Chapter 4

As soon as Aria and the girls exited the bathroom, she heard someone yell "Aria" from across the room.

It was Jason. She wondered if he had been sitting there waiting for her to come out of the bathroom the entire time. Part of her still wondered if he had told the truth about the photos of her being taken by Alison.

She pretended not to hear him and continued walking with her friends, but he quickly caught up.

"Jason. Hi." She glanced over at Spencer, Emily and Hanna. "I'll be right there." They hesitated for a second, but finally left Jason and Aria alone to talk.

"I didn't know you were coming." She told him.

"Mike invited me."

Aria nodded, feeling awkward, "I should get back to my friends, but thanks for coming." She gave him a polite smile and turned to walk away.

"Wait." He grabbed her arm to stop her. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Aria looked down at her arm in his grip and he let go, "We just talked."

Jason stared at her, "It's loud in here. Can we go outside?"

Aria sighed, "Jason, nothing good can come out of me talking to you outside. "

"I just have one thing to say. Give me two minutes. Just listen. You don't have to say anything back." He reasoned.

Before Aria could answer, she felt someone grab her arm. "Aria." Spencer interrupted. "You have to come with me right now! It's important." She ordered, grabbing Aria by the hand and pulling her away without waiting for a response.

"Spencer, where are we going?" Aria questioned, as she was dragged through the living room and up the stairs. They finally stopped in the hallway outside of Aria's bedroom door. "What's going on? Is it 'A'?"

"No. I needed to get you away from him."

"You don't need to save me from Jason. I can handle him." Aria protested.

"I know you can, but you shouldn't." She warned, "Beside I want to give you your birthday present and I only have a few minutes to do it."

"Why? Are you leaving?"

"No. Let's just say it's time sensitive." She smirked, turning Aria's doorknob and pushing the door open to reveal Ezra standing there with one hand tucked casually in his pant pocket and the other holding a red rose.

"Spence…how did you?"

"There are benefits to Ezra knowing that you told us." Spencer replied, shoving Aria towards her room. "Now go."

Aria gave her a thankful smile as she slowly closed the door and flipped the lock. She turned and leaned against the door, staring into Ezra's eyes.

"This is my official 'Happy Birthday'" He told her, holding out the rose.

Aria pushed herself gently off the door, took the flower from him and stood on her tiptoes to press her lips firmly against his. "Thank you."

"I wanted to make all of your wishes came true." He told her, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm just sorry it got messed up."

"Stop talking." She whispered and pressed her lips hard against his.

"I should do stuff like this more often if this is what happens." He observed, lacing his fingers into her hair and kissing her harder.

Aria accepted eagerly. Without taking her lips from his, she led him towards her bed and they fell backward. Even after almost a year, her heart still fluttered at the feeling of his body against hers.

Their entire relationship up until now had consisted solely of these types of interactions. Kissing and cuddling and touching.

Maybe it was because she was another year older or maybe it had something to do with Sara and Jason threatening their relationship downstairs, but she felt compelled to move their relationship forward. Right now.

She let her fingers roam to the hem of his shirt and began to lift it slowly up his back, tracing his skin with her finger tips as she went.

"Aria. Wait." Ezra grabbed her hand to stop it.

"We've waited long enough Ezra."

Ezra let out a sigh and buried his face in her neck, kissing it lightly before looking into her eyes. "Believe me. I don't want to stop, but I have to get back downstairs before your parents wonder why I've been in the bathroom so long."

"I don't care." She leaned up to kiss him again, but he refused.

He sat up. "What is going on? This isn't like you."

Aria sighed and sat up as well. She knew he was right, "I don't know… between Sara and Jason being here, I'm feeling particularly insecure about our relationship tonight."

"Jason is here?" Ezra's voice reeked of anger and jealousy.

"I didn't invite him. Mike did."

"Should I be worried?" He asked.

Aria stood up quickly, "Of course not."

"Then why does him being here make you insecure about our relationship?" He questioned, stand up to face her.

She was quiet for a second, "I don't know."

Ezra nodded with understanding. It was obvious that some part of Aria had a crush on Jason. If she didn't, she never would have kissed him back when he kissed her.

"Maybe I shouldn't have come." Ezra began to walk towards the door.

"Ezra, wait, please." Aria called. He stopped and turned to look into her eyes. "I love you. I don't want to have these feelings…"

"But you do." He stated matter-of-factly.

He waited for her to deny it. She didn't. Ezra took a deep breath and nodded before opening the door and walking out.