~Aria P.O.V.~
Aria, meet me in the alley behind The Brew in an hour. Ezra.
I stared at the text message once again. I had been waiting behind the Brew for almost half an hour. Granted I had gotten there a few minutes early, but it wasn't like Ezra to be late for a meeting. I looked to my left and then back to my right. I let out a sigh. Maybe he forgot or something happened. I decided to wait another 20 minutes. While I was waiting, I decided to let my mind wander.
Things with Ezra had been strained lately. He seems distracted. Like he's hiding something from me. Something big. He's changed a lot these past 3 or 4 months. He's not the guy I met. He always seems angry. He snaps at the smallest things I do. This isn't the guy I fell for. I've changed too. I feel like I owe him something for all he gave up for me. Like I'm obligated to love him. I sighed again. Maybe Hanna is right. Maybe I never loved Ezra. Maybe I was in love with the idea of him. The idea that the hottest teacher at school would want me, even though he had his choice of any older, more sophisticated woman. Stupid Hanna. Always annalyzing things anymore. Hanging out with Officer Holbrook has worked out well for her. I still can't believe she thinks me and Jason would make a good couple. Jason. A blush crept onto my face just thinking about him. There's no denying I had a crush on him when we were younger. When Ali was still alive. But that had only been because he was unavailiable to all of us because he was Ali's brother. That had to be it, right? But if that was the only reason, then why did I still get butterflies in my stomach when I see him? I think about him a lot more than I should. I think about him more than Ezra. What would it be like if I was with Jason? Easy. Carefree. Like it matters though. I know Jason said he cared for me and had kissed me, but that had all been in a moment. Hadn't it? I have to stop thinking about him. I had made my choice back then. Ezra. So then why had it felt like I was making a mistake in that? Why does it still feel like that? Not that any of that is relevant. He's moved on no doubt. No one has heard anything from him in weeks. Still, the right thing to do would be to stop living a lie with Ezra.
I looked down at my watch. 20 minutes had almost passed. Close enough. I pushed away from the wall I was leaning against and started walking towards the end of the alley.
