This was their worst nightmare. The one thing that Aria and Ezra wanted to get over and done with. All they both wanted to do was move on, and get back to being their usual happy self.
And then this comes along, and the past few days spent trying to fix everything comes crashing down around them.
Both of them were currently stood in silence, eyes glued to the horrendous images on the screen.
Ezra was more shocked than anything, mortified that someone had dared to show him this. He didn't need it, not now. The same anger was building up inside of him, travelling through his veins. He was so caught up in staring at the screen that he didn't even realise the bathroom door slam shut and lock.
Just like that night, Aria felt weak and helpless, like she was trapped. She slid down the door, curling her knees up to her chest.
This was exactly how Aria had reacted during that night. Ran straight to the bathroom and locked herself in, bashing her head backwards against the glass door in an attempt to wipe it from her memory. Obviously it only caused a rather annoying headache and a bruise on the back of the girls head.
It was different, seeing it from that point of view. Watching her struggle and squirm, it looked different. Even more painful.
Because Aria knew what it felt like, it was like it was happening all over again, strange shudders rushing through her body everytime her mind would drift back to the video. She hadn't been able to watch much, but what she had seen was enough to scar her for the rest of her life.
It was at first, when he was in between pulling off her dress and holding down Aria's wrists.
Aria was slightly worried about how Ezra was reacting to all of this. She hadn't heard a single noise from the living room yet. No smashes, no slams. Nothing. Complete silence.
This may have been because Ezra, was actually sat down on the couch, watching the screen intently as if it was a normal show. The only difference was that Ezra wanted to move. He wanted to run as fast as he could, but he was just... Frozen. Completely frozen, he couldn't move a muscle.
His eyes were glued to the screen, as if they were being held there forcefully. Watching... Every... Single... Moment.
And then the screen went blank, and Ezra was back in focus again, glancing around the room in search of his girlfriend. Where the hell was she? The door wasn't wide open, so she must've been somewhere. He jumped up from the couch, glancing down at his hands. They had gone numb, thanks to him gripping them in tight fists.
"Aria?" Ezra called out, spotting a small shadow behind the door. He tried to push at the door, but the lock was holding it shut. "Come on, Aria." He knocked on the door, but she remained still, chewing at her fingernails in frustration. It was something that they both had in common. Whenever either was upset the other could tell, just by the length of their fingernails. If they were, the nails would be bitten right down. If not, normal length. "You can't stay locked in their all night. Sooner or later you'll have to come out."
"I'm alright, Ezra. I'm showering." Aria lied, not realising that Ezra could see her perfectly through the door.
"I can't hear the shower running." She silently cursed at herself, raising to her feet. "Please... You can't be like this with me. Don't shut me out. I love you, and I don't know who put that there but we will find out."
The door was pulled open then. Just a little bit, but it was enough. Ezra twisted a small smile onto his face, reaching his hand through the small gap. It took a minute, but Aria took it, and allowed Ezra to pull her out of the bathroom slowly.
"I don't want to go back, Ezra." Aria whimpered under her breath, her bottom lip beginning to tremble. "I can't go back there, not again." And then that was it, she collapsed into her boyfriends arms.
Ezra didn't know what to say to her. He didn't know what to promise. Pod course, he couldn't promise to make it all go away. This was just a huge slap in the face for them both. A reminder that no matter what they were to do, or no matter how hard they tried to forget...
This wasn't going away at all. They were stuck with the horrible truth, and couldn't do anything about it.
"I think... I think what we need... is to get away for a while. Just leave all of this, all of it behind. For the weekend at least. Maybe longer." Ezra suggested in a low murmur, the thought sounding better and better by the second. In order to forget, they had do put the past behind them.
"What're you talking about? We can't just leave, Ezra. You have a job, remember?"
"It's not like it'd be permanent or anything. Just something to get your mind off of everything."
Aria took a deep breath, shaking her head as she looked up at Ezra.
"No, I think the best thing for me right now... Is time. I think I'm going to go home tonight, Ezra. Just let me sleep on it, and sort out my head." Ezra raised an eyebrow at her, wanting to add a comment on how she had promised not to leave him just the day before, but arguing with her wouldn't help. She seemed determined to go home, and Ezra wasn't going to stop her. She raised her hand up to his cheek, offering him up a warm smile. "We both need this. It'll be twenty four hours of no contact, just us. Then I'll be back, okay?" He only nodded, wrapping his arms around her body and pressing a kiss to her forehead.