E.P.O.V.
I was unaware of the tears streaming down my face from the shocking news I had just discovered about my "son" I needed someone to talk to. I picked up my phone and called the number I so desperately wanted to call for the past couple of months. I still loved her, there was no doubt about that, I was just hoping that there was some sort of small chance that she loved me too, especially in this moment. The phone kept ringing and ringing and my heart began to sink even more with each ring that she didn't pick up thinking that she wasn't going to answer. Why would she, I mean she basically ended it because I was trying to start a family with my "son", who I now find out isn't even my son to begin with, and she knew that she couldn't be a part of that family. She probably moved on from what I saw in the coffee shop the other day. She was talking to this guy who apparently had feelings for her and she seemed to be reciprocating those feelings back. I could tell by the way she looked at him. We used to look at each other the same way when we were sitting on the couch cooped up in my little apartment. She was laughing and smiling genuinely at him every time he talked. I could tell she liked him. A part of me is happy that she was able to move on but there was another part that felt like someone had ripped out my heart and set it on fire right before my eyes from seeing her with someone else that wasn't me. Who was I kidding she would never pick up any call coming from me.
A.P.O.V.
I was about to walk into the building were Jake's tournament was when my phone started to ring. I was half expecting it to be one of the girls with an update about what's going on over there but I was definitely not expecting his name to pop up across the screen. I stopped completely dead in my tracks. Just seeing his name sent a searing pain straight to my heart. Jake stuck his head out the door announcing that he was up next. I told him I would be right there and he went back inside. I probably should just ignore his call and act like it never happened especially since I'm on this "date" with Jake but there was this tugging on my heart that told me that I wanted… no, needed to answer his call. The call was on its twelfth ring, I needed to make a decision fast so I closed my eyes and my fingers made the decision for me. I looked down at the phone and the seconds were counting up the time. I was too nervous to speak right away. "…Hello?"
"Aria, hey…" his voice sounded kind of weak on the phone like he'd been crying, something was wrong.
"Hey, is everything ok? You don't sound so good" I didn't want to get his hopes up but I didn't want to crush his spirit even more…I'm not that cruel.
"Uh…no, it's not. Are you busy? I kind of need to talk to you, and I don't really want to do it over the phone." Man he sounded even worse
"I'm actually not in Rosewood right now; I'm in Philly…with Jake." The last part came out as a whisper
"Oh uh, sorry I didn't mean to disturb you. Um, I'm sorry I never should have called you. I'll let you get back to him."
"No it's ok…I should be back around eleven. Do you want to talk then, I could come over."
"Sure that's fine."
"Ok… I'll see you then" I hung up the phone but it didn't sound like he could wait till eleven. I went into the studio for Jake's tournament with a smile but I felt like I had just cheated on him by talking to Ez…him. I couldn't even say his name without it hurting.
Jake won 1st place and we went for burritos to celebrate. I took him to my favorite place that serves vegetarian burritos since I don't eat meat. We sat down on someone's stoop to eat and talk. I guess I felt kind of guilty about talking to Ezra and not telling Jake so I did the cheesiest thing ever and kissed Jake then asked if I hurt his jaw, and he fell for it and kissed me back. The first kiss was innocent, the second was sweet, and the third one had a little more heat to it. Jake took my face in both of his hands and kissed me like there was no tomorrow. In the beginning I thought about how good of a kisser he was but then my mind began to drift off to Ezra. I kept thinking about the night we first slept together. I thought about the way he kissed me. It was passionate yet forceful, sweet yet gentle. We couldn't get enough of each other like we needed to be with one another, like we would die from the absence of one another. Everyone says that your first time is supposed to hurt but with Ezra it didn't. We didn't have sex just for the pleasure, he made love to me because he loved me and I love him…I mean loved him. This thing with Jake had to stop; I can't lead him on anymore. I went home to change into a tank top and shorts before heading over to Ezra's.
E.P.O.V.
It was 10:30 when I saw someone's shadow from underneath my door. They were just standing there hesitating to knock so I got up and opened the door before they got a chance to. Aria was standing there looking like she was going to break down from the sight of me. She had that look every time she saw me, had I really hurt her that bad to the point where it was painful to look at me. I never wanted that to happen. I broke the silence first.
"Hey, you're early…"
"Yeah, sorry were you expecting someone else…is Maggie here?"
"No I'm not expecting anyone but you… and Maggie is gone….come in." she walked past me and I caught a combination of her body spray and shampoo. It was deliciously intoxicating. She smelt like cinnamon and cucumbers.
"What do you mean she's gone, what happened?"
"She left…she moved to Washington. It turns out she has been lying to me this whole time"
"Can she do that…what about Malcolm?"
"He isn't mine…" I walked from the door to the seat across from where she was sitting
"What, Ezra…I'm so sorry?
"It's ok I just came to terms with it a few hours ago. I started thinking about everything that could have happened if she hadn't…well if there was no Maggie then you and I might still be together…"as soon as I said that she got this look on her face like she knew where I was going with this and she couldn't bear to hear it or she really would break down, but I had to convince her that we belong together, that we needed each other.
"Ezra…" I got up and started pacing back and forth not knowing what to say next
"Don't get me wrong I love Malcolm I do, but…"
"Ezra we can't. I'm with Jake and…" I sat down again but this time right beside her. I needed her to look at me, to look in my eyes and see just how real and true my words were…how real and true I was.
"Do you love him?" she hesitated, which gave me a little hope
"Does it matter?" she was starting to put up her walls but she and I both know that I am the only one that came bring them right back down
"Not really, but let me ask you this" I look both of her hands in mine "…do you still love me?" she got completely silent and closed her eyes like she really didn't want me to see her cry. Then I saw a tear slip down her face and she opened her eyes. They were glistening from the tears that had yet to escape those breathtaking eyes. I let go of one of her hands to place mine on her cheek to brush away her tears with my thumb and I felt her lean into my hand a little. With her eyes still closed she nodded her head to answer my second question and right then I felt her break down.
"Aria, look at me" she was still looking down at her hands in her lap, so I put my other hand on her face to tilt her head up "…please, Aria" she looked up then and my heart broke from the sight of the tears streaming down her face and how sad and broken she looked "Aria Montgomery…I love you, I am in love with you." I made sure I spoke each word separately so that she could feel each one and let them sink in. It must have worked because she started to cry again, probably from relief of hearing those words from me, even after months of not seeing her day to day. I let her body crumple up into mine as I embraced her tightly with both of my arms. "I never stopped, I couldn't" I let her go once there in no way in hell I was gonna let her go now.
A.P.O.V
Hearing the man I was still in love with say those words to me, with sincerity in every word, made me feel a wave of raw emotions overcome me. It felt like I was drowning in them so I did the only thing I could. I fell into him and started to feel his arms wrap around me and I never wanted him to let go. He slowly took my face in his hands and tilted my head up. He brought his lips to mine in a heated and passionate kiss. This kiss was just like the night we first made love except the only difference was that instead of love being its source, we both let every emotion we had been building up for the past five months fuel this kiss, and that's what made it all the more passionate and wanted. He deepened our kiss by opening his mouth and sliding his tongue into mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and began to wind my fingers through his soft hair. That must of triggered something because I felt one of his hands go from my face, down my back, to my waist and hips, then my thigh, and to the back of my knee so he could swing my body onto his, so I was now straddling his lap. We sat there like that for a few minutes before I felt him pick me up and walk over to the bed, never once breaking the kiss. Ezra laid me on the bed gently and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. He started to kiss my jaw, down my neck to the base of it and with each one made me need him more "Ezra…" I purred his name into his ear showing him how desperately I needed him. I grabbed at the bottom of his shirt to pull it over his head then brought his lips back down to mine and he started pulling up my tank top. Once it was off, he began to kiss down my neck again all the way down to my stomach until he reached the top of my shorts and then unbuttoned them so he could pull them off. Ezra stopped to look over my body and admire me, seeing how I was in his favorite matching bra set with the blue leopard print pattern and lace. When our all of our clothes were disregarded, we spent all night together in pleasure filled bliss it. I fell asleep wrapped in Ezra's arms and laid my head on his chest, I'm glad I answered his call.