Hey! A new episode is tomorrow! Who's excited? I just can't wait till 2x17. I know it's going to be epic!

A lot of you are confused why I brought Hardy in and killed him off so quickly. Well, it's going to come into play because now Aria has to take care of him. It's really sweet! Xoxo Courtney

We were watching tv, snuggled up close together, like our lives depended on it. We had just finished our take-out—It was our usual. I had almost fallen asleep when I heard his phone ring. I wearily got off of him, as he groaned. I knew he didn't want to check the message, but he got up and turned on a light. He stood in front of me as he read the text message.

I gasped, as his mouth opened, shocked, and he dropped the phone. I heard a loud noise. The battery probably fell out, and there was probably a crack in the screen, but I was only focused on Ezra. "Ezra?" I asked, worried. "What was that?"

He stood there, frozen. I stood up from the couch quickly and took his face in my hands. I made him look at me. "Ezra," I sighed. "Answer me, please," I begged.

His eyes threatened to shed a tear as he whispered words that even I had trouble understanding. "Its….it's Hardy. He—He's dead."

Ezra POV:

At that moment, time seemed to stop. I looked down at the ground to see my phone, and kicked it across the floor out of anger. This couldn't be happening right now. Not to Hardy..?

Why are they targeting me? Why are they hurting all the people that are close to me? Yeah, I haven't seen Hardy in months, but….he was engaged, he was going to get Aria and me better.

I dropped my hands, as Aria's face stiffened in shock.

Aria POV:

I refused to believe what Ezra had just told me. "Wait….what?"

Ezra didn't say anything. He just leaned back on the couch and stared into an unknown distance. I started to panic as I bent down and grabbed his phone. I put the battery back in as I turned the phone back on. I sat down on the couch next to Ezra and reached for his face. He didn't respond as he usually did, but, yet again, he didn't move away.

Once the power was back on, I went through his messages. The first contact in his inbox was Unknown.

I gulped as I opened the messaged:

It looks like you're not getting that beach house….You can't take away one of my BFF's, and I will get rid of anything that gets in my way. Learn a lesson from this; you're next.

"A," I whispered, as I opened the attached file. I dropped the phone. It was of Hardy, that familiar face that I met a few months ago at the bar. He was on the ground, a red pool surrounding his head.

I almost gagged. I looked over at Ezra and stroked his lap. "You know about….A?" I asked.

He just nodded his head in response. "When…did you find out?" I questioned.

He just looked at me with tears in his eyes. Okay, maybe it's too soon for questioning..

"He just got engaged," he murmured, wiping his eyes.

"You don't know how sorry I am," I replied.

"I'm next," he said.

I knitted my eyebrows. "What?" I asked, clearly confused.

"A said that I would be next. They're destroying everybody that gets in their way," he answered.

I maneuvered myself closer to him. "Ezra," I started. "Don't worry about that now," I continued.

"I…..I can't take this anymore," he whispered.

I shook my head quickly. I remember Ezra telling me so many college memories that he had with Hardy. He was his best friend. I leaned in and attacked his face with my lips, our mouths crashing together.

He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me on top of him. He stood up and started walking us to the bedroom, but I stopped him. "No..you're not going to be in good shape. Let's get you to bed," I said, gesturing to his dresser.

He just stood there. He looked at his boxers that were laid out on top of the banister of his bed, and left them.

I sighed, as I began to take his sweatshirt and put it in the hamper. I stripped him down and out his clean boxers on. I pulled back the covers, letting him slide in. He lay down and pulled the sheet back next to him.

"No," I said. "You have to sleep," I explained, smiling, walking towards the living room.

"Please," he begged, starting to choke up. "I need you," he continued.

I looked at him lovingly before I climbed into the bed beside him. He pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me. He nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck and started to cry. I felt wet tears stain the back of my shirt.

I never saw him this upset before; but I knew that from now on, I had to take care of him.

He was going to go into depression mode, and I needed to make sure he stayed well. The sounds of his silent cries were muted, as he finally fell asleep, his legs intertwined with mine. I took his hands and placed them over my chest, as I closed my eyes as well.

Aw! Poor Ezra! There will only be about 4 or 5 more chapter left! Please review! I need at least 10 reviews to continue! Xoxo Courtney