A/N: Sorry it took so long to update my laptop got stolen and i lost the story. Now i have rewritten it so here we go.
Are we about to see Allison get killed? They had all been thinking it, Hanna was the only one lacking a brain filter and said it. No they didn't see Allison die they saw Melissa instead. So now the oldest Hastings was at the top of the suspect list, causing tension amongst her little group. She hadn't seen Spencer since she insisted on talking to Melissa by herself. Her disappearing act from school yesterday had everyone worried. The I'm fine text she had received still didn't subside her worries. She knew how much Spencer had going on, and now it looked like Melissa was possibly involved in Ali's murder.
Shuffling through the medicine cabinet in the bathroom Aria finally spotted what she was looking for, band aids. Her leg had decided to start bleeding again. She still can't believe she fell off the porch like that . And for what? They were scammed, led to a dead end, again. They were out $2,000 of Jason's money and he was probably going to want answers from Spencer, answers she doesn't have.
Placing the band aid on her cut she sighed. It would probably leave a scar, another battle wound in this war against "A" . This was staring to get bigger than they truly realized. "A" had now involved Mona, trying to use her to get Hanna's mom in trouble. Maya was missing, Aria wouldn't admit it to Emily but the thought that "A" had done something to her had crossed her mind more than once.
Chiming of the doorbell causes Aria to release another sigh. Being home alone meant she would have to answer the door. She really doesn't want to see or talk to anyone today. She wants to be moody and sulk in her bed hiding away from the world. With reluctance she trudges her body downstairs putting her mask on for the world to see, Everything is fine, she is a normal happy teenager. Life is good, she doesn't want to scream at he top of her lungs and hit something, nope everything is fine.
This simple act of opening her front door causes her well placed mask to momentarily drop at he sight of who stands on the other end. Within seconds she has the mask up again although she's sure he knows it's a façade.
"Jason," she smiled up at him, "what are you doing here?"
His smile caused a flutter in Aria's stomach, "I was in the neighborhood."
She couldn't help but giggle at this, "Yeah because you live in it."
He returned her giggle with a smirk knowing he was busted, she knew he just wanted to see her and had no reason to.
"I was bored," he sheepishly admitted, " and I wanted to know if you wanted to do something?"
Aria was conflicted she wanted to spend time with him. At the same time she didn't want to drag him into her mess of a life.
"What did you have in mind," she found herself asking him anyway.
"I hadn't got that far yet," his smile revealed a slight nervousness to it. Aria thought it was cute he was nervous around her. She also felt a little guilty, his nervousness probably stemmed from her rejection a while back.
"Well to be honest I kind of just wanted to hang out at home today, maybe watch a movie," Aria explained. The disappointment in Jason's eyes had her quickly moving from the doorway to let him in "You could join me if you like."
"Sure," Jason smiled at her and stepped into the Montgomery house.
She didn't know what it was about Jason that always seemed to create butterflies in her stomach, but she liked it.
"What movie where you going to watch?" he asked.
"Whatever was on TV," she said while shutting the door, "Why don't you find something and I'll make popcorn."
**Flashback summer 2009**
"We need more popcorn," Ali demanded from her spot on her bed.
"I went last time," Spencer stated to the girls.
"Well I'm not going there about to announce best kiss," Hanna squealed and received a look from Ali that basically told her to stop acting so nerdy.
"I'll go," Aria jumped up form the bed, she really didn't care who wan the MTV movie award for best kiss.
Tapping her fingers on the counter she waited for the popcorn to cook. Loud laughter and the banging of the front door had Aria spinning around. She saw Ian plopping a drunk Jason on a chair at the kitchen table. Jason's upper body fell forward onto the table with a loud thump.
"Shhh don't wake your parents," Ian whispered to a now sleeping Jason.
"His parents aren't here," Aria stated as she walked towards them, "and if they were they wouldn't be sleeping it's like 9 o'clock."
"Right ," he pointed at her an headed out the door.
"You can't just leave him here," Aria ran over to the door .
"Sure I can," Ian laughed as he headed over towards the Hastings house.
"Ian," she called after him only to be ignored.
Sighing Aria shut the door and walked to stand beside a passed out Jason.
"Jason ," placing a hand on his shoulder she tried to shake him awake, "Jason wake up."
"My favorite power puff girl," he sleepily mumbled as he sat up in the chair wearing a goofy grin.
"Can you stand?" She asked him. His only reply was to nod and show her that he could in fact stand, just not well. Standing beside him she motioned for him to lean on her. Jason draped his arm over her shoulders as she wrapped an arm around him for support.
"Hey come on ," she lead him to the stairs.
Their walk was awkward with him being so tall, he was hunched over as the tiny girl helped him climb the stairs.
"Why are you helping me?" He muttered.
"Because you helped me once remember ," Aria would be forever grateful to Jason for stepping in with Noel, who knows what would have happened if he didn't.
"Not really," releasing a yawn Jason's head began to bob a little.
Aria didn't know why, but it stung that he didn't remember. That was the nicest thing he had done for her and she wished he remembered. Maybe it was because he was drunk right now that he didn't remember. Did he remember when he was sober? Aria knew she couldn't ask him. His face leaned in closer to her hair , and Aria could feel his intake of breath. Was he smelling her? Gently shoving him Aria got Jason to focus, as they came to the hallway. Aria was very appreciative that Jason's room was the first door off the stairs. The last thing she needed was Alison seeing this and questioning Aria's loyalty. That's how this would play out if she saw. She would be mad at her for helping Jason. Ali would want him to get busted. They made it to his bed and she helped Jason to sit down .Turning to leave him there Aria felt a pull on her wrist. Glancing down she saw Jason's hand wrapped around her own. Her questioning eyes traveled up to his face to find his eyes locked on her. A feeling Aria didn't recognize washed over her as she pulled her arm back.
"Why are you friends with my sister," he pointed a finger at her and squinted his brows in confusion.
"What ?" she whispered.
"Your so much better than her and her games."
Aria didn't want to get in the middle of Jason and Ali's sibling rivalry. She knew Jason wouldn't understand why she was friends with his sister, in the same way she couldn't understand his choice of friends. He was so much better than what he was doing to himself. Walking towards him she stopped in front of him placing her hands on his shoulders. Everything about their body positions screamed intimacy to Aria, her legs were standing in between his, his face was so close from her own. His hands had found a place on top of hers and his glazed over eyes were focusing on her hazel ones.
"Lie down," she whispered giving him a gentle push. His body resisted her, as his hands pushed their way up her arms to her hair tugging on a few strands.
"I like this," he quietly stated while twirling a piece of pink hair between his fingers.
"Jason you need to sleep it off," more forcefully she pushed on his shoulders.
Finally he cooperates and lets Aria push him onto the bed. Reaching up he takes hold of her hand and slides his thumb over her knuckles.
"Thanks," he murmurs bringing her hand to his lips and gently places a soft kiss to it. Swallowing hard Aria pulls her hand back and runs it through her hair. "Sure," she mumbles back and she flies out of his room as if it were on fire.
Running down the stairs she gets the popcorn and runs back up. Her heart is racing and her cheeks are flushed. She stops before Ali's door and takes a deep breathe to calm her nerves. What the hell was that? She had heard of people getting affectionate when they are drunk but that was something else. That was Jason and her. Jason didn't seem like the type to suddenly show affection once inebriated , especially to his little sisters friend. Shaking her head she reentered Ali's room.
"What took so long?" Emily asked as Aria handed her the bowl.
"I had to go to the bathroom," Aria impressed herself with how well the lie came out.
"I hope you washed you hands before touching the popcorn," Ali snickered.
"Dammit I knew I forgot something," The sarcasm in her voice Ali to throw a piece of popcorn at her.
"That sound means it's done." Jason whispered into her ear. He had snuck up behind her and his words caused her to jump a little.
"Right," Aria pulled the bag from the microwave and emptied it into a bowl. Jason had carefully studied Aria as she worked on the popcorn.
"You okay?" He asked as he came to stand beside her.
"Yep," Aria refused to meet his eyes, knowing if she did they would suck her in. There was something about Jason that always pulled Aria in, something that caused her to drop the mask. Funny how he somehow remained a mystery to her yet she didn't feel like she could lie to him.
"You seem out of it," he stated as Aria carried the bowl into the living room.
"It's Saturday ," eating a piece of popcorn she sat on the couch, "I've turned my brain off for the day."
"Wish I could do that," his smile was out of amusement but his eyes held conflict in them. Aria knew what was conflicting Jason she just didn't know how to bring it up.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hoping he would tell her about his recent paternity revelation.
"Not with an absent brain," shaking his head Jason let out a laugh. Aria could help giggle with him. He was so adorable sometimes.
"I could turn it back on for you."
"Thanks but it's not really a big deal."
But it was a big deal. Jason was Spencer's brother, that is a big deal. Peter wanted nothing to do with Jason, his parents had lied to him his whole life. It all had to hurt. She wanted him to confide in her. Wanted him to trust her with his secret, she knew this was selfish. How could she want these things from Jason when she couldn't give them back in return.
"So what movie did you find?" Aria asked picking up the remote.
"Nothing to fascinating I'm afraid."
As Aria began channel surfing the pair fell into a comfortable contentment. Both feeling their problems being lifted for a short time by just being in the presence of the other. Jason had a way of making Aria feel calm and relaxed, not knowing she had the same effect on him.
She could be herself around him she didn't have to worry if he thought she was too immature. It was nice to not care what he thought of her, Jason's acceptance of her was enough for her to feel completely comfortable around him.
Comfortable had quickly turned uncomfortable within an hour into the movie. Her dad had come home and plopped himself between the two, claiming they were watching one of his favorite movies. Aria highly doubted her dad actually liked Fantastic Four. Nobody really did it was just something you watched when it was on T.V , mindless action filled entertainment. Glancing at her dad and then Jason she noticed how the discomfort was only reserved for her as they laughed at something on the T.V. Rolling her eyes she refocused on the movie and waited for the credits to roll. Once they had Jason left, much to Aria's disappointment.
"I wasn't aware Jason was coming over today," Byron said as Aria tidied up the living room.
"Neither was I he just stopped by and asked if I wanted to hang out," grabbing the empty popcorn bowl she headed to the kitchen.
"Is there something going on between the two of you?" Aria immediately stopped and spun around.
"Would It be bad if there was?" She asked.
"Aria he is to old for you," his tone was scolding and it caused Aria to head towards the kitchen again.
"Oh here we go," she rolled her eyes in response.
"What happened to Holden? I was under the impression-"
"No you chose to believe what you wanted too," Tossing the bowl into the sink Aria came to stand in front of her father "Holden and I are just friends just like Jason and I are just friends. Which, thank god for that because I don't think I could take it if you ran him out of town too." Turing her back on him she began to make her way up the stairs to her room.
"Aria-" he called after her.
"No you know what dad," stopping on the stairs she turned to face him "you should pat yourself on the back you successfully got rid of Ezra, but you lost me in the process." Turning back around she fled up the stairs hearing her dad call after her.
"Aria come back we are not done,"
"I Am!" She yelled as she continued to stomp and didn't stop until she was in her bedroom. Slamming the door she released the tears from her eyes. Why did things have to be this way? Why did her dad have to act like that? Can't he let her try and figure things out on her own? Yes she broke his trust but he is one to talk. And yes she can understand his disapproving of her relationship with Ezra, but Jason? Was it Jason he didn't like or the fact of Aria dating him? She wasn't even dating him so why was he so angry and why was she so upset? Seriously what could she do to make him happy without sacrificing her own happiness? Was that even possible? Were her and her father destined to always be on opposite ends of a fight?