winter wonderland

chapter 9

He gripped her hand tighter and led her out of the elevator. With her free hand, Aria put her had so it was gripping his upper arm, pulling herself closer to him. A huge smile, unbeknown to Aria, grew warmly on Ezra's face.

Aria gasped, as her eyes and smile grew wide with excitement at the beautiful sight in front of her.

Ezra looked down to see her expression, thrilled that she liked his surprise.

"Wow," Aria breathed as Ezra led her forward into a room Aria could only describe as a perfect winter wonderland. The room was made of glass; the gazebo roof, the walls. The falling snow could be seen through the rooftop and trickling down the walls in the beautiful night sky. A small white table and two chairs with food was waiting for them in the room. It was a small, cosy, intimate space which was clearly theirs for the evening. The space was lit with fair lights which wrapped around the walls of the room, and soft music was coming from the small black stereo in the corner near the door.

Aria's face was still in shock, but her face smiling wide as she looked around them at the moment Ezra had created so perfectly for them. Still holding hands the walked slowly to the table but didn't yet sit down as Aria continued to gasp at the sight around her. The view from the top-floor paradise included a view of the whole town; the sparkling lights of the buildings below adding to the stunning atmosphere.

"Ezra?" Aria said breathlessly and a little shakily.

"Hmm?" Ezra responded.

"You planned all of this? How?" she asked.

He smiled and half circled his head so it was lowered, before he raised it again and stared right into her eyes as he gave a soft smile. "How about I tell you one day, but for right now, we just enjoy this," he said, his smile growing larger.

"Sounds perfect," Aria said as she lent up and placed her free hand on his chest to kiss him firmly.

They let go of their hands as she wrapped her hands around the back of his next, starting to run her fingers softly through the edges of his hair. His hands fluttered around the base of her back, then held her hips tightly as they pulled apart from each other.

"So, I did alright then?" Ezra asked, staring deep into her eyes.

She smiled and raised her eyes towards the night sky. She watched the snowflakes fall for a few seconds onto the roof above them, before returning to stare into Ezra's eyes, "Yeah baby, you did good," she said with a huge grin on her face as she pressed his lips firmly to hers, resuming their kiss.

After dinner, Aria and Ezra went back to his apartment and curled up together on the couch.

"What's this?" Aria asked, as she reached over to grab an open notebook that Ezra had left open; writing clearly visible on the page.

Ezra tried to grab it back off her as she held it out away from him. There was no way he could grab it back, so he blushed, smiled nervously and lowered his head as Aria smiled widely knowing she'd won. She put her legs over Ezra's lap and lent into kiss him then leant against him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her nervously, afraid as she began to read the words he had written.

Like stars and winter snowflakes, you've brightened my world. Your kiss, the sweetest thing I've ever known. Your eyes deep and breathtaking; see into my soul. For the rest of my life, I hope to hold you in my arms. I will love you forever, my Aria.

Aria's eyes started watering as she bent her head around to stare at Ezra. His eyes were red, his face flushed and smile petrified and soft. He clearly meant every word, yet wasn't quite ready for her to hear them, for fear of her running away. His eyes were afraid from the confession being revealed, and losing her right then and there, as it was quite early in their relationship.

Aria was also confident his nerves had caused him to almost stop breathing, so she smiled softly towards the frozen Ezra, then twisted herself in his arms and grabbed both sides of his face, kissing him firmly.

Realising he hadn't scared her away; he unfroze and pulled her in closer to him so she was sitting on his lap. She deepened the kiss, their tongues dancing together as they both let out soft moans. She ran her hands through his hair, before she broke off the kiss. Both of their eyes were foggy, their complexions red and revealing nothing but adore.

"I love you too, Ezra," Aria said as she started to cry slightly. Ezra flashed an uncontrollable grin of happiness before he kissed her lips and cupped her face softly with his hands.

"I love you too. I have since the moment I met you," Ezra confessed as his eyes started watering too.

"I know," Aria said as her fingers lightly traced his face, "because that's when I fell in love with you too."

Both of them smiled gloriously as they wiped the tears off each other's faces. Ezra's hands rubbed the sides of her torso up and down. Aria flashed him a wicked smile and pushed him down on the couch so she was straddling him. They smiled at each other before proceeding to make out; their kiss heated and passionate as their hands ran over each other lovingly. Their hearts were racing and jumping out of their bodies.

Meanwhile:

Byron stood at Ella's door. Mike had let slip that Ella was going to be away for the night. Byron saw this as a chance to work out his and Aria's relationship; so he decided to go and talk to her. He knocked the door, with no answer.

"Aria?" he said. "I know you're mad at me. The only time I've seen you in the last month didn't go exactly smoothly. But, please, let me in. Let's try and fix this," Byron said, pleadingly.

He knocked again, "Aria?" There was no answer. Byron removed his phone from his pocket and proceeded to dial Ella and Aria's home like. It rung out and Byron knew Aria was somewhere else, WITH someone else.

Aria's phone rang for the third time. She had ignored the first two ring outs as Ezra and her were still horizontal on the couch. Aria knew a third ring in a row was someone desperate, so she groaned and removed herself off of Ezra to answer her phone, as they sat up and wrapped their arms around each other.

"ARIA?" Spencer screamed.

"Yeah Spence, what's wrong?" Aria asked with confusion as to why her friend was screaming at her.

"Hanna just called me. Your dad is trying to find you. He's checking our houses to find you. I assume he's trying Emily's next, then Alison's. Mine is last in the line, so .NOW! He's about to kill you."

Without a second of hesitation, Aria smashed her lips against Ezra's and ran out of the door without a word. He sat there bewildered, his eyes still staring at the front door Aria had just disappeared out of.

Byron was at Spencer's front door.

*cliffhanger* ;)