First off I don't know about you. But I am hating this new update site that FanFiction came up with. It's stupid and very complicated. I want the old way/one back and not this filter thangy.
But other than that I am loving your reviews and reaction towards this story and I didn't want to wait to put this up. Now this is the second part of the first and I hope you like it. But keep the reviews coming and if I get little more than ten reviews I will update again.
Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with Pretty Little Liars.
Ezra looked at Aria with eyes to kill. He couldn't believe that she had driven him miles away from home and brought him to an AA meeting. He couldn't believe that Aria would think so low of him as to bring him here. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.
"My name is Darnell and I have a drinking problem." She announced after Aria and then sat down as the rest of the group went along and introduced themselves, when finally it was Ezra's turn he just waved them off. He wanted no part of this place and he wanted no part of Aria and her continues lies.
"Come on Ezra, if you don't try then what was the point of getting in that car this morning?" Aria whispered pleading for Ezra to join in.
"Don't push him, "William said cutting Aria off, "This is not a place where we are here to push people. Let him listen and if he is ready he can join the group."
Aria sighed and nodded towards William, "Then I'm going to listen too!"
"That's fine with us, right?" He asked the group and they all nodded and said yes, "Okay, so today we are going to do an exercise and I want everyone to envision yourselves into a place of happiness. A place that once brought you joy." Aria closed her eyes and thought about the first time she and Ezra kissed in the bathroom. She loved that moment.
Ezra closed his eyes after looking around the room and thought about the time that Aria ran to him when he was leaving Rosewood High. He thought about how he was so close to losing her forever and then finally hearing his name being called in the distant and seeing this little petite girl running up to him and jumping into his arms.
He opened his eyes to see everyone smiling. He turned towards Aria and she was doing the same thing. Smiling like some idiot who had gotten a very special gift in life. He licked his lips and stood up announcing to the group, "My name is Ezra and I'm an alcoholic." He looked as everyone's attention was now on him, "I'm here because my friends think that I'm too much to handle and I think they're right." He looked down at Aria, "I lost someone so dear to me and didn't want to see her again. So I started to drink and I started to let myself go." Ezra sat down still looking at Aria, "She came back into my life and brought me here today. I asked this person to marry me and she turned me down." Ezra looked around as everyone listened, "I thought I was scum and I thought nothing else about life and thought that I meant nothing to this world after that."
"But that's not true." Aria cut him off, "You are still very special and dear to my heart and that's something I can never let go. No matter how close I get to someone else."
Ezra shook his head, "You broke my heart and I can't forgive you for that."
Aria nodded, "I understand. But did Malcolm break your heart too?" Ezra shook his head, "Then why are you neglecting him?"
"Why are you?" He asked referring to Lacy
"Alright," William spoke out, "That was excellent and thank you for expressing yourself," He gestured to Ezra, "I want to ask you and Aria something." He waited of them to nod before going on, "Are you both willing to come back another day?"
"I am, "Aria jumped in,
Ezra whipped his head to see Aria looking at him, "I guess I'm in too." He smiled
The rest of the hour everyone talked about their problems and what and how they turned to drinking. Aria stayed quiet in the background and listened as she realized that she really didn't need to be here. But if Ezra was going to get the help he needed from being here than she was going to do anything and everything to get him back on track.
When the meeting ended everyone shook hands and Ezra talked to William a little longer than Aria thought he would be. But she didn't mind at all, all she wanted to see was Ezra's health being back to the way it was.
"Are you ready to go?" Aria asked when Ezra walked up to her
Ezra nodded, "Yeah I'm good." He walked ahead of her and asked for his keys but Aria told him that they still had a couple more places to go before heading back to town, "Like where?"
"Breakfast for starters," Aria laughed, "I'm hungry, all that talking really talked me into an appetite" She made a really bad joke.
"Okay that was just bad, "Ezra laughed at her, "but okay."
LINE BREAK
After a short breakfast Aria drove them to the nearest Wal-Mart, she thought about going to Sears for this little project but then thought otherwise. Wal-Mart has a little more selection when it came to curtains and household items.
She grabbed a cart while Ezra dragged his feet behind him. "What are we doing here Aria? Did you run out of Tampons?" He teased.
Aria stopped her tracks and pushed him a little, "I thought we were having a good day? Do you need a tampon? Or do you already have one shoved way up your ass that you can't get it out?"
"Alright- Alright," He said in defeat, "But seriously what are we doing here? First you drag me off to New Haven and I want to thank you for that," She smiled, "And then you treat me to breakfast and now we're shopping?"
Aria nodded, "You are welcome and I will go to every meeting with you if you want me too!" she smiled sincerely, "And just think of all the times that you ran out to get take out, I kind of owe you something and as for Wal-Mart," she stopped when they came to bedding's and curtains, "I thought we could liven up your place. It looks like you're living in a cave."
Ezra laughed, "It works for mean hang overs, "
Aria rolled her hands patting his belly, "We don't need any more hang overs."
Ezra walked down the aisle and looked around, he didn't see anything he would actually want in his house considering that they were mostly floral printed curtains. But as he turned down the other Isle he saw Aria looking at the curtain display they had. It was all plain light colored patterns and he nodded. He forgot how much Aria knew him. Aria lifted her head up and smiled, "How about light blue or light green for the living room. Or we can go for a two-toned color and use the dark and light on top of one another?"
Ezra took the curtain she had in her hand and let their fingers brush before thinking which one he would choose, "Well I like the blackout curtains I have now," He teased a little, "But if I was to think about it I like the maroon color with the pearl white,"
"Really?" she asked and he nodded, "See it wasn't so hard." She picked up a few panels.
"How do you know what size my curtains are?" Ezra questioned, "IT took me three trips just to get the measurement right."
Aria laughed out loud, "I have another gift for you," She walked down to bedding, "But you'll see it back at the house." She bit her lip, "Do you see anything you like?"
Ezra was looking at her when she asked and he nodded, "Yeah I do." She never noticed that he was looking at her, "But I think I'll go with this one." He pointed to the black and white checker print complete bedding, "I think it would match my soul,"
Aria turned her head to look at him, "Come on Ezra, I'm trying here."
"And I was kidding Aria," Ezra pressed his lips into a thin line, "Lighten up, I thought this was supposed to be a good day," He picked up the bedding, "It will match the white curtains that's in the cart,"
Aria rolled her eyes, "Okay, just a few more things and we are all set to go."
Ezra followed Aria as she walked down to toiletry's and grabbed him some deodorant, razors, new tooth brushes, toilet paper, paper towels, a brush and comb set. He couldn't believe that Aria was just throwing things into the cart and not even looking at how much it would cost them in the long run. Soon she was at the front and ready for check out when Ezra stopped her, "Can I have my wallet please?"
Aria tilted her head, "No, what for?"
"So I can pay for this?" Ezra started to protest, "Come on, this is a lot of stuff"
Aria nodded and ignored him saying "Think of this as a house warming gift,"
"That's some gift," Ezra retorted, "And I want to pay for it."
"No," Aria looked at Ezra as he placed the last item onto the belt and watched the lady ring them up
"325. 19" She told us and Ezra watched Aria dig in her bag and bring out her wallet and swipe her card, "Thank you," She said handing Aria the receipt"
"Come on Ezra let's go!" Aria cheerfully sang as he placed the last bag into the cart and pushed it out of the store, "What a great day"
Ezra rolled his eyes, "Aria, I am going to pay you back as soon as you give me back my wallet, "He argued, "And if I wasn't the man that I am I would have taken it from you!" He held out his hands, "You can at least let me drive home. You're lucky I let you drive my car,"
Aria laughed, "I was shocked too," she relied handing it over
LINE BREAK
Ezra drove back to his house in a timely fashion and looked at the front lawn. The grass was cut and the shutters on the house side were wiped down. He walked up to the front door and noticed that the porch was sweep and the mail was collected from the box.
Aria who already knew how things went when they were gone bent down and lifted the mat and grabbed the key that they placed back down under. She smirked to Ezra and handed the key back to him, "I owe my staff big time for this." She whispered, "Go ahead and open the door!" She pointed picking up the bag that she was carrying.
Ezra sucked in a deep breath and opened the door to the house, he gasped at the sight in front of him. The curtains were already taken down and the living room was to a crisp. You could actually see the floor, the take out menu's where gone along with the boxes that was left on the table. The couch was actually still there and everything down to the windows sill was dusted and dirt free.
Ezra walked into the kitchen and Aria let him, she knew this was something different after spending awhile in a messed up house... it was going to take some time to get used to all over again, to keep things in their place.
Aria headed upstairs and started to put things away. She loved walking into the bathroom and actually touch the sink without that itchy feeling of hair stuck to her hand. She placed the bags of toiletries onto the counter and tossed all the old tooth brushes away before bringing out the new ones, she took down the old patterned shower curtain and placed it in the bag that she had for the toilet paper and put up the new one.
Ezra lent up against the doorway watching Aria put the curtain rod back before he spoke, "Why are you doing this?"
Aria spun on her heel not hearing him come up the stairs, "What do you think?" she asked not bothering to answer his question
Ezra shrugged, "Thank you!"
"Did you see your room?" Ezra shook his head, "Then why don't you go check it out" She laughed picking up the toilet paper and ripping the bag open. She had brought Ezra the toilet paper holder to hang on the side of the toilet so they wouldn't have to worry.
When they were on their way home Carol had called and said that everything was done. She also said that she stopped by with them to make sure nothing was taken and she was surprised that he would let a beautiful house like this go to waste.
Carol also said that she took some of the new dishes that the Hotel has stocked in the basement and placed them in his kitchen cabinet. Aria couldn't have been more than grateful that she had a friend like Carol in her life. It was like she was one of her best friends.
"I love it," Ezra said coming into the bathroom, "I can't thank you enough for what you have done Aria."
"Come here," Aria said hopping onto the sink and opening up one of the razor bags, "Down or up?"
"Up," Ezra smiled stepping between her legs as she spread shaving cream onto her hand and rubbed it on his face, She then turned around and ran the water filling up the sink, "Are you sure you can do this?"
Aria laughed, "My first time but I promise not to kill you!" She smirked and grabbed the hand towel from the hook, "Now don't move."
Aria started to shave Ezra's face and he couldn't help but smile as she started from his chin and worked her way up. Aria placed her left arm on his shoulder letting her hand fall to the back of his neck. Out of habit Aria started to play with the back of his neck, and it felt like old times. She turned around to rinse out the razor and turned back to finish the job.
Once Aria was done she took the towel off her shoulder and wiped down Ezra's face feeling the smoothness of his face and not the beard he was sporting. "Perfect," She whispered, "You look human again!"
Ezra laughed and turned his head to look in the mirror and then back at Aria, "Thank you!" He kissed her and then pulled back, "I'm-"
Aria pushed him away, "its fine, we can just put up the curtains and then I'll leave. Get back to work," Aria said jumping off the counter.
"Aria," Ezra grabbed her arm stopping her from leaving the bathroom, "I'm sorry, for everything that I've said and everything that I did to push you away from me."
Aria bit her lip and looked at his lips for a few seconds before attaching it together with hers. Ezra immediately moved his hand to the small of her back and pushed her closer to him as he possibly could. He wanted to keep this feeling of lust for as long as he could.
As the kiss got heated and the both of them got more passionate, they both started to move out of the bathroom until he lifted Aria up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Even with his sporting beer belly Aria was able to wrap her legs completely around his waist. He was surprised to say the least as he walked them over to his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
"Are you sure about this? What about Jay," Ezra asked when he placed Aria down on his newly fixed bed
"Argh Ezra, "Aria pushed him off her, "What the hell are we doing?"
Ezra rubbed his newly shaved face before covering his eyes, "I'm sorry I didn't mean for this to happen." He bit his lip, "I was just- I don't know!"
Aria sat up and draped her legs over the bed hanging it there for a few seconds before leaning down and picking up the gold chain that was on the floor, "Ezra what is this?" she turned around so he could see, "Did you lose something?"
Ezra sat up quickly after seeing what Aria had and felt around his shirt, "Aria you have to move," He frantically looked around the bed and then got off when it wasn't there, "shit," he swore and looked around the hallway he couldn't believe after so many years of wearing the same chain that he would lose it.
Aria got off the bed and looked around the room. She remembered what Malcolm told her about Ezra wearing the ring around his neck, but she never felt it when they were flushed together and if she could recall correctly; she never seen the ring when she was shaving him down.
"I can't believe I lost it," Ezra said when Aria came into his view "I can't believe it just like my life I lost sight on everything."
Aria slid down the wall next to him, "I'm sorry it's my fault,"
Ezra turned to look at her, "It is your fault, "his anger came back, "You left me when I thought we could move past everything and be a normal couple"
"Ezra it wasn't what you think," Aria started to defend herself, "There are complicated things that happened after we had-"
"I don't want to hear it," He stood up, "I think you should leave."
Aria looked up at him in disbelief and not able to grasp what just happened, "Ezra-"
"Now Aria," he moved out of the way and closed his bedroom door.
Aria turned away and shook her head with tears in her eyes. They were having such a great day together and she thought they were making a step to friendship. Aria headed down the steps and picked up her purse. She looked around the house for a brief moment and then headed towards the door. That's when she realized a flashing diamond ring. She bent down to pick it up and looked at it; she admired the beauty of it and placed it on her wedding finger wondering what would have happened if she and Ezra had gotten married. Would she be teaching? Would she have followed her dreams and live in this now beautiful home with Lacy by her side and Malcolm as her big brother? If only Ezra would talk to her and let her explain what happened that made her change her mind, then maybe he would understand that it was for the best. And just maybe she would be able to look into the eyes of her daughter.
Aria put the ring in her coat pocket and walked out of the door. It was time for Ezra to learn how to live without her once and for all!
Whoa baby! #^&* haha, so what did you think of this chapter? I liked how it turned out and I liked that bitchy but then carefree that they both had toward one another. Now don't get me wrong this story is going to have drama and it's coming soon. So don't forget what I said. If I get more than ten reviews I will update another one again. If not then I will update sometime next week.
And for my other story. I'm thinking about ending that one soon. And I am still working on the next chapter so I will post that one soon too.
xoxo