Chapter 4

The next day Aria woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs wafting from the kitchen downstairs, and looked at the clock to see it was 10am. She yawned and went into the bathroom to wash her face. She walked downstairs and froze when she saw the table set. She was standing there in her pj's with bed hair and probably bad breath. Is someone supposed to be coming over? She thought to herself as she counted the extra setting at the table. She cautiously walked into the kitchen and her jaw dropped when she saw Ezra and Ella cooking bacon and Mike and Byron toasting bread. She smiled at the sight of Ezra cooking with her family, and then she remembered what her reflection looked like and went red just as Ezra looked over to her. He smiled as she ducked behind the corner, but not after he'd seen her after she just got out of bed. He'd never seen her in this state because she couldn't stay the night. He walked over to the corner and peaked his head around, inches from Aria's face.

"Good morning. You look beautiful, as always," he whispered as he smiled at her. Before she could object to his statement, he kissed her on the lips, very wary that her parents were only a few meters away. He then moved up to kiss her on the forehead as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I don't agree, but if you say so. You're always right," she mumbled into Ezra's chest. She felt Ezra let out a chuckle and then he kissed her head again.

"Hmm, that's probably why I became a teacher, lucky for me," Ezra teased. Before Aria could say anything else Ella's voice came from the kitchen.

"Ezra, can you come help me get all this onto a dish and on the table?" Ezra sighed and let go of Aria, after one last quick peck on the lips he went into the kitchen to help. Aria ran up the stairs and changed quickly and brushed her hair, even though Ezra had said she looked fine, she didn't think she did. When she returned to the kitchen she saw Mike almost drop a piece of toast that had just come out of the toaster, and she laughed.

"Can I help with anything?" Aria asked everyone in the kitchen, and they all replied with a shake of the head. Soon enough, they were all seated at the table; Ella and Mike were sitting opposite Aria and Ezra, with Byron at the head of the table. They made small talk while they ate and Ezra and Mike kept giving each other funny looks as they usually do, trying to make the other laugh. Once they were done Aria thanked them, then asked,

"But why did you invite Ezra over for breakfast?" she mainly directed this at her mum, because it was probably her idea, but she liked the idea nevertheless. She saw Mike nod his head as well, as if he didn't have any idea as to why Ezra was over.

"Well your mother and I decided to go on holidays. Six weeks travelling around the country, and we wanted to make sure you and Mike can survive for that long by yourselves, and then your mother reminded me Ezra has been doing it for a while, so we though he could help you out a bit, if that's okay with you Ezra?" Byron said, then looked at a surprised Ezra.

"Oh yeah sure it's pretty easy but I'll definitely help out," he replied with a smile.

"Great. Now. Some rules, while all three of you are here," Byron said sternly, "No visitors of the other gender here after midnight. So Mike, you can't have Maya over after midnight, or any other of your girl friends, and Ezra, you'll have to be out of here by midnight, no exceptions," Byron continued after he saw Ezra nodding, "Aria, none of your friends' boyfriends over here after midnight either," he paused until Aria agreed, "Great. Either your mum or I will call every night at about 9, to make sure you're okay and you haven't killed each other or burnt the house down. No big heaps of dirty clothes wash at least twice a week. Aria you cook one night, Mike the next, and if Ezra's over I'm sure he won't mind helping either one cook, and then whoever cooks, the other cleans and then you swap every night." Byron stopped, short of breath as everyone agreed and nodded, "And there should only be a few bills in the mail, if you get one you make sure you call us or tell us when we call. If you're going out at night, text us and make sure you both have a key and you both know where the other is at all times," Byron directed this to his children, and they both smiled and nodded, "Okay I think that's it, did I miss anything?" Byron asked everyone, who all shook their heads, then Ezra had a thought.

"What about shopping and groceries? I can go if you guys make a list like once a week or something?" Ezra asked, firstly to Byron then suggested to Aria and Mike, who both nodded.

"Yes thanks for reminding me, Aria I'll put $200 in your bank account every two weeks, this is for food only, or anything you need around the house while we're gone," Byron stated as he looked at his daughter, who laughed, but nodded and agreed again. There was a bit more discussion but finally Byron had finished and Aria excused herself and Ezra, and they went up to her bedroom. She was picking out what to wear when she felt Ezra's hands wrap around her waist and he pressed himself up against her tightly, not moving her out of reach of her wardrobe. He kissed her head as she held two options up, deciding what to wear.

"Wear the one on the right," Ezra whispered into her ear, and Aria put the other option back and twisted around in Ezra's arms so she was facing him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, and his now loosened grip on her tightened and pulled her close. She reached up for a kiss and he bent down and took her lips in a tender kiss.

"Urgh gross. You're my sister, and you used to be my teacher. Just because the door is open doesn't mean you can go all, well whatever it is you're doing," Mike teased from his position slouching on the doorframe. Ezra and Aria laughed and pulled away to face him, but Ezra didn't let go of Aria.

"I don't suppose you're doing anything while she changes?" Mike questioned Ezra with a raised eyebrow, and Ezra only innocently shrugged, he was just going to lie on her bed but Mike obviously has something planned.

"Excellent, Aria he'll be back soon, take your time doing whatever it is that takes you so long to get ready," Mike shouted as he walked down the hall, and Ezra gave Aria a quick peck on the lips and then followed Mike into his room. Turns out Mike had an English assignment to do over the break, and he wanted to know if Ezra had the book. As usual, at the mention of books Ezra went kind of crazy and plunged into a massive speech on the book Mike needed. Mike didn't think he was ever going to shut up, until Aria turned up and gave Mike an apologetic look, and after Mike fist-bumped Ezra, Aria took his hand and laced her fingers between his and they went downstairs to where Byron was reading a paper and Ella was drinking coffee.

"Mum, Dad? I'm going over to Spencer's for a while, I'll be back later," Aria shouted out to them and Ezra too called out a goodbye, and then they headed for Ezra's car.