I obviously don't own Pretty Little Liars (book series or television show) or the characters. This is for fun, not profit and no harm is meant. I hope you enjoy ~St0ryTeller :)

It was three weeks before Christmas, and the snow was falling fresh from the sky. The streets and footpaths were covered in a soft, white carpet, as were the trees and cars. Everything was moving slower, at a more kind and grateful pace, and there was happiness in the air. Though it was still three weeks away, there was a Christmas-like cheerfulness and excitement in the air that was only amplified by the winter wonderland outside.

Aria was in her senior year at Rosewood High School, with her four best friends; Spencer, Emily, Alison and Hanna. Each girl was so different, and each had their faults Aria reflected leaning against the window, looking down at the snow-covered street below. Though she thought, she wouldn't change one thing about any of the girls for anything.

*Phone beeps*

"Ah, it's Mike," Aria stated to herself after she removed her phone from her pocket and proceeded to read the text.

"Can't make coffee today, raincheck? Sorry."

Mike was Aria's brother, just the year younger than herself. When their parents split, Aria decided she'd live with their mum, Ella, and Mike decided to have every second week with each parent. Since the split, Aria hadn't seen Byron, their father, and didn't want to. But the living arrangement meant that she and Mike only saw each other every two weeks. They never crossed paths at during school hours.

Aria started to text her response "Yeah, sure Mike. Next weekend?"

Aria heard a happy cry from a child on the sidewalk as she laughed and playfully punched her brother in the arm. The children couldn't have been more than six, Aria thought as Mike texted back his reply:

"Sounds good, sis."

Aria smiled and put her phone away in her pocket where it was earlier. Saturday with Ella gone and just time to herself, Aria observed. She decided to walk down to her favourite bookstore a few blocks away. There was something magical about the snow, Aria thought as she looked out her window again. She grabbed her red coat and cream crochet hat and put them on, threw her bag over her shoulder and grabbed a black scarf and headed out of the apartment towards the snow paradise awaiting her.

Freezing cold but perfectly content, Aria finally pushed open the old brown wooden door which opened into the bookstore. There were only two other souls in the small store; someone browsing in the poetry section, and the cashier; just the way Aria liked it.

As she closed the door behind her and the bell jangled signalling someone had entered, Aria noticed the man with his head in a poetry book raise his head and lock eyes with hers. He couldn't have been more than 23, Aria thought. His eyes were kind and honest. She gave a small, kind smile before turning her head away. A notice next to the door caught her attention:

"Author Ezra Fitz to present a reading from his first novel 'There will be Paradise'". The date was scratched out with a single black marker line and was replaced with the words 'TODAY'. Aria noticed the reading was in 5 minutes and decided to stay. She could feel someone standing only about a foot away from her, but she didn't feel the need to shift away. A man's voice then said "sounds like a guy who was writing from a place of heartbreak" he commented to Aria.

Aria half smiled and turned toward the man who was curiously waiting for a reply. It was the man who she had locked eyes with earlier. His beautiful brown eyes now being so close to her allowed her to see every speckle in them. She stared into his eyes reading them with curiosity, noticing they were deep. She was pretty sure they could see right through her; that was the feeling she had when he looked into her eyes anyway. She felt completely comfortable though if he could.

"It does sound like that," Aria replied kindly.

"I believe writing has a power to cure a torn soul, and can serve as a grieving process," the man said.

"I agree. What do you have to grieve from?" Aria asked as his eyes widened slightly by her boldness. The man went to reply, but decided to close his mouth and smile softly as his head lowered slightly.

"How about we take this slow?" he asked as he reached out his hand, hoping she would shake it momentarily and tell him her name.

Aria grabbed his hand in the shake and a small gasp leapt from her mouth as she felt the electricity between them. He would have heard, she thought; but she didn't mind. "I'm Aria," she replied strongly, with her cheeks blushing softly. "It's nice to meet you, Aria," he replied. They remained staring deep into each other's eyes, their hands frozen in the shake.

"EZRA," the man behind the counter bellowed, "it's time." He removed his hand from Aria's as he slowly stumbled back to reality.