"Hi," A voice said, calmly and sweetly. No. This couldn't be happening, not now at least. ANSWER! A voice said inside of him. "Uh… Hey! What are you doing here?" He asked her as she stood there. Aria Montgomery was dressed in a purple dress and black riding boots with a grey bag on her left shoulder. His last memory of her, she was 17 and still in high school. "Well, I'm now going to NYU and I just moved into an apartment almost three blocks… that way." She said pointing towards her right. She smiled and laughed. "Please, come in." He said, finally stepping out of the way for her to walk in. She reached in for a hug and he hugged back. He'd never felt so safe and at home in her arms. Ezra closed the door behind her and looked at her as she walked around his apartment, taking everything in. "It's nice, much bigger than your old one." She smiled and sat down on the couch. She was 19 now and in college. Aria was the girl he loved and now she was back, for him. He sat down next to her, keeping his distance. "What's wrong?" She cocked her head and looked straight into his eyes, making him melt. "It's just that… you're back! I'm trying to take everything that's changed about you. You're older, and I'm…" He trailed off. "And you're the same amazingly handsome man I loved in high school." He smiled and looked away. "I've never stopped thinking about you." Ezra blurted out, looking back at her. Ezra, what are you doing? He thought in his mind. "Ezra, I—" She was interrupted by her phone ringing. She picked up her phone and talked to the person on the other line. Ezra got up and walked to a cabinet above his refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Scotch. He held it up to her when she looked back at him. She laughed silently to herself and then nodded. He smiled and got two glasses from the rack above the stove. He poured slowly and then Aria hung up the phone. "My landlord took my furniture away because he thought I was getting new ones. So now, I don't have a bed to sleep in because, he took that too." She said to Ezra, sitting down at the bar and taking a drink of Scotch along with Ezra. Ezra thought to himself. "You could stay here. I'm teaching your English class at NYU and I could drive you." He asked, suggesting. She smiled and nodded. "Really, you'd be fine with that?" She asked, referring to their relationship. He nodded and then said, "I have a guest room and its right across from mine. You could stay here, at least until you get better furniture than the floor." He laughed. "Thank you! And, wait a second. You're teaching my English class at NYU?" She asked, hugging him. "Yeah, I got a call right before you came and they said you were in my class. Aria, I'm your teacher again." Aria thought for a second and then said, "Wow. It sure brings back memories, doesn't it?" She laughed. He nodded and then sat down next to her. They laughed and talked about the future and the past.
They talked until it was nearly 1 in the morning. "I think we better get to bed." Aria said, half-drunk. Ezra remembered that she was a lightweight when it came to Scotch. She laughed for a few more seconds along with him and then he got up and led her to the guest bedroom. "This is your stop." He said with his boyish smile, which made Aria melt even more that she had. She pulled him closer to her and put her hands around his next. Her breathe smelled of Scotch and peppermint. Ezra head touched hers as they stood in the dark hall. Aria kissed him on his cheek. Ezra kissed her on her lips, harder and harder each time. He opened the door to his room and led Aria to the bed. He turned on the lamp beside the bed with Aria holding his hand and never letting go. She hung onto every little word he said to her. The bed was made neatly. Ezra turned down the bed as Aria got in. He laughed a little. He got in beside her and she immediately snuggled up against him. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. "Ezra?" She whispered almost asleep. "Hmm?" He asked, rubbing her arm. "I love you, and I always have." She said, falling asleep. They both fell asleep together that night.
