CHAPTER TEN

EZRA

'Have you ever been in love, Peter?'

'Me?'

'Yes. Haven't you ever thought about it at all? It seems to me that you could make some girl wonderfully happy.'

'Sure, I've thought about it. Who hasn't? If I could ever meet the right sort of girl… Aw, where you gonna find her? Somebody that's real? Somebody that's alive? They don't come that way anymore. Have I ever thought about it? I've even been sucker enough to make plans. You know, I saw an island in the Pacific once. I've never been able to forget it. That's where I'd like to take her. She'd have to be the sort of a girl who'd… well, who'd jump in the surf with me and love it as much as I did. You know, nights when you and the moon and the water all become one. You feel you're part of something big and marvelous. That's the only place to live… where the stars are so close over your head you feel like you could reach up and stir them around. Certainly I've thought about it. Boy, if I could ever find a girl who was hungry for those things…'

Just as Ezra was getting into one of his favorite movies of all time, the DVD was paused and the lights were flicked on.

"Well it's about that time," the professor called out as students began to gather their things. "We'll pick up from here on Monday. Remember, I want a five page discussion of effects of class systems and the Great Depression on societal relations for this film. Have a great weekend!"

Ezra heard a few students groan in detest but he was more than happy to write the paper. After all, he'd seen 'It Happened One Night' about thirty times so it was a fairly easy assignment for him. He was also just glad to be back in the classroom, dedicating himself to his studies once again. Moving to suburban Pennsylvania had allotted him time to start taking college courses again. He'd never finished his degree in English literature but he was determined to now. He was freelance writing for the local newspapers and taking out student loans to afford the education but he knew it'd be worth it.

Ezra was just zipping up his backpack and slinging it over one shoulder when he felt someone come up beside him.

"Hi there," a blond haired girl greeted him. She was very pretty and looked to be no older than twenty three or twenty four. Ezra smiled in return.

"Hey."

Nodding her heads toward the door, she indicated that they could walk and talk at the same time so Ezra followed her lead out of the classroom.

"I'm Hannah," she greeted, thrusting out her hand for Ezra to shake. "Did you transfer to Hollis? I've been with the program for four years now, due to graduate in May, and I've never seen you before. It's a fairly small program."

Ezra nodded. "I transferred from a small coast school out East. I really only need a few more classes to finish a degree in English Lit. How about you?"

"Creative writing," Hannah replied. "I love to write stories, read stories, watch stories… My friend even owns a bookstore in Rosewood. She got me hooked on the industry, actually. I worked at her store for a few years, saving up money for college, and now here I am. Anyways, I wanted to talk to you because you seem like you understand what's going on in Professor Herman's class. I've never really gotten into classic Hollywood sets and I was thinking maybe we could be study buddies. If you wanted to that is."

Ezra thought about it for a moment or two, staying silent as they walked. Partnering up was usually a fairly good way to stay atop any classwork, he knew that, so he eventually nodded in consent.

"Sure," he replied with a small smile. They eventually reached the parking lot where they'd split to find their own vehicles. "I'm Ezra by the way. See you Monday? We can exchange information then."

"Thanks, Ezra!" Hannah replied with a grin. She waved once at him and headed across the parking lot for her car. Ezra, happy that he'd made one friend at least, turned to find his own ride.

There was an aroma of pastries, freshly brewed coffee, and printed novels that enveloped him from the moment that Ezra walked through the tiny downtown bookstore's door. He'd been driving back towards Harvey's when he noticed the bookstore in Rosewood that Hannah had mentioned. He loved little shops such as those so he decided to pull over and check it out.

So far, he wasn't disappointed with what he'd found. The place was brimming to capacity with books. There were shelves everywhere, with a stacks of novels lining window seals and table tops. He smiled at the sight.

"Welcome! Can I help you?" A voice called out from behind the counter at the back of the shop.

"I'm not sure. I- Aria?"

Aria popped her head up from where she'd been counting through the inventory in the crates behind the counter. She smiled upon seeing Ezra and leaned back against the back rest of the high top chair she sat on, crossing her arms over her chest as she took him in.

"Are you stalking me or something?" She asked with a small giggle.

Ezra shrugged and leaned one hip against the counter as he smiled back at her. "Could be… I actually didn't know that you worked here though."

"I actually own the shop," Aria corrected.

Ezra threw his hands up in mock defense. "My apologies, then. I'm impressed," He said, tearing his eyes from her to look around at the bookstore. "I don't think I've come across a bookstore as well stocked as yours in ages. You look like you're doing fairly well for yourself."

"I do ok," Aria replied, a small blush forming in her cheeks. "My grandfather actually owned this store and I took over when I was only twenty or so, after he'd passed away."

"I'm very sorry to hear that," Ezra told her quietly. His eyes locked on her face and he couldn't help but to once again be stunned by her beauty. Aria's beauty was a subtle one. Sure, she was radiant and extremely attractive at first sight, but there was something else about her, something deeper, that really pulled at Ezra. He wanted to find out what that was.

Standing from her stool, Aria pushed a few stray hairs behind one ear as she regarded him.

"Where you looking for anything in particular that I could help you with?"

Ezra shrugged. "Not really. Is there anything that you'd recommend? I'm always looking for a good read."

Aria made her way around the counter and headed towards one of the shelves at the far end of the shop. She ignored the display cases up front that brandished the newest novels, ones that were most likely filled with love triangles and other garbage that Ezra had no interest in. For that, he was grateful.

Stopping at the last shelf against the wall, Aria knelt and ran her finger along the spines of the books in front of her. She searched a moment or two for a specific book before finding what she was looking for and pulling it from the shelf. Straightening again, she handed the novel to him. Her fingers brushed his during the exchange and he felt her quickly pull them away at the spark that flew between them.

"This is one of my favorites. I don't know if you've read it or not…"

Ezra grinned, shaking his head as he took in the dusty cover. "'To Kill A Mockingbird.' I haven't read this book in ages. Thank you."

Aria nodded. "Most people have skimmed it, probably forced to by a high school teacher or parent. Some even claim to have read it when it reality they've only watched the movie. The novel, though… it's, in my opinion, one of the greatest stories ever written."

Ezra smiled as he listened to Aria talk about the book. It was extremely obvious how much she cared for the subject she was endorsing. Aria obviously loved her job and all of the novels that she got to submerge herself in each and every day. Ezra could only hope to be as lucky as she was in finding a career one day that he loved just as much.

"Maybe we could grab a coffee and discuss the novel? After I've reread it, of course," Ezra offered with a small smile. His heart rhythm picked up speed as he nervously waited for Aria's answer. She'd already turned him down once…

Aria nervously played with the hem of her shirt, catching her bottom lip between her teeth as she thought of how to respond. Ezra decided to keep going, to not give her time to reject him again.

"In fact, you could bring Ava along," Ezra continued hurriedly. "Maybe we could have a cookout on the lake. I'm staying with my best friend and he has a killer new grill that he's been dying to use for weeks now. You'd actually be doing him a favor."

"Is that right?" Aria laughed.

Ezra nodded, his smile growing even larger. "We'll cook whatever you like. Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Even a veggie burger?"

"Well maybe not that…" Ezra replied, feigning a look of disgust. He then grinned back at her before pulling his wallet from his back pocket and handing her one of his old business cards. "I'm sure I can find something that you'll eat. Why don't you call me when you're free? I'd really love to host you and Ava and you'll love my best friend, Hardy, I promise."

Aria was almost nervous as she glanced down at the card and back towards him. Ezra prayed for her to agree, to at least give him a chance. After a lengthy moment of heart wrenching silence, Aria finally nodded her head.

"Awesome," Ezra replied with a large sigh. "It's a date."