Aria paced with her phone pressed to her ear. “Mike, it’s me. Still wondering where you are, okay? I’m at the park, trying to give you your keys, so pick up.”

You walked a step behind, arms crossed. “No luck?”

She groaned, spotting a figure on a bench. “Mike!” Aria called, breaking into a jog.

You followed, trying not to laugh as she reached the stranger, who turned out to be a complete random guy.

Aria froze. “Oh… sorry.”

You covered your mouth to hide the chuckle bubbling up, only for your gaze to slide past her. Jason was across the court, spinning a basketball in one hand, wearing nothing but a grey tee and shorts. You caught yourself staring only to realize Aria was staring too. Your jaw tightened.

She spun around quickly, cheeks flushed, and you forced yourself to follow, though not before giving Jason a small smile. He returned it, subtle but unmistakable.

“Lewis!” Aria called to another guy passing by. “Hey, do you know where I can find Mike?”

He shrugged. “Got me.”

“But he usually plays here, right?”

“Not for a couple months. Haven’t seen him. Sorry.” Lewis walked off.

Aria’s face fell. “No, no, no, no… he usually plays pick-up here almost every day.”

You touched her arm gently. “It’s okay. We’ll find him.”

Just then, a basketball rolled to your feet. You bent to pick it up, your fingers brushing the worn leather. Jason walked over, sweat-slick hair falling into his eyes.

“Hey,” you said softly.

“Hi” his voice dropped, his gaze sticking to you before flicking to Aria.

“You haven’t seen my brother, have you?” she asked quickly.

Jason shook his head. “No, sorry. He gave you the slip?”

“Yeah, something like that,” she muttered.

Jason’s mouth curved, but his eyes lingered on you. “I was always lying about where I was at his age.”

The air between you tightened, memories and meaning flickering in the glance you shared. You couldn’t help the small smile tugging at your lips.

You and Aria left the court, her frustration with Mike still simmering. The gravel crunched under your shoes as the two of you walked side by side, the silence stretching until Aria finally broke it.

“Okay,” she said, glancing at you. “What was that back there?”

You tilted your head. “What was what?”

Aria frowned. “Jason. He barely looked at me, but he couldn’t stop staring at you.”

You shrugged, feigning casualness even though your heart was still racing from that smile he’d given you. “Maybe you’re imagining things.”

“I’m not,” Aria shot back quickly. “You smiled at him. He smiled at you. It was like this… thing was happening right in front of me, and I wasn’t even invited.”

Your lips curved just slightly, but you didn’t give her the satisfaction of an answer. “Aria, you’re overthinking. Jason’s… Jason. He looks at everyone like that.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Not like that.”

Aria shoved her phone into her pocket with a sigh, muttering about Mike under her breath. But when she looked at you again, her eyes narrowed in that sharp, calculating way you hated.

“You know…” she began slowly, “the way Jason looked at you, it wasn’t nothing.”

You tensed. “Aria—”

*She cut you off, lowering her voice even though it was just the two of you on the street.$ “Are you… are you and Jason…?” Her eyes widened, the words barely leaving her lips. “Oh my God. You are, aren’t you?”

You stopped walking for a second, heart hammering, caught between denial and the urge to smile. Aria spun to face you fully, pointing at your expression like she’d solved a riddle.

“I knew it!” she whispered harshly. “That’s why you smiled at him back there. You two are–”

You swallowed, forcing your face back into something neutral. “Aria, you’re imagining things.”

But the slight smirk tugging at your lips betrayed you, and she gasped, covering her mouth.

“Unbelievable. You and Jason Dilaurentis.”