Things have not been going well. Like at all. What was sent to Aunt Ella turned out to be true. Ever since that day I have been out of it, barely able to function honestly. Aria and Mike have also been a little off lately as well. Mike because he senses something is wrong despite having no idea what's going on. I'm not 100% sure why they are keeping this huge secret from him, but myself and Aria have both been told by Aunt Ella and Uncle Byron not to mention anything. Then of course Aria is out of it because she found out someone told her mom what happened and that she knew about it. So now she has to watch the aftermath of her and her dad's actions. Besides the fact that I can't handle that Uncle Byron did this, but seeing people who are basically my family completely fall apart is hard to handle. I can't go through losing them too. Not in any aspect of loss.

Now that it's been out in the open for about two weeks now, with the exception of Mike knowing, and the entire town (thank God), it's been abnormal to be around them. But I try to be supportive of Aria not telling her mom for over 3 years because her dad begged her not to, or not think badly at the fact that Uncle Byron is a cheater. It makes no sense that he'd do this to his family, to his wife. He always seemed like a loyal person, the best male figure in my life outside of my dad. This makes no sense to me and will continue to not make sense until someone tells me a good reason for it.

All I know is that it's hard to wrap my mind around this, and unfortunately too noticeable of a distraction as I'm hanging out at Ezra's place with my head in the clouds. We had dinner plans tonight and I didn't have the heart to cancel. Unfortunately I can not concentrate and haven't told a soul about what happened. I was hoping I could get through dinner without him realizing it. But the glazed look on my face is hard to hide and I know he's picking up on this distraction because as time passes he keeps looking at me in concern or has to pull me back into the conversations.

"Jessie?" I hear his concerned voice as he leans over the table to get my attention after about an hour of being at his house, his hand setting onto mine.

I'm on a pillow on the floor of his living room, eating my food on the coffee table while he's on his couch across from me. He has a studio apartment, so there isn't much space to eat, not that I mind it. It's a cozy place and just right for him. Then the fact that it's next to the store just makes it convenient for me to see him whenever I'm in this part of town.

After the situation with Uncle Byron and the loud discussions he and Aunt Ella have been going through lately from barely being able to hide their differences from their kids, or even when I'm there I've needed more than ever to be out of the house. So the store became my safe haven for the last couple weeks. Leading to seeing Ezra a little more when he started to notice that I had been around here more often. He of course asked why the sudden need to be there and I lied and said I was thinking of opening up the store and needed to make sure everything was in order. In the end it ended up not being a lie because I've officially allowed people into the store about a week ago, and it has surprisingly been great. Having it open three days a week every other day so that I don't collide too much with school has been pretty therapeutic.

I blink and stare at his hand before landing my eyes onto him, "Hmm?" I finally say when I notice he's staring, and my face gets confused for a second. "I'm sorry, what happened?"

He gives me a sad smile, "You're drifting again."

I shift my eyes and half laugh to cover up my awkwardness. "I'm sorry. I'm a little tired. Adding the store to my routine has been a lot on my plate."

He gives me a soft look, knowing that I'm lying. Who would have thought that someone who's only known me for some months would be able to know my habits so well. "I can understand that, but you haven't been this distant and distracted in a while. Not since...the day I met you." He knows I get triggered easily by mentioning the accident in specific terms, so he's figured out how to get around it so I won't blank out the way I am now. "What's wrong?'

I shake my head and stare at my food with a sigh, "I can't say, Ezra. It's... personal. Not just my personal business though. So it's something I can't tell, I promised I'd keep it to myself."

For a few long seconds it's quiet, half expecting him to persist to tell him. But then he just says, "I get it. When you're ready or able to you can come to me."

This takes me off guard, because I'm used to people pushing the issue to talk to them. Since the accident that's all anyone does, even Ezra used to do that. But it seems he's easing off of that aspect to let me trust him to go to him when I need to. So I smile, "I appreciate that, Ezra. I really do."

He nods and then looks at his phone, checking the time. Then his eyes land back on me, "I'm going to take you to get dessert when we're done and then I'll take you home. That sound okay?"

I half smile, really not wanting to be home but I can't tell him that. "That sounds good to me. I have some homework to finish anyway."

"School is important but remember that your mental health is even more important."

I raise an eyebrow, "It's your homework assignment."

He blinks at me slowly and I have to hold in a laugh, "Then by all means. Homework away."

Now I laugh because I can't help it. I knew he'd react that way when he'd find out it was for him. "I thought so."

He smiles and shakes his head, "No, no. I'm just kidding. Relax. Don't stress out."

"Well for one, stress is my middle name. And two, no special treatment, remember? If I don't get this done you'll have to either give me a lower grade than I deserve or have to extend the homework for me. I rather not have either of those things happen."

He presses his lips together and then nods, hands up in surrender. "Oh, fine. No special treatment." He scoops up some of his food on his fork, "If it's not done you'll get the F."

I smile and laugh, sipping on my drink now. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

...

When I walk into school days later, it is a fest full of people pressuring anyone who would listen to vote for them to be homecoming queen or king. I forgot today is the night of the Homecoming dance, I am not excited for it. Dances are not my thing, but I go for my friends normally. In this case though it's for Andrew. He asked me to be his date and I did not even hesitate to tell him I'd go. Then in one swift sentence he even asked me to be his girlfriend and I'll tell you that my heart leaped in my chest as I told him yes. It was an amazing feeling and an amazing moment. I'm lucky to have him.

"How is my beautiful girl?" Andrew pops up by my locker and grabs me from behind with a kiss to my cheek.

I smile and stare up at him as he now kisses my lips and then I turn around to hug him properly. "Better now that you're here." I say with a blush and he kisses my nose.

He smiles, "Why? Has Mona been up your ass about voting for Hanna?"

"All week." I roll my eyes, "But we both know she'll ambush me about it again once I walk through those doors to Fitz's class."

He laughs and nods, hugging me tight. "Well, you can handle her."

I smile and nod, the bell ringing to go to our first period. "Catch up for lunch?"

"Definitely." he nods with a bright smile, "The Brew?"

I put a pretend thinking face and then nod, "Sounds great." I get on my toes to kiss him before he pulls away and walks off, waving behind him as he disappears around the corner to head to his class. Then I grab my last few things to put them into my backpack before walking across the hall to mine.

When I get inside I go to my desk, set down my backpack beside my chair and sit down. I lean back into it lazily and put on one of my earbuds till Ezra would come inside. My eyes gaze off towards the window beside me, humming a little bit to the music in my ear while watching a bird fly by. It's actually the most relaxed I've felt in weeks since that letter was sent to the Montgomerys' house. Then it all seeps away when I hear Mona's voice when she walks into the room and I know where this is going right away.

"Good morning my fellow classmates. Vote for Hanna as Homecoming Queen and you will be forever in our hearts."

I roll my eyes at her weird way of campaigning for her best friend. She doesn't realize it but her efforts to be nice would probably go right through everyone considering she's not exactly the nicest to them. However, I just keep that to myself because Mona won't like hearing it.

"Jessie!" her sing-song voice ends up beside me and I turn my head to the side, looking up at her from my seat. "Have you voted for Hanna yet?"

I half smile as she hands me a button with Hanna's face on it. I stare at the button for a second before making eye contact with Hanna who seems a slight bit embarrassed. Then I look back at Mona and take out my earbud. "My morning is great, thanks for asking." I say in a sarcastically joking tone, but have a straight face.

Mona blinks at me while Hanna is trying not to laugh, "Umm...okay? That's awesome, Jessie. But not what I asked."

I press my lips together to not laugh and then clear my throat, "I know. I was just trying to ya know, give you a better way to start a conversation before asking someone about the voting is all."

Her eyes brighten a bit as she smiles, "That is a good idea. It makes the voters like the people running more."

I give a playful gun motion with my fingers and click with my tongue, "Exactly."

"Genius." She says in surprise, "You are a genius, Jessie."

I try not to give a look like she's an idiot considering it's common sense and decency, but instead I just shrug, knowing that Mona would take offense if I said anything that could get on her bad side. "I have my moments." Is what I say instead, seeing Hanna give me a wink because she knows that I know how to adapt to my surroundings. "But yes, I did vote for Hanna."

She smiles, "Fantastic."

Spencer and Emily both walk in just as Ezra starts to usher kids into his class so they aren't late.

"Do spread the word, won't you?" she adds.

I smile and nod, taking a light breath so she doesn't notice my urge to drop kick her for being that typical popular kid. "Of course."

"Great."

Emily now gets to her seat in front of me with a hello while Spencer sits in Aria's seat. Mona hands them both their buttons with the politeness I basically coached her to say, making me shake my head slightly and smile at Hanna. Then her and Mona walk away and go to their seats.

I look at Spencer and smile, not completely surprised that she's sitting in Aria's spot. "She stayed home again?" I ask them. Aria hasn't been in the school vibe much lately, but this past week she really has been set off from her parents' situation and has missed a few days already.

They both just nod their heads gently, "She refuses to come." Emily says.

"She doesn't even want to go to Homecoming." Spencer adds.

I blink slowly, because this is usually her element, she loves dances. "She can't stay home tonight. If I have to go, so does she." I say in a joking way, but half serious.

They both give me a small laugh knowing that I'm also struggling so I joke more when I'm stressed out. "We'll figure it out, don't worry." Spencer says.

I half smile, then I feel Emily give my hand a squeeze. "Are you doing okay?"

I shrug a bit, rubbing my nose with my other hand to keep the sensation of wanting to cry away, because it is a lot to handle and I can't lose my shit here. "Hanging in there."

"We're here for you too. You know that, right?" She says, watching me with concern all over her face.

"You're our friend too. Not just Aria." Spencer continues, "We love you both and we want to make sure you guys know to come to us when needed."

I take a breath, squeezing Emily's hand in mine and feel Spencer's hand land on my arm. Then I nod and close my eyes for a second, "I do know that. I appreciate everything you guys do for me."

"But you're more worried about Aria." Spencer says, now squeezing my arm.

I half laugh, she knows me well. "Yeah. She's been holding this in for years and now it all exploded in her face because of this person who sent the letter to her mom." I shake my head, my eyes shifting to the front of the class when Ezra starts to write on the board. "She won't talk to anyone about this. Not even me. I don't know how to help her with something like this."

For a few seconds both girls are quiet, which gets my attention and I end up staring at them again. They both look scared, the same look they always have whenever their phones go off, like they have a secret to tell me. But then they put smiles on and just reassure me that they'll get Aria to the dance and that I'm doing the best I can to be there for her.

"The way it took time for you to adjust to your family's passing is how Aria is going to eventually cope with her parents being on bad terms." Spencer says softly just as Ezra turns away from the board and tells everyone to put their personal belongings away.

I don't think that's a good comparison honestly. My parents are dead and hers are on the verge of divorce, that is not remotely the same aspect. However, I don't argue, thanking them for the advice and being there for me while taking out the homework Ezra asked for so we can pass them up to the front of the class.