Chapter Three:

Aria paced quietly up and down the hallway on Ezra's floor. She fumbled with her ragged fingernails and continued to pick them. Why was she so nervous? She took a deep breath forcing her to stop at door 3B. She stopped picking her fingernails. Courageously, Aria raised her balled up fist ready to knock on the door, but she froze. Butterflies swarmed in the pit of her stomach. And Aria felt like she couldn't do it. She was scared too. She couldn't explain it. It was something that couldn't be explained. People saw her as a tiny bold seventeen girl when she was nothing more than that tiny shy seventeen girl as well.

Aria exhaled an exasperated sigh. She was slowly getting angry and stressful at herself. She rubbed her temples to sooth her. Maybe it was a mistake coming here, she thought. She chewed on her bottom lip before making a final decision. She should just go home. It was a waste and Ezra probably didn't truly care if she made it. Aria backed out from the doorway and was fixing to turn around when it swung open. Ezra stood at the doorway. His dark brown curls were messier and informal. Instead of a vest and tie, he changed into a sloppy white t-shirt and a blue unbuttoned shirt. He had on a pair of jeans with socks. He stared at Aria in disbelief. "I didn't think you'd make it." He admitted.

Aria blushed. "Yeah," she answered bashfully. "I didn't think I would either."

Ezra moved to the side. "Come in; make yourself at home."

Aria took him up on the offer. She brushed past him and into the small apartment. The kitchen smelled like burnt lasagna with a burned pan set beside the garbage can. A lit candle and two glasses with a plate on each side added by utensils were set at the table. Classical music played softly in the background. The lights were dimmed. Ezra's bed was made revealing off a little, torn stuffed dog.

Ezra gently closed the door behind him. He jammed his hands in his pocket. "Sorry about the burnt smell. I, sort of, burnt dinner. So I ordered take out. Is that okay?"

Aria nodded. "Yeah, I love take out."

"Good," Ezra breathed. He removed one hand from his jeans pocket and ran it through his hair. "I feel like a complete idiot."

Aria furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?" she asked, releasing her handbag onto the floor feeling more comfortable with each minute. Ezra pointed at himself. "Because your all cute and dressed up and I look like a pig." he groaned.

Aria placed her hand on his cheek and rubbed it tenderly with her thumb. She smiled. "I think you look amazing." She complimented.

Ezra beamed. He laced his fingers with hers. Aria stood on the tip of her toes and placed a pleasant kiss on his lips. Ezra didn't object. He kissed her back with a loving passion. Interrupting them was a knock on the door. "That'll be the food." Ezra kissed Aria on the cheek. He turned around and answered the door. The handler handed him the food in a greasy paper bag. Aria took it off of Ezra's hands while he searched for the crumpled bills. "Keep the change." Ezra said as he shut the door.

Aria helped taking out the food from the containers. She dumped even shares onto the plates and placed a set of chopsticks beside each plate and removed the useless utensils. Ezra mannerly helped Aria sit down before doing the same.

As they ate, they talked about simple things. Small-talk really. Ezra told little about his life story besides the stuff she already knew. And Aria did the same. "So my mom's dating this guy who's like eight to ten years younger than she is. It's pretty crazy. I mean first my dad dates a student. Then I go off and date you and my mom! The only person left is Mike." Aria joked.

Ezra had a hard time keeping the chewed up rice in his mouth. He covered his mouth as he swallowed and tried not to laugh. Once he swallowed, he laughed. "Wow,"

Aria shook her head. "My family is different." She whispered. She dropped her chopsticks on the plate and clutched her stomach. "That was pretty awesome."

Ezra finished eating too. He pushed his plate to the middle of the table without bumping into the candle. Aria tried to do the same but she epically failed. The candle tottered to one side to the other. Before it could tumble over, Ezra leaned over and blew the flame out. The candle toppled down. Aria gasped. Wax slid down the stick and dripped onto the rug. "I'm so sorry!"

Ezra smirked. "Don't be. It's fine. I'll clean it up later." Ezra stood up from his chair and helped Aria out. He turned the music up louder. He twirled her around. Aria giggled. She'd never seen this in him before. Ezra pulled her close. Aria placed her palm against his chest feeling his heartbeat. He breathed in the scent of her shampoo. Aria nestled her head in the crook of his neck. They were silent as Ezra guided Aria around the apartment. For the finish, he swung her around and dove. He leaned down also and planted soft kiss up her neck, reaching her lips. He pulled her up. Aria's cheeks were flushed and she breathed heavily. "Wow!" she sighed. "How'd you learn to dance like that?"

Ezra shrugged his shoulders. "I honestly don't have a clue." He answered. He strode over and turned off the player with a click. "Dance classes." He admitted softly, almost to softly for Aria to catch it. Aria raised a curious eye brow.

"Why did you take classes?"

Ezra fell down onto the couch. He drew a long, exaggerated sigh. "I was supposed to get married." He murmured.

Aria joined him. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders. She rubbed his chest. "You don't have to explain any farther than that. I don't mind."

I have a few kept secrets too, she added to herself.

Ezra laced his fingers with Aria's and looked straight into her eyes. "I want too. No secrets okay?" she nodded.

"When I was in college, I thought I fell in love with this girl named Jackie. We were that couple who were on and off all the time. Then, at the end of senior year, I courageously proposed thinking she was the girl I was supposed to be with for forever." He paused. "She said yes."

"What happened?"

"She called it off a few days before the actual wedding saying she wasn't ready for this commitment like she thought. It broke my heart knowing that she didn't want to live the rest of her life with me. But eventually I met you, and things got pretty steamy between us and I've forgotten all about her." Before Aria could ask any questions, Ezra led her to his bed. He didn't feel like saying or answering any questions. He felt the need to leave it alone. "Enough about that, how about we watch a movie to end this perfect date?"

Aria shrugged. "Sure."

XXX

Aria crept slowly inside. She softly closed the door behind her. All the lights downstairs were off, even her fathers. She sighed, relieved. No one was up this late. It was three a.m. and Aria never intentionally meant to stay up this late at Ezra's. She dozed off during the Nicholas Sparks movie that Ezra let her pick. Soon her phone kept bleating, and Hanna texted her something stupid about her 'nightmare'. That was the time when Aria realized the time. Ezra was barely awake as it is, twirling his fingers through her hair lazily. She scrambled out of the bed and reached for her clothes (she had Ezra's t-shirt on) and thanked Ezra for their date. He nodded drearily not fully aware of what was happening. Aria slammed the door shut and escaped without anyone noticing.

Now, she prayed Byron wasn't awake even though his door was shut and all Aria saw was black. She fumbled her way around the foyer and found the stairs. She grabbed the railing and put one foot on the step when the lights flickered on. "Crap," she muttered under her breath. Byron sat all sternly at the head table in the dining room like you saw in the movies. He had his hands intersecting each other. His looked worried more than furious. But still furious in all. Aria dropped her stuff and stepped back.

"Where have you been?" he demanded.

"With Spencer," Aria lied. He eyed her, aware she wasn't telling the truth.

"Dressed like that?"

Aria pulled her hair back, another habit when she was in trouble, and answered, "No, with Spencer and Toby." She lifted a little bit of the end of the shirt. "He let me borrow his shirt as we watched The Notebook."

"Were you with another boy?"

"No!" Aria snapped.

Byron was obvious to her predictable lies. He massaged his throbbing temples. Byron thought of the possible punishments for her obvious lying one by one planning out every detail. But it all just made his head pound even more. He sighed, choosing his answer. "Just go to bed," he murmured. "We'll talk about it in the morning."

Aria avoided her dad's gaze and started to the staircase. "I can't believe you think I lie to you." She said loud enough for him to here as she stomped up the stairs. She reached her room and slammed the door hard waking Mike. She collapsed on her bed and snuggled up to the pillow. Her eyes began to close but she squeezed them shut and re-opened them. The last words Aria got out before falling into a deep sleep were: "Because it's true,"

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry that this chapter was short. I have things planned but right now these are just fillers. So just bear with me right now and try to think of things that might happen. Maybe they're right? Anyway, I would've updated so much faster, but my computer deleted every file in my storage! UGH! So, being the person I am; I never backed them up either! Double UGH! But I finsihed this and I hope you all enjoyed it!

Bye!

xoxo

LucyHFan12