I don't own anything

Aria's POV

It had been a week since Ezra and my first date and today there would be a College party in a local bar. Everyone apart from me were going to go. I'd caught cold and my throat had been sore and head had been hurting all morning. In the morning I thought that after taking a pain killer I'd feel better and I could go even for a moment but it felt like nothing helped. I'd called Ezra a couple of hours ago and told him I couldn't go tonight, and he understood it perfectly well.

I'd taken quick naps all day and watched Spencer getting ready for the party. Not only was I forced to cancel my plan with Ezra, but with Spencer as well. Ezra, Hardy, Spencer and I were supposed to go there together but now new plans had to be made. Luckily Spencer had found a few course mates to join her, and Ezra would go with Hardy and they'd probably meet more people there.

"Hi, is Aria here?" I heard Ezra's voice asking from the door.

"Yep, she's right there. Go ahead" Spencer answered. "I'm off, I'll see you later!" She shouted before shutting the door behind her.

"Have fun!" I called after her as Ezra walked towards me. "Hi" I said and sat up on the bed.

"Hi" He said and kissed me.

"It's already 7, shouldn't you be gone by now?" I asked him curiously.

"I wanted to see how you were feeling" He told me worriedly.

"I'm fine. It's just a flu" I said and sneezed as if to emphasize it. "Damn it." I opened my drawer and tried to find some Kleenex but Ezra was faster and he gave me one before I could find any on my messy drawer.

"Here" He smiled. "You know, I don't have to go to that party. There'll be new parties, I can stay here take care of you."

"Ezra, you don't have to do that. Like you said, there'll be new parties so we'll get a chance to club together. Besides, I don't want you to skip it for me, just go and have fun."

Ezra came closer to me so that our foreheads touched. "Are you sure?" He asked in a low voice.

I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck. "It was a lovely thought though" I told him gently. "You're the most thoughtful and loveliest boyfriend ever" I said and kissed him passionately. Our lips only parted when we had to pull back for air.

"If you need anything, just call me" He made me promise.

"I will."

Ezra's short visit perked me up and it felt like I'd forgotten all the physical pain for a moment. I would've done anything to be there with him; this would've been the first party where we'd have been able to hold hands without the fear of someone seeing.

When it was ten I couldn't read or watch one single movie anymore. I felt my eyes close involuntarily. I went to take another pain killer and put a glass of water on my night stand and I fell sound asleep the minute my head hit the pillow.

I must've been asleep for a while since I heard the door open slowly, and I saw the light from the corridor between it. It had to be Spencer which was weird since she usually didn't leave early at parties. I'd been on the verge of falling back to sleep when I felt Ezra's cool hands on my waist and his warm breath on my neck. I moaned quietly when I felt his lips on the back of my neck.

"You're awake. Did I wake you?" He apologized to me.

"No, no of course not" I lied quickly.

"Really? You sound sleepy" He pointed sceptically and caressed my side.

"I love to wake up to your wonderful hands caressing me while those glorious lips kiss my body" I answered in a little seductive voice. "How did you get inside?"

"I heard Spencer and her friends talking how they'd stay over at some of their friends. So I asked Spencer if I could get her key to stay the night and surprise you. I couldn't be away from you for that long though, so I sneaked out the party earlier."

"What time is it?" I asked him.

"It's midnight" He replied.

"The party's just started though, and it'll go on for hours."

"Like I said, I couldn't stay away from you."

When I heard Ezra's words I turned around and caressed his cheek. "I love you more than you will ever know"

His hands were lost in my hair and he kissed me tenderly. "I love you too. Now, get some sleep princess."

Ezra's POV

I woke up and noticed that Aria wasn't in the bed. I sat up, glanced around but saw no sign of her. Soon she came from the bathroom though, wearing a white silky robe.

"Morning babe" she greeted me as she dried her hair with a towel.

"Morning sunshine" I said smiling. "I woke up and was about to wake you up when I noticed there were only cold sheets on your side."

"Really?" She grinned at me and came walking towards me. When she stood next to me I pulled her down to the bed, and she straddled me.

"I liked your surprise yesterday and I enjoyed spending the night with you" She purred in my ear.

"If it were possible I'd stay here every night with you" I told her sincerely.

We were in that position for ten minutes before Aria suggested she'd go and grab us something for breakfast. I suggested I'd go instead for I didn't want to her to get any sicker. Yesterday when I saw her she didn't look well, and even though it's only a flu and according to her she was fine, I knew it would still hurt her. However now she said she was feeling a lot better and she'd need some fresh air so I had to give up. I'd learned that if Aria really wanted something, she'd get it.

While Aria was getting us breakfast I took a shower. When I stepped inside the bathroom I could immediately tell it belonged to two ladies. Not only was it clean and beautifully decorated, but there were also flowery perfumes and other little bottles scattered around the room.

When I'd taken a quick, warm shower I dried myself and heard the door open. I quickly wrapped the towel around my waist.

"You were quick" I said as I stepped out of the bathroom. I froze on my spot when I realized to my shock that it wasn't Aria. It wasn't Spencer either. In front of me was stood a middle-aged man with a black briefcase.

"Who the hell are you?" I blurted out.

"Byron Montgomery, Aria's father" The man introduced himself and narrowed his eyes. "Now who the hell are you, last time I saw Spencer she was less hairy."

Now, the situation was a shock to me. But it was also extremely awkward. I was standing in front of Aria's father wearing only a towel by my waist. For once I wished it would've been Spencer coming in, and it wasn't. Nope. This was worse.

"Um" I mumbled uncomfortably. "Ezra Fitz. Aria's boyfriend." I told him and offered him my hand which he took and shook. I heard the key and Aria stepped in; by the look on her face, she was just as shocked.

"Dad!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing here? How did you get inside?"

"I'm coming from a conference. When I drove pass the place I decided to pay you a visit and noticed that the door was slightly ajar. I knocked but got no response and then Ezra came from the bathroom so here we are." Byron explained.

"I'll just get dressed" I said and quickly left the awkward situation. When I'd got dressed I said I'd come back later since they'd surely have a lot of catching up to do. Aria, however, wanted me to stay and get to know her father. We spent a good hour before Byron had to leave the place.

When the door closed Aria looked at and smiled teasingly. "Oh please don't" I begged her.

"So you met my dad" She said.

"Undoubtedly I did. I don't think I'll ever forget it. I thought it'd be you, and when I opened the door I saw your dad."

We sat up and ate the breakfast Aria had brought. Aria told about her family and that her parents got a divorce a few years ago and that her mum now lived in Austria.

"So, what about your family?" She asked me curiously.

"My family?" I didn't know what to say since there wasn't anything good to tell. Aria was excepting an answer though.

"My parents were divorced when I was 12. After that I haven't really seen my dad. My little brother and I stayed with mum when he left for Washington."

"What about your mum, are you in touch with her?"

"We haven't spoken since she cancelled my tuition fee" I confessed.

"Did you ever find out why she did it?" She asked worriedly.

"No, I didn't" I stammered slightly, nervously. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk about my family; it's just that you couldn't tell anything good about my family. I also know the way my mom talked about Aria last time and I didn't want her to know because it would only hurt her. She didn't deserve it.

Aria's POV

Ezra and I spent the morning together before he had to leave. It bothered me a bit that Ezra was so quiet about his family; I'm not saying that we should open up and tell each other everything, but he seemed nervous. Especially when I asked about his mother. We'd learned to know each other over these months, and I knew he was hiding something. Why was he so afraid to tell me? I tried to concentrate on something else but it was difficult. All I could think about was this.

Either way, I couldn't just sit and think it through. I wanted answers, and I wouldn't get them from Ezra. A single person came to my mind; one that would know. Jackie.

I stood nervously in front of her door thinking about whether I should knock or walk away. I managed to gather some courage and knocked. I nervously bit down my lower lip knowing this wasn't wise. I didn't even have the right to do this, but I had to know. It felt like I told him everything, but he kept things away from me, like this.

The door in front of me opened. I saw Jackie and I could tell she wasn't happy to see me.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked me annoyed.

"Believe me, this is the last place I want to be" I told her. "But I need an answer to something. I figured that you're the only person who could help me."

"What makes you think that I want to help you? Even if I knew the answer." She asked me coldly.

I didn't know what to say and desperation took over me. What was I doing? Seeking for answers from Ezra's ex and thinking she'd give them to me.

"Can you even hear me out and then decide whether or not you're willing to help?" I suggested.

She finally nodded and gestured for me to come inside to talk.

"So, what is it?" She asked me impatiently, folding her arms across her chest.

"Do you know the reason Ezra's mom cancelled his tuition fee?" I asked her nervously. "I tried to ask him, but he wouldn't tell me. He knows it, but hides it from me. I'm sure even Hardy knows."

"He has his reasons not to tell you" Jackie replied simply.

"So is that your answer?" I asked her.

"Do you really wanna know?"

"Yes" I nodded.

"His mother hates you as much as I do. She thinks you destroyed her son's life and the only way to save him would be him quitting school here."

I felt like I'd been punched in the head. This was the reason Ezra's tuition fee was cancelled? How could anyone do that? What mom would want to do something like that to her own child? I couldn't say that the answer didn't hurt me, because it did. In addition to Jackie, his family too hated me.

I thanked her for the answer and was about to leave when Jackie's voice stopped me.

"Even though I'm trying to understand your relationship with Ezra and I can't stop you from being together, I'll never be able to see anything good in you two. I can't be bothered to use my energy on you because it's not worth it. You ruined my start, but you won't ruin the rest of my College time."

"You know what, Jackie? I don't think I'll be able to see anything good in you, either" I told her calmly. "You've been a childish idiot lately. We're in College and you act like a teenage girl. Maybe we can do each other a favour and stay away from one another" I finished and left.

I arrived in my room, threw my bag somewhere and wanted to scream. I couldn't believe this. I'd never even met Ezra's mom and she already hated me. Had I really ruined her son's life? My phone started to ring and I saw it was him. I didn't have the strength to talk to him right now, so I ignored it.

A few days passed by avoiding Ezra because I didn't know what to say to him. I knew I'd had to face it with him, but more than that I feared how he'd react when he'd hear that I had interfered with his business. I hadn't even gone to my lectures; instead I'd sat in my room thinking about this. I missed him terribly, yet at the same time I didn't want to talk to him. I couldn't do anything but cry as I contemplated this mess and Ezra's mother.

Ezra's POV

I hadn't heard anything from Aria for two days and I started to be worried. She didn't return my calls or texts. I hadn't seen her after I left her room the other day. I wanted to know that she was alright, so I went to see her.

I knocked at the familiar door a few times but nobody opened it. I called Aria's name and asked if she was inside. I heard a muffled sob behind the door and I knew it would be her.

"Aria, I know you're in there. Open the door" I begged her.

Aria was silent for a moment before she finally replied, "Go away Ezra."

"I won't go anywhere before you tell me what's wrong" I told her firmly. "I'll sit here till the morning so that I know that you're okay."

Soon I heard the lock go and saw Aria's teary face. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen her like that. What had made her this upset?

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked her worriedly.

"Nothing" She said and turned her head away from me.

"It's not nothing Aria. You can tell me" I assured her and gently forced her to look at me.

Aria looked at me and I saw how the tears ran down her cheeks. I pulled her in my arms and felt her arms wrap tightly around myself.

"I'm so sorry Ezra" She whimpered quietly.

"What is it honey?"

"I've ruined everything. Jackie told me about it and your mom-" She spluttered in panic.

"Hey, slow down. Take a deep breath and start over" I said confused and caressed her hair.

"I went to see Jackie. I wanted to know why your mom stopped paying your tuition fee. Now I know and I know how much she hates me. She thinks I've ruined your life" She finished and collapsed to the floor and rested her body against Spencer's bed. I crouched next to her and took her in my arms.

"I didn't want you to know. I knew how much it would hurt you so I tried to hide it from you" I told her quietly. "You have no idea how much it hurts to see you like this" I continued in a low voice. I was at breaking point myself.

"But I can't stop thinking that I'm the reason for this. You had to take a big loan and your relationship with your mum is ruined."

"Don't blame yourself because this is not your fault. It's my mom who's ruined everything and I have no desire to be in touch with her" I told her. "We've just never thought the same way. When it comes to the loan, I don't regret it for a second. I just want to be with you, even if it cost me 30,000 dollars." I kissed her forehead lightly.

"Are you not angry with me? For interfering" She asked me and lifted her head.

"No" I told her simply.

"And we're gonna be okay?"

"We are gonna be okay, I promise" I reassured her. I took her face in my hands and brushed my lips against hers.

We'd sat on the floor for nearly an hour and Aria had fallen asleep in my lap. I was happy this all ended well, and now I sat and watched as she slept peacefully in my arms. I loved to watch as she slept; when she slept, she was always just as beautiful. It didn't matter whether she was awake or asleep, she beamed always.

It was starting to be late, so I lifted her properly in my arms and carried her to her own bed. I threw a blanket over her and whispered in her ears, "Sweet dreams sunshine."

Just as I was about to stand up and leave, Aria grabbed my hand.

"No, wait. I want you to stay here" Aria said, never letting go of my hand.

I wasn't sure what Spencer would think but at the moment I didn't care; I just wanted to be with Aria and make sure she was fine. I took my jeans off and went to lie next to her. We lay there together and whispered sweet nothings to each other.

The next chapter is probably going to take a little longer since I'll be on holiday and won't be able to update. The story will continue of course, I've planned loads of things to happen. I'm glad you liked the previous chapter and every review made extremely happy. They make me write more :)