DISCLAIMER cause ya know...teenage girl over here doesn't want to get sued:
Though I did create the storyline, the characters are owned by the creators of Pretty Little Liars. I am simply using their lovely characters they created but using my own ideas (and loosely the idea of the PLL writers for the basis of Ezria's romance) to create this story. I am not affiliated with the PLL cast/writers because if I was, I wouldn't have to put up with half the shit I do and I'd be able to buy friends I don't have. Oh, and Lucy Hale and Troian Bellisario would be my sisters and Ian Harding would be my husband (not that he isn't already).
Enjoy Chapter 2, y'all :) I'll update this when I wake up in the morning because I have a few things to talk about, but am so sleep-deprived that I'm done for the night.
After the night they'd spent together at the reading in the small café, Aria and Ezra found their thoughts often drifting to the other and wondering what they were doing at that same moment. Before they had left, they'd exchanged numbers and something else: a quick kiss, practically a peck, but it was still gentle, sweet, and savored.
It was so unlike Aria and, at first, she was thrown off and embarrassed by the move made by Ezra and the fact that the class she'd always prided herself on having had seemed to disappear when he leaned in, but she soon found herself blushing and flattered. And the kiss—oh, the kiss. It was like she had imagined in the movies and the blissfulness of that moment and that night entirely was constantly on replay in her mind.
Both frequently found themselves thinking about the possibility of something developing from their instant, mutual connection, which was a combination of both exhilarating and scary, considering that neither had ventured into something that felt so right and real before. Both would wonder if the other was thinking about them like they seemed to be, all free thoughts revolving around what they saw in each other and each remained completely enamored and intrigued by the person who had managed to leave them smitten.
Ezra saw Aria as a kindred, free-spirit that resembled his own, while she appreciated the knowledge, maturity, and respect he had and seemed to embody. His calm physique and sophistication attracted Aria, along with his charisma and soft-spoken words. He was genuine in what he said, gentle in every way and she found herself admiring the handsome man she'd had a long, comfortable chat with that night in the café. Ezra saw something special and riveting in Aria, seeming to disregard her petite appearance that made her seem young and not feeling the need to work in questions he felt he already knew the answer to.
Though Aria was obviously fond of Ezra, she still found herself weary over the new-found feelings she had. Seeing as how six years separated the two in age and she found herself not being completely honest about still being a high school student, she was concerned to see her feelings further develop just to see them crushed later on by the truth, but it wasn't like she could stop her feelings. And she didn't really want to. While Aria battled the guilt she felt for deceiving Ezra, he was all too eager to see a relationship blossom with the dark brunette after constant thoughts about her and the potential he saw for something to become of their mutual feelings towards each other, no matter the little time they'd known each other.
In days following their first meeting, Ezra had managed to get a hold of Aria, who willingly and very eagerly accepted his request: a lunch at Rosewood Grille, his treat.
She happily agreed, excited to see the person who occupied her thoughts and sparked something new in her: the first stages of feelings she was sure came when you were beginning to fall in love. And even though she knew it was much too early for those feelings, they were there, lingering helplessly and relentlessly.
At the grille, they talked about the lives they lived, Aria completely fascinated by the life Ezra had had in New York and taken by his humble personality, regardless of being raised in a wealthy family and being promised opportunities she could only dream of. Out of all the places he could find himself, and considering the chances he had with his family's wealth and status, he attended Hollis, a community college in the small town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. He saw something here that made him want to stay, even though he didn't know yet what it was. But he trusted what Rosewood promised him and appreciated the difference in life styles it offered, so here he was, planning to be a teacher in a world away from the one he grew up in and he seemed to be so content with his choice.
Wanting to avoid questions about her own life that she wasn't ready to reveal, Aria found herself enjoying listening to Ezra's stories and hearing him talk about his life. A grin would grow to a beaming smile on his face or a light laugh would escape and Aria admired the way he saw the world and seemed to live his life. But Aria was apprehensive to open up about too much, realizing that parts of her life she could have the power to jeopardize how Ezra saw her.
She was seventeen and he was in his early twenties, fresh out of college, while she was about to start her senior year. She didn't ask how he'd liked college, what he planned to do with his degree in education, or what he wanted for his career because she imagined it would bring up mutual questions about her own schooling. She felt bad about having to deceive him, but knew her age would bring a halt to their growing interest in each other and she wasn't ready to let go of it quite yet, seeing as how it'd barely just begun.
First day nerves had long ago left Aria. She loved elementary school and was always excited to find her way back to the familiar hallways. Even now that school wasn't nearly as easy as it had been in the third grade, she still found herself anxious, but more in an excited way than anything. This year was the one that everyone seemed to wait for, the year they were deemed superlative as seniors.
Aria highly doubted this year would be different from any other, but the idea that she'd finally made it to her senior year was exonerating. One more year until freedom. It sounded wonderful and had a special ring to it.
Aria made her way into Rosewood High with Spencer by her side. They were to meet Emily and Hanna by their usual spot outside at their lunch table. As the two made their way to them, teachers greeted them, smiling. There was a certain pride they took in walking the halls, feeling a sense of excitement for the year to follow and accomplishment for making it this far.
The bell rang for the first class to start as Aria waiting in a line to receive her schedule and soon, all four girls were making their way down the hallway in a pack, like they always seemed to travel in.
They were finding their first class, English, which they happened to be in together, just like they'd requested Aria's mom, Ella, to make sure of. She was good enough friends with the secretary and principal that she could work out a way for them all to have a class together their senior year.
"I heard our new English teacher is gorgeous," Hanna said, a wide, flirtatious smile gracing her face.
"Oh, really?" Aria snorted.
"Oh, I heard that too," Spencer said. "A young English-obsessed, handsome guy. Aria, he's calling your name."
Aria thought about the irony of her saying this, but chuckled. "Because, obviously, I'm going to date my teacher. I'm kind of offended that you think I have no morals whatsoever." She paused. "Wait, how cute is he?" She nudged Spencer, a small, teasing grin on her face.
"Maybe he should have come here freshman year. Hanna might have actually passed first year English," Emily said in a teasing manner.
Spencer laughed, reminded of how angry Hanna was about failing.
Hanna simply rolled her eyes in response though. "It's not my fault we had to read Rosie and Julio."
The girls looked at each other, confused by what, exactly, Hanna was referring to.
"What?" she asked. "The love story?" She tried to get them to remember it.
Spencer snorted, breaking out into a laugh. "You mean Romeo and Juliet?"
Hanna didn't even seemed phased by her blunder and the laughter of the girls. "Yeah, that."
"Good thing you're pretty, Han," Aria chimed in, a loving smile on her face.
"Let's just keep Hanna motivated so we can get out of here, once and for all," Spencer said, after recovering from her fit of laughter.
Still walking to their class, Emily asked, "What other classes do you have, Ar?"
Aria quickly glanced down at her schedule, scanning it to see the classes her days would be spent in for the next semester.
Of course, her first class was English and she followed the straight line to see the name attached to the class. Room 304 and…..
She stopped dead in her tracks, all color her face previously had draining from it as she studied the name, thinking it was a trick her mind was playing on her.
"What's wrong?" the girls seemed to ask in unison.
"N-nothing," Aria replied, trying to make sense of the situation at hand and staring directly at her paper in shock.
She realized the horrible mistake she'd made in searching—and finding—companionship in an older man and disregarding the reality of the situation, with unrealistic hopes of a potential relationship forming.
Ezra Fitz.
It couldn't be him though.
Didn't make sense.
But it did when she thought about all he'd said, everything he'd told her.
Why didn't she realize it before?
She hated that she let herself think that something could become of the mess she'd put herself—and him—in by believing that fate would intervene and see it through that the mess would find a way to resolve itself and that they could have a chance.
She walked slowly, practically crawling behind the girls as she stared at her schedule, still completely shocked about the revelation she'd made.
And at the exact moment she looked up, they arrived at Room 304 and standing at the door, greeting his new students, was Ezra.
He glanced behind him, his eyes shifting and finding their way to her. He looked away as soon as he saw her, seeming to not recognize her. But then, he whipped his head back in her direction, completely stunned to see the girl he'd come to find intriguing and special.
She lost her breath and so did he as they looked at each other for a long, awkward and tense moment.
The irony, Aria thought, thinking of Spencer's earlier statement and the luck she seemed to have.