When All Else Fails
Recap: "No I didn't! I called you beautiful and you got all offended. What's been going on lately? You're acting so different, you're crying all the time, and getting angry. I don't get it!" Ezra yelled back.
"Maybe it's because I don't feel like I'm good enough for you anymore!" And with that, Aria left his apartment.
Ezra paced around his apartment, too frustrated in the moment to ran after Aria. He angrily put his clothes back on and grabbed his phone. Nothing from Aria. He tried to call her, but she didn't pick up. He was so confused, why was Aria being this way? She was not the girl he fell in love with. He called her again and didn't get anything. It was now ten o'clock and Ezra knew Aria could not go home, because her curfew was 9:30 on school nights. So well else could she be going? Maybe one of the girl's houses. He started cleaning off the dishes that they had made from dinner, but he couldn't get Aria off his mind. It was now 11:15 and Ezra was beginning to get worried. He typed out a text to Aria:
Where are you? Getting worried. I'm so sorry. XOXO
After ten minutes Aria hadn't read the message, or else his phone would have notified him. He sent out a quick message to her friends:
Hey, it's Mr. Fitz, have any of you seen Aria? We got in a fight and she left, now she's MIA
Emily messaged him back first, saying that she hadn't heard from her since lunch today. Then, Hanna saying that she hadn't seen her but would ask around. Finally, Spencer said that she was sorry, but she hadn't heard from her. She asked him to keep her posted. Ezra put his shoes on, he had to go looking for her. He locked his door and went through the lobby of his apartment. He walked outside and felt the brisk air whip his neck and face. He snuggled farther into his sweatshirt and looked around. He set out to his left, but he didn't get very far. He saw Aria's car, and his girlfriend standing outside of it.
"Aria! What are you doing? It's freezing out here! You're standing out in the freezing cold in January!" Ezra ran over to her and hugged her body. Her teeth were chattering.
"I left my keys in your apartment." Aria deadpanned, accepting his hug.
"Well come inside! Here, let me get you warm." Ezra led her inside. He sat her on his couch and wrapped a blanket around her.
"I was so worried when you didn't come back, I even texted your friends and I tried calling you and texting you. Why didn't you answer?" Ezra asked, more concerned instead of angry.
"I left my phone in the car, and my car was locked. I couldn't go anywhere and I don't think I wanted to. I'm sorry I got so upset earlier, I don't know what I was thinking." Aria said regretfully, knowing that Ezra also felt bad.
"No, baby, it's okay, I was just worried about you. Are you warm yet?"
"Yeah, a little, definitely better than before. But it's late and I'm really tired, can we just go to bed?"
"Yes, of course! Let's go." He followed her to the bedroom and they got in bed together. Neither of them were asleep after fifteen minutes.
"Are you still awake?" Aria asked the darkness.
"Well I'm definitely not asleep if that's what you're asking." Ezra rolled over to face her.
"I'm sorry for earlier." Aria still felt guilty for ruining the night for them.
"Don't feel bad or anything Aria, but I'm just confused. You've been acting so different, what's wrong?"
"I can't explain it, I'm really happy with you, but it's like I'm not happy with my life anymore."
"Aria, what do you mean? That's kind of a big thing to say."
"I don't know how I meant it, just forget I said anything." Aria rolled over, facing the wall now. Ezra sighed and went to bed.
The two woke up the next morning at six. It was finally Friday, and Aria and Ezra started it off the right way, showering together. After that, Ezra got out and started to make breakfast for them while Aria blew her hair dry and got dressed. She put on a short long sleeved denim dress with a tan sweater over top, and rolled the sleeves up on her dress over the sweater. The sweater and dress both ended about mid-thigh and she wore brown cowboy boots with tan knee high socks underneath. She did her hair in a braid and her makeup was neutral. She didn't have her contacts with her, so she was forced to wear her glasses. She walked out to the kitchen to find Ezra in black pants, and blue plaid shirt with a baby blue tie on, making eggs.
"I like the glasses babe, those are sexy." Ezra turned away from his pan to grab his girlfriend and kiss her passionately.
"Want some eggs? They're almost done." Ezra suggested.
"No thanks, I told the girls I would meet them at the Grille for coffee and breakfast before school." Ezra nodded his head and put the eggs all on his plate.
"So do you have any plans this weekend?" Aria asked, making small talk at the table.
"Well just to spend the weekend with my beautiful girlfriend." Ezra smiled when he said this.
"Good, well I should head out if I'm making it to school on time. I love you." Aria pecked Ezra and was out the door. Aria didn't actually have to meet the girls before school, she just didn't want Ezra's breakfast. She decided to stop at her dad's house instead.
"Hey dad, I just stopped by quick to get some things to take to mom's tonight." Aria informed her dad before running up the stairs to her bedroom. She got some outfits and her contacts to take to Ezra's. She went back downstairs to see her dad and Mike at the table together.
"Hey hon, you want some breakfast?"
"No, I ate at mom's, thanks though." Aria smiled at her dad before grabbing her laptop to write a paper tonight.
"Are you feeling any better?" Byron asked his daughter.
"Yeah, back to normal, thanks dad." Aria tried to rush out the door.
"Hold up Aria, can I speak to you for a second before you leave?" Byron stood up from the table and took Aria to the living room.
"Aria, your mother and I, we're worried. It maybe looks like your disorder has returned? We just want to keep you healthy."
"Dad! No okay, I'm fine. I promise. Can I go to school now?" Aria pulled away, not waiting for an answer. She was frustrated that her parents were always on her about that. They just needed to mind their own business.
Aria was on her way to school now, fidgeting while driving. Her hands were shaking, she had thrown up her chicken parmesan last night after she stormed out of Ezra's. She couldn't even remember the last time she had eaten and actually kept it down. She was tired constantly, and she knew it was because she wasn't eating. She was dizzy and there were bags under her eyes. But it was working, she could see the difference. She still wasn't completely satisfied yet though. She would have to keep it up for a little while longer and then she would have to keep up with a vigorous workout regime. She pushed those thoughts to the back of her head as she parked her car in the school lot. She got out of her car and instantly felt dizzy, she had stood up too fast. She walked to her locker to get her book for chemistry. The girls were already at school, and were waiting for Aria at her locker.
"Hey Aria, where were you this morning? We waited for you at The Grille." Spencer asked Aria.
"Oh yeah, sorry, Ezra and I had a long morning you could say." Aria blushed while the girls drilled her for details. They split up to go to their separate classes, but promised to talk more about it at lunch.
Lunch rolled around relatively fast, except Aria kept spacing out. Her brain wasn't retaining any of the information that she was being taught. She met the girls in the lunch line as usual. She didn't get anything, but waited in line with the girls. They walked back to their table.
"So no lunch again Aria?" Emily asked with a worried tone.
"Oh, Ezra and I had a huge breakfast, toast, eggs, bacon, homefries, the works." Aria shrugged it off.
"So what was your argument about last night?" Hanna asked curiously.
"He called me fat basically, but apparently I was overreacting. He didn't mean it like that."
"He better not have. Otherwise, we'll kick his butt." Spencer added.
"So your morning was long? What exactly does that mean?" Emily prodded.
"Well, we had a shower and it was so nice guys. I've missed just being close to him."
"Sounds scandalous!" Hanna joked. The girls carried on their conversation until the lunch bell rang. Aria was heading to English class with Ezra. She loved looking into his eyes when she knew she wasn't supposed to be. She walked into the classroom with the rest of her classmates and waited for class to start.
"Alright guys, today we are taking a break from A Farewell To Arms and we'll be reading and acting out from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Tony, you can be Caesar, John you'll be Brutus, Aria, you can play Antony, and Maddy, could you read as Cassius for us?" Ezra appointed characters to some of the class, who came to the front of the class. They acted out the first few scenes, including sword fighting, and Aria's big speech was coming up. As the lines led up to her speech, Aria began feeling dizzy from standing for so long. She was almost panting by the time she was half way through the monologue. Aria took a pause to catch her breath, but she couldn't after a few seconds. Things were getting awkward in class because everyone was waiting on Aria. Aria sluggishly continued her speech before she couldn't continue. She bent her knees a little and put her head down, trying to catch her breath again. All of a sudden, the class starting spinning, and she could hear Ezra calling her name, but she couldn't respond as her knees gave out and she felt her whole body hit the cold linoleum floor.
"Aria! Somebody call the nurse! Aria!" Ezra ran to his girlfriend, who he had to act like she was just his student. He knelt by her side and looked at his class running around chaotically, some calling the nurse, while others ran to the nurse. Some were even in the bathroom getting wet paper towels.
"Aria, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?" Aria remained unconscious on his floor for the second time this week. Ezra knew he had to stay calm for the rest of his students so he took Aria's pulse. If he was correct, Aria's heart was only beating about 35 beats per minute, which was not at all normal. He was really worried now. Where was the nurse? What was taking her so long? He knew that once she got here, she was going to call an ambulance, so he decided to be one step ahead and called them. They were on their way. Someone had called the office and an announcement was made to keep all students in their fourth period class due to an emergency.
"Someone call Mrs. Montgomery please! Room 135, tell her what has happened." Ezra instructed.
"Aria, can you hear me? Try to open your eyes, come on Aria!" The nurse finally ran in and instructed all of the students to leave the classroom while the paramedics loaded Aria onto a stretcher. Soon, Ella came running into the room.
"Ezra, what happened?" She exclaimed, running to her daughter.
"I don't know, we were reading a play and she just passed out!" Ella took him aside.
"I have two questions for you and both are very serious, so I need you to answer me honestly." Ella warned, Ezra nodded, knowing that this was a serious situation.
"The first one: When was the last time you saw Aria eat?" This confused Ezra, but he thought back upon the question.
"Um, yesterday, we had dinner, why?"
"Just let me ask the second question so we can get Aria to the hospital. Is there any chance that Aria is pregnant?" Ella whispered so no one else could hear.
"I-I mean, I don't think so, but may-there could be a possibility." Ezra stuttered out, knowing he couldn't lie to her, but also feeling very awkward.
"Okay, thank you. Please meet me at the hospital!" Ella ran to catch up with the paramedics. Ezra nodded, knowing he could get out of his class because he could say he was so shaken up from the incident. His plan worked flawlessly and soon enough he was on his way to the hospital. He met Aria's parents there, and soon enough, her three friends came through the door.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Byron asked the girls.
"We heard what was going on, everyone's talking about it. Is she okay?" Spencer asked, leading the group.
"We don't know yet, they just took her for examination. Listen girls, have you noticed anything strange about Aria lately?" Ella asked.
"Not that I can think of, why?" Hanna responded for the group.
"When was the last time you saw her eat?" Byron added, Ezra was again confused by the urgency of this question.
"I can't even remember, she had a few carrots yesterday at lunch, but that's it." Emily responded.
"Wait, I thought she went to breakfast with you guys this morning?" Ezra pointed out.
"No, we waited for her, but she said that you two had a large breakfast together." Spencer countered.
"She uh, she came over this morning, but she didn't stay long, I offered her eggs, but she said that she had to meet you guys."
"She refused my breakfast too, she said she ate at your place Ella."
"Byron, she didn't even stay at my house last night!" Ella pointed out. Soon everything was making sense to the two parents, but Ezra and the girls were still in the dark about what was going on.
"Let's sit down and we'll explain everything." Byron led the group farther into the waiting room to sit down.
"When we spent that year in Iceland, Aria developed an eating disorder. She didn't eat for weeks and her body began to shut down. She didn't tell anyone until she was hospitalized for it. It was really bad. That's why we moved back here. We hoped that she would feel more comfortable being with her friends again. She seemed better, but lately we've noticed some of the things that might mean that she has relapsed." Ella explained to the group, Byron nodding along.
"Oh my god, why wouldn't she have told us?" Emily was perplexed, along with the rest of her friends.
"She was embarrassed, she didn't even want us to know." Byron added.
"That makes sense now, she hasn't been eating lunch lately." Hanna contemplated in her head.
"I caught her throwing up twice, but she told me that she was sick!" Ezra added shocked by what he was learning. This information would change his world completely, and could he keep up with that change?