Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all the reviews, not a single one goes unappreciated! bitemeimirish, I don't doubt at all that you thought of this too, I know it's not the most original idea lol. I know if you wrote it, it'd be amazing so I'm going to try to do a half-decent job and try to take it somewhere at least a little original! Enjoy girls xo
"So let me get this straight. You played dirty with an engaged older guy?"
Aria threw her pillow at Hanna. "We did not 'play dirty,' Hanna. And can we stop talking about this? It's in the past."
Picking up her sleeping bag, she made a move toward the washroom. This conversation needed to end.
"It's clearly not over, Aria!" Hanna called after her as she left the room. "It's been a fortnight and you're still a total downer to be around."
Aria raised her eyebrows and poked her head in the room. "Fortnight?"
"Yeah, fortnight. It means two weeks." Hanna told her, rolling her eyes.
"It's also means 'never used in casual conversation', Hanna."
"Well, I'm here to change that." Hanna got up and began making her bed. "Stop trying to change the subject, Aria. At least tell me about him."
"Hannah, I barely know him. There's nothing to tell. And I'm going to be late for the meeting if you don't let me pee now."
"Sigh. You're free to go. But I'll get you to spill sooner or later, Montgomz."
Aria laughed and shook her head before using Hanna's bathroom to change out of her pajamas and into a white shirt, dark jeans, and knee-high brown boots. Today she was attending a Rosewood High staff meeting at the Brandon Communications building. While she wasn't technically staff, Mrs. Welsh, the librarian, couldn't make it and because Aria was her student assistant, she was next in line.
By eight thirty, she'd grabbed coffee and made her way into the building where the school rented out a room once a month to hold staff meetings. This was the first meeting of the year, and the first time she would see any of the teachers before school started. It felt really weird.
As Aria hit the 43rd button in the elevator, she heard two male voices walking towards the elevator. She recognized one of them as Mr. Harvey, the quirky principal whom she loved, and decided to hold the elevator.
"I'm sure you'll fit right in at Rosewood," He was saying to the man walking beside him. "-oh Aria, how kind of you to hold the elevator for us."
Aria's smile froze on her face as she took in Mr. Harvey's companion. His curls, his deep blue eyes…that smile. A million thoughts raced through her mind as the two men entered the spacious elevator. The man walked in and stood right next to Aria. Right next to her even though there was enough room to fit a football team. Her heartbeat accelerated.
Mr. Harvey stood in front of them and pushed the close button before turning around.
"Aria, I'd like you to meet a new member of our staff this year. He's a promising addition and we couldn't happier to have him. This is Mr. Fitz. You can call him Ezra, but just for today." He winked at Aria. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to focus on these elevator doors. I hate cramped spaces and I need to get out of here as soon as these doors open."
Normally, Aria would have laughed. But she could hardly concentrate on anything else with him within such close proximity.
Making sure Mr. Harvey wasn't looking, she turned her head towards Ezra. Move. She mouthed.
Closer? He mouthed back, inching nearer to her body.
Unbelievable. Here they were, two weeks without any contact, and he was teasing her.
Fine. Aria thought. Two can play at this game.
Without a word, she raised her hand and tickled his side. Against his will, Ezra let out a giggle, before turning it into a fake cough.
Mr. Harvey looked back with concern. "You okay back there, Ezra?"
Spots of red dotted Ezra's cheeks. "Just a cough." He managed lamely. "Must be something in this elevator."
Aria grinned at his miserly expression-but it didn't last for long. Before she knew what he was doing, Ezra had stuck his hand out and brushed it against Mr. Harvey's derrier before quickly retreating.
The principal turned back once more, this time facing a horrified Aria, who'd stood right behind him and who naturally, he assumed had just touched his arse.
"I am so, so sorry," She began.
"No, no. No need to apologize." Mr. Harvey said with a pink face. "These things happen." Clearing his throat, he took a step forward, leaving more space between him and Aria.
Out of the corner of her eye, Aria could see Ezra shaking with silent laughter. Furious, she stomped on his foot just as the elevator doors opened and Mr. Harvey had dashed out as if his life depended on it. Aria followed close behind, leaving Ezra groaning in pain.
It seemed everyone else had already arrived, and with refreshments set out, they all sat down for the meeting. Aria placed herself beside her favourite teacher from junior year, making small talk while watching Ezra out of the corner of her eye to see where he sat down. Surprisingly enough, he did not try to follow her or sit beside her. Clearly the injury was still fresh in his mind.
The first half hour was incredibly boring, and Aria kept herself occupied drawing Ezra hanging from a tree whilst occasionally glancing at him to make her drawing more accurate. And quite possibly because he looked really, really good in that grey sweater-vest atop a crisp white dress shirt. Each time their eyes met, he would make the slitting neck motion or the "I'm watching you," gesture. At one point, they had a staring contest until the teacher beside Ezra asked if he was feeling alright.
Aria's mind wandered off until she heard the name "Langley Wilden." She'd read the story in the papers a few weeks ago. A jackass who'd attempted to sexually harass and kidnap female students at two schools in Kingsburg on three separate occasions. He hadn't managed to kidnap any but got away each time.
"It seems he's still out on the loose and the state school board is being hounded by worried parents wondering why we aren't doing anything." Principal Harvey was saying.
"But, I mean, that's happening all the way in Kingsburg. I highly doubt he'll come here." Mr. Roberts scoffed.
Several teachers nodded in agreement.
"That may be so, but we've even got anxious parents at Rosewood demanding that we do something." He told them, shaking his head in defeat. "So we've got to come up with something to put their minds at ease."
"Well, I hear in Bulgaria, or some place such as, they put chips on their kids so they know where they are at all times before, during, and after school. Seems like a foolproof plan to me."
What? Aria wanted to laugh. Was Ms. Tynan serious right now? Looking over at Ezra, she noticed that he had the same Is this woman forreal? look on his face. Unwillingly, she smiled.
"I'm sorry, but may I suggest an idea?" Everyone directed their attention to the new, young teacher.
"Please, by all means, go right ahead, Ezra." Mr. Harvey motioned with his hand.
"I mean, if you look at each of the cases that have already transpired, all of those girls were from innercity neighbourhoods and knew enough about the streets to be able to defend themselves. This is hardly the case in sunny Rosewood, I imagine. So maybe what we need are self defence classes."
Mr. Harvey nodded thoughtfully. Mr. Roberts, however, was not impressed.
"Seriously?" He asked. "Our girls are state champs in volleyball and softball. They are completely capable of defending themselves."
"Those teams make up a fraction of the female population, Mr. Roberts." Ezra argued.
The gym teacher shrugged his shoulders. "I still think it's a complete waste of time, money, and energy."
Ezra thought for second and suddenly got up.
"Aria, get up for a second."
Frowning, Aria got up reluctantly and walked over to Ezra, who stood at the front of the room. What is he doing? She thought.
"I will demonstrate just how necessary a self defence program is," Ezra spoke out to the room.
Before she knew what was going on, Ezra had her arms pinned behind her back. Aria felt her heart nearly beating out of her chest as her breathing labored. His face was inches away from hers, and his arms were tightly wrapped around hers. Giving her arms a tug, he pulled her even closer his body until they were touching. Ezra bound her arms together with one hand, and with the other, he forced her to look at him.
"Try to escape." He told her, staring into her eyes. She hoped he couldn't read the lust.
Aria struggled to let go as Ezra pulled her even closer.
"How would you escape, Aria?" He asked again, his voice an octave lower.
Was no one else seeing this? How could this not look as inappropriate and sexual and incredible to anyone else as it felt to Aria?
"Ow." She cried in mock agony. Ezra let go immediately with a worried expression on his face.
"Are you okay, Aria?" He asked anxiously, "Where does it hurt?"
Aria face crumpled into a smile. "I'm fine." She replied, winking.
The room laughed. "A real kidnapper wouldn't be so kind as to let you escape so easily, Aria." Mr. Harvey roared.
Ezra shook his head at Aria. "As you can all see, she couldn't answer my question. She didn't know how to escape. I rest my case." He clapped his hands together in finality.
"As it so happens, Mr. Fitz. I do have an answer for you." She told him. Addressing the room, she said "I would've bit him…"
Leaning into Ezra, she finished in a barely audible whisper, "on the neck."
The staff laughed once again, while Ezra colored at the words they hadn't heard.
"You're a little fox, aren't you?" He murmured back. Facing the group, he resumed to his professional self.
"I think I've proven my point. Girls like Aria, they need to be tamed and then trained until they satisfy us with performance."
Aria felt his sensual eyes on her, and she trembled slightly with desire. Was no one else catching on to these sexual undertones?
Clearing his throat, Ezra continued. "So that obviously, they can protect themselves in any case of assault. What do you all think?"
"I think it's perfect." Mr. Harvey declared. "Well done, Ezra! Don't you all think it's perfect?"
"It's perfect." Ms. Lively agreed.
"Alright, let's take a vote and then we're done for the day. All in favour, say 'aye.'"
"Aye." Aria affirmed with most everyone else.
"Alright then, that's a done deal." Mr. Harvey announced. "We'll discuss logistics later. Right now, I'm starved for some lunch, who's with me?"
Everyone got up and moved into smaller groups, conversing casually while some made for the refreshments table.
Aria felt a hand on her elbow and turned to face a smirking Ezra.
"Can I interest you in some actual lunch? I'm talking authentic Italian cuisine. They've got a great restaurant just around the corner."
"You want to take me out to lunch?" Aria asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "That would be very unfitting, don't you think?"
"Not as unfitting as biting my ear." He told her with a straight face. "But I mean, if you don't want to come, I can always invite Ms. Lively. She loves my company."
Aria glanced at Ms. Lively. Tall, blonde, pretty.
"I'll go." She replied, much quicker than she'd intended to. Great. Now I look like a desperate, jealous oaf.
Ezra grinned at her and placed his hands on her shoulders in an innocent manner, guiding her towards the door.
"Ah, Mr. Fitz. The man of the hour." Mr. Harvey stopped him halfway, smiling with coffee in hand. Clearly he had a warped sense of what lunch meant. "Where are you headed to?"
"Just treating Aria to some lunch, sir. Figured it was the least I could do, after what I put her through just now." Ezra told him easily.
"Good idea, Ezra. I'm sure you'll be her in her good graces by then, am I right Aria?" He smiled.
"Oh, I'll definitely be in her good graces." Ezra answered for her. How did he make everything sound so naughty?
Once they were out of earshot, Aria slapped Ezra on the arm.
"Ow, what was that for?" He exclaimed.
"You are definitely not getting in my 'good graces', Mr. Fitz, you dirty, dirty man."
Ezra looked at her in mock awe. "I completely meant that innocently. You've just got a gutter for a mind, is all."
"Oh please." Aria retorted, heading into the elevator. Ezra followed and the door closed. It was just the two of them this time.
After a brief silence, Ezra spoke up.
"So I, uh, broke up with Jackie." He glanced at Aria.
Her face remained impassive. "Really," she said, "What made you break up with her?"
Ezra shrugged. "A number of things." He inched closer to Aria.
"Her hair," He said, running a hand through Aria's hair. "Her cheeks." And finally, he reached her lips. His fingers were slightly coarse and felt rough against her smooth lips. Within a second, Ezra had his mouth on hers. It was a short kiss, but when they departed, their heads stayed touching and their breaths lingered on each other's.
When the elevator doors opened, the two broke apart. Aria smiled from ear-to-ear as they walked out of the building and towards the restaurant.
"So is this a date, Mr. Fitz?" Aria asked him boldly.
"It's whatever you want to be, Miss Librarian's Assistant." Ezra winked.
"Wait, how did you know…?" Aria questioned.
"It says so on your name tag, silly." Ezra smiled. "I was wondering why they'd have someone so young on staff. I assume you go Hollis, then?"
"Hollis?" Aria asked.
"Yeah, I mean, is that where you're going to get your librarian's degree? Rosewood's a great school to intern at."
Aria felt her heart sink. This whole time, Ezra had thought she was in college. He hadn't used her in his self-defence demonstration thinking she was a student at Rosewood, but as a college student who was close enough in age to high school students . That's why he'd said "Girls like Aria."
If Ezra found out that she was still in high school, this would all probably end as abruptly as it had began. Aria found herself deeply conflicted. Do I lie or do I give him up?
Want to find out what happens next? Review please!