Aria had felt so determined just moments ago; it only took a second for her to realize that the tables had just turned. He came at her with force, she had never seen him like this before. He wasn't going to hold back his emotions now, she was certain of that. She focused hard to hold her own. Not letting herself look away, she kept his eye contact. Each stared at the other, just inches from touching, allowing the tension to deepen between them.
That must have been when she took her first breath; she could smell that familiar scent. She took in another deep breath and felt the tension melt away. Her focus waivered, her eyes even closed for a second as a smile hinted on her lips. She found herself thinking of nothing but the two of them together and how wonderful it when they're together. The undeniable connection between them so strong, not even the threat of fear, anger or an argument could stand a chance. She felt her head tilt back and her eyes closed, her hair flowing down back, as she held on to the sensation running through her like it might be the last.
He, still overcome with anger of seeing her almost kiss that boy, wasn't swayed by her sweet scent. Instead, it was the look she gave him that displaced his fury. That same look that had overpowered him in the past time and time again. He felt his own lips lifting at the corners in response to hers. Although he hadn't yet placed it there, he could almost feel his hand on the back of head pulling her to his lips. He was still practicing restraint when she opened her eyes and looked back at him, the smile slipped away.
Neither had realized that Noel had come back for Aria. He was standing at the door, and had been for an unknown length of time, when Aria first saw him.
"Noel," she whispered. She had just then looked towards Noel.
Ezra, completely unaware that Noel was standing behind him, turns towards where Noel stood, "I saw him!" It wasn't until he had said it entirely that he saw him standing in the doorway.
Noel looked at each of them, his eyes staying on Aria, when he said to her, "I was worried when, I didn't…" he looked back at Ezra for a second and back again at Aria, "Is everything OK?"
Aria couldn't see Ezra's face, he'd stayed facing Noel. She tried her hardest to wipe the look from her own face, but physically could not remove the shock. How much had he seen or heard? Who was going to speak first? She was certain that Ezra was still in as much shock as she, since neither had moved nor spoke since the two became three.
"They are starting the test soon, Aria." Noel was the first to speak. His eyes still on Aria, but he was completely aware of Ezra. He turned, one last glance in Ezra's direction, and headed back down the hallway.
Once he was out of sight, Ezra turned to Aria, both still unsure of how much Noel witnessed. Both, despite the interruption from Noel, could still feel some of the heat that just a minute ago burned between them.
Ezra, as usual, was the one to bring it down notch. "You should head to the test area; he doesn't need to know we are in here alone any longer than he already does."
She didn't argue, he was right, who knows how long Noel stood in the doorway. She walked towards the door, stopped in the doorway then turned for one last look at Ezra, to soak in the joy of him returning.
His eyes still on her when she turned around, it wasn't a smile he flashed, but it was enough to reassure her of their connection.
She wasn't worried about Noel, as she headed towards the student area. Ezra was back, and his feeling for her still very apparent.
She was starting to think that there was nothing that could put out the fire between her and Ezra, then her phone vibrated with a new text. "Wonder what it will take to keep Noel quiet about your little secret? -A."
