Chasing Fate

Chapter 7

Aria's POV

It had been 3 hours since he left. I didn't know what to do with myself, so I just sat and stared at the wall. I had paced around the apartment at least 100 times, I had called him so many times that I had lost count, and I just sat there asking myself the same question over and over again– What had I done?

And 4 hours into his "walk", I decided I should just go home. I grabbed all my stuff from his apartment, leaving no trace of my being there behind. Tears streaming down my face, I walked home, which was a 45 minute walk. I got home and just curled up in bed, wanting to sleep away the pain.

I still had a few hours before I was supposed to meet the other girls, and I decided to just sleep. Sleep off everything that hurt me, and just drown out the world.

I lay down in my bed and closed my eyes, curled up in a ball. I could feel tears drying up on my face, and I let myself drift off into a sleep.

ººº

I woke up abruptly, immediately search for my phone. I needed to check the time; how long had I slept for?

I found my phone and discovered that it was only 4:45– I was only meeting the girls at 6. I slowly got out of bead, realizing that I had a pounding headache. I began looking through my closet, trying to find something to wear. I finally settled on a royal blue backless dress, as it was simple yet cute. I also pulled out my favorite black booties and chose my jewelery and set everything on my desk as I began to do my hair.

It was 5:45 by the time I finished getting ready, and I grabbed my stuff to get ready to head out. I was so nervous that I was almost sick to my stomach, and I couldn't even imagine their reactions without wanting to go back to bed.

It didn't occur to me that I would have to tell them about Ezra until I pulled up to the restaurant, realizing the empty passenger seat next to me. He hadn't called me back, and I still had no idea where he was. I took a deep breath and started walking to the restaurant– I had to tell them, they were my best friends.

I walked into the restaurant to see Alison, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer already sitting at a table, chattering away. I walked towards them as they all stood up to greet me, smiles on their faces.

"So, Ar, what's the big news?" Hanna asked excitedly. The other girls nodded eagerly, and I felt my stomach drop. I didn't know how I would tell them.

"Um, well, uh, I'm..." I paused, anxiousness prominent in my voice.

"Aria, just spit it out. Come on!" Spencer exclaimed, her eagerness not helping me.

I took a deep breath and clutched the table. "I'm pregnant." I sighed as they all stared at me blankly.

Alison was the first to speak. "Oh my god, Aria! Congratulations!" She said excitedly, hugging me tightly. I smiled slightly, still nervous to see the other girls' reactions.

Hanna spoke next. "Wow, Aria! You're going to be a mom! And I'm going to be an aunt!" she sang the second part. I smiled and hugged her. Two down, two to go.

Emily smiled at me. "Aria that's great. We're all really happy for you." she said calmly, obviously picking up on my nervousness.

And finally Spencer spoke. "This baby is going to have the absolute best aunties. Aria, this is amazing!" she said excitedly, removing a weight from my shoulders.

Ezra's words echoed through my mind as everyone joined a group hug.

They won't love you any less. And neither will I.

A sudden look of sadness crossed my face, and all the girls immediately asked me what was wrong. I just shook my head, forcing a smile on my face.

"Oh come on, Aria, all these years together and you actually think we believe that obviously fake smile?" Spencer nudged me, joking to try and lighten the mood.

I could feel my eyes well up with tears and took a sharp breath. "Ezra and I got in a huge fight today. And he hasn't answered any of my calls, or texts, and I just feel really bad, because I said something really terrible, and I just hate fighting with him."

All the girls had concerned looks on their faces as they reached out to grab my hand.

"Aria, you guys have found your way back to each other so many times. You guys love each other, and that's obvious. And I'm sure that it'll work out, okay?" Emily said sweetly. She was always the one who knew just what to say to calm me down.

"Yeah, Em's right. And if you want, you can stay at my house for the next few days, at least until you've worked things out with him. Sound good?" Spencer added, wrapping one arm around me.

I smiled, genuinely relieved to have such amazing and supportive friends. After we had finished eating, Spencer and I made our way back to her house, and we fell asleep watching a movie on her couch.

ººº

I woke up the next morning to the sound of pots and pans, obviously coming from the kitchen. I sat up and looked around; Spencer was in the kitchen making pancakes. I got up and sat at the island in front of her.

"Good morning!" she said enthusiastically. Confused by her behavior, I asked her what was up.

"How many cups of coffee have you had today, Spence?" I asked suspiciously. I knew that Spencer was the farthest thing from a morning person– She couldn't even form sentences unless she had at least 3 cups of coffee or it was past 9.

She hesitated before she answered, not looking up from her pancake batter. "Um, I don't really know how to say this..." she paused, now looking at me.

I began drumming my fingers anxiously on the counter top, concerned to hear what she was just about to tell me.

"I had Emily go check Ezra's apartment to see if he was home, so she could tell him to call you... And, well... he wasn't. And when she asked the landlord if he had even come home that night, and she was told that he wasn't." she was now reaching over the island to grab my hand, obviously sad with me.

"What? There must have been a mistake... No, he's not like that, he would come home." I said calmly, not willing to believe what I had just heard.

"I'm really sorry, Aria. I promise you that we will do everything we can to find him, okay?" she said, trying to get me to understand the situation.

I wasn't going to believe that Ezra left town, or even worse, was missing. Thoughts of what could have happened to him rushed through my mind, and all I wanted at that moment was to run into his arms.