Note: So, ever since I wrote this story, I have debated on whether or not I should continue. After all of the reviews and everything, I have decided to do it. Everyone has been telling me to, so without further ado, here is chapter two of Fallen Pieces(: P.S. Don't forget to review.

~Laura

Chapter 2:

The time in Rosewood, Pennsylvania neared six o'clock in the morning. There was a bright orange glow that was casted along the dusty floors and shelves that lined the walls. The birds were chirping away outside, happy to see it was dawn. Ezra watched the tiny dust particles float around his apartment, making him realize how long he actually wasn't here. What also made him realize this, was the terrified girl that lay on his chest.

He really didn't understand how frightened she actually was, until she woke up screaming for Mona to stop hurting her. That was when he pulled her onto him and combed his fingers through her hair until her heartbeat was back to normal and she fell back asleep. He didn't close his eyes for the rest of the night, just in case she was to have another nightmare. He looked at her sleeping face, not recognizing the girl he once knew to be Aria. It was like all of the vibrancy and happiness was struck from her, leaving behind just her body.

She groaned in her sleep, making Ezra alert. He rubbed his hands up and down her back, trying to calm her. Her body tensed as she gripped the sheets beside him. He kissed her cheek softly to let her know she was there, but it did no good. Her eyes flung open and she began to shake.

"Shhhh," he cooed to her, stroking her cheek, "It was just a dream, sweetheart. A terrible, scary dream."

She shook her head as she wiped a tear away, "It felt so real."

"But it wasn't," he explained, "You are safe."

"Am I," she replied after a long silence. She looked into Ezra's blue eyes. He kissed her cheek as she let out a shaky breath, "I mean there is no way Mona could've killed Maya. She was with us when that happened."

Ezra looked at her confusedly, "So, are you saying another murderer is on the loose?"

"I don't know anymore," she replied.

"Baby, why didn't you tell me how you really were handling all of this," Ezra asked as he pushed her hair behind her ear, "If you would've told me, I would've been back here in a heartbeat."

"For that reason," she admitted, giving him a sad smile, "I just didn't want to be selfish." He looked at her with disbelief, wondering how in the world she could possibly think that.

"You couldn't be selfish if you tried," he reasoned with her, "Asking me to come back sooner would've helped you. It wouldn't have made you even close to selfish."

She smiled at him softly and kissed his lips softly before snuggling her head into his chest once more, "Well, you are here now, which is all I need." He smiled against her hair and held her close to him. She let out a breath, savoring the moment for all it was worth and more. She felt safer than she had in a long time when she was in Ezra's arms. All of the grief she had seemed to just melt away when she was with him.

"Aria, open this door," Byron's voice said through the door, "It's time you come home."

The look of horror that she had just gotten rid of was restored on Aria's face as she quietly jumped from the bed, pulling Ezra with her, "Oh, no. Ezra, you have to hide. I need you to go into the bathroom, or behind the couch, or somewhere where you are safe from him."

"Aria," Ezra tried to interrupt, but she kept going.

"I'm serious. I can't believe this is happening. I just got you back, and now I have to leave. It is so unfa-," she was cut off by Ezra's lips crashing to hers. She responded by immediately wrapping her arms around his neck, savoring the feeling of their kiss. They soon pulled away from each other; seeing their reflections in both of their glassy eyes.

"Who the hell are you talking to," he asked furiously, "Is he there with you?"

The brunette groaned softly, "He knows. If he finds you here, I am guaranteed to never see you again. I can't do that. I just can't."

Ezra stroked her hair soothingly, "You won't have to do that. You will be back here before you even miss me, okay," he wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure Aria or himself. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," she squeaked back as she buried her face in his chest. They listened to the now constant banging on the wooden door as Aria pushed him into the bathroom after another kiss. Every step toward her father was heartbreakingly painful. Just as she was starting to feel a sense of safety, something, or in this case, someone had to get in the way. As soon as she opened the door, her father burst into the room.

"Where is he, Aria," Byron looked at his daughter, "I know he is here."

"He isn't here," she argued as she wiped away another tear, "Can we just please go home?"

"Yeah, sure," he said, walking around the apartment, "Right after I check for that pedophile you call a boyfriend!"

"Dad, please," she pleaded, "Please, stop."

He looked at his fragile state his daughter was in and shook his head, "Fine. Let's go home, but that is where you will stay unless you are out with me or your mother. Do I make myself clear?"

She looked over to the bathroom, where she saw Ezra peek his head through and nod reluctantly, signaling for her to agree. She frowned softly and blew a kiss to him behind her father's back, "Fine."

"Here," Mike said as he handed his sister a plate of food, "Mom and Dad went to bed, so I snuck some dinner up for you. You have to be starving." He watched as she smiled thankfully at her brother. It had been three days since she had seen Ezra; she didn't eat, move, or talk to her parents. Mike watched as his sister scraped her food around, occasionally taking bites. He cleared his throat, "Please, eat something, Aria. I know you hate Dad for doing that to you, but I am worried about you."

She looked up at her little brother, who was beginning to get worry lines permanently etched into his forehead. "I'll be fine. I'm just really not that hungry. There is too much going on for me to deal with right now. Eating isn't so important to me at the moment. I need other things."

"Ezra," Mike breathed, taking the plate away from Aria and placing on her desk across the room. She nodded as he gave her a small hug, "You will see him soon. You two always seem to end up together somehow. I have to go to bed, but I will see you in the morning. I love you, sis."

"Love you, too," Aria gave her brother a small smile, "And thank you. You aren't so bad for a little brother." He chuckled softly before exiting her room and closing the door. The brunette gave a sigh and snuggled underneath her blankets, alone. She reached over to her bedside lamp and flicked it off. However, something outside her window caught her eye before she could close them. She sat up straight in her bed, wondering what it was she saw.

"Was that a shadow," she thought to herself, her breaths getting shorter by the second, "It couldn't be a shadow. You are safe now. There is no more A." As she finally reassured herself, the branches outside started to move. "Someone is really out there. What if it is the murderer?" Her body started to shake as she felt a panic attack coming on. She closed her eyes tightly, jumping as she heard a knock on the glass.

"Aria," she heard a voice outside the house say.

"You are imagining it. That is all," she told herself, but as she heard her name called a second time, she knew it was real. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, tears springing to them as she saw who it was. She padded over to the window and unlatched it, "Ezra, you scared the hell out of me, but I love you for coming over here." As soon as he was steady on her floor, she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"Well, I was pretty sure your father took away your phone and any other source of communication, so I decided that if you couldn't come over to my apartment, that I would sneak over here," he reasoned with her, kissing her forehead softly, "Go lock your door."

"I hate my parents for doing this," she said as she walked back over to the bed where Ezra was now laying. She crawled up next to him and looked into his eyes, "I just wish they could see how happy you make me."

"I think the reason they don't like us being a couple is because they do see how happy you are around me," he explained, "It scares them."

"Well, you know what scares me? Being stalked and threatened by a psycho bitch for the past two years," she replied, rolling her eyes. They need to open their eyes to what I need. And all I need is you." He smiled softly at her and placed a soft kiss on her lips. As he went to pull away, she crashed hers to his once more. His fingers played in her long, dark hair as she climbed on top of him. She placed her hands on his face, feeling the small stubble on his cheeks.

He pulled away breathlessly, staring into her gorgeous hazel orbs, "Do you have any idea how much I love you? I have absolutely never felt this way toward anyone before."

"I love you, too," she said softly as she leaned down for a chaste kiss, "More than you'll ever know." They embraced for the rest of the night, not wanting to sleep, in fear of missing out on each other's company. Aria also knew he would have to be gone by dawn, so she wanted to talk to him and touch him and kiss him as many times as she could before he would have to leave. Again.