A week passed and it was the day I had to leave everything behind for my own self. I wasn't born in New York but all these years I had spent here, grew up within it, made me love this city though I lost so many things here, it still felt like I was leaving a part of myself behind.

It felt like I could finally breathe as I got Beth Justice. It had been burdening me for all my life to not get what she deserved. Though she didn't deserve to die too. John and Sophia had been thanking me non-stop since the night they got to know about it and seeing their sweet, cheerful faces made me realize how much it'd meant to them than anyone else.

But me, I was still nervous about so many things.

"Be safe sweetheart and come back soon, this place won't be same without you," Saying this dad hugged me tight. "If it wouldn't for your own good, I would have never let you go Aria."

Pulling back from him I pouted. Never ever I had stayed away from him. "It'd be good if you'd come and see me off at the airport Dad."

"I can't sweety, It'll be very hard for me. Just know that I love you and I always will be," Checking his watch he sighed. "I should leave too. They all must be waiting for me at the subway."

Nodding to him I smiled with wet eyes as he embraced me one last time and kissed the top of my head. I knew his heart was drowning in worry for me but somewhere he knew that letting go now would help me recover and by leaving what he meant was, he was going on a short trip to the Antarctica with his mates from Arizona in such a long time and it made me happy to see him enjoying the time of his live.

Shifting my gaze to my friends who stood there holding back their tears with their happy persona so that I wouldn't feel upset though it made me weak in legs as memories rushed back to me.

Jumping at me, Gwen couldn't hold anymore and bursted out crying. "I will miss you Aria. I don't know what will I do!. These two years passed in a blink. It was just yesterday we all were far from worry. Beth, You and me on our stay overs. How we skated together. Everything just c-changed and faded away in a swift. I-

I hugged her tighter as she sniffed and patted her back before pulled back and cupped her cheeks.

"Hey! Gwen, time changes okay? But what matters is none of us feel any different for each other than we used to two years ago, do we?" She shook her head sniffing. "Exactly, even though a lot has changed but we know that we'll always be there when one of us need another. I promise you that we'll meet soon Gwen. I just need time for myself."

Nodding she smiled softly at me wiping her tears. "Okay, I'll wait for you but if you ditch me I swear I'll fly to toronto and kill you by myself before dragged you here."

Throwing my head back I laughed out loud along with everyone. No one could ever replace Gwen. This platinum blonde hair girl I met in junior high on the rink taught me that no matter what, try to fight every situation like a bad ass. I was glad I thought to participate in the hockey tournament last year or I'd have never met her.

Standing in front of Leo who's eyes were glistened with stars and this was the first time I saw him like that so I grinned sheepishly. His hands were shaking and it gave me shiver as I engulfed him in a hug."My dad jokes won't be same without you Aria. Who would laugh on them muffin?"

"I know I'm being selfish Leo but It's okay. I want to be this once for myself and about your dad jokes, you can call anytime and we'll laugh like maniacs. Now wipe these tears away, they don't suit you," I wiped his tears and fist bumped him as he ruffled my hair with his beautiful dimpled beam.

"Hey!"

Getting hit on his shoulder by Gwen, Leo winced. "Ow!"

"I set them for so long, you just ruined her hair Leo!"

Chuckling I walked to the only person who was leaning against the porch fence amusedly. No matter what, he had helped me on every step of my life and I'd be forever grateful to him.

I smiled as he reflected the smile to me. I knew he wasn't crying but that didn't mean his heart wasn't clenching.

"Guess this is the end of all this mess and finally you're taking a step towards yourself. I can't be more prouder Aria. Just know that I'm only one call away," I chuckled nodding and hugged him tight.

"I know Nate. You've been there in the dark for me-" Eetreating back I continued. "-And if best friend has a face, it's you. You don't have to grow together to understand each other, it's just a matter of emotion and time and these past two years, means more to me than all these nineteen years."

We talked and cried and did a group hug as if I wasn't coming back ever but I guess that was there way to tell me how much we all meant in each other's life every day.

Meaning of friendship.

It was freezing today as I pulled my coat tighter. Though weather forecast did not predict rain but it was sanely cloudy today accompanied by extremely cold breeze. Who knows it'd start snow next second?

Blake was standing by the car in the drive away. He wasn't driving but he hired the driver and after a putting my luggage in the back we finally left the ground.

"Did you take everything?" He asked and I nodded slightly before passed him a smile and leaned against the window, watching the fading surrounding.

Soon the car stopped at a cafe. It wasn't the one where I worked, it was some other in the town. Recalling back my time at the cafe, I met Lara and Finn yesterday. It was such a pleasant time I had spent with them.

"We still have a good time left in flight so hot chocolate won't hurt? You'll feel good, come on wee-one," With that we both got off as he entered but I waited outside in the fresh air. Even it was freezing, it was calming in a particular way.

After the homecoming Blake had been gone and busy in something. I didn't ask cause it wasn't my business. He told me not to worry about Max and all. He got everything under cover.

Ethan never once knocked at my door, not that I was waiting but a little part of me wished.

Did I want him?

Sighing I turned my head slightly but jerked in it as I saw someone standing at the corner of the cafe, particularly disguised. It didn't take me a second to recognize her as I kicked off my chair and sauntered in her direction and put my arms around her slender body.

"Aunt Jane!" Tears formed in my eyes as I didn't let her go. "Where have you been God I missed you?"

When was the last time I saw her?

Patting my back before pulled back I noticed her changed demeanor. She was wearing a huge sunglasses when it wasn't even sunny and a scarf tied over her head which was unusual.

"Let's take a seat Aria. I'll tell you everything before it gets too late."

°°°°°°

"What?" My eyes popped opened as I couldn't believe her words. "You were kidnapped? By whom and how are you?"

Removing her sunglasses she placed them on the table of the cafe as we sat outside. I gasped as my hands flew to my mouth.

"Aunt...Your eye..." Looking horrified around her featured I couldn't help but just stared in disbelief and bewilderment. Not just eye her body looked weak. I looked behind but Blake was still inside.

What was taking him so long?

Turning my attention back to Aunt, I saw that around her left eye she had a huge purple bruised, making me think if that was why she was wearing shades when it wasn't sunny today. Her lips cracked and bruised and her cheeks were swollen as if she was hit multiples times.

"Who did this Aunt?" Placing my hand over her in empathy, I noticed a long cut on her wrist which looked old enough to weeks.

Without hesitating she took a deep breathe like it hurt her throat to speak."It was Richard Aria, My husband."

What?

Frowning to her I couldn't comprehend a word. Mr. Anderson as in Ethan's father but why would he do that to his own wife?

"I know you must be thinking why would he hurt his own wife but believe me Aria, that man has no heart but he only cares for his business. He does what's good for himself and his fake reputation. It won't be surprising if I tell you that this wasn't the first time he raised his hands on me."

Gulping the bile that rised my throat I blinked back tears. Every inch of my skin burned as she spoke.

"Ethan and I have suffered a lot Aria. More than one can think of," Dropping her head down she closed her eyes.

"How did you escape them?"

She raised her head to me in a swift before shook her head. "I didn't Aria. I never escaped. I was saved. Your brother saved me with police. Somehow Ethan contacted him and here I am. It's just been a day and I was looking for you like this. I had no other way but to disguise and find you without being caught as Richard is still out somewhere-

Seeing as a shudder passed her body I thought to cut her off. "It's okay Aunt, if it was Blake who helped you than he must've arranged everything for your safety and about Mr. Anderson he'll be behind bars very soon. He can't hurt you anymore."

Seeing her sniffing, it broke my heart to see her breaking apart. It was like I was watching mom and that was something no one ever wanted to witness. No doubt we all were connected and trapped by Mr. Anderson and his wicked games. That man had no dignity.

Tracing my finger over her scar on her wrist carefully not to hurt her I asked.

"What's this one? Did you yourself...."

Did she try to commit...no no!

Hiding her wrist under her sleeve she didn't meet my gaze as she pulled her sleeve down. "I had no other choice Aria. It was too much for me and I knew I wasn't the only one suffering, Ethan was too and it effected you too Aria."

"What me? How-

Before I'd say something she opened her bag and took out something which gave me a shiver down my spine.

It was that same blue velvet cover diary. Beth's diary.

"H-ow do you h-hve it?" Somehow words left my mouth but my eyes were fixed on the square little thing.

Sliding over the table towards me she finally met my fearful eyes.."Open it Aria and read it for me."

Shaking my head vigorously I looked up. "I can't-

"Yes you can Aria. Do it."

With my trembling hands I eyed it before gulped and opened the cover. I had no idea what would I find in it. What Ethan said that night about written in it still haunted me. I mean thinking about reading bully words about yourself, confessed by someone so close to you.

No!

But it was blank. I breathed out deeply and turned another page with my heart sinking more and more but it was blank and just like that the whole journal was empty. Nothing, not even a word was written in it. It was like it was never opened before. My brows sunk as I looked up at Aunt in bewilderment.

"Why is it...empty? And why do you have it?"

Putting back the diary in her bag she smiled for the first time since we'd been talking. "Cause it's my diary Aria, it's a norma diary I bought to write daily things but I never used it."

That was it. My head started spinning. Closing my eyes I took deep breathes and calm myself down. I couldn't let Panick attack take over myself out here.

"Aria? You okay sweetie?...Look I'm sorry. I know this is all too much for you to sink in but I had to tell you this."

Biting my lip my ran my hand through my hair and growled lowly holding my head in my hand. The fact that I never opened or read that diary that day.

Shit!

"Aunt.. Tell me clearly. Everything is spinning in circles please. Ethan told me that was Beth's diary in which she.....she wrote that I bullied her...which I know I never did? Then why?" Seeing my desperate expressions, Aunt looked around before leaned over the table.

"It was all a game Aria. A game this monster planned. It wasn't Ethan but Richard. You have no idea what he can do. He used Ethan for his own good," Rearfully she said. "Ethan wants to talk to you Aria. He couldn't tell you this all because we were at stake."

"We? What are you saying Aunt?"

"The night you all went to the trip, Richard called Ethan and threatened him to come back or he'd hurt me. He saw you both were getting close again which was something he truly hate with all his heart. I knew he'd make Ethan pawn in his game cause my son is very sensitive about the ones he loved Aria. Then when he came back Richard ordered him to do all what he did and made you believe that this was all fake Aria. It wasn't. Ethan could never betray you. Everything was real. His love was real," Unfolding the truth she wore her glasses back.

At this point I didn't realize that tears were streaming down my face and I was shaking. I was losing control.

So he did all that to save us?

"Talk to him Aria, I beg, don't leave him in the midst of chaos. He will never come out this darkness he was pushed in. Only you can do that. As a mother I beg. Talk to him and he'll tell you the rest of it," With pleading eyes she stood up and hugged me one last time. "I have to go and I hope things sorted out between you two. I love you sweetie."

With that she disappeared in an alley, left me all disturbed once again and helpless where nothing I could do anymore.

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