Aria's body shook with anticipation as she watched the doors to the main entrance slide open and close for other visitors. Her heart seemed to skip a beat when she thought one of them was Ezra. Grabbing her phone from her pocket, she dialed in Ezra's number, then put it to her ear.

'Hi, you've reached Ezra. Leave a message, and I'll try to call you back as soon as I can!' BEEEEEP

'Voicemail?' Aria thought, but then after realizing she was still on, started talking, "Ezra, I'm getting worried. I know that's stupid and you're probably fine, but call me when you get thi..."

"Aria?" a voice echoed throughout the room.

Aria whipped around, her phone dropping to her lap, "Oh Ezra, thank god!"

Her thumb slid across the 'end' key, hanging up the call. She jumped up and hurled her body into his. She needed his comfort right now.

Ezra's head dropped to Aria's, his cheek resting on the top, "What's going on?"

"I just...I need you right now, only you!" Aria mumbled under her breath. Her legs felt shaky again, and she gripped her arms tighter around him.

"It's going to be ok!" Ezra whispered, moving them to the couch and sitting down, letting Aria cuddle in to him.

Then all was silent. Ezra rested his head against his arm, and Aria dozed in and out of sleep, cuddled up to him. The doors had finally closed for good that night, and the lights had been dimmed down to almost complete darkness.

And then suddenly, a voice was heard.

"Gee Aria, taking after Daddy are we? Instead, you're the student. Weird how that works!"

Aria groaned, "Alison?"

"Maybe I should tell Ella. What would she have to say about this?"

Aria sat up, her heart racing. The room was silent, no voices, no light. Just her, Ezra, and complete darkness.

Ezra's eyes slowly fluttered open, "You ok?"

Aria looked around the room before glancing back at him, "Yeah, must have been a nightmare."

She slid her body back into his, still looking from corner to corner, expecting Alison to walk out and surprise her.

Alison was always good at surprising people.

"Aria?"

Her heart raced again.

"Aria, are you down here?"

It was Spencer.

'Oh shit!' Aria slid away from Ezra and jumped to the next couch over.

"Aria?" this time Emily's voice rang into the silence.

"Right here, girls!" Aria whispered back.

They came over and sat on the coffee table in front of Aria.

"What are you doing down here by yourself?" Spencer questioned.

"I needed to get away from everyone for a while."

"By coming down here? It seems super creepy...and lonely!" Emily added.

To make matters worse for Aria, Ezra let out an obnoxious snore.

'Please don't say anything!' Aria begged in her mind.

"What was that?" Spencer and Emily's bodies whipped around.

"Just another visitor. We talked for a bit, he comforted me, I comforted him. No big deal..." She hoped they would buy it.

"Really?" Emily turned her head back to Aria.

"Yeah...Can we go see Hannah?" Aria tried changing the subject.

She succeeded.

"Of course! I guess she's made little improvements!" Spencer grinned. She stood, helped Aria and Emily up, and took one more glance in the direction of the snore.

"Are you sure we don't know him? He looks familiar!"

"Oh, I'm positive." Aria started heading for the elevators, "Let's go!"

Once the doors to the elevator closed, Aria took a breath of relief, and pulled out her phone. She needed to let Ezra know why she left him there.

But there was something waiting for her.

One New Text Message

Her heart sank.

Oh, Aria, dearie. You think you can hide him for much longer? I will expose you if you see him anymore! Fair warning, doll! -A