AN: Yes, another chapter. I can't believe it myself either. So, this is already the fifth chapter. Another thing I really can't believe. I really like that you leave reviews and follow the story, that lets me know you like it. Which motivates me to further along with the story. This chapter is written again solely in Aria's POV.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the rights to Pretty Little Liars. I wish I did though.

Love,
M.

CHAPTER 5 – First Acquaintance With New York

There we are in New York. We are currently in the suite we got, because something went wrong with the reservation. I still can't come over the fact of how large and how beautiful the suite is. Above all the view is extraordinary. I'm in the large chair, slumped in the chair reading a book. Professor Fitz is sleeping on the couch. What I can see from the large dark circles under his eyes, larger than in the beginning of the week, he can really use the sleep.

After reading for a hour, I suddenly hear the voice of my professor. I was so absorbed in my book that I didn't notice him waking up. "Shall we get some lunch, Aria?" I look up from my book, bewildered. I quickly nod and tell him I need to freshen up a little bit.

I splash some cold water on my face in the bathroom. I'm really tired myself, but I know I can't fall asleep. With everything going on with Holden, I haven't slept that well the last nights. I avoided Holden and carefully and successfully this week. I know I have to brake of our relation, but I'm too scared to do so. That's why I'm afraid to face him. I know that he is going to apologize, but I don't want to accept his apologies. I did that too many times now and now I'm done. I just don't know what his reaction to that will be and that's why I'm avoiding him.

I apply a new layer of mascara to my bare eyelashes and some gloss to my lips. I put my hair in a ponytail again and walk out of the bathroom. When I come into the living room, I see that professor Fitz put on a new shirt. It's a brown shirt, and it's hugs his body than the shirt he wore before. Now you can see all his trained muscles. I blush when I realize where I'm going with my thoughts and I quickly walk towards the bedroom to get my purse.

When I come into the living room again, professor Fitz is already in the elevator. When I get in the elevator, he pushes the button and in silence we go downstairs. We leave the hotel and walk in the direction of the sign of the subway we see in the distance. I never travelled with the subway before and when I'm looking at the subway map I get dizzy. Professor Fitz on the other hand, seems to know exactly which subway line we need to travel to the middle of the city.

When we get in the subway, I decide to start a conversation. "Professor, I accidentally overheard the name you gave at the reception, Fitzgerald. I didn't know Fitz wasn't your entire surname."

For just a second, he looks at me tongue-tied, but readjusts himself quickly. "Please call me Ezra. And Fitzgerald is indeed my entire surname. I just thought Fitz is cooler, so I abbreviated my last name, but never officially." He doesn't look at me when he answers my question, what suggests to me that he isn't telling me the entire truth. I decide not to continue about the subject.

"Okay, Ezra. I also saw that you knew exactly how to direct us to the city centre. Have you been in New York already?"

I can see that this is also an uncomfortable subject for him, but this time he does look at me while answering the question. "I was born here and I lived here for the first half of my life. When my parents decide to divorce, my mom moved to Rosewood, but we always went back to New York for little weekends or family parties. That's why I can manage to find my way."

I had no idea that he wasn't born and raised in Rosewood, though I always expected it. He didn't strike me as a typical Rosewood boy. I look around me just once more and I almost choke on the amount of people in the subway. I never had the feeling I couldn't breathe, but this bustle almost does.

Luckily it's time for us to get out of the subway the next stop. Ezra gets out first and I walk after him. I almost get run down, because it seems everybody needs to get out at this stop. I guess we arrived at our destination. The subway station itself is pretty impressive, but when we get above ground I actually get speechless. I rotate and stare my eyes out. I pinch my arm just to make sure this isn't all just a dream. We are actually in New York. I have dreamed of this moment several times, but this is a thousand times better than in those dreams.

I'm taken out of my thoughts when Ezra takes hold of my elbow to get me out of the flood of people. He lets me go quickly when he realizes that we've just had physical contact. He hurriedly walks on and I try to keep up with him. We enter a diner, the smell of delicious food coming towards us. I look around and see that it's furnished warm and cosy. There is a lot of wood shown in the furniture that's there and it reminds me a bit of a French bistro.

Ezra takes a seat at a table for two and I sit across from him. "Nice place here. It reminds me of France," I say, still looking around. I enjoy the smell of food in the bistro and the furnishing.

"Yeah, me too. That's why this is my favoured place to have lunch here in New York. When I sit here, I feel like I'm in romantic Paris. When I walk back outside, I'm in the vibrant New York. When you're always in the throng, it's nice to escape to the quiet and all that with excellent food." I see the nostalgia in his eyes. He's been here quite often.

"I know the feeling to escape," I say with a smile. "Not that it's that busy in Rosewood, but sometimes I feel like I need to escape momentarily from the daily grind. That's when I choose to attend my favourite bookstore to read a book in a corner. I love it anyway to read books, for the same reason actually, to escape from my own world to delve into someone else's."

"How funny! That's the same reason I love to read. I love to get lost in a story. The books in which I can do this, are my favourite books." Our talk is interrupted by a table attended who supplies us with a leather menu card. We both order a Coke and dive into the menu.

There are a lot of yummy things on the menu and it made my mouth water. I decide to go for the blinis with smoked salmon. I get hungry from only looking at the menu. I didn't eat breakfast this morning, so my stomach is as good as empty. Despite the fact that I've already decided what I'm going to order, I keep staring at the menu. Ezra is still completely engrossed in the menu, and I think I see tears forming in his eyes, but I couldn't ask him about it.

After a minute or fifteen we both set aside the menu. We wait in silence until the waiter comes to take our order and Ezra orders fries with tartar. Even the menu is reminiscent of a French bistro. The conversation while waiting for our food remains light and is mainly about school. I tell Ezra that I'm still enjoying myself during my studies and Ezra tells me he really enjoys teaching at Hollis.

"What is your first impression of New York?" Ezra asks me. He looks at me with amusement.

"It's quite overwhelming. But so far I really think it's a wonderful and beautiful city. It's a major difference with Rosewood, but I think that's just fine. What city do you really think is nicer? Rosewood or New York?" I ask him.

He first pauses before he answers my question. He puts his thumb under his chin and takes a thinking position. "I really have no idea," he says with a boyish grin. "Both cities are so different. They can't be compared with each other. Rosewood is very quiet and I can relax there. New York is just always busy and I also think that's pleasant. I'm could very well live here again, but that's possibly for over a couple of years. Can you see yourself living here?"

I think about it for a while. "I don't know. I would love it, but I'm also afraid that New York is slightly too busy for me, so busy that I could lose myself. It would be a good location to get inspiration for a book though. You told the in the subway that you have moved to Rosewood with your mother. Does she still live in Rosewood?"

A dark look appears in his eyes when he starts talking. "No, two years ago she moved back to New York. The calmness in Rosewood that attracted her initially drove her away in the end. She and my little brother went to go live in New York again. Besides, I know what you mean about the fuss here, but there are plenty of peaceful spots here in New York where you can relax. The only thing is, you need to know where to find these places. And I'm pretty sure you'll get inspiration from this city. "When he speaks about living in New York, I see the love for this city in his eyes.

"You have a brother? That I didn't know." I look at him in surprise, I don't know him personally of course, but it amazes me that I knew nothing about his little brother.

"Yes, he is your age, and his name is Wesley, but we just call him Wes."

"Funny. Why didn't you move to New York with your mother and brother? The way you talk about New York, I can hear that you love the city."

"You got that right. I do love New York. But I was almost finished with my studies and I wanted to finish it. After that it still didn't feel right for me to move back to New York, so I stayed in Rosewood. And I'm still enjoying myself. "Then our talk is broken again by the waiter. This time he's serving our lunch.

I dug right into the meal, that's how hungry I was. By hearing the silence Ezra does the same. I glance in his direction and see that he's indeed started eating. The food is really delicious. I enjoy the food that much that I don't pay attention to my surroundings. When I'm done eating, I let out a big sigh. It was so incredibly delicious, but also so much. I can't believe that I've finished it all, but I'm stuffed. A dessert is not an option for me anymore.

When I look up, I see that Ezra is still eating. He glances up, and when he sees that I'm already finished, he smiles. I feel that I start to blush. I have enjoyed my food so much that I didn't even pay attention to how fast I was eating. I could only think about the fact that I was hungry and that there was food in front of me. That happens a lot when I'm starving.

"Was it good?" he asks, chuckling. "You've finished it so quickly."

"It was delicious and I was starving. Is your food any good? You eat so slowly, "I joke.

He laughs out loud and pushes his plate in my direction. "It's wonderful, but I'm so full I can't eat anything anymore. Would you help me to get my plate empty?"

"I'd like to Ez, but I'm really stuffed." I turn my hand over my mouth as soon as I realize that I have just shortened his name. "Sorry, Ezra." I start to blush again. How often can my cheeks become red?

"It's okay Ar. See? No big deal." We are both cracking up. I stop laughing when I can't laugh any longer because of stomach pain. "Shall we pay? I can show you all the quiet spots here in New York where you can hide if you need some quiet. You will see that New York is a pleasant city to live in, especially if you are a writer. And I'm sure that you'll become one, a very successful one even."

I nod yes and we rise up from the table together. I grab my purse and when I want to pay for my part of the food, Ezra waves my money away and pays for the entire our lunch.