CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

After her talk with Mike, Aria had crawled back into bed and fallen asleep again. It had been a long time since she was able to close her eyes without the fear of waking up to Byron looming over her bed, so sleep came easily to her. Ella had stuck her head in briefly that night to see if Aria wanted some dinner, but Aria only groaned in response to her mother and rolled back over to sleep.

For the first time in a long time, Aria did not have any nightmares, nor did she wake in a panic to find herself covered in sweat. It was as if her brain had shut down completely, finally able to rest and recover. The next time she awoke, the sun was high in the sky and shinning through her window, warming the spot at the bottom of the bed where the light landed. Her blankets wrapped tightly around her small body, creating a cocoon. She thought about going back to sleep, after all, what did she need to do today anyway?

Her floorboards creaked and Aria was vaguely aware of someone walking into her room.

"Do you think she is dead?" A familiar voice whispered.

"Of course not Hanna." Someone chided, struggling to keep their voice to a whisper.

"Her mother said she has been asleep since yesterday afternoon."

"Do you think we should wake her?"

Recognizing the voices, Aria opened her eyes and rolled over.

"Oh thank God!" Spencer's breathed, and she rushed forward and threw her arms around Aria, making sure she was careful not to cause her pain. "I have been so worried." Spencer's voice broke with emotion and Aria swallowed the lump in her throat and she returned the embrace.

"We were all worried." Emily confirmed as she grabbed Hanna's hand and sat themselves down on the bed with the others. Everyone took turns in hugging Aria and then settled into the bed together; knees to chest or legs crossed.

"I wanted to tell you I really did. I just knew you all had your own problems."

"You know we would do anything for you Aria." Spencer assured. "I just feel so awful for not realizing you were in trouble."

"I'm sorry." Aria said. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone." There was another round of hugging and halfway through Aria found herself crying. Her head fell into the crook of Spencer's neck and she sobbed while Emily rubbed her back. Once she had quieted down, Aria pulled herself away from Spencer.

"So where's Ezra?" Hanna asked. "I thought he would be waiting on you hand and foot." It was obvious that Hanna was only trying to lighten the mood; But Aria felt the familiar sinking feeling wash over her.

"I haven't seen him since that night."

The girls exchanged a look.

"Maybe he is just busy with the police?" Emily offered helpfully.

Aria shook her head. "Mum said he has given his statement already. Mum got a call from a Prosecutor informing her that a trail date has been set now that Ezra and myself have both given our statements."

"And he hasn't called?"

Aria shook her head. "He isn't answering either."

Hanna reached forward and grabbed Arias hand. "Do you want me to go over and kick his ass? I'll bring Caleb with me?"

"And Toby can help too!" Spencer added happily. Aria laughed at her friend's protectiveness but shook her head again. "It's not like we were dating or anything."

"You were sleeping together." Emily objected. "That's not something you do with someone you don't care about."

Aria shrugged and pulled Pigtunia into her lap. "I don't blame him for running. I'm a mess."

Spencer stood suddenly then, pulling Aria to her feet as well, causing Pigtunia to fall to the floor.

"What are you doing?" Aria asked in alarm.

"We are going to Ezra's apartment to find out what is going on." Spencer explained as she opened Arias closet.

"Please no." Aria groaned. "If he wanted to see me he would have called."

"I refuse to believe it." Hanna said as she joined Spencer to pick out an outfit.

"I'll get the car." Emily offered happily as Hanna threw a dress at Aria and then started to inspect the shoes. "We will meet you down stairs."

Ten minutes later, Aria was wearing her favourite navy blue dress covered in sequins skulls. Hanna had done Arias hair for her and she was now sitting in the passenger seat as Emily drove to Ezra's.

She wasn't sure what she was going to say to him when she saw him. She wanted to be angry with him for his absence, but she couldn't blame him for not wanting to be with her. He was dealing with Maggie and the fact that Malcolm wasn't his. He didn't need Aria's issues to add to his burdens.

"Maybe this isn't a good idea." Aria said, anxiety starting to swirl in her stomach.

"Too late." Emily replied, nodding her head in the direction ahead. They had turned into Ezra's street and Aria could see the red brick of his apartment building. The car slowed and Emily pulled into a spot behind a moving truck.

"Good luck." Spencer said as she squeezed Arias shoulder. "We will wait outside for you."

Aria smiled at them a got out of the car, closing the door behind her. The sun beamed down on her, warming skin and filling her with comforting feeling. She willed her feet to move, but a box sitting on the ground in the front of the moving truck caught her eye. The flaps lay open and the contents of the boxed peaked over the edge. It was a pile of books, and sitting on the top was Ezra's University degree. Aria felt the breath leave her lungs and her heart skip a beat. She stepped forward to look into the back of the truck and recognized more of his things. Her head began to spin and she had to steady herself on the parking meter.

"Are you okay?" Hanna called from the car. Aria nodded and waved; unable to look at her friends in fear she would burst into tears.

Ezra was moving. She had been right, he didn't want to be with her. The shock hit her like a train. But then her heartache turned to anger. She took a breath and stormed into his building and up to stairs to his door.

He stood at the kitchen counter, packing a colander into a box. His apartment was bare except for some boxes scattered over the floor. She felt herself gasp at the emptiness and Ezra's head snapped up.

"Aria? What are you doing here?" He rounded the bench and reached his arms out to her, but she pulled away.

"Were you even going to say goodbye or did you just want to make a clean break?" She didn't hide the malice in her voice. His mouth opened to reply but she cut him off.

"Was it before or after you pulled my father off me that you realized you had made a mistake?"

"What are you talking ab-"

"You should have let him choke me." She hadn't meant to say it and she saw anger flash in his eyes and regretted her words immediately.

"Walking in and seeing him sitting on top of you with his hands around your throat was the scariest moment of my life, Aria. When I finally managed to get Byron of you, you weren't breathing and I thought I had lost you for good." His voice caught and he turned away from Aria, wiping his eyes on his sleeves. She stood in silence, trying to comprehend his words.

"I had to breathe for you Aria! I pumped on your chest so hard I thought I was going the break a rib! The EMT's had to pull me off of you. Do you think I would have done that if I didn't care about you?"

"So now you can leave on a clean conscious?" She hissed.

He took a step back, as if she had slapped him, his eyes filling with sorrow "You think so little of me? You think I would really leave under these circumstances?"

"What am I supposed to think? I haven't heard from you in days! You haven't called and you wouldn't answer my calls. And then I finally build up the courage to come her and find that you're moving!" She yelled.

"I was moving into a new apartment!" He yelled back. "It was supposed to be a surprise. I was going to set the place up before I brought you over." She closed her mouth, silencing what she was going to say next.

Ezra ran his hands through his hair and took a step towards Aria. "I got a new apartment on Collins Avenue." He paused, waiting for her to connect the dots, but when she said nothing he continued. "You know the Parisian style building across from your favourite bookstore. You always used to say that you would love to live there one day. God knows you said it every time we went to that bookstore." He gave a small laugh at the memories.

Aria blinked, confused by his confession. Ezra sighed and closed the distance between them. "I got the apartment for us, Aria. I thought, if there were days that you couldn't handle being in that house, filled with all those memories, then you could come to my new place, our place, and spent time with me. Maybe one day you could even move in."

Aria faltered then and pulled away from Ezra. "I spent the last couple of days convincing myself that you didn't want me anymore, that I was too fucked up to be with." Ezra flinched, obviously surprised by the profanity. "And then I get here and I find out that it's the complete opposite and now all I can think is, are you insane?"

His Adams apple bobbed up and down and his jaw tightened. "Aria-"

"Do you really want to waste your time on me?" She cut across him.

"Yes." He breathed. "Because when I think about my future, there is never a time when you are not in it. It has always been you."

Aria could feel the pressure build behind her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to slow her racing heart.

"Please say something." He begged.

It was overwhelming. After everything he had seen and he still wanted to be with her. This is exactly what she wanted, but she couldn't help feeling guilty.

Ezra took a step towards her, his arms reaching out, beckoning for her to come to her, to be with him and spend their days together, no matter the length of time or hurdles they faced.

Aria crumpled to the floor, her head falling into her hands as her body rocked with sobs. Suddenly she felt herself engulfed with warmth as Ezra's arms easily wrapped around her small frame. His face nuzzled into her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

"I don't care if you think your broken or damaged or a mess, Aria." He whispered into her ear. "I'll take it all."

The end! Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it so much. I know this story is shorter than you hoped for, but it didn't go in the direction I hoped for and I couldn't take it any further. I do have a couple Ezria stories in the works. One is VERY dark and angsty and other is more light hearted. Let me know which one you would prefer. Again THANK YOU so much for taking the time to read and review.

Snellee