Okay, I don't even know where to begin... I am SO SO SO sorry for how long it has taken me to get this chapter up! I know I said I would update like almost two months ago, but I thought I would have time to write and then I had something to do that day and then a final that night and I left the next day for a school trip and didn't get back until late that Sunday night. And then I got caught up in school work and sorta neglected my writing and I feel bad. So the other day I sat down and made myself finish this chapter for you guys.

I really hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Also a special thanks to my best friend Meaghann for making me update cause if it wasn't for her, there is no telling when I would have finally put this up hahah.

Enjoy!

Ella sent after Ezra since Aria was now forbidden to speak to him since he was practically now hired. Ella liked Ezra and didn't see a problem with hiring him, but Byron felt differently and anyone could clearly see that. Aria had managed to talk some sense into Byron, but the consequence of that was one Ella wasn't happy about. She wanted Aria to have friends and she knew that her and Ezra could be great friends, but Byron had ended that before it ever truly got to begin. Sure the kids weren't allowed to socialize with the workers as friends, but this was going to be the one time Ella let that rule slip.

Ella Montgomery, although stern, only wanted what was best for Aria and Mike. After shopping with Aria the past Saturday, she felt like she should allow her to make her own decisions without her mother. She had approached Byron that night in hopes of him agreeing with her, but it had started a fight between the two.

Now, Ella was furious with her husband and his absurd ways. He couldn't accept his little girl was growing up and when Ezra even took one glance at Aria, she could see Byron's posture stiffen. When he said he wouldn't hire Ezra, she could feel her temper rising. So, when Aria came into the room angry and yelling at her father, Byron made the decision to hire him, under that one condition Ella didn't like. That was what had lead Ella to be where she was now- in Aria's bedroom sitting on the bed consoling her upset daughter.

"I promise I will find a way for you to talk to him. He seems wonderful and I want you two to be friends. He seems intelligent and I feel like he can help you with your writing and schooling," sad Ella.

Aria let out a gasp. "How did you..." She trailed off.

Ella looked at her daughter and smiled. "Honey, I know I might act like I don't care or know anything about you, but I do and I love you and I want you to make your own decisions from here on out. I'm not going to have any say on anything unless you ask me. I see so much potential in you and your brother. I know you hate these piano lessons, I can tell you don't enjoy art anymore like you used to; I miss the old Aria. I miss when you were vibrant. You used to have so much life in your eyes and I can see it fading more and more with each day that passes," Ella spoke softly.

Aria looked at her mom and smiles; the first genuine smile she had given her mother in years. She never knew her mother knew wk much about her life; she never after like she knew or cared. Aria leaned over and embraced Ella in a right hug and pulled away moments later when Byron busted through the bedroom door.

"He's back. I'm going to get Carol to clean out the guest house for him. I'm allowing him to have it all to himself instead of having to stay in this house with us. It's the least I can do, said Byron with a slight annoyance to his tone.

Ella and Aria both gave Byron a knowing look. He was only giving Ezra the guest house because Byron didn't want him in their house period.

For some reason though, Ella was happy that Byron had made the decision to give Ezra the guest house. She was grateful that he would have the guest house too because that would save him from being bothered by Byron and he would have privacy. It would also be easier for Aria to go and see him without Byron's direct knowledge; that was unless he saw her walk in the place or heard about it from one of the workers.

Byron walked out of the bedroom and Ella looked at her daughter. "For now I will tell you when it is safe to go into the building and talk to him. When I talk to your father I will let you know. But I promise I will help you see Ezra until then," she said.

"Thank you so much momma," replied Aria with teary eyes and a faint smile.

"You're welcome honey," Ella answered.

Hours passed before Aria finally calmed down enough to leave her bedroom. Ezra had already been informed that he was hired and had already moved into the guest house as soon as he was hired.

Ella had told Aria that Byron had went to town for a few hours and that it was safe to go to the guesthouse. Aria made her way downstairs and outside to the backyard, walking the short gravel path that leads to the front door of the house. She lightly knocked on the door and Ezra opened it, a smile gracing his face as he noticed it was Aria who was standing there.

"Hey! Good to see you," he said.

"Hi. Look I'm so sorry for what happened earlier with my father. He just doesn't know a good person when he sees one," she replied.

"Well I'm here now so he must've changed his mind somewhere along the line," Ezra said.

"Actually he didn't. I promised I would never speak ot you again if he hired you. That's why you got the job." Aria sighed and looked away from Ezra before returning her gaze back to meet his piercing, icy blue eyes. "He didn't like the way you were looking at me. He can't stand the fact that I'm growing up and that guys or in this case men, are looking at me. But my mom is going to help me see you. Normally I am not allowed to speak or be friends with any of the workers, but she is making an exception this one time because she really likes you Ezra," Aria said. She looked down at the floor again and began shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

She heard Ezra inhale a deep breath and looked up to see him staring at her; his eyes were holding an intent look. "Well I'm glad she is helping then," he finally said to her.

Aria wasn't expecting him to answer or pull her into a hug, much like he had just done. It was then that she noticed how strong he was and that he smelt like soap. He held her small frame close to his body, kissing the top of her head; he thought it might be a little too intimate at first but soon brushed it off as she didn't recoil away.

"Ezra, what's your honest opinion of me? I know we haven't known each other that long, in fact it has barely surpassed a weeks mark, but I just need to know," Aria said quietly as she met his gaze.

Ezra let out a sigh and then grabbed Aria's arm and led her to the couch in the sitting area. Once they had both sat down he turned to face her. "Aria, in all truthfulness I think you're a wonderful and talented person. You're brilliant, I can tell. You're beautiful and kind and funny. I can go on and on but I would rather not. I'm sorry that you agreed to what you did just to get me this job. I wouldn't want that for anyone. Agreeing on that you shouldn't have done. So what if I didn't get the job? I would still have you. This job isn't worth losing you, Aria Montgomery, a great person and friend, over. Nothing is worth losing a friendship and I know both of us need that more than anything right now. I'm so thankful for this job, don't get me wrong. I'm also thankful that your mom is allowing you to be my friend still and that she is helping you sneak in here to talk to me when Mr. Montgomery isn't home." Ezra looked at Aria intently, watching her expression change.

"Thank you Ezra. I needed to hear that for a change."

Ezra gave Aria a smile and then pulled her into his side, kissing the top of her head. Her hair smelt of strawberries and he loved it. His mind began to drift off to what it would be like to kiss her lips. They were so full and always coated in a light shade of pink lipstick. Her skin was as soft as velvet, her hair like silk. Her teeth were pearly white and perfectly straight. She was a beauty. Her body molded into his perfectly as they sat side by side on the cozy mahogany colored couch.

A couple hours had passed since Aria had first arrived at the guest house. Ezra and Aria had shared a light snack consisting of celery and peanut butter, something Ezra had never tried before that Aria insisted he try. Needless to say, he loved it. It became time for Aria to leave Ezra's and go back to the main house, but she didn't want to go. All Aria wanted to do was stay with Ezra at his new home-her families guest house- because that is where she truly felt wanted and for once in her life, loved. She knew her parents loved her, but they had a funny way of showing it. It seemed as they always paid closer attention to Mike and always worked everything around his schedule. He was even allowed to go to a private school in the next town over, something Aria dreamed of doing, but since she was the first born her parents had her on a strict schedule since she could form words, leading her to the life she now had. She wanted the life of a normal teenager, and when she had kids she vowed they would have just that.

Byron arrived home shortly after Aria walked through the back door of her house. She was seated at the piano, playing a classical tune she had known for years. Ella had told her to play so it would look like she had been playing for a while, so she did. Byron shed his coat and handed it to one of the maids, who took it to the hall closet and hung it up nicely with the rest. He nodded his head in greeting to Aria and Ella, and then headed into the dining area for dinner. Ella set down the book she had been reading and Aria slowly rose from her seat on the piano bench and together they made their way into the dining area behind Byron. Mike soon walked in behind them and sat down beside Aria.

"Dad, why are there three extra plates set out for dinner?" Mike asked.

Byron looked up at his son and smiled. "I invited a colleague and his wife over for dinner. And they're bringing their daughter who is your age. She is homeschooled, so I thought it would be nice for them to bring her over to give her some friends."

Aria looked up and glared at her father. "Oh so you will get someone elses kid a friend but not your own daughter?!" she practically yelled at him.

"Don't use that tone with me young lady. You have too much to do to have friends. You have no time for them," he simply replied.

"It isn't fair. You are so much of a damn asshole to even care about anything I do. I can't wait to get the hell out of this damn place. Not like you would give a shit anyway. You probably can't wait until I leave. And guess what? When I do leave, I hope I never have to see your face again," Aria said as she threw her napkin onto the table and backed the chair up from the table and stormed outside the house through the back door.

Byron sat there in disbelief at the words that had just fallen out of his daughter's mouth. He was too in shock to say anything, so he let Ella get up to go handle it.

Aria had ran to Ezra's and busted through the front door and barreled into the living room to where he was seated. As soon as he saw Aria and the tears that were streaming down her face, he quickly jumped up off the couch and enveloped her into a hug. She cried into his chest, soaking his shirt but he didn't mind. Her cries turned into chokes eventually and then she pulled away, looking up at Ezra. Her beautiful hazel eyes were red and puffy and her face was blotched as well. He ran his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe the remaining trail of tears off her face. He pulled her over to the couch and right when he went to sit down next to her, the door opened.

"Aria? Are you here?" they both heard Ella's voice ring out throughout the house.

"She is in here," replied Ezra.

Ella came walking into the living room and sat down beside Aria, pulling her into her side and rubbing her back. "Your dad doesn't understand much about you Aria. I'm so sorry for that. I wish he cared more. I wish he could see you need friends and that you want him to see you succeed and for him to be around but he isn't. Look, I'm gonna tell him you are skipping dinner and that you will be in your room for the rest of the night. I'm going to bring you over some clothes here along with anything else you might need and I want you to stay here for the night. Is that okay Ezra?" Ella asked looking up at Ezra.

Ezra looked between Aria and Ella and then nodded his head. "Yeah, yeah that's fine. Anything to help diffuse whatever is going on," he answered.

"Thank you. I will be back shortly with her things. I appreciate this a lot Ezra," Ella offered a warm smile.

"It's no problem, really," he responded.

After Ella left, Ezra sat down on the couch beside Aria and pulled her into his side, letting her head rest on his shoulder. He rubbed her arm soothingly. He glanced up from the tv and looked down at Aria to find her staring back at him. He smiled at her and she gave a small smile.

"Thank you for letting me stay here even though my mom basically said I was staying here without giving you an option. I still don't understand why she is letting me stay here considering she doesn't even know you that well. I find it sorta odd. Especially for her. Maybe now she realizes you are the only friend I have ever had," Aria whispered.

"Maybe," Ezra responded and before he realized what he was doing, his lips were on hers in a soft, yet passionate kiss. He quickly pulled away and looked at Aria, shocked by what he had just done. He only then realized that as she was speaking, his head had slowly tilted closer to hers, and only did he realize that when he responded his lips were right by hers. He thought about all of this now while still staring at her. He didn't have time to apologize for his actions though because not seconds later was Aria's lips back on his, pushing him down onto the couch and falling on top of him.

During the entire time they hadn't realized that Ella had already been back with Aria's things. They also didn't know that Ella had left with a smile on her face as she watched her daughter actually live for the first time in her life. She slowly slipped out of the house and headed back to the main house, knowing that if things escalated further than making out that night that Aria was in good hands.

I really hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! Please review and let me know what you thought of it! (: