Chapter 9

Ezra sat at the table biting his lip. He had been expecting Aria an hour ago and she hadn't shown up. He'd called, text, called some more but there was no answer. He had started to worry and wanted to go and make sure she was okay, but he had no idea where she would be. And it wasn't as though he could just stroll down to her house and ask her mother if she was home. He was just about to get up and go wonder the streets looking for her when there was a hesitant tap on his door.

He bolted up as faster then he thought possible and answered it. Aria stood at his door, her head bowed, her cheeks stained with dark mascara. He reached out for her but she pulled away, stepping in around him.

"Aria..." He whispers. "What..."

"We can't do this any more." She says, her voice hardly there. Broken.

"What?" Ezra hesitates, he wants to move forward but he doesn't. Her words cut through him. His heart breaking.

"This. Its...We just can't." She says, gaining more confidence with her words.

"But..."

"I'm sorry." She looks up at him, and he can see that this isn't really what she wants. It can't be what she wants.

"Please...Aria..."

"Don't call me, just..."

She goes to move out of the door and he stops her. His hand grabbing her arm, wrapping his fingers around her slim wrist. "Is it because of A?" Ezra asks, desperation in his voice.

She stares at him. Her face confused. How did he know about A? A hundred and one questions swam through her mind. She shook her head, fresh tears falling. "This is because of us. I don't... I don't love you. It was just fun." The words break both of their hearts and she pulls her hand away violently, physically knocking him back. She doesn't say another word as she leaves his apartment.

Ezra falls back on the sofa. Tears falling down his cheeks. He couldn't believe it. No. Aria hadn't just... He shook his head as more tears fell freely from his eyes. A broken sob escaped his lips and he pulled his knees to his chest. Aria was gone. Aria had left him. The words, though he believed them to be not true, screamed inside his head. She didn't love him. Just fun. He shook violently as he screwed his eyes shut.

Aria locked her bedroom door behind her, she climbed onto her too large bed and curled up as small as possible. She didn't think it was possible to hate herself any more then she did now. Feeling safe and alone in her bedroom she let the sobs she was holding in out. All she wanted was Ezra's strong arms around her. She knew she'd made the wrong decision the minute the words had left her mouth. She loved him. She needed him. She loved her family too but it wasn't her fault her father cheated, she shouldn't have to keep paying for mistakes. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she let out a frustrated scream. Shaking, she opened the new text message.

'Well done Aria, who knew you could be as heartless as me. TTFN – A'