Aria pulled off the floor and escorted Byron to the crew room. She took off her apron and laid it down on the table before turning her attention back to the person she once called a decent guy, her father.
Byron looked around him and took in the place. He was surprised to see his only daughter after long nine years. He had been in Iceland and only came to Rosewood for a short week. "When did you come back?" was the first question he asked
Aria shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest, "About a month now!" she answered bitterly, "What are you doing here?"
"I found out that you were in town. I wanted to see if it were true or not"
Aria closed her eyes and let out a breath, "Ezra is just helping out. We're not together"
Byron laughed harshly, "That's not what I heard"
"I don't care what you heard." She bit out, "I'm telling you the truth," She yelled frustrated, "you can't do anything anymore Byron!"
"Yes I can, it doesn't matter if you graduated. Having sex with a minor is still illegal." He retorted quickly, "We had a deal. And you broke it"
"This is my job dad,"
"Job? You plan on working as a bar waitress for the rest of your life?" He creased his eyebrows together, "What happened to the thousands of dollars in tuition that I've paid for?"
"You didn't pay a dime. Mom and Zach helped"
Byron laughed, "Is that what your mother told you?" he shook his head, "I paid for your tuition Aria, I helped"
Aria looked at Byron in shock "Well thank you!" she said sarcastically "You want the money back? Because I would be more than happy to pay you back in full"
"With your tips?" He laughed
"For you information" Aria smiled, "I run this Hotel. I am senior management; I also happen to run a few more hotels around the world" She smirked, "Now would you like a personal check or cash?"
Byron took one side closer to Aria, "I want you to leave! You need to stay as far away from Ezra as possible"
"Why? He's been nothing but good to me considering that I broke his heart because of you!"
Byron rolled his eyes, "I wasn't the one who had sex with him in a class room"
"No, but you did blackmail me and knew that I would do nothing to jeopardize his career. You were the one that made me leave. You were the one that made it impossible for him to stay at Hollis, You" she pointed "Were the one that never gave it a chance. A chance for Ezra to meet his only daughter for the first time. To get to know her and see her grow." She started to yell louder feeling the memory and pain that he caused, "It's because of your ego toward our relationship that caused me to leave when I was planning on staying."
Byron looked at her with a blank face, "you have a daughter? Your mother never told me that"
"Why would she?" She threw her hands up in the air, "You are dead to me dad,"
Byron took a step back, "Thank you Aria."
"Dad,"
"No," Byron shook his head, "I'm glad to see that you turned out well considering the baggage of our relationship," He walked towards the door, "I'm glad to see that even after Ezra cheated on you with Maggie that you would be so open to the idea of him being your friend"
"Ezra never cheated on me with Maggie!" Aria bit out bitterly, "He would never do that you're lying"
"Am I?" Byron asked her, "Ask him yourself! And then ask yourself this question. Why would Ezra be so eagerly too involved considering you kept his kid from him for nine years? And I have proof, call me one day Aria!" and with that he left leaving Aria blinded.
She couldn't and didn't want to believe the possibility of Ezra cheating on her. HE would never cheat on her was the thoughts that were running through her mind. But there were also those thoughts of Ezra having those sleepless nights and never calling her.
"Hey, what happened?" Ezra asked walking into the room with a towel in his hand, "what did your dad want?'
Aria looked him in the eyes and shrugged, "Nothing, he just wanted to see for himself that I was in fact back in town" she licked her lips and went over to the locker to pull out her clothes that she was using earlier, "I need to change"
"No, wait!" Ezra stopped her, "I know something is wrong and if I have to ask your dad because you won't tell me I will"
Aria rolled her eyes, "he's upset that you're here" She was vague and he arched and eyebrow waiting for her to go on, "We had a deal because –A sent him a video of the two of us having sex in your classroom" she looked back up at him to see his face drop, "But don't worry about it. I have everything under control"
Ezra watched as Aria turned on her heel and went into the bathroom to change. He knew something was up and finally after so long he had gotten the answers to his many questions. This is why Aria left? THIS is why Aria turned down his proposal.
He paced back and forth with his hands on his hips and waited the five minutes before Aria returned out of the bathroom. He stopped and eyed her out before he took the few short steps towards her. He grasped her hands in his and when she tried to pull away he held on tighter. He looked at her hands in his and then looked up into her hazel eyes as she looked back at him in confusion
As tears started to build up Ezra held them with every ounce of self-control. He didn't want to show Aria how upset he was at Byron. He didn't want to show Aria those angry tears. He wanted to be there for, "I'm sorry." He whispered holding his breath a little, "I should have never blamed you for everything"
Aria pulled away and placed the clothes she had split drinks on back into the locker and closed it shut. She didn't like being in her management clothes, she like the free feeling of what the hoists outfit felt like.
She then turned around to face Ezra as he continued to stare back at her, "I have a lot to do for the next few hours," She started to head for the door, "You can go home if you want" Ezra opened his mouth to speak but Aria cut him off, "I don't want to talk about it"
He just stared at her for a few seconds before speaking, "I'm here for you. No matter the circumstances I want to help." He sucked in a deep breath and let it out, "I want to be your friend."
Aria bit her lip and opened the door, "I need to get back to work"
"But-"he tried to say but Aria turned around and shook her head, "But nothing Ezra," She sighed, "Personal problems aside I still have a job to tend too. I can't stop everything just because my father is in in the building."
"I'm not saying that Aria," He retorted quickly
"I don't' want to fight with you. You can both stay and help me or you can leave. The choice is yours" not taking any more of it Aria completely walked out the door. The same reaction that Aria had when Byron did the same to her mere minutes ago. Ezra was left there blinded by what the hell just happened.
He stood there for a good five minutes thinking up a way to get Aria to talk to him. He wanted to know more about what had happen between her and Byron. He wanted to know what Byron had said to her before she had graduated.
Ezra walked out of the crew room and walked through the kitchen as a few people looked at him with smirks. Aria was now in her management uniform and that could only mean one thing- 'everything goes her way her or their out!'
He walked out towards the bar area and looked at Aria once more as she told Carol to go work the tables and she'll stay behind the counter. Aria glared at Ezra and then glanced at the section that her father was in. Ezra followed her direction and then looked as Byron brought his drink up to his lips and glared them both down.
Ezra looked towards Aria once more as they both shared eye contact and then he picked up a tray. He walked over towards his section and got to working.
A mere hour went by before Ezra finally got Aria's attention. It wasn't the one that he wanted but for now, it was a heck of a lot better than having Brad filing his drink orders.
"What do you need?" Aria asked in a rush as a few sweat droplets fell
He sighed and then answered, "I need four Vodka shots, Three tequila and two rum and coke" he licked his lips and watched as Aria brought out seven glass shots and two tumblers, "We need to talk"
Aria rolled her eyes and turned around to grab the Vodka and Tequila, she went from one direction and met in the middle, "Now's not the time." She answered and then turned around to grab the rum and coke can from under the bar, "Here," She placed the drinks on his tray, "what can I get you?" She ignored him as she felt his glare on her.
When Ezra walked away Aria turned her glance over towards him and started to second guess herself. As much as she didn't want to believe her father because with these days technology anything is possible. She still had that thought that Ezra never called her when he was gone for those short couple of weeks. He had late nights; so he called it and yet he never called her on those sleepless nights.
She let out a frustrated breath and turned away from the bar and looked towards the kitchen staffs that were fast at work. She picked up a shot glass and filled it up before bringing it up to her lips and drinking it all down. Why was this so hard? She questioned herself as Carol came up to her with a few drink slips and food orders.
Without saying a word to her she took the food slip and handed it back to the cooks. Aria than went on making the drinks and placed it her tray. Carol thanked her and Aria nodded not feeling up for any small conversation.
As the hours went by and the night came to an end, Aria was slurring a few words and the workers around her were full of concern. As much as they disliked her, they still cared enough to make sure she was able to walk straight.
Ezra shook his head and placed Aria on one of the tables with her feet up. He looked at her with a distraught face before handing her a cup of water, "Are you okay?"
Aria shrugged and looked over towards the door as the bouncers closed up and turned the lights off outside, "I've been better!" she mumbled with the glass against her lips
"You want to talk about it now?" He asked taking the glass from her and placing it down, "About your dad?"
She let out a breath and shook her head as she got up from the chair and headed over to the dance floor. Aria than spun around and looked at her employee's, "Everyone leave!" she shouted, "You are done for the evening get out" she ordered
They all looked at her confused before she went up on stage and started to play around with the DJ system. That was before Eric had told her that if she kept doing what she was doing he would have to rewire the whole thing. "Play me a song" Aria demanded, "Any damn song, play it"
"Aria, you have nothing to prove here. Why don't we get up upstairs and you can-"Ezra couldn't finish before she cut him off
"Don't ever tell me what to do!" She pointed, "Give me the mic" Aria sounded off
Eric being scared of losing his job gave Aria a mic, by this time the remaining employees who had failed to leave watched as Aria took a stool and placed it in the middle of the stage, "You know what I've learned?" She asked Ezra, "I've learned the most important person you can trust is yourself." She laughed as Ezra called out her name, "Because no matter what you do. You can lie and cheat and do unexplainable things. But in the end, you know the truth and that's even worse."
"Aria, you're drunk. Get down from there!" Keith demanded, "Get this girl to bed"
She laughed harshly, "I think you're the one who's late for their bed time" She tripped trying to sit on the stool, "Play the damn song!"
"No," Keith ordered Eric
Aria shook her head, "I thought you were a gambling man" She smirked, "Trying to be young and hip while you still can?" She bit out, "Play the song or show me how to do it" she eyed out Eric and he shook his head looking over at Keith silently asking for his help with this woman.
Keith looked over at Ezra, "Just let her do this. She's drunk and probably going to forget everything that happened tonight anyway." He rubbed his temples, "She needs to prove something right now that much I know." He looked over at Aria, "what song do you want Aria?"
She sucked in a deep breath, "Who cares," And just as the words came out of her mouth Aria hit the floor hard. Eric was the first one at her side before Ezra hopped on stage and hoisted her up in a cradle.
"It was only a matter of time" He smiled at Aria as she lay in his arms.
"Take the service route and get her upstairs," Keith yelled frustrated at him for her actions. "I will deal with this in the morning and I want nothing out of any of you!" he looked around, "Understood?"
"Yes sir!" They confirmed
LINE BREAK
Ezra got as far as the elevator before he placed Aria on her feet. She looked up at him and bit her lip whilst he shook his head. He knew that what she was doing was stupid and knew she wasn't as drunk as she played it. She might be tiny and had consumed lots of alcohol that night. But Aria Montgomery was not in fact drunk.
He paced back and forth waiting for the elevator to come down before they had gotten in. He wanted to know what the hell she was thinking but figured it would be a good idea to ask once they got up to the room.
Once inside Aria pressed the elevator to the tenth floor and lent up against the wall. She glanced in the reflection of the elevators door to see Ezra behind her doing the same but tapping his foot. He was really upset at something and she didn't know what. She wondered but not enough to say something. She was too upset at her father for putting thoughts into her head. She was upset at Jay for leaving and not evening telling her.
Aria wondered if there was anything else that Ezra had kept from her. She wanted to know his darkest secrets and she wanted to know the truth about what happened when he went to see Maggie.
As the elevator stopped at her level Ezra was the first to get off; not bothering to give Aria the chance to walk out first. He wanted to get ahead of her and let out some steam that he was harvesting.
Ezra held out his hand for Aria to hand him the key card. She went into her pocket and brought it out only for her to stumble that one foot between them. Ezra grabbed hold of her arm and shook his head as he opened the door and this time around allowed her to walk in first. He turned on the light and tossed the card on the night stand.
Aria laid down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling wondering what Ezra had to say "Just speak already" she mumbled beneath her breath "I know you have plenty"
With a loud sigh Ezra sat down on the chair and looked over at Aria "what were you thinking?"
Aria sat up and shrugged, "I have a lot going on right now. I thought a few drinks would help me out!" she argued and looked over at him, "How did you know I was awake?"
Ezra laughed harshly, "I have been around drunk people long enough to know what they could handle Aria," He answered, "What happened tonight? Between you and your dad?"
"Have you ever cheated on me?" She asked clearly, "With Maggie?"
He creased his face into something that Aria has never seen before, "Are you fricken nuts?" he stood up "I would have never cheated on you with Maggie of all people?"
Aria arched an eyebrow, "What do you mean of all people? You mean you would have with someone else?"
He shook his head, "That's not what I meant. Aria I would never cheat on you!" he yelled, "Is that what your father told you?"
Aria nodded, "He has proof Ezra," her voice rose a little, "How am I not supposed to believe something if he has answers to them?"
Ezra smirked, "Believe what you want Aria." He shook his head in frustration and ran a hand through his hair, "I need to get out of here!"
"I'm sorry!" She blurted out before he could leave, "I'm sorry for even questioning you! I'm sorry for even thinking that you would do something like that when all this time you've been nothing but a gentlemen." She licked her lips and stood up, "Please stay. It's late and I don't want you driving home at this hour especially on a weekend with all the crazies out there!"
He sucked in a deep breath, "I need to be by myself right now Aria, I just need time." He looked away from her, "I will call you later okay?"
Aria let a few tear down her face before she nodded, feeling stupid for even believing her father.
Sorry for not updating in a while. Two weeks actually. There is really no excuse for me other than I thought this chapter sucked. I sat here in front of my laptop thinking I should change something. But then I read over what I had for the next chapter and thought if I changed this chapter around I would have to do it for the next three chapters that I had already typed up.
So if it sucks I'm sorry and I hope that you'd still stick with it...
Thank you a million times to all of those who are reviewing and those silent readers. I love opening a new email and reading all of your comments. Please keep them coming.
Love you all