Five reviews means a fast update, yay! Thanks to everyone who left feedback. Mr Tea The Dino, that is a very good point. I think part of the reason why Viola keeps making these discoveries is because I don't just want her to always be with the other girls when they find something...that would get a little boring. And anyway, the Liars are still making the same discoveries that they do in the show - they're just not telling Viola about them! But you're totally right, especially in the last few chapters with Alison, Ezra, etc. That does lessen in the next few chapters, through. Please review and let me know what you think - the next chapter is one of my favorites.

Chapter 35

I stare into the young face of the twelfth grade English teacher. He is looking right back at me, anger and surprise written all over his face. There's something else there, too, but not quite recognition. Like he's seen me before but doesn't quite remember who I am.

Figures. I've never had him as a teacher, what with him coming and going so often – due to his scandalous, on and off relationship with Aria, I'm sure – but he was my study hall supervisor last year. I shudder at the thought.

"What the hell?" he asks, obviously caught off guard, and I take that opportunity to duck under his arm and push my way out of the wardrobe. The path to the door is completely clear, and I make a run for it.

But I should have known it wouldn't be that easy. Mr. Fitz reaches out, grabbing me by the arm and yanking me back. I stumble toward him, glancing up in pure terror, my heart beating a mile a minute. Our eyes meet once again, and this time, his light up in sudden recognition.

"Viola?" he says, his hand still keeping a strong grip on my arm. "Viola Vanderwaal?" Without releasing his grip, he glances over at the whiteboard containing my yearbook photo.

"Mr. Fitz," I gasp out again, because I'm still trying to wrap my head around the thought of an actual teacher at my school being the dark-clad figure who's tormented me and others for months.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, his voice softening slightly. He releases my arm and reaches up to pull the baseball cap off of his head. I glance toward the door, considering bolting toward it again, but ultimately decide against it. He could easily grab me again, or could probably outrun me if he had to.

I can't think of a good answer to his question. "I – don't hurt me," I blurt out, feeling tears burn behind my eyes. "Please."

Mr. Fitz – No. Right now, he's not Mr. Fitz, the young, cute, jovial English teacher. Right now I can only think of him as Ezra – holds up his hands, palms facing me. "I'm not going to hurt you."

That doesn't particularly sound like something that "A" would say, but what do I know? Everything about this situation is totally crazy. Not for the first time, I feel like I'm in way over my head.

"You're 'A,'" I say plainly, just stating the facts. All at once, Aria's face appears in my mind. This is like Toby's betrayal all over again, except this time I'm on the other side of the reveal.

Ezra's expression changes slightly, but I can't figure it out. "You're 'A,'" I say again, yelling now, and suddenly realize the peril of the situation I'm in. In a room, behind a closed door, with "A."

I need to get out of here.

I focus my eyes on a point on the opposing wall, beside his head. I force a shocked expression on my face. He takes notice immediately and whirls around to see what I'm looking at.

But there's nothing there, obviously. Feeling a sudden rush of adrenaline, I bolt for the door, halfway there by the time he realizes that he's been tricked. "Viola! Wait!" he yells, but I've already thrown the door open. I take the stairs two at a time, clutching at the hand rail to make sure that I don't plummet all the way down, and pound down the street, breathing hard.

I get to my car and fling open the door. It's only when I'm safely inside with the doors locked that I force myself to calm down. There's no way I can drive in this condition.

I glance through the rear window, relieved to see that Ezra hasn't tried to follow me. But even if he did, now I'm the one with the advantage.

My chest rising and falling with each gasping breath, I lean my head back against the seat, closing my eyes. I just found out who "A" is.

Ezra Fitz is "A."

I almost can't believe it, and I saw it with my own eyes. Of course, I've always known that he is a less than stellar person, what with continuing a relationship with a student despite the both moral and legal repercussions, and all. But never in my wildest dreams had I considered this.

I try and picture Mr. Fitz – though I have a feeling he'll always be Ezra to me now – wearing that black hoodie, sending the rest of the team orders and sneaking around Rosewood, stalking and spying on all of us.

It must have been easy for him to collect so many secrets. I'm not exactly sure what private records teachers are privy to, but I'm sure he already knew a lot of our personal information before he even took over the game.

Once again, Aria fills my mind. I feel sick. Finding out that Alison is alive was one thing. But this…this isn't a secret that I can keep. I have to tell the other girls what I know, and I have to do it immediately.

I drum my fingers against the steering wheel, finally feeling calm enough to put the car in drive and pull onto the street, headed for Rosewood. I'll tell them tomorrow before school, I decide. And I'll try and get Spencer, Hanna, and Emily alone if I can, break the news to them first. It'll probably be easier for Aria to hear this from her best friends rather than from me.

Satisfied with my plan, a feeling of actual relief begins to replace the terror and dread. I know who "A" is. I really, truly do. And now that I know, I can put an end to this, once and for all. I can tell my parents, I can tell the police, I can make sure that Ezra Fitz exchanges his black hoodie for an orange jumpsuit.

But first, I have to tell the other girls. They're an even bigger part of all of this than I am. I won't do anything without talking to them first.

My phone chimes a few minutes later, and I wait until I'm stopped at the next traffic light to reach for it. Hopefully it's one of the girls, finally ready to tell me about last night. Maybe I can even tell them that I saw Alison yesterday. Then I'll really be free of secrets.

I think of the memory that just came back to me. Well. Maybe not completely free of secrets.

I open the text, expecting to see Spencer's name pop up, or Hanna's, maybe.

But instead, the words "Blocked Number" glow up at me.

My heart sinks. But I should have known. Of course "A" – Ezra – isn't going to just completely ignore the fact that I caught him red-handed. I'm going to pay for this, I'm sure of it.

I hold my breath, my eyes sliding down to read the message.

Shocking, isn't it? Just remember what happens to snitches. –A

...

Let me know what you think! I'm not quite sure how to give a summary of the next chapter, so I'm going to leave you with a little snippet from it instead: "I feel my shoulders droop in disappointment, sure that she's going to roll her eyes and tell me that I'm ridiculous, that I must be lying or up to some trick." Who do you think Viola's talking to?