So, this story is really going to focus on Aria's parents finding out about her and Ezra. Here's the second chapter, hope you all like it.
Chapter 2
Byron arrived at the hospital a short time later only to find out that Aria was in surgery. All he could do was wait. The waiting room was sterile, cold, meager, the classic description of any hospital waiting room. Magazines were strewn across the tables throughout the room. They were old and highly unlikely to provide any sense of comfort to those finding themselves in a situation such as this.
He waited with Ella silently until she turned to him and said "there is something I didn't tell you about the car crash. Aria wasn't alone in the car, there was someone with her."
"Well, who was it?" Byron quickly replied.
"Now before I say this, promise you won't lose your temper. We need to stay calm and focus on Aria right now" said Ella logically. She continued, "she was with E…" but before she could finish, she saw Byron's focus shift to the disheveled man returning to the waiting room.
"Ezra?" Byron inquired with a confused expression on his face, "What are you doing here?"
Ezra raised his head to address Byron, but found himself at a loss for words.
Ella quickly jumped in and took control of the situation, "Ezra was with Aria in the car. He was driving, which is why he wasn't hurt as badly as Aria."
"I don't understand," Byron fumbled. He asked the next question directly to Ezra, "what were you doing alone with my daughter?"
Ella sternly looked at Ezra, conveying to him that he should just come clean now.
Ezra took a moment and then cautiously began saying, " I have been dating your daughter. We're in a committed relationship and care very deeply about one another. We were on our way back from dinner tonight when the accident happened."
The look on Byron's face conveyed not only his state of shock, but a look of hurt as well. Byron and Ezra had formed a friendship, a mentorship if you will, and here is Ezra telling him that he is dating Aria. "How long? How long have you been dating my daughter, whom may I point out is in high school?" Byron questioned with a hint of anger in his voice.
"I think you should really wait and talk to Aria about all of the details. She wanted us to tell you together, to help you both understand our relationship," Ezra explained cautiously.
" No, I want to hear it from you, Ezra, right now," Byron challenged only to be interrupted by Arias doctor walking into the room.
"Are you the family of Aria Montgomery?" the doctor inquired.
"Yes, is she going to be okay?" Ella countered shakily, her nerves audible through her voice.
The doctor outlined her injuries, stating that her right leg was shattered in several places, she had a few broken ribs, but most seriously, the trauma to her head had caused some swelling in the brain. The surgery had successfully alleviated the pressure on her brain and while she was still sedated, she should wake up soon.
Aria's parents thanked the doctor and asked to see her. Leaving the waiting room, they were stopped by Ezra's voice, "I need to see her. Please, I just need to see that she is alright."
While Byron completely dismissed the idea, Ella saw the pain and anguish on Ezra's face. His eyes were swollen and red from crying, his back was hunched over, and he looked weak. Though the accident hadn't caused any immediate physical problems, it was obvious that Ezra's emotions were manifesting physically. In sum, he was a wreck and Ella felt sorry for him.
"Byron, just let him see her. While we may not understand their relationship, it is quite clear that Ezra cares for her deeply" Ella reasoned.
Ezra's face brightened at Ella's statement and became even more hopeful when Byron didn't immediately dismiss the idea. Instead, Byron just turned and followed the doctor without saying a word. Ezra understood his actions as silent acceptance and he followed the Montgomery's down the cold, bare hallway.
As he turned the corner, Ezra's sight fell upon Aria. She was covered with tubes, bandages, and deep bruises. He was thankful she wasn't awake as he guessed that she would be in a tremendous amount of pain. Tentatively walking closer, Ezra's eyes welled up with tears once again. At this moment, he didn't care who was watching. He went to Aria and carefully grasped her fragile hand in his and brought it to his lips. He murmured how sorry he was over and over as he clutched her hand as if it was his only connection to her that he couldn't bear to lose.
Byron and Ella were both taken aback by the intimacy that surrounded Ezra's action, yet they remained silent. Both of them still more focused on Aria. After a few moments, Byron spoke up, "I think it is time for you to leave, Ezra, Aria needs to be surrounded by family".
Without even hesitating a moment, Ezra responded so confidently that it shocked all three of them, "No. I'm not leaving her."
"Excuse me? You need to leave right now. There is no way I'm allowing you to stay here with her. It is completely inappropriate," Byron stated furiously.
"No, I have been the one there for Aria these past couple of months through everything she's been through. She refused to leave my side when I needed her, so there is no way that I am leaving her now. I love her more than I can even possibly express and I know she would want me here. So no, I am not leaving and you both are going to have to accept that. If she wakes up and decides she doesn't want me here, that is a different story. But right now, I am not leaving the woman I love alone in this hospital," Ezra said with unmistakable conviction.
Never before had Byron or Ella seen this side of Ezra. He was usually a calm, well-mannered young man who never broke out his polite exterior. Instead of fighting, they just sat by Aria's bed watching Ezra, trying to understand how these two managed to start a relationship and keep it going for months, apparently, without their knowledge. While they remained extremely concerned with Aria and Ezra's age difference and how wildly inappropriate their relationship was, they couldn't deny that Ezra was there for Aria and that he clearly cared for her. Once again, the Montgomerys and Ezra were in a waiting game, the doctors said Aria could wake up anytime, but it was up to her to when it would happen.
