She rang the doorbell softly, tentatively; afraid of what would happen if he answered, afraid of what would happen if he didn't. She covered her surprise well when he opened the door, but his eyes widened at the sight of her. He let her in, and she walked into the entryway. She felt him follow her into the living room. As she sat down on the sofa, she noticed she was breathing heavily and nervously, and he was doing the same.

"So," began Aria.

"So," repeated Ezra.

"What's going on here?" she asked.

"What do you want to be going on?" he answered. She was taken aback by his response.

"Do you really think of me that way?"

"Yes, Aria, I do," replied Ezra honestly. "You're smart and you've traveled. You're well-read and you're beautiful. I'd like to get to know more about you," he breathed. "This new you."

"This new me," repeated Aria. "You mean the me with piercings and mini-skirts?"

"I mean this grown-up you."

Aria contemplated his answer for a moment. "What about Jackie and Simone?"

"What about them?" asked Ezra confusedly.

"I'm not exactly like your ex-girlfriends."

"Of course you're not. You're Aria."

"No, I mean, I'm not from California like Jackie, and I'm not your age like Simone. We can't exactly publicize this relationship." She shrugged. "And I'm your student."

"You were the girl next door first," Ezra paused. "But none of that matters if you don't feel the same way about me."

Aria's eyes grew large. "Don't feel the same way," she echoed. "I thought ogling you in class and making out with you in your car was enough of a clarification."

"You were ogling me in class?" She nodded, and he continued. "I was trying not to look at you. I was afraid I would slip up."

"Oh," she sighed. "How do we make this work, then, Ezra? If you're afraid to look at me then how can we possibly be in a relationship?"

He took her hands in his, "We figure it out along the way."

Aria smiled softly to herself. "Two days ago I was daydreaming about you in class, yesterday, we made out in your car, and today we're talking about us." She shook her head. "It's just hard to believe."

"What if we started small and began by hanging out together like we used to?" he asked. "Would that work?"

"That might help," replied Aria. Half-an-hour later she found herself curled up next to Ezra on the couch. She was resting her cheek on his chest and he had her arm over her shoulder as they watched Roman Holiday. It felt familiar and comfortable. It felt nice.

"Aria," called Spencer insistently. "Aria."

"Sorry, what Spencer?" said Aria coming out of her daze.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "You've seemed kind of out of it the last couple of weeks."

Aria shrugged and leaned over the lunch table toward her friend. "I've just been readjusting. I guess it's taking longer than I thought."

"I asked you if you were going to Mona's birthday party next week. I think it's a sleepover. Emily is going too, and Hanna is insisting that everyone come."

"Sure, I'll be there," said Aria taking a sip of her coffee. She quietly looked in Ezra's direction, and Spencer turned her attention back to her homework.

"Hey," said Aria, coming in to Ezra's class during his off period.

"Hi," he replied, looking at her from his desk. She sat on the edge of it.

"My friends saw you at the park afterschool yesterday. You were riding your bike. They thought you had nice legs."

He was intrigued. "What did you think?" he asked, genuinely wanting to know her answer.

She looked away. "I was embarrassed they thought you had nice legs."

He looked away too. "I guess you weren't the only one who grew up this last year."

"I guess not," she answered.

"Come over tonight?" he asked hopefully.

Aria shook her head. "Tonight's Mona's birthday sleepover, and I told Hanna I'd come. Sorry."

"Oh," he looked disappointed. "I thought we could eat take out and finish the movie from the other night."

"Tomorrow," she promised. Suddenly, she heard the door open behind her and someone enter; Ezra straightened in his chair.

"So, do you have any more questions about the homework assignment?"

"No, I think I got it. Thank you, Mr. Fitz," she said grabbing the paper he extended to her. "If I need any help, I'll reach out to you." She walked towards the door.

"Mrs. Welch," greeted Ezra. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Aria walked away from Ezra's classroom. The sneaking around and subterfuge often gave her a thrilling feeling, but today, for some reason, it made her feel dirty, and she wasn't sure she liked that.

Aria walked over to Ezra's a few days later and went inside without bothering with the doorbell. "Ezra?" she called when she couldn't find him in his study.

"In here," he called from a back room. She walked down the narrow hallway until she saw him in his laundry room. He was folding clothes.

She leaned against the door frame. "Ezra Fitz doing laundry," snickered Aria, "Who knew?"

"Hey," he responded. "I've been doing my own laundry for years."

"So is this how it is then," she teased. "Teach in the morning, play housewife in the evening?"

He moved his head back and forth. "Maybe," he answered. "I've been living here for four years now? At some point I got tired of taking my things to the dry cleaners."

"Five years," she answered back. "It's been almost five years." She watched as he struggled to fold his sheets. "Here, let me help you with that." She walked over to him and grabbed the sheet, folding it in no time.

"Thanks," he responded.

"You're welcome," she responded leaning to give him a kiss on the cheek, but he moved his face so his mouth met hers. She leaned into it, wrapping her arms around his neck. He moved closer to her wrapping his arms around her waist. As things became more heated, she ran her hands through his hair and he grabbed her by the thighs. She straddled him as he set her down on the washer and her hands roamed over his body.

"We need to talk," she murmured.

"Now?" he mumbled as she began to play with the buttons of his shirt.

"You're right. It can wait," she whispered as her lips captured hers for another kiss. It was a while later when they ended their make-out session, both ending up on the floor of the small laundry room. Aria smoothed her hair as she leaned against the washing machine as Ezra buttoned the top buttons of his shirt, bashfully aware of how far they had gone—and how far they could still go.

"Wow," breathed Aria. "That was intense."

"I know," answered Ezra breathlessly.

"What time is it?" she asked suddenly.

"Almost seven," he said looking at his watch. "Why?"

"I missed dinner," answered Aria. "My parents will be wondering where I am."

"Stay here," offered Ezra, "I'll order us something and we can watch a movie."

"Thanks, but I think I better head home." Aria and Ezra got up from their positions on the floor, Aria smoothing out her skirt as she did so.

"Are you sure you won't stay?" asked Ezra as he walked her to the front door.

"Yeah," she answered softly. "I need to get home." She was halfway out the door when she turned to Ezra and asked. "Hey, Ezra?"

"Yes?"

She gestured toward the living room window. "Did you know that I can see you from my room?"

"You can?"

"Yeah," she answered with a straight face. "You might to want to keep in mind that I already know what you like with your shirt off." He stared back at her in mute surprise.

Aria sat in her mother's classroom before school started, happily eating her yoghurt and discussing a potential shopping date with her mom.

"Hanna wanted me to spend the night at her house in a couple weeks. She says we haven't really hung out since I got back from Greenland." Both women smiled at the last statement.

"That's fine, honey. Just remind me when the date gets closer."

"Okay," said Aria, grabbing her books and throwing her yoghurt in the trashcan, "So Wednesday after school then? Mother-daughter shopping date?"
"Of course," said Ella turning her attention to her phone. "Oh, Aria?" said Ella as her daughter was about to leave her classroom.

"Yeah?"

"You sent this to me and I think you meant it to someone else."

When Aria saw the message, her face paled. "Mom, I, uh, that was a mistake."

"So who has these amazing eyes?" teased Ella.

"No one," said Aria quickly. "I mean someone, but no one I want to talk about right now. I want to keep it a secret."

"All right," said Ella, slightly amused at her daughter's flustered state. She hit a button. "It's deleted. Like it never happened."

Aria sighed. "Thanks Mom."

"You know I'm here if you ever want to talk about it?" called Ella.

"Yeah, I know," Aria whispered back, an unsettled feeling in the bottom of her stomach.

Several days later, Aria walked over to Ezra's house, not bothering to ring the doorbell. "Ezra?" she called. "Are you here?"

"Hey, Aria," called a familiar voice from the living room.

"Hardy?" she asked when she saw the man's face.

"Long time, no see," greeted Hardy. He surveyed her quickly. "Very long time by the looks of it."

"Nice to see you to, Hardy," replied Aria dryly.

"I got beer," called Ezra as he walked into the kitchen. "Aria," he exclaimed as he handed Hardy his beer. "I didn't know you were coming over today."

"Um, yeah," said Aria, slightly panicked as she glanced towards the sofa. "I thought, you know, you might have wanted to talk to me about that book we're reading in class, but I can see this is a bad time."

"So you're in his class," said Hardy. "I'm sure that's brought up some interesting conversations."

"You have no idea," responded Ezra carefully. He turned his attention back to Aria. "Maybe we could do this another time?"

"Yeah, no problem," agreed Aria looking at him anxiously. "I'll just catch you later. It was nice to see you Hardy."

"Stay, Aria," invited Hardy as he made himself even more comfortable on the couch. "I'm sure Ezra doesn't mind, and I want to hear all about Greenland."

"Iceland," corrected Aria automatically, looking tentatively at Ezra.

"Stay," he echoed uncertainly, and she did.

Later that night, after Aria had gone back to her house, Hardy and Ezra sat on the sofa, lingering over a half-empty box of pizza and a pack of empty beer bottles.

"I get it, Ezra," said Hardy, looking over at his friend, "I really do. She's smart and pretty, and she's grown up a lot. But she's your student."

"I know," sighed Ezra in frustration.

"You're not even going to argue with me? Or deny it?" asked Hardy, raising an eyebrow.

Ezra cradled his head in his hands and looked up at his friend. "You've known both of us for far too long."

"I get it," Hardy repeated. "But she's just a teenager. After this is all over, she'll end up with her diploma and you'll get a pink slip and a jump suit."

"But she's Aria," wailed Ezra. He grabbed his nearly empty bottle of beer and took a swig. "She's the girl next door."

"Exactly, man. She's the girl next door." He paused. "Have you told her? Last I heard the Montgomerys didn't know."

"Of course I haven't told her," retorted Ezra. "It took me years to tell you, and that's because Jackie let the cat out of the bag before I did."

"She needs to know," said Hardy, wobbling as he got up from his seat. "They all need to know." He took a moment to straighten himself before continuing. "What would her parents say? About any of it?"

"I don't know," responded Ezra forlornly.

Hanna caught Aria's eyes as the latter girl exited Mr. Fitz's classroom, her look one of pure affection and adoration. Hanna's eyes were questioning and suspicious, gazing at her friend as she leaned against the lockers. Aria looked away the light in her eyes dimming, and Hanna raised her chin, her curiosity piqued.

Ezra leaned into Aria, pulling her closer to him on the couch. She reciprocated, putting her arm around his shoulders and deepened their kiss. She felt his tongue in her mouth and she was giddy with pleasure. Ezra let his roam around her back, under shirt, feeling her bra. Suddenly, they were lying on the couch and she was on top of him. She ran her hands through his hair, and he caressed the small of her back. The doorbell rang, and they ignored it. The doorbell rang again, more insistently.

"Ezra," they heard a male voice faintly call. "It's Byron. I need to talk to you about something." The couple immediately pulled apart and sat up stiffly.

"Crap," whispered Aria. "What are we going to do?"

"Go hide in the study room down the hall," answered Ezra quietly, jumping of the couch and straightening his shirt. She silently complied, rushing down the hall as the doorbell rang for the third time.

Ezra opened the door, hoping his swollen lips didn't give away what he had spent his afternoon doing. "Byron," he welcomed and gestured for the older man to come in.

Aria waited in Ezra's study, shutting the door behind her quietly, so that there was no chance of her father hearing the extra noise. She sighed in relief and leaned against the door for a few minutes before walking over to Ezra's desk against the window.

He had a perfect view of the tree house. Aria smiled. She had half-expected the house to be falling down by now. It must be more than ten years old. It made her wonder when and if Ezra had visited the Springers before her family moved next door. A picture caught her eye on the pale blue wall. It was of Grandma and Grandpa, the portrait Grandma had talked him into taking for their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They looked so happy and in love. Aria found herself wishing that she would end up like them one day. The familiar pit in her stomach returned.

She knew she liked Ezra, really liked him, but he was her teacher and nine years her senior. Did they really have a future together? When she was with him nothing else in the world mattered. It felt so…right. It felt so right and she couldn't help but feeling that it felt so wrong at the same time. Aria swallowed the bile in the back of her throat and pushed her thoughts away.

She sat on Ezra's plush office chair, swiveling around in it to kill the time. Her father and Ezra were taking longer than she thought they would. She stopped swiveling and looked at the papers on the desk. There were handwritten notes and a part of a story it looked like Ezra was working on. There were billing statements, and his journal was lying in the corner. A typed piece of paper caught her eye. Startled, she read it, picking it up and holding it in her hand. Then she read it again to make sure she had understood the wording correctly. She heard the door open and close behind her, but she stood frozen in place.

"Sorry that took so long," said Ezra walking over to her. "Aria," he called when she didn't move. "Aria?"

She turned around slowly, holding up the paper in her hand. "What is this?" she asked slowly, deliberately, intently as if she already knew the answer. He felt his knees go weak. She had found his resignation letter to Rosewood High.

September 17, 2011

I have plans to go to Ezra's later tonight. He says we're going to watch Chinatown. I'm hoping to convince him that Breakfast at Tiffany's is a better option. We'll probably get take-out and sit together on the couch. Lately, though, these movie nights have turned into make-out nights. Those are always fun. The next morning, though, afterwards it almost feels like I've done something bad, especially when I have to see him in class and call him Mr. Fitz. I'd rather call him Mr. Fitz when we are doing…other things. I wonder how Ezra feels about it.

So far this secret has been relatively easy to keep from my friends, but sometimes, when Hanna looks at me, I think she suspects. What does she think about it? I'm too afraid to ask or find out what she knows. Spencer and Emily, though, I think, don't suspect anything. Homecoming is in a couple of weeks. Holden asked if I wanted to go as friends. Should I say yes? If I do, will that make Ezra feel bad? If I say no, will Holden get suspicious?