His hand was around her neck squeezing, sucking the life out of her. Tears filled her eyes as he slammed inside her. His eyes were ablaze with fury when he saw the tears. With his free hand he slapped her cheek before biting down heavily on her breast. She screamed in pain and tried to pull away but he forcefully held her down and continued to slam into her. She cried out in pain before her eyes fluttered behind her sockets as she started drifting into unconsciousness.
Aria awoke with a start, sweat dripped down her forehead and her hair was stuck to her forehead. Her eyes that were still blurry from sleep scanned the room. She got very nervous when she saw the unfamiliar surroundings..
Aria pushed the covers off and leapt out of bed. Her feet hit the cold floor as she pushed herself up from the warmth that had previously been inhibiting her..
She slowly wondered out into the apartment and looked at its features. There was a guy. Not just any guy. Mr Fitz.
Suddenly the memories of the previous night came back to her and she smiled just thinking about it. They had kissed. Wait. Fuck!. She kissed her teacher!
"HI, beautiful" Ezra said standing up and walking to her pyjama clad body.
"H… Hi…" Aria stuttered. She blinked heavily. "Uh. We didn't… you… know…" Aria said gesturing towards the bed.
Ezra shook his head and his eyes rounded like a wounded deer. "Aria. I would NEVER do that. I wouldn't take advantage of you like that"
Aria smiled "What does this mean for us… I mean we kissed… and I slept in your bed. Are we like… together?" Aria asked.
Ezra cocked his head and smiled. "We are whatever you want to be. If you want to date… we can date if you don't then we will forget about this whole escapade".
Aria shrugged. "I like you and I think if we try we can make something work" Aria said after some consideration.
Ezra nodded slowly before narrowing his eyes "We can't tell anyone though" he said.
Aria nodded in agreement "Of course. I don't want you going to jail. I like you Ezra. A lot. But you don't have to risk it all for me" Aria said softly.
"And why not?" Ezra asked with kind eyes.
"I'm not worth it" Aria whispered as tears welled in her eyes.
"Not worth it? Hey! Why are you crying?" Ezra asked worriedly stepping closer to Aria. Before he could hug her she had run off to the bathroom.
Ezra knocked gently. "Aria? Are you okay?" he asked.
He heard her muffled cries and opened the door.
"Aria? What's wrong?" Ezra asked kneeling in front of her.
What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG? Where do I start?
Aria lifter her head and forced a small smile on her face. "Nothing" Aria whispered.
Everything.
Ezra looked uncertainly at his girlfriend before picking her up. Ezra noticed something; she was light. Dangerously light. Sure, she was small but she was too much of a lightweight.
Ezra shook of the thoughts as he took Aria to the bedroom.
"Breakfast in ten" Ezra called as he left the room.
Aria shut the door and pulled of the clothes Ezra had leant to her. She stared at her body in the mirror. She was disgusted.
She felt bloated.
Scars littered her arms and thighs, they ranged in size. Cutting helped her through the difficult times. It still did. Cutting was her only friend. The only thing she truly relied on.
Tears brimmed in her eyes as she thought of Spencer, Emily and Hanna, they were all beautiful, and there she was, Aria the fat ugly lump.
Her shaky hand reached for her clothes that were strewn across the floor she pulled them over her tiny body.
She pulled on a smile and bonded out to the kitchen where Ezra was sat eating toast.
"Hi" she said pecking Ezra's cheek before sitting opposite him.
Ezra grinned and reached out for her hand. He squeezed it lovingly and planted a kiss in her pale knuckles.
Ezra knew something was wrong, he saw it now and when he first met her. He saw sorrow. Sorrow in her eyes, her posture the way she moved.
He would do everything he could to make her happy.
••••
What are the social issues of 'Of Mice And Men', Was written across the blackboard.
His eyes scanned the classroom before coming to a stop at Aria.
"What do you think Miss Montgomery?" Mr Fitz asked smiling coyly at Aria.
Aria raised her head from her book "There are many social issues in this book which also happen to be of thematic importance. Isolation, poverty, loneliness, and fidelity are all social issues that resonate in the book"
Mr Fitz nodded "Excellent".
"Now I want you to read pages 80 to 100 for homework. Don't forget essay's due on Monday!" Mr Fitz called as the class filed out.
All except Aria who was slowly putting paper into her bag.
Ezra came over to Aria and pulled her into a hug. "I missed you" he murmured into her hair.
"Ezra. Seriously? It was only six hours ago that I was lying in your bed. It hasn't been that long!" Aria laughed.
"Can't a guy miss his girl?" Ezra asked.
"I suppose" Aria sighed playfully.
"Meet you at my apartment in fifteen?" Ezra suggested.
Aria nodded. "Key's under the mat!" Ezra called as she left the room.
••••
"Ezra?" Aria asked. "Do you mind if I stay the night?"
Ezra looked up from the book he was reading. "Of course, but, won't your parents be worried?"
She shook her head sadly "They don't care" she whispered.
"Pardon?" Ezra asked.
Aria snuggled into his chest "Nothing" she mumbled sleepily.
•••••
Ezra stared at the girl in his bed, she was so beautiful. Her hair was the perfect shade of brown, he loved the way it cascaded own like a waterfall.
He hadn't taken his eyes off her since she had gone to bed two hours ago, he couldn't move he was transfixed.
He watched her roll on to her back and mumble quietly in her sleep.
He watched her forehead crease and her body convulse.
He watched the tears fall down from her closed eyes.
"No! No! No!" Aria cried tossing and turning.
Ezra ran from his seated position on the couch.
"Aria?" he said softly. He rubbed her arm softly.
Her hazel eyes opened and squinted in the darkness, all she saw was a figure, a man.
She pushed herself up and backed against the wall shaking.
"Aria?" Ezra asked softly. "It's Ezra".
Aria looked up and focused properly on her face, tears flooded her eyes and she crashed herself into Ezra's chest crying and blubbering into his shirt.
This hurt Ezra, knowing something or someone had triggered her to have nightmares. He wanted so badly to know just so he could help her.
After a while she pulled away from Ezra. "I'm sorry" she mumbled as she shifted across the bed. Ezra sat down where she previous had lain.
"For what honey?" Ezra asked softly, she had done nothing wrong!
"For your shirt and your bed" Aria said sadly.
"Aria!" Ezra exclaimed. "A) I have lots of shirts and B) I like sleeping on the couch, it is soft and warm. You are more important than me getting a good night's sleep".
Aria shook her head. "No. I don't mind if you sleep in here with me" she whispered. Looking up at her English teacher.
"Are you sure? I don't want to make you uncomfortable?"
Aria nodded "I'm sure" she whispered before laying down and settling into the duvet.
Ezra smiled as her strawberry scent hit his nose he fell asleep dreaming. Dreaming of Aria Montgomery.
