Chapter 8
Aria walked around Rosewood feeling unsure about pretty much everything. She couldn't even escape "A" in her dreams and she was almost certain that she had been making some very unattractive noises in her sleep that made Ezra wake up and leave the room. If that had been the case maybe her staying over wasn't a good idea. Maybe it was a sign that if he couldn't handle a nightmare then he couldn't handle their relationship. She didn't like thinking that though. Ezra could handle their relationship. He was strong and mature and she needed him. She needed him more then she's ever felt she needed anyone. She loved him and she felt like sometimes, he loved her too. Like when they were lying in bed together and she could hear every beat of his heart, and when he whispered how beautiful she was. That was love, wasn't it? She hoped it was. It felt like it was. She didn't have much experience with love. Just the boys she had dated when she was in Finland. But those relationships never crossed three months, they could never have been love. With Ezra though...
She felt her phone beep in her pocket and that little sound had her terrified. Getting a text, a letter, an email, an instant message they all sent shivers down her spine. With shaky hands she pressed read and her stomach felt sick. "Your Mom looked so happy at the gallery today... too bad she wont be that happy when she finds out. Like Father like Daughter. A" She dropped the phone and felt disappointed when it failed to smash and break into pieces.
Why couldn't they just leave her alone? As far as she knew they had left everyone else alone. Why was it just her that she was playing with? Unless her friends were lying to her? She sighed, she didn't have time to think about her friends right now. They didn't know about her parents, they could never know about Ezra... She was alone in this. She walked towards the park, it was empty. She stalked towards the climbing frame and sat at the top of it sighing.
Her mom had looked happy today. She had been laughing and joking with customers. She had introduced Aria as her daughter proudly. Aria knew that once she found out about Byron she would probably feel sick introducing Aria as anyone, let alone her daughter. Ears of frustration flooded her vision and she brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them tight. Ezra could make her feel better. One hug from him and everything would be okay.
Her phone beeped again and she brought it back from her pocket and clicked read. Blinking away the tears that were cascading down her face. "Poor little Aria... Life's full of choices. Time to make yours. Break up with Ezra and I'll keep your secret. Stay with him and all of yours will be out in the open... A"
Her body shook violently. She...No. She couldn't break it off with Ezra could she? He was her everything. She needed him. She... Her family were more important. They had to be. Mike would never forgive her if she broke them apart, her mom would be broken... her dad... she didn't want to think about him. She couldn't think about him. She jumped from the climbing frame and wiped her eyes roughly.
She knew what she had to do. Even if it killed her to do it.