Devotion

Chapter Five

One month later.
Aria POV:
I woke up early Sunday morning. Actually, too early. I checked my alarm clock to see that it read 3:22 AM. I rolled my eyes and got out of bed, I wasn't falling back asleep anyway. Almost every night since he left it's been like this. 3 AM, empty heart, trying to be okay.
I tip-toed down the stairs to the kitchen, where I made myself some coffee. I checked my cell, and no surprise that it read no new messages. "Who is awake at three anyway?" I wandered out loud.
The house seemed stuffy, so I decided to get some fresh air. I went up to my room and climbed through the window, and up a tree to the roof. I know it seems like I must be a pro athlete or something, but it's really only a couple climbs and you're there. The perks of having a bedroom on the top floor. Almost every morning I go up there early enough to watch the sunrise.
I'm too early, the sunrise doesn't start for another hour so I let myself remember what it was like to love Ezra Fitz.
I will myself to remember what it felt like with him, every passing day. I felt I was stuck in a labyrinth and there was no escape. I tried, but I couldn't un-fall for him. I didn't cry remembering him now. It took time, but I healed. It still hurts every now and then, thinking about him. I know I shouldn't, but I pick up my phone and look for his number. I do this often. I look at his contact and debate whether I should phone it or not. I never have, because I let myself overthink and wind up nervous to even press his name. But something was different today. I felt that maybe, he too was staring at his phone into my contact and wondering if I was missing him as badly as he was me. Maybe he did still care, and he wanted to come home to me.
I pressed his number.
It rang five times. I was about to hang up the phone until a tired-sounding voice appeared at the other end of the line.
"Hello?"
I froze. It had been weeks since I heard his voice. I didn't know what to say, so I remained silent.
"Aria?"
I didn't answer.
"Aria, if this is you, I..."
I felt my shoulders weighing down on my back.
He hung up.
Ezra POV:
I stared at my phone. I had so many mixed emotions about what I just experienced. What that really Aria? The Aria Montgomery that I loved and left because I broke her heart into a million pieces? How could she not respond to me? To just stay there in the other end of the line? What was she going to say? I had so many questions. I need the answers, and I knew where I could find them.
Was returning to Rosewood really a good idea? Hell no. I have too much history there, my old students are being harassed by a black mailer, and my ex girlfriend doesn't want anything to do with me, and I'm probably not in Rosewood Highs good books for dating a student, once upon a time. And besides, I had a life here in London. I had friends, an apartment and even my newest addition of a puppy. My life was set here. It's the decision I would have made six years ago. But, that was before I met Aria Elizabeth Montgomery.
She turned my life around. She made me do crazy, indescribable things. I was grateful for her and her compassion. But I here I lay on my double bed in London, at 9 in the morning wondering what life would be like if I didn't meet her. I wouldn't feel pain or loss, or guilt for just leaving her. But it's what she wanted, isn't it? To be left alone? To solve her mystery of the black mailer in the black hoodie with out me? It shouldn't matter. I gave up to easily. She needs me, and I need her. We are one.
I pack my things, with out a second thought. I can't convince myself to stay, when my first instinct has been to leave. I call my friends and say goodbye, and buy a plane ticket to Philadelphia.
It's time to come home.