This chapter was so difficult to write. Every time I worked on it, something just didn't seem right. I've been working on it for at least two weeks and for a long time I just couldn't get it to flow well. Anyways, it turned out pretty long. I wanted to cut it in half, but there wasn't a good place to stop the chapter. I'm sure you guys enjoy the longer chapters too.

A – I'm sorry I keep switching points of views. But there's certain situations that need to be told in Ezra's POV and other situations that need to be in Aria's POV. I know it gets confusing. The only way I can think of to change that would be to do one chapter in Aria's POV, then one chapter in Ezra's POV, but the only problem I have with that is that it would become really repetitive because if something happens in a chapter with Aria's POV, the next chapter in Ezra's POV would show all Ezra's thoughts and feelings on that situation, and it would just be like rereading the previous chapter. If that made any sense.

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Here's the chapter as promised – drama drama drama. Love it.

Aria's POV

"We took this picture during Mike's first lacrosse game." I held up a picture for Ezra to see.

"Did they win?" He asked as he watched me pick out a background for the page.

"Yeah, they beat the other team by five points." I took the picture from him and glued down the background and the picture onto the page.

"Have you talked to Mike lately?" Ezra asked curiously as he began looking through some other pictures.

"I call him every now and then," I began. "But he never wants to talk. It's like, there's only one thing he can talk about with me, and he wants to avoid that topic at all costs."

Ezra nodded in understanding. "Probably because it'll just make this more real for him. Just like it did for you."

"At least I have you to talk to… Mike's going through all of this alone. He's not the kind of person to open up to people." I said softly, beginning to feel sorry for Mike. Ella and Byron weren't paying much attention to him anymore because they were dealing with a much bigger problem.

"But I'm scared that…" I set the picture down and looked up to meet Ezra's gaze.

"That what?" Ezra asked softly.

"That bottling this all up is going to create bigger problems for him later." I finished.

Ezra opened his mouth to speak but closed it, deciding not to say whatever was on his mind.

"What?" I asked, curious to what he was thinking.

"N-nothing." He said quickly. "What's this of?" He picked up another picture in an effort to distract me.

"No." I took the picture from his hands and placed it back on the ground. "Tell me." I moved closer to him so that I was practically sitting in his lap.

"Because of what you're saying, I think it would help if Mike was around you more." Ezra suggested.

He had a point. It would be more like how our family was before. This was such a big change for him, not being around his family for a long period of time. His mother was in the hospital and his sister was staying with an older man. This was nothing like the life he had been used to.

"Since we're already at my house, would it be okay if he stayed with us here for a few days?" I asked timidly, afraid of what Ezra's answer might be.

"If you'd like," Ezra shrugged. "I don't mind. It's your house."

"I'll call him tomorrow and see what he thinks." I confirmed.

"They've changed the curriculum and it's more rigorous than before." Byron said to Ezra, as the three of us stood outside Ella's hospital room.

"I try not to make it too difficult for the kids, but as a teacher, sometimes I just get too caught up in my love for English." Ezra chuckled.

As Ezra and Byron continued conversing about Hollis and work, I began getting bored of their conversation.

I walked into Ella's room but stopped abruptly as I caught a view of the inside. The room had been completely transformed since I had last visited Ella. Vases filled with colorful flowers were placed all around the room and piles of Get Well Soon cards sat on top of the table next to Ella's bed. A small journal was lying beside the cards.

"Aria, how are you sweetie?" Ella asked, diverting my attention away from her newly decorated room and back to her.

"I'm fine, how are you feeling?" I asked as I sat down beside her on the hospital bed.

"Just tired. Byron went out yesterday and bought me some books to read, so at least I have something to do." She joked.

"It's that bad?" I asked.

"Well Aria, try lying in a hospital bed all day. This remote," She picked up a remote on her bed and held it up for me to see. "It calls the nurses. So whenever I want to get up or go to the bathroom or anything, I have to call them so that they know. I just want to get out and do something, you know?" She said. "On my own, without having to tell everyone and have people watching me."

"They're taking care of you by watching over you." I reminded her.

"I know Aria." She gave me a small smile. "You know, I didn't tell anyone this yet…" She lowered her voice and motioned for me to come closer.

I scooted closer to her on her bed as she began speaking quietly. "But when I first found out I had cancer…" She paused for a moment. "I was so angry and I just didn't know what to do with myself anymore."

"Mom…" I whispered brokenly. Why was she telling me this? If she really needed to talk to someone about this, why was she telling me? Why wouldn't she tell Byron instead? I couldn't handle talking to her about this. If only she knew how much it truly hurt. But I couldn't tell her. I could never tell her how much this really was affecting me.

"I started painting again." She revealed, smiling at me. She showed me a few of the paint stains on her hands. "I can't tell you how amazing it feels, Aria. I don't understand why I ever stopped."

"That's great, mom." I said, but quickly realized how my comment sounded. "I-I meant how you began painting again. Not… you know." I quickly clarified.

"I know, sweetie." She smiled softly at me. She closed her eyes for a moment as a look of pain quickly appeared on her face. However, it went away as quickly as it had come.

I took her hand in mine, trying to comfort her.

All of a sudden, she grabbed my hand in a death grip.

"Ow!" I exclaimed. As I looked up to meet her eyes, I realized exactly why she hurt me.

Her breathing had become labored and her face was becoming paler by the minute.

"Mom? Are you okay?" I asked fearfully.

I watched Ella as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before her face scrunched up in pain as her body began to hurt once again. She grabbed the pillow beside her and hugged it to her stomach as tears began streaming down her cheeks. Her hair was stuck to her face in damp streaks and her breathing was too tight.

"Aria, tell Byron to come back in here and I want you to stay outside." Ella said, weakly and painfully.

"Mom," I whispered.

"Aria, go." Ella demanded.

I rushed out of the room as my eyes began welling up with tears. Ezra and Byron were nowhere to be found. I blinked them back, knowing I couldn't break down now. Ella needed me. I rounded the corner of the hallway and spotted Byron talking with Ezra as Byron bought something from the vending machine.

"Byron!" I called out as I quickly walked over to him. Ezra looked at me worriedly as he noted the frightened look on my face, however he remained silent while my father was standing beside him.

"Ella needs you." I said painfully. The look in my eyes was enough for him to understand that she was in pain.

He ran towards Ella's room without another word, leaving Ezra and I alone.

Was she going to be okay? What was happening to her?

I finally met Ezra's gaze with watering eyes. What was happening to my mom? Why couldn't she just get better? That's why she is in the hospital, right? So she can get better?

As soon as Ezra saw the tears forming in my eyes, he quickly wrapped his arms around me. He rubbed his hands up and down my back soothingly as the tears in my eyes finally spilled over. I cried into his chest, unable to keep my emotions hidden anymore.

Ezra held me in an embrace for a few moments as he comforted me, letting me cry into his chest. I lifted my head from his chest as he loosened his hold around me.

"Come here," Ezra whispered as he let his arms fall from around me before taking my hand and leading me to a row of chairs a few feet away.

I wiped away my tears as I marveled at how perfectly my smaller hand fit into Ezra's. He sat down and pulled me onto his lap as I buried my head against his collarbone, soaking his tshirt with my tears.

What was I supposed to do? What was happening to her? She had been perfectly fine when I first came into her room, but after a few moments, something happened and she made me leave the room. I know she did it so I wouldn't see her like that. She didn't want me seeing her so sick. I knew she was trying to protect me and not hurt me anymore. I was afraid of seeing her so sick too, but what did that make me? Was I a failure of a daughter? I couldn't be there for Ella the way she needed me to be because I was too busy worrying about myself. Since I didn't think I could handle it, I was afraid to be there for her. I was afraid to be with her alone in case anything happened, because I wouldn't know what to do to help her.

I looked up at Ezra with teary eyes. He was watching me sadly, obviously wishing he could take all my pain away. He reached up and wiped away a few tears from my tear stained cheeks.

"I don't know what's going to happen with her…" I whispered to him as I took his hand in mine and held it tightly in my own.

For a short moment, the look of sympathy in Ezra's eyes was replaced with guilt; however, he hid whatever he had been feeling as quickly as it had came.

BYRON'S POV

"Byron." Ella whispered as she continued crying from the pain. I wrapped my arms around her as she held onto me tightly, whimpering from the pain she was in. I rocked our bodies back and forth as we sat together on her bed. I held onto her tightly, assuring her that I was here for her and that it would all be okay.

I wanted to take all her pain away. My poor Ella, she didn't deserve to go through any of this. I wanted to tell her that I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I wanted to tell her that she was going to get better and that this was all going to be over. But those would just be empty words and promises. I couldn't guarantee anything to Ella. And she knew that.

A nurse came in a moment later with a strong painkiller. I handed Ella her glass of water as I watched her swallow the pill. I embraced her once again as I ran my hand up and down her arm comfortingly.

"It's all going to be okay. The pain is all going to go away." I said softly. A few moments later, she stopped shaking in pain as the painkiller began doing its job. I leaned us back against the bed, wanting her to lie down so she could try to sleep. She had to be exhausted from everything she was going through. She was being fed through an IV, meaning she wasn't as energetic as usual.

She rested her head on the pillow behind her as she closed her eyes. I continued stroking my fingers gently through her hair as she began to fall asleep. I noticed that her hair had become thinner and more delicate. When I was sure she had finally fallen asleep, I slowly slid out of the bed and left the room.

I walked out of Ella's room in distress. I didn't want to watch her go through any more pain. I didn't know if I could handle it.

Despite everything that had happened, everything I had done, I still loved her deeply. I hurt me so much seeing her in this pain. Ella was such a good woman, such an amazing mother, and a wonderful, loving, wife.

How could I have been so stupid as to cheat on her? It had been a moment of weakness. We were fighting. We hadn't talked in a week. And Merideth had been there; always ready to listen to why I was upset when I came to class distraught. She always knew the right words to say in order to make me feel better about whatever was going on at the time. I had been attracted to her. She was beautiful. There was no doubt about it. For so long, the only person I ever looked at had been Ella. Ella had been the most beautiful woman I had ever met. Then I saw Merideth. I hadn't expected to be attracted to her. I hadn't expected to want to know more about her, the moment I saw her sitting in my class. We began spending time together, and it quickly became something more.

Before I knew it, I was cheating on Ella, the biggest mistake of my life. And of course, Aria had to witness the act.

As I walked further down the hallway, I spotted Ezra sitting on a chair at the other end of the hallway. What was he still doing here? Why hadn't he left? I had assumed that when Ella made Aria leave the room, she had left. If Aria had left, that meant Ezra had to as well, since he was her ride. But then why was Ezra still here? And where was Aria?

He adjusted his body on the chair, exposing a petite girl sitting on his lap, crying into his shirt. Her long dark hair blocked her face from my view from where I was standing, but I knew exactly who she was. What the hell was Aria doing? Why was she sitting on Ezra's lap, of all places? There's a bunch of empty chairs next to him!

I watched Ezra as he leaned down and whispered something into Aria's ear as she lifted her head from his chest. He brushed his thumb across her cheek, probably wiping away her tears, before pushing her hair away from her eyes.

Their faces were dangerously close to each other. He better not think of making a move on my daughter. If he touches her in any way, I'll kill him.

What was going on between them? It seemed like they were acting as more than friends, but I wasn't completely sure. He could just be comforting Aria because she was crying. Or he could be letting her sit on his lap and cry because he's developing feelings for her.

I felt anger rising inside of me as I watched Ezra's fingers delicately trace Aria's cheek. She made no move to swat his hand away.

Aria grabbed his hand and laced his fingers with hers for a moment as they continued whispering to each other.

I watched Ezra as he pulled Aria's body closer to him on his lap as a new round of tears fell down her cheeks.

What did they think they were doing? I told him that he wasn't allowed to get too close to her! Friends, I could deal with. But anything more… and that man wasn't going to live to see another day. He was just going to use her and then throw her on the side when he found a new girl he wanted.

Aria shook her head at Ezra for a moment. He must have said something that she hadn't liked. I strained my ears, trying to hear anything they were saying, however, they were too far away. I watched the two of them in shock as Aria let go of Ezra's hand and put both of her hands on either side of his face. Tears were still falling from her eyes. I watched angrily as Aria scooted herself closer to him on his lap as she desperately tried to get him to understand something.

I didn't like this. They were too close. If Ezra moved just a few inches closer to Aria, he'd be kissing her. This was unacceptable. There was no way I was going to let him take advantage of my daughter.

Ezra was a good guy. I trusted him. He had never done anything to make me see him in a bad light, which is why I was comfortable letting Aria stay with him. However, the way he was acting is making it look like there's something going on between him and my daughter.

He better know his boundaries. I hope that Ezra Fitz knows how far he is allowed to get involved into my daughter's life.

I watched angrily as Ezra reached up to Aria's face and wiped away some of her tears again. Why was he touching her like that? Did he think that was okay?

She was sitting on his lap and they were dangerously close to each other. I had to stop this before something happened. Before they go too far.

I began walking towards them and cleared my throat, alerting them of my presence.

Aria and Ezra quickly moved away from each other. Aria almost fell off of Ezra's lap and straight to the ground because she moved too fast, however, Ezra's quickly caught her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her body back onto his.

"W-what's wrong?" Aria asked as she tried to make it look like she hadn't been crying. "What happened to mom?"

I sat down on a chair next to them and sighed. Ezra's arms were no longer around Aria's waist and she slowly began to get up from his lap.

I tried to ignore the anger building up in me as I tore my eyes away from where he had been holding her.

"She was just in pain. They gave her a painkiller and she's sleeping now." I told her.

Aria nodded slowly before getting up from Ezra's lap completely and standing up.

"She'll probably be asleep for a while so we should probably go." Aria said as Ezra got up from his chair as well.

"Bye Dad." Aria leaned down and gave me a hug before turning back to Ezra. She picked up her purse from the floor and swung it over her shoulder.

"Good-bye, Byron. Maybe we'll see you again tomorrow." Ezra stated.

I nodded before both Ezra and Aria turned away and began walking towards the doors to the Hospital.

I couldn't help but notice the way their hands brushed up against each other's slightly as they walked.

Aria's POV

When we got back to the house, I went up to my room to change into some sweats and a tank top. It was getting late and Byron quickly agreed when I suggested that we leave the hospital. I couldn't shake the feeling off of me that he seemed different. It was like he was suspicious of something. He had been looking at me as if he knew something or was trying to figure something out when I had been sitting on Ezra's lap. I knew it was a completely bad move; it would definitely raise suspicions about us. How could I have been so stupid? We had been practically touching in every way possible. My hands were in his, his hands were brushing my tears away, our arms were wrapped around each other's, and I was sitting in his lap!

I let out a groan as I realized our mistake. I was acting way more comfortable around him than I should be. It was going to raise suspicions, no doubt about it.

I threw my hair up into a ponytail before digging through my purse for my journal and a pen.

I sat down on my bed, resting my back against the wall as I began to write.

Dear Momma,

I'm so sorry that I haven't been visiting you as often lately. I'm just too scared to go back. Every time I see you, something bad happens to you. I hate seeing you in so much pain. But what about you? How do you deal with this? Knowing you have cancer, not being with Mike and I as often as before, how are you making it through each day? Isn't it lonely all alone at the hospital? At least Byron's there for you now, when you need him the most… But you're going to push him away once you find out. Please mom, when you find out, don't push him away. Don't let him stop taking care of you. Don't let him leave you. Don't make him leave you. He doesn't deserve you, but I can't be there for you as much as you would need me to be if he leaves. I'm so sorry mom, I just can't. I can't handle seeing you hurting so much. If you knew how hard it was seeing you like this, you would understand.

I love you so much.

Always,

Aria

"Ezra…" I groaned as I heard a stumbling coming from across the room, causing me to stir from my sleep. "What are you doing?" I asked tiredly, my eyes still closed.

"Hmm?" I heard Ezra mumble, as I felt his arm tighten its hold around my waist.

My eyes immediately shot open as I realized that Ezra was lying right beside me. I quickly sat up in the bed, panic racing through my veins.

"Ezra!" I shook his arm, desperately trying to wake him up.

"What?" He groaned sleepily, finally opening his eyes.

"I think I heard something. Ezra-"

He cut me off, as he brought a finger to my lips, silencing me.

We remained quiet for a moment, listening for the noise again.

All of a sudden, we heard a ruckus coming from somewhere in the house close to my room.

Ezra quickly threw the comforter off of his body and jumped out of the bed. He ran from the room as I followed suit. I glanced at the clock, astounded that it read 3:17am.

What the hell was happening? Was someone breaking into my house?

I rushed into the hallway and saw Ezra emerging from my parent's bedroom.

"It's not coming from your parents room." He told me.
We both remained silent for a moment, listening for the noise again.

I heard a groan coming from the bathroom, and shot a panicked glance at Ezra.

Ezra pushed me away from the closed bathroom door and approached it slowly, listening for more noises.

I heard a whimper coming from inside of the room.

"Ezra…" I whispered, completely afraid of whatever or whoever was in there.

Ezra slowly opened the door to the bathroom and gasped as he got a glimpse of the inside. I pushed past him, wanting to look inside to see whatever he was seeing.

I screamed when I saw who was in the bathroom.

Sitting on the tiled floor of the bathroom was my brother Mike, struggling to open the bottle of pills he was clutching in his hands. His shirt was clinging to his chest from the sweat that was covering his body and his face was scrunched up in rage and frustration.

"Mike!" I screamed as I fell to my knees onto the floor in front of him and tried to pry the bottle away from Mike's grasp. I tried to move his fingers away from the bottle so it would escape his hold on it, but it was no use. He was holding the bottle as if it were his life.

"Mike, stop!" I cried in a frightened voice as I tried to get him to stop fighting me.

"No!" Mike screamed, before using all of his strength to throw me off of him. I saw Ezra rush into the room right as I felt my head hit the edge of the bathtub. I felt Ezra's hands under my head, preventing me from hitting my head on the floor, before everything faded away into darkness.

Told you there'd be drama! What's going to happen next with Mike? REVIEW PLEASE!