Aria wheeled Ezra into the Brew where they found Emily, Hanna and Spencer sitting in their usual corner booth. Their faces grew from excitement to confusion as they realized Ezra had tagged along. Spencer was the first to speak. "Oh hey."
"Hi!" Emily was a little more welcoming and added a hug.
Hanna sat silently with her legs crossed in the corner. Aria took everyone's coffee orders and then headed up to the counter. Ezra and the girls sat in an eerie silence as they waited for her to come back. He knew he had to break it.
"I'm really sorry I came. I know you must've just wanted some time with Aria."
"No, it's fine, really." Emily tried to help Ezra feel better.
"It's really not. I think Aria needs help." He paused at the harshness of his words. "That came out wrong. I have been trying to help her by telling her to go out with all of you but she constantly needs to be with me. I love being with her but after two weeks together in a little apartment she physically can't leave me. I just don't know what to do." Ezra sounded distressed and Hanna snapped out of her silence.
"She has seemed really distracted on the phone. All she wants to talk about is you or she starts crying. I agree with Ezra, she needs help."
"Can we not just slam her into the nut house on instinct? How about I try and talk her into dinner and shopping with us tonight. But to give her a hint I'll only make reservations for four." Spencer suggested.
"Thank you so much, that's perfect." Ezra was relieved that he wasn't the only one who thought Aria had some emotional issues. They ended the conversation when Aria came bouncing back with all of their coffees.
"Thanks." Emily said as she received her order.
"Hey Aria, I was wondering if you wanted to join us tonight for dinner and some shopping?" Aria shot Ezra a quick glance then looked apologetically at Spencer.
"Sorry, I have to help Ezra around. Maybe another time." She took her first sip and reached for Ezra's hand.
"No, I think you should go. Really, I'll be fine go with them." He coaxed.
"Ezra, what did we just talk about this morning? You aren't staying alone."
He began to get frustrated and pulled his hand away, "Aria, you are going out tonight. I'm not five years old anymore. I can stay home alone for a few hours."
She looked hurt that he would even think of saying that to her. Hanna chimed in trying to help Ezra's case, "He needs to practice being alone in case there's ever a time that you can't be there. Aria, come with us tonight please."
"There's never going to be a time like that Hanna. I'm not going tonight unless Ezra wants to come shopping." She looked at him. Ezra became very aggravated.
"Aria, I'm trying to help you so you don't become secluded from the social world. Go out with your friends tonight." His fists were clenched. Aria's eyes filled with tears and she stormed out. Ezra looked helplessly at the girls.
"I'll go get her." Spencer left the rest of the group to try and find Aria. She walked out into the parking lot where she found Aria disoriented in a mess of tears. "Aria, come on let's get in my car."
"Don't even Spencer! I'm not crazy, he just wants to get rid of me! But I love him and I'm never leaving him ever!" Aria lashed out at Spencer. When she tried detaining her Aria swung at her jaw, making Spencer's lip bleed.
"Oh my god Aria!" She ran away from the scene and hopped into Ezra's car. She sped out of the parking lot not even bothering to stop or slow down before making a sharp right. Spencer ran back into the Brew with her lip dripping blood.
"Did she do that to you?" Ezra's eyes grew wide.
"Yeah and then sped away in your car." Spencer wiped the blood from her chin as he tried to wheel out of the Brew quickly. "Um, Ezra. I can drive you."
"Oh yeah, that's probably a better idea." He slid into the passenger seat and Spencer drove in the direction she saw Aria drive away. "Why is she doing this? Why is she like this? All I want to do is help."
"I know but once we find her we'll figure it all out." She looked at Ezra who was a complete wreck by now. They drove in silence for a while until they passed the bar where Aria and Ezra first met. There she was, sitting in the exact same spot she was when he first fell in love.
