"Mr. Fitz?"
Ezra looked up from the stack of last week's tests he was grading and smiled at Mona, who seemed to have more personalities than one person should be allowed and a separate wardrobe to go with each. He had noticed that ever since the fire at the lodge she had gone back to her trendy, stylish clothes and favored side ponytails. He couldn't help but wonder if this was the real Mona or just a façade. "Mona. What's up?"
She entered the room and noted that it was empty other than the two of them. "I just stopped by to pick up Aria's assignments to take over to her."
Aria had been absent for a week. Ezra had noticed, but hadn't worried until the third day. He had asked her friends if she was okay, like any teacher would. They could have told him that she had some sort of stomach flu and would be back soon, but they had been honest with him. None of them were exactly sure why she wasn't at school. She wasn't feeling well, but they weren't sure if she was sick or if it was something else.
"Is she feeling any better?" he asked as he took a small stack of papers out of his desk drawer and handed them over.
Mona shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's been a week. I assume she's getting better because I haven't heard anything otherwise, but I haven't actually talked to her in a few days."
She took the papers and tucked them into her bag, flashing Ezra a smile. "Thanks. I'll tell her you asked."
"Okay." He said as she turned and headed for the door. "Mona."
Mona paused and turned back to face him.
"Can I ask you something?"
There were students and faculty members still in the hallway so she discretely closed the door and walked back over to his desk, looking into his eyes. "Why me?"
Ezra's first instinct was to deny that that had been his question because of the direct way she was looking at him. He quickly realized that there was no sense in denying it. She knew he was wondering and she would know he was lying. Lying to Mona, after everything she had put the girls, and him, through over the last couple of years simply seemed like a waste of time. So he didn't. "Yeah."
Mona's face softened as she smiled. "It does seem a little weird, doesn't it? After everything I've done."
She paused for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to word it. She couldn't exactly tell him that A was still at large and was now forcing her and the girls to work together whether they liked it or not. Or could she? He knew a lot already, but she knew that Aria hadn't told him everything and she wasn't sure spilling the whole truth right now would help her out any with the girls.
She lied easily. It was as natural as breathing. "We've decided to see if we can put the past behind us and be friends. To be perfectly honest, I practically had to beg the other girls to let me bring Aria her assignments. None of them really trust me yet. I'm trying to take it one baby step at a time and prove to them that they can trust me. That I'm done with A, and that I'm sorry."
"Are you?" Ezra asked.
Mona nodded. "Yes, Ezra. I am truly sorry for everything."
She wanted to tell him that she hadn't been the one pulling all the strings, but she didn't. Instead, she simply hoped that he believed her and could forgive her.
"I want to believe you." He said.
"But you're not sure if you can." She finished. "I still have to earn your trust too.'
He nodded slightly and switched back to teacher mode when Mrs. Welch came in. "If Aria has any questions tell her to come see me when she gets back. And tell her I hope she's feeling better soon."
"I will." Mona said, glancing over her shoulder at Mrs. Welch and smiling as if nothing out of the ordinary had been going on. "Have a nice weekend Mr. Fitz!"
"You too Mona." Ezra said and turned his attention to his colleague.
Mona left the room and paused in the now nearly empty hallway. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She wasn't relieved that Mrs. Welch hadn't overheard their conversation. She was relieved that Ezra had remained civil and that she hadn't broken down and begged him to forgive her. She was relieved that he seemed to be able to treat her like any other student even though he knew that she had been the one messing with his relationship with Aria.
"Mona? Are you okay?"
Mona looked up and saw Hanna. She smiled weakly and nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm gonna go drop off Aria's homework. Wanna come with?"
"I would, but I have a thing with Caleb." Hanna said.
It might be true, but Mona knew that Hanna was using it as an excuse. Hanna was having a harder time accepting Mona into the group than the rest of them. Mona understood that and tried hard not to let it hurt her, though she desperately wanted to get back to where they had once been. She smiled again. "Okay. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah. Bye." Hanna waved and walked in the opposite direction.
Mona glanced back at Ezra's doorway, sensing his presence and realized that he had witnessed that whole little scene between her and Hanna. She smiled and turned away, walking down the hall as if nothing were wrong.
Ezra watched her disappear around the corner and realized that he felt sorry for her. She had brought it on herself, but it had to be hard for her trying to fit back in.