Chapter 4:

"Good morning, sweetie." Ezra said, walking into Aria's room and kissing her forehead.

"Morning, handsome." Aria said, smiling.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, I guess. Still a little sore, but I can't wait to leave this place." Aria said, sighing. Then she smiled again. "Want to sign my cast?" she asked, reaching for a pack of permanent markers.

Ezra laughed. "Of course!" he said, taking a blue marker from her hand. He started to write.

"No peeking!" he said, noticing Aria watching. Aria laughed and rolled her eyes.

After several minutes of Ezra writing, and Aria impatiently telling him to hurry, Ezra capped the marker and sat down beside Aria. She automatically leaned into his chest, inhaling his scent. She moved her broken arm slightly so she could read the writing on it and smiled.

It's a number.
It's a song.
It's a girl.

Smooth.
Pearl joy packed.
Gold falafel,
As through ice.

It's four-thirty.
Morning with
Phone calls.
It's deaf mute.

It's cheap.
A foreign car.
Maybe bingo.
Lucky night?
Something says
It smells bad.

"B-26" she mumbled, looking up to meet Ezra's eyes.

Ezra pushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. "You are my B-26." he said, before gently kissing her.

"Do you guys do anything else?" a voice asked, and Aria and Ezra broke apart to see Hanna standing in the doorway, Emily right behind her.

"Hanna!" Emily said, shaking her head at her friend as Aria and Ezra both turned red.

"Hey guys!" Aria said, leaning forward to hug both of her friends.

"How are you?" Emily asked.

"A lot better. Still a little sore, but nothing too bad. The doctor says I can leave in a few days. That reminds me, how's Spencer?" Aria asked.

Ezra, Hanna and Emily all exchanged looks of discomfort.

"Guys?" Aria asked, panic edging into her voice. "Please, say something!" she pleaded, looking between each of them.

Emily and Hanna looked between each other and then stared at Ezra expectantly. Ezra sighed, and took Aria's hand.

"Spencer's condition is...complicated." Ezra began, hesitantly.

Aria waited for him to continue. "Complicated how?"

Ezra looked at Hanna and Emily before looking back at Aria. "She needs brain surgery." he said gently.

Aria gasped and looked at Ezra, then at her two friends for confirmation. They both looked down, unable to meet her tearful gaze. "Brain surgery?" she whispered, shocked.

Ezra pulled her against him and she cried into his shirt. She felt two more pairs of arms wrap around her, Hanna and Emily.

"What else did the doctor say?" Aria asked, still sobbing.

"They have to do some tests to see if she's ready for the surgery, and that will take at least a week. The surgery has a 70% success rate, and the surgeons have performed this kind of procedure before, so she's in good hands." Ezra assured her.

"But, what if..." Aria trailed off, not able to complete her sentence. Her unfinished thought hung in the air, everyone silent around her. Aria pulled Hanna and Emily closer to her, the three girls crying.

Ezra stood back for a moment, wondering if he should comfort Aria and the girls or if he should leave and let them have some time alone with each other. Before he could make his decision, his cell phone rang. He walked quietly out of the room and answered the call without looking at the caller I.D. first.

"Hello?"

"Ezra? Is that you?" a feminine voice asked.

Ezra stopped in his tracks, frozen. He recognized the voice immediately although it had been at least 4 years since he'd last heard it. "Maggie?"

Hey y'all. So I'm sorry, I know this chapter was pretty short, but next chapter will be longer. Don't forget to review :)