I do not own PLL.

Belongs to Sara Shepard and ABC Family.

I sat in my car longer than intended. I let Aria know awhile ago that I was on my way, but here I am trying to find the courage to go to their door. The guilt of not telling them was pounding in the back of my head. The sight of seeing my old house hurt my heart and I couldn't handle it.

During times like this I would usually go to my room and climb out my window so I could sit on the roof of the garage. That was my escape spot, it always helped me think. During the night I would stare at the stars for comfort. Sometimes counting them till I fell asleep. Dad almost always found me hanging out there and he would just put me to bed. Other times Mike would see me from his window and drag a chair up to it. Then he'd talk to me till I felt better. We would practically talk each other to death.

A tear rolled down my cheek. Then a knock came from the passenger window, scaring me half to death. I jumped so bad that I hit my knee on the steering wheel. "Mother..." I hear someone laughing and turn to look. Aria is standing there with a smile and points for me to unlock the door.

I do and as she's getting in I wipe the tears out of my eyes before she could see. "Sorry." She's says when she closes the door. "Didn't mean to scare you."

I rub my knee. It was throbbing so bad I could feel my leg going numb. "No problem."

"You've been out here for awhile." I look at her. "The bush in front of the house doesn't block you from the window you know."

"Right."

She looks at me in concern. "Wanna talk?"

I shake my head. "Not really."

I look out the windshield. Further down the street there is a crosswalk, then another block starts. Andrew lives around the corner from that crosswalk. We hung out all the time once we became friends. In the beginning it was just to help with homework, then it became a habit. Or more like a reason to hang out. Everyday it was the same. We would go to school, then after he'd walk me home. If he had nothing to do we'd sit on the porch and do homework. Then as we got more comfortable it went from homework to just talking. Then it went from that to playing basketball. We had a hoop attached to the top of the garage and as unfair as it always seemed that he was taller, I still managed to beat him. Yes, I'll agree he most likely let me win because he's a nice guy and I'm tiny but I had something to do with too. I do play basketball after all.

I still pass by once in awhile, but it's not the same. He has family problems and doesn't like when people come over. Most of the time we don't even stay there. Sometimes we'll chill in front on the porch, but other times we end up walking to the park. When his parents argue it gets to the point where you can hear them yelling at each other from outside. I respect that he rather not have me around that type of situation. I just wish there was a way to help.

"Something interesting about the street?"

I look back. "What?"

"What are you looking at?" She asks.

"Oh. Nothing. Just thinking."

"Care to share?"

"Just remembering the fun I used to have here." She watches me. "Andrew lives around the corner. He used to come over a lot."

She smiles a bit. "Is he treating you right?"

I smile and nod. "More than you could imagine. He's prefect. I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend."

She laughs. "You're glowing. This must be serious."

I could feel myself turning red. "It is."

She smiles. "I used to see how you were around Noel Kahn. That was nothing compared to this."

Noel Kahn. He's like the most popular guy in our grade. Everyone wants to date him. He has an older brother in college who was in the same position as Noel when he went to Rosewood High. You'd be lucky to be friends with a Kahn brother. His family is like the Hastings. Rich as can be, making their name go a long way in this town. Him and his brother are the ones to be friends with if you want any type of popularity here. It's literally like snapping their fingers gets them whatever they want. You get invited to a Kahn party that usually means you are worth their time. Makes you automatically known. Well, that is if anyone notices you are there. I've been invited to his parties. I don't always go but that doesn't stop him from continuing to ask. I must be doing something right if he talks to me enough to consider me a friend.

I shy away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh please. If he asked you out you wouldn't have hesitated."

"Okay first off. Anyone would be lucky if he asked them out." She laughs. "And two. He barely even knew I existed back then."

"That's bull." I looked at her. A bit stunned. "He noticed you plenty. You just never realized it."

"Well maybe that's because I knew you liked him. I was trying not to be a bad friend."

"You could never be a bad friend." She smiles a bit. "But you still drooled when you saw him."

I start laughing. "Hey. Look who's talking."

She starts blushing. "Well. We are both over him."

I nod. "Yes I am." Then I add quickly. "But he's single, so you could try."

She cracks up. "That's a joke."

"Oh come on. Don't doubt yourself."

"Jessie. I was a loser who had pink in my hair because I couldn't figure out who I was."

"You are Aria Montgomery." She gives me a look that made me know she thought I was being a smart ass. But I continued with. "You like to write, amazingly. You're also very artistic. Can give me a run for my money that's for sure." She laughs. "No, you are not a loser. You are the my best friend. And the greatest one I could ever ask for." She starts to smile. "Putting pink streaks in your hair wouldn't change that you are you. No matter if you try to change it."

She just stares with a bright smile. I could see the light in her eyes and I missed that so much. Putting a smile on her face would always make my day better. That's how our friendship worked. Make the other light up and you felt better in no time. We were always connected in that way. There's no way to explain why, just helps that growing up together makes it easier to bright up each other's day.

"Hey. I'm the one who's supposed to be making you smile." She says.

"Always do."

She hugs me. "Oh how I've missed you."

"I missed you too." We pull away. "Don't leave again. Okay?"

She nods. "Promise." I smile. "Ready to go inside?"

My heart sank and I felt my stomach turn again. I know I have to do this. It's the right thing to do. I owe it to them. I owe myself too. Because their familiar family relationship we have would have helped so much more if they had been around when it happened. Things wouldn't have been so lonely. I would have probably had an easier time getting through this with them. No offense to the Hasting, because they did help. It's just family knows you better. No they aren't blood but they sure as hell might as well be.

I watch her for awhile. Then nod. "Let's go." I didn't hesitate this time. I opened the door and walked with Aria to her house. She had to hold me for support though, 'cause I was ready to pass out.

We get to the door and she slowly opens it. We enter the hall and I immediately smell the familiar coconut scent that always came to you as you walked into the house. I look around. Besides all the noticeable boxes scattered around from their move back here, everything looked the same. Right in front of us was the staircase we used to race up to see who was faster. To the left is the kitchen. It looked like Aunt Ella was getting ready to cook 'cause all the stuff was already set on the counter. To the right was the Living Room. I smile as I see Uncle Byron sitting on the couch, news paper in one hand and coffee in the other. I remember when we used to sit around him and wait for him to read the funny cartoon comics that came with it.

He looks over at us. At first he doesn't react as he looks back at his paper but then he does a double take. His face lights up and he jumps to his feet. "Ella, Mike!" He yells. When he got to me he wraps his arms around me and spins me around. I start to laugh, feeling like a little kid again. From all the commotion Aunt Ella comes running from the back of the house and Mike speeds down the steps. Mike just smiles when he seems me. But Aunt Ella had a stunned look. It's as if she didn't know what to say or do. Then she finally smiles and walks over to me. Her hug felt so comforting, like a mothers hug. I didn't want to let go. I couldn't let go. It felt so right to be in her arms. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm home.