Lost & Found-Ezria

Chapter 10

ARIA'S POV

I stepped out of the cab into the familiar neighborhood. I took in the houses around me, the familiar red brick reminding me of all my childhood memories. I sighed as I realized how much had changed, and how I was no longer my care-free younger self.

I slowly made my way up the steps and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. I waited patiently for a few moments before a familiar face finally opened the door.

"Aria, oh my god." A shocked Ella threw her hands to her face, tears immediately welling up in her eyes.

I stood there silently for a moment, unsure of what to do first. I was back in Rosewood, and I needed closure. The first step of that closure was getting close with my mom again.

Ultimately I decided to be honest immediately with my mom, resulting in my rushing towards her and sobbing into her shoulder.

"Oh, honey, what's wrong. come here, sweetheart..." she said softly, stroking my head.

"Mom..." I sobbed loudly, barely able to speak.

"God, I haven't heard you say that since July." she said quietly.

"Mom, there's a lot I haven't told you..."
A quizzical look crossed her face as she picked up the many suitcases that I was towing behind me, and left them near the stairs.

"Okay, come, let's make some tea and we'll talk." she said softly. We made our way to the kitchen as I sat down, taking in the familiar surroundings. tears were streaming freely down my face as I fiddled with my hands. Ella turned the kettle on and immediately turned towards me, a concerned look on her face.

"So, uh, I don't really know where to start. I guess i'll just begin from where it all happened." I said, taking a deep breath as she sat next to me.

"So in late July, I was driving to a restaurant to get some food, and I was hit by a drunk driver. I was on a very quiet street and there wasn't anyone else around. It hit me on the passenger side, though, but I still was unconscious. I woke up 16 days later in a hospital, and I couldn't remember anything. I knew who I was, and who you were and stuff, but I don't remember anything past around seventh grade." I said quietly, pausing at the end. I could see Ella sobbing too now, her hands leaning on her jaw and a horrified look on her face.

"Aria, why didn't you tell me?! I'm your mother!" she cried, obviously upset.

"I'm 18, so I didn't need a parent's consent or anything. I was just alone in this big city, and I didn't want to ruin my chances at this school! I worked so hard to get here, and I just wanted to get out of Rosewood! And I knew that if you knew, I'd have to come back home! So I didn't call anybody. I just stayed, alone, in the hospital until I was healthy enough to leave. I figured out a way to make everything work, and I went to school like it was normal. And I just didn't look back."

"God, Aria..." Ella said, immediately throwing herself into me for a hug.

"I know I was stupid, I realize that now. But I'm here now." I say quietly.

"And there's more?" she asks, obviously still unable to process the first set of news.

I nod and continue talking.

"Right around September, I started dating this great guy, Wesley. and we fell in love, and it was just amazing. It was a whirlwind of art and love, and I was in New York, and I just couldn't be happier. And then, this guy showed up at my door one day, proclaiming his love for me. And he told me that we used to date, and I believed him. But then Wes told me that he was my ex boyfriend who cheated on me..." I continued, trying to say it so it made sense.

"Wait, wait wait. Wes was from rosewood too? What was his last name? and who showed up at your door?" she questioned.

"Yeah, his name is Wes Fitzgerald. and the guy that showed up is Ezra..." I mentioned, and her face immediately lit up.

"Ezra went all the way there?" she asked, in shock.

"Wait, what do you mean?" I asked, confused and overwhelmed by all of this.

"Aria, you and him were in love. He would never cheat on you... You were the one that broke it off." she said slowly, obviously knowing this was a sensitive issue with me.

"Why does everyone keep telling me that?!" I ask, throwing my head in my hands as tears streamed down my face.

"Because it's true, Aria. You told me all about the breakup when it happened..." she said softly.

"So everything the girls and him told me was true?" I ask.

"Wait, wait. The girls?" she continues, obviously as confused as I was.

"God, I'm such an idiot! The girls came down for a surprise visit, and they tried to convince me that Ezra actually loved me... But I was so caught up with the lies Wes was telling me, I didn't even listen to them!" I cried, so upset with this.

"Look, Aria, you can still make things right. Ezra will never stop loving you, I fully believe that. And the girls will have to forgive you, you didn't know any better." she cooed, obviously knowing what to say to calm me down.

"I'm so sorry mom..." I cried, burying my head in her shoulder.

"It's okay sweetheart, you're here now." She said softly. Just as I lifted my head from her shoulder my phone chimed from the bottom of my bag.

1 new message from Spencer:

Hey, are you in town yet?

I looked to my mom and then back at my phone.

"So how long are you here for, sweetie?"

"Uh, that's the thing, I don't really know. I brought enough stuff for three weeks, but my march break is only two weeks. i want to go back, but I can't see Wes again. Not after what he did." I said strongly. A confused look crossed her face before I realized that I forgot to tell her that part of the story.

"Um, Wes cheated on me. We're over. And even though I don't remember him, there was such a sense of familiarity to Ezra, and I can't get him off my mind." I said quietly, still saddened by what Wes had done.

"Oh, sweetie I'm sorry. but you and Ezra were soulmates. And soulmates always find their way back to each other. How abut this: you stay with me for the next two weeks, and we'll go back to RISD together. I'll help you clean out your dorm and stuff, and if it's what you really want, we can come back here. You can go to Hollis." she said softly, seeming so sweet to me even after I lied to her.

I nod and pick up my phone again.

"Meet me at the brew with the other girls in 10. Bring Ezra please." I text back to spencer.

"Uh, mom, I;m actually going to go and try to make amends with the girls. I'll see you soon." I say, smiling as I walk out the door.

{Hey everyone. im so sorry the writing wasnt that great in this chapter! i wasnt really in the mood to write today but i promise the next chapter will be so much better!!}