AN: I don't have a lot to tell you actually. I guess that happens when you update almost every day. Well this may be the last regular update, because there's a new week starting this week. A week that's filled with a lot of school and schoolwork, but also a lot of work for my job. I do love updating and writing for this story though. And I love reading your reviews and seeing your follows and favourites. This story is written in Ezra's POV. This is the beginning of the tensions between the two of them. Loved writing those scenes, I hope you like reading it. Just let me know.

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

Love,
M.

CHAPTER 6 - Tensions and Pleasure

We're at one of my favourite venues in New York, the local library. It's always so quiet here because everyone is quietly working, or reading. Those are also the two reasons for me to hide in here. When I spent a weekend in New York with my mom and Wes, I could often be found in this library. Sometimes to study and sometimes to read a book. I knew that I would find the peace here that I needed at that time.

Now I'm sharing this place with Aria. Over lunch, she hinted that she'd like to live in New York, but that she's afraid the crowdedness would be too much. I promised her I'd show her some quiet places favoured by me. The first place I took her was to a place close to Central Park. When you think of Central Park, you don't think about calmness, but I found a place nearby it where you can find such peace.

I see Aria admiringly looking around. She told me at lunch that she often can be found in her favourite bookstore in Rosewood to read. I think this library reminds her of it, but this library is ten times bigger. I've always loved this library. It's big, but emanates comfort and tranquillity. The perfect setting to rest in a busy city like New York.

"What a wonderful library! So this is where you spend a lot of hours when you're in New York?" she asks as she turns around to look at me.

I shove my hands in my pockets and smile sheepishly. "Yes, that's right. Nice and quiet, right?"

"Yes, I can imagine. It's really beautiful here."

We walk a few rounds through the library, and then we visit two other places that I want to show to her. Before we know it, it's time to eat. Because we have to be at the workshop early the next morning, which luckily takes place in the hotel, we decided to dine at the hotel restaurant.

The food at the hotel is very good, but not great. During dinner we get to know each other slightly better. This time we talk about Aria's family. I find out that she has a brother who is a few years younger than her. I also find out that they've lived in Iceland for a year, several years ago.

As Aria is talking about her family and especially the relationship between her parents, I notice that she finds it difficult. We don't know each other well enough for me to ask more about it and I feel that she doesn't want to talk about it.

We go to our suite after dinner and decided not to go to sleep yet. We both put on our pyjamas. I brought with me a dark blue linen pyjama pants and on top of it I wear a dark blue striped cotton singlet.

When we both arrive in the living room, I see that Aria has put on a two-piece cotton light blue pyjama. The pyjama consists of a pair of shorts and the top is a kind of loose-fitting shirt with white buttons.

At the moment I realize I'm staring at Aria, I avert my eyes away rapidly. This is absolutely inappropriate, studying my student. The fact that we share a suite is already illegal.

We sit down quietly on the couch, with as much space between us as is possible. I turn on the television and a black and white movie appears on TV during zapping. I look at Aria and she nods, but says nothing. I put the remote back in its place and fold my feet under my legs and continue slumping down on the couch.

Once the movie is over, we walk to the bedroom. Me to get the extra duvet and pillow out of the closet and Aria to lie down in the king size bed. We wish each other goodnight. Aria lies down on her side and I install myself on the couch. It takes a while before I fall asleep.

So many thoughts that float around in my head. I worry about my relationship with Jackie, nothing new. I'm doing this for several days now. But now there is something else that I think about it. Something that scares me. I think I'm starting to get feelings for Aria, my student.

The next morning I wake up restless. The reason for that isn't with the sofa, because it lies wonderful. I kept waking up, too many thoughts in my head. I sit up and admire the view. When I look at my phone, I see that it's already eight o'clock. Only then I hear the water streaming in the bathroom. So Aria is already up. I gather my bedspread and cushion, fold it all up and put it back in the wardrobe.

I want to walk out of the bedroom when the door opens. There stands Aria with a towel wrapped around her body. Drops of water falling out of her hair on her bared shoulders. On her arms and legs are also drops from the shower. We both say nothing and I look into the other direction fast. I cough and quickly walk past her out of the room again.

I take my clothes for that day from my bag and head for the bathroom to open the tap of the shower. For today, I'm going for a simple light blue dress shirt, paired with light brown trousers. Under the shower I enjoy the mild spurts of water. I try calm down, but I can't shake off the uneasy feeling.

I only come out of the bathroom when I'm fully clothed, shaved and tried to model my hair, which doesn't really succeed. Aria is already finished and waiting in the living room for me. Aria is clad in a long black dress that touches the floor. Because of the slit that starts at her upper thigh, I can see that she is wearing black biker boots beneath the dress. She carries a leather jacket in her arms. The dress itself is rather elegant, but the way she combines it makes the dress bold. It fits her style this way. A style that I like.

The outfit looks good on her. I want to give her a compliment, however that seems highly inappropriate to me. We have half an hour to have breakfast and arrive at the workshop. We walk into the elevator in silence and have breakfast in the crowded breakfast area. While having breakfast it's also quiet, we both say nothing.

From the breakfast area it is only a two-minute walk to the room where the workshop takes place. We both have not said a word all day. How friendly it was yesterday, today it is such a wimp. All because of the uncomfortable moment between us this morning.

It's not very crowded, probably due to the fact that there were only ten tickets available. I find such a small group fine, especially with such a workshop. You learn more than in a larger group. The inventor of this workshop, a famous novel author, speaks to us first as a group. Born and raised in New York, and he has already published multiple successful novels.

After the welcome talk we're instructed to write a short story about a certain romantic situation. The choice of the situation is completely to us. It's important to transmit with words the romance between the two characters in the story. We all start writing diligently. I look up at Aria a few times when writing my own story. Every time she is busy writing. Occasionally she stares at the wall, biting the back of her pencil, deep in thought. Or tapping the back of her pencil on the table.

After one hour, the author announces that we only have five minutes left to finish our story. I still have to set some finishing touches, when I look up at Aria one last time. We hold each other's gaze for a few seconds. I'm the first to look away. I have to concentrate on finishing my story.

The five minutes are up and we have to hand the author our stories, without our name written down on the paper. Time to sit in a circle on the ground. The author hands out the stories randomly. We have to read the stories aloud so the rest can give criticism on the story. Without the author being known. In this way you're completely honest, we're told by the writer.

It's already noon, when all the stories have been read aloud and are provided with criticism. The writer calls all the titles and you've got the task as the author to pick up your story. This causes mild panic in me. Everybody will know that my story has been most criticized. I love to write, but I know I'm not good at it. That's why I wanted to do this workshop. To get better at it, at writing. Still, I felt ashamed while the criticism was given. And I'm ashamed when the writer mentions the title of my story, Love at first sight, and I have to collect my story.

I feel the eyes of all participants pricking in my back, but the gaze, which I'm most aware of is the gaze of Aria. I don't look into her eyes and walk with my head down back to my spot. I feel a hand onto my back and look up. A blonde woman, slightly older than me, with hazelnut brown hair and light blue eyes, looks at me sympathetically. She is a beautiful woman, but not my type. "Your story wasn't so bad. Where is that lovely smile I noticed in the beginning of this workshop? My name is Maggie by the way."

"Thank you very much," I say, smiling. Shy from her compliment. "I'm Ezra." I shake the hand that she sticks out.

It's time for a lunch break of an hour. Along with Maggie I walk into the room where I had breakfast this morning with Aria. We sit down at a table for four and start talking. After a few minutes Aria comes sitting next to Maggie. Aria and Maggie introduce themselves to each other. The conversation falls silent.

"Nice story you wrote there. My compliments for that," Maggie says to Aria. Aria begins to blush. That's beautiful on her.

Maggie is right. The story of Aria was absolutely lovely. The story was about romance, but also about two lovers who, despite their love for each other, could not be together. I felt proud when Aria picked up her story at the writer, Jason. Aria looks at me briefly and I nod, smiling to let her know that I agree with Maggie. This makes her blush even more.

"Do you really think so?" I feel that she's very insecure about herself. That makes her even more beautiful, if possible. But it hurts me to see that she doesn't have that confidence. She's really good at writing. I'm glad I took her with me to the workshop. I hope she can manage to get over her insecurity.

Then Maggie turns her attention back to me. "I'd love to help you with your writing. I wouldn't say I'm super good at writing, but I've got experience. At least I hope so since there are two novels of mine in the stores. I can see that she's trying to flirt with me. I don't go into her advances, but I remain friendly to her. I can feel Aria is beginning to feel uneasy.

I ignore Maggie's offer and continue the conversation on her two novels. "What are the names of your two novels?" I smile to Maggie and I also give a smile to Aria. She looks away.

"The first one is called Demons and the second Diamonds. The two are connected to each other." We keep talking about her two books until it's time to continue the workshop again. Another few hours and then the workshop is finished already. Aria lets us know that she has to use the toilet. Leaving Maggie and me alone. We walk together towards the room of the workshop and we're cheerfully greeted by Jason. We sit down on our places. When everybody is present again, Jason continues the workshop.