So I decided to write you guys an alternate chapter. After you read this one, let me know which one you guys like more, and I'll continue the story from there. Some of this chapter is like the other one… i.e. the whole beginning. I promise this one is much less mean.
I took hold of Ezra's hand as we made our way up to Jackie's apartment. I had Ezra's hand interlocked with one of mine, while my other hand held Jackie's journal. When we reached the door, I knocked twice. I glanced at Ezra, who had a fearful look in his eyes. We waited a moment before I knocked again.
No answer.
"Aria, she's not here. Let's just go back home." Ezra sighed, as he let go of my hand.
Jackie probably was home, but just was not answering the door. It was completely possibly that she had realized that I found her journal, meaning I knew the truth about Maria.
A wave of anger washed over me as I thought about what a cowardly thing to do by not answering the door, would be. How could Jackie be scared of me? She made it clear when she kissed Ezra a few months ago, that she obviously did not care that Ezra was already dating someone else.
As we started walking away from the door, I reached for Ezra's hand. As he was about to take my hand in his, I heard a crash come from inside of Jackie's apartment. I sprinted back towards the door and knocked again.
"Aria, what are you doing? She's not here." Ezra said.
"Didn't you just hear that?" I pressed my ear against the door again listening for any more noise.
"Hear what?" Ezra walked back over to me, very confused.
"Th-that crash." I slowly turned towards Ezra.
"Where's that key Jackie gave you to her apartment?" I asked him frantically.
Ezra stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a lone silver key. I snatched it from his hands and quickly shoved it into the keyhole.
I burst into the apartment, with Jackie's journal in my hand, ready to destroy her for hurting Ezra and for hiding from me. Ezra quietly closed the door behind us, as I was welcomed by an empty living room. As I looked around, nothing seemed out of place. On top of the table, sat a plate of brownies and two glasses of milk, both glasses half drunken. It was very odd that there was food on the table when no one appeared to be home. I turned to Ezra, who had a confused look on his face. Jackie had told us her plans for the day earlier, when she was at our house: take Maria to see Ezra, go grocery shopping, and then go home. It was impossible that she was still out grocery shopping because she had left our house over four hours ago. Ezra and I walked around the apartment, looking for any sign of Jackie or Maria. I knew that someone had to be here; because of the crash I had heard before we walked inside.
We finally found Jackie in the bathroom helping Maria brush her teeth. On the floor lay a glass surrounded by a puddle of water. That must have been what had fallen earlier.
"Oh!" Jackie exclaimed. "When did you guys get here? I didn't hear a knock."
I held the journal behind my back as Ezra walked up to Jackie. He stood in front of her portraying no emotion on his face.
"We need to talk."
Jackie looked a bit taken aback at his request, but agreed.
"Well, let me just get her in bed and then we can talk." She shrugged as she led Maria to her bedroom.
Ezra walked back into the living room and sat down on the couch as I followed suit. I hid the journal behind my back, wanting Jackie to see it at just the right time.
As I took Ezra's hand in mine, I could tell that he was really struggling with this. Someone he knew so well, someone he once loved so much, had used him in such an awful and tormented way.
Jackie emerged from the bedroom a moment later. Ezra and I looked up at her wordlessly.
"So, what did you guys want to talk about?" She sat down in a chair across from us and crossed her legs.
Ezra looked at me expectantly. As I pulled the journal out from behind my back, I watched Jackie's face drain of all its color.
"So I take it that you recognize this?" I whispered. Jackie gasped as soon as she recognized what was in my hand.
"Where did you get that?" She asked in barely a whisper.
"That's clearly not the issue here." Ezra snapped.
"How much of it did you read?" Jackie asked quietly.
"All of it. How the hell could you do this to me?" Ezra snatched the notebook from my hand and held it in front of Jackie's face.
"Ezra, I-" She started to say, but Ezra cut her off.
"Are you that conceited?" He demanded. "Why would you lie to Maria? She thinks I'm her father. When she's older and she figures out the truth, she'll never forgive you!"
"I'm sorry!" She yelled. "But Ezra, you don't understand! Drew would have been the most awful father to Maria! He used to beat me and yell at me for everything!" I watched Ezra and Jackie argue as tears fell down Jackie's face.
"That doesn't give you any reason to lie to me!" Ezra exploded. "You led me to believe that I had a daughter with you! You kissed me and you almost destroyed my relationship with Aria! Out of the billions of guys in this world, why the hell did you have to go after me? You knew I had moved on! You knew that I stopped loving you the way I used to! Yet you still tried to get me back. You disgust me Jackie."
"I'm sorry!" She squealed. "I just wanted to be with you again. Remembering how happy we used to be, made me regret ever breaking up with you. Remember Ezra? We used to go to dinner together, we used to go out on double dates with Jessica and Andrew, we used to be so in love and we thought that nothing would ever be able to break us apart!"
Ezra sat back down on the couch as a flood of memories washed over him.
"You destroyed us, Jackie. It was all you. And I'm not going to let you try and twist the past and blame me!"
"It was your fault too!" She yelled. "I was not even twenty two and you wanted me to marry you and make such a big commitment! I had barely started my life, and you wanted to end it for me, right then and there!" She paused, breathing heavily.
"Has he asked you to marry him yet?" She asked me, clearly outraged.
I shook my head.
"So because she's younger, you're not going to make her marry you?" She asked angrily.
I chose not to answer, not wanting to become a part of the fight.
"But Jackie, that was the past. This is now." He said quietly. "And I don't know if I can ever forgive you for this."
"I understand. And I'm really sorry Ezra. I just wanted… someone to be there for us. And you were such an amazing person to me when we were together; I thought that you would be a perfect father to Maria." She wiped some tears away from her eyes. "And you were for the time there was. She really loves you Ezra."
"Mommy?" We heard a soft voice ask. We all turned around to see Maria standing by the doorway clutching her bunny in hand. She had tears falling down her face.
"Why dis Daddy yelling?" She ran into her mothers' arms and Jackie embraced Maria, holding her close to her chest.
Maria looked up at Ezra. I watched Ezra melt as he saw Maria. I knew deep down that even though Ezra was mad, he had begun to love Maria like his own daughter. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, hoping that Ezra would love our child unconditionally too.
Ezra let out a huge sigh, as he put his head in his hands.
"What am I supposed to do here? Are you going to tell her the truth?" Ezra gestured to Maria, who held her arms out to him, wanting him to hold her.
Jackie reluctantly released her and let Maria make her way over to Ezra. Ezra picked her up and sat her down on his lap.
"Daddy why you crying?" Maria reached up to touch a tear of Ezra's face.
Ezra looked at Jackie, not knowing how to respond.
"Maria, honey, um, there's something we need to tell you."
Jackie explained.
Maria looked up at Jackie expectantly, waiting for her to continue.
"Well, Ezra isn't your d-" she began, but I cut her off.
"Ezra's just sad about something. He'll be okay though." I told Maria, not wanting to break her little heart. "You should go back to sleep now, honey." I smiled at her and she smiled back.
She rubbed her eyes and let out a big yawn.
"Okay. Bye-bye." Maria waved as Jackie led her back to her bedroom.
"What was that about?" Ezra turned to me, very confused.
"I just feel so bad for her." I explained. "She's so young, and she doesn't realize what's going on right now. She's so... Fragile." I searched for the right words to explain what I was thinking. "It's just not the right time to hurt her like this." I sighed. "Poor girl, she's going to be completely crushed when she learns the truth."
"You're right." Ezra took my hand in his and rubbed my shoulder soothingly as I settled myself against his chest.
Jackie came back a moment later.
"Aria... Why did you do that?" She asked softly.
"Maria doesn't deserve to be hurt like that. Knowing the truth is just going to crush her." I told her.
"You're right." She agreed. "But it's not fair to you and Ezra to continue living a lie like this." Jackie looked down, not wanting to meet Ezra's eyes or mine.
Ezra and I nodded in agreement.
"Ezra and I talked earlier though and... We were wondering," I paused, as I glanced at Ezra. "What if Ezra continued to see Maria whenever he or she wanted, but more like a friend than a father?" I suggested.
"You would really do that?" Jackie asked hopefully.
Ezra nodded. "For Maria. Not you." He clarified.
"Thank you Ezra. And you too Aria." She said. "I... I understand how upset you both are about me lying to you, but like I said earlier, I was thinking about Maria and only Maria. Do you see where I was coming from?" Jackie pleaded, hoping we would understand.
"As a soon to be mother, yeah I do. But there's lots of kids out there who grew up without a father." I reminded her.
"I know… but…" Jackie looked up at us and I could tell from her glassy eyes that she truly was sorry.
"It's getting late." I told Ezra. "We should go." I stood up and held my hand out for him to take.
Ezra remained silent as we started walking towards the door.
"I really am… sorry." Jackie said, as another tear fell down her face. "Can we still be friends?" She asked Ezra and I hopefully.
"I don't know right now, Jackie." Ezra answered. "I just… need some time to think about all of this before I make any more decisions."
Ezra took one last look at Jackie before we left the house.
"Glad that's over." I commented.
Ezra stayed quiet as we got into the car and started to drive home.
"You okay?" I asked, as I took his hand in mine.
"Y-yeah." He assured me, as he gave me a small smile.
As we reached a red light, I leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. Although I knew he was deeply hurting, I knew that it was better now that he knew the truth about Maria, then to continue living a lie he never told. I hoped that Ezra would be healed a bit more before our baby comes, so that he can be the most amazing father to him or her too.
Much better? I think I'm just going to keep that other chapter in here instead of completely deleting it, but I'm going to continue the story off of this chapter. Let me know what you guys thought and whether or not you liked this one better! I have to admit, I do! Review please!