Chapter 4

Hey, so i don't know if anyone is still interested in this but i have quite a few chapters typed up so if i get at least 3 reviews asking me to continue i will other wise i will just post what i have an not bother ending this properly.

Any who, hope you enjoy and pretty please review

Two weeks later and Aria found herself happy again. Since Ezra had posted the notes in her locker she hadn't received anymore negative or positive ones. She was on her way to English with the girls and was actually happy to see Ezra but was surprised when they got there to see they had a substitute. Aria desperately wanted to know as to why Ezra wasn't there but didn't want people to start gossiping about why she was the one to ask so instead she stayed quiet. The substitute handed out their work then asked if their were any questions. Before she had even managed to get the whole sentence out Mona's hand was up like a lightening bolt.

"Yes?" The teacher asked giving Mona permission to ask her question.

"How come Mr. Fitz isn't here?"

"He's off sick" Was all she said before sitting down at his desk and reading her lesson plan for the day. Aria had never been a fan of Mona's but was glad she had asked where Ezra was. Although the substitute had said he was out sick she was positive that was not true, Ezra never got sick, he was lucky like that. Aria was sure something else was wrong and she was determined as ever to get to the bottom of it. She stayed throughout English as not to cause suspicion but as soon as the bell rang, and the class was over she hopped straight into her car and headed to Ezra's apartment. She know it was risky with him being her teacher, again but they were friends right?

Within less than ten minutes she had arrived, parked and walked up the three flights of stairs and was now facing the wooden door with the letters 3B attached to them. Before knocking Aria took a moment to gain her thoughts, then before she could back out she knocked. She waited for an answer but was greeted with silence, she considered maybe he was out, but she was sure she heard a noise so she knocked again. Again he didn't open the door but she definitely heard him sigh. Again she thought about walking away but then thought of how Ezra was always there for her when she needed him and this was her turn to step up and return the favour. Letting out her own sigh she knocked once more, only this time with more determination causing the knocks to echo throughout the whole small apartment.

"Go away Hardy" Ezra shouted through the oak door from his place on his couch. 'Finally a reply' Aria thought even though he thought it was Hardy.

"It's not Hardy" She hesitantly said through the door.

"Aria? What are you doing here?" He asked, still not bothering answering the door and deciding to pour himself another scotch.

"You weren't in class" she said before adding "What's wrong? What happened?" she asked wanting to get through to him.

"Who says something's wrong? Aren't I allowed the day off?" He asked pissed off, not at her, at the whole satiation, at the reason why he had taken the day off.

"Of course you're allowed but it isn't like you, I just wanted to make sure you were okay" She said softly through the door causing Ezra's eyes to water slightly at the thought of her still caring about his well being even when they are broken up. He took a second before wiping his eyes and replying.

"I'm fine" Was his reply as he downed his glass of Scotch and poured himself yet another.

"That's bullshit and you know it. I can tell from here you're not okay, now please open the door and let me help you." Aria said, annoyance in her tone at the fact that he hadn't let her in.

"Go away Aria I don't need someone to look after me"

"Maybe so but you need someone to talk to, you can't just bottle it all up!" She said almost shouting at him through the door. In return to her words all she got was silence. Having had enough of what could only be described as childishness she sighed before reaching into her bag and pulling out the spare key to his apartment. She took another breath before putting the key in the lock, and then unlocked the door letting herself in. Once inside she could see that she was right Ezra wasn't okay. He was laid on his couch in his work trousers and unbuttoned plaid shirt with an old Hollis undershirt showing. Each item of clothing was covered in a mass of wrinkles and it was clear he had been wearing the items for at least a few days. Come to think of it Aria remembered seeing him in the outfit on Saturday Morning when she almost ran into him at the store but she had hid behind some cans. After taking in his attire she took notice of his face. He was unshaven with small stubble which she couldn't help but admit to herself suited him and made him all the more attractive. Once shaking those thoughts out of her head she looked at his eyes, he was looking away from her but she could see they were red and puffy, clearly he had been crying, as well as having hardly any sleep. Next she took a look at his hair, it was all over the place meaning he had dragged his hands through it numerous amounts of time. She then looked at his coffee table. On the table were two large, not to mention extra strong scotch bottles, one was empty and the other was touching the half way point having been opened in the early-ish hours and with it now being noon was in full affect on Ezra making his speech slurred, his breath taste of alcohol and his thoughts going so fast he could barely keep up with them.

Although Aria took in his appearance in detail it only took her a few mere seconds. Once she had done this she placed her bag and Ezra's key on the table before speaking. "What happened Ezra?" She asked again, sympathy present on her face. He looked up from his scotch and the look on his face broke her heart in two. He looked like a lost puppy, completely broken and her heart went out to him. He tried to get words out of his mouth but couldn't and just ended up looking like a fish opening and closing his mouth. Once he couldn't get any words to come out of his mouth he swung his legs off the couch, making room for Aria and looked down nursing his Scotch. Aria took his movement as a sign he didn't mind her sitting next to him so she took a seat, she sat close to him but left a few inches gap between them. She placed her hand on his forearm.

"What ever it is, it's gonna be okay" She said giving him a reassuring smile even though he didn't look up to see it.

"No it won't" Was all he said as he polished off another glass of his Scotch and went to make a move to refill it, but Aria put her hand out to stop him.

"Don't, please. Talk to me" She said looking at him with that smile of hers again only this time he looked back and saw it.

"It's a mess Aria" He said leaving his glass and bottle on the table and leaning back into his couch.

"I don't think I should drag you in it" he added.

"Well I wanna be dragged into it, so tell me, please Ezra" She said practically begging him to fill her in on what had happened. Even though he was beyond grateful she was there and that she cared he didn't want to drag her yet again into his baby drama, she was only seventeen she shouldn't have to deal with his problems as well as her own, she had already been though enough these last couple of years. But as he looked at her he knew he had no choice but to tell her, she deserved to know, even if it wouldn't change anything between the two of them.

"Maggie lied" He told her, hoping he wouldn't have to go into detail. Saying it out loud made it all the more real and he couldn't stand the thought that he had lost the little boy he thought was his son and who he had came to love and cherish with all that he had. Unfortunately for him Aria needed more information to be able to put two and two together.

"What did she lie about?" Aria asked still confused about the whole situation.

"About Malcolm, He's not…." Ezra had to take a moment and swallow the huge lump that was causing a pain in his chest. However it didn't work as a few tears slipped down his face. "…He's not mine" He choked out as Aria gasped at his statement. 'He has to be lying' she thought, she hoped but his reaction to his words said otherwise. He was telling her the truth and the reality was killing him causing his tears to come in thick and fast. Without thinking Aria grabbed him and pulled him towards her into a hug. He buried his head in her right shoulder and cried harder than he thought was possible. He had cried before she had come over but not like this, but that's what happens when someone is nice to you and hugs you when you're crying it just makes the tears come harder and faster. As he cried into her shoulder, wetting her shirt she gently rubbed his back up and down with one hand whilst the other was buried in his hair doing the same.

The pair stayed silent for a moment before Aria tried to calm him down by telling him it was all going to be okay but in return all she got was Ezra shaking his head no. As far as he was concerned nothing was ever going to be okay. Not only had Maggie's lie lost him and son and also broken his heart he had lost the love of his life, the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, get married to, have children with. That was all over now especially with him being her teacher once again.

Eventually his tears stopped and he gathered enough strength to let himself leave the warmth of Aria's arms. Once he had done so he wiped his eyes before speaking.

"Thank you for coming, you didn't have to" He said staring at the floor and avoiding her gaze, truth be told he felt kind of pathetic that he was a grown man and he had just cried in the arms of a teenager.

"No problem" She told him before placing her hand on his knee. At her touch Ezra looked up at her and the pair spent the next few seconds intently staring at one another. Before either of the duo had a chance to comprehend what was happening their lips were on the others in an intensely hot make out session. Ezra had one of his arms tightly wrapped around Aria's waist pulling her impossibly close to him whilst the other was tangled in her hair. Just like Ezra she had one hand tangled in his hair like he had her only her other hand was around the back of his neck holding him close.

Originally this chapter was a lot longer but I cut it into two. This is just part 1, part 2 will come soon and pick up right where this left off. Thanks for reading, now how about leaving a review and let me know how i did