Hold Me Close: An Ezria Story

From The Beginning

Sorry this chapters kinda short. It was an important chapter to me so I wanted it to be quick. Can I just say, thank you for 1k reads!!! Thanks for reading this story it means SOOO much!! Keep commenting!!!!! Enjoy :)

Aria's POV:

I told Ezra everything. And I mean everything. I started with the text I got about him when we found out he was my teacher. How at first we thought it was Alison. All the threats and secrets we tried to keep buried. All the things -A made us do, people -A made us hurt. Ending with the note we found with Ian's body, and how the note was made up of text messages from -A. I told him how we can't get the police or our families involved or else -A will take down the ones we love most. I told him how somehow, -A is always watching.

"The person who did this, is -A. I'm sure of it." I said to Ezra. I felt so overwhelmed yet relived at the same time. It felt so good to talk to someone about it.

Ezra was silent. He started down at his shoes and said nothing.

"Ezra...? Please don't be mad at me... Please say something..." I said, fighting back tears. I hadn't even gotten to the worst part.

"I-I need to show you something." Ezra mumbled as he grabbed his phone out of his pocket. He flipped it open and held it out to me. My heart stopped.

She's going to the grave, just like Alison.
Kisses, -A

"Ezra... When did you get this!?" I said, panic rising in my voice. I couldn't handle it if -A was trying to get to Ezra.

"Last night, right after I realized you were gone..." Ezra said quietly.

I let out a big sigh, which hurt my ribs so bad, I had to hold my breath until the pain went away. I didn't think Ezra noticed, but he did.

"Hey...are you okay? What's wrong?" He said worriedly as he put his hand on my shoulder. I flinched as he touched me.

I didn't mean to, but whenever he does that I think of what happened with -A, and it's like natural reflexes.

"I'm sorry... I-- There's something I haven't told you because..." My voice cracked as I started to choke back tears. I couldn't even get one sentence out.

"Because what Aria? Y-You're scaring me." He said as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and stroked my cheek with his thumb.

"Because...when I do... I know you'll never want to see me again..." I whispered as tears started to slowly roll down my cheeks.

"Aria... There is nothing in this world that could make me love you less than I do right now." Ezra said as he grabbed my hands and held them tight.

I breathed in deeply. Just do it. Just tell him. I told myself as I took a few more breaths.

"After -A got me in that alley, he pretty much beat me until I couldn't fight back anymore... And then..." I stopped as more tears started falling and my words caught in my throat. Why was it so hard to say it out loud?

"Aria... You don't have to tell me..." Ezra looked at me with those gorgeous sympathetic eyes as he rubbed my knee. He deserves to know the truth.

"No. I have to." I said, trying to convince myself. I took two more deep breaths.

"Then he..." Another deep breath. More tears. "Ezra he tried to rape me." I cried as the last few words came out more like a squeak. "I'm sorry. I tried to fight him but he was too strong and I-I..."

Ezra immediately wrapped me into a hug. His body was so warm and comforting. Why was he being like this? How could he still love me after knowing that I betrayed him?

"I'm so sorry Aria. It's not your fault. It's not even remotely your fault. And whoever that disgusting person that did this to you is, they deserve to rot in hell." Ezra said as he rubbed circles on my back.

I cried into his shoulder and soaked his sleeve. He pulled me out of the hug and smoothed my hair down. By now my cries had turned into bone shaking sobs.

"Aria baby, please stop crying. It'll hurt you. Calm down. Please." Ezra begged. I watched a tear escape from his eye as he looked at the floor. "I can't lose you again." He cried.
I tried to take deep breaths. I eventually stopped crying as Ezra laid in bed next to me and traced circles on my shoulder. He held me to him as I took short gasping breaths, trying to find a way to get air to my lungs without my ribs feeling like they're going to snap in half.

Suddenly Emily stormed into the room, Spencer and Hanna following close behind her.

"We need to talk." Emily said sharply.