Always Yours

Chapter 2

A/N: sorry about the confusion: italicized means it's in the past or a flashback and the same goes for all of my stories.

Black caps filled the sky as the roars and cheers from just-graduated seniors erupted from the crowd. Ezra couldn't help the smile that formed on his face as he caught sight of Aria, who was grinning from ear to ear as she hugged the dark-haired girl next to her. He had flown into New York from California that day to see her graduate. It'd been four long years since he saw her in person and he felt breathless in her presence. She seemed really happy, something which in turn made Ezra happy. Maybe not as happy as he'd been with her, but he doubted getting the chance to ever feel that way again. Eventually the noise died down and the sea of black gowns began to disperse, Ezra's eyes following Aria who was walking towards her family. She gave Zack and Ella a warm hug before embracing Mike. Ezra looked for Byron but didn't see him anywhere. Of course.

Ezra heavily debated saying something, perhaps that would make going to his ex-girlfriend's graduation slightly less creepy if he talked to her. Ezra took a moment to wave off a fly that had begun to settle with flying around his head and as soon as he was able to redirect his attention back to the crowd, Aria and her family were nowhere to be seen. He took this as a sign of fate; a sign that he wasn't supposed to reconnect with Aria on this day, or any day for that matter. The story did end when he finished his book after all. He hung his head and glanced down at the small book wrapped in golden paper in his hands. He would at least do what he went there to do in the first place. He picked his head up just in time to see the young brunette who had hugged Aria earlier.

"Excuse me?" he said, immediately regretting the words as they left his mouth. What better way to look like a stalker than stopping some poor girl he didn't even know. She might have just been some random stranger who Aria had hugged in the midst of all the excitement. How could he even be sure this would work?

"Yes?" she answered politely, offering a smile to the stranger.

"Um, sorry... This is going to sound strange but do you know Aria Montgomery?" he asked hesitantly.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah of course! I'm her roommate, Sophia."

Ezra laughed nervously. "Oh, great!"

"Do you want me to get her—"

"No, no... Could you just, uh... Could you give this to her when you see her?" He held the wrapped gift out to her and she took it offering another smile.

"Sure."

He sighed in relief and smiled back. "Thank you."

Ezra turned away from the girl, unable to handle the perkiness of the fresh graduate at the moment, and made his way towards his hotel with his hands in his pockets. He wouldn't get to see her but at least she'd finally know the real reason why he left. At least she'd know how much he still loved her. His flight didn't leave until the next morning and he was trying to think of anything he could do to pass the time. As if the world could read his mind he passed by a small bar and stopped in front of it, looking inside and biting his bottom lip before finally giving in and entering. He could really use a drink.

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Aria couldn't help the huge smile that had been spread across her face for the entire day. She was officially done with college. She did it. She graduated. She entered her dorm room for one of the last times in her life, a nostalgic feeling hitting her as she looked over the small space. She collapsed onto her bed; tired from all of the attention the day had brought her. She loved her family, but spending long amounts of time with them could be overwhelming for her. She had already changed out of her plain robes and now wore something a little more like herself. She was wearing the same dress she had once worn to Noel Kahn's party back in high school along with a geometric-patterned necklace and a variety of chunky bangles on her arms. Her roommate, Sophia, along with her other friends were gone for the evening with their respective families leaving Aria alone. As she laid there in silence her thoughts drifted to Ezra, something she was bound to think about at least once a day. It had been four years since she saw him but she still refused to let him go. Her head began to ache and she sat up and grabbed her jacket. She needed a drink. Just as she was about to leave a glimmer of gold on her desk caught her eye. She walked over to it and read the sloppy writing on the sticky-note attached to the front: Aria, this was delivered for you. She removed the gold wrapping paper quickly, anxious to see what was underneath it. As soon as she opened it she regretted it. Mistakes by Ezra Fitz. She stood frozen for a moment, staring blankly at the object in front of her. Unable to believe her eyes, she hastily walked out of the room with the book clutched tightly in her hand. She definitely needed that drink now.