Spencer, Emily and Hanna all went home. We needed a night alone, just to think about everything. I told my dad I was going over Hanna's, but I was told to come home at eight. At least I had that much time with Ezra. I called him on my way over and he told me he would make dinner. Ezra was a surprisingly good cook. I pulled into the parking lot and walked up to apartment 3B. I walked in with the key he gave me.
"Honey I'm home." I always tried lightening the mood when I was sad. Ezra just laughed.
"Dinner's on the table, honey." He walked over to me as I put my bag down and gave me a kiss. I joined in on the laughing and we sat down at his wooden table for two. After we stopped laughing he looked serious. "Aria, I really wanted to be next to you today."
"I wanted to be next to you too. True love always comes with a price, doesn't it?" I smirked a little as I scooped up some rice.
"Yeah I guess so. I just wish I could always be by your side when you need me. It just kills me inside to see you hurting with no one comforting you. You know that in school I can always tell whether your having a good or bad day?"
"I can tell how your day's going too."
"I love you so much Aria. Do you understand that I need you?" I was zoning out into my salad.
"I love you too." I said monotonously as I continued to play with my food.
"Aria what's wrong? I know about Alison but you just came in making jokes and now you looked like your about to cry. I can only be there for you if you want me too. I can tell you're hurting but I can't tell why."
"Well Ezra I just came back from my best friends funeral." I said a little too defensively so he was a little surprised.
"I know Aria and I told you I'm sorry about that but I can tell there's more. You looked distracted in church." He still remained calm.
"I can't do this right now." I got up and left apartment 3B. I walked down the narrow stairs and out to my car. I got in the car and sat there and cried until I had to go home. Hanna texted me to see how I was. My world was crumbling so slowly it was painful. By the time I got home I fixed my makeup and walked in like nothing happened and all was fine and dandy.
"Dad, Mike, I'm home!"
"Okay." My dad and I were never on the best terms. That is partially Ali's fault, I flashed back to a hot day in late May. We had just gotten ice cream after school and were walking to Ali's house. In a driveway behind a bush Ali pointed out my dad's car. When I saw what I saw my jaw dropped, even Alison was surprised. In the car sat my dad and one of his students. I'll never forget the feeling I got when he turned around and saw us looking at them. We continued walking and I ended up going home instead of her house. My dad didn't come home until 10:12 pm, I remember exactly. He was trying to avoid me because my bedtime was ten o'clock. Then two months after Ali went missing my mom got an anonymous letter telling her about my dad. I could've sworn it was Alison but I just got back from her funeral.
