A/N: Enjoy! Also, let me know if you all have any ideas on what should go on next...
After her moment with Jason, she decided to go investigate to see how many houses her brother really did steal from. Barging into Mike's room, she checked all around to see where he hid people's missing things. From under his bed, in his desk drawers and finally to the closet, she found exactly what she was looking for. Camping things, stuff from Spencer's, and even Jenna's piece of pottery she made in art class. Wait…what?
Looking for the signature on the bottom, it was definitely Jenna's. Holding the piece in her hands she wondered where he got this from and who's house it was. How the heck did Mike get this?
A ringing was blaring in Aria's room and she quickly went to go answer it.
"Hello?" she asked still holding Jenna's work in her hand.
"Aria? Where are you? We've been texting you for over a hour now," Hannah exasperated. Mentally hitting herself, she remembered how after answering Spencer's call earlier and having that moment with Jason, she must have set her phone down back in her room.
"Sorry…I've been dealing with some things here," Aria said not really wanting to elaborate.
"Well did you hear about the field hockey stick? And our parents meddling in our business?"
"Wait what?" Aria interrupted through Hanna's babble.
"Our parents have been talking with each other Aria. They know something is going on with us – they think we are being bullied."
"Well we are," Aria mumbled. With that, Hanna freaked out. "Aria! That's not the point! If they catch on anything about 'A' then we are toast. Our lives don't need to be any more of a living hell than what they are now!"
"Look, I really can't deal with this right now," Aria said ready to pull her hair out. "You need to get over here. Spencer's already here so make it quick."
"No Hanna, you don't understand, I can't tonight."
"Can't you just skip the whole dinner party thing? Haven't you been there long enough to entertain people?" Aria cringed at that. Both Jason and Ezra were still here, in the same room, alone together.
"Shit! I have to call you back," Aria rushed out. It was like she had become a chicken with her head cut off as she ran around the upstairs multitasking with her phone and the piece of pottery in her hand.
"Wait! Did you just swear?" Her friend exclaimed. Getting frustrated with the blonde Aria ended the call and rushed downstairs to get rid of her guests.
"You know what, I was thinking you guys should go," Aria rushed out.
"Both of us?" Ezra said a bit shocked.
"Yes," Aria said, looking to her ex a bit confused. Like she would want him to stay?
"Are you sure?" Jason wondered as he stood watching her.
"Yea, you guys really shouldn't have to be here when my brother gets home," Aria stated and then continued to ramble, "he should be with family and I'm sure my mom and dad will have a lot to say to him anyways. It should just be us."
Jason, figuring she was feeling a bit better about the situation, shrugged and set his cup down. It was alright with him.
"I don't mind staying Aria," Ezra insisted. This had Jason a bit confused now. This guy really seemed to want to stick around and talk with the girl. Was something going on with him and his old student?
"No, really," Aria pushed again, opening the front door for them to leave. A cell phone rang, both men looking to Aria who had checked the caller ID screen to her cell and finally hit the ignore button after much confliction.
"Call me later and tell me how he is?" Jason wondered, now noticing how Aria seemed more and more a bit off. What was she hiding?
"Of course," she responded, forcing a smile to her face and trying to act like nothing was wrong. Again, he paused at the front door, staring at her.
"I can help you clean up," Ezra suggested with an interruption.
Both heads turned to him. "No, I'm alright," Aria answered curtly.
"If you need anything," Jason trailed off in a murmur.
"I know," Aria said back softly with a genuine smile.
Before walking out the door Jason turning back to make sure that guy Ezra was following him.
"Talk later?" He suggested to his former student.
"Yea, maybe," Aria said, not looking to him. Ezra sighed, stepping out the door and just as he turned back to say something else, Aria had slammed the door shut. Ha, take that Jason thought to Ezra.
After a long night with her family and a snappy Mike, she finally had the chance to confront her brother about Jenna's pottery. Was she surprised when she found out Mike had stolen it from Garret's place? Beyond that. Trust for the policeman was now doubted and she worried about what she had already shared with him. Her best friends, including herself, had trusted Garret with some of the secrets of 'A' along with the whole Ian thing. Was that a set up too? Did he kill Ian? And how does Jenna now fit into all of this? Did she know everything that they had told Garret? Was she 'A' too? Were they being set up for something?
Feeling sick, Aria retreated back to her room after she was done with Mike and got ready for bed. Her parents were heartbroken and in shambles after the situation with her brother. Aria actually felt bad for the older pair because their social image was now even worse than before.
So much for a bounce back Aria thought to herself as she slipped into bed. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she remembered how she promised to fill Jason in. He was truly concerned for her and her brother. Rolling onto her side, she grabbed her phone, and started a new text message to him.
He's home safe. Can't really say much more than that for now she texted to him. With that, she closed her phone, setting it to silent and going back to bed hoping for a better day.
A long week passed and that whole time Aria was worried for Mike. After getting worse in attitude, not only at home but at school, Ella and Byron decided that Mike needed a week off of school. They claimed that a week off from all the stress would be better for him (but Aria knew it was also for his future reputation in Rosewood. Mike was really starting to scare his parents).
But now, instead of being that rebellious yelling at his parent's teenager he seemed to become lately, he now stayed in bed, never really getting up. Aria put herself in charge of picking up Mike's work and telling everyone at school he was just going through a phase. In reality though, Aria had no idea what he was going through and she had picked up on how he had been the topic of conversation. It had worried her that her brother had become an empty shell and she blamed herself a lot.
Her parents were fighting again, disagreeing on how to handle Mike. It seemed like they were back on two different wavelengths and it made Aria sick. She was the cause of this. Even though Jason said it had nothing to do with it, she was sure he was wrong. Her hurt and self blame trumped Jason's reasoning and deep down inside she had to acknowledge it was all her fault. Her father had an affair with his grad student and after her mother learned that it was all on Aria. The Montgomery household split into two, leaving the parents on a rocky relationship with only their kids as a commonality.
The break in their relationship was hard for not only Aria but Mike too. He wanted his family back, all in one piece. His quiet rebellion was noticed but was set on the back burner for a while as their parents went to figure things out on their own. Even after Byron and Ella got back together though, things weren't always the same. Mike and Aria saw it but didn't have the chance to acknowledge it because of the while Ian thing. While attention went back to Aria and no one could see Mike suffering from the previous pain.
So yes, Aria felt like it was her fault. Jason didn't know everything about what her and Mike was carrying so it felt harder to open up. Things like 'A' would have to be explained and Ali would be brought up again. Both of those things put Aria in a dizzy.
Heading to Spencer's – you coming? Hanna texted her. Aria looked at her phone and sighed. As much as she probably needed to, she couldn't. Her family was turning into shambles and her parents had been switching shifts on babysitting the blank faced Mike. She needed to stay home and be with her brother.
Can't today. Sorry, fill me in later Aria texted before sticking her phone in her back pocket. Even being close knit with her best friends, dealing with 'A' at the same time, Aria just didn't have time for them right now. She went on a stake out with all of them late one night, finding Garret and Jenna in a relationship but that was the last of it. She really had enough. Aria was tired of learning all of these new things and not being able to trust anyone.
Things had to get worse though. During that long miserable week, Emily had landed herself in the hospital, learning she had an ulcer and 'A' put steroids in her sports cream. It was another thing Aria had to worry about. 'A' seemed to be relentless and going so far as steroids, she was worried of what was coming to her soon.
So to say at the least Aria was emotional unstable were words that couldn't cover it. She was uplifted and relieved that it was Saturday though. Aria hoped that she could get some things off her mind and maybe stay in her room under the covers silently crying. It had been a horrible week and she needed to let it all out. Walking downstairs for whatever reason, she found Jason in her kitchen?
It stopped her in her tracks, she wasn't just surprised but worried of what he was going to see in her eyes. When she was home she didn't have to put on that calm mask because there was no one to read or look into it. Her parents were too busy and concerned with Mike, and its not like Mike would be up and around asking her if she was okay. So she wore her emotions on her sleeve for everyone to see.
Jason being here in her kitchen rose some questions to her mind and he answered one before she could even speak. "Your dad let me in. He said you'd probably be down soon."
Aria nodded still slightly surprised. Glancing down, her demeanor changed and that solid mask of calm and worry free was set on her face. Jason noticed it. It wasn't hard to see. It was almost like Aria detached herself from whatever she was thinking for the time being and put on a brave face. To the world, it may have worked. Her body language and face made her look perfectly okay, but it was her eyes that showed the pain and worry.
"Here, I wanted to give you this," Jason said holding out a business card. Aria stepped forward, taking the paper from his hand and read it. "Nico Stammos, Kramer Hill Youth Center?"
"It's for Mike. I thought this guy might be able to help," Jason supplied, watching Aria's face. "Oh…thanks."
"How is he?" Jason prodded.
"He's…okay," Aria supplied, trying to keep her façade up yet at the same time be truthful with Jason.
"You look worried," he stated, knowing there was more to let on than what she was giving. Aria bit her lip and looked away. "Worried was last week," she confessed.
"He's going to be okay," Jason said stepping forth to put a hand to her shoulder. Feeling like this was all too crazy, Aria took a chance and looked up at him. They had this moment then. His eyes were all honesty and loving. They sparkled and shone with confidence at her. Feeling her mask of strength and ease crumble a bit, tears began watering her eyes. She didn't have time to fix herself though because what broke Aria and Jason apart was Byron yelling. "Mike! Mike! Open this door! Open it right now!"
Panicking from the scene that was starting to unravel, Aria glanced at the upstairs and then made a rush to get Jason towards the exit door. "You know what, I forgot about studying. I mean I have to go study…at Emily's…I mean at Hanna's. Uhh…thank you for stopping by Jason. I'll make sure my parents get the card."
Aria rushed around the kitchen grabbing her books, stacking them up all together on the table and putting them in her arms as she practically shoved Jason out the door. To be confused was the least of his worries. He was more surprised on how flustered Aria was. She was obviously cracking under the pressure – he saw the tears come to her eyes as he stood in front of her – and he knew she was worried for her brother. Jason could read her perfectly and he saw how obviously embarrassed she was now, about her father and Mike. There was something more too as she rushed him out the door. Something inside of her was breaking and he wished she would open up and talk to him.
"Thanks again," she said opening the door. Before he could even say goodbye she had shut the door and went back towards the table setting her books down. He watched from the glass in the door how she was destructing. With her hands flat on the table she bowed her head and hunched forward, standing there. It was only a few moments that she stayed like that, with her long hair acting a shield so he couldn't see her face. But when she raised her head, throwing it back and wiping her face, he saw the tears and pain. The front went up again, just like that in a flash. She pulled herself together, and walked away, not even seeing Jason still standing there looking worried for her.