Chapter 7

Aria

Aria hadn't known what she had been thinking by kissing Mr. Fitz. His was a teacher, her teacher, someone of authority. She didn't want to face him. She wouldn't be able to live down the shame. She had acted on her feelings towards him, knowing there would be repercussions.

She really thought she could keep her crush on him in check. Fat chance of that happening with what she had done. She had made a move on a teacher. It was against the rules, but also against the law. She had really blown it, humiliating herself in the process. It was a cowardly thought, but at least she could hide behind her blindness.

She had forced herself on him, shame crept into her bones. It a nice thought, but she couldn't run from this. Mr. Fitz had been nice to her, generous. She had ruined it. She just hadn't been able to help herself, needing to kiss him almost desperately it seemed. The feel of his lips against hers—had been amazing.

Still lost in her thoughts, she ran fingers across her bottom lip, before running them up to trace over her top one. She breathed in deeply, before releasing an almost shaky breath. She didn't want to think of it as a mistake, it wasn't. She had meant to do it. She didn't do anything on impulse.

Aria's fingers tweaked the owl necklace hanging from around her neck, her fingers trekking over the shape of it. She tuned out the sound of the radio as she drove to school with Danny. She was awfully quiet, but she couldn't help it. She was rather content with her thoughts, thoughts about Mr. Ezra Fitz. She still couldn't believe what she had done.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, tinting her smooth pale skin as the taste of him filled her nose and mouth. It was like his smell and taste were imprinted on her brain. The smell and taste of cigarettes, smoke, and nice smelling cologne couldn't be easily forgotten. Smoking was not only a way to get killed, but it was a distasteful habit. With Mr. Fitz, she couldn't find it offensive.

She wished she had been able to see his apartment. It had smelled of him. She had been crazy to go there, but she had to, had to see what had him so upset. The journey hadn't been a cake walk around the park, but she had made it there in one piece. She didn't fear wandering around Rosewood on her own. Rosewood was a safe place.

Her fingers stilled on her necklace, remembering these same fingers had run over Mr. Fitz's chiseled features. Her breath stilled in her chest until she remembered to breathe. The beating of her heart was skittery at the thought of his looks. He was more gorgeous than what those rumors had mentioned. And his hair had felt silky and thick; the soft strands coiling around her slim fingers as she'd ran her hands through them.

Now she had her own picture of him. Even though she couldn't see his ocean blue eyes, she knew they only enhanced his looks. Yeah he felt older than her, but not that much older. She remembered the calculations of her fingers running over his face, totaling him up to be in his mid to late twenties. She was confident in her calculations. A ghostly smile stretched her mouth, making her even prettier than what she was.

The motion of the car slowed, and then came to a stop, telling her they had reached the school. The smile left her, apprehension bubbling in her belly as she tensed up. She wasn't ready for the whispers, the laughter, or the pairs of eyes staring at her. She got out the car and unfolded her walking stick from her purse, hearing as the end of the stick hit hard pavement. She could already sense the eyes, hear the whispers aimed her way as she walked up to Danny and took hold of his arm.

Whispers and stares followed their progress up to the humongous building that was Rosewood high. She tried not to let them bother her. She wasn't self-conscious of her appearance, still remembering what she looked like. Her short hair was styled in a stylish Mohawk that gave life to her china doll features, and her face a more youthful glow. She wore a shirt that exposed her milky white back, a skirt that highlighted her long shapely legs, and a pair of flats adorned her dainty feet.

She could sense the tension in Danny, boiling up to the surface. She could tell he was getting annoyed at all the looks on them. She was annoyed also, hating all the attention. She gave pressure to his arm, soothing his agitation. It worked. She could feel the tension leave his body as he huffed out the breath he seemed to be holding.

She was glad she was able to keep him calm. The last thing she wanted was for him to get in trouble for kicking their asses. Their peers were rude and cruel, thinking it was funny to pick on a blind girl. She could feel their looks of scorn trailing down the hallway as she headed in the direction of her English class. Once more, they were judging her, blaming her. She knew they would always blame her, especially for Wesley's death and her for own blindness. She would never win with them.

It was hard, but she could handle all their snickers, glares and whispers, but not their hands on her. She hated when they pushed her around when she was alone and by herself. It wasn't the girls that touched her, but the boys. She found their hands rough, clumsy, and dirty. She felt sick to her stomach whenever they would touch her.

"Are you okay?" Danny asked in a tight voice, running his brown eyes over her face. "I'm sick of all their stares and whispers about you. I want to just kick their asses and be done with it all".

"I'm fine," her own voice was strained as she turned her head to look over at Danny. "And please don't. It's not worth getting into any trouble".

She could tell her words still didn't placate his irritation.

"No, you're not," he could see through her facade. He always could. "Will you let me know if they bother you again? They won't try anything if I'm around. They know I would fuck their asses up".

She knew they wouldn't. Danny was part of the school wrestling team. He was the captain, one of the best on the team. He was sure to get scouted by many universities. She was proud of him.

"You could always see through me," Aria said, it wasn't a compliment. "You know I will".

It was a lie.

She wouldn't mess up his chances to get into a good school. She could handle her own problems. That even sounded like a lie. Going to the principal office would just make it worse. She wasn't ready for that. She wouldn't risk their hate even more, all because she ran and told on them.

"I'm supposed to, I'm your brother," he said as though it was what counted. She kissed his check, reaching up to hug his neck and hold him tight. She didn't want to let go. "It's my job to protect you".

It was her job to protect him too.

"Yes, my protective older brother, the person I love most in the world," Aria teased as she released her hold on him. "Just promise me you won't do anything stupid".

"I'll try not to," Danny didn't believe in making promises he couldn't keep. "But they have one time to get out of line, and then it's all over. There won't be any talking, but fists flying".

She kissed his cheek again before heading inside her classroom, taking her time to find her seat. She ignored their stares, the whispers, and the little snide remarks aimed at her. She didn't come to school for that. She came to learn, to graduate. She felt as a tall shadow fell over her, submerging her in smoke and nice smelling cologne. She quelled her jitters, refusing to look up at Mr. Fitz.

His closeness was nice, calming. She felt safe whenever he was around. She couldn't hate herself for it. She listened intently as he began to discuss the day's topics. She loved the way he taught, the sound of his deep and scratchy voice that made her hot and ache all over.

Aria never thought about sex with anyone else but Wesley. She found it funny how that all seemed to change. She wanted to sleep with Mr. Fitz, to have him be her first. She somehow knew he would be kind, gentle. She shook her head, thinking the idea outrageous.

She didn't know him, but she knew he would never sleep with one of his students. She couldn't say that she blamed him. It would not only cost him his job, but it would cause him to go to jail. Besides, she had heard he was married. Why hadn't he told her? Why had he kept it a secret? She felt incredibly stupid, like she had been punched in the stomach. Of course someone like him would be married, taken.

She reached into her bag, rummaging through the contents as she searched for her laptop and pulled it out. Her fingers ran over the Braille keyboard, writing down what Mr. Fitz wrote down on the blackboard as he called it out. She loved how he always seemed to accommodate her whenever he taught. He was always very attentive to her needs. She was staring to fall in love with his kindness and generosity.

She didn't intend to eavesdrop, but she could hear hushed whispers at her back. For once they weren't talking about her. Her ears really perked up when she heard Wesley's name. She wondered why his name was even brought up. Had they known him? She didn't even know them. She knew all of Wesley's friends.

Aria's fingers stopped moving across the keyboard when she heard Mr. Fitz's name called out next by them. What had he to do with Wesley? Had Mr. Fitz known Wesley? Had he taught him? Wesley had never once brought it up. She broke out in cold sweat when she heard them say they were related, that Mr. Fitz and Wesley were brothers. Her breath coming in ragged pants as she kept her hands from shaking. She felt silly, stupid that she hadn't guessed it. Mr. Fitz reminded her of Wesley.

How could they be brothers? Wesley hadn't mentioned he had ever had a brother. Why wouldn't Mr. Fitz tell her? He had to know she had been Wesley's girlfriend. Everyone had known. She felt sick for kissing him; he was Wesley's older brother. She couldn't focus on her work, her heart hammering away at her. She tried to keep calm, to not overreact. Now she knew why he was so kind and generous to her, it was because she was Wesley's girlfriend. He felt sorry for her, for the poor helpless blind girl, the idiot who couldn't see anymore.

She tuned out the rest of the conversation, not wanting to hear anymore. How could she have a crush on Wesley's brother? It was nuts. She would never have betrayed Wesley like that had she known. It all made sense now, the kindness, generosity and protectiveness, and his attention. It was all an act. Why had he done this? Did he get off on screwing her over? She couldn't believe this. She didn't want to believe he could do something like this, to keep such a big secret from her. She felt numb, cold as though she was a corpse being put into the ground. It hurt, the pain resounding through her chest as she felt the tears slipping down her face. If only her sunshades would hide them, keep them a secret.

She packed her things away, her hands flying over them blindly as she stuffed everything into her bag. She unfolded her walking stick as she got up in the middle of Mr. Fitz's speech. She could hear all the whisper surrounding her, but she didn't care as she walked towards the door, wanting to leave with every nerve in her body. She was moving so fast she almost tripped, hearing the laughter behind her as she turned the knob and opened the door. Mr. Fitz called after her, but she didn't turn back, didn't stop.

Aria couldn't stop the tears, using her walking stick and the side of the wall to guide her through the quiet hallways. She could hear running feet behind her, but she didn't stop, didn't look back. She needed to get away. She was sick of all the lies, all the hated stares and whispers behind her back, and unwanted touches from the boys who bothered her. She nearly squeaked when she felt a hand close around her arm, stilling her movement.

She knew that tall shadow, knew that smell, and knew that voice. She tried to shake his hold on her, but she couldn't. He wouldn't let go. He held her close to his body as he pulled her into an empty classroom. She could hear how out of breath he was. She bet he wished he had given up smoking. The nasty comment made her feel bad. She hated herself for loving the feel of his body against hers, the way he towered over her.

"What's the matter?" Mr. Fitz in his deep-set scratchy voice, the sound sending thrills of awareness down her spine. "Did someone say something to you?"

She didn't want his concern. She hated it. It was all an act. He had deceived her in the worse possible way. He had lied about his identity, kept the fact that he was Wesley's older brother from her. It had been her right to know.

"Everything is the matter!" Aria cried loudly, squirming in his hold. "You lied to me. You're Wesley's older brother. Why would you keep that a secret from me?"

He sighed. She could sense the sadness on his face.

"I'm sorry that you found out that way. I wanted to tell you, I really did, but I just could never find the right way to tell you," Mr. Fitz's voice took on a somber tone. "Believe me, I hate myself for it. I never wanted to hurt you in this way, to deceive you. I never wanted to break your trust in me".

She wanted to believe him. She really did, but she didn't know if she could.

"Was it all an act, all the kindness, generosity and protectiveness, and all the attention that you showered me with?" Aria was in hysterics now. It cut him deep, his ocean blue eyes filled with pain that he had hurt in this way. The shattered look on her pretty face just about killed him. It felt as though someone had run a sword through his heart and twisted it in deep. "Did you feel sorry for me? Was it all pity?"

"No, what I feel towards you isn't pity, Ms. Montgomery," Mr. Fitz's voice pleaded with her to forgive him, to believe him. "I care about you so much. I care about you in way that I shouldn't".

In what way did he mean?

More than a student is what he meant?

She couldn't allow herself to think it.

She stopped her struggles against him, wanting to ask what he meant. Even after everything she still liked him. Was it wrong? Was she insane? She didn't care if she was. She couldn't stop what she felt, even after he had hurt her. She wanted him.

"In what way do you mean?" Aria asked with a sniffle and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "I'm not a helpless blind girl".

For a second she thought he wouldn't answer.

"In a way that's inappropriate," Mr. Fitz said deeply, the scratchiness more pronounced than ever. "I don't ever see you that way. You're so strong, so courageous. I admire your strength".

He liked her liked her. She couldn't believe it. She thought he would never return her feelings. She was aware of his fingers grasping hers, aware of his breath bathing her neck and the way he smelled so good, and the way he stared at even though she couldn't see it, but she could sense it, could sense everything between them. The air crackled with the unspoken attraction between them.

She feared it.

"How come Wesley never told me about you?" Aria asked quietly, wanting to keep her mind off the attraction between them. "Did you guys not get along?"

He grasped her fingers tight with his, his eyes stammering over her face as he took in how pretty she was. He wanted to see her big brown eyes. He didn't about the scars. They were still lovely even damaged.

"Because I was a horrible older brother to him and because I didn't get along with our father or his mother. We're half-brothers," Mr. Fitz sounded ashamed. "I not only took out my frustrations on our father and step-mother, but also on Wes. I regret it. I knew how much he looked up to me. I loved him, I did. I just never showed it".

Aria couldn't help wincing at that information. It sounded horrible. Siblings were supposed to get along, to love one another. She valued her relationship with Danny. She couldn't imagine not ever showing Danny her love for him.

"Wesley was a great person, why would you treat him so terribly?" Aria sounded angry. "Did you hate him that much?"

She felt as he flinched, a breath rattling through his body as he thought of something to say to her.

"I knew that, but it was very complicated. I was an angry person then, but that doesn't excuse my behavior towards Wes," Mr. Fitz said as his hands framed her face, his fingers sending shivers through her body. "No, I told you I loved him".

"I don't know what to say," Aria said with confusion marring her pretty features. "I don't know what to think of this information".

His fingers roamed her face, trailing lightly as butterflies filled her stomach. She could scarcely breathe. She loved the feel of his hands on her, the way his smelled filled her nostrils. She gasped when his fingers skimmed across her pouty ripe lips, before they fell away as though they had never been there. She liked him so much.

"Say that you believe me," his deep voice rumbled in his throat. "Say that you don't hate me".

She didn't know how to say it. Confusion still gripped her. She didn't know what to say, didn't know if she could even speak. Her mouth felt glued together. Why was she speechless? She tried to move her mouth, to form the words, but nothing came out.

"It's okay. You need time to process everything. I understand," Mr. Fitz said as he squeezed her fingers, before letting them go. "Do you want to transfer out my class? I won't stop you if that's what you want to do".

She shook her head no. It wasn't what she wanted.

"Do you want to walk back to class with me?" Mr. Fitz was so considerate, a trait that he and Wesley both shared. "Or do you still need some time?"

"I think I still need some time," Aria's voice sounded hoarse; groggy as through she had just woken up. "I'll be fine here by myself".

"Okay, it's whatever you want," Mr. Fitz said as he walked over to the door to leave the classroom, and then he turned back around. "Even though I feared telling you my connection to Wes, I wanted you to know me for me, and not just because I was Wesley's older brother".

A shuddering breath ran through her as she heard the sound of the door shut behind him. It took all of her effort to keep upright, the fear of falling to the floor unnerved her. She didn't know what to do about Mr. Fitz's betrayal. He had kept something important from her. He had made a mistake, but she knew she could forgive him. She liked him that much. And she did know him for him.

What did you guys think about that? Please review and let me know your thoughts! I wasn't planning to reveal Ezra's connection to Wesley so soon, but it just happened as I wrote this chapter. And I really do love this story. It's different, a great love story.