Chapter 11

the lost teacher

Mike's POV

I take Gianna's hand as we walk to the pool.

"Do you want anything to eat?" I ask her.

"No," she answers, shaking her head. "We just ate breakfast. Are you still hungry?"

"A man can eat a lot," I chuckle.

I kiss her cheek.

"Do you want to go-" Gianna begins.

Just then, Ezra Fitz returns. I thought I'd seen the last of him earlier. Looks like he's back again. What's he going to do now? Try to rekindle his relationship with my sister? I kinda thought Aria started crushing on Noel... But I guess Noel's happy with Jessica.

"Ezra!" I exclaim. "So you did get Toby's texts?"

"I did." Ezra nods. "I was contemplating and wondering about whether I should come or not. Without Aria, I don't really have much of a purpose here, do I?"

"Come on, Ez..." I say. "You didn't just come on this trip for Aria. You came on this trip to hang out with us! You're a good guy."

"I didn't mean to make things the way they are with her..." Ezra bites his lip. "Where is she? I need to see her."

"Dude, I know you love her, but you need to let her go." I tell him. "Well, at least for a few days. She's still trying to cool off after the break up."

"Mike, I need to see her. You don't understand!" Ezra shouts.

"Chill, Ez. She's also heartbroken about having to break up with you, but I think she did the right thing." I confess.

Ezra grits his teeth.

"You have no right to decide what the right thing is. I love her." Ezra says.

"You're the father of someone else's baby. I think you need to take care of your child before putting my sister back in your equation." I say, annoyed. "Get your priorities straight, Mr. Fitz. Once you take care of that kid..."

"I have taken care of that kid!" Ezra snaps. "The mother is happily taking care of him. She doesn't need me."

"Neither does my sister." I snap back. "The fact that you abandoned your son right now means that you don't deserve to be with her."

"Mike... I'm sorry." Ezra sighs. "I'm just really stressed out. The baby & the break up are just stressing me out. I didn't mean any harm."

I nod. "I understand you're going through some rough things. Aria's with Noel and Jessica in the pool."

"Thank you. Again, I'm sorry for snapping and going kinda... loco there." Ezra stares at the floor shamefully.

I nod again, and allow him to go to my sister.

"So Gianna... What were you saying earlier?" I ask.

"I wanted to know if you wanted to go swimming now." Gianna responds.

"Of course, baby. That was our plan, so yes." I nod. I peck Gianna's lips before we walk down to the pool.

ARIA'S POV

"Noel, just stop!" I exclaim as Noel splashes me with water in the pool. I'm laughing, too. Noel has brought me the only happy moments I've had since my break up with Ezra. He's probably one of the sweetest guys ever.

"No! Not until you give me a dollar!" Noel chuckles.

"I'm not paying you to stop splashing me." I laugh.

"I guess I'll keep splashing you, then." Noel says.

Just then, I see... EZRA? I guess he decided to show up. He's wearing his swim trunks, so I guess he's joining us, too.

"Teacher man, you're here." Toby smiles.

"Hi Toby... Noel... Jessica... Spencer..." Ezra lists everyone in the pool. "And... Aria."

"Ezra." I say.

"C-can we talk?" Ezra nervously asks. "In private."

"No." I shake my head. "I'm sorry Ezra, but I can't."

"Please!" Ezra pleads. "I don't mean to bother you... I just want to talk."

"I'm not in the mood to deal with this." I say. "Just go. Please."

"I want to talk, please. It's really important." Ezra says. "Just give me one chance."

"Fine. Will you guys all excuse me for a second?" I say, stepping out of the pool.

Everybody nods as I leave.

JESSICA'S POV

I'm taking Aria leaving as my chance to catch a kiss or two with Noel. I haven't felt the taste of his lips in so long! I missed him. Why is he spending so much time with Aria all of a sudden? I'm starting to wonder if something's going on between the two of them.

"Is it my turn to splash YOU?" Noel asks with a goofy grin.

"Oh no! Please don't!" I beg, even though I want him to.

"Too bad! It's splashing time!" Noel exclaims. Yes!

Noel starts splashing me. Toby and Spencer walk through the water and over to us.

"Aww, what a cute couple." Toby says. "Almost as cute as us, huh Spence?"

"Way to compliment our couple status," Spencer chuckles.

"You guys are adorable, though." I say.

"Aww, thanks Jessica." Spencer smiles. "You and Noel are quite the couple, too."

Noel finally stops splashing me, and we kiss. Thank god. I've been waiting for this all day!

"Okay, now you're just being disgusting." Toby laughs.

EZRA'S POV

This is my once chance to win Aria back. I can't screw this up, or she'll never give me her time ever again. She barely agreed to come talk with me this time! Maybe I should have listened to Mike and should have given her a few days to cool off before speaking to her.

"Look Aria... I know things look bad..." I begin.

"They are bad! You're the father of some other slut's child!" Aria shouts.

I probably would have defended Maggie right now, because it isn't fair to call her a slut. This was a long time ago. And she was a virgin when it happened, too. Maggie's a sweet woman, she's no slut.

"I only want to devote my time to you, though." I promise.

"What about your son?" Aria asks. "You can't just abandon him."

"I'll do anything to be with you." I say.

"I'm not letting you abandon your kid because of me." Aria shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Ezra."

"My decisions aren't your choice." I tell her.

"And my decisions aren't your choice." Aria rolls her eyes. "I don't want to get back together, okay? I'm done."

"Baby... I love you." I whisper. "You matter way more to me than that woman and her son."

"I'm sorry Ezra. I really loved you, but I can't be with you... Not when the times are like this." She shakes her head. "I think we both need to stop being stubborn and just move on. I need to move on, and so do you."

She kisses my cheek and walks away.

So much for trying...