All characters except for Ms. Wells and Clara belong to Sara Shepard and ABC Family
Chapter 2- Aria
Words couldn't describe how excited I was. I was going to start my first ever teaching job. So it wasn't exactly like how I planned it in high school. I'm teaching kindergarten. I don't know what happened, but I suddenly felt like teaching younger children. I ended up majoring in Children's Education at NYU and minoring in Literature.
I went to school with all the girls; Hannah, Spencer, and Emily. Spencer got a job as a 5th grade teacher at the same school I'm teaching at. Hanna is, as she puts it, an assistant to the assistant of the editor at "Glamour" magazine. Emily decided to take the money she has saved up and money that her parents gave her and travel around the world.
Spencer and I lived across the hall from each other, both of us in studio apartments. Hanna lives down in Greenwich Village with her boyfriend, Lucas.
I woke up that morning thinking about him. Damn it, why is Ezra Fitz always in my head? It's been six years. I'm not going to lie to myself. Of course, I'm still in love with him. Why can't I just move on?I sat up and looked around my apartment. I moved in a month after graduation. It's fairly sized. A good starting off apartment.
I decorated it so it would feel cozy, but modern and "Aria-like". I had Spencer and Hanna come over and we painted the walls a dark blue sapphire color. My kitchen and small table to eat on was towards the front. Most of my furniture is white. I had a small flat screen TV on the wall opposite my bed and my dresser and closet are near the 2 windows I decorated with navy blue bed spread was white with a red Fleur De Lys pattern. There was a small table beside my bed that held a photo of the girls and I at graduation, a bowl of orchids, and hidden behind the photo from graduation is photo of Ezra and myself, that we took from our date to the art gallery in Philly.
I took a shower and picked out my outfit, settling on a light blue sundress with a sweetheart neckline, cheetah printed cardigan, and a simple pair of black flats. I put on my makeup and pulled my dark chestnut curls into a ponytail with some tendrils hanging around my face. Once I was finished, I heard a knock on the door.
"Ready to get going Aria? Well actually Miss Montgomery. You might as well get used to that."
It was Spencer, all made up and ready to get to the school. She was wearing a black pencil skirt, a loose floral tank top, a pale gray blazer, and gladiator sandals. I guess you could say she had to look more "official" and not as "playful" as me, because she was teaching an older grade.
"What? No hello, Spencer? By the way, you look nice. Very appropriate for the first day," I joked with her.
"Thanks. You too. Can we please get going though. I need some Starbucks, or else I'm afraid I might lose it on the kids halfway through the day."
I laughed at her remark and said, "Okay, fine. Wouldn't want the kids to end up fearing you on the first day."
We went to closest Starbucks; there are millions on the streets of New York City, and ordered our usual. Even with the barista's mix up of my drink (I had asked for a chai late, but somehow gotten some sort of caramel-coffee drink) we made it to the school on time. Manhattan Day, is one of the nicer schools in the city. It's hard to describe, but it's almost like its the public school were Broadway actors, restaurant owners, and even college professors or teachers sent their kids. Successful, but not politician and socialite successful.
I had the room all set up and ready to go by the time the bell rang and the children walked through the door. I stood at the opening and greeted them all as the toddled their way into the room.
When they all were inside, I called out to them in my sweetest voice possible, "Hi Guys! I'm your teacher, Miss Montgomery and welcome to Kindergarten. Could you all please take a seat on the carpet in front of the room in a circle."
The children were adorable, all gazing up at me with their wide, curious eyes. Most of them seemed shy, but I'm sure once we all got to know each other, they would become more outgoing.
The all quietly gathered into a circle. Two small girls, one with dark chestnut hair, almost like my own, and another with bright red hair, saved a spot for me in between them.
I brought the attendance list over with me and took a seat.
"Alright everyone, as I told you earlier, I'm Miss Montgomery. I'm going to call out every-one's names, and if you here, please say so."
"Marie?"
"Here," said the small red headed girl to my right.
"Mason, Eliza, Aiden, Cole, Sara...," and the list went on at least 14 more names until I got to the last one.
"Clara?"
"Here" said a small bell-like voice. It came from the little girl sitting to my left. I finally was able to take a good look at her. She had my hair color, even the same curly texture. Her skin was a porcelain color, but it was her eyes that struck me the most. They were familiar; a bright blue and rimmed with thick lashes. She had a striking resemblance to me, and I was pretty sure I didn't have a daughter. She also looked like, and it killed me to say it, but she also looked like Ezra. I'm sure that if he and I had worked out and had a daughter, this would be her.
"It's nice to meet you guess what?"
"What," she asked her blue eyes looking at me curiously.
"You get to start our game. What we're going to do is everyone has to give me their full name and something about yourself. I'll even play!"
"Yay! I like games," shouted a small boy, who I believed was named Ryan.
I laughed and looked at Clara.
"You ready to start?"
"Yes. Hi everyone. My full name is Clara Grace Fitz, my da-"
"Fitz," I interrupted. "You're last name is Fitz?"
"Yes, what's the matter Miss Montgomery."
"Nothing, its just, I..uhh...I had a friend with the last name Fitz, that's all. You can continue."
"Thanks. So as I said, my name is Clara Grace Fitz. My daddy works at Columbia University as a English teacher, and he also likes to write stories. He told me that I was named Clara because that was the girl he was in love with's favorite name. My favorite princess is Ariel, and my favorite color is light blue."
My head was swimming by the time Clara finished her story. Her last name was Fitz, and she had his eyes. That's why they were so familiar. And her father teaches English and writes. And there was Clara being my favorite name. I had planned on naming my daughter (if I ever have one) that. Only Ezra knew that small unimportant tidbit.
My eyes welled up a little bit as I mulled over the thoughts in my head. The kids were too enraptured into one another's stories, that they couldn't see my emotion. Good for him, he moved on. Well, partially I guess. He wouldn't have given his daughter my favorite name, if he was completely over me. But still, he got what he wanted. He got a family, and obviously with someone more suitable in age for him.
I recomposed myself just in time for my turn at the game.
"Well, my name is Aria Montgomery. I'm from Rosewood, Pennsylvania. I have 3 very close friends named Hanna, Spencer, and Emily. You will probably meet Hanna because she told me she probably will pop in a couple times. You will also definitely meet Spencer. She's a 5th grade teacher here at the school. I love to read and write stories. And I also love music. Maybe you'll hear me sing during the year."
"My daddy used to work in Rosewood," piped in Clara excitedly. This wasn't some coincidence, this was his daughter.
The day passed quickly, and as I got to know my students, I had a feeling we would have a great year together. They were all very adorable. One of the boy, Cole, called out earlier today "Miss Montgomery, you're very pretty!"
Clara was something else though. She could be very chatter-y or very quiet. It seemed like it depended on the situation or whom she was speaking with. She also was far more intelligent than the other children. I could see little traces of Ezra's personality within her. Plus, her eyes were like looking into his. When she asked me for more crayons to draw her daddy a picture about her first day at school, it was almost like going back to Rosewood, holed up in his little apartment. 'Get a grip on yourself' I thought. 'She may not even be his.' Yeah right. There was no chance in hell she wasn't his. The signs were there.
The bell rang at 2:30 signaling the students to go out front. For the kindergartners, we had to wait with them for a parents to pick them up. One by one, each student left my watch, holding onto a hand of a parent. By 2:45, every student was left but one. Clara.
We stood by the wrought iron gates waiting for her father. She was holding onto my hand. After one day, she seemed attached to my hip.
"Miss Montgomery?"
"Yes Clara?"
"May I call you Miss Aria? Miss Montgomery is too many words for my mouth the say at once."
I giggled at her remark. "Sure Clara. You may call me Miss Aria."
A few minutes passed as Clara and I stood looking, trying to see if her daddy was on her way. At one point I picked her up, so she could have a better view.
"Miss Aria," Clara asked, as she laid her head against my shoulder. It was almost 2:50 and it was clear that I would have to wait with her for 10 more minutes, and then call her father.
"Yes Clara?" It felt strangely comforting to have her small head resting on my shoulder. In a short day, I felt an immediate bond with Clara. Just then, a fellow kindergarten teacher, Ms. Wells walked past us, in a rush to leave the school. She paused to say goodbye.
"Goodbye Aria. See you tomorrow. Oh! And your daughter is so beautiful! She looks just like you! It's so cute that you're teaching her class!"
"Oh! Sophia she isn't..," I trailed off. It was just late to finish up the sentence; Sophia was already halfway down the street.
Clara's small voice said, "Why do you look like me? I've never known my mommy. Are you her? Even that lady thinks so."
As I stumbled for words, Clara looked up at me with her blue eyes. Just before I could come up with a logical answer, Clara and I were interrupted by a familiar voice. A voice that could make me weak at the knees and feel safe all at once.
"Clara? A-Aria?"
I looked up from Clara's face to meet with the man I hadn't seen in years.
Cliffy!
Thank you to everyone who's supported the story during it's first chapter!
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update: outfits can be located on my profile!