"Close enough to start a war,

All that I have is on the floor,

God only know what we're fighting for,

All that I say, you always say more,

I can't keep up with your turning tables,

Under your thumb I can't breathe"

It has been almost three weeks since the dance had passed. The novelty of the night had worn off as all the excitement was over and all the gossip from the night had settled. Everyone got back to going about their normal lives. As for me, I did too. Ezra and I went back to being nothing more than teacher and student, awkwardly catching glances at each other every now and then until one of us quickly looks away.

We hadn't really spoken since the night of the winter formal, when I ran out the classroom, finding Emily only to convince her I wasn't feeling too well and that we had to leave immediately. Luckily for me she was too distracted with missing Mya to have any fun, she more than willingly agreed to leave without a second thought. After the dance I didn't really know how to face Ezra. Knowing we left things unsaid, parting on or rather, on my part, running off on bad terms. I didn't really know what to say to him. If I should even bother talking to him. Whether he even wanted to talk to me again. After the first week had passed I had no choice but to suck up my pride and make the first move since I actually needed help on the homework assignment. Oh the irony…

FLASHBACK

The bell had rang moments ago as people started to gather their things and rush out the door. Everyone except for me. I packed my things away slowly purposely trying to be the last one left. I knew I had to talk to him about the homework assignment, I just wished it wasn't after the dance and the tense confrontation we had had. Finally building the courage I needed, I approached his desk.

"Can I talk to you?" I say startling him.

"Uh. Yeah, sure. Is this about the homework assignment?"

"Yeah." Both of us begin watching the door as the last few students leave the room. Once we were the only ones left in the room I begin. "I wanted to talk to you about-"

"Aria I think we should just talk about the homework assignment from now on." He looks at me with a stern, authoritarian look. Reminding me of his words from the night of the dance. "I'm just your teacher. Nothing more." I open my mouth to speak but he cuts me off again.

"If it's not about school or the homework assignment, I don't think we have anything else further to discuss." I look at him stunned, as he stands their waiting for my response.

"This is about the homework assignment." His eyes widen at the sudden realisation of his miscalculated assumption that I wanted to discuss anything but. He quickly clears his throat as he begins to awkwardly ask "Erm, w-what did you want to discuss?" I look at him for a moment too long, making him squirm. There's nothing I can say, nothing I can do. Not that I even had any intention for that except a little guidance on my English Literature assignment.

"You know what." I pause contemplating whether I should say something about his prior assumption or just let it go. Realising its just not worth it, I say "Don't worry about it. I'll just ask Spencer instead." Giving him a short smile as I turn to walk out the classroom, leaving him speechless as he opens his mouth to speak but realising it's too late.

To say the least, everything had gone back to normal. My phone buzzes on the table flashing with a new message. I put my book down to retrieve it, only to see it was from Noel. One of the few things that did change after the dance was Noel and I. Ever since the dance he's been paying me more attention than usual, wanting to hangout, go see a movie or a band. I kept blowing him off hoping eventually he'd get the message but that still didn't stop him from messaging me. I put the phone down and picked up my coffee, deciding I'll get back to him later with some excuse about being busy with Spencer. Technically it wouldn't be a lie since Spencer was here but she left a while ago and I decided to stay and hangout by myself for a while before I had to meet Ella for dinner. Mike was out tonight and Byron had some meeting to go to so since it was just Ella and me, we decided to eat out.

I look down at my coffee wondering whether I'll have time for another. Deciding against it I look back up, suddenly frozen in place, eyes transfixed. Ezra had just walked in walking toward a vacant table. He doesn't notice me until he sits down a few tables in front of me to the left. Feeling like we're back in his classroom we both stare at one another until one of us looks away. He distracts himself with the menu but even though he had broken our gaze I could still tell he was thinking about me, watching me in his mind, every so often stealing a quick glance at me.

I look down at my watching wondering how I'm going to pass the time in this awkwardness. I still had a while to go and time seemed to be slowing down. I look back up in time to see a tall, slender, stunning brunette walk over toward Ezra's table as he gets up to hug her and they both take a seat. Once again I was frozen in place, eyes transfixed. Was this his new girlfriend? Since when? At the winter formal it seemed like he still cared. He was even jealous over Noel!

My face must have mirrored the shock I felt on the inside as Ezra kept frantically fidgeting, stealing more than one or two obvious glances at me. The woman who he was with noticed as she turns around to look in my direction before turning back to Ezra to ask "Do you know her?"

Ezra's eyes go wide as if he's just been caught out. "Uh yeah. She's erm…my student." The woman turns back around to look at me again as I look away.

"Oh I forgot, this must be so awkward for you. Seeing students out of school hours." If only she knew how we met.

"Erm yeah but it's a small town."

"Not like New York." She says with a smile in her voice.

"Rosewood has its perks." He says as he quickly looks at me picking up a menu again.

"You'll have to show me these perks." Voice laced with flirtation. Ezra weakly smiles and quickly looks down at his menu.

They continue to talk a while longer as they order an early dinner. The woman sounding much older, sophisticated, confident. Is this what he likes? I clearly hold none of these traits, especially not the part about being older.

I finally decide I can't take it anymore. I need to get out. It was torture enough having to be in the same classroom as him as his student but this, him with another woman, this was killing me. I get up quickly grabbling my things to leave as I walk past his table quickly, avoiding his gaze as I stare straight ahead. I'll have to find some other way to kill time, or maybe just call Ella for an earlier dinner.

The weekend passed by too quickly and before I knew it, it was already Monday. I sat in his class during our usual routine. Except this time I wasn't looking at him. I stare down at my desk, unmoving, replaying the Saturday I saw him at the Rosewood Grill with whom I can only assume is his new girlfriend. The whole weekend spent trying to come to terms with it, knowing this is getting ridiculous. I need to get over this, over him, move past this but I just can't seem to. The bell rings as we all pack away in a hurry to get out.

"Aria can I see you for a moment please?" I look up stunned. I was not expecting this. What could he possibly have to say to me unless it's to do with my assignment? I walk over and stand before his desk. He watches the door, waiting for the room to be emptied out before he speaks.

"I wanted to talk to you about the other day. When you saw me at the Grill…with Jackie." So that's her name, Jackie.

"I get it. You don't need to-" I begin to say but then he cuts me off, his eyes looking urgent. "Aria it's not what you think. We're-"

"You don't owe me an explanation. Like you said, your just my teacher, nothing more." He opens his mouth to speak but no words come out. With the newfound confidence surging through me, I take that as my que to leave and turn toward the exit.

"Aria…" I turn to look at his conflicted face. Deciding to resolve his inner demons for him I say "Goodbye Mr. Fitz." He looks at me stunned, as if hearing the words for the first time as I turn and walk out the room.