Here's Chapter 3! Hurrah, it's longer than the other one. Don't worry... Chapter 4 will be posted very soon, I'm just working out the last few kinks. It's almost where I wanted but not quite. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Reviews are always lovely! Thank-you for the response to this story. You're all amazing!
Aria bounced to the door as soon as she heard the familiar ring. She was just about to open it when Byron stepped in, gently shoving her aside; there was absolutely no way he would be giving these two any time alone tonight.
Ezra, who had decided in favour of the wine, was standing in wait trying not to think about Byron. Ella, he could handle. She was gentle and kind. Byron was kind as well but he was also a very pissed off, angry father. Ezra didn't want to discover his violent side.
The door to the Montgomery household swang open and Ezra found himself face to face with the man himself.
"Ezra, please come in" said Byron in an overly polite tone. Ezra guessed it was either that or the man who'd threatened to throw him into jail a week earlier.
"Thank-you, Byron. I brought some wine." Ezra stepped inside and held over the bottle. Aria had told him her parents were a fan of Chardonnay so he'd tried to get a bottle that would please their pallets – he hoped.
"Thanks. Ella, look, Ezra brought us wine" tightly chuckled Byron. Ezra was, after all, a ripe 24 year old, it made sense he would bring an alcoholic beverage.
Ella walked to the entrance from the living room. "Ezra, Byron why don't we step out into the living room? We can open that wine over there. Ezra is it chilled?"
Ezra frowned, damn it, he'd forgotten to put it in the fridge! Stupid, stupid! "I'm afraid not, sorry"
Ella pursed her lips, "That's alright, we can open it later". She hated the fact that here he was, in their house, pretending like everything was fine when it clearly was not. Ezra was in a position of power, he was Aria's teacher. It was his responsibility to break it off. Aria too! They'd taught her better. At least, she thought they'd taught her better.
Aria, who had up to that moment waited patiently for an opportunity to say hi, jumped at the silence. "Ezra, hey" she breathed. He'd worn the tie she gave him. She gave him a soft smile.
"Hi" he responded, giving her a slight grin ever so aware of her parents' annoyed faces behind him. Her face reminded him of why he was here. She was the reason.
"Ezra are you coming?" questioned Byron, nodding to the living room. He could not believe Ezra had the audacity to do the boyish smile thing in front of them! Who did he think he was?
"Yeah, of-course" Ezra responded before following Byron to the couch. He noticed that a huge assortment of dips and biscuits was on the coffee table. It looked like Byron and Ella planned to make small talk before dinner. Crap.
As soon as everyone was seated, Aria as far away from Ezra as possible, of –course, silence reigned. The tension in the room was indescribable. Everyone was sitting, limbs tense and eyes glaring, in Ella and Byron's case.
Aria and Ezra kept on looking at each-other nervously.
"Ok, that's it" said Aria standing up. It was crazy! Look at them all, completely avoiding conversation. It seemed it was Aria's place to break the ice.
"Mom, Dad, I love you. I love Ezra too! You brought him here so you could understand us more as a couple but you know that's never going to happen unless you actually talk to him." She said pointing at Ezra.
"Aria's right" said Ella. "Ezra, we have quite a lot of questions we'd like to ask you. We'd like to know more about you from a personal perspective."
Aria frowned, 'personal perspective'? What the hell were they going to ask him? She really hoped it wouldn't surpass a G rating. She would absolutely die!
Ezra nodded at both Byron and Ella, "You can ask me anything and I will answer as truthfully as possible. I love your daughter! Aria and I have fought very hard to stay together. I don't want all of that to have been in vain" Ezra concluded his little speech by looking over at Aria, who was nodding in both agreement and appreciation.
Aria often thought she was the luckiest girl alive. There weren't many men who shared her academic interests, looked amazing and adored her infinitely. As she looked at Ezra, who was defending their love in front of her parents, she couldn't wish for a better man.
"Ezra, dinner's ready. Please join us at the table" invited Ella. Everyone stood up and moved into the dining room where, unbeknownst to the hopeful couple, the equivalent of the spanish inquisition was about to begin.