Chapter 6

Aria was sitting on her bed Monday night trying to get some reading done that she had for class the next day. She and Ezra had a no special treatment rule, so she had to try just as hard as everyone else in the class, if not harder. Her phone buzzed, causing Aria to nearly jump off her bed.

Can you come over now? It's urgent.

-Ez

Aria thanked a higher power that her parents were out at the moment. Byron was at a teacher conference in one of the Carolina's, and her mother was out with some girls having a few drinks. Ezra never asked her to drop everything and come see him, unless it was urgent.

"Hey Mike?" Aria tapped gently on her younger brother's door with one hand, while her other hand slipped a flat onto her right foot.

"Come in." Mike called back at her. Aria cracked open the door and stuck her head inside his room.

"I'm going to go out for a bit, do you need me to get you anything while I'm in town?" Aria didn't think Mike needed a cover story or even cared where she was going, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Mike shook his head in response.

"Nah, I'm good. Have fun wherever you're going." Mike lifted his hand in a lazy sort of wave, and Aria took that as a cue to shut the door behind her.

Aria looked at Ezra the second he opened his apartment door and knew that something was very wrong.

"What is it?" Aria asked, not even bothering to kiss him at the moment. She was too concerned to worry about satisfying their wants.

"Come here." Ezra took Aria's hand and led her over to his desk. Aria jerked her hand away in attempt to stifle the gasp that had escaped her mouth at the sight before them. Tons of papers were scattered over Ezra's desk, and all of them had a bright red "A" with a circle around it.

"Are those. . ."

"The To Kill a Mockingbird Essays." Ezra finished Aria's sentence for her.

"What are you going to tell the class?" Aria turned towards Ezra.

"That's not what I'm worried about. I'll just make up something about deciding to make the essay for bonus points and tell them I wanted to keep the essay's for reference purposes. But Aria, this person got into my house." Aria sighed as Ezra spoke, as if A hadn't messed with enough they had to get involved in her relationship.

"Ezra, A can get into almost anywhere. Nothing is safe, not anymore."

"How can you just act like this isn't a problem? Oh, no big deal, just some murderous psychopath free to roam wherever they please, it's okay." Ezra began to raise his voice at Aria.

"I'm not saying it's not a problem Ezra," Aria's tone of voice became defensive, "My life has revolved around this stalker for months now. Do you think I like having my house broken into? My relationship being threatened? Being forced to choose between my family and my safety?"

"A has threatened our relationship?" Aria nodded in response to Ezra's question, "Aria. . . why didn't you tell me?" Ezra's tone of voice became softer, it almost sounded like he had been betrayed.

Tears welled up in Aria's eyes. All she had ever wanted was a happy relationship with the person she loved. Things seemed to have gotten way out of hand, and she felt as if it was all her fault.

"I just. . ." Aria's voice wavered as she spoke, "I wanted to protect you. I love you Ezra."

Ezra cupped Aria's face in his hands, and wiped away the tears falling gently from her beautiful eyes. Any trace of anger that he had felt towards Aria seconds ago had faded completely, and in its place was tenderness for the woman he knew he loved more than life itself.

"Aria," Ezra's voice was firm but comforting as he spoke, "We are going to get through this, and we are going to get through this together."

Aria stood on her tip toes and kissed Ezra. Their lips intertwined for a few blissful moments, until Ezra pulled away.

"Aria, I have something to give you," Aria's head tilted with curiosity as Ezra spoke, "I was going to give it to you on our anniversary, but I think now is the right time."

Ezra retreated to where his bed was, and he pulled out a small box that was in the table beside it. He walked back over to Aria, and opened the box. She gasped as she saw it's contents. Inside the box were two rings, each with a silver band that was carved into an intricate pattern. One of the rings had a piece of opal set into it.

"They're promise rings, Aria," Ezra spoke, his voice shaking with nerves, "One for me, one for you. I'm going to marry you one day. We will always be together, forever. I love you."

Ezra slipped the ring with a unique opal stone in it onto Aria's ring finger. Aria kissed him again and again. Each time their lips parted, they reunited again with more passion. Ezra scooped Aria up like she was his bride, and carried him over to his bed. Just for that night, they forgot all their problems and the tough road that was ahead of them and were able to just be with each other.

A/N: I hope you guys are still interested in the story! Please leave feedback, negative or positive, I like to know how I'm doing. Thanks much! I'll post more next Tuesday.