A/N: Super busy day, hence the one chapter upload and probably a ton of grammatical/spelling mistakes. Sorry!

"What's with you?" Aria wondered to her brother after Wren brought Mike in a pillow and a blanket.

"Nothing," he shrugged, going to shut off the light so the two could get some sleep.

"You're a horrible liar Mike," Aria coaxed in the darkness. Hearing him sigh, she gave him a moment. "Its my fault this happened to you. I knew my window was open before I left the house with mom and dad, but I was too lazy to go shut it. If I did, none of this would have happened and you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Aria felt unbelieavely bad for her brother. He was carrying around this guilt for no reason. It was not his fault that she was pushed down the stairs. This was all on 'A' "That's not true Mike," she murmured quietly. "As much as you want to blame this on yourself, you had nothing to do with my accident. It wasn't your fault someone broke in. Don't think something like that.

"But!"

"No," Aria cut in. She was not going to let her brother get down about this. "Things happen, but they are not your doing. I'm fine you're fine. I'm just glad it wasn't mom or you. Please, don't blame this on yourself Mike, it was totally not your fault."

"Thanks Aria," he murmured quietly. Smiling to herself, the two laid back and fell asleep.

"I've never seen them this close," Ella murmured to Byron. Groaning, Aria began to stir. Beside her were her mom and dad smiling at her.

"What?" she croaked out. Trying to move, she felt another body beside her. Mike. Remembering last night, she gave a small smile. During the night, she woke up to him shifting like crazy in the recliner chair. So instead of making him stay there, she moved carefully to one side on the big bed and made him come up and sleep with her.

"Did you two have a good night?" Ella grinned at her children. Mike was now starting to stir and groan.

"When did you get here?" Aria wondered.

"A few minutes ago. We checked in with Wren. He said you guys have been like this for a while."

Rolling her eyes Aria shrugged.

"When do I get to go home?" she wondered.

"Not for a while," Ella said sadly. "They want to keep you a few more days because of your head and you are going to need some guidelines on how to take care of your cuts."

"Great," she groaned, lightly throwing her head back.

"Good Morning," Wren said knocking on the door and coming in. "Looks like our patient is up."

He was so happy for this early in the morning that Aria despised him in that moment.

"Not a morning person are we?" he guessed as he observed her giving him a small glare.

"Not in the least," Ella smiled to him.

"Okay well I'm just here to check in. How are you feeling Aria?"

Mike began getting out off the bed and back into his own chair, still have asleep. "I'm okay," she smiled. "My head doesn't hurt as much, and my wrist feels a little uncomfortable, but other than that I'm okay."

"Good," he chirped. "We will lower your morphine dosage and hopefully you can be fully off it tomorrow. A nurse is going to come by to re-bandage your stitches to keep them clean and you should be okay for the rest of the day."

"Thank you," Byron said as Wren checked a few things off his chart and went to leave.

"Anytime," he smiled shaking the man's hand.

"I'm going to take Mike to get a bite to eat. Aria, did you want something?" Ella asked her daughter.

"No I'm good thanks," Aria smiled to them. Watching a tired Mike get up from his chair, Ella guided him out from the room.

"So," Byron started, as they were the only two left in the room.

"I thought you had some business trip?" she wondered quietly.

"I'm not going. I think you and this family are a little more important than going to London."

A small twinge of happiness came over Aria. Her dad had picked her and her family over his job.

"I'm sorry about everything Aria," he told her, while coming closer to her bed.

"Yea," She shrugged deciding not to meet his eyes anymore.

"No Aria, I'm truly sorry. I was out of line numerous times and my problem was something that needed to be dealt with. Telling your mother was the right thing to do – I was the wrong one."

Aria looked down at her lap unsure of what to say. Her dad wasn't technically asking for forgiveness, yet he was trying to seek it anyways.

"Your mother told me she quit working at the high school. How's that going?"

"I like her being home for Mike and I," Aria spoke with honesty. "It's nice to have her home and not always busy grading papers and stuff. We see her a lot more and can go out and do things."

Byron went quiet. He couldn't seem to do that with his children a lot. Work usually came first for him and he tended to miss out on a lot of things.

"And your job? You don't mind helping your mom out?" he wondered.

"I like what I do," she shrugged thinking about the photography studio, "it's not much of a chore and pays better than most jobs. Half of what I earn mom barely takes anyways."

"A lot has changed," Byron stated. His daughter had a job, his wife had a different job that allowed her to spend more time with their kids, Ella allowed herself to take money from their daughter (which was big considering she would never allow someone to help her) and most of all he was in the backseat watching his old life go by.

"It has," Aria confirmed.

"Are you still mad?" he wondered.

Aria stayed quiet, unsure how to answer that. Was she? Or was it hurt that she was feeling? Opening her mouth to answer his question, she was cut off before she could say anything.

"Hey Mr. Montgomery," Hanna said coming in with a bright smile.

"Oh, we're interrupting aren't we?" Spencer asked sticking her head in.

"No no girls come on in. I was about to grab a cup of coffee anyways," Byron said pulling off a friendly smile.

"Oh cool," Hanna beamed.

"We brought muffins," Emily said holding up a bag.

Murmuring a goodbye, Bryon walked out from the room to give his daughter some time with her friends. Although he didn't get an answer to his question, he did see that flicker of love in Aria's eyes when they talked, and that was enough for him.

"There," Hanna smiled while putting the finishing touches on Aria's make up. "Mona did this for me when I was in the hospital and it definitely cheered me up."

"Thanks Han," Aria smiled. The thought was great – giving Aria a make over since all she could really do was sit there, but Aria didn't feel like it helped her spirits much. Her head was still in the conversation her and her dad left in the air and she couldn't seem to be shaken out of it.

"I'm surprised Jason isn't here," Spencer trailed off.

Emily and Hanna both secretly glanced at her.

"So you know then," Aria guessed.

"We ran into your mom in the cafeteria with Mike. She might of let something slip…" Emily confessed.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Spencer asked.

"Its humiliating," Aria muttered, "and I'm not even sure what happened anyways. I was stood up and never called back."

"Your mom said you guys got into a fight the night before the dance. What was that about?" Hanna wondered.

"Ezra," Aria admitted. "I never told Jason about him coming back to Rosewood and being my English teacher again. He got really upset and decided to leave."

There was a pause of silence as Aria's words filled their brains. "Wait…" she paused while thinking it over, "how did you guys get on the topic of Jason when you saw my mom?"

The three went silent and Spencer bowed her head.

"Spencer…" Aria trailed dangerously at her guilty looking friend. Again, they were all quiet until one of them broke.

"He's back," Hanna confessed, unable to keep it to herself.

"Back?" Aria repeated.

"Jason must have stopped by your house last night but no one was home so he called me and I said I was at the hospital and he asked why. So I told him something happened and he pushed me to tell him. So I finally said it was you and then…well, he wanted to rush over but it was late anyways so I told him not to come. But then today, on the way over here, he tried coming again but I didn't think it was the best idea. It doesn't really matter though because he ended up coming anyways and your mom saw him," Spencer rambled. "They had some heated looking conversation…or well Jason seemed very agitated and since your mom wouldn't tell him the room number or anything, he went outside to take a walk. He hasn't stopped calling my cell phone since," she spluttered.

"Your mom was looking kind of upset afterward so we asked why and yea…" Emily added.

"Great," Aria sighed as she molded with the hospital bed. It was so much to take in at once. How was Jason 'back'? Why did he do what he did then? Why didn't he just tell her he was leaving for a while? Did this mean that they were still over then? Did Aria still want to be broken up with him?

"If it makes you feel any better, Mike and Ella told him to stay away and not visit you," Spencer partly smiled trying to make her feel better.

Slightly shaking her head, those words didn't make her feel better at all. Aria hated when her personal life was out to the open and people knew about it. It was one of the reasons she kept the Jason situation to herself. "You guys said he was back…where was he?" she asked to her friends as she tried to ties some loose thought up.

"Business trip I guess," Spencer shrugged, "he didn't say much and I didn't ask."

The girls continued to talk a while, watching as Wren came in and out from time to time to check on her vitals, along with her parents and Mike bringing her company. Out of all the times her mom went in and out of the room, she never once mentioned running into Jason and Aria was curious to why.

"Knock knock," A voice called.

"Hey," Aria smiled to the fresh face. In came Holden with some flowers and a smiling face.

"Holden," Ella smiled, enjoying the surprise too.

"Hope im not interrupting," he said, noting all the people in the room.

"Nope, come on in," Aria smiled. Shuffling inside, he gave a quick hello to her parents and went over to his friend. Giving her the patch of flowers, he tucked his hands in his pockets. "Those are for you. Uhh, I guess I should have bought a vase," he joked as he looked around the room for something to put the flowers in.

"Thanks," she smiled. Glancing to her friends, she quickly reintroduced them again to her long time best friend and had her parents pull him up a chair.

"So I heard about your fall," he commented.

"Uh… you know what, we are going to grab a soda and some snacks. Aria, did you want something?" Hanna asked her as she made her friends get up.

"No, thanks," she said, showing gratitude towards Hanna for making her and her friends leave the room.

"Aria, we have to stop home. Are you sure you're going to be okay here for a little while?"

"I'll be fine," she stated to her family. They had been hovering around her room and the hospital for hours on end and she was getting a little agitated with their constant company.

"I can stay with her till you guys are back," Holden pitched.

"Or not…" he said as he read Aria's face.

"I'll be fine here," Aria spoke again, "I'm sure Hanna, Spencer, and Emily will keep me company till my nightly check so you really don't have to be back till morning. Really," she pushed.

Ella glanced to Byron unsure of what to do. Unfortunately he seemed to reflect the same doubt. "Sounds great Aria, thanks," Mike said quickly while trying to push his parents out of the room. At least he got the cue.

"We'll see you in the morning sweetie," Ella said coming to hug her. As Byron and Mike did the same, she mouthed to her brother a quick thank you and was left to talk to Holden.

"What's up?" she asked, thinking back to the same look Mike had on his face last night. Holden stayed quiet and shifted a bit.

"You know, the damage isn't that bad. The doctors think I can go home in a few days."

"I could have been there," he admitted.

"Doing what?" she asked him. "Getting hurt too? Honestly, I don't see how you can blame yourself for this."

"If I came in the house with you I'm sure I could have done something," he muttered shaking his head.

"Or you would just be falling down the stairs with me and end up here too," she stated. Sighing when he continued to be gloomy she tried to get his attention so he would look her in the eyes. "The police already talked to me and they think it was just a random thing. Honestly, I'm sure if you talk to them they will say the same thing I am – there would have been nothing you could do. The events unraveled as they did."

Aria didn't blame anyone except 'A' for her accident. It was totally true. Holden wasn't even close to be at fault for what happened; either were Mike or her friends. When the police came into her room during the day she told them little things she remembered – like the noise and feeling a push. But she didn't talk about anything further from that. A figure standing on the stairs watching her bleed and pass out was something she didn't want to admit and Wren had even backed her up that she might not remember everything since she had a bad head injury. Anyways, the cops believed it was a random thing. The perp must have thought it would have been easy to steal something since Mike's window was open and the lights were all off. They probably didn't hear Aria come home and when they got scared they pushed her down the steps. It was a simple open and shut case according to the Rosewood Police.

"Still, I'm sorry," Holden murmured. "How are you doing?"

"Good," she shrugged. "I'm kind of bummed I can't wear heels for a while since my ankle is messed up and I'm super bummed I can't come watch your next tournament," she grinned.

Laughing a bit, Aria watched Holden blush.

"Are you guys good?" Hanna asked coming back in with food. "Or did you need more time to talk?"

"We're good," Holden smiled to Aria's friends.

"Wait, you aren't sticking around?" Aria asked as Holden got up from his chair. "No, I wish. I have to run some errands for my mom and stuff but I'll come by another day? If you want I can bring your homework from school."

"Sure," she grinned. Emily had already volunteered to do the job but having Holden come around again seemed great.

"See ya," he smiled to her and waved at her friends.

Waiting for the door to shut behind him, Spencer narrowed her eyes at her again. "Are you sure nothing is going on there?"

"Again," Aria said rolling her eyes, "he's a really good friend you guys."

"Alright," Spencer said backing off before she could get a lecture from her friend. There was a long buzzing coming from somewhere and Spencer dug out her phone. Hitting a button, she smiled and caught up with the conversation.

"Jason?" Emily whispered to Spencer. Nodding, she gave her friend a pointed look, like Jason should really be brought up again, before jumping back into Hanna and Aria's conversation.

"Finally!" Aria exclaimed as she hobbled through her front door, into her home with a bright smile on her face. After another four days in the hospital, Aria was finally allowed to come home and take it easy.

"Play you in Mario Kart," Mike said racing over to the couch where Aria was going to sit. Ella had set up a bunch of DVDs and food on the coffee table, along with pillows and blankets on the couch to make her daughter more comfortable. Even though the doctors gave her the okay to go home, they still wanted her to take it easy, which was what the weekend was for. They wanted her to ease onto walking on her ankle again since it was twisted at such an odd angle.

"You're on," Aria called to Mike as she made it to the couch at a slow pace. Getting situated, Mike handed her the wheel and they began versing each other in a long battle of games.

For the rest of the day, Aria used her time to get things done. Getting help from her dad to climb up the stairs, Byron stood by her side as she went up each step. They reached the upper part of the stairs fairly quick, and when they reached near the top, about two steps from where she could see her room she stopped. It was the exact same place she had stood before turning around and getting pushed.

"Aria? Are you alright?" her father asked.

"Yea," she said shaking her head and continuing the last few stairs. After making it all the way up, Byron helped her prop her ankle up and handed her make up work. She worked on it for a few hours before dinner with non-stop momentum. It wasn't until the doorbell rang that Aria's attention was brought from her work.

There was some chatter coming from her brother and then a slam of the front door. "Mike?" Aria called. Hearing him shuffle up the stairs, he quickly appeared. "Who was that?"

"No one," he shrugged. Knowing that he was hiding the truth, she could only guess it was Jason. "Where are mom and dad?"

"They went to get dinner. Did you need something?"

"No, just making sure everything is okay."

"It's good," he shrugged again. "I'll be in my room doing homework so if you need something just holler."

"Thanks," she smiled to him as he went out of sight. Taking a small break, Aria leaned back on her bed and tried to think of what she was going to do about Jason. Mike was being the protective brother and so were her friends. It was great and it gave Aria a good feeling to see that they had her back but she still felt something for him. She loved Jason…or she does. But Aria felt so hurt she wondered if being with him could ever be the same.

"Need help?" Mike asked his sister as their dad dropped them off from school. She slowly got out of the car and took a second to steady herself on her feet.

"I'm good," she smiled, slinging her bag further over her shoulder and pressing her books closer to her chest.

"So I have lacrosse practice today," Mike told Aria.

"And I have work," she replied.

"Okay cool. Uhh, okay see ya," he said waving to his sister as he parted ways with her.

"Wow you look different with flats," Hanna noted when Aria came up to them.

"Gee, thanks Han," Aria grumbled as they stood up to walk to their lockers. Aria was not known to wear flats to school (or anywhere) since she was short already. As a matter of fact, Aria pretty much despised flats or shoes that didn't seem to make her taller.

"At least your back in school," Emily told her.

"And work," Aria smiled.

"How's the school stuff coming along?" Spencer asked.

"Done," Aria sighed. "It took a while but I finished it all."

"Now look who's trying to be the perfect student," Hanna teased. The four of them laughed. Aria hung around Emily's locker since she had all of her books with her.

"So how was it being home? I'm sure you missed it."

"I don't think I've ever been so happy to see the first floor of my house so much," Aria exaggerated. Emily laughed and grabbed one of her books. "I know how you feel. When I was in the hospital, I thought I would never be getting out."

Continuing to chat with Aria, Emily saw Jason spot them and watched as he came to walk over. Going quiet, Aria looked puzzled and looked around – somewhat behind her. Jason had now approached and the two were very quiet.

"Can we talk?" Jason asked Aria. Emily was unsure what to do. Leave her friend or stay with her? Aria was looking at the floor so it wasn't like she could read her and find the solution on what to do.

"Aria? Can I see you for a moment?" Mr. Fitz asked, popping his head out of the classroom. Ezra was right across from Emily's locker and when he saw his opportunity approach, he took it.

Obligated to do what her teacher was instructing, she told Emily a quick goodbye and kept her head down when it came to Jason.

"She wont even talk to me," Jason groaned to Emily as he watched her and Mr. Fitz.

"You stood her up," Emily stated to Jason as she shut her locker. "I think that gives her a reason not to talk to you."

"Stood her up where?" Jason asked, completely confused.

"The homecoming dance? She waited for you for almost a hour."

"I told her I couldn't come," he said. "I thought I could but then something came up. I kept trying to call her a few hours before the dance to tell her I had an emergency business trip but she wouldn't pick up. I left a ton of messages on her cell and at home. I figured she was just bummed out about that or something."

"Why didn't you call days after that?" Emily wondered still a bit skeptical.

"She responded that she wanted time and thought that maybe it was best if we gave each other some space. I tried to talk to her and call her but she wouldn't pick up and then turned off her phone."

"When was this?" Emily asked now confused too. Aria never told any of them this and there was no reason for her to push Jason away since she was the one that thought he was pushing her away.

"I don't know. Maybe the night of the dance? Or the morning after?"

Drawing it all back to 'A' when he/she had Aria's cell phone, Emily immediately groaned to herself.

"What?" Jason asked her when he read the girl's face.

"Nothing, look I have to go," Emily stated when the bell rang. "I'll try and talk to Aria, but you do have more explaining to do."

"Like what?" he called to Emily as she walked down the hall and messed in with the teenage crowed.

"You're back in school," Ezra stated, shutting his classroom door after Aria answered.

"Yea," she confirmed, feeling a bit uncomfortable that it was just the two of them.

"How are you feeling? I heard about the break in. I was thinking of coming by but-"

"No, that's okay," Aria said brushing it off. "I'm fine. It's no big deal really. I just can't wear heels for a few more days but everything else is okay."

"The cut looks…"

"Worse than it is," Aria cut in, trying to cover it up again with her hair. "So you needed me for something?" she asked.

"I was wondering if you had all your make up with you. I can still give you some more time if you'd like but I had some free time so I thought I could get a head start on grading your work."

"Yea sure," she understood, "its right here." Turning her back to him, she pulled out her English things from her knapsack.

"Thanks," he said stepping forward and taking the work from her.

"I'm glad your okay Aria. Even though if we aren't…"

"Yea," Aria said quickly trying to get off the subject again. The bell rang and she couldn't have been more thankful.

"You know, if you need any more help catching up," Ezra offered behind his desk as she secured her straps on her shoulders and went to leave.

"Thanks," she said dismissed. Watching her give a quick goodbye, he noted how quick she left his room and went to class. Frowning, he hovered over his desk and tried not to think about it too much.

The day seemed to go by too slow for Aria. Her head began to hurt just after 2nd period and her ankle was starting to throb a bit too. Along with that, she made sure to dodge every place she used to see/ meet Jason at and try to avoid Ezra's helping 'teaching' hand too.

"Check this out," Spencer said setting a flyer down at their table in the cafeteria.

"That's a joke," Hanna scoffed after gazing at the poster. It was something called 'Truth Day' – a mandatory program for students.

"We actually have to spend the night at school?" Aria groaned.

"Who would ever volunteer for that?" Emily asked scanning the sheet too.

"Our parents," Spencer grumbled.

"Say what?' Hanna asked.

"I heard my mom talking to Aria's. They already signed up so I'm guessing yours will too," Spencer told them. All four of the girls groaned. "Tell me about it."

"Who even tells the truth nowadays?" Hanna rhetorically asked.

"Are we even allowed to with 'A' on our backs?" Emily questioned quietly.

Listening to her friends go on and on, Aria glanced up from her food and found Jason staring at her. If anyone else cared to notice, it would have been pretty obvious he wanted to talk to her. The way he was just standing there, leaning against the cafeteria wall with his arms crossed gazing at her. Chills began to appear on her arms and curse down her spine.

Hating the sudden reaction her body gave, Aria stabbed at her food and tuned in back to her friends.

"So next Friday huh?" she read.

"Yippee," Spencer groaned, along with the others again.

A/N: Soooo...how was Jason coming back into the picture? Good? Bad? Something you expected, didn't expect? Tell tell - please review!