Chapter Text
Halloween, 2008.
Aria lingers on Ali’s doorstep. Twelve minutes past seven. The party begins at eight.
“Aria?”
“Jason,” says Aria in more of an acknowledgement than a greeting. It’s 7pm but it looks like he’s only just woken up, his hair is longer than it usually is, his shirt baggy on his shoulders. But ‘usually’ is a broad term for someone she barely knows.
“I like your outfit,” he says, bemused, then scratches his neck. “They’re all upstairs – you’re going to Noel’s party, right?”
Aria looks down, a hoodie messily thrown over her costume. After the whirlwind of family issues she's had to deal with in the past few hours she hasn't really felt like going.
“Thanks,” Aria settles for a pity-laugh. “and, no. But aren’t you? I’d assume Noel’s Gang of Four would make an appearance.”
Jason laughs. “I’ll do my best. I don’t have a costume yet. I’m thinking: UPS guy.”
Aria snorts. “That’s so stupid.”
Jason finally takes a seat beside Aria, then, offering a supplementary bow. He smells like aftershave and cigarette smoke.
And here, Aria knows he’s only sixteen yet she feels they are oceans apart – this is where Alison and Jason meet, she supposes, always first, and always skipping ahead.
“Why aren’t you going, though? Ali said that your outfit was like Morticia Addams if she was in Sabrina.” Then he grins, lowers his voice theatrically. “Poor Noel. He really wanted to see you there.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Aria blushes. “and I’m not interested in Noel.”
Jason offers her a small, strange look but says nothing.
“I don’t know how,” Aria frowns. “But in the space of three hours I feel like my whole world has changed.”
Jason is quiet for a while. “You know what, maybe it has.”
Aria is yet unsure about what they might have in common. For the first time, Aria decides she is willing to find out.