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Chapter 8

I was wearing my 'take me serious' outfit when I walked into Ezra's office, and he noticed right away, as did Jackie who was leaning on his shoulder. "I need to talk to you, Mr. Fitz." I say just above monotone, staring Jackie in the eye as she straightens up and walks past me, saying goodbye to Ezra but ignoring me.

"Aria that-"

"I'm breaking up with you." I say before I can hear any of his excuses that make me doubt myself and my reasoning. My words make him stumble into his desk before he stands up straight again, opening his mouth to say something, shaking his head as he does it, but I don't give him a chance to speak yet. "I loved you, Ezra. You were my first love and probably will always be my most scandalous, but I don't want to sneak around anymore. I want to have someone by my side when I need them there, in public or alone, I want someone to comfort me without me having to explain every detail of the problem to them, and I want someone that will make it clear to other women that they are unavailable. We keep saying that we are going to tell people, but even if we finally get to that step I don't believe you are prepared to go through the trouble of staying together through the criticism. You could loose your job here also, Ezra. You could go to jail if we told the whole truth. I may not feel like I love you anymore, but I don't want you to go through all of that when your heart isn't in it anymore either." I say the words clearly, but a bit rushed, raising my voice a little whenever it looks like he is going to interrupt me. By the time I'm finished, there are tears in his eyes and he is sitting on his desk.

"I love you, Aria," He whispers, his eyes pleading with me.

"No you don't, Ezra. If you did, if both of us did these past few weeks, we would have done something to save this relationship instead of letting it die out. I'm sorry." I back out of his office but he stands up quickly and rushes towards me, grabbing my arms and kissing me. I let him get it out of his system, standing their like a statue despite bruises forming around my wrists. When he finally steps back, he doesn't let go but he loosens his grip.

"I'll go down the hall and tell you're dad right now, I promise I will. Just please stay with me." Ezra begs, shaking me a little.

"There is nothing to tell him anymore. That time has passed, Ezra" I pry his hands off me and say sorry again.

"How can you be so emotionless?!" Ezra snaps at me grabbing my wrist and pulling me away from the door. "Were you just playing me or something? Was this all a damn joke to you, Aria?"

"No, Ezra. I did love you."

"No you didn't. Don't lie to me. If you ever loved me you would fight for me! For us! We are worth it."

"Ezra, please-" I try to pull away from him but he throws me on top of the couch and starts kissing me again, more forcefully this time. He grabs a fist full of my hair and pushes my head to him, moving against my hips and holding my hands above me. He tries to pry my mouth open with his own but I take the opportunity to bite down on his lip. "Ezra, stop."

"Is this about Jason?" Ezra asks, glaring at me and still holding my arms over my head, pinning me to the couch. "Tell me."

"No, it's about not being public. I don't love you anymore, let me go." I try to stay calm, knowing Ezra isn't thinking right but we were in the wrong position for Jackie to come back in and see.

Before he shoves me against the couch again and starts trying to take my shirt off, I hear him mumbler "Never," but once his hands release mine, I slap him in the face and bring my knee up in between his legs. He makes a groan of pain but I push him off of me and grab my purse from the floor, bolting out of the room and running all the way until I'm off campus and at the bus stop.