My Best Friend's Brother (PLL: A Jaria story)

Chapter 4:

We all wanted to support her as best as we could.

Emily, Hanna, and I walked in. Spencer walked over to us as we were looking for a seat in the front. She looked tired, like she was in a daze. I didn't blame her, hosting a funeral for a supposed murder wasn't the easiest thing to do. Her family most likely spend a lot of time getting this together.

"Hey," we all exchanged some greetings to her kindly. As if being nice at a time like this would get her to smile.

It didn't. It was impossible for Spencer to smile and act like everything was fine, when her sister just sat in the corner, having a faraway look in her eyes, like she was dead inside.

"What are the cops doing here?" Emily asked.

We had all turned around to see Rosewoods finest walk in the doors and spread out. None of us really trusted the cops. They didn't even trust our word and were very skeptical of us. Some of them still believed we had something to do with the murder of Alison.

Spencer sighed, "My parents... wanted them here in case any uninvited guests showed up," Spencer answered her, though unwillingly.

Spencer looks over at her sister who is starting to head to sit down with her family. She joins them. Emily follows after Spencer, obviously a little worried. Since she was the kindest and the most empathetic at the moment, we trusted her to comfort Spencer.

Hanna and I found a seat in the front row and I am about to sit down next to her when my gaze catches on Ezra, who walks through the door.

Last year, before Alison's funeral, I met Ezra at a bar. He thought I was 21, and, well, I didn't know how much older he was.

He ended up being my teacher in English at Rosewood.

We had a lot in common, he majored in English, I want to major in English. We both love writing and reading. I loved him. And he loved me. We had a forbidden type love, which though a part of me found romantic, was hard since we had to keep our relationship hidden all the time.

We couldn't be out in public and we mostly had takeout in his apartment and watched old movies. It was still fun, but there were times where I felt bored. I felt like all we did was stay indoors and do the same thing. The only exciting this about our relationship was our forbidden love.

Now he worked at Hollis, but we still had to avoid PDA, in case someone saw us, namely my parents.

We keep saying we will start to ease people into the idea of us. But so far, nothing.

Maybe this was his chance?

After all, since his ex jackie was in town, I needed assurance from him to show that he is dedicated to this relationship for the long run, that he is willing to go through anything people put in front of us when we come out.

Ezra smiled, an adorable smile that grew on me, and started walking towards me. I smile back, thinking that this was it. A little jump to our relationship. We were going to be able to sit next to each other today, in public. Besides, I need comfort today. Even if Ian wasn't exactly a good man, it was still scary. I remember the body clearly, when I found him. It was also scary to think that A killed him.

It was both relieving that he was dead, yet dreadful.

I just needed my boyfriend.

"Ezra," I heard my mom call and saw her step in front of him, my dead standing next to her.

My smile falters and he was surprised, but kept his smile, covering his surprise that his eyes showed.

"I didn't know you were coming to this," My mom commented.

"Uh... I didn't plan on it," He shakes my father's hand, and continued, "But after speaking with Aria," he side glanced at me and I smile and start to step forward to talk with him. Our plan being to act as friends first, then tell people we became a couple after he left school.

But he turns his gaze away from me, hesitating before speaking, "And um... show my support for all the students for coming. Not only for Spencer, but for all those students affected by the tragedies of this past year," He stated.

My parents nod to what he said, believing every word that he said that he used to cover up our relationship.

My gaze fell. How could he do this.

"Well, I'm sure the kids really appreciate it, come sit with us," My dad makes room for Ezra, my boyfriend, who glances at me apologetically before turning away in shame.

I turned away and sat down in my seat, angered inside by the little effort he gave in our relationship.

We sat through the ceremony, which was quick. After all, there wasn't much good to say about a murderer. Before long we were at the graveyard and we, the girls and I, were the ones who had to throw the dirt on the casket. Melissa was still in shock and Spencer's parents were trying to support her.

So we had too. Ironic isn't it?

Spencer throws, then Hanna, then Emily, then me. We then wipe our hands and I look through the crowd and notice someone. Someone familiar.

Someone who made my heart stop as memories rushed back to me.

Sitting a few feet away from the ceremony, out of notice but listening to music in his ear buds, as his old best friend and sister's killer get buried.

Is Jason DiLaurentis.

The familiar blonde just sat there, not even paying attention to the ceremony.

I couldn't believe he was here. I hadn't seen him inn so long. Not since what happened. Since Alison told me to stay away.

And now?

He was back.

And I couldn't take my eyes off of him.