Emily sat in the quiet aquatic center, listening to the quiet murmur of the pool filter. This is how she liked her pool. Silent. Empty. Awaiting the torrent of varsity swimmers about to break the smooth surface and splash its contents along the pool deck. She never imagined she'd take over as the swim coach and director, but it was a dream come true. A dream she never really knew she had until she was approached to take over for her retiring coach.
Emily got up and started to prep the pool for practice, throwing the lane lines in and connecting them, getting all the kick boards ready and prepping their work out when she heard the door close. She looked at the clock and noted whoever was first in, was at least 15 minutes early for practice. She liked the dedication. She stepped out of her little office to greet the ambitious swimmer, but there was no one there. She looked around, absolutely sure she heard the door open, but she was alone. Her mind immediately went to the text she got the day before while she was at the grille with the girls, and the hair on her neck stood up. She was alone at the pool, with plenty of stuff around her that A could use to kill her. And, no one would find her for at least another 15 minutes.
She was about to make a mad dash for the hallway where there she'd at least be closer to the teachers lounge, but there was a shadowy figure now directly in her way.
"Hey Emily", Ezra said stepping out of the shadow and allowing himself to be seen by his former student and now his colleague.
He always has a way of showing up in the creepiest ways, Emily thought. She never quite got over how A like he was when they were younger. "Hi Mr.—I mean Ezra. You scared me a little". She gave her hair a nervous pull before she backed up ever so slightly.
Ezra furrowed his eyebrows and looked at her sadly, "Oh, I'm sorry. I came in through the locker room looking to cut through to the lounge. I didn't realize you'd be at the pool today." He shifted the weight of his messenger bag and looked down at his worn in tennis shoes. Not much about Ezra had changed except now he had a little salt to his pepper hair and his eyes had this very distinguished wrinkles around them. He still looked like he could be a college student, but, at the same time, he looked mature like a teacher should.
Emily nodded and again tugged at her hair nervously like she always did when she felt a little on edge. She paused awkwardly before she went to say something then shut her mouth again. She wanted to phrase what she had to say carefully. She knew things could go one way or another and she wanted to make sure it went the right way. "Have you spoken to Aria? She's back living in Rosewood." Emily wanted him to think she cared about his relationship with Aria, but she was really phishing to see if he knew A was back, or if he was A. Not that he'd openly admit to that.
Ezra's face and ears went bright red for a split second before his heart sped up, "No, no I haven't. I did hear she got a job working for the paper, but I haven't seen her. I uh, I doubt she wants to see me anyway". He nervously rubbed the back of his neck and let out a little chuckle, "ever since it fell apart she's gone through great lengths to keep from seeing me. I try to respect that". He moved his hand from his neck and shoved them in his pockets. "Anyway, I should go. I have to report my lesson plans to Mr. Tamborelli before tomorrow so he doesn't change things too last minute." He went to turn and walk back towards the hallway.
"Ezra wait." Emily wasn't even sure where her mouth was going with this, all she knew was her feet were moving towards a man she once feared and her mouth was moving all on its own. "I think you should reach out to Aria. Some things have been happening lately, and I think she might need a shoulder to lean on. Or bounce ideas off of." Emily got within a few feet of him and he turned around and looked her dead in the eyes.
"What do you mean, some things?" Ezra furrowed his eyebrows waiting for Emily to elaborate. He hadn't spoken to Aria since well, since she walked out of their apartment for the last time he couldn't figure out what could possible make her suddenly want his shoulder to cry on.
"Just some stuff, ya know? Being back in Rosewood has us all on edge. After everything that happened here before we all left. We could all use familiar people around, people who don't stare at us everything we walk anywhere, or whisper loudly behind our backs. She trusted you once, she relied on you once. Maybe she just needs to know she can do that again?" Emily didn't want him to know A was back. She knew he was damaged from the situation himself, still sporting the bullet scar to prove it.
Ezra waited a moment to formulate a thought on the subject when he suddenly heard voices of husky seniors making their way towards to pool. "Why don't you stop by my apartment later so we can talk? I have a text I want to show you. I thought it was a prank, but I'm starting to think I'm not the only one that got one". He whispered the last part as the seniors walked in and loudly walked passed them heading to the locker rooms.
The color drained from Emily's face as she nodded, and then tried to force herself to look as nonchalant as possible. She still wasn't sure she believed A was back. Maybe it was some crazy fan just messing with them? Maybe it was Ali's way of making a stupid joke. Maybe, well maybe it wasn't all real and she was dreaming. "Oh, um… sure. I guess I'll check it out. It's probably some loser though". Emily backed away from Ezra like he was carrying the plague, but it didn't matter. He saw her face, he saw her reaction. He knew it was the real deal.
"I'll uh.. see you later". Ezra nearly tripped on his shoes as he ran out of the pool, pushing rudely passed a few underclassmen swimmers making their way into the aquatic center.
"God Fitz is hot, but so rude" one of the girls said to Emily as she walked passed. Emily didn't even acknowledge her. She was too busy getting her phone out to text the girls an SOS. She didn't know what to do with the information, but she was sure she couldn't figure it out on her own.