Hands Of Time | Ezria

Chapter Four

ARIAS POV

"Ezra, honey do you have your wallet?" I called out to him, as he was combing his hair in the bathroom.
"Yep. All set," he replied, turning on the faucet.
"Then why did I find it down the corner of the sofa?" I replied, giggling.
He looked at me, rolling his eyes.

EZRAS POV

I took the wallet from Aria's hand, leaving a kiss upon her head. As my lips left her forehead, a sharp pain rushed up my spine. I tried to cover it up as Aria looked at me with her sparkling, hazel eyes. I could stare at them for years, she was so beautiful. And I decided to take in her beauty as much as I could, since I never knew if today was the last day I'd be able to look at her.
"You ready?" I said, grabbing my jacket. She nodded, and smiled slightly.
"Aria, look if you don't feel comf..."
"Ezra. Seriously. I'm fine. I'm happy you get to see Hardy. He's your best friend, and I'm not going to keep you from seeing him," she replied, walking over to me and taking my hand into hers. Her warm palms quickly made my hands warm. She could light up the world with a simple smile. I was so happy I was able to call her mine. But she'd soon move on...
"God, i love you," I said, kissing her smoothly on the lips. I could feel her smiling as we kissed.
"Let's go," she said, after we broke apart for air.
-
As we strolled into the Pub, hand in hand, I spotted hardy sitting at the bar. He turned to see me and aria, first raising an eyebrow, then smiled.
"Hey man!" He called out, and pulled me into a big hug.
"Aria," he said, shaking her petite hand. She smiled, but I wasn't sure if it was a sarcastic smile or a warming one.
"What we having then?" He jumped right in, signaling the bartender. I just said I'll have whatever, and I backed up to Aria.
"We can go..."
"No, I want to stay," she replied, holding my hand.
"Aria?" Hardy said, butting in.
"I'll take whatever," she answered.
He nodded, then asked the bartender for 3 vodkas and 3 shots.
"Hardy!" I said, ferociously.
"What?!"
"Aria, are you ok with that?"
"What? What of course I am, I'm not 5, Ezra - I've drank much worse,"
Hardy laughed to himself, as the bartender with a face in which could only be described as ham-colored, set down Hardys order.

HARDYS POV

I still can't believe they're dating. It's a wonder Ezra isn't in jail yet. But I guess he's not her teacher anymore, so it wouldn't be classed as illegal now.
Aria, to mine and Ezra's surprise, downed the shot in one, her right eye slightly twitching. For a 17 year old, she's pretty mature. Apart from the fact she's dating a 24 year old. But Ezra was my best friend, and I was happy for him. I could tell the amount of love he had for her. And by the way she was acting, I could tell he hadn't told her yet. His days with her were limited, and I could easily see him analyzing her face, taking in every detail of  her. Ezra was pretty much nothing without Aria. They were soul-mates ; and at first I thought it was wrong. But now... now I could see how much love they had for one another.
"Ezra, you okay man?" I asked after a while, as he hadn't touched any of his drinks. He replied with a simple yes.
I could tell Aria was tipsy, as she talked woozily and wobbled as she stood up.

EZRAS POV

I so desperately wanted to go home. My head was hurting severely, and my vision kept becoming blurry. Aria was enjoying herself, though, and I didn't want to ruin this for her. She was drunk, it was pretty obvious, but she wasn't stopping. I figured we should leave now, before things get out of hand.
"Aria, come on now. We're off,"
"Party pooper!" She whispered, wobbling. She didn't argue though. She took my arm as we headed for the cab, which was escorting Hardy home. Since I hadn't had any drinks, I was perfectly fine to drive Aria home. As Hardy got into the cab, he signaled me and he rolled down the window.
"You haven't told her, have you?"
"Hardy, shut the hell up,"
"Ezra, man. I'm not Ghandi or some shit but you need to tell her,"
"I will tell her soon enough,"
"Ezra, you look dead already. Your mother was only..."
"Hardy, shut the fuck up. Get your drunk ass home," I whispered back, making sure Aria didn't hear.
I turned back to her and wrapped her up in my arms, as she accepted my embrace.
"Come on then,"
"What?"
"What's the thing that Hardy wanted you to tell me,"
"Oh, nothing- that wasn't Hardy talking, that was the vodka. Let's get you home," I replied, kissing her forehead.
Her hair slightly smelt like coconut and mint. And nothing had ever smelt sweeter.

I'd tell her. Just, not yet.

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ARIAS POV

I woke up to the sound of soft snoring. It was Ezra. My head hurt like a bitch - My vision was blurry, too, and I could see black dots forming around the room. Great. A hangover. I could hardly remember last night, the only thing I remembered was Hardy and Ezra talking by the cab. Hardy seemed like he was worried, as Ezra kept snapping back at him, telling him to be quieter. Hardy mentioned something about Ezra keeping something from me, but then he later said it was the vodka speaking. But as he spoke, he didn't look me in the eyes. When Ezra lies, he doesn't look at me, which was very rare. I knew something was up. I was going to find out, too.
The man beside me stirred, as his blue eyes fluttered. "Morning, lazy," I whispered into his ear. He smiled, and his lips softly pecked mine.
He wrapped a strand of my hair around his finger - he always did this in the mornings.
"Pancakes or eggs?" He grumbled, as his morning voice cracked. I went with the pancakes as he rose from bed.
"Wait, wait not yet," I whined, as he turned back to me.
"What's up?" He pouted, playfully. I giggled, as he climbed back into bed.
I kissed him, feverishly, as his hands crawled up my back. His tongue swirled in my mouth, as he kissed me, deeper. We broke apart, for oxygen.
"What a treat," he smirked.
"Now you owe me something," I said, as the sexy mood fizzled.
"What is that, mizz Montgomery?"
"Answers,"
"Answers?"
"I'm sorry to be the spoil sport, but you and Hardy were talking about something, last night,"
He looked away from me and stared at the bottle of my lavender perfume on the wooden cabinet. "I told you, it was the vodka talking..."
"Ezra, I'm not dumb, I can tell when you're lying to me!" I growled back,
"It's nothing... really,"
"Well, you two were sure making it out like it was something," I shot back.

EZRAS POV

"Well, you two were sure making it out like it was something," She shot back.

I looked into her deep, hazel eyes. I hated lying to her. I did. I couldn't even look at her when i lied to her. I felt like a failure. A failure to her. She deserves someone better than me. I'm an utter pile of shit. She deserves someone who would be with her forever - I couldn't promise her forever. Even how much I wanted to, I couldn't. I knew we wouldn't have a happy ending.
"Aria Marie Montgomery, you are a fine species," I blurted out. It was the only thing that came out of my mouth. I couldn't tell her. Not yet.
I looked in her eyes, as I witnessed them tearing up. I hated myself. How could I do this to her? It wasn't fair. Life isn't fair.
"I promise you, Aria Marie Montgomery. Hardy was drunk, drunk out of his God- Damned mind. He had no idea what he was talking about. He's a slacker - all he does is cause trouble for us, you know that. It's nothing, I promise you," I lied through my teeth. It was something. Something big.
She smiled, and kissed me once more.
"I'd like those pancakes now, Mr. Fitz," she spoke, choking on her drying tears.
"Of course," I chuckled.