Chapter 15:

"I'm home" Ezra said, closing the door to apartment 3B and taking off his coat. He lifted his head as the smell of something delicious wafted through the apartment. "What are you making?"

"It's a surprise." Aria said, putting the lid on a pot and wiping her hands on a dish towel before going over to Ezra and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "But I have to run to the grocery store and pick up a few things that I forgot at home, so I need you to promise not to peek, okay?" When she saw Ezra's curious glance at the stove she sighed. "Actually, no, you're coming with me."

"But-"

"No buts, do you want to change into something more comfortable before we leave?" Aria asked.

Ezra groaned. "Do I have to go?"

"Yes." Aria said automatically. "You're going to peek otherwise."

"No I won't." Ezra protested.

Aria raised her eyebrows.

Ezra sighed and left the room, emerging a moment later in jeans and a t-shirt.

"Good boy." Aria teased.

Ezra glared at her. "The things I do for women."

Aria laughed and put her arms around his neck. "Trust me, it's worth it."

*PLL*

"Okay all we need now is garlic powder and cheese." Aria said, looking at her list as Ezra pushed the cart full of produce in front of her.

"Here's the garlic powder." he said, picking up a bottle from one of the shelves. "And I think the cheese is up ahead." He headed in the direction of the freezer aisle and was just about to turn a corner when their cart collided with another cart.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Ezra said, looking up into the face of Noel Kahn, who smirked when he saw Aria standing beside Ezra.

"Wow, still together huh?" Noel sneered.

Aria rolled her eyes. "Haven't heard that one before." she mumbled under her breath.

Ezra started to move his cart to get away from Noel but the other man stepped into his way. "Noel, move." Ezra said, clenching his jaw.

"You're not my teacher anymore, you can't make me do anything." Noel said defiantly.

"Noel, what's your problem?" Aria said, moving in front of Ezra and shoving Noel's cart away.

Noel stared at her incredulously. "Seriously? Are you really asking me that?"

Aria stared him right in the eyes. "Yeah, I am. Last time I checked, I don't need your approval to date someone."

"And last time I checked, you're not supposed to date your teachers, especially when you're already with someone else." Noel spat. "Did you forget the fact that you used me?"

Aria's eyes softened slightly. "Noel..."

"Screw you." he said angrily, shoving her away from his cart. She would have fallen if Ezra hadn't caught her arm and helped her balance herself. He stomped straight into Noel's face and would have hit him if Aria hadn't been holding his arm, pleading with him not to do anything.

"If you ever touch her again, I'll kill you." Ezra said, glaring at Noel. Noel glared back, angrily.

"Ezra, let's go. He's not worth it." Aria pleaded, pulling him away from the teenager.

Ezra took a deep breath and grabbed his cart, following Aria towards the check-out line.

"Don't get in another car accident on your way home. You wouldn't want to kill someone else." Noel called in front of them.

Aria gripped the handle of the cart really tight and stood absolutely still. Ezra, red-faced, went right back up to Noel, grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against a shelf full of pop bottles.

"Noel, I'm going to count to five and, if by the time I'm finished you're still here, I swear to God I won't hold back when I beat the shit out of you." Ezra seethed, shoving Noel back so he stumbled into a stack of cereal boxes, which went tumbling down.

"One...two..." Ezra started. Noel stood there for a moment, hesitating, before he realized he'd gone to far and ran off. Ezra went back to Aria, who was still standing in front of the cart, tears streaming down her pale face.

"Aria." Ezra said, touching her cheek lightly. "Noel's wrong, you didn't-"

Aria shook her head, cutting him off. "Could you take care of these?" she said gesturing towards the cart. "I'm going to go outside. I need some air"

Ezra nodded. "Of course." he said, giving her forehead a kiss and rubbing her back. Aria smiled gratefully at him and walked away, leaving Ezra in the middle of the grocery store.

*PLL*

"Hey." Ezra said, looking up at Aria, who was sitting in a tree in a park near the grocery store.

"Hey." she replied sadly, not even looking at him.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

Aria shrugged.

Ezra grabbed hold of a low branch, putting his foot on a little stub and pulling himself up. He was thankful that he'd changed into more comfortable clothes as he slowly climbed the tree. When he arrived at Aria's branch, she moved over so he could sit with her, and he hoisted himself onto it, steadying himself by resting his back against the tree trunk. "You okay?" he asked, looking at Aria.

Aria shrugged again. "I know now that it's not exactly my fault that Spencer died but it doesn't make it any easier to hear things like that."

"Noel's a jerk, don't listen to him. He's just trying to hurt you." Ezra said, gently pulling Aria closer to him, carefully making sure he had a firm hold on her in case she lost her balance. Aria buried her head into his chest, sniffling.

"I miss Spencer." she said sadly.

"It's okay." Ezra said, rubbing circles on her back. "I know you miss her, but remember, she's always with you wherever you go. Just because you can't see her doesn't mean she's not there. She's watching, from up in heaven and she'll always be in your heart." he said.

After he spoke they were both silent. It wasn't awkward, it was a comforting silence as Aria clung to Ezra's chest and he continued to rub circles on her back, soothing her as he always did.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next one should be up within a week, hopefully. I'm also hoping to have the first chapter of a new story up sometime soon. It's the sequel to Broken-Hearted Girl and it will be called Healed Heart, so stay tuned for that. I'll let y'all know when I post the first chapter. Also, for those of you that read My Saviour, I'm hoping to have the next chapter up sometime this weekend or between Monday - Wednesday so hopefully that will be up soon too.

Anyways, don't forget to leave a review. And tell me if there's anything you would like to see in future chapters. I' say this a lot but I'm always open to new ideas so let me know :)

-xo Sobia :)