You're the One I Need

It had been a night since Nicole had been recovered from captivity, and it had been one of the longest most sleepless nights that Aria had ever had. When things used to be scary and difficult in the highschool days, she'd run to Ezra. He was her sense of reality and above all, her sense of hope in her fickle world.

Years later the feeling was still there. That love that took her over and consumed her, only meant for him. Of course she wanted to believe his heart belonged to her too, he had gotten down on one knee and asked for her to spend the rest of his life with Aria.

But to watch him look at Nicole like that just didn't sit right. The way he cried into her shoulder, held her tightly and kissed her forcefully made Aria feel like what she had wasn't enough.

And she knew it was ridiculous, she did. She knew Ezra had the right to be overwhelmed, that his love for Nicole never died but was taken from him, that he wasn't doing this to hurt her. But she couldn't help but feel hurt.

Aria decided that it would be best that she wasn't here when Ezra came home today, she wasn't sure if he would have Nicole with him or not and more than anything, she needed to get out of this apartment to do some thinking on her own.

She began to pack her clothes up, having a hard time separating her own from his. She placed her bubble baths, pills, coffee creamers and everything in moveable bags and containers. She didn't want Nicole to feel like she wasn't welcome, so Aria made herself the guest.

As soon as she finished her packing, she was headed to the door when it began to open. The moment he stepped into the apartment, alone, the walls went thin. They stood quiet for a few moments, unsure of what to say.

"Hey," Aria said quietly. She knew she must look like hell from a sleepless night.

The look on Ezra's face was guilt, sadness and worry all put into one.

"Aria. I'm so sorry." With each word he stepped closer to her, and by the end of his sentence Ezra was only a couple feet away from Aria.

"I understand, Ezra, it's ...okay." The words didn't feel right leaving her mouth but she knew that it was the right thing to say. "I was just going to head out for a little while, give you time to think, or I thought maybe if Nicole-"

"Nicole went to be with her family." Ezra interrupted.

"Oh."

"Erm, ...you could stay? I just really don't want to be alone right now, and I especially don't want to be away from you anymore than I, uh, I have been. I think ,that we should talk about everything." The look on Ezra's face seemed desperate.

Aria caved. She nodded, staring at the floor and made her way over the the love seat in the living room area. She felt like she was being so immature about the situation because of how much the gut in her stomach tightened in envy over Nicole kissing him. She wanted him all to herself, and she wasn't going to share her fiancé with her. Aria knew it was terrible to think that way, but it didn't stop the feelings from being there.

He sat down on the love seat as well, boycotting the two chairs that were placed on either side of the couch. He faced her, Aria could tell he was looking at her earnestly and intensely, but she didn't return his gaze. Instead she stared at her hands, picking at her nails. A bad habit she picked up when she was nervous.