Define Ezria

Chapter 28

The constant beeping that drilled my head was mainly the reason why I cracked my eyelids open and tried to locate its sourse.

What my eyes landed on instead was Ezra's very naked back moving up and down rhythmically while he was still fast asleep.

My heart lunged as memories of last night hit me with a strange velocity. We had had sex. No, we had made love.

And if it wasn't for the dull throbbing in my lower stomach I would have sworn it was a dream.

Giddy I carefully detaged Ezra's hand from my naked body and tried to srand up without alerting him.

The first thing I saw on the floor was his white dress shirt and despite it being incredibly clissé, I put it on and tried not to laugh when it went down to my knees.

I started to thoroughly explore his apartment while buttoning up the shirt and had made it to the bookself when the annoying beeping that had woken me up rung again.

I span my head in time to see Ezra's laptop screen flash with a pop up message and then go dark again.

I frowned and approached it, sitting down on the spinny chair. I hesitantly moved the mouse and the screen came alive.

At first I didn't resister that I was seeing a social media account until another message popped up.

I felt guilty going through the message but my eyes roamed instinctively over the bold italics.

"Ezra, has the board imformed you I'm transferring to Rosewood high?Isn't that delightful? Can't wait to catch up, how about coffee tomorrow?.Yours truly, Jackie"

My frown deepened as I read and my stomach turned. Who was this person and what did she mean catch up?

There was an icon attached to the pop up message and I clicked on it preparing for the worst.

What I saw instead was unfathomable. Picture after picture of a tall and thin brunette around Ezra's age posing for the camera in various dresses and environments.

She was beautiful with high cheekbones and long wavy hair that fell down her back.

The solo photographs went on for a while until I found one with who assumed was Jackie and her date.

Ezra.

I wanted to be sick. The two of them were happily posing for the camera their hands clasped together.

The next one was to my even greatest surprise taken in Italy. Jackie was sitting on Ezra's lap on a gondola in Florence.

Time after time the two of them kissing, touching and posing like love sick birds.

I didn't realize I was crying until my vision got blurry and I almost missed the last picture.

Ezra had his hands around the tall woman while she had her hand extended to show of her hand,

where a diamond engagement ring resided.

I stood up and closed the laptop unable to watch them a minute longer.

I had to get out of there.

Ezra was still sleeping when I located my clothes on the floor and hastily put them on.

I started counting in my head to avoid thinking while I fished all my belongings in my purse and fled the apartment without looking back.

It was still fairly early and despite my high heels and general disheveled appearance I decided to walk to my house.

With glassy eyes that looked without seeing and shaky legs that threatened to give up with every step I took, I made it home before anyone was even up yet.

I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the bathroom.

I felt dirty, used and cheap.

Last night had been the best night of my life and it was funny how fast I went from feeling on top of the world to buried six feet under it.

I filled the tub with scorching hot water, stripped down last nights dress and got in.

I had trusted him. I had trusted Ezra enough to give in to him. To give him the one thing I could never give back.

And that was why it hurt so much more. To be lied to, to be betrayed. Whoever that Jackie person was she was or still is a huge part of Ezra's life. One that I had no knowledge of.

He never talked about his past or his family. I thought he would have told me when he was ready, but this, this is not what I expected.

What did I know about him really? All our problems were hands on and took up all our minds but he hadn't always been my teacher.

Ezra had an entire other life before of me.

A sob rised up my throat and I let my head sink low into the tube.

Underwater my heart slowed down and I managed to surpress another round of sobs.

I broke the surfuce in time to breathe and scolded myself for being so immature.

Think Aria, I ordered myself while I got out and rinsed my body of the vanilla smelling suds. What would Spencer do? Well there was only one way to find out and that was asking Spencer herself.

Happy with a newfound determination to at least have a plan I dried off quickly and went to change into more comfortable clothes.

With my hair still wet dripping down my back I took my keyes and let myself out of the house as soundly as I could.

My car was parked just across the road so I headed there when I heard my phone ring.

Right there on the small screen the ID number, Ezra's number, flashed and made me stop walking.

He must have noticed I was gone and was wondering why. A tear run down my cheek and got lost in my hairline.

I pressed the end button angrily and started walking to my car again not noticing the one that came right at me since I was standing in the middle of the road.

My small body collided with its bumper and the last thing I knew was

darkness.

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