Let's go back to the start

16. Hot Dinner Dates

Arias POV
After school I decided to take my laptop out and check my emails. I laid back on my bed resting my head on a bulky pillow. I noticed an email from Dan. I had totally I forgot I sent him a few of my lyrics. I opened the up the email. He said he absolutely loves all the lyrics I had sent him and wants to meet up and to give him a call to arrange a time. I slowly picked up my phone and thought this was as good of a time as ever and rang his number. We arranged to meet Friday night at the Phoenix bar to talk with him and two managers and a music producer.

I made my way down stairs and couldn't hold my excitement in. I sat down at the dinner table with my family and dug into moms Caesar salad. I was starving.

"So I have some news" I said excitedly.

"What is it honey?" Mom asked smiling.

"I started turning my writings and poems into lyrics and sent them to a music producer and he absolutely loves them. I have a meeting Friday night with them" I told them smiling.

"Oh wow that's a amazing news. I never knew you were interested in song writing" dad said jumping up to give me a hug.

"I didn't think I was" I replied with a huge smile.

"I'm so proud of you honey. We should invite Ezra over to celebrate" mom said looking  at dad to gauge his reaction.

"Ezra...as in Ezra Fitz?" Dad asked looking confused as to why we would invite him over.

"Aria and Ezra have started seeing each other" Ella told Byron smiling.

"Since when? He used to be her teacher!" Byron remarked a little angrily.

"Since the Halloween ball. You should see them together. He makes her happy and that's what counts right?" She asked still smiling at dad.

"Well I'll ask him tomorrow at work. But I can only imagine what people will say- a former student dating her ex teacher" he replied skeptically.

I made my way upstairs to my bedroom and laid down on my bed. I smiled to myself thinking how wonderful life could be and slowly dozed off to sleep.

Ezra's POV
I sat in my office wondering when I would get a chance to tell Aria about my novel. I didn't know whether she would like it as it was based on our relationship. I took my publishers advice and began writing a sequel and knew at least in this one there would be a happy ending. I heard a knock on the door and Byron peeked his head in.

"Do you have a moment?" He asked stepping into my office.

"Yeah sure take a seat" I replied standing up.

"No that's all right I will only be a minute" he replied pausing for a moment before continuing "I know about you and Aria."

"Oh it kind of just happened" I said forcing a weak smile.

"Well I don't fully understand the situation but my wife seems to accept it so I will try. Would you like to come to my place for dinner tonight?" He asked still in the same flat tone.

"Yeah sure. What time?" I asked smiling.

"7" he answered before walking out of my office.

I never thought in a million years they would accept mine and their daughters relationship. I hated lying to them and hoped they never found out about our relationship when I was her teacher and hoped to hell they never read my novel about an inappropriate relationship and know that it was Aria. I finished another few chapters in my sequel before making my way to my only class that day.

Aria's POV
Ezra was coming to dinner tonight. Why was I nervous about it, my mom loved him and dad wanted to get to him as my boyfriend. I chose to wear something that would make me look a bit older so my parents didn't see too much of an age gap. I grabbed a dress from my wardrobe and placed it on. It had a white v neck top with an adjoining black high waisted style bottom. I straightened my long brown hair and accompanied my dress with some black heels. I felt nausea build in my stomach. Why the hell was I this nervous. I made my way to the bathroom and threw up. I sat back on the floor wondering if I had ate something that day that didn't agree with my stomach. I heard the door bell downstairs and slowly stood up brushed my teeth, fixed my make up and made my way downstairs.

Dad was already at the door with Ezra. I noticed Ezra hand dad a bottle of malt whiskey before looking at me.

"Wow you look beautiful as always Aria" he said smirking as he made his way over and planted a kiss on my cheek. We made our way into the kitchen an all sat down at the dining table. Dad poured a whiskey for Ezra and himself, while mom placed a glass of red wine on the table for me.

"Dinner won't be too long" Mom said taking a seat and continued "but Aria has some fantastic news."

Ezra's eyes found mine and I blushed a little until he took my hand under the table which made me feel at ease. "I have been writing a fair bit over the last few months and decided to turn my writings into lyrics which I ended up sending to a music producer...And they loved them so I have a meeting on Friday to discuss more details" I said taking a long gulp of wine.

"Wow that's amazing" he replied before planting a kiss on my lips. My dad let out a loud fake cough. Ezra quickly pulled back realising my parents were both staring. Mom just laughed.

"So Ezra what's new with you?" Mom asked turning to change the subject away from the kiss.

"Um well...I wrote a book and it's being published as we speak" he said smiling.

"Oh really! You should of told me. That's fantastic news. I can't wait to read it" I said feeling so proud.

"Congratulations Ezra" my dad said smiling.

"Wow two writers ending up together. Who would have thought" mom said beaming as she got up and went to the oven to grab dinner. The rest of dinner was great Ezra and dad were getting on.

Ezra thanked my mom for a delicious meal and made his way into our lounge room with dad for more whiskey while mom and I cleaned up from dinner.

"Where's Mike tonight?" I asked mom thinking he would be there.

"He had a date" mom said smiling.

"Oh didn't realise he was seeing anyone" I replied smiling back. She placed the pan in the sink and turned to me with a serious expression.

"You and Ezra seem to be getting really close. I see the way you look at him" she stated staring me in the eyes. I was hoping she didn't suspect any thing.

"Mom he's always there for me. I know it's soon but I can feel myself falling for him" I said truthfully as my eyes dropped to the floor.

"I understand honey. But don't become too invested some things are never meant to last" she said pulling me in for a hug "I'll alway be here if you ever want to talk" she added whispering into my ear.

"Thanks mom. But Ezra will never do anything to intentionally hurt me" I replied smiling.

We finished the dishes and made our way into the lounge room to find Ezra putting on his coat.

"Thank you for a very nice evening but I better push off" he said looking at my parents.

"We will have to do it again some" Byron said opening the door. I followed Ezra outside and wrapped my arms around him.

"Is everything ok?" I asked looking into his blue eyes.

"Everything's perfect Aria" he replied leaning down and planting a kiss on my lips and while saying goodbye.