Note: New idea that popped into my mind. *Ezra was never Aria's teacher, and they are one year in age difference.*

"Aria, come downstairs, now," Byron yelled from the kitchen.

"I'm coming, Dad," Aria looked at herself one final time in the mirror. She walked over to her bed and glanced at a picture of her and her brother, Mike, "Wish me luck on my first day of sophomore year, bro. I love you, Mike." She pressed her fingertips to her lips and pressed them gently on the frame. About a year and a half had passed since Mike had committed suicide. He left a letter saying that he was in a bad place and didn't know what to do, so he took his life. Aria missed him so much, and wished she could've saved him, but it was too late for that.

"After school today, I need you to get me some more beer," Byron said to Aria as she hesitantly walked toward her father.

"Dad," Aria looked into his tired and aged eyes, "You have had way too much to drink. It's only Tuesday and you have gone through four six-packs." After Mike passed, Byron became an alcoholic. Ella didn't like this, so she divorced him and left. Aria had chosen to stay with her dad; she thought she would be able to fix him.

"Aria," Byron's voice rose, "Do not make me get angry."

"I am not going to get you any more," Aria firmly said.

"Oh really," Byron grabbed her arms really tight, making Aria sob, "I think you might want to rethink that little girl."

Aria looked him in the eyes, "Dad, stop. I am not going to rethink this. You have to stop!"

He raised one of his hands and slapped her face hard. Aria fell to the ground while holding her cheek, tears forming in her eyes. Byron's eyes widened and he made a move to help her up, but Aria moved away and flinched.

"Aria, I'm sorry," Byron apologized.

"I'll get your damn beer, Dad," Aria mumbled and slammed the house door shut. She then walked the short distance between her and Ezra's house. Ezra had been her best friend since she was in first grade, and he was in second. She remembered how they met very clearly.

Flashback:

Six year old Aria was at recess, playing by the swings. It was her first day at Rosewood Elementary. Her parents didn't send her to preschool or kindergarten because she was already smart enough. She was dressed in a little pink dress with her brown curls tied into a ponytail.

She was swinging, when some jerk pushed her off of the swing. She fell to the ground and scraped her arm, which made her cry. A second grader saw what happened and ran to go help her. He was tall for his age, which was seven, and he had messy brown curls that lay atop his head and sky blue eyes.

"Did you just push her off that swing," the second grader asked the little boy that had stolen Aria's swing. He nodded hesiatntly and the nice boy continued, "Give her the swing back before I go tell the principal." The first grader scurried off the swing and went play in the sandbox.

Aria wiped her eyes, "Thank you."

"No problem. My name is Ezra," Ezra smiled at her.

"I'm Aria," she smiled back with her two front teeth missing.

"I'm sorry for what he did to you. That Noel Kahn can be a jerk. Is your arm okay," Ezra asked as she nodded, her ponytail bouncing to life as she did so.

"It is just scraped," she said in her squeaky voice as she looked at it.

"Where are your friends," Ezra asked looking around.

"Oh, I-I don't have any yet. I just started coming to this school, so no one wants to play with me because I am new," Aria's bottom lip pouted out and her eyes became wet with tears, "No one likes me."

"I like you," Ezra said sweetly, causing her to smile again, "How's bout you come play with me?"

"Really," Aria asked excitedly.

"Really, come on," Ezra said holding a hand out to her. She got up and brushed out her dress. She and Ezra took turns pushing each other on the swing and sliding down the slide together.

End of Flashback:

The two later found out that they were neighbors and were inseparable ever since. Ezra was the one she leaned on during her parent's divorce and when Mike had died. When her dad began drinking and beating her, she would fall into his arms and he would catch her every time she fell.

"Hi Mrs. Fitz," Aria smiled when she reached the Fitz household.

"Good morning, Aria," Mrs. Fitz invited her in and gave her two cups of coffee, "You can go on up, dear. Ezra is just getting ready. Bring this to him if you don't mind?"

"Yes, ma'am," Aria set her book sack down and rushed upstairs. She reached a familiar door and burst through, "Honey, I'm home."

"Aria, hey," Ezra watched as she made her way over and sat on his bed, "You're early."

"Yeah, sorry," Aria hesitated, "I just wanted to see you."

"Well, I am happy you are here," he gave his best friend a hug and felt her tense up under his grip, "Aria, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Aria lied.

"Oh, no," Ezra sighed, "Let me see."

"It's really no big deal, Ezra," Aria picked up her sleeves and saw bruises from where Byron grabbed her this morning.

"It is a big deal," Ezra gently stroked her arm, "Did he hit you anywhere else?"

"He slapped me in the face," Aria whispered.

"It's a little red," Ezra looked down at his feet, "He needs to stop doing this to you."

"Ezra, it's not his fault," Aria played with a strand of her curls, "He is just trying to deal with losing Mike and my mom."

"So that makes it okay," Ezra asked getting angry, "Aria, he hits you."

"Ezra can you keep it down please," she whispered with tears forming in her eyes, "I know what he does to me, believe me I know, but I am all he has left."

Ezra calmed down a little bit and lifted her chin to look at him, "But he won't have anyone if you keep letting him do this to you."

"I don't know what else to do," tears began to start streaming down Aria's face.

"Shhh. It's okay," Ezra wrapped his arms around her tightly, "Is there any way I can protect you? I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

"When you just hold me I feel protected and safe," Aria answered truthfully, "Just being here for me is amazing. Thank you for being my best friend, Ezra. Without you, I don't know if I could survive. I love you."

"I love you, too, Aria," Ezra replied. But, he doesn't know if he means as just friends…