"Ezra?" I asked after I hung up the phone.
"Yes?"
"I have to go," I told him regretfully, knowing this might be the last time I see him.
"Can't you stay a little longer?" Ezra asked. He kissed me.
"Is there any way I can persuade you?" He kissed me harder. I tangled my hands in his hair.
"I guess I could stay just a little longer," I mumbled against his lips.
"I love you," I told him.
"I love you, too. I'm so sorry. I don't want to leave you." He said.
"I don't want you to leave," I replied. "But I understand." I started pushing the covers off of us.
"You're perfect," Ezra told me. I reached up, and pushed my lips on his.
I decided to stop at The Brew on the way home, and "run into Spencer," and tell my mom that's why I was an hour and thirty minutes late.
I stopped at Hanna's house, too. That was important. I rang the doorbell, and Hanna's mom answered. "Aria! Hanna is up in her room. Would you like something to eat?"
"No, thank you. I'm just looking for Han."
"Of course!" Ms. Marin said. "Go on up."
I headed up the stairs, and knocked on Hanna's door. "It's Aria."
"Come in," she said, turning off her phone. Hanna hugged me for a second, then wrinkled her nose. "You need a shower; you smell like sweat, honestly."
"Han!"
"What? You and Fitz get down and dirty?"
"No!" I lied through my teeth.
"Then what were you doing?"
"We just went for a jog!"
"Oh. Well do you want to take a shower?"
"Yes, please." I hopped in Hanna's shower, thinking of last night and this morning. Ezra made me forget all my problems. I loved him so much, and my parents just couldn't accept that. I showered quickly, hastily telling Hanna thank you and ask if she could cover for me from last night. Of course she said she was.
I called Spencer on the ride home. She said also that she'd say I ran into her on my way home. I took a deep breath, then headed inside.
My mom was standing in the kitchen, her arms crossed.
"Young lady, where have you been?" Ella asked me.
"Spencer had an- emergency, so we all slept over at Hanna's."
"Well, then, I'm sure Ashley won't mind me calling to check." She said.
"Go right ahead." I told her.
Ella picked up the phone and dialed Hanna's house. I heard Hanna's voice on the other end of the line.
"Hello? Aria?" Hanna said.
"No, it's Ella. I was just wondering what happened last night." My mom said.
"Oh. Well, Spencer had a crisis, so Aria, Emily and Spencer just slept at my house. Is that alright?"
"Yes," my mom replied. "May I speak with your mother?" Shit. Shit, shit, shit. This was not supposed to happen.
"Sure." Hanna said.
"Hello?" Ms. Marin answered.
"Ashley? Aria is grounded- and I just wanted to make sure she was actually at your house last night."
Great. Now I'm going to get in trouble for seeing Ezra and lying.
"Yes." I heard Ms. Marin's voice say. "She was here- along with Spencer and Emily." My head snapped up.
"Okay, thank you." And I was safe.
My mom looked at me. "Have you seen Ezra Fitz lately?"
I couldn't take it. I burst out crying, and ran to my room.
I just lay there, crying and thinking about all that I've done with him.
I took out a pen and paper, and my guitar, and started to strum on it.
I always knew this day would come,
we'd be standing one by one,
with the future in our hands;
so many plans.
I always knew after all these years,
there'd be laughter, there'd be tears.
But never thought I'd walk away,
with so much joy but so much pain, and
It's so hard to say goodbye,
But yesterday's gone,
we gotta keep moving on
I'm so thankful for the moments,
so glad I got to know you!
The times that we had,
I'll keep like a photograph.
I'll hold you in my heart forever,
I'll always remember you.
Another chapter in the book,
can't go back but you can look,
and there we are on every page,
memories I'll always save.
Up ahead only open doors,
who knows what we're heading towards.
I wish you love, I wish you luck.
For you the world just opens up.
But it's so hard to say goodbye.
Yesterday's gone,
we gotta keep moving on
I'm so thankful for the moments,
so glad I got to know you!
The times that we had,
I'll keep like a photograph.
I'll hold you in my heart forever,
I'll always remember you.
Every day that we had,
all the good, all the bad;
I'll keep them here inside.
All the times that we shared,
every place, everywhere-
you touched my life.
Yeah one day we'll look back,
we'll smile and we'll laugh,
but right now we just cry,
'Cause it's so hard to say goodbye.
Yesterday's gone,
we gotta keep moving on
I'm so thankful for the moments,
so glad I got to know you!
The times that we had,
I'll keep like a photograph.
I'll hold you in my heart forever,
I'll always remember you.
I'll always remember you.
I looked up, and Ella was standing in my doorway.
"That was beautiful." She said. "What's going on?"
"Ezra is moving. He needs to find a place where he can do what he loves. And thanks to Byron, that place is not Rosewood."
Just then, my phone rang. Ezra. "Excuse me. I need to take this. It's Ezra. I'm going to be talking to him, too. Since I can't see him, it's the least you can do." I told Ella. She stayed in place. I rolled my eyes.
"Hi, beautiful." Ezra said. I smiled.
"Hey, you." My mom looked disgusted, so I'm assuming she could hear what he was saying.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Well, I'm headed to New York right now. I'm keeping the apartment, so if you ever need somewhere to go, it's there."
At this my mom looked furious.
"Thanks, Ezra. Really."
"It's no problem. What's mine is yours." He told me. Ella's eyes practically popped out of her head.
"Maybe someday," I said, pushing her out the door and shutting it.
Assuming she was still listening, I just talked to him.
"God, I miss you. I hate this, Ezra. I hate it. I just wrote a song for you. Maybe I'll visit- or you can visit, and I'll play it for you."
"Well, I'll have to visit now, won't I?"
Ella POV:
Aria pushed me out the door, slamming it in my face. I could barely hear his voice now, but I still could. I heard Aria.
"God, I miss you. I hate this, Ezra. I hate it. I just wrote a song for you. Maybe I'll visit- or you can visit, and I'll play it for you." How can she love him? He manipulated her.
"Well, I'll have to visit now, won't I?" I hated him. He destroyed our family.
Aria whispered, trying to be quiet. "Thanks again for- you know. I'm so glad I shared that part of myself with you." What on Earth? I swear, she'd better be talking about an emotional part. Why am I freaking out? Aria's responsible. She knows the rule is no sex until marriage. She wouldn't disobey me like that.
Ezra replied, "You gave me something I'll cherish forever." If it's anything besides a story she told or wrote, I will kill him myself.
Then he said. "I didn't want to leave you."
Aria stated, "I know. Don't worry- we'll be together soon. I love you, Ezra Michael Fitz."
"As I love you, Aria Rose Montgomery."