"THE BITCH IS DEAD!" blared out of the speakers as the picture of Ali caught on fire.

Aria panicked and her eyes searched the room as she heard the gasps and saw the shock on people's faces. Her eyes found the one face in the crowd she was looking for – Ezra Fitz. His blue eyes shot up to meet her wide and horrified hazel ones. She gulped as she saw Mrs. DiLaurentis get up from her seat and flee the horrible sight. Jason followed closely behind after taking one last glance at the unbelievable sight behind him – a picture of his dead sister with the words 'EVIL BITCH' scrawled carelessly in bright red. Aria tried to catch his gaze, but he walked away without looking in her direction.

"Aria," Ezra said as he walked up to her, "Are you okay?"

His eyes searched her face for answers, but she didn't have any.

She shook her head because she didn't trust her voice to say the words she wanted to.

She heard Spencer's, Hanna's, and Emily's heels clacking on the runway as they approached her.

"Mr. Fitz," they all said awkwardly.

"Girls," he replied in the same manner, "I just wanted to see that you were all alright. This is…"

"Yeah," Spencer interrupted, "I know."

Aria took a shaky breath as Noel Kahn approached her,

"Do you want this back?" he said with a sly smile.

Aria shot him a nasty glare, "I assumed this was yours."

Ezra took the CD out of Noel's hand, "I don't think anyone wants to claim this," Ezra said calmly as he snapped it in half.

He received a nod from Jason, who was standing across the room, assuring him that he made the right move.

"Aria," Ezra said evenly, "Can I talk to you for a moment – alone?"

The girls all exchanged knowing looks as he walked ahead of her and towards the back room.

She nodded as she moved her unstable legs towards the makeup tables and changing rooms behind the stage.

"Are you alright?" Ezra asked as his striking eyes met hers.

He held her gaze as her hazel eyes brimmed with tears.

Ezra pulled her into a tight embrace as the tears fell from her eyes,

"I'm so glad you could make it tonight," she whispered into his blazer clad chest.

He kissed the top of her head in response.

"Do you have any idea who did this?" Ezra asked as he pulled away so he could study her face and gauge her emotions.

Aria took a deep breath, "No," she said honestly, "But everyone is going to think it was us, and just when we were in the public eye doing something good."

Ezra took in her tear streaked porcelain cheeks, her dark eye makeup had run from its previous location, and her eyes were becoming puffy and red.

"No one is going to think that. Everyone saw the looks on your faces, you were just as shocked as the rest of us," Ezra said soothingly as he brushed a piece of dark hair out of her face.

Aria sniffled as she carelessly rubbed her cheek, smudging more of her makeup.

Ezra tried to stifle a laugh as he looked at her appearance.

"What's so funny?" she said as her eyebrows furrowed in annoyance that he could find her current situation in the least humorous.

Ezra shook his head as a boyish smile played across his lips. He reached out and gently rubbed some of her misplaced makeup away. He leaned in and lightly kissed her on the lips.