Hey guys! So this is my new Ezria fanfic. I will still be updating Fairly Foolish until I'm done with it, but I couldn't wait to post this! I was going to wait until I was done with Fairly Foolish, but I wanted to share now! So please please read and review! The next chapter of this probably won't be up for a few weeks, while I work more on Fairly Foolish.

Read and review!

Amanda

Chapter One:

My sparkling new silver spurs clicked against the off-white concrete floor as I walked down the long barn aisle toward my eight year old Quarter Horse's stall.

"Hey girl," I whispered when I reached the stall. The big black mare peered at me with large, round, soft eyes, whinnying softly. Grabbing the halter off of the door, I unlatched it and slid it open, stepping inside the stall. "Chaska how do you always end up with hay in your water bucket?" I scolded. Chaska pinned her ears back, something she'd done when she got in trouble since she was a baby. I figured she could sense the change in the tone of my voice. Fastening the bejeweled halter over her head and clipping the lead rope to the end, I gazed over her sleek body. In great shape from working and running, her muscles were prominent and the veins in her legs and neck stood out, a shade blacker than the rest of her body. I owned Chaska since the moment she was born, after all her mother was my mom, Ella's, horse. The registered name I'd given her was Love's Last Rendezvous, a combination of her mother and father's registered names, Love's Gonna Come Around and His Last Rendezvous. But from the moment she had first stood, just seconds after being born, I knew she was going to be a star, and so I had given her the barn name Chaska, which meant Star. It came of course with several nicknames, Chassie and Chas being the two I called her frequently.

I stroked Chaska's forelock as I led her out of the stall and toward the crossties, two lead ropes, each one attached to one side of the wall that hooked to a horse's halter where they stood in the middle of the aisle way to be brushed and saddled. I pulled a brush out of my tack box that was set against the wall and began grooming Chaska. Dust flew off her gorgeous midnight black coat as the brush bristles combed across her stocky body. She let out a high-pitched whinny in pleasure.

"That feels good doesn't it girl?" I placed the brush back in the tack box and grabbed the comb, raking it through Chassie's long black mane and tail. When I was finished brushing, I quickly picked Chaska's hooves and then made my way to the tack room to fetch the saddle pad, saddle, and bridle. Returning to Chassie, I set the saddle and bridle beside the tack box and turned back to Chassie with the saddle pad in my hand. Carefully I centered it on the middle of her back, and then placed the saddle on top, making sure it was centered as well before tightening the cinch. Finally I picked up the bridle, moving toward Chaska's head.

"Okay, Chassie, open up." I guided, slipping my fingers in-between her soft, fuzzy lips to get her to open her mouth. Chassie took the bit in her mouth, rolling her tongue across the cold metal. After untying her from the crossties I picked up the reins and led her down the aisle toward the large indoor arena.

Tonight was my first lesson with Rosewood Stables and Arena's new trainer, Ezra Fitz. I didn't know a thing about him other than his name and the rumor swirling around the barn that he was extremely good looking, and considering it was a rumor, I didn't know how true it was. I glanced out the huge garage door that was used for hay and horses as I passed by. Outside the barn, snow danced from navy skies, drifting steadily to the ground and piling up on the already five inches that had fallen the previous day. Despite it being January 6th, there hadn't been much snow to hit Rosewood yet. Usually we had a foot or two of snow by this time of year.

I was still thinking about the lack of snow when I turned the corner at the end of the stalls and ran into something. Steady hands caught my shoulders before I fell. I let out an involuntary gasp when I looked up and realized who it was.

Ezra Fitz towered a few inches over me. His subtle muscular physique looked absolutely flawless in his Wrangler jeans and blue and white plaid shirt. He had chocolate curls that cascaded down to his brow and just enough stubble across the lower half of his angular face. But the feature that had caused me to gasp in utter shock was his eyes; ice-blue orbs, accentuated by his blue and white shirt, that were locked directly onto my chocolate brown eyes. Ezra Fitz was every bit as handsome as the rumors going around about him had stated. The man was drop-dead-gorgeous, er, drop-dead handsome.

When I finally caught my breath I stepped back. "Sorry, I … didn't see you there." I stuttered. Great now I just made a fool of myself if front of this gorgeous creature.

"You must be Aria Montgomery." He smiled, flashing perfectly straight pearly whites.

"Yes, and you must be Ezra Fitz?"

"Yes ma'am." He held out his hand and I instantly felt awkward. I just stumbled into this guy and now he wants me to shake his hand. I reached out and took his hand. His grasp was strong and steady.

"It's nice to meet you." I muttered, barely able to get the words past my lips.

Ezra nodded. "Are you ready to get started? You have a gorgeous horse by the way."

My cheeks flushed scarlet. "Thank you, and yes, we are ready."

"Alright, why don't you warm her up? That way I can get an idea of what you need to work on."

I nodded, leading Chaska into the arena. Ezra shut the gate behind us and watched as I checked to make sure the saddle was tight enough before climbing up into it. I asked Chassie for a walk and she immediately began plodding around the arena, pricking her ears forward happily. After a few laps around the arena at a walk, I coaxed Chaska into a trot, posting flawlessly on every diagonal.

"Wow, you're really good." Ezra complimented as I passed him on the rail.

"Thanks, I've been riding for years. Whoa." I added, and Chaska came to a stop. I led her around in a circle so that she and I were facing Ezra.

"Then why do you need lessons?"

"Just to keep up mostly, but my barrel pattern needs a little work. That's what the previous trainer was working with me on."

"I see. Well once you've warmed up a bit more we'll set up the barrels so I can see how you do." I nodded, lightly spurring Chaska in the sides and taking off at a trot again. I trotted and loped Chaska around the arena a few more times and then came to a halt in front of Ezra. He quickly ran out and placed the barrels in their triangle shaped pattern.

"Okay, now let's see how you're pattern is; take her around the barrels at a trot." I trotted toward the left hand side of the arena, so that I was lined up in the middle of the first and second barrel. I kicked Chaska back up into a trot, guiding her to the first barrel on our right. Our turn was wide as we came around and out of the turn, taking off toward the second barrel. The second turn was perfect, Chaska using her butt to get up and around the barrel. Keeping Chassie at the trot we plodded across the arena to the third barrel, at the tip of the triangle. Again the turn was too wide as we came around the barrel. Seconds later we were halting in front of Ezra. My heart was beating fast, surging with adrenaline from the run or the fact that Ezra Fitz was watching I couldn't tell.

"Great, you're first and third need, work, but I'm assuming you know that. Chaska's an amazing horse. What times are you guys running right now?"

"15.9's and 16.0's mostly. Sometimes a 15.8 if she's having a really good day."

"Well, after more work on those barrels she will be running high 14s, low 15s easily." I smiled, patting Chaska's neck. "Why don't you walk her out and meet me in the lounge after your done un-tacking her?" I noticed a small smile play across his lips and wondered what he was thinking. I nodded my head, a smile creeping onto my lips.

Ten minutes later I was walking into the huge and ultra-modern lounge. It was my favorite place to be when I wasn't riding. Comfortable leather couches sat in the middle of the room, positioned in front of a large flat-screen T.V and a fireplace that was always lit in the winter. Bookshelves filled with all kinds of equestrian material sat under a windowsill next to a desk that harbored a laptop with Wi-Fi access. A well-stocked mini fridge sat opposite the desk, a microwave on top. Next to that was a small circular table; perched on top was a coffee pot.

Golden firelight spilled across the room, the fires' reflection dancing in the windowpane. Ezra was sitting on one of the couches, sipping a cup of steaming hot coffee. He stood up when he noticed me come in the door, setting his cup down on the coffee table.

"I was … wondering …" He paused, his sky blue eyes taking in my just-rode-a-horse look, before landing on my eyes. "I was wondering, if you would like to join me for dessert?"