The first time Aria noticed Spencer was before Ali went missing.

Aria was in fifth grade at Rosewood High, the weird, arty girl that no one really spoke to.

She liked it better that way- she could spend her lunch break quietly sketching in her notebook. Spencer Hastings on the other hand was a field hockey-playing, overachieving, popular girl, and was therefore way out of Aria's league.

She swung her legs and tapped her pencil against her sketch, a detailed portrait of a girl that Aria had drawn from memory. She was particularly proud of it for that reason. Suddenly, it was yanked from her hands.

Ben Coogan and Noel Kahn, the most obnoxious boys in her class, had stolen her drawing and were kicking it around, laughing. She stood up indignantly. "Hey! That's my drawing!" Aria yelled, hands on her hips.

They laughed even harder, her drawing smeared with mud. "What are you going to do about it?" sneered Ben Coogan, high-fiving Noel.

"Leave her alone!" Aria whipped her head around in surprise, because there was no way that Spencer Hastings had just stood up for her.

But there she was, glaring at Noel and Ben. At least they were smart enough to look scared. "Whatever," Noel mumbled, before thrusting Aria's drawing at her. Then both boys ran off, sprinting towards the oval.

Aria turned to look at Spencer. "Thank you." Spencer smiled and shook her head.

"That's okay. Can I see your drawing?" Aria showed it to her, although half of it was covered with mud. Spencer studied it carefully.

"That's really good. Hey, it sort of looks like me!" With a jolt of surprise, Aria realised that it did. It looked almost exactly like Spencer. Was that who she was thinking of when she drew it?

The real Spencer spent the rest of lunch helping Aria make the hair "mud" brown, and colour in the rest of the picture. And after that, Aria and Spencer were inseparable.

Aria and Spencer were sitting at their desks, waiting for class to start. Now they were in tenth grade, and Aria was in a relationship with Mr Fitz, her AP English teacher.

Spencer had voiced her disapproval of this, but Aria reminded her that her relationships were her business. Spencer had muttered something under her breath before taking a large swig of coffee.

Mr Fitz was discussing the end of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' with the class. "If Atticus Finch was an officer of the court, was he biased in letting his son Jem, whom he believed killed Bob Ewell, get away scot free with his crime?" Spencer raised her hand eagerly.

"But Jem didn't kill Mr Ewell, Boo Radley did! Atticus was just protecting his son!" "But if Atticus could let his son get away with a crime, shouldn't he let a stranger get off too? It's only fair," Mr Fitz countered.

No one else got a word in, and Spencer wouldn't back down from the argument (she wasn't one for losing). Aria felt a warmth blossom in her chest at the sight of Spencer, her eyes narrowed in determination as she proved why her point was right.

And she couldn't look at her in the same way after that.

Aria was in a relationship with Ezra Fitz, but she was in love with Spencer Hastings.

Aria was with Ezra in Apartment 3B, his arms wrapped around her and her hands in his hair. It didn't feel as good as it used to.

She didn't want to caress Ezra's short hair, she wanted Spencer's chocolate brown locks. She didn't want Ezra's rough hands, she wanted Spencer's gentle touch.

It was just so fucking hard sometimes. Having to see Spencer with her boyfriend, not having enough courage to break up with Ezra. Ezra suddenly pulled back from their kiss, lifting Aria's chin to study her face.

"You don't feel the same way anymore, do you?" Aria sighed deeply, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, I know I'm ruining everything-"

Ezra grabbed her hand, and lead her to the bed, pulling her down to sit next to him. "You're not ruining anything Aria. I love you, but I don't want you to be unhappy. If you'd rather be with someone else, that's okay."

Aria smiled. "Thank you, Ezra." Ezra nodded. "Now go and be with Spencer." Aria choked. "Was it that obvious?"

"Are you serious? You've been making moony eyes at each other for a month!" laughed Ezra. He patted her hand. "Now go." Aria got up, pulling the door closed behind her, making her way to Spencer's house.

Aria knocked on the door of Spencer's house, her heart in her throat. She had to tell Spencer how she felt. She would rather that Spencer rejected her than never know how she felt.

Spencer opened the door, her eyes lighting up when she saw Aria. "Hey, come on in," she said, smiling at her. They made their way up to Spencer's room, sitting on her bed.

"I thought you were still going to be at Toby's," Aria questioned. Spencer huffed in annoyance. "We broke up. It just wasn't working."

"I'm sorry, but I always knew Toby was-" Spencer scooted closer to Aria, and her heart beat faster. "It wasn't Toby, it was me." Upon seeing Aria's puzzled expression, Spencer took a deep breath.

"I just didn't love him anymore. And- God, you're going to hate me, but I think I have feelings for you. And I know that you don't like me the same way, but I just have to tell you-"

Aria leaned in and kissed her. She tasted like strong, rich coffee, lavender, and something else Aria couldn't place, but was just so uniquely Spencer. Spencer kissed her back, her hands in Aria's hair, and Aria's heart was bursting with happiness.

She ended the kiss, and looked at Spencer, loving the deep blush in the other girl's cheeks. "Will you be my girlfriend?" Spencer nodded happily, and kissed Aria. She wound her hands around Spencer's waist, feeling Spencer's hands around her neck. And they just kissed, their bodies intertwined.

Or, at least they were until Mrs Hastings walked in.

Aria and Spencer broke apart quickly, and Aria held her breath as Mrs Hastings opened her mouth to speak-

"Finally! I was rooting for you girls." Spencer looked gobsmacked at her mother. "You're okay with this?" "Okay with this? I just made a hundred bucks off Pam Fields! I couldn't be happier. And Aria, dear, welcome to the family." Mrs Hastings walked off, dialling Pam on her mobile.

"Pam? It's Veronica. They kissed! I won the bet!" Spencer looked at Aria incredulously. "Did the impossible really just happen?"

"Why shouldn't it have?" "Impossible things usually do."