Chapter 2

EzrA is back

I was waiting for another message from A. But nothing came so I felt confident that the secret that I'd been keeping for Aria's mom is still safe.

It was a the second week of December before school let out for the Christmas Vacation, and I just finished my exams on AP Biology, yep, I'm Biology nerd. It's probably my best subject. That's why on my college years, I want to take up Biology at Harvard, my dad's alma matter. I just think that it would be cool to move out of Rosewood and just start a new life. But I still want Aria to be with me.

The rest of the day passed by without a hitch and it was a great feeling that it'll be Christmas in a few days. I was putting my books in my locker when my Blackberry beeped. I typed the password in and viewed the message. And just when I thought it was just a fluke, A new my number too.

Tick-tock-tick-tock, Noel

Time's running out...

Parumpapumpum

Mwah!

-A

I clenched my jaw. So, I decided to send a reply to who ever A is.

Why are you doing this to me?

Who are you? Don't be a coward!

My phone beeped again and it was a reply from A.

It's fun playing with your feelings, Noel.

Who I am is not your business...

Aria knows what I'm talking about.

She and her little friends tried to find out who I am but they failed, and people who they love paid for it.

Just ask your friend Maya St. Germaine and your Lacrosse Coach Ian Thomas...

Ooops, I forgot, I had them killed already.

Kiss Aria for me, and make it a big one, okay?

-A

Who is this A. I can't let this person touch Aria. A can't be Allison because she's alive and well on her way to recovery after she got hit by a car. But I have to know. I have to find out who A is. Even if it's dangerous.

I called Spencer Hastings to ask her a few questions and she arranged for us to meet at The Grille a local hang out for Rosewood teenagers.

I was waiting for her to show up when my phone beeped. Expecting that it was A, I opened the message and was surprised that it was Aria's. Here's what her message read:

Hey Noel, I was wondering if your offer to watch tomorrows game of Sixers against Celtics still stands? Maybe we can go together?

But before I could reply, Spencer Hastings arrive. She was, as usual in her preppy clothing. "So," she began as she sat on the chair accross from me. "What did Noel Kahn want to talk about?" She asked, her face a mixture of curiosity and seriousness, so I decided to straighten up and get to the point.

"I asked you here to talk about A." I said sternly. Judging from the look on Spencer, she seemed astounded that even, I, know about A.

"Excuse me?" She asked incredelously. Then, her face straightened as it magically does that to her face.

"Do I even have to repeat it?" I leaned in to whisper. "He or she might be listening around here."

She whispered as well. "Did Aria tell you something about the A messages we receive?"

I looked at her. "What? You receive messages from A too?"

Spencer nodded. "Yes." She paused, wringing her fingers together, maybe it was a nervous habit of hers. "But how'd you know about A?"

I looked at her. "Because I've been receiving one lately." I said honestly.

Her eyes widened. "Since when,?" She asked me as if she was a derranged prosecutor but I can understand.

"Since last week."

"Oh my God." She slumpped at her seat. Then, she spoke again. "Did you tell Alli a secret that's why you receive A messages?"

I shook my head. I never really trusted anyone with my secrets. Especially if the person's as coniving and cunning like Allison DiLaurentis.

"Then what is it? Did you make anyone angry?" She asked.

I shook my head again. "I know some secrets." I said.

"Of whom?" She asked curiously.

"Ella Montgomery's." I said simply, waiting for Spencer's reaction.

As she parted her lips to say something, My phone beeped, I checked the log and it was a message from Aria. I intend to read it later.

Spencer leaned in to see. "Was it A?" She asked nervously.

"No." I said.

"Okay then, what secret of Aria's mom do you know?" She aske me.

"It's not my secret to tell." I leaned in. "I asked you here to help me find out who A is and try to make him or her stop."

She nodded. "Okay, you have a deal."

On cue, both of our phones beeped. We both stared at the message. Is A around us? Is she at The Grille?

My, oh my, N and S are conspiring against me. But no worries, I'm still smarter than the two of you combined...

-A

Aria and I decided to watch the game. So, I picked her up on schedule. While we were on the road, Carol King's Were You Lead began to blare out the stereo of my car. Aria smiled. "I love this song." She paused to look at me. "My parent listened to it-Uh, I mean, used to listen to it."

"Are you okay though?" I asked, concerned about her well being. She nodded.

"I'm getting by," she paused, playing with her scarf. "But my parents divorce still bugs me, and Mike makes me worry because he had this fits of tantrums whenever divorce was mentioned." I could see the trepidation written all over her beautiful face.

"I'll try to talk to Mike after he gets back from Laccrose Camp." I said.

Aria smiled. "Thanks." She said.

As I pulled over the gravelly parking lot, my Blackberry's LED light flashed. I hoped and prayed that it wasn't A. I really don't want Him or Her to ruin my date with Aria.

Hey Noel, I'm watching the game too...

Oh and don't forget our little deal about Aria's mommy.

Let the games begin

-A

Aria watched me as my expression changed from happy to uncomfortable. "Noel, are you okay?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay." I lied putting my nerves at bay, hoping that she didn't notice it. "Let's go?"

She smiled and nodded. We bought corn dogs and orange juice, as we sat on our seats, I found myself looking for someone unusual. Looking for A.

Celtics won the game although I didn't enjoy the game because I was trying to look for A in the crowd of people. Good thing though, Aria didn't notice me craning my neck for any signs of A.

Aria and I went to a restaurant called Macy's. We both ordered Well done stake-a common thing for us, we both like thoroughly cooked food. "So, Noel," she paused eating a piece of stake she sliced using the knife. "Any secrets you want to tell me?"

Did I just hear Aria correctly. "Noel, I'm not stupid." Her eyes were glazing with tears. "A sent me a text telling me that you know my mother and Hanna's dad were dating. How could you hide that from me, Noel?" Tears started falling from her eyes.

"Aria, your mom made me promise, and I just..." I wasn't able to finish when Aria spoke again.

"And you decided to call Spencer about it and tell her first rather than telling me first." She paused, trying failing to stop crying.

"I didn't tell Spencer, what I told Spencer was she should help me take a down." I said.

Aria shook her head. "I can't believe I even started liking you." She stood up and walked out of th restaurant. I was about to call her out when the LED of my Blackberry lit up.

I never lie, Noel.

I told you to tell her but, oh well.

Who am I to care?

Kisses,

-A

I'm really starting to get sick and tired of this A. He or she might be playing games but I'm not. I'm going to take that bitch down.

As I went home, I went straight to my bed room not even bothering to tell my mom how my date with Aria went. I wanted to explain to Aria but she walked out. So I tried texting her.

Hey Aria, you have to believe me. I never intended to keep it from you. It really wasn't my secret to tell. It was your mom's. Can we give it another shot? Please.

I hit the send button and after a few minutes she replied.

You lied to me. I thought I'd be able to trust you

.

I sighed hitting the reply button and began to type and afterwards, I hit send.

I didn't lie to you. I just didn't tell you. Please, forgive me.

Aria replied and it really hit me.

You lied by not telling me. It's the same thing. How am I supposed to trust you?

I didn't reply to that. I was afraid of what she'd reply. It was frustrating that when things started to get better between me and Aria, this A person ruined everything before it even started. Thanks a lot A.

The next day, I thought that if I ignored A's messages, it would bring back my old life. I could not believe that it spun so out of control in just few a few days. I sighed as I made my way into my AP English class, and to make matters worse, Aria was there. But I was appalled when I saw Ezra Fitz writing on the board. What the hell is he doing here? I thought the school board fired him after I told them what happened to Aria and him. He turned around and smirked at me as I knitted my brows together.

"Ah, Mr. Kahn, so glad you can join us." he paused smoothing his vest. "Please seat next to Ms. Montgomery."

I did so and I felt Aria's discomfort. I looked at her and leaned in, even though I know she's still mad at me. "If you want to talk after class, we can go for a drive." I whispered. Aria looked at me and nodded.

"Mr. Kahn, Ms. Montgomery," Ezra called out attention. "If you too are going to flirt do it outside." he said sternly.

"Mr. Fitz," Mona Vanderwaal spoke up. "At least Aria's flirting with a student, not a teacher, I mean it's not long ago when-"

Mona wasn't able to finish speaking when Hanna Marin muffled her with her hands. Mona, shut up Hanna whispered pretty loudly. Mona apologized as Ezra went out and everyone suddenly laughed.

"Nice going, Mona." Hanna snorted angrily.

Mona shot Hanna—her on again, off again BFF a glare. "Well, I thought Mr. Fitz—or Ezra, deserved everything I was about to say because he tricked Aria into having a relationship with him. He is such a loser."

Aria looked around. I took her hand in mine and guided her away from the class room. We ended up in the empty music room. She crashed into me and I wrapped my arms around her tightly. "Why is he back?" I can feel her ragged sobs as her tears soaked on my shirt.

"I don't know." I replied, trying to soothe her by caressing her back.

She looked up and her doe eyes looked like she'd been crying for a long time already. "He talked to me earlier and said that he's out to get me…" She paused. "Noel, what if Ezra…" she didn't continue.

"You think he's A?" I asked. Come to think of it, he behaves like a jerk and he was always around when something bad happens, like in the Halloween Party last year when Aria almost died because someone pushed her. Why didn't I think of this before? He knew a lot, which made him the primary suspect. But what does he have to do with Allison? Did he have a relationship with her?

Aria's phone beeped and we both looked at it as she opened the message.

Look out!

-A

Suddenly we heard a car honking, coming toward the music room. What the hell? Aria screamed as I covered her with my body. It felt like every nerve in my body collapsed as I felt hard metal hit my back….and then…darkness…

To be continued…

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