(A/N) Before you start this chapter

IF YOU LIKE EZRIA OR EZRA DO NOT READ! This story does nkt put him in a good light. It is strictly Jaria. I don't own anything and please leave a review of what you thought of it.

Ezra POV

I had offered to open the door, knowing that it was probably Aria since everybody else was already there. When I had noticed that at first I had been disappointed until Ella explained that she would be coming together with some guy named Jason, who apparently was Allison's older brother. It was very nice of her to invite him as well since he hadn't had a home cooked meal since he got back to Rosewood, or at least that's what Ella had said. My own thoughts were that the boy probably wanted her in his bed and had told her some sob story to get her to his house. It was only strengthened when I saw that they were ten minutes late. He had probably tried to hit on her. She wouldn't have to go through that anymore, I would make sure of that.

When I opened the door I wasn't ready for the sight I would see. Not only was his arm around her, her lips were swollen and her hair was slightly dishevelled, revealing what the two of them had been doing. Still steely in my resolve to make her mine I greeted them, or well Aria.

"Hello Aria." I ignored the man for now and I could see he noticed it as well.

"Hi I'm Jason, and you are?" He had to hand it to him, he was polite.

"Oh this is my old English teacher, Mr. Fitz. Remember I told you about his leaving." Sweet little Aria, though it bothered him that she still saw him as only her teacher. That could still change though, hopefully it wouldn t take too long or he might just lose her to this man.

"Just call me Ezra, you too Aria, I'm not you're teacher anymore."

"Okay Ezra. I have to help my mom, so why don't you two talk for a while." Maybe she wanted us to have a fist fight? From the looks this Jason guy was giving me that might just happen, then again I was throwing him the same looks.

"Have fun." And he winked at her.

Jason POV

Other men had been hostile towards me before but always because they saw me as a threat towards their girl. This guy was just plain hostile but when I saw him look at Aria I understood why. He wanted her. And I had her, and I would keep her. I wasn't about to give Aria up and if he wanted her he would have to prove to be a better guy for her than me and he wouldn't be capable of that.

For one he used to be her teacher and I had a feeling that he had liked her during that period as well. That was just kind of sick, to like one of your students, someone who should be able to trust you, like that. If he thought her parents would agree to them dating he was insane, especially after all the drama they had gone through the last year with Byron's affair with a student. Byron would probably kill the guy before he got anywhere near his daughter, I mean I had a though time convincing him I loved her, or well as I told them, that I was honest in wanting to date her. I hadn't dropped the word love yet.

Secondly the guy was even older than I was and Byron and Ella had already had a hard time warming up to me, and they had known me my entire live. Also I never tried to make them see me as their friend, always as Aria's boyfriend. This guy was friends with her parents from what I heard from Aria, they would feel so betrayed when they found out his real intentions. I mean I would feel betrayed too if my colleague and friend made a move on my teenage daughter.

Plus what would her friends' parents think. I knew for a fact they would despise him and I knew what Mr. Hastings, Mr. Fields and Mr. Marin together would be capable of. Mr. Hastings would sue the man until he wouldn't have anything left and then report him to the police. Mr. Fields had a lot of connections in the army and could probably make someone 'dissapear'. Mr. Marin I didn't know all that much about but I knew he wouldn't stand for something like this. It would be fun to watch the trainwreck the man will get himself into when he says something about, I mean Aria never keeps anything from her friends and with something like this they woukd probably spill. If Aria didn't spill first that is.

Deciding to watch how everything played out while protecting Aria the best I could I walked away from the teacher. I searched out Byron and found him on the other side of the room, oblivious to the conversation we were having.

"Hello Byron. Thank you for having me over tonight." I stil wanted to make a good impression, even if this wasn't the first impression anymore. He could still decide I wasn't good enough for Aria and try to get her away from me.

"Hello Jason. Did you get over here okay?" I knew he was more worried for Aria than for me, still worried about the mysterious stalker that had harassed the girls even if they had stopped.

"Yes, of course. You know I would protect her with my life Byron." I still felt the need to assure him of that and I knew he appreciated hearing it every now and then. Aria did as well, but I showed her in other ways.

"Yes well, you can't blame for worrying can you?"

"No I still worry about her as well when I'm not around her." I could see the understanding in his eyes and making a split decision I decided to share my worries about the teacher. "About that Byron could we talk somewhere a bit more private?" He looked into my eyes questioningly but seeing how serious I was he motioned for me to follow him into his study.

"Have you noticed anything off about his behaviour?" I asked once he closed yhe door behind us.

"Now that you mention it, I have. When Ella told him where Aria was he seemed irritated and a bit offended that she wasn't there to greet him. What are you getting at Jason?" I could see my words had awakened his fatherly instincts and he wouldn't stop until het got to the bottom of it.

"When he let us in he only greeted Aria, there's nothing wrong with that I mean he doesn't know me but during the short conversation he kept on glaring at me and looking longingly at Aria. Maybe thus is just my jealousy speaking but could it be possible he has feelings of another kind for Aria?" He looked thoughtful for a minute whike he mulled over what I had told him.

"He always did seem more interested in Aria than anything else. He was quick to accept that job at Hollis as well, though that can be seen as wanting to have a good career. He should have atleast asked for some time to think, he just said yes immediately." That's when we heard a knock on the door.

"Dad, Jason, dinner's ready." I heard Aria's voice through the door.

"Aria, could you come in for a second. I'd like to ask you about something." She entered with a questioning expression on her face and walked over to me. I took her into my arms immediately knowing she would need it for the questions her father was going to ask.

"Honey has Mr. Fitz ever made comments to you about liking you or done something weird?" I could see the relieve in her eyes and had a feeling he had done some things, she had just written them off as a bit weird so as not to get him in trouble. Now however she could tell her story.

"Yes, sometimes during the lessons he would look at me strangely, almost with a look of longing. And not the good kind like wanting me to give the right answer but the wrong kind, like wanting someone looks. He even asked me to stay behind a few times after class and then he would try to caress my hand or arm and I would try to get away as soon as possible. Why are you asking this dad?" She looked relieved to have finally gotten it out and I knew Byron wouldn't let him get away with this.

"Okay well for now let's go down stairs. Aria please stay away from Mr. Fitz and if he tries anything come to me or Jason or your mother, I'll her what is going on as soon as possible. Jason don't let her out of your sight. Okay?" At our nods he nodded back and said "Good. Now let's go."

Everyone was already seated and the last three seats were two together and one next to Ella. Byron went to sit next to Ella while I sat down next to the teacher with Aria on my other side whi had tensed up a bit and I rubbed her hand to let her know everything was going to be okay. Or at least that's what I hoped.