New Beginnings

Chapter One

New Beginnings

Chapter One

Aria

I knew he'd go one day, but I hoped every day that it wouldn't be this soon. The frigid air blew sifted through the cemetery as everyone took the tissues out of their pockets, and the atomsphere was filled with mourning as the men put Holden into the ground. Everyone was stale in their black attire, and just kept telling me "It's going to be okay," or "I can only imagine how you feel." I didn't want their pity, what happened, happened and there was nothing I could do to bring him back. I just wished I could've been a better wife to him because he deserved better.

I couldn't help but think that this was all my fault. If we hadn't been fighting and he didn't walk out the door, he wouldn't have gotten into that car and drove so far away to get himself killed. I more felt sorry for my daughter Mia than I did myself, she had just lost her dad.

She sobbed into my shoulder and I joined her. I loved him so much and I questioned to myself whether I could ever love again. Mia and I took our roses and placed them at the his casket, and that was it.

*Two years later*

I scrambled through the kitchen to find Mia's lunch box, and she was getting anxious as the bus approached. I don't function at 7:00 am, and this house was too big. I lunged over the couch and dived down to look under and there it was, the lunch box. It was Mia's first day of middle school, and I was determined not to screw this up for her. I packed her turkey sandwich, juice box and two fresh chocolate chip cookies.

"Mom I'm going to be late!" Mia yelled.

"I'm coming baby girl," I panted as I arrived to the door and handed her the lunch. I kissed her on the forehead, fixed her shirt and  wished her good luck. "I love you!"

"I love you too!" Mia exclaimed as she waved and climbed onto the bus. I was so proud of her, she had already become so independent. Even though she wasn't my biological child, she still felt like she was mine. Holden and I adopted her after my struggle to get pregnant. We adopted her from Detroit three years ago, and we've loved her ever since. People said she looked like me, with her hazel eyes and brown hair, and she didn't seem to mind that she was adopted. Her parents were murdered by robbers. 

I grabbed my cup of coffee and lounged on the couch thankful that I didn't have work today. I reached over to the coffee table and took the picture of Holden into my hands. Today marked the two year anniversary of his death. I missed his smile and humor, and my mind went back to the day he had proposed.

Holden had been competing in a national karate compettition and I had been screaming like an obnoxious fan-girl. He was in the finals, going against Jake, who was complete tool which I failed to realize before so I was looking forward to Holden kicking his miserable ass.

After about a half hour of power kicks and punching, Jake was defeated and on the ground trying to preserve the little bit of dignity he had left. The crowd was in full cheer, and I had never seen Holden so happy in his life. The annoucer came and handed him his trophy, and he took the microphone for him.

"I'm so grateful for this, and I've worked so hard. I couldn't have won this without the support of my family and beautiful girlfriend Aria who is sitting up there. will you come down here please?" He stammered and I climbed down and hugged him. He reached into his pocket, and he pulled out the infamous little black box and opened it. He got down on one knee. The crowd and I was in awe. "Aria Montgomery, will you marry me?"  Everyone stared at me and I smiled.

"Yes!" I exclaimed and the crowd roared and I kissed him and he spun me around. I snapped out of it and put the picture down. I went into the kitchen to clean the dishes and I heard the door open.

"Aria, are you home?" It was Hanna, and I put the plate back into the sink, I went into the bathroom to fix my hair.

"Have a seat, I'll be out in a minute!" I yelled.

I came out of the bathroom to see that Hanna had brought her boyfriend Gabe over. Gabriel Holbrook had become a very good friend of ours and we got to know him well. After Alison returned back into our regular lives, it gave him and Hanna some time to bond. Gabe was hesitant about starting a relationship with Hanna, thinking it would interfere with his work. Hanna's very pesuasive, so she finally won his heart. It came as bit of a shock to us when Hanna had admitted that she liked him, but he was sexy so we couldn't blame her. He was still a police officer but he was out of our hair and Hanna was happy so we were all happy. Gabe had his arm around her as they got all mushy and I cleared my throat.

"Sorry," Gabe said, kissing Hanna's cheek.

"Holbrook, always a pleasure. But please, no PDA on the couch...What's up Han?" I said awkwardly."How are holding up? Since today is.." Hanna mumbled.

"I know, you don't have to cut yourself off. I've been down all day but it's nice to think about the moments I had with him," I said.

"I'm sorry Aria. He loved you, a lot. We all loved him....Did you hear the news?" Hanna said, changing the subject. I rose my eyebrows in confusion.

"What news?" 

"Rosewood High is having reunion, can you believe it? We all have to go!" Hanna exclaimed. She leaned her head onto Gabe's shoulder and I sat back on my recliner. Bad memories came back from Rosewood High, I hadn't been back there ever since I graduated. A was out of our lives for good, but certain people came back into my mind.

"I don't know Hanna..." I stammered.

"Aria, you can't just isolate yourself from the world. Holden's gone, but it doesn't mean you have to make yourself miserable for the rest of your life. Who knows, maybe you'll find a guy at the reunion, and fall in love again. I can't see you like this hun, I don't know if Mia, Spencer or Emily can either," Hanna explained. "What do you say? We can get fancy dresses and just have a great time. Live your life Aria, you're still young." She slid over a flier for the event and I skimmed through it. I sighed.

"Okay."