Disclaimer:

I don't own PLL or its plotline, characters, etc.

A/N: Well, I can't remember the last time I wrote a story. A couple years ago I think. But I've had the ideas for this one in my head for months and the only way to stop thinking about them is to write! I hope you guys enjoy and please tell me what you think of it by the end!

Aria & her friends are all 18 in this story, for parts of the plot to be possible.

Enjoy!

Every day was practically the same to me since my father left us: I woke up, ate breakfast, went to school, had dinner then went to bed. I think my mother, Ella, was hit the worst by this. Mike wasn't around much, saying he was studying with a friend or finding some obviously untrue excuse to get out of the house, so I know that he sensed it as well. I suppose he was right in doing so, considering the fact that none of us were quite up to the task of interacting with each other. Some days Hanna, Spencer, or Emily would ask me what was wrong if I was acting distant or feeling down. Each girl had her own way of cheering me up.

One day Hanna surprised me after school by taking me shopping in Philly at a few department stores. We went out to dinner and our talking and laughing almost made me forget what my father was putting us through. Emily decided that taking me and the girls to coffee Thursday mornings, the days her swimming practice didn't start insanely early, would help cheer me up. And it definitely did, because no matter what happened I knew I would always have my friends to be there for me. They'd be there whenever I needed to talk. Like the time I couldn't sleep and Spencer drove to my house just to listen to me at two in the morning; I'm sure I interrupted one of her late-night study sessions but she didn't seem to mind.

Things continued to look down for my mom, she didn't smile much anymore and rarely seemed to have time to make dinner since she had to work double shifts now that my dad wasn't helping support us. At first I didn't quite know whether everything would turn out okay. The rut that had become our lives was running so deep I wasn't sure we'd ever escape; the shock after Byron left us was too much. There was no possible way that things could get better quickly. Or so I thought.

About two weeks after winter final exams Ella came home late at night while I was doing my biology homework. Not only did she say goodnight to me, but she said it with the biggest smile I'd seen on her face in about six months. It even reached her eyes. I had asked her why she was so giddy but she just shook her head happily and practically skipped to bed, like an overly excited teenage girl. Hey, I was eighteen and I thought she needed to calm down.

There was little time for me to guess what made her so happy, because by the end of March mom officially announced she was seeing someone and that he was coming home to meet the family for dinner. I texted my friends the news and they all gave me responses filled with encouragement about how it was so great for my mom to have found someone. She seemed so excited that I volunteered to help with dinner, by setting the table and preparing vegetables while she cooked a heavenly-smelling chicken dish. At 6:30 pm the doorbell rang. I opened the door and was met by a smiling middle-aged man, who looked me up and down before smiling even wider and extending his hand to me.

"Kevin Miller. And you must be Aria? Your mother has told me so much about you," he continued to grin. It creeped me out a bit but I brushed the feeling off. I had to give him a chance, for my mom's sake.

I smiled meekly back at him anyway and shook his hand. "You'd be correct. You must be the reason my mom has been so happy lately! I'm so glad we can finally meet."

Kevin's grip on my hand was a bit tighter and lasted longer than I would've preferred. I had attributed it to the fact that he must just be an overly friendly guy.

"Well, Aria, the pleasure is all mine."

And for some reason, deep inside me, I knew that his words held more meaning than he was letting on.

Today was the last day of school before Rosewood High School started spring break, and Hanna was sitting on my desk during history class talking about the designer boots she just bought. It was a free period, just like most other classes today were, so no one was being productive unless you consider gossiping useful. I was half listening, half not. As I twirled one of my dangly teardrop-shaped silver earrings in my hands I thought about how much of this spring break might be spent at home. It wasn't that I didn't want to be with my family, it was just that Kevin was becoming a nuisance to me and Mike. He'd always check up on us in our rooms which were clearly off-limits to him, try telling funny stories at dinner but failing miserably, and never helped around the house even though he moved in weeks ago. Honestly I don't know what Ella sees in the guy, but what I do know is that I won't be spending a second longer than I have to in the Montgomery household.

I let my soft chestnut curls fall over my left shoulder and ran my fingers through it, a nervous habit I've attained ever since Kevin moved in. I'm not sure why, but the guy makes me jumpy. Hanna snapped her fingers at me, bringing me out of my own thoughts. I realized Spencer and Emily were standing in front of me, expectant looks on their faces.

"Well?" they asked, obviously waiting for an answer to a question that I missed.

I shook my head, signaling that they needed to repeat themselves "Well what?"

Sighing dramatically, Hanna left her position on the desk and placed both her hands on my desk so that I could see each of her perfectly manicured purple nails.

"Do you want to come to Florida with us or not? Emily's mom surprised her with four plane tickets this morning since she'll be out of town for spring break to visit Mr. Fields in Texas."

I smiled so wide I'm pretty sure my face would be sore in the morning. "Of course I do! I've been hoping to get out of the house for a while. When do we leave?"

Hanna stood up straight and smiled at my two friends. "The day after tomorrow. Pack your stuff and Spencer will pick you up 6 am sharp on Sunday! And you know by 6 am sharp I mean sharp. Spence will have a stick up her ass if you're not out the door once her car pulls up."

Spencer gave Hanna a pointed look, but rolled her eyes and laughed, nodding. "It's true…I will, especially if I get to Hanna's house and she's still deciding what pair of heels to wear on a 3 hour flight."

Time flew by quickly, Saturday spent shopping for missing essentials and packing for the trip. While I was double-checking that my favorite pink polka-dot bikini still fit perfectly, glancing up and down at myself in my full-length mirror in my room, I noticed something move outside my door. I didn't remember leaving it cracked open, so I walked over and quickly shut it. There was no way it could have been what – or who – I thought it was. He was at work until later tonight.

Forgetting completely about what had just happened, I smiled to myself as I zipped up my black suitcase and snapped my canvas bag shut. After dinner I went to bed immediately, falling asleep unexpectedly fast. There was no way I was going to consciously wait any longer than I had to for my amazing spring break to begin.

When morning came I quickly washed my face, pulled my waist-length hair into a ponytail, and put on some comfortable light blue shorts and a white t-shirt while slipping into silver flip flops. Grabbing my bags and saying goodbye to my mom and Mike, I started to run out the door when I saw Spencer pulling up. I was quickly pulled back by Kevin, who had a fake grin on his face.

He was trying to sound like he was joking around when he said loudly, "What, your favorite old man doesn't get a goodbye-hug?" But when he reached for my shoulders and pulled me to him, he whispered, "Don't wear the pink swimsuit too much. The boys will be all over you."

A shiver ran down my spine as I nodded, quickly slamming the door shut and hopping into Spencer's little blue sedan next to Emily and not daring to look back at the house.

Kevin's last words to me were still swimming through my mind as I was sitting in the middle seat of a small jet that would be flying me and my friends from Philly to Miami. Since Emily's mom had bought the tickets somewhat last minute, the four of us were scattered all about the plane. I looked to my left at the snoring old man in the window seat next to me and realized I probably wouldn't get a wink of sleep on this flight. I mentally shrugged, knowing it could be worse since no one was sitting on my right, so I would probably be able to stretch out. Sighing, my fingers unconsciously started to play with my hair and unknotted tiny tangles as they moved.

Several minutes before the flight attendants were supposed to shut all the doors to the plane a man rushed on board and took the seat next to me. So much for comfort, I thought to myself.

It wasn't until I looked over at him that I realized he was strikingly good-looking. He had short, almost curly dark brown hair and beautiful grey-brown eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light of…wherever we were. Hell, I don't even know this guy and he made me forget where I was. I mentally slapped myself and opened my bag to take out To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic I've read countless times but can't seem to get tired of.

I jumped in my seat when I heard someone ask, "That's one of my favorite books. I assume you're reading it for an English class?"

Looking over, I realized it was the guy who just sat next to me. I shook my head, "No, I just bring it with me wherever I go. I never get tired of it."

A smile I didn't expect but immediately loved graced his features, reaching his eyes. "Well that's the first time I've heard anyone besides myself say that. I'm Ezra Fitz by the way."

I quickly returned his smile and introduced myself. This might not be such a bad way to spend my three hours stuck on this plane.

A/N:

So I hope you guys liked the first chapter! I'm going to need a lot of feedback so I can know what you think, how I should change it, whether I should continue, etc.

Also, if any of you are or know of a beta reader, I'm in desperate need of one. I want this fic to be as good as possible!

If you've read this far, then thank you! Looking forward to hearing back from y'all! :)