Ch. 29
Aria's POV
The rest of the school day went by uneventfully, but I couldn't get what "A" 's message said out of my head. Would she/he/they really do that to me? I was leaning towards yes based on everything that had happened to us, but I was still trying to hold out hope. I had told Ezra that I would come over later, but it would be hard to pretend that nothing is wrong.
"Hey," he said as I let myself in with the key he had gifted to me recently, "I actually need to tell you something, Aria."
"Oh," I said trying to hide the fear in my voice, "What?"
"I got a text the other day about me and you, it was signed 'A'."
I nodded slowly, "There are some things I haven't told you."
Ezra looked at me with anxiousness written all over his face, "What haven't you told me, Aria?"
It took me the rest of the evening to explain everything about "A" that I could think of to Ezra. He stayed quiet until the end where he just said, "That is so crazy. Aria, I can't believe you have been dealing with this all by yourself. I know you have the girls, but that's so much to take on by yourselves. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I don't know, Ezra, because whenever we think we're close to finding out anything or getting help we just make it worse for ourselves! When Hanna was hit by that car, it was because 'A' thought Hanna knew who it/she/he/they is/were. 'A' is dangerous!"
Ezra nodded, "I realize that, Aria, but I want you to be honest with me from now on. Who knows, maybe I can find out a way to help you."
I shook my head, "I don't want to talk about 'A' anymore."
"Aria, you have to address this problem."
"Not right now. I don't," I snapped back.
Ezra sighed.
"Maybe I should just go then," I said harshly, "If 'A' is all we can talk about all night."
"Aria, don't be that way."
"Don't be what way? Annoyed and sick and tired of talking about and dealing with 'A'. Pardon me, Ezra, but I've been putting up with this for far longer than you have. I have talked about it for hours with Emily, Spencer, Hanna, and Caleb."
"Hold up. Caleb knows?"
"Of course Caleb knows! He's, like, a professional hacker!"
Ezra shook his head, "Whatever. I'm glad I'm the last to know."
"I cannot deal with you if you're going to be like that."
"Fine. Let's just move on then. Ok?" Ezra said as he turned away from me and went to sit on the couch.
I rolled my eyes as I sat next to him. He pulled me closer to him and pushed up my shirt,
"Excuse you?"
Ezra glared at me, "I'm annoyed with you, Aria, not the baby."
I sighed, "Yeah, okay, fine."
Ezra rubbed my stomach and talked to the baby as we watched a re-run black and white movie.
When it got to be ten thirty I stood up, "I better go now. Byron has been awful about my curfew lately. If I'm back a minute late he flips out."
"Oh, ok," Ezra said as I walked to the door.
"Aria," he called out just as I was about to close the door behind me, "Please don't leave quite yet."
He walked over to me and embraced me tightly.
"I don't like fighting with you," I murmured into his t-shirt.
"Me neither and I didn't want to go to sleep angry. I love you, Aria," He said with a kiss.
"I love you, Ezra," I said as I kissed him back.
