I planned to have this up yesterday but things got pretty hectic. I had to do my history essay which was 20% of my History grade for my Leaving Cert. Just got it finished today - WOOO!

Can you tell that I'm in a better mood than last time? Haha.

Anyway, I really like this chapter. The teacher I describe at the end is based off my old Spanish teacher Señor Traynor. And I promise that they'll be some proper Ezria in the next chapter. However, I think the Ezria in this one is pretty cute. You'll see for yourself... enjoy!

"Call it what you like but I ain't no love fool

You would understand if he was loving you.

We've had our ups and downs, but I still want him around

He is the one, I know it's true."

Being apart from Ezra was never easy. Being torn apart from him by my parents had sent me on a downward spiral, being apart from him by choice had nearly destroyed me, and now it was being apart by long distance that was taking its tole on me.

Luckily, school was keeping me busy with last-minute college applications and homework but it was during those early Saturday morning hours and lazy Sundays that his absence weighed down on my heart.

We texted most days and he'd call whenever I told him Amy and Rose were busy, but it wasn't enough. I missed his boyish smile and piercing blue eyes, I missed holding his soft hands and the feel of his strong arms wrapped around me. The locket he'd given me had a permanent place around my neck and I loved being asked where I'd gotten it so that I could proudly declare that my boyfriend had gotten it for me. Unfortunately, I was still bound to the pseudonym Noel Kahn, but I appreciated the squeals it garnered nonetheless.

"Aria?"

"Hmm?"

I was broken out of my thoughts by my calc teacher. I dropped the locket, which I'd been absentmindedly fiddling with and focused on her, blushing a deep red to match the varnish I'd applied last night.

"I said," Ms Heath huffed angrily, "What is the derivative of seven x to the power of three?"

I glanced down at my unfinished worksheet and then up at her strict face sheepishly.

"Uhhh… ten x squared?" I guessed, wishing I had Spencer's brain for maths. I always found it to be a very cold subject compared to English where there is no right or wrong, only the warmth in the words of genii.

"Wrong," she snapped, "That's the third time in a row that I've caught you daydreaming in my class, Aria. That's earned you detention, I'm afraid. See me after class. Madison, the answer, please?"

"Twenty-one x squared," Madison Mayhew answered, turning to look at me pointedly with a snooty look on her face.

"Suck up," I muttered under my breath just as the bell rang to signal the end of the period. I begrudgingly waited for the rest of my class to leave before approaching Ms Heath's desk.

"Aria," she tisked, "What's happened to you? You were such a diligent student before Christmas."

I shrugged, hardly going to explain that I was longing for her ex-colleague in New York, who happened to be my boyfriend and lover.

She sighed, her eyes lingering on my necklace, "It wouldn't have anything to do with a boy, now, would it?"

The blush on my cheeks must have said it all for her because she rolled her eyes.

"Aria, I'm going to tell you something. At your age, boys may seem like the be-all and end-all but they're not. I've been a teacher for fifteen years and I'll tell you now that you'll have forgotten him by the time you're my age."

I shook my head, a small smile playing on my lips, "I'm sorry about whoever made you think that, Ms Heath, but I know what I have with him is going to last. He's…amazing. I love him."

"That was quite inappropriate, Aria," she said, raising an eyebrow, "But I'll let it slide so long as you vow to be more focused."

I held up three fingers in the scouts honour, "So about this detention…"

Ms Heath smiled, "Room five, four thirty."

I groaned and made my way to the last class of the day, English. Our new teacher, Mr Bernardo, was already mid-lecture when I walked in.

"Hello," he said to me cheerfully, "Isn't it nice of you to join us? Don't you think it was nice of her, class?" They mumbled an incomprehensible reply.

"Sorry, I was talking to Miss Heath," I told him. He looked unimpressed as I took my seat at the back but continued to lecture about the themes of Girl With A Pear Earring. I pulled out my book as he continued on, hiding my phone behind it.

To E.F: Won't be able to ring you until 8ish, got detention for being a naughty schoolgirl, ;) XO

My phone buzzed with a reply a moment later and I checked to see that Mr Bernardo was still absorbed in the sound of his own monotone voice before looking at the screen.

From E.F: Pity I'm not there to spank you, naughty girl.

My mouth dropped open and I was fairly sure my eyes bugged out of their sockets, but a second later my phone buzzed again.

From E.F: IGNORE THAT, PLEASE. It was from my perv of a brother. That's okay, babe, I'll wait.

To E.F: So… You don't want to spank me? XO

I smirked to myself, imagining his shocked face. There was no time to ponder his response as the phone buzzed once more.

From E.F: Do you want me to want to?

A smile danced around on my lips.

To E.F: That's for me to know, and you to find out. Talk you you later, English class beckons. Love you, xoxo

From E.F: And I you.

"Right, girls, phone's away, books out, detention starts now."

I groaned as Mr Bernardo bursts into the room. It was just he and I alone.

"Well, if it isn't my favourite late-comer," he leered. "What a pleasant surprise is this!" I ignored him and took out my book, letting the inspiring words of John Green take over.

My phone buzzed in my bag and I pretended to get out a pen as I checked it.

From E.F: How's detention without me? What did you do, anyway?

I looked up to make sure that Mr Bernardo wasn't looking before pulling it out of my bag and holding it behind my book, 'The Fault in Our Stars.'

To E.F: Daydreaming about you in calc… and it's a vast improvement on last time. XO

My mind drifted back to the last time I'd had detention when Ezra was supervising and I'd broken up with him. It was just after the whole Jackie fandango and the tension between us had been so palpable it was a wonder nobody noticed.

My phone buzzed.

From E.F: Ah, yes, Ms Heath did seem like a detention giver. God, I remember how hard it was not to stare at you for the whole session. You know you had missed a button on your blouse?

To E.F: Are you sure this perv thing doesn't run in your family? XO

From E.F: I'll look into it.

I laughed out loud and Mr Bernardo glared at me.

"Is there something funny, Ms Montgomery? Because I'd love to hear it! I could do with a good laugh." He looked at me expectantly; his blue eyes were cold and nothing at all like Ezra's.

"The past, the present and the future all walk into a bar at the same time," I began, in the mood for being cheeky, "It was tense."

Mr Bernardo gave a snort before returning to his work, leaving me unsure as to whether the snort was in amusement or displeasure. I decided on the latter before texting Ezra the same joke.

From E.F: Oh dear, God! What do they teach you in those schools?

To E.F: I don't now. Mr Bernardo is soo HOT, it makes it hard to concentrate. XO

I looked up at the teacher in question as I sent it. He was, in fact, the polar opposite of hot. His receding silver hair pulled back into a ponytail and protruding belly made him look like a sad excuse for a hippy. The fact that he was wearing tweed pants in which he'd cut his own flares didn't help. Mr Bernardo stretched back, sticking two fingers through the gap of his shirt and scratching his stomach, making me vomit a little in my mouth.

Ezra texted back and I shook my head, trying to dispel the disturbing act I'd just witnessed, before reading his message.

From E.F: Does he, by chance, have a ponytail and a tendency to scratch his stomach through his shirt?

To E.F: Very attractive qualities if you ask me. You know him? XO

From E.F: Know him? He's one of the main reasons I did English! I needed to prove to myself that there was more to English teaching than flares and sarcasm.

To E.F: Well, I'd much rather watch you rub your belly than him. ;) XO

It took Ezra a few minutes to reply back.

From E.F: …and they say romance is dead.

This time when Mr Bernardo glared, I only laughed harder.

I hope you liked it! If you want more, or if you love my ramblings (although, I'm not sure why anybody would) you can follow me on twitter! I'm KatieSwan_x and will be putting up sneak peeks and more during the weeks to come!

Anyway, review! Or I'll send your love to Louisiana. Don't make me do it.

-K