Ezra's Pov

Fixing my tie for what seemed like the one-hundredth time, I walked nervously from my car into the hall. The music could be heard blocks away and I'm sure my heart could too, considering the love of my life was there too.

Sitting at my parent's house alone in New York had been torturous, so when Aria told me she was going to the ball, I got on the first plane trip the Rosewood. I saw her in the crowd as soon as I walked through the doors to the great amphitheater. She wasn't hard to spot. Typical Aria style meant that she was wearing a black and red striped old-school dress. Her dazzling smile melted my heart.

Reaching into my pocket without moving my eyes off her, I texted her.

Aria Pov

As my friends separated in order to look for A, I began to search my quarter of the hall. It terrified me, really. What if I found out who A was and she shut me up before I told? Like she did tried to do to Hanna…

Beep. Beep. Shit. I thought. Not another A message.

As I tentatively pulled my phone out of my clutch, I opened the message. At first I didn't believe what I was reading. My hands began shaking and my eyes started watering in a teary smile. Ezra.

Ezra Pov

I knew Aria had gotten my message when she went off into the crowd. Making my way to the corner of the hall where I told her to meet me, my heart beat quickened. What was I going to say to her? We had talked the night before I left about how we were possibly over. But it pained me being away from her. I can't live without her.

"Hello?" I heard Aria ask timidly from around the corner. I took a deep breath and turned around.

Aria Pov

I saw him appear from around the corner. My eyes lit up and my heart longed for him even more. I pratically ran into his arms. I immediately felt the safety and warmth I always get around him. Electricity ran between us, the chemistry you never really understand unless you're in love. But oh boy, I understood it.

Pulling away from the embrace after what seemed like hours, he asked: "Do you want to dance?" His smile meant the world to me.

"Of course." I smiled back lovingly. He led me back to the hall. We walked hand in hand, which I admit was weird considering we were in public. Putting on hand on his shoulder and taking his hand in the other, we began to sway. All too soon he stopped. "What's wrong?" I asked.

I saw him take a breath. "This is our first dance. I want to see you." He lowered my mask and then took his off altogether. I couldn't take my eyes off him. His lips reached down and kissed mine gently.

Hanna Pov

Mona had just sent me a text saying that was dressed as the Black Swan. I had found Emily but I was still frantically looking for Aria. Thanks to her different dress, I found her amongst the crowd. I smiled once I saw who she was with. Fitz was just leaning down to kiss her. It was all so romantic that I wanted to sit there with my tub of chunky monkey and a box of tissues. But I couldn't. As much as I hated doing this, I walked over. Grabbing Aria by the arm I said: "I found her. We need you." I walked off before Fitz could ask anything or before she had time to object.

Ezra Pov

When Hanna left my eyes were still wide and my face red from embarrassment. Aria looked scared too. She looked up from where Hanna had run off to back into my eyes. "Ezra, I'm really sorry but I have to go. Its really important." She kissed my passionately one last time and after a quick goodbye, ran off.

4 hours later

Ezra Pov

I was walking home from the masquerade ball. My feet dragged lazily across the pavement as I turned into yet another deserted street. I smiled subconsciously as I recounted the night's events.

Aria. I couldn't get her off my mind. Tonight had been magical. All of a sudden I heard the wailing of police sirens. And sure enough, as I turned into the next block, I saw the all too familiar red and blue lights. I quickened my pace, curious and terrified to see what was going on.

My heart practically stopped when I saw the van marked 'coroners' in front of the Dilaurentis House. All of a sudden I saw Emily pushing through the crowd, a desperate look on her face. Sure enough, Aria, Spencer and Hanna soon followed her, each with identical terrified looks on their pretty faces. Aria especially looked absolutely petrified. I saw Emily's mum tell them something and then they all seemed to lose all hope. A look of pure shock appeared on all of their faces, but not more so than Emily's. The other three looked at her anxiously and began to hug her while they were obviously at a loss themselves.

Aria Pov

After what seemed like hours, Emily's mum led her away. She had stopped crying eventually and seemed zombie-like instead. Spencer and Hanna collapsed on the steps of Ali's old house. I was about to follow them when I saw a familiar face in the crowd, looking at me with a concerned look. Ezra.

I ran to him without telling anyone where I was going. I burst into tears once again as I fell into his embrace.

"What's going on?" He asked quickly.

I gulped. "It's- it's Maya. Emily's mum said that they found her body."

Ezra's face hardened as he took a more protective hold of me. Of course other's were now watching us instead of the police activity. It was a small town and everyone knew who we were. I wasn't all too concerned with that. We were planning on going public anyway, especially considering our make-out in the middle of the masquerade ball tonight.

I did seize up when I saw my parents a few feet away staring at us. They looked shocked out of their minds. Ezra had his back to them so as I pulled away from our embrace he said: "Hey it'll be ok." He cupped his hands around my face and leant down and placed a kiss on my lips. I pulled away instantly. After receiving a confused look from Ezra, I indicated in the direction of my furious parents.

Ezra Pov

What happened next I can hardly explain. Seeing Aria's horrified look behind me after I kissed her, I turned. I saw, to my horror, both Byron and Ella standing amongst the crowd. Byron was fuming and I swear he had steam coming out the top of his head and as for Ella, her arms were crossed so tight that I swear they were going to break. I held Aria in my arms and they began to come over. This was the moment that changed our lives forever.