AN: Hey guys. Aria and Ella are going to have a conversation about Ezria and then they will get back to painting, don't worry.
ARIA POV:
I keep thinking of his thumb hovering above my face before we kissed. Don't you just love that intense moment you feel the few seconds before you kiss someone for the first time? I keep feeling the kiss lingering on my lips. I sit in my room with a happy, wonderstruck look on my face. I was so zoned out I didn't even hear my mom pull into the driveway or call my name. Then, I see her leaning in the doorway looking at my quizzically.
"Aria, I've been calling your name for a few minutes! Didn't you hear me? Ezra said you had a surprise for me. And what's with the look on your face?"
I don't answer her right away, not completely paying attention. I'm still thinking back to my wonderful, sweet moment with Ezra. She comes and sits next to me on the floor.
"I see you and Ezra got most of this wall done. I also see you got a little paint on yourselves. What happened?" She looks at me with a chuckle, trying to get some of the left over paint off of me.
"Mom, do you think Ezra and I are moving too fast? I mean we only met like a week ago and we already kissed! I feel so close to him."
Her eyes go wide, "Whoa, Whoa hold on, rewind that for me a little. You two kissed!? Is that what your dreamy look is for?"
I nod and look at her sheepishly. Ella gets a worried look and turns to face me.
"Okay sweetie, we need to talk. Now I know it may seem like I am for this relationship, and if he makes you happy then I am happy. But, I want to make sure you don't rush into anything. You are only 16 and he is a mature 20 year old. I know Ezra is a good guy, but I wouldn't be a good mom if I didn't have some concerns about your relationship. I know from experience that teenagers resist authority. If I tell you that you can't do something, it's just going to make you want to do it even more. I just want you to be careful that you don't rush into something you aren't quite ready for yet. I'm not going to stand in your way, but I want you to know I have some reservations about you two dating. With all that being said, I will support you in whatever decision you make."
"Mom, I love you but I know Ezra wouldn't hurt me. I mean he freaked out when he got a little paint on me. I know you want the best for me, and as of right now I think that is Ezra. He's not pushing me into anything. He respects me. Thank you for caring for me and looking out for me. I promise to not rush into anything. I think I am pretty mature at my age, and I think I am capable of making the right decision. If I ever feel like I am in over my head or that I am not ready for something, I will come talk to you."
My mom gives me a hug, glad that we had this conversation.
"Okay momma I have a surprise for you, don't worry it's a good one." She looks at me intrigued, and waits for me to reveal my secret.
"I picked out a name for the mare. I was thinking of naming her Melody. What do you think?"
"I love it sweetie. It fits her just right. Now you may think this is silly, but I always give middle names to my horses. What is her middle name?"
"Well I never really thought of giving her a middle name. Hmm, how about Grace?"
She nods in agreement and smiles. "Melody Grace Montgomery has a nice ring to it. Honey, it's getting pretty late. You won't be able to sleep in here tonight because of the paint smell so I made up the couch for you. Sleep tight sweetie, see you in the morning."
"Night momma. Thanks for the talk. I was kind of confused about how I should feel but you helped me."
I sleep soundly that night, dreaming of future moments with Ezra. I wake the smell of bacon wafting through the air. I open my eyes and see Zach making some breakfast.
"Good morning kiddo. I hear you and Ezra kissed last night. You tell him that if he hurts you he is dead meat okay?"
I shake my head at him and head upstairs to get ready for the day. I hear my phone beep and look and see a text from my best friend Hanna.
Hey Ari! Hope you haven't died yet. Found a cute country boy yet? We miss you. Call us!
Only Hanna. I smile at her text, making a mental note to call them later. I continue getting around and then I hear my phone beep again. It's a picture this time of all the girls with sad faces. I decide to text them back.
Miss you girls so much. Facetime tonight? I have some good news ;)
Hanna instantly texts back: I knew it! You met a cute farm boy! You better tell us all the details, leaving nothing out! I bet he is completely hot. Kisses!
I can just picture Hanna shrieking when she read my text. Hanna is so boy crazy. Next thing I know, 'Hanna Marin is calling' comes up on my phone. I answer it and then I see her smiling face.
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't wait for tonight. The girls are downstairs, they don't know I am face-timing you. So, what is he like? Does he have abs? Is he tan? Did you kiss yet?"
"Whoa slow down Han. Call the girls up here, I want to catch up with them too!"
"GUYS GET YOUR BUTTS UP HERE! ARIA IS ON FACETIME." I hear them all run up the stairs. Spencer is the first one I see. I squeal when I see them all.
"I missed you guys so much. I'm so sorry I haven't talked to you guys in forever. It has been so crazy trying to get adjusted here. I'm face-timing from the living room because my room is being painted and I can't stand the smell for too long."
"Where's your mom? I wanna see what she looks like?", I hear Hanna exclaim.
"Hey Zach, do you know where mom is?"
"Well who is this handsome guy?", I hear Hanna ask.
"Chill Hanna, this is Zach my mom's boyfriend."
Zach politely says hi to them, and then excuses himself to go find my mom.
"So tell me all about Baltimore?", I hear Spencer and Emily ask.
"Forget boring Baltimore, I want to know about this guy you keep blushing and smiling about. We all want to know", the ever boy obsessed Hanna asks.
"Okay well his name is Ezra. He is 20 and he is an English major at the local college. He works part time with my mom at her vet practice; he grew up on a farm. We ran into each other, literally, at the mall. I felt an instant spark with him, which made me a little nervous."
"Wow. We haven't heard you talk about a guy like this since Jason. Did you tell your mom about him? ALL about him?"
I can't look at them, which just confirms I didn't tell my mom the biggest problem in my relationship with Jason.
"Oh my gosh, how could you not tell your mom that!", they all exclaim.
"Tell me what?", I hear my mom ask. I see her appear from her room.
"Nothing. Mom, I want you to meet my friends. Girls this is my mom, Ella." They each take the phone and introduce themselves to my mom.
"Hey girls, It's so nice to put faces to the names. Aria talks about you guys a lot. You guys should come up here sometime, we have plenty of room. It will give me a chance to get to know a little but more about my daughter and the life she lived before I came into the picture."
"Yeah sure we would love to come see you in person. You guys live on a farm right?"
"Yeah Han we do." I see her scrunch up her face at that.
"Han it's not like we live in the middle of nowhere. They have a beautiful house here with normal stuff just like back in Rosewood. We have everything we have need just a few minutes away. And Hanna, Baltimore has a mall that will make you drool, better than the one in Rosewood."
I see her perk up at that. "Well girls if you will excuse me, Ezra is here and we have to go respond to a call. Nice to meet you all, and hope you come up soon."
"WAIT, Ezra is there!? Aria go get him, we want to meet him. "
"Umm, Hey Ar your Mom told me to come in here for some reason", Ezra says.
"HEY EZRA", I hear all the girls yell. "Come over here, we wanna get a good look at ya, see if you are as cute as Aria claims."
I blush at that, and quickly end the facetime, giving them a glare. "I'll talk to you later guys."
"Sorry, they can be a bit much. Go ahead, and go, don't wanna keep my mom waiting. I will talk to you later, maybe we can finish up painting tonight?"
AN: This chapter wasn't exactly what I had planned to write when I started, but it is what came out. I figured she needed some time with her mom and the girls. They will get back to painting tomorrow. Review with what you thought!