A/N Okay, just to clarify, if it is only one word that is in italics, its being emphasized, and if it's paragraphs, it's a flashback. Hope you enjoy this chapter! :D
Chapter 4
Her parents still weren't home, so Aria decided to write a note and leave it on the kitchen counter.
Going out. I'll be back before ten.
-Aria
She had taken the past thirty five minutes trying to find something to wear. She was huge compared to her petite frame, there was no way she could hide her stomach no matter how baggy the shirts she wore were. Since it was September, and fairly cool at night, Aria went into her parents' room and stole one of Byron's sweatshirts. It didn't help completely, but made her feel far less self-conscious. She didn't want Ezra staring at her stomach all night.
The whole drive to Hardy's all Aria could think about was the worst. At this point, Ezra could basically say anything and it would be better than what she had come up with in her head. She parked in front of the house, and sure enough, only Ezra's car was in the driveway. Aria took an unsteady breath, and before chickening out completely, got out of her car and walked up the front steps. She knocked twice, feeling exactly the same way she did when she had told her parents. As soon as she heard the footsteps, Aria wanted to be anywhere but there. She looked down at her shoes as the door opened and Ezra stepped aside to let her in.
She sat down on the couch as he took the chair opposite her. To avoid another awkward silence, Ezra decided to be the first to speak this time.
"I'm sorry about earlier, I just didn't expect…" He was lost in thought, trying to come up with the right words. "I feel so guilty right now. You shouldn't be in this position, not while in high school. It's all my fault and I—" He stopped talking suddenly, catching a glimpse of a tear descending down her cheek. She finally met his gaze, and all he could see was shame and sadness. "Aria, I didn't mean to…"
"I kept this huge secret from you and you're the one that's sorry. Why? Why aren't you mad at me?" Her vision blurred as more tears brimmed over her eyes. Ezra looked at her for a few moments before getting up and sitting right in front of her. He put his hand on hers, the first physical contact they've had in months, and spoke to Aria with such love, such devotion, and it almost seemed too perfect to be real.
"I know the rational thing is to be mad, and not want to be a part of your life, of this life. But it would only make me completely miserable afterwards. When I left, and you stopped talking to me, I thought it was because you found someone else, when in reality you were scared, and doing what you thought was best. I want to be a part of your life, and I want to be there for you, for our baby. I've never been happier than when I am with you. I love you so much, and I know that we can make this work."
Aria was unable to say anything, literally stunned by his little speech. Their faces were inches apart, all Aria could think about was how close they were. Ezra smiled coyly before closing the gap completely. As soon as their lips touched, all the confusion, fear, and shame washed away. Aria felt better than she had in a long time, and she knew that this was the way it was supposed to be. A moment later, he pulled away, only to place his right hand over her stomach.
...
They had spent almost all night catching up. Ezra had found a job right outside of Rosewood teaching sophomores, and Aria talked about her schoolwork and plans for college. They were curled up together on the couch, an old movie playing. They had ordered Chinese food earlier and had already eaten everything. She had an hour left before she needed to be home, and she still didn't know what she was going to tell her family about Ezra.
"How did your parents react about…this?" He asked Aria. He knew that they didn't approve of the relationship to begin with, and was nervous to find out the answer. At least they hadn't kicked her out and were still supporting her.
"They freaked out. Grounded me. The worst part was walking around the house and getting disappointed glances from them. They told Mike, I didn't want to. He acts like I'm an alien. I wish he would see that I'm still the same person, just…about to have a baby." Aria's eyes were full of sadness. He hated to see her like this.
"What about your friends?" He asked softly. Ezra was afraid that she would tell him they turned their backs on her, wanted nothing to do with the situation. In fact, that's what Aria was afraid of once, too.
She knew she needed to tell them sometime. She couldn't keep it a secret forever. Aria wanted to for as long as her body let her, she wasn't ready to let them go just yet. She would tell them when she was ready…
"Okay, Aria and Hanna, would you mind picking out a movie?" Spencer called from the kitchen, where she was with Emily paying the pizza guy. Up in Spencer's room, Aria and Hanna moved to the shelf of movies and began to choose their favorites. Aria accidently grabbed another movie with the one in her hand. Juno. As soon as she read the title she threw the DVD back onto the shelf.
"Not a good movie?" Hanna laughed as Aria stood up. Spencer and Emily both walked in with a pizza box and waters. They gathered around on Spencer's bed as Emily opened the box of pizza. The smell of cheese, pepperoni, and grease didn't agree with Aria. She was soon running to the bathroom, her hand clamped over her mouth. She was throwing up, but was able to hear her friends' footsteps through the roaring in her ears. When she was done she wiped her mouth and flushed the toilet. Then sat back against the wall, and took a deep breath.
In her hurry to make it to the toilet, Aria hadn't closed the door. Which means her friends saw her get sick all of the sudden, and were staring at her with confused expressions in the doorway. She got up and walked past them, going back into Spencer's room.
"Do you have, like, the flu or something? Because last time I checked you liked pizza." Hanna asked Aria, sitting as far away as possible from her. If Aria wasn't so nervous, she would've rolled her eyes.
"I'm fine. You guys eat." She walked over to Spencer's desk and sat down. Her friends just kept staring her down. She gave them a reassuring smile before she said, "Seriously, I'm just not hungry."
"Aria, that wasn't 'not hungry', that was 'I don't feel so good all the sudden, let me get everything out of my system and then I'll pretend I'm fine even though I'm not'." Spencer retorted before adding with a softer tone of voice, "You can tell us anything. We've never judged you before."
Aria knew she wasn't getting off the hook anytime soon. "I've never been pregnant before." She kept her eyes down, not wanting to look at their faces. It seemed like the silence would never end before all three of her friends began to talk.
"Oh, Aria..."
"Why didn't you just tell us?"
"It's going to be okay."
"Did you tell Ezra yet? It is Ezra's, right?"
"Whatever happens, we're here for you, right guys?"
"Of course."
"Absolutely."
Aria looked at Ezra. "They took it pretty well. They were the first people that knew." She expected to see hurt in his face or something that would make her feel guilty all over again, but he looked back at her, his gaze full of adoration and passion. She laughed another thing she hadn't done in a while. "This has been the most stressful year of my life. But it's also been the best."
Ezra chuckled, pulling Aria closer to him. "Happy Anniversary."
Aria was about to say it back, but before she had the chance, his lips were suddenly on hers and when they stopped to catch a breath, all she murmured was a simple "I love you."
A/N Woohoooo. So I hoped you guys liked this chapter. I just had to include her friends finding out and their reactions for you. I'll be working on the next chapter tonight and might possibly update it, and if not it will be up tomorrow. This is so much fun :D Annnnddd, I like all of your ideas for the names. I'm still deciding on the gender. And if it should be a surprise or if they find out at an appointment. Rate and Review!
