Chapter 16:

"And he just blurted out something about how Spencer's death was my fault and I lost it." Aria said, sniffling as she recounted the events of her run-in with Noel to Deb.

"That's awful." Deb sympathized, handing Aria a box of tissues, which she accepted gratefully. "It's absolutely not your fault!"

Aria nodded. "I know, but it still hurts to hear someone say that."

Deb gave Aria a sympathetic smile before her expression became serious. "What did you do after he said that?"

Aria shrugged. "I asked Ezra to pay for the items and walked out. There's a park a few minutes away from there that has a tree I like to climb sometimes, so I went and sat in it for a while. Ezra came looking for me and found me there, and then he sat in the tree with me and stayed with me while I just cried and let all of my emotions out."

Deb smiled. "I'm glad he's helping you deal with your emotions in a positive way."

Aria smiled through her tears. "He's really helped me through all of this. In fact, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be sitting here right now."

"Well, I'm glad that you are. You've really made a lot of progress here, and you've only been here four times." Deb said, smiling proudly at Aria.

"Thanks." Aria replied, smiling back.

*PLL*

As Aria sat down in the passenger seat of Ezra's car, she got a call.

"Hello?...He what?...Why would he-...Okay, I'm on my way."

"What happened?" Ezra asked, immediately concerned.

Aria sighed, running a hand through her perfectly curled brown hair."Mike got in a fight at school and now he locked himself in his room and won't come out. Mom wants me to go and talk to him. Stop at the Brew on the way there, I want to get him a chocolate ice cream milkshake."

"Who did he get in a fight with?" Ezra asked, pulling out of the parking lot and heading in the direction of the Brew.

"Noel." Aria responded, running her hands through her hair again, agitated. When they reached the Brew, Aria jumped out, returning a few minutes later with two coffee and a chocolate shake.

Ezra took a sip of his coffee before he started driving in the direction of Aria's house. "Did Ella say what the fight was about?"

Aria paused before responding with one word. "Me."

"You?"

"Noel was saying some rude things about me and Mike overheard him and punched him."

"He really doesn't know when to quit." Ezra said angrily as he pulled into Aria's driveway and they both got out. Ella opened the door before Aria had a chance to pull out her keys.

"Still in his room?" Aria asked.

Ella nodded, upset.

"Don't worry, I'll make him come out." Aria said, heading for the stairs. When she reached the top of the stairs she stood outside of her little brother's room and knocked lightly on the door.

"Go away." he called.

"It's me." Aria said quietly.

"What do you want?" he said through the door.

"To talk." When Mike didn't respond, Aria added. "I brought you a chocolate milkshake."

A moment later Aria heard the door unlock and smiled to herself, trying not to roll her eyes as her brother's hand emerged from the door.

"No, you have to let me in or I'll drink it myself." she said firmly. She heard Mike sigh as he let her in and held out his hand.

Aria handed him the milkshake and gasped when she saw his face. "Oh my God! Mikey, are you okay?" she asked, examining his black eye.

"I'm fine." he grumbled.

"Did you at least put some ice on it?"

Mike rolled his eyes but said "No."

"If I leave the room and get you some ice will you let me back in when I come back?" Aria asked.

Mike hesitated, then shook his head. Aria ran downstairs, right past her parents and Ezra and grabbed some ice and a towel.

"Everything okay?" Ella asked.

"I let you know in a bit." Aria replied, racing back up the stairs. As promised, Mike let her back in, holding his hand out for the towel but Aria shook her head.

"I'm the reason you got that, at least let me help it heal." she said, gently pressing the ice to his swollen eye.

Mike winced. "Careful!"

"Sorry."

"How did you know about my fight with Noel?"

"Mom called me. Mike, why did you hit him?"

Mike didn't respond.

"Mike, why did you hit him?" Aria repeated, looking into her little brother's eyes.

"He was saying stuff about you." he mumbled quietly.

"Like what?"

Mike glared at her.

Aria rolled her eyes. "Mike, I can handle it."

Mike sighed. "He called you a dumb whore and said that you're a killer."

Aria's face went pale but she took a deep breath. "Listen to me Mike. Noel Kahn is not worth the trouble that you got into for hitting him. It may have felt good but he's an idiot and I don't want you wasting your time with him, especially on account of me, okay?"

Mike nodded. "He deserved what he got though."

Aria smiled. "I don't doubt that. He's a douchebag."

"Right! You know he got kicked off the lacrosse team because of this?" Mike said happily.

"You didn't, did you?" Aria asked, worried. She knew how much lacrosse meant to Mike and would hate herself if she had ruined it for him.

Mike shook his head. "This was only my first fight this year. Noel's been in at least four, plus, remember that time he was caught with test answers that he claimed were planted in his locker?"

Aria nodded, smiling. For once, A had done something good for her and, although she'd had to pay because of it, she was still, for lack of a better word, grateful.

"Because of all those, he's been kicked off for the rest of high school. He had a scholarship for lacrosse from at least seven colleges, but now they've all taken back their offers."

Aria felt kind of bad for Noel, but at the same time, she knew he'd had it coming. "Well, I'm glad you don't have to deal with him anymore."

"Me too." Mike said happily.

"Okay, now how about we go downstairs because mom and dad are freaking out." Aria said, ruffling her little brother's hair.

Mike rolled his eyes. "Dramatic, much."

"Hey, they care about you." Aria said seriously.

"I know, but sometimes it's annoying." Mike explained.

"I totally get it little brother. But at the same time it's kinda nice to know that they care so much." Aria said, smiling.

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

"Let's go!" Aria said, linking arms with Mike as the two exited his room and went downstairs.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Michael Wilson Montgomery!"Aria said, holding an invisible microphone to her lips, which formed a wide smile.

Ella and Byron raced over to their son.

"Oh my God!" Ella said. "Your eye!"

"It's fine mom." Mike said, looking at Aria like See what I mean?

Aria laughed, stepping between her parents and Mike. "Guys, let the boy breath." she said, and Byron and Ella back off a bit.

"My work here is done." Aria said, stepping behind her parents where Ezra stood and taking his hand. "Shall we?"

Ezra nodded, smiling. "After you,my lady."

Hope you liked the chapter. Don't forget to review!

-xox, Sobia :)