Chapter One

"Ezra?"

Walking into the small apartment of her boyfriend, Ezra Fitz, Aria dropped her school bag onto the bed as she heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. Deciding to make some drinks for them, she headed to the small kitchenette where they had spent some amazing times together.

As she began to make two ice teas, her mind drifted to everything that has had over the last two years since he had become her teacher and then former. Life was good and she was about to finish high school but she had one dilemma: her choice of college for September.

She knew she wanted to go and she wanted to study Business Management with the hope of doing a teaching degree for elementary school. But there was only three schools she was really thinking about: Hollis and then one in New York and one in Logan, a beautiful town in Texas on the coast.

"Hey, sorry I needed a shower. Just been to the gym," Ezra said as he walked into the room, topless.

Smiling he walked straight over to her and wrapped his arms around her before kissing her softly. She moaned as she lost herself in the moment, her hands playing with the wet strands of the bottom of his hair. He smelt so good as he deepened the kiss.

"Miss me?" She giggled as she ran a hand down his chest.

"Yes but I've got something important to talk to you about and I don't know how your going to react."

Biting her lip, that didn't make her feel nervous at all. Of course it did because she couldn't imagine life without Ezra in it and they had fought so hard to be together.

"Okay what is it?" she asked as they walked over to the couch, holding the drinks.

"I had a phone call this afternoon from the Dean of the English department at Logan University. Aria, he offered me a job as one of the lecturers there. But before I accept I want to know are you really still wanting to go to Logan?"

Placing her drink down onto the table, she bit the inside of her lip. Going to Logan would be amazing, it was a stunning town with a beach and a harbour. But if she was being honest with herself she wanted to start a fresh with Ezra and Logan offered them that.

"Yes it's still my first choice for college and this would be an amazing opportunity and one we be mad to say no to. Ezra, it give us the chance to finally be a couple and not hiding."

"Oh we're no longer hiding," he grinned, flashing than smile that made her go weak. "I hoping you'll say that but my next question is: will you live with me in Logan? I love waking up with you and I want to make that more permanent."

Aria could feel the massive smile appearing on her face. She wanted that. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Moving to Logan and being a proper couple was the next natural step for them.

"Okay. I've got two more months left here before school finishes. I want you to be there when I graduate. I love you, Ezra, and I want to do this but I don't know how my father will react."

"We'll do this together. I love you, Aria, and I want to make this work."

"Me too and we will. So when do they want you to start?"

"August as they want me there for the beginning of the academic term."

"School finishes June so we can have a month to move and to settle in. So we're really doing this?"

"Yes we are."

She grinned as she bent forward and kissed him. The smile never disappeared on her face as she thought of the next step. In some ways, and she had discussed this with the girls, she hadn't wanted to be separated from Ezra. Aria had never wanted to see clingy but the thought of never seeing him for months on end, sent chills through her. This was the perfect solution.

"What about the brew?" She asked.

"I've thought about that and I'm going to hire a manager to take over. I'll still be the owner and we'll have that as a safety net. Don't worry about it, Aria. The place is doing really well and we'll be able to get a even nicer apartment."

"Okay." She grinned and nodded.

"Your what?" Spencer Hasting shouted.

"Ezra has been offered a job in Logan Bay as a lecturer for English. He missing teaching so much and this will be perfect," Aria stirring her coffee.

She along with Spencer had meet up Emily and Hanna for a catch up as they had all been busy away from school. Senior prom was coming up and that meant graduation and finals.

"We'll get an apartment together near the uni. I think we're ready and besides after prom everyone is going to know we're together."

"You're going to prom together?" Spencer asked.

Frowning Aria wondered why that was such a big deal. She and Ezra relationship had been public knowledge throughout her being in high school and she loved being with him. Going to prom together seemed like the natural next step. Prom was a very important night and one she wanted to share with the man she loved. They had been through so much together.

"Why? Is that a problem? You going with Toby?" She asked.

"No not at all."

"Good. I'm gonna go. I promised my dad I'll do the food shopping."

Standing up Aria flung her bag into her back and wondered why Spencer had a problem with Ezra coming to prom. It was a night she wanted him by her side, he was the only man she wanted by her side as they both said bye to Rosewood High.

Frowning she quickly headed out of her house and climbed into her jeep. The thought of not going to prom with Ezra wasn't a opinion and he would be at their graduation dinner, too. Yes it was strange but she didn't want it any other way.

An hour later she walked back into the house she would soon be leaving.

"Aria, is that you?" she heard the voice of her father ask.

"Yeah dad just getting back from the shop."

"Can you come into the living room please?"

Placing the bags down onto the floor she walked into the living room. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Ezra with her mam and dad waiting for her. It had been a while since she had seen her mum but she was glad to see her back.

"Mam! When did you get back?" she asked.

"Last night. Had a great time with Zack. Ezra asked for us to meet and talk.."

"Oh okay," Aria replied as she walked over to her boyfriend and sat down next to him. She never thought she'd see this sight.

"I thought we should tell your parents our plans together about Logan Bay."

"Logan Bay? Have you accepted the uni offer?" Ella asked.

"Yes I rang and accepted their offer this afternoon. I've got the full scholarship I hoped for but I've declined the halls offer."

"Why would you do that, Aria? Halls are the safest opinion available."

"Because I've been offered a job, Bryon, at Logan University teaching a new English course for under and graduate classes. I've been offered a fellowship with them and time to work on my writing. It means we're both planning on moving to Logan."

"What? She's eighteen. This isn't happening," Bryon growled.

"Dad, I'm leaving in August. We're going together. I love him and there is nothing you can do to stop this from happening. We've been together two years now nearly and it's time. If I stayed here I would be going to Hollis but Logan can offer me some amazing opportunities."

"Bryon, I love her and I plan to one day marry her. I think I've known from the day I met her that I would marry her. She's the only girl for me. After I got fired from Hollis, I went home but no matter how much I tried I couldn't stay away from her. I'm 100 per cent committed to Aria and our relationship. She's my future and this is a decision we've made together. Trust me, please, because once you did."

The words that came from Ezra touched her so deep. Aria, if she was being really truthful, knew she wanted to be his wife: to be Mrs Fitz. Hadn't Emily once said that, that she saw them marrying? Ezra had just confirmed that and it made her heart sweel.

"Okay but if you break her heart you'll have me to deal with. Aria, if you want you can start spending the weekends at Ezra's."

Her heart just stopped. Had she really just heard that? Ezra squeezed her hand before she turned to look at him, the smile said everything they had won the battle but little did they know that something was coming and it would test them more than they had ever been before.