I wanted to say that I'm happy with the new episode and basically Ali! OMG Ali! I always knew she was alive and I missed her. As for Ezra, I know you're all sad and disappointed but can I say that I'm excited because we will actually see him a lot from now on?
Big thanks to my beta Marcia794 for having the patience of a saint. (I couldn't even find my fanfic's URL without her help. Yeah, I'm basically useless without her to that extent.)
Thanks to anyone who reads, bigger thanks to you guys who reviewed, it made me so happy. And guys, never give up on Ezria.
This chapter was inspired by Demi Lovato's songs and basically 'Heart By Heart'. I don't know why, I was just listening to her while writing it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3 - Our Last Chance

Aria's POV

''The point was to learn what it was we feared more: being misunderstood or being betrayed.'' - Adam Levin, The Instructions

I couldn't stay in my bed anymore. It had already been three hours since I started crying and my eyes hurt. I had to do something; being here like a helpless lost puppy would get me nowhere. I sat up and headed for my wardrobe. The first thing I saw when I opened it was one of the very few casual outftis I own; my black hoodie. How ironic, I thought. I wondered how many times Ezra had followed me and the girls in a similar one. I changed out of my dress in a hurry and set off to the place that would give me the answers I deserved and would also break my heart into a million pieces.

As I entered the familiar building my heart clenched. This could be the last time I found myself here. In a few minutes my whole world would be destroyed and there would be no coming back. I tried to calm myself by thinking that things could not be the way they seemed to be. Maybe Ezra was being blackmailed like Toby and had no other choice but to work with them; sure Toby never wanted to hurt Spencer. He could be just a puppet, a member of the A-team who did everything without his will. Yeah, that's what happened, A was blackmailing him and made him do things he never wanted to.

Having this in mind, I arrived at his door and banged on it a couple of times. A few moments later the door opened and a sleepy Ezra appeared on the threshold. The look he gave me was one of total surprise; but that only lasted for a second until fear clouded his features.

"Aria?" He asked confused. "What are you doing here?"

I was ready to run into his arms and kiss his beautiful face and tell him that I had missed him so much and that I can't live without him. That was basically the only thing I always wanted to do when I saw him since we broke up. But then, I remembered that the last time I saw his eyes was a few hours ago, while he was acting like an innocent clown entertaining the crowd. Then I did something that I never thought I would do to Ezra.

I walked the few steps that separated us and slapped him across the face. His mouth dropped open as he stayed there staring at me; he was obviously surprised; I was, too.

"What was that for?" He whispered, looking at me with those piercing eyes. His voice was so calm and I suddenly felt that coming here maybe was a bad idea after all.

"How could you do this to me?" I sounded more desperate than I intended to but seeing him standing there all calm after everything he had done made me crazy.

"Do what, Aria?" He suddenly sounded guilty, maybe he had regretted what he's done? Yeah, keep fooling yourself, Aria. The thought of him being our biggest enemy invaded my mind again and I felt dizzy.

"Aria! I've got you, baby!" Before I totally lost my balance, I fell into his arms and started crying again, but this time it was like I'd never stop. The pain in my chest was too much to bear and I kept crying a desperate 'why' as he carried me to his sofa.

He put me down and took me in his arms but this couldn't happen. It was disgusting and it broke my heart even more. I pushed him away and tried to calm myself without looking at him.

"Will you tell me what's going on, please?" He tried to take my hand in his as he always did but once again I wouldn't let him. "Aria, you're scaring me. Is everything okay?"

"Okay? How could anything be okay?" So much for calming myself. People in the next neighbourhood could probably hear me. "You've been trying to ruin my life, you've been lying to me for months and now you dare ask me if everything's okay?"

His mouth amlost hit the floor once again and I felt the urge to slap him, harder than before. "Wh.. What did you say?" This took him by surprise and I really wondered why. Did he think I was so stupid that he could fool me for years?

"Just tell me one thing." My voice was barely audible, I was so afraid of his answer to what I was about to ask. "Did you ever love me?" A tear slipped down my cheek and I nearly wished I could take those words back.

He moved closer to me and took my face between his hands. This time I didn't push him away, I couldn't move. I waited for his words, the words that would prove that the best thing that ever happened in my life was a total lie.

"Aria." He looked into my eyes like he was looking into my soul and my name had never been spoken with such emotion. It sounded different coming from his lips, it sounded special; like the way he made me feel. "If there is anything true in my life, that is my love for you. You can't ever doubt that. You are my everything, you'll always be. And I will keep you safe no matter what."

I so wanted to believe him. Now, here, being with him like this, like we used to be; it was too easy to forget the past few hours and convince myself that he really loved me. That nothing would ever change this thing we had and in a minute we would order Chinese, curl up on the sofa and watch old movies until dawn.

But then I thought of times when something was off with Ezra. When he was meant to be totally broke but his drawer was full of cash. Or when he suddenly appeared on a travelling train after a near-death experience of mine, although he was meant to be in Philadelphia for an interview.

''I don't know how I can ever trust you again.'' I looked him in the eyes and tried to find any sign of regret or remorse. Would it hurt him if he lost me? Would he feel like his breath was taken away from him, like I felt every time we were apart? Probably no, given that he had used me in the worst way possible. I pushed myself away from him and got up, trying once again to calm my breath and think clearly. ''Why have you been lying to me all this time?'' I crossed my arms and I turned to look at him while waiting for his response.

''I haven't been entirely honest with you. But it was something I had to so I wouldn't lose you.'' His gaze was glued to his folded hands that stayed on his lap and he was speaking through gritted teeth. ''I had to sacrifice things so I could keep you.'' He finally looked at me with wet eyes but could I feel sorry for him? No, the answer came in an instant. He had hurt me more than anyone ever had and he wasn't getting my forgiveness.

''I have done everything in my power to save this relationship, I have being lying to my parents, my friends. I tolerated your jealous ex-fiancee, your insane mother, your high school girlfriend with an almost son and so much more. I know I came to you with a package of a troubled life but maybe you already knew my resume!'' I hardly took a breath through all this rant and I was on the verge of tears, very angry tears. I wasn't the only one who had to sacrifice things so as to keep him.

''What do you mean?'' He was shouting now and he sprinted off the couch, a move that made me take a few steps backs. I had to take my precautions because now that the truth was slowly being revealed he could show me his true dangerous self. I was scared I was losing him, every moment that passed by brought me closer to the truth and at any moment he could admit that our love story was a well-built lie.

''Just tell me the truth Ezra! Tell me that you used me and that there is a whole second life of yours I have no idea about! Tell me you betrayed me!'' I was shouting, too, and I was scared of where this situation would take us.

''It's not like that, just let me explain!" He didn't deny it, oh my. So it was true, he had been using me. My vision blurred but I fought back the tears, I wouldn't let him see me breaking.

"I have to go."

"No! Aria, please!" I tried to turn around but he grabbed my arms and his eyes bore into mine.

"Don't leave me again, I just got you back."

"What gave you this impression?" His earnest expression gave place to a surprised look.

"You kissed me, remember? The other night, it was like everything was back to normal." He was being honest now, I knew when he was lying; I instantly felt a pain in my chest. No, I never knew when he was lying, for all I knew he could be lying now, too. I averted my eyes in case he noticed that I had thought the same thing about our night at the brew. I had believed that everything would be back to normal again and that the only obstacle now would be Jake. But no, I had to face the most fucked-up situation now and my hopes washed away.

"This was a mistake that's never gonna happen again."

"And why is that? Because you can't trust me anymore or because this relationship destroyed your life? Well, breaking news: I'm the one destroyed here." I couldn't believe what was happening in front of my eyes. Ezra, my Ezra, was telling me that I destroyed him. This was so cruel, I wanted to break down. He was cold and distant, like he was someone else. The man that believed we were soulmates and we had to fight for our love no matter what. "I've lost everything because of you."

"Oh, so you blame me for your life's mess? Then it's good I walked away from your life a few weeks ago, I guess everything's alright now?" I tried to be cold too, like the fact that we were apart didn't bother me at all.

"Don't perceive things the way you want to." He paused and took a step closer to me. "I don't regret a thing about what I have with you. I don't regret this, Aria." He waved between us. I swear his mood swings were giving me a headache. "I've told you again; this thing we have has never felt wrong and it will never be wrong. But you need to know that I've given everything up so as to be with you."

"You can as well take this 'everything' back now because there's no point anymore. There's no point in 'you and me'. We've hurt each other ebough." Saying those words hurt me, a lot. But I had to end it. Firstly, I had to do this for the girls. No matter how much I loved him and even if I ever found the strength to forgive him, I couldn't betray my best friends. He might have kept me safe all this time as he claims, but he's done terrible things to them. Also, the fact that he was my whole life couldn't take back his actions.

"Please, let me explain myself. You need to understand." He seemed desperate. What if there still was a tiny part of him that loved me? I had to fight and bring him back, right? Instead of letting those sparks of hope get the best of me I focused on this new, terrifying Ezra that was an unknown man.

"I don't need any explanations and excuses, Ezra. I need to go." I avoided his eyes because it would break me.

"Aria, don't give up on us."

"I've tried to save us again and again but it's leading us nowhere. Maybe you were right, there is no happy ending for us."

"You've changed everything by walking into my life, you can't take it back now."

"We're not meant to be, Ezra. Maybe I shouldn't come back." The tears were streaming down my face now and he was crying, too. I didn't know what to believe but I guess it didn't matter anymore, I had made my desicion.

"This time I'll fight for you. I'm not letting go." He was so broken, he seemed hurt but I didn't really care at the moment. I had to mend my own heart now. I looked in his eyes one last time, the eyes that made me love him, the eyes I had always thought were telling me the truth. I would miss everything about him and I knew that by leaving now a part of me would stay here, with him. I was never going to be whole again.

He never tried to stop me though, he didn't move. This time I didn't approach him, I didn't kiss his cheek, I didn't walk away so he could grab my arm and kiss me on the lips. This time I kept my distance and with a hoarse voice I whispered those damn words.

"Goodbye, Ezra."

Thanks for reading and please review and tell me anything you think about the story or whatever you want okay.
Love, A