I'm probably the world's worst biology student; I pretty much write everything during that class. Today, I outlined this and Safe Place, as well as another Lucian story I have in the works. Let me just stay, I feel pretty proud with what I've come up with for this story. I'm really hoping it gains more reviews because I feel this could be the next "Reunited".

Disclaimer: As always, own nothing.

Pride and Prejudice had always been Aria's favorite novel with Wuthering Heights close behind in second place. The only reason Austen took precedence over Brontë was due to the light hearted humor and the fact it wasn't a doomed romance. Cathy and Heathcliff barely had enough time with their love while Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy had the entire novel to make quips at one another to only fall into each other's arms.

It gave Aria a sense of hope. It allowed her to imagine falling in love with the unlikeliest person in the most unlikely way. Similar to every other girl, Aria lusted after having a Mr. Darcy of her own. She longed for a tall, dark, and handsome man to sweep her up off her feet and totally steal her heart at a moment where she least expected it. Perhaps she had found him though. But like Elizabeth, Aria was too foolish to realize it.

Her conversation with Hanna had struck a nerve; or at least a thought bubble. Aria hated it. She didn't want to think that Ezra could be her Mr. Darcy because of their friendship. That was something so sacred to Aria. It wasn't worth experimenting with when there was so much at stake. Or was it?

Suppose he was the right man for her; if Aria never acted upon what she felt, and she did feel something, she'd never attain the love she dreamt about.

But, if she acted upon her attraction and things didn't work out, Aria would be losing the only guy she really trusted. Her father had severed that cord when he cheated and broke apart her family. Past boyfriends had come and gone easily. Ezra had always stayed constant. The thought alone of losing him was too much to bear. Yet, Hanna had seemed so sure Ezra felt something.

Aria was weighing the option of believing her. Maybe she'd seen something; her friend was always the more observant one. It was how Hanna could tell the difference between a knock off pair of Prada pumps and knock offs, and then begin to screech in horror and demand to return them to the sample sale she had picked them up at.

Pages upon pages were turned until Aria was half way through her well-loved edition of the classic novel. Although early in the night, her eyelids were growing heavy from pouring over the worn and faded text. She'd definitely have to pick up a new copy later that week from the shop.

It was incredibly quiet that evening in the apartment, meaning that it was date night. Spencer and Wren had left an hour earlier to go to dinner and a showing of the movie Spencer had been nagging them all to see, but no one else had any desire to watch. Finally, she seemed to have worn Wren down. Hanna was down the hall, most likely fastening earrings into her double pierced ears to go to a club with Caleb.

Soon enough, the call of "Bye, Ar! Love you," signified Hanna's exit and Aria was left totally and completely alone. While wishing she had her own date to attend at times, she never minded being the only one in the apartment. It gave her liberties to do things she never usually did. One was singing in the shower. The other was turning up the stereo and dancing around crazily; simple things like that which would earn the critical eyes of her friends.

Aria put down her book and rested it on the nightstand before changing into a pair of lacey pajama shorts and a loose fitting tank top. Chinese leftovers were in the fridge; tonight would be an Audrey Hepburn movie marathon, lo mein straight from the carton, and an egg roll, all of these fixings for the perfect night in.

She turned on the radio as she heated up her food, humming along to the small buzzing of music. Aria had often been told she had a lovely voice, but she usually thought nothing of it; music wasn't her passion like writing was. Music provided somewhat of an escape, but never big enough, whilst writing let Aria delve into another world.

The ding of the microwave let Aria know her food was ready. Netflix was set up on the Xbox and the instant queue was filled with old movies, all the Audrey films in a row. Aria settled down on the couch and threw an old, but warm wool blanket across her knees. It had been somewhat of a chilly day outside, despite the spring's usual climate. Global warming, Aria thought, rolling her eyes.

Breakfast at Tiffany's credits began to roll as Aria dug into the carton of lo mein. It had always been her favorite movie; one that she could watch over and over and never be bored of. The love story between Holly and Paul was an absolute novelty. It was pretty safe to say that she herself was a romantic; hopelessly entranced by the idea of love.

Aria had made it to the party scene when a knock sounded at the door. She groaned, but still got up to answer. Most likely, it was a neighbor who had forgotten their key and needed her to buzz them up. But the person standing across from Aria in the doorway was an absolute shock.

"Ezra," she spluttered, not sure of what to do. Inviting him in would've been the proper action, but Aria couldn't seem to bring herself to do that. She was surprised he was even here. Although the fight was meager, Ezra had seemed furious.

"Are you going to let me in," he asked, his tone light. Ezra had spent the entire day feeling guilty about launching at Aria the way he did. It wasn't her fault she didn't have a clue he became jealous at the thought of her meeting another man and falling for him; she wasn't aware of how he felt because Ezra had yet to make his feelings known.

After careful consideration, Ezra decided he was going to take that plunge. He wasn't able to skirt around what was plaguing him and had been for years for much longer. While knowing it put his entire relationship with Aria at a monopoly, Ezra wanted to tell her that he was in love with her. There could be the odd chance she felt the same, or at least had more than platonic feelings for him that they together could work upon.

"Yeah," Aria said, stepping aside to give him entrance. "Sorry. You scared me, that's all."

Ezra took in the apartment while Aria shut the door and dead bolted it. Spencer and Hanna wouldn't need to get back in; like most date night's they wouldn't be coming home until late the next morning. He saw the particular scene playing on the screen and smiled; Breakfast at Tiffany's was Aria's favorite and always had been. From memory, it was what they watched during the first ever movie night.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's? Very original."

"Ha, you're funny." Aria bit her lip nervously, scared of what he'd want to talk about. "So, what's up?" She plopped back down on the sofa and pulled the blanket over her knees, hugging them close to her chest.

"I wanted to apologize for today. It wasn't right of me to completely jump down your throat like that. I don't need to know where you're going and be there with you at all times."

"It's alright, Ezra. I understand you being concerned, but you have to understand I'm not some defenseless little girl. I can take of myself; I have been for a while."

"I never said you weren't," Ezra spoke carefully, trying to avoid another argument. That would put his entire reasoning for coming over at a complete and total point of waste. "I'm just so used to being there for you. And…there's something else too."

Aria's heart began to race. From the soft changing of Ezra's tone, she knew Hanna was right. He did feel something more for her. And she was pretty sure he wasn't going to let it all come spilling out right then and there.

"What is it?"

"Aria, I…for the past couple of years, we've grown exponentially close. And sometimes, that closeness can influence other types of feelings that can occur between a man and a woman and…"

"Ezra, please stop rambling," Aria almost pleaded. She wanted him to get straight to the point by now; her anxiety was driving her insane.

"Right," Ezra said, coughing to clear his voice. His heart rammed against his rib cage, but there wasn't any turning back now. "What I'm trying to say is that I love you, Aria Christine Montgomery. And it's not the type of sisterly love that you'd probably expect. You're all I think about at night when I go to bed, wishing you were there next to me so I could hold you. When I see Wren and Spencer and Hanna and Caleb going on dates, like tonight for example, I pray that one day, you and I can be doing the same thing. I'm so in love with you that it basically hurt me today to think you could go out to some club tonight and find another man to fall in love with."

Aria stood in absolute shock. Her mind was telling her one thing, and that was to tell Ezra to leave while she thought about things. Her heart and body was telling her to go right up and kiss him. Hadn't this been what she was waiting for? Aria had spent basically all day dwelling on her attraction to Ezra. It would be stupid to let him stand there, proclaiming his love while she could possibly feel something of her own.

"Please say something," he begged.

"Ezra, I..." Aria walked forward and threw her arms around his neck, latching her lips onto his. Fireworks, the type you heard about in movies and read about in those cheesy teenage books, exploded in Aria's head as well as Ezra's. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, grappling at the soft fabric of her tank top. The pair broke away from one another, lust evident in their eyes before diving back into another kiss, this time more eager and hungry than anything.

Aria's fingers went to loosen the tie that was still around his neck; he must have come from work. Throwing it to the ground, she began to work on the buttons of his shirt. Ezra easily slid off her shorts before picking Aria up under her thighs. Her legs wound tightly around his torso, fingers still undoing his shirt until it fell to the floor beside his tie.

Luckily for them, the door to her bedroom was wide open. The straps of Aria's tank top were slipping all on their own as her shoulders heaved upwards to hold her arms about Ezra's neck. He carried them in, walking over to the bed and carefully lying Aria down.

The pair looked at each other. Neither were intoxicated in the least bit, but the want that had been building over the past years finally burst. It was true how men and women couldn't remain friends; at least when there was a major connection between the two.

Ezra's fingertips glided the straps of her tank top down and soon the silky fabric was on the floor. Aria, now clad in only her underwear, reached for the buttons on his pants, beginning to undo them until Ezra's voice stopped her.

"Aria, are you sure?" He sounded tender, not forcing.

"I'm sure," she whispered back, connecting their lips again and pulling his weight back down on top of her.

The next morning, Aria awoke with her limbs entangled with someone else's. Strong arms kept a sturdy hold around her waist and she curled into the mold of Ezra's chest lightly. Last night had been simply perfect, in more ways than one. Her whole body yearned to be stretched from their strenuous activity; after all, they woke up several times during the night to make love again. But the warmth radiating from them both was enough to pull her into the mattress.

Ezra's nose buried into Aria's hair and he inhaled deep. The previous night had been more than he ever could've asked for. Showing his love to her was something Ezra had been wanting for a long time. Now that he had, he didn't regret it the least bit.

While Aria lay lazily in his embrace, a realization hit her. She had slept with Ezra. Well, of course they'd slept together; there wasn't any other explanation for their naked bodies. Kissing him hadn't been over her boundaries as she could easily form an excuse. Sex was something totally different. Aria couldn't take that back.

"You need to go," she said hurriedly while getting out of bed. Aria wrapped the white sheet around her bare body while tossing clothes at Ezra. Glancing at the clock, it was almost noon. There was a possibility Hanna and Spencer could come home at any given time. "You really need to go. Now."

"Aria, what's going on? Why are you pushing me out?"

"You just have to leave."

"Don't shut me out, Aria," Ezra said hurt. He thought last night had changed things between them. Could she be regretting what they day? Ezra wouldn't take back making love to her in a second.

"I'm not shutting you out," she protested. "You really need to go before the girls get home." Ezra quickly put on his clothes, not wanting to irritate Aria further. When they made it to her door, he turned to her.

"Can I call you later?"

"I don't know." Aria bit her lip.

"What do you mean you don't know? Can I call you or not? What the hell is going on, Ar?"

"Ezra, please? Not now. I'll talk to you soon, okay?" Aria barely gave him time to respond before shoving Ezra out the door. Once she locked it, Aria sank down to the floor. What had she gotten herself into?