Kisses

Aria walks into the brew on a typically sunny day in Rosewood. She approaches the counter and orders her regular coffee and as it is being made the wind picks up outside and a sign across the road on a store catches her eye. It says everything fresh, time for a change. She quickly turns to the cute looking young boy barista and tells him “Wait! Can I make mine a latte instead, with two sugars?” He freezes on the spot and nods at her “Sure thing.” He replies. “Thanks.” She returns back at him. He phone vibrates and she takes it out of her pocket and reads the text message she has just got from Spencer. Still on for tonight, my place, 8pm? It reads.

 

Aria replies Sure, but I might be a little late. The young barista gives Aria her latte and before he can tell her how much she reaches into her purse and pulls out a $20 bill. “That’ll cover it.” She says knowingly. He takes it and gives her the change, which is an easy $16 back. Aria smiles at him and heads for the door when none other than Ezra comes walking in.

 

Fantastic I didn’t think I would see him here so soon, considering Maggie dragged him back into Malcolm’s life about a week ago. The awkwardness in the air was so ripe you could smell it from a hundred miles west of here. I didn’t want to say anything, I just wanted to walk away but for some reason my heart pounded and I think it skipped a beat, okay several beats. Then my mouth opened and it slipped out in a squeaky mouse type of way. “Ezra, Hi. I mean your back from Seattle so early.” 

His eyes pieced through me as if he still knew I couldn’t get enough. Well the only to fix that was to not look him in the eye. Come on Aria just look down at the floor or something, anywhere other than his eyes. His gorgeous brown eyes, and pinkish lips, and short brown hair with no strands missing. What are you doing? The door is right there just walk out of it. “I came back to clean out my apartment. Maggie asked me to move in with her.” He tells him like he owes me an explanation. That’s the motivation I needed to walk away from him right now but I couldn’t. I just had to say something else. “Oh well I’m sure she has you on a tight leash. I better not keep her waiting. Goodbye Ezra.”

 

Did I just give him the biggest insult of his life, because he turned white in the face as he seen me leave and that goodbye he returned was like a stunned child after running into their favourite celebrity, only more heart ton over excited. Am I really still that jealous of Maggie? I can’t be. I am imagining my feelings right now because with the whole A thing over and done with I just feel kind of conflicted about what my purpose is. A has been the biggest part of our lives since junior high and now it’s over I have to remember to grasp a normal life but how? I’m not used to mundane, I’m not used to normal.

 

Spencer’s room is dimly lit as always and she sits on her white cane couch eating popcorn and watching TV. Hanna and Emily are also with her, they are having a regular girls night in. The movie they are watching is a horror and it’s at a point where everything is pretty much silence until, there is a loud knock at Spencer’s bedroom door that co-exists with the loud crash part of the movie. All three girls almost leap through the ceiling and Aria opens the door and walks in. “God what are trying to do, give us a heart attack?” asks a panicked Emily. “Sorry.” Aria replies quickly. “You didn’t text to say you were coming.” Says an out of breath Spencer and Hanna just sits there with Spencer’s pink silk blanket firmly over her head. “Is it over?” she asks from under the blanket. “Hanna chill its just Aria.” Tells Emily. Hanna pokes her head out slowly and when she sees Aria she shakes her head at her. “I almost wet Spencer’s bed.” She explains with a pitch in her voice. The others all gag a little and Spencer’s eyes grow. “Wait seriously? Those sheets are vintage.” She says worriedly. “I said almost.” Replies Hanna.

 

Aria joins Emily on the bed. “I’m sorry for scary you all but that’s what happens when you watch horror films at three in the morning. Why are here at three in the morning?” Asks a now concerned Aria. Spencer looks at the other girls and stands up in front of them like school captain. “We figured in celebration of nearly surviving senior year of high school that we would do what we used to do back in the day, a regular and totally normal girls night in. Complete with your favourite late night food popcorn.” Dictates Spencer. Aria grins and Emily passes her the popcorn bag. “Butterscotch right?” Asks Aria. “Of course.” Replies Emily.

 

I was happy to be here with just them. This is something we hadn’t done since it all started but I couldn’t shake this sadness on the inside and looking at Spencer’s all to fake smile I knew something was wrong. I didn’t want to ruin the night but after all we’d been through I had to ask.

“Is everything alright you guys?” I ask them. Not one of them said anything to start with but then Spencer spoke up. “Sure why wouldn’t it be?” She enquired. I sigh my usual come off it guys sigh and stand up next to Spencer. “Nice try. You guys might be pretty but your horrible little liars.” I tell them. They knew the gig was up and besides Hanna had depressed written all over her, not that I could see it but I could see her gorging down the popcorn and she only eats like that for two reasons. Either she’s scared or depressed. “It’s just. We’re all going to be going off to collage soon and we’re not going to be that close to each other and after everything that has happened these past couple of years I guess we’re just.” Emily pauses to let some light tears out.

 

“What Em means Aria is that. We’re not going to get to do this for too much longer and we wanted you here with us.” Hanna finishes. “What about Ali.” I ask. “We asked her but she hasn’t left the house in days maybe even weeks. She’s still convinced it’s not over.” Explains Spencer. I look to her with a serious glare. “Well it is. I mean I we killed A. We all saw it happen.” I remind them of what I did. “I shot her right in the head.”

 

Emily stands up and walks over to me. “We know it’s just that Ali needs a little time to adjust to a life where she can actually feel safe. A normal life.” Emily tells me. “We could all use the adjustment” Backs up Spencer. “So why are standing around talking, let’s finish the movie.” Suggests Hanna. We all crowd together on the bed and I reach into the bowl for popcorn but there’s none left. I look to Hanna and shrug at her. She shrugs back and says. “What? You left the bowl near hefty Hanna. What did you think would happen?” We all just laugh and Spencer continues to play the movie. Then all of our phones go off simultaneously. We look to each other, wondering. I’m the first to check mine and it’s when the others see me throw it across the room that the night becomes something else once more. Emily reads hers out loud to the rest of the group. You thought you could kill me, now I’m back to eat your soul. Kisses b*****s, -A.