I don't own anything
Ezra's POV
Dad and Ella jumped away from each other the second they heard my voice. They were staring at me just as shocked as I was staring at them. Actually I wasn't just shocked. I was absolutely furious. I'd never felt hatred like this before.
"What the hell are you doing?" I shouted at them.
"Ezra, you're taking it all wrong, it's not what it looks like" Dad said cautiously and took a step towards me.
"You had your tongue down that bitch's throat, how the fuck can I get it all wrong?" I demanded lividly.
"Ezra calm down so we can talk."
"Calm down? You're telling me to calm down when I walk in on my own dad kissing my girlfriend's mother? You make me sick" I spat at the two of them.
"Ezra, listen" He said sternly. Ella stood next to him looking very pale.
"Stephen, this might not be the right time for this" She said quietly.
"There will never be right time for this" Dad insisted. Ella, in a lack of answer, nodded quietly.
All three of us were silent for a while before dad continued. "I met Ella a long before I met your mother" He confessed.
"What?" I blurted out, not sure I'd heard correctly.
"When I met Ella, we were the same age as you and Aria now" He explained. "Despite being utterly young, we fell in love instantly. We dated through high school. We broke up in the summer before college began and were in no touch until we moved here."
"All this time you've known each other? These past few months you've been having an affair despite knowing about me and Aria?"
"Yes, but we ended it because of you" Dad said seriously. "What you saw was just a farewell but I promise, it's over for good."
"And it should comfort me, that it's over after you've been shagging each other for a few months behind our backs?" I yelled and hit my hand against a mirror that hung on the wall next to me. The mirror fell on the floor with a smash and the shards fell all over the floor.
I heard Ella scream. I couldn't control the hatred I was feeling. I felt pain in my hand and it was bloody all over.
"Stephen I told you it would be too much" Ella said in shaken voice.
"You're right, it really is too much" I laughed coldly. "The woman who made me look like a criminal in everyone's eyes, and who almost put me into jail is the very same woman who's having an affair with my father! Or have you forgotten everything she's done?" I said, addressing the last part to my father.
"Of course not, I'm still furious at her about it!" Dad responded.
I shook my head at the circus in front of me. How could this be possible? All this time my dad had been having an affair with my girlfriend's mother. They'd plotted against us and did their everything so we couldn't be together. Both of them had families and they had cheated on their spouses.
"Does mom know?" I asked, feeling oddly empty.
"No, you're the only one who knows, and I hope you won't tell anyone. Not even your mom" He said. He sounded tired suddenly.
"How can you do this to her after everything she's done for you?" I asked.
I got no answer. They both stood where they were, Ella looking at the ceiling and dad at the shards of the mirror I had broken.
"You two disgust me more than anything has ever disgusted me. How can you live with yourselves?" I snarled between my teeth and stormed into my room. I slammed the door shut and kicked the wall. It didn't hurt half as much as hitting the mirror had. My hand was still bloody and the wounds were hurting. I pressed my hand against my hair and pulled it impatiently. This just couldn't be true for fucks sake. My dad and Ella.
All those business and conference trips were lies. In reality they'd been fucking in some five star hotels while we believed them blindly and happily. And what should I do now? Be quiet and try to forget it? It's impossible but I can't tell the truth either. It would break my mom's heart. Elliot would punch him. Aria's been through a lot because of her mother, but not even she could bare this. But if she found about it and that I knew, she'd be mad at me. Quite rightly too.
Everyone will be angry, so what the hell do I do?
When I woke up I wasn't sure what time of the day it was. I looked at the clock and it showed 10.30. Not too late then.
Last nights events came back to me instantly when I saw my hand. It wasn't a crazy dream. It was true, no matter how hard I tried to deny it.
I took a shower and could've yelled out of pain that the water caused my hand. I'd never lost my temper like that. I was not an aggressive person. What happened yester day had just been too much. I couldn't possibly understand how they could have lived in a lie like that for so long. How they could have done all while Aria and I had been building our own relationship? I just couldn't understand how dad could do this to mom. I knew they had their problems, but another woman? I had no idea.
When I went downstairs, I prayed I didn't bump into my dad. Mom was staying at grandma's and wouldn't be back until tomorrow. Elliot was at a party yesterday, and most likely slept his hung over away either in Melissa's bed or on some of his mated sofa.
Not meeting my dad was too much asked. He was sitting there with his coffee, examining some papers.
"You really should show your hand to a doctor" He said while I poured cereal into a bowl.
"They're just wounds" I snapped at him. "Don't bother to pretend like you're worried. You're only worried about your reputation and as far as I'm concerned, it's gone."
He sighed. "Look Ezra, I know you're angry."
"Angry? Angry is not enough to describe how I fucking feel at the moment!" I yelled. To my relief, dad seemed to take the hint and left me alone after a deep sigh.
After I finished my cereals I went to living room and started to browse through Netflix in a bid to find something to watch and distract myself.
Dozens of movies and still nothing to watch.
I ended up watching Great Gatsby that I'd seen too many times already. I was half way through the film when my phone next to me started to vibrate. I glanced at the screen and frowned. Unknown number.
I ignored it but it wasn't long until they tried again. Eventually I decided to answer.
"Hello?" I said absentmindedly.
"Finally you answered!" I heard my very own brother say.
"Elliot?" I said confused.
"Yes, it's Elliot. Don't you recognize your own brother's voice?" He asked lightly.
"The problem is that I'd know it even when I wouldn't wanna know it" I answered.
"Well you're being absolutely hilarious, but do stop and help me get back to home"
"Where are you and why aren't you using your own phone?" I frowned.
"I was in Chino and now I've been robbed! They took my phone and money. I found a few coins in my pockets so I could call you from a phone box."
"What were you doing in Chino?" I exclaimed in the phone.
"I really don't know. I've no idea how I ended up here but can you just please take me home?" He answered impatiently.
"I don't suppose I have a choice" I muttered and turned the TV off. "Where should I pick you?"
"Chino" He said as if it was obvious,
"Where in Chino you idiot?"
"I don't know exactly, but I'm at a gas station. There's a road next to it and big trees on the left side."
I sighed. "If you want to get home today, you better get me the address. I'm not checking every gas station in Chino."
"Fine, I'll try to find someone who can tell it to me" He said moodily. "Excuse me ma'am, could you kindly tell me where I am? Oh, I'm sorry sir! The long hair gave the wrong expression!"
I couldn't help but laugh at my brother.
"Ezra, the address is 3260 Chino Ave, Chino Hills" He said finally.
"Fine, I'll find someone who can give me a lift or borrow me a car. It take a while" I informed him casually.
"No hurry, I've been here a few hours already. It's becoming oddly familiar" He said and I could hear a grin in his voice.
Just when I needed a car I didn't have one at hands. The first one with a car I could think of was Aria, and she even lived right next to us. I quickly changed clothes and went to ask her help.
I rang the doorbell and it took a moment before it was opened.
"Hey, Ezra" Aria's younger sister Freya greeted me happily. I couldn't help but notice she was covered in paint all over.
"Hi, Freya. It's good to see you" I smiled down at her. "Is Aria at home?"
"She is, but she's really dirty" She said half whispering.
"Freya, who is it?" I heard Aria's voice from inside the house. "Ezra!" She exclaimed when she came to the doorway and saw me.
Aria was wearing nothing but a pink bikini and like her sister, she was covered in paint. The only difference between them was that Freya's paint was yellow while Aria's was pink. My gaze wandered down her body and I didn't even try to hide it. She looked amazing stood there, dressed in a bikini and her hair in a messy bun. Her beauty captured me every time, her body covered in paint or not.
Aria noticed my gaze for her cheeks started to blush ever so slightly and she bit down on her lip. "We were painting" She explained.
"So I see" I laughed.
"We were painting dad a picture" Freya smiled. "There's a big boat in it, because he likes them, and we'll press our hands there as well. It will be in his new home because he doesn't live here with us anymore.
"It sounds fun" I replied.
"Oh, I had an idea! You could press your hand mark there too" She exclaimed excitedly.
"Maybe some other time, Freya" Aria said and stroked her hair. "Go and ask mom to help you get washed" She ordered her gently.
"Fine" Freya muttered and ran away into the house.
"Sorry, she's just so excited about everything" Aria said to me with a small smile.
"It's fine, I like her. She's adorable" I smiled.
She smiled back at me and asked, "So what brings you here?"
"I need your help" I started.
"Something happened?"
"Oh it's merely my idiot brother. He went to party last night and somehow ended up in Chino" I said lightly. "He doesn't know how, but nevertheless he's been robbed."
"Elliot, robbed, in Chino? How does he do that?" Aria giggled.
"I really don't know" I laughed. "I promised to get him home but I don't have car today. So I was thinking if I could borrow yours?"
"Sure, but I'll be coming with you" She replied without hesitation.
"You don't have to if you don't want to" I said quickly. "It's Saturday and I understand if you don't want to waste it solving my brother's problems."
"No, I want to come" She assured. "I just need to freshen up a bit" She giggled and took a look at her own body.
We walked the stairs up and into her room. I hadn't been there for a long time. It hadn't changed much. Only a few little had. She had an own bathroom where she was washing the paint from her body.
"Ezra, could you please give me any underwear from my wardrobe?" I hear her call out.
"Sure" I said and went to her wardrobe. There were dozens of pairs of underwear in many colours, but mostly white, black and pink. I grabbed the pink ones on the top and took them to her.
"Thanks" She said and put them down on an empty counter.
I looked as she desperately tried to wash the paint off with a sponge.
"Let me help you" I said and took the sponge from her. I started to wash her back carefully and little by little the paint started to come off. "Pink is your favourite colour, isn't it?"
"No it's not" She said happily.
"You're a liar" I said and pressed my lips to the back of her neck. "I have three pieces of evidence" I muttered in her ear.
"Which are?" She asked quietly.
"I bet there were paints in different colours, but there's only pink on your body" I started. "Most of your underwear are pink."
"And the third evidence?"
"The third evidence is this" I said and ran my hands onto her bikini top. "If pink wasn't your favourite colour you wouldn't wear it." My fingers fumbled on the fastening.
Before I got to open it, Aria turned around so were facing each other. "Fine, a 4-year-old Aria who loves pink still lives inside me. Are you happy now?" She smirked.
"Very" I smirked back.
"You like to tease me" She said matter of factly.
"And you like to be teased" I countered with a grin.
"True, but even more I love the consequences of that teasing" She grinned cheekily and wrapped her arms around my neck.
Our gazes had drawn on to each others' lips and we looked at each other with lust. We leaned against each other until finally our lips met each other. The familiar tension between us grew stronger when we kissed each other passionately. Her other hand was underneath my shirt and felt how her fingernails pressed into my back.
I heard a knocking voice but I was finding it hard to pay attention to it. I was so enchanted by the girl in front of me. The knocking kept going on and heard Aria's brother, Mike, talk.
"Aria, are you there?" He asked.
"Fuck" Aria muttered.
"Ariiiiaaa" He called out playfully.
"Coming!" She shouted and went to the door.
"What's taking you so long?" He asked almost impatiently.
"I was in shower" She replied nonchalantly.
"In shower? You're wearing a bikini and you're dry as ever" He pointed out.
"Well I'm going to shower" Aria countered.
"Whatever. I just wanted to ask if you'd borrow me your iPod charger. Mine's broken" He explained.
"Of course" She said and soon enough the door was closed behind her.
In about ten minutes Aria was ready and we went to take my duffer of a brother to home. We were in front of their garage when she threw the keys to me.
"You don't want to drive?" I asked her.
"No, I'd much rather watch you than a long gray road" She winked.
We jumped into the car and when I turned the key in ignition we noticed it was short of gas.
"Mom drove it the last time, she must've forgotten" Aria concluded to herself. "She's so absentminded nowadays. And weird. When I got home from our date yesterday she wasn't at home. She'd just left Freya with Mike."
Listening to Aria's story made remember everything I'd seen the day before. It all returned to my mind so vividly despite trying so hard not to think about it. I'd managed pretty well for a while. Aria had made me forget dad and Ella for a moment. But looking at her now, I remembered everything. I felt guilty for her not knowing where her mom really had been. I felt guilty she knew nothing about it but how could I tell her? My stomach flipped every time I stole a glace at her.
Our way to Chino went quickly enough with no traffic jam. We drove to the gas station Elliot claimed to be at. He was sitting on a curb wearing jeans and a black t shirt. I drove the car closer to him, and when he noticed us he began to make his way towards us.
He stuck his head in from Aria's open window. "When I said there's no hurry, I didn't mean I wanted to spend the whole day in this shabby neighbourhood" He said moodily. "But, driving here together to only take me back home is pretty cute" He proceeded to mock.
"Just drag that not so cute face in the car" I countered.
He opened the door and went to sit in the back seat. We'd driven for about fifteen minutes, when he said, "You should've asked Hardy's car. This jalopy of Aria's is dead slow."
"Without me you would still sit on that curb so stop mocking my car" Aria defended herself.
"Whatever. Let's stop and grab something, I'm starving" He said and waved his hand towards a diner.
We parked the car and walked into the diner. It was pretty empty, but it seemed tidy. We went to stand by the counter and Elliot took one of the menus, studying it carefully.
"I'd have BBQ hamburger with bacon and double cheese, coke and a chocolate milk shake" He smiled politely at the waitress.
"That'd be 11 dollars, please" She said smiling.
Elliot turned to me and Aria and said, "Guys, I'm nut sure if you remember but I was kinda robbed. Ezra, would you mind helping me out?"
"What I wouldn't do for you" I said sarcastically and paid for his food.
"Great, I'll go find a table" He grinned obliviously to my mocking of him.
"So.. who's paying?" The waitress a little uncertainly.
"I am" I said and took out my wallet. "I'd also have big french fries and two cokes, please" I smiled at her.
She typed a little and said, "18 dollars please."
I paid and we went to wait for our order at the table. Aria and I shared the french fries while Elliot ate happily his burger.
"Does Melissa know about your little trip to Chino?" Aria asked.
"She probably couldn't give a fuck where I am right now" He muttered.
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
"We broke up" He shrugged.
"When?" Aria and I asked in unison.
"A few days ago"
"What happened?"
"She found out I'd messed around with another girl last autumn" He replied. "And when she figured out who that girl was, she lost it and told me she didn't want to have anything to do with me no longer"
"Well who was she if it made Melissa so livid?" I asked with a frown.
Elliot didn't reply, but Aria whispered me a name that almost made me fall off my chair, "Hanna."
"Your friend Hanna?" I asked and hoped I'd got it wrong.
Aria nodded and Elliot looked more than a bit embarrassed.
"They slept together and after that Elliot treated her like a piece of shit" Aria said calmly.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I burst out.
"I'm afraid I'm not" He said quietly.
"Hanna's almost two years younger than you! You used her good nature just to get into bed with her. I really did think you'd changed. I thought you left that life in New York but no, you'll never change" I said annoyed.
"You're right, I'll never change" He countered. "What I do and who I do it with is none of your business so do live with that. I never used anyone; she wanted it as much as I did" He continued, sounding a bit hurt.
I felt like I'd been angrier during the last 24 hours than I'd been during the past year altogether. I was annoyed by the way my brother behaved and that he had to mess with one of Aria's best friends.
The way to home went quietly as it was; none of us spoke much to each other. We were at Aria's yard at around 5 and Elliot and I were making our way to the house. Dad wasn't at home, so we'd be alone. Elliot went upstairs the minute we closed the door behind us and I opted for making some coffee.
I was flicking through the paper from this morning when Elliot re-emerged in the kitchen. He had showered and changed his clothes.
"I know I've fucked up and behaved like an asshole" He started. "I regret hurting Hanna that way, I really do, but I'm not like you. I'll never share my french fries with someone like you do with Aria. I'll never hold anyone's hand the way you hold hers. I'm just not someone who does those things."
"Look, I'm sorry for losing my temper like that" I sighed after his venting. "It's none of my business. I just don't want any extra drama on friendships."
"I won't cause you any extra drama" Elliot promised and went out without another word.
I was glad we spoke it through with Elliot. Even though he fucked up from time to time and behaved like an idiot, he was my brother. The only reason I was so angry was that he did it with some of Aria's friends who had no idea how to play his game. But his little speech showed me once again that he's not a bad person.
The door bell rang and I rose to answer the door. When I opened it, I saw Ella behind it.
"My dad's not home, but you're probably familiar with his office too so feel free to search there" I said coldly.
"I came to see you" She said calmly and stepped into the house.
"And what do you want?" I said as I closed the door reluctantly.
"I want you to promise not to tell Aria or anyone else about me and Stephen" She replied. "Like your dad said, it's over."
"People have the right to know what you've done" I countered.
"I got you into trouble once, and if I have I can do it again. So do we have a deal?" She replied coldly.
Could she really do so sordid that she'd blackmail me with this? That was low even for her.
I thought for a minute until I found myself nodding. I don't even know why I did. But then, I remember all too well what she did the last time and I didn't want to risk her doing it again. Ella left with a smug expression on her face and slammed the door shut behind her. I hated that women and what she'd done with my father.
I was mentally tired and needed something to distract me. And only one person could do it. I took out my phone and texted Aria to ask where she was. After a couple of minutes I got a response off her telling she was at a party someone in our school had organized. I grabbed my keys and went to her.
It had been an hour since I arrived at the party and I was finishing my third beer. We sat in a circle on the floor and watched as the others played truth or dare. I pulled Aria onto my lap and pressed her against me.
"Let's go upstairs" I said quietly to her.
She looked at me confused but took my hand anyway and I lead us upstairs. I went to the first empty room I could find and locked the door behind us. I pressed Aria against the door and kissed her. It felt like it had been longer than it really had since the last time we did this.
"Something wrong?" She mumbled.
"I need you" I breathed and started to undress her.
Aria quickly did the same for me and our hands wandered on the naked skin before each other.
She was my only way to escape. Only she could make forget everything. I need her more than anything ever.
She is mine and I love her.
It's been too long since the last update, but that's I made this one longer. I hope it's some consolation :)