Heart Skipped a Beat

I groaned in defeat as my alarm went off for the third time. I knew that if I was going to make it to school on time, I couldn't put off getting up any longer. My eyes fixed on the clock on my nightstand: T-60 minutes until I had to face Ezra and Noel.

"Aria!" my mother called from her room down the hall.

She popped into my room before I could answer her, and she was holding the local newspaper in one hand with a coffee cup in the other.

"Did you hear what happened last night?" She asked me as she unfolded the paper.

"No," I mumbled as I snatched the steaming cup of caffeine out of her grasp.

"Mr. Fitz's brother was in a car accident and died," my mother murmured solemnly.

"Oh," I whispered as I shook my head and recalled what Ezra had disclosed to me last night.

"I have to go get ready," I mumbled as I rushed out of my bedroom and into the bathroom. I jumped into the cold shower and tried to clear my head as I furiously scrubbed my face with my hands.

I threw a printed dress over my head along with a leather jacket, leather boots, and ran a brush through my wet and tangled hair. I quickly blow dried it, applied my makeup, grabbed my book bag, and ran out the door.

"What's your hurry, honey?" I heard my mom yelling after me before I could close the front door.

"I just need to get to school early. I want to talk to Mr. Fitz," I called out as I slammed the door and ran towards my car.

Mike would have to find his own ride to school, because this conversation could not wait. I would rather face the inevitable and awkward conversation with Ezra before everyone else got into the classroom. Also, I needed my favorite bra back.

I drummed my fingers on the black steering wheel as I sat a red light. My eyes drifted towards the clock on the dashboard – 30 minutes until class, and I was still 5 minutes away from school. If I knew Ezra well enough, he would be at school early.

I pulled into the empty parking lot and ran into the deserted school building and down the hall to his classroom. Before I reached his door, I realized that his brother had died last night. There was an enormous possibility that Ezra would be taking a personal day.

"I'm so stupid," I muttered as I ran my fingertips through my hair.

"You're not. I am," I heard a voice say from behind me.

I whipped around on my heel to see a slightly disheveled Ezra standing before me.

"I, uh, I, um, I didn't know if you'd be here today," I whispered as my eyes hesitantly met his.

"Well," he began as he fiddled with the top of his satchel, "I'm alright. I'm dealing. You?" His eyes floated up and locked onto mine.

"Uh," I blinked repeatedly as I stared at his bright blue eyes, "I'm really sorry about last night. I don't know what I was thinking…I shouldn't have just blurted that out right in the middle of…you know."

Ezra gave me a small smile. A smile that I knew I didn't deserve.

"I have something for you," he murmured with a smirk on his face.

He pulled out my lacey bra from his bag, and I covered my flushed face with my hands.

"I'm so embarrassed," I groaned as I quickly shoved the bra into my backpack.

"Don't be," Ezra said decisively as he brushed his hand across my cheek.

"Aria!" I heard a voice call from down the hall.

"Noel?" I replied as I backed away from Ezra's touch.

"Hey! I stopped by your house, but your mom said that you went to school early…to see Mr. Fitz," Noel gave a small smile as he nodded towards Ezra.

"Uh, yeah," I said as I rolled my eyes, "I just wanted to tell Mr. Fitz how sorry I am. I'm so sorry, Mr. Fitz," I said as my eyes brimmed with tears that I quickly blinked away.

"It's okay. I'll see you later, Aria. Noel…" Ezra's voice trailed off as he brushed past me and into his classroom, his knuckles gently rubbing against mine as he passed me.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever," Noel continued as he walked closer to me.

"Yeah. I've just been super busy. We should hang out tonight, though," I said with a smile as I held his hand in mine.

"Aria, you don't have to act weird around me. I know you feel awkward since you told me about hooking up with that guy, but we weren't official. I can't hold it against you, but I do want to make 'us' official. You know?" Noel gave me a grin as he tilted my head up towards his.

"Just don't hook up with this guy again. Ok?" He asked as he gently pressed his lips against mine.

I smiled at him as I took his hand and led him towards first period – AP English.

"Alright, everyone!" Ezra's voice rang out as soon as the bell finished chiming.

"Your term papers on Pride and Prejudice are due on Friday. Please don't turn them in late. I have given you all plenty of warning on when they would be due. You have the period to work on them, but please be productive. I don't want to hear any chatter. Get to work! If you have any questions, I'll be here," Ezra's eyes fell on me as he finished his speech.

"So," Spencer whispered in a hushed tone, "how'd things go this morning?"

I glanced over at Ezra, whose eyes were still on me.

"Not right now, Spence. I'll tell you later," I murmured as my eyes and attention went back to the paper that I had already finished.

I looked at the watch on my wrist – 90 minutes of class left. I let out a loud sigh as I looked around the room, and back at Ezra.

He was still looking at me, so I stood up with my paper and walked up to his desk.

"Hi," I whispered as I took a deep breath.

"Hi," he replied with a small laugh.

"I'm done with my paper. Could you look over it?"

Ezra stared at me for a second before clearing his throat and nodding.

"Of course. I'll let you know when I'm done, but I actually have something for you. It's a book of poems that I thought you might enjoy. I mean if you want to take a look," Ezra said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah. Thanks," I whispered as I took the leather bound book and walked back to my seat in the middle of the room.

"Class is over! I'll see you all tomorrow. Ms. Montgomery, a moment?" Ezra announced as my classmates fell over one another in an attempt to be the first ones out of the classroom.

"Your paper's great, Aria. It's definitely an A," Ezra said with a smile as he straightened some of the papers on his desk and handed mine back to me.

"Thanks," I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "I just have a question."

Ezra nodded as he turned towards me in his chair.

"Why are you here today? I just…didn't you want to be with your family?"

Ezra smiled as he took a deep breath.

"I figured I wouldn't be doing anyone any favors if I missed school today. I'm not very close with my family, and I don't think that being with them would console me at all. I'd rather be here…with you. My brother was the closest family member I have, but even we had a lot of problems. Besides, my mother runs everything. The funeral is already set for this Saturday."

"This Saturday?" I repeated in awe.

"Yeah. They didn't want to wait around, and churches don't typically do funerals on Sundays. It's in New York where my parents live. I'm leaving Friday night to go down there."

"Oh. I am so sorry about Wes, and about what I did that night. It was so wrong of me, and I hope you can forgive me. I don't want to lose you…I just..."

"You just need to explore, and I get that. I understand where you're coming from, but it's just hard to see you with him."

"Ezra…"

"No," he cut me off abruptly, "You don't need to explain yourself to me, Aria."

"Noel…"

"Mmm?" he murmured as he continued to kiss my neck.

"Noel, I don't…this is moving too fast."

"Just relax, Aria. You're so high strung," Noel whispered as his hands pushed the strap of my dress off my shoulder.

"I'm relaxed, but I just don't want to do this right now," I insisted as I pushed him off of me and stood up from his bed in the cabin.

"Aria, come on," Noel reasoned as he walked closer to me with his hands in the air. "I didn't mean anything by it, but I just don't understand why we can't 'do this'."

"Because I'm not ready!" I blurted out as I walked over to the door and grabbed my jacket.

"But you were ready with this other guy?" Noel yelled.

"I thought you didn't care?!" I yelled back as I turned to face him.

We stood across the room of the cabin, both refusing to back down from this impending fight. My hands were on my hips as my face went hot with anger.

"I do care, Aria. I care that you can have sex with this other guy but not me!" Noel said angrily as he paced back and forth.

"You know what, Noel? This 'other guy' never pressured me to do anything!"

"I'm not pressuring you, Aria!" Noel insisted as he walked closer to me and reached out to touch me.

"No!" I yelled as I backed against the wall and away from his grasp.

His hand grabbed my wrist.

"Aria, please. I just want to talk to you. Don't leave."

"Let go of me, Noel!" I tried to wriggle out of his grip, but it was to no avail.

"No. I want to talk! We need to figure things out, Aria!" Noel pleaded.

"You're hurting me! Let me go!" I demanded as tears began to fill my eyes.

His hand let go of me, and I swung open the door and ran out into the night. I kept running down the dark road until I realized I had no idea where I was. There were no streetlights, no shops, and no cars passing by.

"I made a huge mistake, and I need you to come get me," I cried into the phone.

"I'll be there as soon as possible."

A/N:

I know I haven't posted a chapter for any of my stories in forever, but don't hate me! I'm so sorry! I've been lacking time and inspiration. I'll try to be better, but no promises! Don't give up on me! Xoxo, PenGirl97