Disclaimer: I don't own PLL.
Chapter One
You look beautiful today – E xx
I smile at the text from Ezra before glancing up briefly to return his tentative smile. He glances back down at the notes on his desk and I return my attention to my phone, my fingers flying across the screen taping out a response.
You don't look so bad yourself hotstuff ;) – A xoxo
"Miss Montgomery." Ezra's strong voice carries across the lecture hall and pulls me from my deep thoughts. I look up, wide eyed and expectant.
"You know cell phones aren't allowed in class. I'm going to have confiscate your phone, you can get it back after class." He makes his way up the aisle and to my row.
My mouth is open, irritation flowing freely through me as he holds his hand out waiting.
I narrow my eyes at his smirking face once my phone is securely in his hand; he turns on his heels and makes his way back to the front of the room slipping my phone in his pocket as he goes.
I know I should smile at his playful behaviour, and meet him after class with a giggle and take my phone back before throwing myself at him but I just don't want to.
I'm annoyed and he's going to find out just how much.
It's been six weeks since we came clean to my parents and my relationship with my dad has been strained slightly. He doesn't say anything because he doesn't want to lose me but I know he doesn't approve.
Mum on the other hand has grown fond of Ezra, and she's been helping me navigate the tricky waters with my dad to help get our relationship on the mend.
I twirl my pen in my hands thinking back over the last six weeks, and how much of a scary time it has been, being in a loving relationship – one that's not just about sex.
Flashback
"Ezra, stop." I giggle as he continues to trail kisses along my neck.
"I need to get home." I half-heartily push him away from my neck.
"No. Stay." He tells me moving his lips to mine and giving me a soft kiss.
"I can't. Now, if you let us keep quiet about our relationship a little bit longer I could tell them I was at Spencers, but you opened your big mouth so I can't do that." He pouts before kissing me again, trying to slip his tongue into my mouth.
"Stay." He mumbles again.
"Ezra, my dad knows I'm here. I want to stay, you know I do. But I can't." He sighs before dropping his head onto my chest and listening to my heart beating for a few minutes.
I feel my eyes start to grow heavy, before I nudge him gently. He rolls off me and I get up from the couch, before leaning down and placing a sweet kiss on his lips.
"I love you." I whisper softly.
"I love you too." He replies with a smile.
The shrill sound of the bell echoes around the lecture hall and pulls me back to the present. Everyone is scrambling to get out of their seats and out the door before Ezra has even opened his mouth to give out tonight's assignment.
I just sit there watching as everyone scurries out; when the room has cleared I slowly get up off my seat and make my way to Ezra's desk in front of the board.
"My phone?" I ask, jutting my hip out and thrusting my open hand in his face.
He stands up with a smirk and quickly glances around checking the coast is clear before slipping his arms around my waist and pulling me in for a kiss.
I don't respond to his kiss and he pulls back, brows furrowed.
"Phone." I tell him eye brows raised.
"Aria, what's wrong." He asks, his hand moving to the side of my face, I swipe it away annoyed.
"Nothing. God, I just want my phone." His taken aback expression softens my face slightly before I hold my hand out in waiting again.
"Help yourself." He tells me, a smirk back on his face but not quite reaching his blue eyes.
I roll my eyes before reaching into his pocket and grabbing my phone before turning on my heel and exiting the room.
I don't look back or even pause when I hear him call after me.
I race through the front door and up the stairs before my mum has a chance to stop me from her place in the living room.
I throw open my bedroom door, slam it shut and drop my bag to the floor without a care. I peel off my jacket as I turn around and face my bed, falling back into my door when I see Ezra sitting on my bed waiting for me.
"Jeez, Ezra. You scared me half to death." I press my hand to my heart, taking deep breaths to calm down.
"You've been ignoring me." His tone is hurt, and his face upset.
"I've just been busy." I tell him easily, not moving from my place against the door.
"You haven't returned a call or text." He tells me, anger creeping into his voice.
"Well you did confiscate my phone." My reply is witty and bitter.
"Aria. I had it for all of about 30 minutes." He is now standing, his intense blue eyes shining with irritation.
"You obviously didn't think I deserved to have it. So I went without it." I pulled it out of my pocket and unlocked the phone – 20 missed calls and 13 text messages.
"Huh, look at that." I throw my phone down onto my desk with nonchalance.
"Stop acting like this." He's no longer patient and he takes a few steps towards me, narrowing the gap separating us.
"Like what?" I snap back, my hazel eyes daring him to continue.
"Like an immature bitch." The words are out of his mouth before he can stop them, and tears instantly spring to my eyes.
"Get out." My voice is deadly, and I move away from the door turning my back to him.
"With pleasure." He spits at me before flying through the door and slamming it behind me.
As the door slams shut the tears I've been holding in fall freely down my face, sobs racking through my body as I make my way over to the bed and fall onto it burying my face in the covers.
Three hours later I find myself outside Ezra's apartment door fighting internally with myself.
In the end I pull out my car keys from my pocket and single out Ezra's front door key and slip it into the lock.
I pause briefly wondering if he would want me letting myself in after the fight we had earlier tonight, before deciding he gave me the key to use - so that's what I'll do.
I push the door open slowly, poking my head into the room scanning it for Ezra.
I hear the shower running, so I shut the door softly and flick the lock.
I drop my bag to the floor and throw my keys on top, before slipping my shoes off and going over to couch and flopping down.
I reach for the remote and turn the TV on before starting to flick through the channels.
Less than five minutes later the shower is off and Ezra's walking out of the bathroom in his boxers and a white shirt.
"Hi." I whisper quietly, not willing to meet his eyes.
"Hey." His tone is soft and his eyes questioning.
"What are you doing here?" He asks his voice still soft.
I shrug softly before turning my attention back to the TV, regretting even coming over.
I feel him settle onto the other end of the couch, his gaze locked intently on me.
"Aria." His voice is pleading and soft and my eyes briefly flick over to his.
His slides along the couch before cradling my face in between his soft, warm hands his eyes gazing intently into mine.
I shrug again before flicking the TV off and twirling the remote in my hands, Ezra watches me for a few minutes with deafening silence before removing his hands from my face, taking the remote from his hands and throwing it onto the table.
"You overreacted about the phone." He tells me bluntly.
"It wasn't just about the phone. I've been on edge for a few days now." I stare at my hands in my lap as I avoid his eyes.
"Aria, talk to me." His voice cuts through me and I look up, taking a shaky breath.
"My dad was all smug when you left the house angry and I was locked up in my room, he said that it was for the best that we decided to part ways. I couldn't let him win, so I came over to show him that we weren't over." I tell him quietly.
"You came over to protect your pride?" His face is neutral but his voice portrays his hurt.
"Yep." I tell him popping the 'p'.
"Are we?" He asks gently.
"What?" I move my eyes to meet his.
"Over?" That one word has my heart sinking.
A minute passes in silence before I open my mouth, my voice choked up.
"I don't know."
"Why won't you tell me what's wrong?" He's pleading with me again, although it may be a lost cause.
I'm not sure we can save this relationship.
A few minutes pass and he's getting increasingly frustrated before he gets up off the couch and starts walking away.
"Why didn't you tell me you were moving?"
He freezes in his place, and I hold my breath awaiting his answer.