The girls met outside after school on the rosewood high steps.
"I can't see Ezra, you seen that text. I didn't even get a chance to explain." Aria holds back the tears as she puts her head in her hands. "There's more texts than this too… A is watching me, constantly. If I don't seem like i'm moving on with my life, I get another text."
Hanna looks to her feet and off into the car park. A look on her face like she knows there's nothing she can do.
"Aria, you can't give in to a bully. You can't let A control you like this." Spencer exclaims as she lets out a loud sigh.
"The texts stop when I pretend to look happy and as if I'm moving on. That's just what I have to do. They come back as soon as I go out in a hoodie and sweats or don't leave the house for a while. I find myself having to go walks at the weekend just so this person will stop texting me! It's extreme… but it's working. If anything happened to Ezra because of me, I could never forgive myself. I just need to play this out. Maybe we were never meant to be." Aria looked at all three girl's reactions and knew she was right. She nodded at them. "I have to go. I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow."
Aria walked off with her head down and with the wind blowing through her dark hair.
"I guess that's it then…" Emily sadly agreed with Aria.
"I'm going to see Ezra." Spencer said as she started walking off to the car.
"Spence! You heard Aria, just leave it. You'll end up making things worse!" Hanna advised spencer but she knew it fell on deaf ears.
"Ezra might know something about this. He's been researching A for years. There's got to be another way. I'll be in touch if I find anything." Spencer opened her car door and drove off. She could see Hanna and Emily's disapproving faces in her rear-view mirror as she steered in the direction of Ezra's apartment.
When she got there and walked the stairs she had a horrible feeling in her stomach as if she was making a mistake. She kept going one step at a time until she got to apartment 3B, just like the poem. She knocked on the door firmly but cautiously. Silently she hoped he wasn't home. Spencer heard someone removing the chain lock from the inside of the door and she stepped back slightly as Ezra answered. He was dressed in jeans, a grey hoodie and his hair was messy and unkept. It was strange for Spencer to see him this way as she is used to seeing him in shirts and ties and one time – santa boxers.
"Spencer… Hey." Ezra said with confusion written all over his face as he searched hers for answers. "Is everything ok?"
"Could I come in?" Spencer asked, her eyes peering into his apartment.
"Of course. Sorry about the mess." Ezra gestured for spencer to go into the apartment with a wave of a hand and as she sat down on the sofa he awkwardly stayed standing. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Maybe a vodka soda… It's been a crappy day." Spencer half-laughed.
"Um…" Ezra said, clearly unsure if she is serious or joking. "Not sure if I have that…"
"I'm joking." Spencer smiled. "It's… Aria."
Ezra's eyes perked up with worry. "Is she okay?"
"She's… physically fine. As far as I can tell." Spencer laughed again but she could sense he didn't appreciate the joke.
"I haven't seen her, you know, for quite a while. She didn't even tell me why; she just came here and said she didn't want this anymore." Ezra looked at his fidgeting hands. Spencer could tell this was hard for him. He finally sat down on the arm chair across from Spencer. "I just want her to be happy. If that means she has to be without me then I have to respect that, right?"
Spencer looked to the door, wondering if this was a mistake. It was silent for a minute while she gathered her thoughts. She stared around Ezra's apartment. There were a lot of takeout boxes and bottles of beer, as if he had just been in his apartment and not left. Beside her on the table was a turned down picture frame. She wondered if it was a picture of Aria.
"Ezra, it wasn't her choice to do this." Spencer finally revealed to Ezra, she could tell this news was welcomed. Ezra's slumped shoulders rose when she said it. "She had been getting texts from A threatening her. Telling her if she doesn't cut ties with you that A would make sure she ends it for good…." Spencer stared into Ezra's eyes hoping he knew what she meant. Ezra nodded.
"I suspected it was A related but I couldn't be sure. I have to see her, Spencer. I won't let A ruin this again. Can we figure out a way for me to see her?" Ezra pleaded with Spencer.
"I don't know, Ezra. She says A's watching her every move right now."
"Just make it look like you're taking her somewhere; all four of you have to go. It's easy to lose someone if there are other distractions." Ezra was excited by this plan and could tell Spencer was hesitant.
"Okay. We can try. I'm just scared of what we're gambling if it doesn't work…." Spencer reminded Ezra of the threats.
"It will work." Ezra smiled.