Hey guys, I'm back!
Have you read all the spoilers for the season '4B' I'm really keen for Aria to have a really exciting story line, or just a story line...
Thanks so much for the support for the last chapter.
Shout out to my reviewers you guys are amazing!
IvannaB, Forever Courage, Lala-Pll-Time, Tascar19, TeamSpariaFTW, Sgdp1261
Emily doesn't think she's ever moved so fast in her life.
From the time Paige handed her the phone to the time she's knocking on Spencer's door, a grand total of less than 20 minutes has past.
She ignored her girlfriends concerned questioning and worried gaze as she rushed to get ready.
Because Spencer was worried,
She didn't know what to do.
And Emily knew from past experience that when Spencer is at a loss, then they're in serious trouble.
Because she always had a handle on everything, especially when it came to Aria.
Although as she looks back over it she realises that Aria usually seemed pretty in control of everything anyway.
But maybe that façade was the problem.
Because over the last few weeks, there was obviously something going on with her shorter friend.
But she just assumed that Aria had it under control (the way she always did).
And that made everything so much easier to deal with.
Because that was one less person in her life that Emily had to worry about.
Aria was the one friend who she didn't have to worry about running off and doing something stupid.
Aria was the one person who could she could rely on to look after herself.
And she hates how selfish that sounds in her head, but it's true.
Or at least she thought it was.
But Spencer's stressed out voice, early on a Saturday morning is clear evidence to contrary.
So she rushes downstairs, unaware of the fact that her girlfriend is hot on her heels.
Because the term 'Aria's not okay' could mean fucking anything.
And for some reason the fact that she's 'safe' and Spencers' house does little to quell the worry that's building up inside her.
Because over the last four years, the word safe, has grown to mean exactly nothing.
So she lets Paige guide her into the passenger seat of her car, before her girlfriend jumps in the driver's side and starts speeding down the road towards Spencers'.
And Emily is momentarily distracted by whether or not she should have asked her to stay at home, but dismisses the thought rather quickly, (she can deal with that later).
Right now she needs to get to Aria.
Because she needs help.
Apparently she has for a while now.
But Emily just got so used to not having to worry about her.
So used to the one bit of consistency she could rely on.
So used to Aria being their rock.
That she didn't notice when she started to crack, none of them did.
So she's going to be there now,
Like she should have been from the start.
Because Aria has always been there when she needed her (even sometimes when she didn't).
So she's going to return the favour,
She owes her at least that much.
Spencer hadn't even opened the door fully before Emily burst through (Paige waiting politely outside until she's invited in)
"Where is she?"
"Upstairs, she's coming down in a minute," Spencer sighs as she leads the girls towards the kitchen.
"What the hell is going on Spencer?" Emily demanded.
"I don't really know…" Spencer replied, not entirely sure on how or where to start explaining.
"Cut the crap Spence, just tell me!"
"Have you ever seen the movie 'Fight club'?" Spencer asked hesitantly with a slight smile, only to realise that Emily was too far out of the loop to get how the reference was actually relevant.
"What the fuck has that got to do with anything?" Emily yelled back in frustration.
"Em…" Paige warned, as she placed a hand on her girlfriends shoulder. Emily sighed a little before shaking out of her girlfriends grasp and turning to look back at Spencer in desperation. "Spencer, please,"
Spencer rubbed the back of her head, sitting down on the kitchen stool before she began to explain everything that had happened, starting with the message.
As Spencer drew the story to a close, Emily had begun to pace the kitchen.
"I don't get it," Emily stated shaking her head
"Yeah, join the club," Spencer scoffed back.
"So what, she's taken up boxing?"
"Oh no, boxing involves protective gear, and gloves, and opponents your size" Spencer answers, "She's taken up, getting into a fight with guys twice her size, with no protection, and getting the crap beaten out of her!"
"Oh for god sakes Spencer it's not that bad!" Aria cuts in as she finally makes her way to the kitchen, "You seem to be missing the fact that I actually won last night."
"No Aria you seem to be missing the fact that I don't actually give a shit whether or not you won last night," Spencer shoots back.
"Touché" Aria mutters slightly under her breath as she limps towards one of the vacant kitchen stool, only to be intercepted by Emily.
"Jesus Christ Aria!" She said as she examined the bruises littering her jawline and spreading up to her eye socket.
"Oh that's nothing you should see the rest of her!" Spencer chimes in, her built up anger coming out again.
"Thanks Spencer," Aria shoots back, sending her a death glare.
If looks could kill, Spencer thought, before answering Aria's gaze with a sarcastic smile of her own.
"Show me," Emily demands simply.
"Excuse me?" Aria questions raising her eyebrows slightly.
"Lift up your shirt"
"Whoa, Emily your girlfriend is right there." Aria answers with a slight smile, trying to ease the tension in the room (also trying to change the subject).
Her attempted humour was met with nothing but stern glances, (expect Paige who offered her am awkward smile).
"Seriously Em, I'm fine," She insisted as she placed her hand reassuringly on Emily's shoulder.
"Great, if you're fine, then just show me." Emily shot back, not letting it go.
Before Aria can respond, they're interrupted by Ms Hastings walking down the stairs. Dressed and ready for work (apparently weekends don't apply to lawyers).
"Oh, Good morning girls!" She said in surprise at seeing them all in her kitchen, "What are you all doing here so early?" The question was directed at Spencer, but it was Paige who thought up the answer.
"We were just going to go for a run, trying to get it in early, so we can have the rest of the weekend" Paige answers as the other three smile at Spencers' mum (Emily and Spencer smile, Aria looks down trying to hide her face).
Ms Hastings seems to buy the excuse until she looks at Aria, "You're going for a run Aria?" She questions, doubt lining her words.
Despite the tension in the room the other three girls can't help but laugh at Aria's slightly insulted expression; apparently it was common knowledge that the smaller girl wasn't exactly the athletic type. Although recent events could prove otherwise.
"Oh no, I was going to stay here, and support them from a distance," Aria answers with a smile as she turned to look at Spencer's mother.
"Oh good lord dear, what happened to your face?" She questioned in concern as she approached the smaller girl to get a closer look.
"Oh, nothing" Aria dismisses as she turned away, before answering the question, "Apparently you can't actually walk through glass doors, no matter how see through they look" The lie rolls of her tongue so easily, it surprises even herself.
If it wasn't for the look on the other girls face's Ms Hastings would've bought the lie, and not given it a second thought. But the girls couldn't hide the concerned glances. No matter how hard they tried.
She smiled at Aria shaking her head slightly, "Alright well you girls be careful, and do look after yourself Aria" She said pointedly as she left the room, "See you later tonight."
"Bye Mom,"
"Bye Ms Hastings"
The girls all sighed in relief as she left the house, and Spencer went back to making the coffee.
It was Paige who noticed the way Aria was struggling to stay on her feet, all her weight on one leg, and she was gingerly holding ribs. Paige moved around to other side of the bench, pulling the stool out, before grabbing Aria's hand and guiding her to the chair. Not giving her a chance to decline the offer.
Emily looked up as she saw Aria wince when Paige guided her to the chair.
"Are you all right Aria?" She questioned in concern.
"Yeah I'm fi…"
"I swear to god Aria if you end that sentence with the word fine, I'm gonna throw this coffee at you!" Spencer finally snaps, slamming the coffee down on the table as Aria tries to dismiss Emily's concern.
"Seriously Spencer it's just a couple of bruises what's the big deal?" Aria yells as she goes to stand up.
"The big deal? Aria the big deal is the fact, that you seem hell bent on getting yourself hurt, maybe even killed, and you can't see the problem with that! The big deal is the fact that you think this is an okay way of dealing with everything!" Spencer yells at her as all the emotions she's been bottle up over the last night come pouring out, she sighs slightly before lowering her voice,
"Aria the big deal is the fact that you felt so lost and so alone, that you had to resort to this; the big deal, is the fact you didn't think you could come to me, to any of us.
"Spence…" Aria tried to cut her off, but Spencer just continued to look at her, with nothing but desperation in her eyes.
"Aria the big deal is the fact that this has been going on for weeks, and none of us noticed…" She blinked back tears as she stepped towards Aria, "…and all those weeks ago, when you were sitting in the gutter at some ridiculous hour of the night, because you were literally too injured to drive; you called Caleb, instead of us."
Emily looked up, with hurt in her eyes at this part.
"Spencer pleas…"
"Aria the big deal is that you've starting doing something that is fucking stupid, and unbelievably dangerous, because sometime over the last few months, you obviously stopped trusting us."
"Spencer that's not true," Aria insisted as she moved towards her friend. The emotions boiling over, because out of all the concerns that ran through Aria's head when she started doing all this.
This reaction from Spencer and her friends, was certainly not something she was worried about.
"Then what is it Aria? Why are you doing this? Why can't you talk to us?" Spencer begged as she grabbed her friend's hand.
"I just…" But before Aria could begin to answer Spencer question, they were both cut off by the Hastings front door swinging open.
"Aria, what the hell is your problem?" Hannah demanded as she burst through the front door, Caleb close behind her.
And as everyone stood in awkward silence, starring at the addition to the room;
One thought went through Aria's mind.
Sorry Caleb.
So keen for Hannah to get involved?
I'm trying to involve Paige and Caleb as much as possible, and don't stress, I have plans for Toby to get involved as well.
Oh and Sparia friendship or relationship?
Please let me know what you think, and if you've got any ideas :)