Ezra's POV
Two months have passed since I woke up from my car accident. Even though I'm mostly healed, Aria still insists on staying with me in my apartment. Not that I'm complaining, I love having Aria around. She is currently lying on my couch and taking notes on her recorded lectures.
" Are you still studying?" I ask.
" I don't have a choice, finals are in less than a month." Aria reminds me.
" Thanks for reminding me." I say sarcastically.
Finals are not the only thing that I'm stressing out about. In less than a month, I will be graduating from college. Life is going to change very quickly, and I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave Berkley just yet. My phone's persistent buzzing interrupts my thoughts. I check my caller I.D. and realize it's Hardy. After I found out about him kissing Aria, I was furious. However, Hardy apologized and explained what was going through his mind when he kissed Aria. It took me a while to forgive him, but now our friendship is as strong as ever.
" Hey Hardy." I say when I pick up my phone.
" Hey Ezra. Are we still taking Aria and Jackie to the city tonight?" Hardy asks.
" I was planning on it, but I might need some help peeling Aria away from her books." I tell him.
" Is she stressed out about finals?" He asks.
" Yeah, it seems like it." I reply.
" Are you excited for graduation?" Hardy asks.
" Not really, I still have a lot of tough decisions to make." I say.
" I take it you haven't told Aria?" Hardy questions.
" How can I? It would break her heart." I remind Hardy.
" I know, but graduation is around the corner. The sooner you tell Aria, the better you will feel." Hardy says to me.
" I haven't even made my decision." I argue frustrated.
" If I were you I would go for it. After all, this is the opportunity that you have always dreamed of." Hardy reminds me.
" That's why making this decision is so difficult." I say sadly.
" I'll stand by you and your decision." Hardy says to me.
" Thanks. I'll see you tonight." I say as I hang up the phone.
" Who was that?" Aria asks absent-mindedly.
" Hardy, he wanted to know if we were still on for tonight." I explain.
" As much as I would love to go to the city tonight, I have a ton of studying to do." Aria says frowning.
" It's Friday night! You have the rest of the weekend to study." I tell her.
" I don't know." She says reluctantly.
" Come on Aria. A study break would help clear your mind." I say as I kiss her forehead gently.
" Yeah, I guess you're right." Aria says as she shuts her book dramatically.
" I'm always right." I tease.
" Whatever you say." Aria says as she rolls her eyes jokingly.
" I love you so much." I say as I wrap my arms around Aria.
" I love you too." She says as she leans into my chest.
Guilt over takes my body. I do love Aria, that's why she deserves to know the truth.
" Aria." I say nervously.
" What?" She asks.
" Never mind." I say timidly.
Aria looks at me like I'm crazy.
" Is everything okay?" She asks concerned.
" Yeah." I lie.
" If you say so." Aria says shrugging.
Aria's POV
I stand in Ezra's bedroom and try to decide on what dress I'm going to wear tonight. I absent-mindedly throw on a dress that Hanna bought for me.
" That looks good." Ezra says as he enters the room.
" Really?" I ask.
" Yeah, but you'd look good in anything." Ezra says as he puts his arms around me.
" You're sweet." I say as my cheeks turn red.
" Are you excited for tonight?" Ezra asks.
" Do you even have to ask?" I tease.
" Hopefully Jackie won't be such a pain this time." Ezra says rolling his eyes.
" Give her a break." I say feeling the need to defend Jackie.
" You're right, I can actually stand her now." Ezra says laughing.
I sigh sadly.
" I'm just joking Aria, I love Jackie." Ezra says trying to soothe me.
" It isn't that." I reply.
" What is it then?" Ezra asks concerned.
" I just miss you." I confess.
" How can you miss me? We live together!" Ezra reminds me.
" I know. Life is just so busy and I feel like we never have any time to spend together." I explain.
Ezra's shoulders immediately tense up.
" What's wrong?" I ask confused.
" Nothing." Ezra mumbles.
" I can tell when you're lying to me." I remind Ezra.
" Let's just enjoy our night together." Ezra suggests.
" Sounds like a plan." I say knowing that Ezra doesn't want to talk about whatever is bothering him.
Line Break
At about six o'clock Hardy and Jackie arrive at Ezra's apartment.
" Hello Aria." Jackie says as she greets me with a hug.
" Hey Jackie!" I say happily.
" Our girlfriends are so close, why aren't we that way man?" Hardy asks Ezra jokingly.
The group immediately bursts into a fit of laughter.
" We should get going before the traffic gets bad." Ezra suggests.
The four of us leave the apartment and wait in the complex for a cab. The drive up to San Fransisco has a light and friendly atmosphere, unlike my first time going to the city! After about forty minutes, the taxi driver drops us off at Union Square.
" The city is busy tonight!" Ezra says to me through the commotion.
I nod my head in response.
" Let's find a place to eat, I'm starving!" Hardy suggests.
" I know this really good Italian place that's just around the corner." Jackie tells us.
" Lead the way." Ezra says to her.
Jackie takes us into the cozy Italian restaurant. The waitress seats us in a comfy booth near the bar area.
" Do you want to split something?" Ezra asks me.
" Sure, I'll have whatever you want." I tell Ezra.
Our conversation is interrupted when I see two of Hardy and Ezra's close friends Matt and Graziella approach our table.
" Ezra, Hardy!" Their friend Matt calls out excitedly.
" Hey Matt! What are you two doing here?" Ezra asks.
" Graziella and I were getting tired of studying for finals, so we decided to go for a date night in the city." Matt replies.
" It's good to see you guys!" Graziella says enthusiastically.
" Would you two like to join us for dinner?" Hardy asks the couple.
" Sure, that sounds fun." Matt says.
My shoulders immediately tense up. I am the only freshman in the group, and the only person who Matt and Graziella don't know personally. Ezra immediately realizes that I'm nervous.
" We can get another table for just us if you would like." Ezra whispers in my ear.
" I'm fine." I say as I give him a sly smile.
" Tell me if you change your mind." Ezra says as he rubs my thighs from underneath the table.
" What can I get you all to drink?" The friendly waitress asks our table.
" We will have six vodkas." Hardy tells her.
" Five vodkas, I'm good with water." I tell the waitress.
" Come on Aria!" Jackie protests.
" Aria doesn't have to do anything that she isn't comfortable with." Ezra says as he wraps his arms around me protectively.
" Thank you." I say to him quietly.
Graziella's ice blue eyes light up.
" Oh my gosh, are you pregnant Aria?" She asks excitedly.
" What? Absolutely not!" I say shocked.
" Why would you even think that?" Ezra asks confused.
" You basically live together, and she isn't getting anything to drink." Graziella explains defensively.
" Aria is only nineteen, it's illegal for her to have alcohol." Ezra reminds Graziella.
" I completely forgot! You seem so much older than nineteen!" Graziella says apologetically.
The bartender probably would have served me if I wanted a drink, but I haven't consumed any alcohol since the night of Ezra's accident. After seeing how reckless I got after a couple of shots, I decided to stay away from drinking for a while.
" I'm so excited for graduation!" Jackie says happily.
" Speaking of graduation, I haven't had the chance to congratulate Ezra!" Matt says grinning.
I glance at Ezra confused, what is Matt congratulating him for?
" Thanks, but can we not talk about this now?" Ezra asks nervously.
" You're always so modest, this is a huge deal!" Matt protests.
Ezra shoots Matt the death glare.
" What is he taking about?" I ask Ezra confused.
" You don't know?" Graziella asks surprised.
" He hasn't had the chance to talk to Aria about this." Hardy says annoyed.
" Aria let's go outside, I think we need to talk." Ezra says.
" Okay." I say as he grabs my hand and leads me out of the booth.
" Nice going." I hear Jackie tell Matt and Graziella angrily.
" What were they talking about?" I ask Ezra when we get outside.
" Take my jacket, it's cold out here and I don't want you getting sick." Ezra says as he holds out his warm coat.
I shake my head and say, " Stop avoiding my questions! What were they talking about?"
Ezra sighs defeated.
" You know how much I love you, right?" He asks.
I nod my head nervously.
" The University of Columbia in New York city offered me a job as an English professor." Ezra tells me.
" Ezra that's amazing, I'm so happy for you!" I say as I try to fight back tears.
" Do you want to talk about this?" He asks me.
" There is nothing to talk about." I say sadly.
" Yes there is Aria! We need to discuss what this means for us." Ezra argues.
" I can't have this conversation now." I say as I start to walk away from Ezra.
" Where are you going?" He asks confused.
" For a walk, I need some fresh air." I tell Ezra.
" Let me come with you." Ezra says.
" I just need some time alone." I protests.
" Please let me come with you! It's not safe for you to be alone this late on a Friday night." Ezra begs desperately.
" Goodbye Ezra." I say as I sprint away from him.
" Aria, come back!" He yells.
I ignore him and continue to run. When I get far enough away from the restaurant, I let all of my emotions out. Tears roll down my face, and sad moans escape my lips. Ezra is moving on. Not just from Berkley, but from me also.
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- xoxo