Aria POV:
Two weeks later, I decided that the girls and I could try to figure out what was going on with A and everything else in Ezra's apartment. After school, we all got in Em's car and Hanna said, "This is weird."
"How is it weird?" I asked.
"We're going to our old English teacher-slash- best friend's boyfriend's old apartment where our best friend and old English teacher have done god knows what."
"HAN!" Spencer, Em, and I all yelled.
"Well, she probably has really weird things in there, too. Like porn."
"HANNA!" We said again.
"I assure you," I told Hanna. "There is no porn in Ezra's apartment."
"Please, please do not put that picture in my head, Hanna." Spencer said.
Once we arrived at Ezra's apartment I unlocked the door. The first thing they saw was the masquerade ball invitation for tomorrow night. Then Hanna said, "Guys, I really don't want to talk about -A and Mona's A problem right now. Let's just have a sleepover."
"Aria?" Emily asked. "Is it okay if we sleep in here?"
"Sure," I said. "But none of you can sleep on our bed."
"Our bed?" Spencer said. "You guys really are serious."
"Yeah, Spence. We are." I told her.
"Oooh!" Hanna squealed. "Let's play a game!" Luckily my phone rang.
"It's Ezra." I said. They all listened in.
"Hey, Ezra."
"Hi, beautiful." The girls all 'awwww'ed.
"We're in your apartment. Having a foursome. No, I'm totally kidding."
He chuckled. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too. It's been a long time since we saw each other."
"I know. You haven't been having too much fun without me?"
"I can think of something that I haven't been doing without you." I told him. Spencer raised her eyebrows at me, and Hanna burst out laughing. Emily just looked really, really uncomfortable.
"Oh- really?" Ezra teased. "Is it sex?"
I gasped sarcastically. "How did you guess?"
The room went quiet as he replied. "Well, let's see. You can't have sex without another person, and I highly doubt you've been doing it with Noel."
"Not Noel- Emily. Duh." Ezra laughed. He had such a cute laugh.
"God- Aria, I can't deal with this. I hate it. I love you so much and I never wanted to be without you."
"Me too, Ezra." I sighed. "I love you, but you're just going to wait until you visit so I can finally give you a surprise," I say seductively.
"Bye, Aria. Love you."
"You too."
"What. Was. That." Hanna screamed in my ear. "You've totally had sex with him!"
"Maybe, maybe not." I told her.
"Back to what I was saying before Aria and Fitz's *ahem* disturbing conversation- truth or dare. We're playing, losers."
Spencer, Emily, and I reluctantly agreed.
"I'll go first." Hanna offered. "Aria."
Great. "Truth." I replied.
Han asked, "Have you lost your virginity- you know what? This game is stupid. Okay, so this is a little like never have I ever, but I ask a question and everyone, including the person who asked it, has to answer it. And only one question a turn. We'll go in a circle. Okay, so has anyone lost their virginity?"
Emily was next to Hanna so she answered first, "No."
Spencer also gave a no.
I looked down. "Yes." They looked up in shock. "To who?" Em whispered.
"Only one question a turn!" I replied.
Hanna also said yes, she had too.
Emily's turn was next. "Tell us who you lost your virginity to."
"I didn't lose my virginity to anyone. I gave my virginity to the man I love. I gave it to Ezra. Now if you guys are done interrogating me, I would appreciate it if you would be my friends again."
I walked to Ezra's bed, got out my guitar, and started to write, not caring that they were all staring at me.
My hands,
Your hands
Tied up
Like two ships.
Drifting
Weightless.
Waves try to break it.
I'd do anything to save it.
Why is it so hard to say it?
My heart,
Your heart
Sit tight like book ends.
Pages
Between us
Written with no end.
So many words we're not saying.
Don't wanna wait 'til it's gone.
You make me strong.
I'm sorry if I say, "I need you."
But I don't care,
I'm not scared of love.
'Cause when I'm not with you I'm weaker.
Is that so wrong?
Is it so wrong
That you make me strong?
Think of
How much
Love that's been wasted.
People
Always
Trying to escape it.
Move on to stop their heart breaking.
But there's nothing I'm running from.
You make me strong.
I'm sorry if I say, "I need you."
But I don't care,
I'm not scared of love.
'Cause when I'm not with you I'm weaker.
Is that so wrong?
Is it so wrong?
So, baby, hold on to my heart, oh, oh.
Need you to keep me from falling apart.
I'll always hold on.
'Cause you make me strong.
I'm sorry if I say, "I need you."
But I don't care.
I'm not scared of love.
'Cause when I'm not with you I'm weaker.
Is that so wrong?
Is it so wrong?
I'm sorry if I say, "I need you."
But I don't care,
I'm not scared of love.
'Cause when I'm not with you I'm weaker.
Is that so wrong?
Is it so wrong
That you make me strong?
I'm sorry if I say, "I need you."
But I don't care,
I'm not scared of love.
'Cause when I'm not with you I'm weaker.
Is that so wrong?
Is it so wrong
That you make me strong?
I told the girls they could go, and they quietly slipped out the door.
I discarded all my clothes, put on an old shirt of Ezra's, and slipped in his bed.
Aria POV:
The next day, I apologized to the girls and explained that I was hormonal last night. Anyway, we had to work on -A because tonight was the masquerade ball. My phone beeped, signaling I had a text. I opened it, flinching. -A.
See you tonight, BFF! Midnight. Be there.
-A
I put on my black mask, and headed to the ball. I got a text telling me to meet someone behind the rose bushes. "Hello?" I called.
A voice responded, "No matter how hard I try, I can't stay away from you."
"Ezra!" I ran up to him, my lips colliding with his. After a minute, I pulled apart.
"How long are you staying?" I asked him.
"Hm… how about forever?" Ezra replied. I was overwhelmed with happiness as he led me to the dance floor. I rested my chin on his shoulder and felt him tense.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"This is our first dance," he said. "I want to see you."
He took my mask off, and his followed quickly. He leaned in, and our lips were together, his tongue lightly tracing my lips; I opened my mouth so our tongues would touch.
"Have I told you yet how hot you look in this suit?" I asked him.
"Have I told you yet how beautiful you look in that dress?" Ezra retorted. I felt eyes boring into the back of my head, and turned around to see Hanna and Emily. "Mona's -A." Hanna was crying.
"Aria? Who's -A?" Ezra asked me.
I said, "We might want to go to your apartment. This is a long story."
Ezra grabbed my hand and led me to his apartment.
When we got there I told him everything, about -A, and everything that had ever gone on with Mona.
"Wait," he said. "After we first started dating, when you left your phone at my apartment, was that -A? Was Mona the reason I broke up with you?" I started crying.
"Yes, that was Mona."
"Jesus. I'm so sorry, Aria. God."
"I just want to forget about it." I kissed Ezra, sliding onto his lap.
I started to unbutton his shirt, and once I pulled it off I yanked my own shirt off.
"Aria. We can't do this."
"We already have, Ezra."
"Last time… We didn't know if we'd ever see each other again. This is different. I won't walk away. I promise." I started crying again, and I reached down and grabbed my shirt.
"Aria- wait. What's wrong?"
"I just… I don't know. -A tortured me for years and I'm tired of it." I kissed him. "Ezra. Please. I love you."
"Come here." He picked me up, and carried me to his bed. He was still shirtless, and he slowly removed my shirt. "Aria. No matter what happens, I love you. I'll always love you."
"I love you too, Ezra. So much." I reached behind my back and undid my bra. He spent the rest of the night making me forget- just what I wanted.