Ezra
Ezra and Aria. Aria and Ezra. Those very two names together ran through Ezra Fitz's mind over and over again, as he lay on his sofa watching football on TV. He had a terrible headache from the excessive amounts of alcohol he'd drank the night before, and was having a lazy day in. Like any lazy day, he wore loose grey joggers and a Hollice t-shirt. Also, a plate of cookies sat in front of him ready to be eaten. Though, Ezra didn't feel like eating at all. Nothing would be able to take his mind from what had happened the night before.

Telling Arias parents about his and Arias relationship was always not going to go well. Over the period of 6 months they spent together as a couple, this thought had ran through Ezras mind over and over again. Every time he'd seen Ella ( Arias mum) or Byron ( Arias dad) he'd felt extremely guilty from keeping it from them. But yesterday Ezra had, had to tell them the truth, otherwise Jackie would. Jackie had threatened Aria, and Ezra hated that. He never wanted Aria in danger, and hated seeing her get hurt. He loved her. But now they were over, all because of Jackie and Arias parents.

He had hoped that telling Arias parents would go well, but of course it hadn't. They both now hated Ezra, and were mad that him and Aria had been together while Ezra was her teacher. After Mike had punched him in the face, Aria said that it was best if he left. Now Aria was grounded, unable to use her phone to call him or leave the house. Meaning that they were over. Bryon and Ella had split them up for good.

Yesterday, Ezra had drunk a lot of alcohol to take his mind off of the fact that him and Aria weren't together anymore. It hurt his heart to know that he would never be able to kiss her or touch her again. It was cheesy to think that, and he knew it. But he couldn't help it, he loved her more than he'd loved anyone else before, and he was now heartbroken.

A knock at the door broke Ezra from his thoughts. Turning the TV off, he stood up with a sigh, and opened the door. His eyes widened as he saw Bryon Montgomery, standing there with a hard expression.

" Bryon… Um, Hi. Come in." Ezra said nervously. Bryon stepped into the house, and stared at Ezra with a look of hate in his eyes. It was strange now to think that Ezra and Bryon had once been good friends, now Bryon loathed him. " Would you, er, like some water or bear?" Ezra asked politely, after standing there for a moment in awkward silence.

"No thank you. I won't be staying long." Byron replied emotionlessly, keeping his hands in his pockets. " Look, I'm here to give you another chance." He spoke after a few seconds of silence.

" Ok." Ezra responded with a small frown, curious to what Bryon was about to say. It didn't look as if Byron was going to punch him, which is what Ezra had expected him to do. But it also didn't look as if Byron had come to explain how he didn't mind Ezra and his daughter being together.

" I've made many mistakes myself, as you probably know, and I'm not proud of it. This has been a really hard year for Aria, and I know myself that's it's hard to control a student – teacher relationship. You were there for Aria, in a way that her parents couldn't be, and for that I am slightly grateful. But you have to know that this relationship was going to come to an end. Aria is a teenager; she doesn't know what she means when she says she loves you. You have to know that this inappropriate relationship was a mistake, that one day you will regret too. I'm here to offer you a second chance Ezra, I want you to tell me right now that you're never going to see or talk to Aria again, that your relationship was one big mistake." Ezra looked down towards the floor once Byron was done explained. He couldn't just admit to Byron that he didn't love Aria when he did.

" I understand, Mr Montgomery, how you see mine and Arias relationship. But we've been together for 6 months, and I love your daughter. I can't just say that this was one mistake, when it wasn't. I can't lie about it any longer." He replied after a few moments, watching as anger spread across Byron's face.

" She's been her hasn't she. This is where you too meet up to get together." Byron stated angrily, knowing that what he was saying was true. He stormed around the apartment for a moment, before turning to me again, pointing a stern finger at me. " I'm willing to give you a chance Ezra. There's a job down in New York to be head of the English department at a high school there. I want you to leave and go to New York, I want you to never see my daughter again, and not tell her why your leaving. If you don't, I will go to the police and tell them everything, meaning that you will be arrested and put in jail."

" I can't just leave without saying anything. I love her. Look you can punish me, but don't punish Aria." Ezra pleaded, knowing that him and Aria were never going to be the same again.

" If you love my daughter then you'll want what's best for her. Leave Ezra, so that she can have a normal life, get her own college degree and get a job, without having to worry about what everyone else thinks about it. It's what's best for her. You're not good for her. If you leave now, you will save yourself and my daughters reputation." Ezra never thought that Byron would end up threatening him, and that he would actually consider leaving Aria. But now he knew he had to. Byron was right, Aria needed a normal life until she got out of Rosewood. She'd already been through enough trouble with the police. Now if he didn't leave, then Byron would tell the police, and Aria would go through hell for the next few years. After a few moments of consideration, Ezra knew what he had to do to protect Aria.

" Fine. I'll leave. I'll take the job in New York. Just please don't punish Aria for this. None of it is her fault." Ezra agreed with a sigh, looking down towards the floor in dismay. A small smile now appeared on Byron's face, as he headed towards the door.

" You're doing the right thing Ezra. Thank you." And with that, Byron left. Collapsing back onto the sofa, Ezra placed his head in his hands, forcing the tears away from his eyes. He couldn't cry, he had to stay strong. This was the right thing for Aria. But was it the right thing for him?

That night Ezra didn't sleep at all, he just sat there staring at the TV, with a cup of tea and a blanket. Once morning came, Ezra reluctantly got ready for work, knowing he would have to pack up things from his office. He'd already received a call saying that they were ready for him down in New York, and were glad that he'd accepted. Rosewood college already knew he was leaving, Byron had sorted it all out for him. Ezra wanted to feel happy that he was moving on with his life, but he knew that he would never be happy with a life, that Aria wasn't in.

While he was getting changed, he heard his home phone ring, but didn't bother answering it, letting it go to answer phone. He heard his answer phone message, and the beep before Arias angelic voice rang through his ears.

" Hey…" She began softly, and Ezra's heart broke further as he heard her voice. " I'm calling from Hanna's phone since I'm scared my dad's going to go through my phone bill. I miss you already and just wanted to hear your voice again." Ezra sighed at her words, as another beep sounded from the phone, meaning that the message was over.

He was going to miss Aria, and Ezra knew he would probably never get over her. His expression stayed glum, as he drove to and entered the college he worked at – or use to work at. On his way in, his passed Jackie who had a mischievous grin on her face when she saw him, but he only glared at her as he walked by, entering his office. If there was anyone to blame for this mess it was Jackie. She'd ruined him and Aria, just like she'd wanted. Once he'd thought he loved Jackie, now he saw her for who she really was, a heartless bitch.

Trying to get rid of the anger coursing through his body, Ezra began to pack his things into boxes, ready to leave. After a few hours, he was nearly done and all that was left to pack was a photo frame and a few books. He'd been careful to avoid the photo frame, as behind the picture of his parents, brother and sister, was a few photos of him and Aria together. Some part of him knew that even if he binned the photos, leaving Aria wouldn't hurt any less. So he decided in his mind that he would keep them, so that he would never forget her – even though he knew without the photos he never would forget her anyway.

" Mr Fitz?" A familiar voice said, and Ezra turned around to see Hanna standing at his office door, with a large blue box in her hands.

" Hanna." Ezra replied with a small frown, he wondered what she was doing here at his office. Did she know he was leaving?

" Look I just wanted to say that I know what happened with Arias parents, and that nobody else sees it that way." Ezra looked down to the floor, waiting for Hanna to notice the boxes. Like he thought, she spoke up after a few seconds. " Why are you packing?"

" I'm leaving Rosewood for a job in New York." He replied after a few moments, awaiting Hanna's expression.

"You're leaving?" Hanna gasped.

" Yes."

" But you love Aria! You can't just leave her like that! She'll be heartbroken and you know it. You can't just run away from your problems!" Hanna shouted at him, causing a few heads in the hallway to glance at his office.

" Yes I love her, but she's better off without me Hanna. She's already been through enough with the police, and now there's this with her parents. Its what's best for her." Ezra responded, a small idea popping into his head. No part in the deal had Byron mentioned that he couldn't stay in touch with one of Arias friends so he could check up on her to make sure she was ok.

" She'll be heartbroken!" Hanna exclaimed.

" I know she will Hanna. But I have to leave, otherwise things are just going to get worse, and I don't want her hurt. Look, I know it's a lot to ask, but if I give you my phone number will you call me if anything bad happens to her?" Ezra asked hopefully. He knew it was a lot to ask of Hanna, mostly because she would have to keep a secret from one of her best friends.

" Fine. If you really are leaving. But you have to say goodbye to Aria, I'll give her my phone again later so she can call you." Hanna ordered.
" Thank you. I really mean it. I'm never going to forget Aria, and I really do want what's best for her." Ezra said with a deep sigh, handing his phone number to Hanna.

" I know." Was all Hanna responded with, as she exited out the door. Picking up the picture frame, and taking the picture of his parents out, he stared for a moment at the few pictures he had of himself and Aria together – one of them being the first one they'd took together with bags over their heads. A small smile formed on his face as he recalled the memory, and he carefully lifted the two boxes he had and carried them out towards his car. After saying a quick goodbye to his boss, he headed home to pack the things in his apartment.

It took him a lot longer to pack everything from his apartment, he'd only just managed to find a flat to rent there in time, and now a moving truck was parked outside waiting for his furniture. Two men came up to help in, and Ezra made sure to pack all the things to do with Aria in a separate box. While he was packing away the final picture he had found of himself and Aria, his phone began to vibrate. Instantly, he pressed the answer button, knowing who it was.

" Hey." Her beautiful familiar voice rang down the phone, making Ezra's heart ache. The moment he had dreaded the most, had come.
" Hey." Was all he replied, his mind going blank.

" Look I know I shouldn't be calling, but I miss you and just wanted to hear your voice." She spoke down the phone, oblivious to what he was going to have to tell her.

" I know. I miss you too." Ezra replied truthfully, looking down towards the floor.

" I know you probably have to go since you're at work, but I wanted to say that I love you, and my parents will come round eventually." His heart ached again, and he squeezed his eyes shut as he began to speak again.

" Look you shouldn't call here anymore Aria. I'm not at work, I'm packing everything from my apartment. I've got a job in New York, and I'm leaving Rosewood today." Ezra spoke in a haste, trying to hide the regret in his voice.

"You're… you're leaving?" She gasped her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. It broke his heart to here this, but he knew it was the right thing to do.

" Yes."

" I thought you said you loved me, and now your just running away from the problem. My parents will come around Ezra! Then me and you can be together properly." Ezra could hear that she was trying not to start crying, and stay strong. Ezra knew Aria rarely cried unless she desperately needed to. Despite her size, Aria had always been strong and independent.

" I can't do this anymore Aria. I've already put you through enough. You're better off without me." A small cry echoed down the phone, causing Ezras heart to clench.

" At least let me see you before you go."

" You can't Aria, I've put you through enough. It will only be harder for both of us if we say goodbye in person."

" Ezra-." She began again, but Ezra cut her off before she could carry on, knowing the shorter the conversation the better. The more Ezra spoke to her, the more it hurt him.

" Look I need to go Aria. Goodbye." Quickly he hung up, repressing the urge to add an 'I love you' onto the end of that sentence. He'd done it, and soon he would be leaving Rosewood for good. But he wasn't happy about it, he was heartbroken. Only one question ran through his mind, as well as his continuous thoughts about Aria. Was this a mistake?

A pretty sad first chapter but i hope you enjoyed it anyway! There will be an update soon:) I'll hopefully update every week! I'm only onto the third season of PLL but i know that Ezra is A :( Which i'm sad about because i love Ezra+Aria! Anyway please leave a review to tell me if you like it or not;)

Disclaimer- I don't own PLL or any of the charecters so far.