A/N: Hey! First of all I am sooooo sorry for this long might already now that if you read my one shots but my betareader couldn't find time to work on the chapter because of school and now she's sick. So I hope she'll get better soon. In the meantime I decided to post the first part but I warn you this hasn't been betaread so Im sorry if there is any mistakes.
Also thank you so so so much for the reviews you are so amazing and dont worry I wont stop this fic yet I have a lot to come ;)
I had written all chapter 4 before PLL return (which was almost 2 weeks ago) because i didnt want to get spoiled by the real confrontation (which happens in all chapter 4!) and I didnt change anything after I watch the ep. But I was happy to see that some reactions that I wrote before 2x14 happened in the show :)
I'll post chapter 4 in 3 parts (the next 2 are very long BTW ;) )
Now i let you read it!
Disclaimer: I don't own PLL
Chapter 4: Us Against The World (part 1)
Less than an hour later, Ezra parked in front of the Montgomery's house. Aria stared at it through the window. In a few minutes she would cross the threshold of her home and would have to convince her parents that her relationship with Ezra wasn't wrong. The talk would definitely be difficult, but she hoped more than anything that at the end of it, Byron and Ella would have understand that Ezra and her truly loved each other or at least that they would let her see him. Aria knew that there was a possibility that they would keep her away from the man she loved, and if they would do that, she would hate them forever. Even if she didn't want to have to take this decision, she knew that if she had to make a choice between her family and Ezra, he would come first. She couldn't live without him… it wasn't an assumption, it was the reality. She tried several times to stay away from him but always ended up coming back.
Aria got pull out of her thoughts when Ezra's hand laid on her knee.
Ezra- "Are you okay?"
She looked away from the house to let her eyes fall on him, placing her hand on his at the same time.
Aria- "Yeah… I was just…"
She closed her eyes for a second to chase these thoughts that terrified her out of her mind. She couldn't go out of her depth now, she needed to be as strong as Ezra had been last night.
Aria- "I'm fine."
Ezra examined her for a moment before giving her a little smile. He felt her hand tightened on his. He could feel her nervousness.
Ezra- "No matter what happened today Aria, that will not change how I feel about you."
Aria smiled at him in return, liking that he tried to reassure her.
Aria- "I know… What they're gonna say won't change how I feel either."
Ezra leaned toward her and softly pressed his lips on hers before putting his forehead against hers, no letting her eyes out of sight.
Ezra- "I love you."
Aria- "I love you."
They kissed once again, letting their lips caress each other for several minutes before breaking away out of breath. They took a second to catch their breath without letting go of the other's eyes.
Ezra- "You ready?"
Aria stared at him.
Aria- "Yes… let's do this."
They smiled at each other one last time before leaving the car. Ezra quickly took Aria's hand in his as they walked up the path leading to the house. They climbed the stoop and exchange one last look. Tension had now invaded both of them, but they knew that together they would be stronger.
Aria- "That's it."
Ezra nodded slightly and released one last sigh before Aria opened the door of the house. They went in together and immediately Ella sprang up from the leaving room followed by Byron. They were obviously waiting for them and by the look on their faces they weren't doing it calmly. Ella's eyes fell on her daughter's and her « teacher 's » intertwined hands.
Ella- "Get your hands off my daughter!"
No wanting to piss Ella off more than she already was, Ezra made a move to spread his fingers from Aria's, but she, tightened her embrace around them.
Aria- "Mom!"
She stared at her, already feeling anger take hold of her when she saw her mother's reaction while they had just arrived. Aria wanted to have a conversation as calm as possible with her parents, but they seemed already ready to throw Ezra out without an explanation.
Ella glared at her daughter, surprised that she talked to her like that. Aria had definitely lost her mind. How could she defend this… pervert?
Ella- "I don't want him to touch you Aria!"
She was ready to answer to her mom when Ezra turned to her.
Ezra- "It's okay."
Aria stared deep into Ezra's eyes. She understood that he only wanted to defuse the situation and she let him move his hand away from hers. If her parents were going to be the unreasonable ones who yelled, then her and Ezra would have to be the responsible ones. They had to remain calm and not answer their attacks, even if it wouldn't be easy.
Mike- "What's going on here?"
Mike appeared in the staircase with a worried look across his face.
Mike- "I heard you scream mom, is everything okay?"
He walked down the last steps and turned to his mom, who kept staring at Ezra, watching his every moves. Faced with Ella's silence, Mike turned his gaze to her sister, suddenly realizing that she was in the room.
Mike- "Aria where were you last night? Mom and dad told me you got arrested?"
She opened her mouth to answer when her brother's eyes fell on Ezra. He seemed even more confuse by the situation.
Mike- "What is he doing here?"
Mike looked at his dad, then his mom before looking at his sister again, seeking for an answer. Aria took a deep breath.
Aria- "Mike… Ezra and I… were together."
Her brother's gaze went from Ezra to her, slowly realizing what she had just said. Suddenly Aria saw Mike raising his arm toward Ezra.
Aria- "Mike!"
Byron tried to stop his son but it was too late. Mike's fist hit Ezra's face, whom move back under the impact.
Aria- "Why did you do that?"
Aria glared at her brother before turning to her boyfriend who had put a hand on his mouth.
Aria- "Are you okay?"
Ezra nodded quietly, coming back to his senses after the shock, but Aria saw a trickle of blood flow between his fingers. She looked at her brother who was held by their father.
Aria- "What is wrong with you?"
Mike let out an angry sigh and freed himself from Byron's hold before leaving the house, slamming the door behind him. Aria put her hand on Ezra's arm and lead him towards the stairs.
Ella- "Where do you think you're going?"
Aria glared at her mother.
Aria- "I'm gonna treat him, unless you'd rather let him bleed!"
She dragged Ezra with her upstairs before her mother could add anything else. They went into the bathroom and Ezra sat on the edge of the bathtub while Aria took the first aid kit out. She put some disinfectant on a compress before turning to him. He had removed the hand that was on his mouth and she could now see the blood flowing on his lips.
Aria- "I'm so sorry Ezra… I don't know why Mike did that…"
She looked down and he immediately raised her head by putting a hand on her chin.
Ezra- "It's okay Aria… It's not your fault…"
He gave her a little smile. Even when he was the one who needed help, he always managed to take care of her. Aria smiled in return and placed herself between his legs before starting to disinfect his bloody lip.
Ezra- "Ouch…"
He grimaced at the piquant contact of the disinfectant. She gently patted the compress to wiped away the blood and she felt Ezra relaxing slightly. Mike had really gotten him, his lower lip was split. Aria let out a sigh when she saw what her brother had done to the man she loved.
Ezra- "Your brother probably did that thinking he was protecting you."
Their eyes locked once again.
Aria- "You're the last person he needs to protect me from."
Ezra- "He doesn't know that yet."
Aria sighed and looked down. She really hoped that this could be easier… That her parents and her brother would accept her relationship with Ezra… She didn't even ask them to be happy for her, just that they would let her live her life with him. Why was it so hard for them?
Ezra saw Aria's face becoming gloomy as she seemed lost in her thoughts once again. He put his hands on her waist to bring her closer to him and he saw her look fell on his bruised lip.
Ezra- "Hey… don't be mad at your brother. He only did that because he loves you."
She knew he was right but she couldn't help but blame herself for what Mike had done, plus Ezra was defending him even if he barely knew him. Her brother had better apologize to him once she would have explain the situation!
Her eyes met Ezra's and he softly stroked her lower back. She rested her forehead on his, liking the fact that for once she was taller than him.
Aria- "I hate it when you're right."
Ezra giggled before pressing his lips on hers.
Ezra- "Ready to go back?"
Aria- "Not really… but we can't escape this now."
He gave her a little smile and kissed her one last time. They couldn't hide forever and let her parents wait for them wasn't exactly the best solution to calm them. So Aria took Ezra's hand to help him getting up before they left the bathroom to get back downstairs.
A/N: Oh oh! Bad Mike! Ah ah! I gotta say I wrote this based on the preview/spoilers we had before 2x14 and I like Mike like that, but I LOVE the reason why he did it on the show. Mike gotta be the best brother ever!
Anyway I really hope you like this 'introduction' to the confrontation! There will be a lot happening in this chapter I promise! Tension will rose in the next part!
Leave me a little review and i'll post as fast as I can ;) Actually since it's already written how about I post when this chapter get 15 reviews? Deal? ;)
It's up to you now!
Love you readers/reviewers XO
PS: This chapter is named "Us Against The World" from Coldplay's song ;)
