Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review/follow/favorite. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this story. Here is the next update. I don't own PLL.

Chapter 10

(It is the last class of the day for Aria, Emily, Hannah, and Spencer. Ella was teaching the class lecture and all the girls could see the private little glances Ella would give at Aria. The girls would look at Aria, who just rolled her eyes. Aria knew from the looks her mother was giving her that it was because her and Byron spoke. She knew that Byron would never be happy for her, but it'd be nice if he at least respected the relationship, but of course he couldn't even do that. The girls thought of trying to whisper to Aria, but they knew they didn't dare because of the way they were being watched)

(Hannah, Emily, and Spencer rolled their eyes as they couldn't believe how much Aria's mom had changed. Ella was cool and fun to be around, but the day her and Byron found out about Ezra, her attitude changed. In the girls' eyes, nothing was wrong with Ezra Fitz. Yes, he was a little older than Aria, but big deal. There were plenty of couples who were a few years apart. In the girls' opinions, Byron needed to get his head out of his ass and realize what his daughter and Ezra had was real. They knew Ella wasn't totally against it, but they could tell Ella was still more on Byron's side. They wished they knew how to convinced her that Ezra was a good guy)

(Class ended when the bell finally rang. The girls were getting their things together and about to head out the door when Ella made herself known)

Ella: "Aria, can I speak to you for a moment please?"

(Aria sighed in frustration as she wondered what this conversation would be about. The rest of the gang offered to wait with her, but Aria assured them she was fine. They nodded in response before leaving the room. Aria turns around and walks to her mother's desk. She was dreading this conversation as she figured it had to do with Ezra...again. The students have all left the classroom so it was just Ella and Aria. Ella sits on the edge of her desk before looking at her daughter)

Ella: "There is something I wanted to talk to you about?"

Aria: (shrugs) "Okay. What is it?"

Ella: (sighs) "I'm not sure if you've heard the rumors going around about Ezra and another student."

Aria: (folds her arms) "Look, if you're talking about the rumor about him cheating on me, you can be rest assured that he isn't."

Ella: "I take it you have talked to him about it?"

Aria: (nods) "Yes, I have." (shakes her head) "If he ever did, I would know about it. Ezra loves me too much to lie or cheat. He thinks it's sick that someone is spreading lies about him."

Ella: (raises her eyebrows) "Are you sure it's lies?"

(Aria looks at her mother in disbelief. She couldn't believe Ella would say something like that. She knew how much Aria loved Ezra and granted she wasn't completely supportive of the relationship, but she honestly thought that by now she would at least respect it. But, of course, Aria should've known that her mother couldn't help it. She privately wondered if her mother has secretly always felt this way. Yes, Ella wasn't completely on board with her relationship with Ezra, but she felt Ella was starting to sound like Byron and not even give Ezra a chance. Aria shook her head in frustration before looking at her mother and speaking)

Aria: "You're kidding, right?"

(Ella looks at her daughter and shakes her head seriously)

Ella: "No, I'm not. Aria, it's no secret that you and Ezra haven't had sex yet and while you two insist that is not part of your relationship, I can't help but wonder if Ezra is just saying that because he doesn't want to pressure you in any way."

(Aria raises her hands and looks at Ella in shock)

Aria: "Really? I thought you knew Ezra better than that, mom. Obviously you don't know him as well as I do, but you should know by now rumors are just that...rumors."

Ella: "Unless it's really happening and Ezra is lying to you."

(Ella can see she is hurting her daughter with her opinions, but she honestly didn't want to see her daughter get blind sighted in case it was in fact true. Ella walks to her daughter and gently takes her hands into hers)

Ella: "I am always on your side, Aria Rose Montgomery. Please believe that. And yes, I know Ezra is a caring young man who loves you because I've seen it. I know your father doesn't believe it and whether or not you choose to believe it, I have my own beliefs and opinions on the matter. I have been with you two so I know how he is with you." (sighs) "But Aria, you have to understand something. Ezra Fitz is older than you. Yes, he may say sex doesn't matter and he may be telling the truth. But it doesn't mean other women don't turn him on or make him second guess his decision. This Jessica Landers girl could be telling the truth. It sounds like she knows a lot of things about Ezra." (shakes her head) "How could she be lying about some of the things she says?"

(Aria sighs and closes her eyes briefly before facing her mother. As much as she didn't want to admit it, her mother did have a point. Some of the things Jessica has said were true. She does believe in Ezra, but she admitted to herself she was starting to have some doubts. It absolutely killed her to have these feelings, but the things her mother said...about Jessica giving Ezra what she wasn't ready to give yet. She knew he would never pressure her to do anything she wasn't ready for even though she knew in her heart Ezra Fitz was the man she wanted to give herself to when the time came. But Aria privately wondered if Ezra would still be patient until she was ready. Aria looks at her mother and nods)

Aria: "I trust Ezra, mom. Dad doesn't, I know that and I can tell you are struggling, too. But Ezra and I have never lied to each other and we're not about to start now. The only thing I can think of is someone is really good at lying about this whole thing. I have to trust in Ezra and believe our love will get through this. I just hope you understand."

(Ella sighs deeply but looks at her daughter sympathetically)

Ella: "I hope for your sake that this rumor is in fact false and everything will work out in the end. I do want you to be happy...even if it is with Ezra."

Aria: (raises her eyebrows) "Even if dad doesn't agree?"

Ella: (tilts her head) "In the end, he just wants what's best for you. That's what any parent wants for their child no matter what age they are."

(Ella offers a brief smile before quickly glancing at the door)

Ella: "I'm sure they're waiting for you."

Aria: (chuckles slightly) "True."

(Ella gives her daughter a quick hug before Aria leaves the classroom. She notices the girls are a few feet away from the door so she goes to them)

Aria: "Thank you for waiting, but I would've understood if you couldn't."

(Hannah looks at everyone before facing Aria)

Hannah: "We need to talk and I think it's better to do it in private."

Aria: (puzzled) "What do you mean?"

Emily: (sighs) "The rumor that's going around."

(The look on Aria's face is almost a dead giveaway which causes Hannah and Emily to look at her in shock)

Emily: (sighs sadly) "Don't tell me it's true."

(Hanna looks at Aria impatiently)

Hannah: "Look, I'm going out of my mind here with worry. Can we please go somewhere private? I don't think you want to discuss it here."

Aria: (shakes her head) "No, I don't."

Spencer: "We'll go to my place. No one will be there. We can get it all out in the open there."

Aria: (nods) "Sound good."

(The girls leave the school. Back at Rosewood University, Ezra is at his desk grading papers when there's a knock at the door. The person is in the doorway looking at Ezra)

Person: "You wanted to see me?"

(Ezra looks up from his stack of papers to see who is in the doorway, revealing Jessica Landers. He nods before speaking)

Ezra: "Yes, come in."

(Jessica takes a few steps before she turns halfway around to shut the door)

Ezra: "No, leave the door open."

Jessica: (shrugs) "Okay."

(She walks towards Ezra with her backpack against her back)

Jessica: "What's this about?"

(Ezra gets up from his chair and goes around to the front of his desk before leaning against the edge and sits on it, looking at Jessica seriously before speaking)

Ezra: "I think it's time we get a few things straight."

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