OMG I love the reviews I've been getting so far! Thank you so much! To reward you, here's the next chapter!

I walked closer to the paper on his desk, and I quickly looked at him before I read the name. He was smiling at me, and then his eyes focused on the name as well. The name on top of the paper was…

Aria Montgomery. I had to read the name twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming. My mouth dropped. He really thought that I was a good writer? I looked at him, and his eyes were looking right back at me, lovingly. "You picked..my paper?" I stuttered.

"Yeah. Well, it's just one of your papers, I think that one was the best. I kept all of your papers. They're in here," he said as he opened his briefcase and took out a neat stack of papers, handing them to me. "Every single one of your papers was beautiful. It included such much emotion, feeling, detail, and self-connections," he stated. "They're perfect. I'm absolutely positive that you'll get published one day," he continued.

I started to tear up. This was my dream, and he was supporting me all the way. I knew that he didn't give me special treatment in class, because Ezra just wasn't the kind of person to do that. He treated everybody equally, and tried to be fair to everybody in class. He actually thought I was the best student. I was still in shock.

I went over to him, hugged him, and gave him a kiss. "Thank you. I'm sure that if my dream comes true and I get published someday, it'll be because of you. I love you," I confessed. He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed his arms, making me giggle.

He stood up, me still attached, and spun me around. Once, he let me down, he kissed me. "I love you too," he exclaimed. I put my hand on his cheek and reached up to kiss the tip of his nose.

"So, where do you want to go?" Ezra asked.

"I'm actually really craving some yogurt right now," I giggled. Ezra chuckled, tickling my stomach.

"Yogurtland it is, then," he replied, as he picked me up and carried me out of his office. I started to pund on his back playfully, until he set me down into the passenger seat of his Volvo.

~~~~~~~

The car ride was spent by singing along to Christmas songs on the radio, and playing I Spy at red lights. When we got there, we walked in hand in hand, completely forgetting that we haven't com eout yet. Once I noticed, I hit his arm to lend him the hint. He got it right away and started to panic.

We both looked around quickly in the parlor and saw nobody we knew was there. We were wrong, but I didn't notice. "What would you like, Ms. Montgomery?" Ezra asked, pretending to be royal. I giggled.

"Hmm.. I would like half and half (chocolate and vanilla) frozen yogurt with strawberries on top, kind sir. Thank you for asking," I answered, also pretending. We both laughed in unison, as I stayed behind, sitting down at a table, not even seeing if there was anybody sitting at the other side, while Ezra stood on the long line to the counter.

I smiled as I watched him count his cash as he took it out of his wallet. I got him that wallet for Christmas last year. He hasn't used anything else since. He looked so adorable as he looked back from the crowd and smiled at me. I giggled.

"Aria Montgomery, right?" I heard a female voice ask. I remembered that voice, it was a voice that I wished that I'd never hear again after she came to the faculty mixer at my house. I turned to the woman sitting at the other side of the table. Of course, who else would it be?

Jackie.

This was the woman, or should I say devil, that almost broke Ezra and I up. I hated her. I didn't really see what I had coming. I put on a fake smile. "Yes! And oh, I'm sorry, I didn't even see you there!" I apologized. Oh, Ezra, please hurry up.

"You're uh, Professor Montgomery's daughter, right? Haven't we met before?" she asked.

"Um, yeah! We met at my house at the faculty mixer.. I think," I exclaimed. Maybe acting like I didn't remember Jackie, it would get rid of her.

"You're so cute!" she spoke, giggling. "You know I just found out that your former English teacher, Mr. Fitz, just started working at Hollis," she said, surprised. "He's such a nice guy, I was engaged to him actually," she explained.

Not this again. Let's play dumb. "So, you two were married?" I asked, acting like a dumb blond.

"No, it never happened. I wasn't ready for the commitment at the time, because we were both in college, but you know, I think I'm ready to try it again. I'm ready for marriage now. Maybe even kids," she laughed.

I tried so hard not to attack her right then and there, screaming, "He's not available, he's with me!" but I bit my tongue, and just smiled.

I saw that Ezra was close to the front of the line. Please come and save me, I thought.

Jackie leaned in across the table, and got serious. "Look, I saw you two the other day kissing outside the college; and you're going to leave him because I'm getting him back. Or else," she sputtered.

I wanted to slap her. "Or else what, Jackie?" I teased, angrily.

"Or else, I'll out your teacher-student relationship; and that's something I'd be more than happy to do,: she growled.

Another cliff hanger! I know, how we all hate Jackie, but she'll create some fun twists in this story, I promise. So, what do you think will happen? Please review!- Xoxo Courtney