Thanks to obsessedwithezria, Lala-Pll-Time, ezriaS2 and Jdurst99 for the reviews. Ali's appearance happens in this chapter so a few things are different from the show. And of course, thanks to Marcia794 for the beta job. If you love Twilight, check out her new story ;)

I promised a chapter today so, here it is. Enjoy!

Chapter 6 - Faith

Aria's POV

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view; until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

After the girls woke up, they joined us on the cozy couches in the Hasting's living room and I told them about my skype session with Mom. Hanna never mentioned my previous almost break down and I was thankful for that. I knew that I would have to talk to them about Ezra sooner rather than later, just not yet.

My mother's words kept bugging me though and I questioned myself once again on whether I had made the right choice. What if things weren't as they seemed and it was a huge mistake that I didn't let him explain himself? I loved Ezra more than my own life and I had always been sure that he felt the same way about me. Did this mean that I had to give him a chance?

"How are we going to spend our day?" Hanna yawned and stretched her body.

"After you wake up?"

"Shut up, Em." Emily laughed.

"Spence, I miss your lake house!" Hanna's eyes lit up but then reality dawned on her and she frowned. "I wish your parents weren't there today."

"Be honest," Spencer warned, "you miss my Nana's couch." Hanna waved her off, probably because she didn't want to start that epic fight again, and turned her attention towards me.

"Aria, seriously. You only have a sacred ground on his bed? Never yours?" A hint of a smile was playing on her lips and the girls tried to stiffle a giggle.

"How could we even do it in my room?" I arched an eyebrow, obviously annoyed. She knew better than bring up mine and Ezra's sex life today of all days.

"Take him to your lake house after the boys leave. Have some alone time." Her tone was pleading as she tried to show me that I have to fight and not let him go. I shook my head and tried to prevent the tears that had gathered in my eyes from falling.

"Have I missed something?" Spencer asked, looking from me to Hanna and back again.

"Yeah, is this break up so serious?" Emily asked. I remained silent and bit the inside of my cheek, just looking into Hanna's eyes and wishing that my friends would give up.

"Aria, forever. You and Ezra can never be apart." She shook her head to emphasize the word 'never.'

Forever. Why was it so hard to believe?

"So? What are we doing today?" Emily noticed my uneasiness and tried to change the subject. Spencer sighed.

"How about studying for our Math test tomorrow?" Typical Spencer, always ruining the fun.

"Yeah, and then we can watch a movie or something," said Emily. Hanna looked at me and we both pouted.

"Oh, come on! You know you need my help anyway." Spencer stood up and headed for her bedroom, probably to grab her books and notebooks and all that boring stuff.

After studying for three hours that seemed more like three years, we finally decided to just relax and spend some quality time together while watching a movie. Spencer ordered Chinese food as it was already noon and Hanna put a movie in the DVD player.

"Seriously?" Spencer cried when she noticed the movie Hanna had put on. "We've watched this movie like ten times already."

"Shut up and sit down." Hanna hugged a pillow and focused her attention on the screen. "It's a message for Aria. Forever." She said and winked at me. I sighed.

"And what happens? We cry our eyes out and then we are depressed for the rest of the day." Spencer tried to reason with her as Breaking Dawn: Part Two started.

"I've got the tissues ready." Hanna replied and Spencer rolled her eyes sitting next to her. She wouldn't spend another minute trying to persuade Hanna on this, it was a lost battle.

At some point during the movie, my mobile rang with a new text message. I ignored Hanna's glare and opened it. It was from him, again.

'Aria, you need to understand me. Let me talk to you. Please..

Forgive me.'

I threw my mobile on the small table totally irritated, tears in my eyes once again. It hurt so much..

Understand him? How could I possibly understand him? I didn't even want to imagine all the things he had done… He claims that he's been keeping me safe. But what about my friends and all the people I love? What could possibly make him work with someone who wanted to hurt us?

Forgive him.. God, how I wished that he was standing next to me, though. His face just a few inches away from mine, his lips whispering those words, begging me for forgiveness. Maybe I hate him right now, or I love him more than ever, I have no idea. But I would do it, I would forgive him in the blink of an eye, just so I could feel his lips on mine. All those thoughts stayed with me for the following hours and I barely paid attention to the movie.

We ate our Chinese dishes and the light had started to fade as the night was taking over the day. The movie ended and had even Spencer tearing up. We were like normal teenagers, just enjoying some time with each other; I had really missed that.

"Are you happy now?" Spencer asked Hanna, referring to the tears in our eyes and the fact that she was right once again.

"No", Hanna replied. Emily ignored them and reached for the small box resting on the table.

"Can we open our fortune cookies now?"

"I'm sure mine says something like 'quit your life already'", I said and Hanna gave me a questioning look.

"Hand over mine!" Spencer opened hers and read it out loud.

"Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. Lucky number: 1."

"Of course," Hanna whined, "you're number one in everything you do." We laughed and Spence just rolled her eyes. I grabbed my cookie and was ready to open it when Emily sprinted off the couch in the speed of light.

"Guys! There's someone out the window!" I looked up but it was already dark outside and all the lights in the garden were off, so I saw nothing. Hanna and Spencer turned around and we gave each other curious looks. Emily's gaze was still glued to something outside the house. She finally looked at us. "I swear, I saw a shadow standing there. It looked... familiar." With that, she moved to the door and we all followed her.

The winter night was chilling and it made me shiver as soon as we got out, my body craving the house's warmth. We quickly walked to the back yard, not a single sign of someone else watching us. Just about when I was ready to turn around and drag them all with me inside the house, we heard the crackling sound of leaves and saw a shadow moving near the other side of the barn. We instantly ran over the corner and that's when we saw her; long blonde hair, tall and slim figure, wearing a redcoat. Was Cece alive? This thought remained in my mind for almost a second, until she turned around.

"Did you miss me?" We all gasped as we heard the familiar voice and saw the loving blue eyes. Her beautiful face glinted in the moonlight, her eyes shining with unshed tears. I couldn't believe in my own eyes; Ali was there, in front of us. Our dear friend was finally talking to us; she was here, and she was alive.

"Ali?" Emily was the first to speak and took two cautious steps closer to her. We remained still, our eyes fixed on her, unable to move or talk.

"I have to go, really soon. I just wanted you to see me and I had to know that you are alright." No, she couldn't leave again. We just got her back, how could she leave us like that?

"Why are you running away from us?" I asked with a trembling voice. I wanted my friend back and I wanted her safe.

"Yes, Ali, you know you can trust us." Hanna's tone was pleading. Alison had been a huge part of our lives when she was alive, even more after she disappeared. But for Hanna, Ali was like a second self for many years, and although I can't say that was a good thing, Hanna based a big part of her life on Ali's life.

"I know that," she gave us a small smile, "but I'm scared. And I can't come out yet, you can't tell anyone that you saw me." She was frightened, her eyes were uncertain and it hurt me to see her like that. She didn't deserve this mess, nobody deserved it.

"Please, Ali. Stay, talk to us; we can protect each other." Spencer tried to reason with her. Alison gave her a sad look.

"Not yet, I'm sorry. But girls," she paused and emphasized her last words, "take care." Her voice was calm, soothing. She was afraid but she was trying to comfort us. Then she focused on me. "Especially you, Aria. Please be safe." I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Why me?" Although I knew the answer too well. The girls looked at me with cautious expressions, except for Hanna; she was looking down, avoiding my eyes.

"I have to go. I will be back soon," she promised. With a last glance at my direction she turned around and paced quickly towards the back of the barn. And we stayed there, just looking at the empty space she left behind her.

So it had to be true after all and I wasn't just imagining things, making a simple situation a million times worse in my mind. Alison was afraid of him, of my soulmate. She was afraid of the man who promised he would always keep me safe. How was I able to believe that anymore? How could I believe him when he was talked about my safety the moment that my lost friend was hiding from him, giving up her life so she could avoid him? My eyes welled up with tears and I realized something that seemed impossible; my heart was breaking in pieces, once again. It felt like I was losing him again. But I didn't want to believe that, deep inside me, I wished that there would still be a chance. I had to be strong and have faith, maybe Ali was wrong. Could she be?

"Aria?" Spencer's hand touched my shoulder and she nodded towards the house. "Let's go inside." The girls were silent as we walked inside the house, shocked because we just had a talk with our best friend who we thought was dead until yesterday, troubled because of her last words to me. Sitting on the couch again, I noticed my fortune cookie resting untouched on the table. I chuckled darkly to myself and took it in my hands.

"A living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm."

So no, I wouldn't lose my faith in him. Not yet.

I know, I know. Another chapter without Ezria. I'm so sorry, but I want the girls to have their moments too. Aria seems a little indecisive but it's normal, she has no idea how to feel about all this mess. But she will make up her mind soon ;)

Next chapter won't have Ezria either but the first big secret about Ezra will be revealed (I hope you won't hate me after that).

PLEASE REVIEW! And thanks for reading.

Love, A