Hi everyone. Here is another chapter for all of you lovely readers. I hope you enjoy it. I really wanted to get it up today because someone informed me they would love an update for their birthday. So to whoever that was: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I apologize for any typos.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars.
Here is chapter fourteen.
"I love you Aria."
Aria sucked in a deep breath not knowing what to say next. "I-I-"
"It's okay Aria. You don't have to say it."
"I'm sorry." She spoke as she let herself into the house and gave one last look at Ezra before softly closing the door. When she heard the soft click she let herself lean against the other side of the door. She sighed and took a deep breath before mumbling "I love you too Ezra."
Two excruciatingly long days had passed since Ezra and Aria's Friday night date. Two days had passed since Spencer, Hanna, and Emily had babysat Jake and two long days had passed since Aria hadn't been able to mutter those three little words to Ezra. Yes, all of this had occurred on the very same day.
It just so happened that on this day Jake was staying with Ezra leaving Aria and Spencer alone in the small apartment.
Aria sat lazily on the leather sofa that occupied her tiny living room. Her knees were pulled close to her chest and a large green blanket was draped over her.
Silence filled the room. Aria was lost in her own thoughts. Thoughts that were consumed by not only her three year old son, but also the father of her three year old son who had recently admitted his love for her. It was a gesture that she couldn't return. She wanted to but her lips just wouldn't form the words.
Aria let her eyes wander the small room. She wasn't looking at anything in particular just moving her eyes from place to place. It wasn't until Spencer yelled her name that she realized she had been lost in a daze.
"Aria." Spencer yelled. "ARIA!"
Aria snapped out her thoughts quickly and locked eyes with Spencer. 'W-what is it Spence?"
"Oh nothing you just looked kind of lost?"
"S-so you decided to interrupt me?"
Spencer chuckled. "Yeah I guess I did."
"So where are you running of to?" Aria spoke when she realized that Spencer was already completely dressed for the day and already carrying her large purse on her shoulder.
"Actually I'm going to see Toby."
At this Aria furrowed her brow. "Toby huh?"
"Yeah, you know we both kind of had a thing for each other back in high school and I haven't seen him since we came back to Rosewood, So I called him this morning and we're going out to lunch."
"On a Sunday?"
Spencer slowly nodded. "Yeah what's wrong with that? Besides what have you got planned? Jake's with Ezra, I bet you're happy to get a day of peace and quiet."
'Uh yeah of course." Aria responded knowing that wasn't exactly the truth.
"I'm not buying it. What's wrong? Why do you look like hell?"
"N-no reason." Aria replied quickly.
"Aria." Spencer sighed.
"Fine." Aria took a moment to rub her fingers through her thick, dark hair. It was a nervous habit she had developed as a child. One that had never seemed to go away. 'Ezra told me her loved me."
"I'm aware of that." Spencer replied quizzically.
"Yeah well I couldn't say it back."
"But you and I both know you feel the same way."
"Yeah I know. "
Spencer took a second to let out a soft chuckle. "So tell him that Aria. Don't make this harder than it already is. You two have already lost too much time."
"It's not that easy Spence." Aria retorted.
Spencer was quick to roll her eyes in disbelief. "It's a lot easier that you're making it."
Aria scoffed. She didn't have time to form a reply because the loud sounds of her cell phone echoed beside her. A familiar tune filled the room and Aria immediately grabbed the phone after realizing that it was indeed ringing.
"Well I guess I better go." Spencer said as she began making her way to the door. "Have fun whatever you do."
Aria muttered a goodbye to her friend and slowly brought the phone to her ear when she realized who was calling.
"Hello."
PLLPLLPLLPLL
A big smile was plastered on the face of Ezra Fitz as he watched his son sitting anxiously at the table. Today was only the second time Jake had stayed with him at his apartment and Ezra only hoped that there would be many more days like today. Only he hoped that in the future Aria was with the two of them.
Ezra quickly poured the contents of a large box of a cereal into two white bowls. He followed by pouring a decent amount of milk into each bowl and completed the "cooking" by adding a silver spoon to each bowl.
"Here you go bud." Ezra said as he sat a bowl in front of Jake and took a seat next to him. "Fruit Loops, it's what real men eat for breakfast."
Jake erupted into laughter before taking a large bite. "Yummy." He yelled after swallowing.
"I told you Jake. It's the breakfast of champs."
Ezra shuffled through the papers that occupied the table before finding what he was looking for. He pulled the folded newspaper out of the stack and began silently reading. Jake watched his father for a few moments. He then searched for a similar piece of folded paper and quickly found one. He brought the paper close to his face and let his eyes roam the page.
Ezra glanced at his son and let out a soft laugh. He furrowed his brow and waited a few seconds before saying anything. "Jake what are you doing?"
Jake simply looked at Ezra for a moment before turning his attention back to the paper.
"Jake you can't read." Ezra laughed.
"I know. But I want to be like you daddy."
A smile reappeared on Ezra's lips as he let the words Jake had spoken sink in. He nodded to himself. "Okay bud." He spoke before returning his eyes to the paper that sat in front of him.
Silence filled the room for minutes as Ezra finished reading a front page article. He had long since finished his breakfast and as he took a look over at Jake he soon realized Jake had too.
"Jake, what do you want to do today?"
Jake pondered the question for a moment and gave his father a funny look as if he were in deep thought. "Park."
"You want to go to the park?" Ezra asked.
Jake nodded. "Yep."
"Okay. Park it is."
"Mommy come too?" Jake quickly asked as he looked straight at his father.
"I don't see why not. Let me give her a call."
Ezra quickly pulled out his phone and dialed the all too familiar number. After two dials Aria answered.
"Hello."
"Hey Aria. J-Jake, well actually I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Rosewood Park with me and Jake? It's a nice day out."
Aria mumbled a yes.
"Great we'll be by in about an hour to get you. Is that okay?'
"Yeah that would be great." Aria answered getting a little more excited.
"Alright see you then."
And with that the call was over.
"Is she coming?" Jake asked excitedly.
"Of course buddy."
Jake clapped his hands together excitedly as a large smile appeared on his face. "Good." He said between giggles.
PLLPLLPLLPLL
The three of them arrived at the Rosewood City Park an hour and a half later. Ezra lifted Jake onto his shoulders as they walked on the cement trail. A grin covered Jake's small face when his eyes caught sight of the various slides, swings, and other equipment.
"Hurry daddy."
Ezra laughed. "If I hurry you will fall."
"Oh" was Jake's only reply.
"Mommy, I see the top of your head."
Aria nodded and glanced up at Jake. "I know buddy. Cool huh?"
Jake simply laughed. "Yep."
PLLPLLPLLPLL
Thirty minutes later Jake had successfully slid down every slide that the Rosewood Park had to offer. He was now giving his full attention to the swings. He found a swing in the center of the row and took a seat as Ezra and Aria followed closely behind.
"You said you wanted Jake to come to our next date." Ezra laughed. 'So would this be considered date number two?"
Aria smiled as she took a seat in an identical swing next to Jake. "Yeah. Why not?"
Ezra nodded. "Good I was hoping you would say that."
Ezra quickly made his way behind Jake's swing and began to pull the swing towards him. "You ready?"
Jake began to laugh. "Yep. Push me high daddy."
"Alright if you say so." Ezra responded before gently pushing Jake in the swing, careful to not go too high. He didn't want Jake to get hurt after all. Jake had only been in the air for less than three minutes when Ezra heard a familiar voice call his name.
"Ezra." He heard. Then it sounded again. "Ezra." The voice called. This caused both he and Aria to turn their heads for a moment. Aria quickly stood up. Ezra glanced around in confusion before he caught sight of the woman who had been calling his name.
"Oh hi Ms. Welsh." Ezra stammered when he noticed the elderly, large woman making her way over to the three of them.
"Hi Ezra. What has you out at the park on a day like today?"
"Oh you know the usual." He responded to the woman who had been his colleague for the past six years. "What brings you here?"
"Oh." Ms. Welsh replied. "I walk this trail every Sunday. I've been doing it for years now,"
Aria had to use her left hand to hide her smile as a laugh threatened to escape her lips. "I would have never guessed." She thought to herself.
It was then that Ms. Welsh noticed Aria standing next to Ezra. "Oh hi Aria. Well isn't it a small world."
Aria simply nodded, but Ms. Welsh was quick to speak again. "You're teaching at Rosewood now right?"
Again Aria responded with a nod. "Yes. Senior AP Lit."
"Oh good."
It was quiet for a single moment before Jake broke the ice. "Daddy higher."
Ezra quickly did as he was asked and watched carefully as his son's swing went a little higher off the ground. He then let his eyes glance over at Aria who was standing uncomfortably next to him staring straight ahead.
"Oh." Ms. Welsh finally spoke. "I didn't know you had a son Ezra."
Ezra nodded and gave Ms. Welsh a shy smile.
"Interesting" Ms, Welsh replied as she took in the boy's appearance. "He looks just like you. "
"Thanks."
Ms. Welsh's eyes were glued on Jake for several minutes. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of Jake's soft laughter and a few ducks quacking in the background. "Hmm. Well now I see why Ezra's here. But what brings you by Aria? Did you just happen to run into Ezra here like I did?'
Aria shook her head nervously. She contemplated her next statement but before she could let a sentence escape her lips, Jake spoke up.
"Mommy look how high I'm going!" Jake laughed excitedly.
Aria responded with a soft smile. "I see Jake."
Then Aria noticed the confused look on Ms. Welsh's face. . Aria closed her eyes and took a deep breath bracing herself for the woman's next comment.
"Wait you're his mom?" she said gesturing to the boy.
Aria nodded.
Then Ms. Welsh gave Ezra a confused look. "And you're his dad?"
At this Ezra nodded. "Yep."
"Oh. I see. I knew there was something weird about the two of you when she was in high school." She immediately looked over at Aria. "But I'm going to go now. It's not any of my business."
"You're damn right, it's not." Aria thought to herself.
Ms. Welsh mumbled a goodbye and as she walked away Aria could faintly hear her whisper something aloud about "Mr. Fitz having a child with a student. "How scandalous." Aria barely heard. She easily shrugged the comment off and focused her attention on her son and the man who stood next to her. The man that she loved no matter what anyone thought, the man who was everything to her. She silently hoped that she could admit her feelings in the very near future.
PLLPLLPLLPLL
Monday morning arrived all too quickly and Aria strolled through the doors of Rosewood Day High School after dropping Jake off with Ms, Suzy. She slowly walked the familiar route to the front office to sign in for the day. After signing in and getting the mail that was sitting in her bin she began to exit the office. But something stopped her.
"Ms. Montgomery" A familiar voice called. It was a voice she had heard many times in the past. The voice belonged to Mr. Perkins, the Rosewood Day High School Principal.
"Yes, Mr. Perkins. What can I do for you?"
"Would you come into my office for a moment? I need to speak with you."
Aria nodded in agreement and trudged her feet in the direction of the man's office. Seconds later she stepped inside and she gasped when she saw Ezra sitting in a leather seat in the center of the room.
"What are you doing here?"
Ezra shook his head. "I'm not quite sure. Mr. Perkins just asked if I'd come in here. He said he needed to talk to me for a moment."
"Yeah me too." Aria replied as she took a seat in the chair next to Ezra.
Aria jumped when she heard the door shut behind Mr. Perkins. She didn't have the slightest clue as to why the Principal of the school wanted to see her. And what made the situation even weirder is that he asked to see Ezra too."
"You must be wondering why I asked the two of you here this morning."
Both Aria and Ezra nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Fitz." Mr. Perkins began. "My daughter Molly is in your last period English class." When Ezra nodded Mr. Perkins continued. "She brought it to my attention that you had your son sit in your class on Friday."
Ezra was quick to speak. "Yes I did. He wasn't feeling well. Is that a problem?"
"She also informed me that Ms. Montgomery is the mother of your three year old."
Aria gasped as she lowered herself farther into her seat as if she was trying to hide. An eerie silence occupied the room and a few moments passed before Aria heard two words escape Ezra's lips. "Holy crap."
Whew. I'm so glad I managed to get this chapter up at a decent hour today. I really hope you like it and please leave a review. To the reviewer who gave the idea of bringing back Ms. Welsh: thank you for the idea! On a side note did anyone else love the last two Ezria scenes from Monday's episode as much as I did?