Byron, who had mostly been silent throughout the whole discussion, finally spoke up as he heard the front door close.
"Aria, do you realize how wrong this is?" He asked calmly.
"Like you're one to talk!" I yelled, jumping out of my chair. "You cheated on mom with Meredith!" I exclaimed, pointing to my mom. "In case you forgot dad, she was your student too! You can't try to condemn me for my "mistakes," I said using air quotations, "but not do anything about yours. You're married! I'm not. Being with Ezra is not cheating on my family."
"She was my student, yes, but she was not underage! It's a very different issue!" He said, trying to defend himself. "And Meredith, that-that was a mistake! One I very much regret and am paying for everyday!"
"Yeah, really?" Ella interjected. "So am I. You and your stupid mistakes! This family and theirstupidmistakes!" Ella said, as she stood up from her chair.
"Ella! Aria! Sit down. Ca-can we just focus on the issue at hand? Please." Byron pleaded.
"Fine." Defeated, Ella sat back down. I, however, continued standing.
"Mom! This really isn't that bad!" I exclaimed. "I'm not pregnant! I'm not critically ill! I'm just... in love." I said quietly. "Is it really that bad?" I asked sadly.
"Yes, Aria! It is bad! He's your teacher! This is illegal!" She said, exasperatedly.
"You think I don't know that? That's why no one can ever know about us! You think I like this? All this sneaking around, having to hide my relationship? Let me tell you, it's not fun. Always having to hide, never being able to be in public with each other. We can never hold hands, or show our love to the world, because no one will see it. All they will see is that he is my teacher, that there's a stupid age gap and they'll come to the conclusion that everything about our relationship is wrong!" I said, as tears started forming in my eyes. "But... there's nothing in my life... that has ever felt more right..." I said, sinking back into my chair, crying silently.
"I'm sorry honey. Now I see how hard this is for you. I just... I just don't know what to do about all of this." Ella said.
"Yeah me neither." I said, wiping the tears from my eyes.
"I just need you to tell me one thing." Ella said calmly.
"What?" I asked as my voice filled with worry.
"How long?" She asked quietly.
"How long what?" I asked, confused.
"How long have you been seeing your teacher?"
"Oh. Um... Since... Since labor day." I said.
"So before school started." Ella stated.
I nodded my head in confirmation.
"Thank god." She said as she relaxed a bit.
I'm not sure if I want Ezra to resign from Rosewood, so they can go public, or if he should stay there teaching English. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know :)