A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews! I really hope this story takes off. And here, you met Blair :)
Also, my version of Diane and Wesley Fitz are most likely different from those of the shows, so just putting that out there.
Enjoy :)
"Ezra… are you okay?" Aria Montgomery wrapped her arm around her boyfriend, Ezra Fitz's torso, pulling him closer to her. His eyes were focused on something in the distance – maybe a person, or a cluster of people. They had stopped in the middle of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Aria had always loved traveling and something in her gut flipped and turned at the possibility of touring the city, her future home, but she knew that wasn't what they were there for. Ezra's father's services. He'd been awkward around Aria ever since he received the letter…
Or maybe just awkward in general.
"I'm fine, Aria. Really." Ezra murmured, snapping out of his trance. His underage girlfriend began to lead him towards the baggage carousel as he followed meekly behind. It hadn't even dawned on him yet that New York was like Philadelphia; no one knew he had been her teacher and no one knew she had been his student. His mind reeled at the thought… but then he stumbled upon the idea of telling his family.
"What are we going to tell them?" He asked tentatively as Aria grabbed her read duffle bag from off the baggage claim. She turned and glanced back at Ezra, shooting him a confused expression before turning back in search of his bag.
"Tell who what?" She asked, grabbing his own suitcase. It amazed him how she could function so well in stilettos. He eyed the three-inch heel on her boots before his mind reminded him of his current train of thought.
"About us… how we met?" He questioned as she handed him his luggage. The two then began to make their way towards the airport's entrance. He wondered if anyone would be waiting for them… then highly doubted it. He hadn't told anyone he was coming, save for Wesley, Ezra's brother. No one would know they were here.
Aria sighed before glancing up at Ezra and meeting his dark blue gaze.
"I don't know… I don't really want to lie to them." She whispered before they stepped out of the airport and into the busy departure lines of JFK Airport. "Why don't we just say… you worked with my father and that's how we met? It isn't that far from the truth, and if anything comes up about me still being at Rosewood High…" Ezra placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her line of speech.
"I doubt they'll ask… just say you go to Hollis… I'm sure you'll be fine lying."
Aria nearly burst out in laughter, but resulted in stifling her giggles. She was a much better liar then Ezra knew.
It hadn't been hard calling a taxi, at least for Aria when she'd go to Philadelphia. But she knew that New York City was different territory all together. Despite her flailing arms and her impatient attitude, they still didn't get a taxi until twenty minutes later when Ezra decided that maybe whistling might do the trick. And thankfully enough, it did suffice.
The drive from JFK to White Plains, Ezra's hometown, was only around 35 minutes, but with the added affect of commuter traffic, they arrived at Mrs. Fitz's home 45 minutes later than planed. But Aria was quite impressed.
Part of White Plains mirrored the idyllic Rosewood. Houses upon houses lined up in basic rows, proving to be the typical suburbia, but sitting on Main Street was a string of impressive buildings that gave the skyscrapers Aria was used to a run for their money. She noticed large retail areas submersed in the city life and wondered what vacationing there would provide for her in the future. She couldn't wait.
Ezra's mother lived in a very grand and upscale home at the end of a cul-de-sac. Her garden was impressive, especially for Aria, who came from Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where families battled over having the better garden. Trellises lined the garage and rose bush upon rose bush laid a pathway towards the front entrance.
As the couple stepped out in front of Mrs. Fitz's house, the smell of fragrant flowers in bloom tickled their noses and somehow, that small piece of wonder made the mood lighten dramatically. As Ezra pulled their luggage from the back of the taxi, Aria shot him a smile as she rubbed her hands together.
"Everything will be okay." And Ezra couldn't help but to believe her.
Aria walked up towards the front of the house, the back of her white dress flowing in the summer breeze as she reached for the doorbell. The glass door slowly shuffled open and standing before Aria was Diane Fitz, Ezra's mother.
Diane shot Aria a smile before pulling her into her arms. She smelled bitterly of perfume that nearly clogged Aria's nose, wiping out the sweet scent the flowers had provided her only minutes before. Mrs. Fitz pulled Aria back to place two kisses on each of her cheeks before grinning like mad.
"You must be Aria! Ezra told me he would be bringing a guest, but my, my, I didn't anticipate a guest this lovely! Do come in darling…" Diane's eyes soon settled on her oldest son as a grin spread across her cheeks. Ezra sighed as his mother wrapped her tight grip around him, just as she had with Aria, and kissed his head frantically. "Aw my little Ezra! You're so grown up, my dear! Rosewood has been good to you, hasn't it? Aw my baby!" She cried as Aria attempted not to laugh at the sight. Even Ezra couldn't help but to crack a smile – his mother was utterly ridiculous.
"Come in you two! Everyone is waiting." Ezra's face paled at the statement. Everyone? He only thought… his brother would be inside. Who else would he have to face?
As they entered the house, familiar sights spoke out to him; portraits of him and Wes as children lined the walls and Aria even grinned widely at the sight of his high school pictures on the impressive fireplace's mantel. And there, standing in the corner of the living room, was a boy only a few years older than Aria. He looked like Ezra, especially with his same jaw line and mouth. He was handsome, she noted, but not as handsome as his kinsmen. He smiled brightly at the sight of his older brother.
"Ezra!" Wes shouted, approaching the couple before taking his hand in Ezra's and clapping his back in the typical awkward 'bro' hug.
"Wes." Ezra grinned before turning to introduce Aria. "This is my girlfriend, Aria, and this is my brother, Wes." The two hugged before Ezra noticed a figure standing where Wes had been. His heart dropped and flipped in his chest as his eyes settled on her. Damn, she looked good.
Her brown hair was straightly styled down her back and stopped at her waist. She was skinny, but not as small as Aria. She was tall, plus with the added affect of her curvaceous body. Ezra could remember all the guys' reactions in high school; Blair was the girl they chased after. And he had had her.
Her brown eyes were big and warm, nearly taking him right back. She turned and smiled, almost right at him, and made his throat grow hoarse.
It felt like Ezra had been watching her for an eternity, when in reality, it was only a few seconds.
"Ezra, I'm sure you remember Blair. We're dating now." Wes spoke, wrapping his arm around Blair's tiny waist. She held a tumbler full of Scotch in hand and sipped it gingerly.
"Hi Ezzie." Her voice was like music, but it took him a while to process his brother's words.
"You two are dating?" He asked in disbelief. How could that have happened? Blair had been a bit of a wild child, yes, but she was smart, driven, and held a bright future ahead of her. Wes had always been the kid everyone thought would fail. Of course, his wonderful grades at Columbia could prove that stereotype wrong.
"Yes… Blair had come back here for Thanksgiving instead of going to her parents and well… one thing led to another. We actually just met for coffee a few times, but turns out, someone actually likes me." Wes smirked at Ezra who brought a small smile to his lips in return. He knew Blair's family life had been relatively shit for a long time now… but since when was she spending Thanksgiving with the Fitzes?
But the thing that bugged Ezra the most was that she was with him. Ezra loved his brother, of course, but she could do so much better. She had done so much better.
'You broke up with her,' Ezra thought as she turned to Aria and began introducing herself. That was one thing about Blair; she thrived in social situations. 'You broke up with her.'
"I'm Blair Stanton." She wrapped her arms around Aria in a quick embrace. "You are…?"
"Aria Montgomery."
Blair smiled at that.
"What a beautiful name! You did good, ending up with Ezzie over here." Ezra hadn't even realized it, but Blair was standing besides him now. She wrapped an arm around his neck and grinned like a child. "Always the smartest boy in his class. Do you want me to show her the video of you at the spelling bee?"
The whole group laughed before Aria finally spoke up, through the crowd.
"How do you two know each other?"
Ezra's blue eyes met Blair's brown ones as she grinned and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Hmm, Ezra and I go way back… I guess you could say, it started in pre-school…"
Luckily enough, she never mentioned that they dated.
And Ezra wondered why.
