women as they made their way back downstairs and both Aria and Jason caught the confused hurt look Ezra was giving them when they parted ways at the bottom of the steps.
"So what did you need?" Aria wondered to her mom. Ella gave her daughter a raised eyebrow, still caught up in the moment of her daughter and the male DiLaurentis. "Is there something going on between you and Jason?"
"What? No," Aria said brushing off the thought and the blush.
"Right," Ella responded with a knowing look.
Turning away, Aria used her long hair as a shield to hide her face.
"Will you put these on the table please?" Ella said pointing to the bowls. Showing a smile, Aria followed the orders. Grabbing the green beans, she walked over and placed them on the table softly. The doorbell rang again which was odd. Going over to answer it, Aria opened the door only to become face to face with Berry the police officer.
"Hi," Aria said somewhat cowering in fear. Was this 'A' again? Was she in trouble?
"Are your parents home?" Barry asked. Nodding, she called for both her mom and dad and stepped back.
"Barry, hi," Ella said. Byron stepped forth also wondering what was going on.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," he said looking around at the guests who were giving him their full attention. "There's been a situation with Mike."
Fear hit the Montgomerys hard and Aria panicked thinking it had something to do with 'A'. "He's okay," Barry said quickly, reading the family's expression. "There was a break in a few hours ago in a home which we caught Mike running away from."
Both of her parents were stunned while Aria felt so guilty and upset that it pushed an invisible weight on her shoulders further. Moving so she could lean back against the wooden beam, Aria felt the disappointment and failure for not protecting her brother better hit her. She tried to keep it together, glancing down to the ground so she could put up a mask. But Jason saw right through it. He watched as the emotions ran across Aria's face, flickering with so many different expressions. Catching her eye, she gave him a helpless, desperate look. Mike promised her to stop. Mike said he wouldn't do it again… was the babble running through Aria's head.
Ezra glanced at the officer, the two Montgomerys, and then to Aria and Jason. Something was going on there. He could see it, especially with his ex girlfriend gazing at the DiLaurentis.
"I need you to come with me," Barry interjected to the parents through their shocked silence. Nodding, Ella seemed to put herself on auto pilot, going to find her things while Byron just stood there, still stunned. "Let's go," Ella announced.
"Hold on," Byron said getting it together. Setting down his drink, he went to gather his things and talk to the Parthas, apologizing profusely.
"Aria…Aria," Ella called to her daughter as she was still staring into space. Aria was on the verge of tears but Ella couldn't seem to register that. "Stay here."
Silently agreeing, Jason carefully peered at his love interest while also noting her parents leaving with the officer. After the door shut and things went silent, Aria stared into space. She was lost, helpless and felt oh so guilty. Jason wanted to wrap her in his arms telling her it was okay, that this wasn't her fault or anything else to make her feel better. But she couldn't see him anymore. Her body and face went blank and she was empty.
"Aria?" Ezra hesitantly asked. She had been standing there, off course in her own thoughts for a few minutes now. The house was silent, no one really talking after the ordeal that had just happened. Snapping up from her rambling thoughts, she registered Ezra's face in her house and went to clear the hazy thoughts.
"Uhh…dinner is almost ready," she stated, pushing back from the beam and going to walk in the kitchen. Jason gave the male college teacher a glare, wanting to curse him out for disturbing Aria. Could he not see she was dealing with a lot?
"Oh honey, you don't have to do that," Nancy said following her into the kitchen with her glass of wine in hand.
"No, its okay, it's practically done," Aria said bending down to look in the oven. The chicken was about ready and everything was on the table getting cold. "Please, go sit," Aria insisted, walking to the drawer to find oven mitts. Showing a kind smile, Nancy Partha nodded and went to find a seat.
Aria then bent down again, taking the main course out from the oven, setting it on the counter. With no hands to spare, she shut the oven door with her high-heeled foot. A shaky breath was what she let out when she was all alone. This was crazy; Mike was in police custody right now. Pulling it together again, she stiffed her back and put on her brave face. She carried out the meat carefully, the chicken actually being quite heavy.
"Here, I got it," Jason said coming to her aid. Setting down his drink on the table, he took the food from her petite hands. His eyes never left her face, trying to read everything he could about her. His concern for Aria was genuine – it always has and will be. What he saw from her though was a mask. There were walls being put up and hidden underneath that, showing ever so slightly, was fear and concern of a teenage girl.
"Thank you," she said softly before swiftly going to get the two table settings of where her parents would have sat. Cleaning it all up she walked back to the kitchen and put it away.
The dinner was awkward to say the least. Both Nancy and Ezra tried to make conversation with Aria, while Jason just sat there, reading her words and appearance as she talked. Admittedly, Jason was too concerned for her to make an effort with these strangers. Elliot Partha sat there in his seat in silence too. He had been etching to call the babysitter again (which he did after a few minutes of his annoying bouncing leg and jitters).
"Can we help you clean up?" Nancy asked politely even though she and her husband were tearing to get out there and see their child.
"I got it, don't worry," Ezra said, stepping up before Jason could this time. Grabbing a few dirty plates, he went to the kitchen to set them down. Forcing a smile, Aria led the couple to the door, handing them some leftovers she had put in a tupperware for them. After saying goodbyes Aria shut the door and leaned against it. Only taking a few seconds to let her guard go down, she quickly put it back up and got back to work.
Just keep moving, don't think about it, she said in her head.
"I got it," Ezra said with another plate in his hand.
"No, really I can do it," Aria pushed, barely looking to him.
"You okay?" He asked. What a stupid question she thought bitterly in her head. Was she okay? She was far from that. Aria wanted to cry and yell and protest on how unfair life was, but she didn't. She wasn't going to. Instead she was going to clean up this mess and pull herself together – as much as she could anyways.
"Fine," she responded, going back and forth from the dinner table to the counter where Ezra was stacking the dirty plates.
"…Is there something going on with you and Jason?" Ezra asked bluntly. Surprised and bewildered for a second she glanced up to him and gathered her bearings. "What?"
"You two seem close," he treaded with a careful tone.
"He's Ali's brother. I've known him since I was young. Of course we are close," she snapped at him. Ezra gave her a stare, just wondering if that was all. Scoffing, Aria couldn't believe he was acting like this right now, with everything she had on her plate. Grabbing the pitcher of coffee, she walked off to see if Jason needed a refill.
"More coffee?" she asked holding the container up.
"Sure, just a bit," he said watching as she stepped closer.
"He told me he would stop," she admitted softly, letting the mask she had put up crack a bit.
"Give me that," he stated, taking the pitcher from her hands and setting it behind him. "Sit down."
Doing just that, Aria put her hands in her lap and sat in front of Jason. "I believed him…" she said almost heartbrokenly.
"And he probably meant it," Jason quipped. "At the time, I'm sure that's what he promised himself to do too."
"This is all my fault," Aria admitted, feeling the blame.
"How?" Jason asked completely confused.
"If I hadn't seen my dad that one day with Ali…If Mike would have gotten more attention from my parents this summer instead of me… And this whole Ian thing…"
"Aria, what are you talking about?"
Aria felt tears come to her eyes but then realized what she had just said. Snapping her head back up, she looked to Jason wide-eyed.
"Look," Jason said trying to ease her worry a bit, "maybe some of Mike's friends put him up to this."
Aria shook her head and gave a dry dark chuckle.
"Do you know how many places he's broken into then?" Jason then pushed carefully. Aria stared back into space then and bit her lip. Remembering when she pulled Mike aside at school to talk to him, she reeled over his confessions. Not only breaking into her friends' houses and garage but shoving her towards the wall making her crash into, and break, some of the Hasting's things.
"Aria, this is not your doing. What your brother has done…its not because of you."
"How do you know?" she wallowed in the slightest.
"I know a lot about misplaced guilt and trouble teens. I used to be one," Jason said staring straight at Aria. "This is not because of you."
"I just want him to be okay," Aria admitted after a few seconds of silence with tears in her eyes ready to be spilled.
"He will," Jason said confidently while cupping his hand against the side of her face. Finding comfort in his touch should have been wrong. For all Aria knew, Jason could be in cahoots with 'A' or have killed his own sister, but as the two of them sat there, she didn't care.