THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FANFICTION SO I HAVE TO UPLOAD CHAPTER 7 AGAIN. ENJOY! x

Chapter 7:

ARIA POV

The storm worsened as the hours passed by. The clock read 7:08pm and the rain was still pelting off the roof, louder than I had ever heard. The sound of thunder replaced the sound of giggling, and the school atmosphere was bleak. Nobody wanted to be here, especially not me.

We were all moved into the library as apparently we were most sheltered there. By everyone, I mean all students, all teachers and all faculty. The tension in the damp room was well and truly there, and Ezra and I kept exchanging quick glances every so often. My friends told me to stop staring at him countless times, but I couldn't help it, I did still have feelings for him. One bad impulse decision wasn't going to just cancel out everything I felt for him, everything we'd shared. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get rid of my feelings for him.

"This is hard!" I told my friends, suddenly blurting out some speech after being silent for around half an hour.

"What is Aria?" Spencer asked hesitantly, although it was quite obvious she knew what I meant.

"I can't be annoyed at him anymore!" I stated rather loudly. Thankfully nobody other than my friends knew who 'him' was.

"He cheated on you Aria." Hanna reminded me. "Don't you see the wrong in that?"

"I do, of course. But everything else other than this has been perfect."

"Perfect?" Spencer questioned as Hanna nodded. Emily remained silent. "He almost got you murdered in Italy, and then he almost died because you two were dating. I wouldn't call what you had perfect at all."

I looked down in disappointment. My friends, mainly Hanna and Spencer, were being quite harsh about this. If this scenario occurred with either Caleb or Toby, I would be totally supportive. They were just being quite mean.

"C'mon guys lay off!" Emily told Hanna and Spencer. She could see I was hurt. "What if you were in this situation? Do you think it would be that easy to forget about either Caleb or Toby?"

"But in fairness Em, Ezra is a teacher." Hanna said fiercely. I looked into her eyes, unable to comprehend what I had just heard. "He cheated on a student, with a teacher."

"It's not like they were ever going to be able to be together!" Spencer to said Emily following Hanna's bitchy comment. I couldn't believe what I was listening to.

"Wow!" I began. "I didn't think you guys had it in you to be so horrible."

"Aria we're just telling the truth. You took the risk by being with him in the first place. You being bummed like this all the time is contagious to us all." Hanna said honestly. By this point, the noise in the room had gotten quieter, and the rain had gotten a whole lot louder.

"Lay off guys, none of us need this right now." Emily pleaded, playing peace maker.

"I can't believe you guys." I said while looking at both Hanna and Spencer. I then pushed my chair out, stood up and left the table.

"Where are you going Aria?" Emily asked while Hanna and Spencer looked down in awkwardness.

"Anywhere but here!" I replied while walking off.

I walked, or rather sprinted towards the main door to the library. I needed a moment away from everyone, but unfortunately I was stopped in my tracks.

"Where are you going?" I heard a voice question as I raised my head. It was Ezra. His voice was almost unrecognisable by now.

"I need to get out of this room. It's getting too crowded." I told him while raising my head to meet his eyes. That soothing feeling I always got when I looked into his crystal blues filled me once again. It was magical.

"I can't let you leave unfortunately. Mulholland's orders." I was then reunited with frustration.

"Okay then I'll just sit here. It's probably the furthest away from everyone I'll get." I sat down on the ground beside the double doors leading into the library. My back leaned against the librarian's desk and I put my head in my knees.

"What's up with you?" Ezra asked, trying not to look too concerned. I didn't answer though.

"Is everything okay?" He tried again, but I still didn't answer.

"Okay come with me." He ordered as I took my head out of my knees.

"Where?" I asked. "I thought I wasn't allowed leave the library."

"Ssssh!" He told me, signalling the gesture with his index finger. "Just come with me!"

As Ezra held the door open for me, I looked over at my friends. They didn't seem too bothered by what had happened, and this only angered me more. I knew it probably wasn't the wisest thing to do, but I left the library with Ezra. Discretely of course.

"Now, are you going to tell me what's bothering you Aria?" Ezra asked me as we made our way down to his class room. "I don't like seeing you upset."

"I've been distraught for the last month and a half Ezra." I stared into his eyes, desperately seeking for that soothing feeling to comfort me. "Haven't you noticed?"

"Of course I have, Aria! It kills me to see you like this. A day hasn't gone by when I haven't thought about you, and what I did to you." His words were gentle but meaningful. I did believe that he was sorry.

"I don't know if I believe that Ezra." I told him, even though I knew he meant every word. "The risks I took with you were the most dangerous risks I have ever taken. What you did to me destroyed me. I have never felt more betrayed in my life." I sat on his desk while he sat closely to me, on his swingy chair. It was all so familiar, but unfamiliar at the same time. He gazed into my eyes and I was certain he was sorry.

"What I did to you, Aria, has torn me apart too. I have never felt this away about anyone before. I don't deserve you if I was willing to sabotage everything I had with you. I hope that one day you can forgive me."

I placed my right hand on his cheek and stroked it gently. "I hope I can too. I really do."

For about five whole minutes there was silence. It was beautiful. We just peered into each other's pupils, remembering everything that had brought us to this moment. It was definitely what I needed.

"Thank you." I said in a relaxed manner. "This is really what I needed. Some peace and quiet."

"No, thank you. For at least trusting me to come down here with you." He smiled, but I had one more question I wanted to ask him.

"Should I prepare myself?" I asked, knowing he wouldn't know what I was talking about.

"For what?"

"For the sight of you and Ms. Anilom as a couple."

"God no Aria!" He made himself very clear. "I made a mistake, I wouldn't make a bigger one like that."

"Okay." I nodded, and smiled. I have to admit, a feeling of relief swept through my body. "Well, I better get back. I've got to go sort things out with my friends."

"I'll see you around?" He prompted.

"Yeah, of course!" I smiled and headed for the door.

"Just one more thing." I said while turning back around. Ezra looked up from his desk. I walked over to him, tenderly kissed him on the cheek, and walked away again.

I left the room this time, knowing I had left with something being accomplished. My mood became brighter, and I was feeling happier than I had for over 50 days.

A/N… Hey guys I am so so sorry it's been this long since I've updated. I'm so busy and under so much stress with school but hope this chapter makes up for it.

I made a huge error in my last chapter with this line:

"I believe it's worth fighting for!" I told her, very sure of myself. I then turned around and took a quick glimpse at Ezra, who was still talking to Jackie. They both had huge smiles on their faces. She probably cracked a joke about me or something. After all, she was a conniving little bitch."

I meant to write 'Ms Anilom' instead there. Luckily I did reveal to readers that Ms. Anilom is Jackie, but Aria isn't supposed to know. Nobody knows Ms. Anilom is Jackie except Ryan. Hope that clears things up.

Tomorrow is A day! OMG! I'm going to have heart failure. I live in Ireland so I'm staying up to watch it till 12am on a school night. Dedication right there!

Thanks so much for sticking with me on this guys! Much Love, Becky x