Chapter 13

The school felt too crowded for Aria as she walked down the hallway. Even though there was no more students bustling down the corridors then normal, she still felt as though everyone was bumping into her, that everyone was looking at her. And she wanted more then nothing to shy away and hide. After going to Ezra's apartment last night to talk and seeing the rather attractive woman at his apartment, Aria had raced back home and hid underneath her covers. She wasn't proud of it. She wasn't the kind of girl to hide away. She was strong and confident, but Ezra made her feel weak. She'd never cared about someone as much as she cared about her English teacher before. And even though she had broken up with him, there was always that thought in the back of her mind that they were still together. But seeing someone else in her place... it made everything more real. A harsh reality had hit her. Ezra wasn't her Ezra any more. And it killed her.

She'd woken up determined that she wasn't going to hide away from her feelings any more. She still owed Ezra an explanation, and she felt as though he owed her one too. If he was seeing someone else then why had he come to her house, risked a hell of a lot, just to go home to someone else? That didn't make sense. Her head swum with confusion and she held her head up a little higher. She wasn't going to be weak any more.

It was break time which meant the class rooms were empty. She walked to his class room feeling as confident as she had last night on her way over to his. She tried not to think about how the reason why her confidence had crashed so hard as she knocked on the door.

"Come in," he called. She pushed the door open slowly. Ezra was sat at his desk, a pile of marking on the desk that looked as though it had been there for a while. He turned his head and looked up at her, his eyes slowly taking in the casual jeans, black high heels and rose sweater. She looked simple and perfect and he longed to hold her in his arms. "Aria..." her name a whisper on his lips.

"Can...Can we talk?" She busied her hands in front of her, her confidence slipping as she stared at him. That weak feeling was back.

"I've been trying to call..."

"Turned my phone off." She whispered, walking to his desk and sitting on the one opposite. She wanted to be closer, felt as though she needed to be closer but she held back. "I..."

"There's nothing going on with me and Anne, she's an old college friend." Ezra cut in.

"She...Oh." Aria looked down, she could feel the blush of embarrassment creep across her neck and cheeks.

"What did you think she was to me?" He asked, his voice soft, gentle.

"I don't know." Aria sighed and it was the truth. "I just...We...We're not...and I saw her, and there was this woman who could be your girlfriend, who...who wasn't me and it hurt."

"There's nothing going on between me and her, I'm sure her husband would disapprove if there was." Ezra let his lips play into a small smile that grew bigger when he saw Aria's delicate pink glossed lips smile too. "Why did you come over last night, Aria?"

"I wanted to talk." She says shyly, her fingers idly picking at each other. "I just...You came to my house and I felt like I owed you..."

"You don't owe me anything, Aria." Ezra whispers.

"I want to explain. Everything. I'm...I don't care what happens to me, or...I need to tell you."

"What do you mean what happens to you?" Ezra stands up and rushes over to her. Was someone hurting her? He'd kill whoever it was. She didn't say anything, she just looked up at him with wide scared eyes. "Is...Is it 'A'?"

Slowly, Aria nodded her head. "I'm so scared, Ez." She whispers and before her body can help itself she falls into his arms and clings to him.

Ezra holds her tight, flicking the lock on the door and pulling the blinds down. "Tell me everything." He whispers.

"I don't know where to begin." She wipes her eyes, trying not to think about the heavy mascara that was probably leaking down her cheeks right now.

"The beginning." Ezra says softly and strokes her cheek softly.