(after 2x14)

Ezra left my house and I was left alone with my very disappointed and angry patents. My mom was sitting in the chair very quiet and she was just looking at her hands. My dad was pouring his second or third drink and Mike stood on the side just looking at me. I couldn't read his expression. He was not that angry or disappointed as my parents were. Mile looked like he knew all along what was happening. He was not even a bit surprised by the news that his sister is having relationship with the teacher.

''I will report him to the police…''

My mom and I looked at him in panic, each from our own reasons. She didn't want me in trouble and I didn't want him.

''No, you will not! Byron, this is not the way…''

''And what do you suggest? He had a relationship with our teenage daughter…who was his student…''

''I was not his student when it all started…''

''And when you realized he was your teacher, you didn't end it?''

''I tried dad…. But for so long Ezra was the only one I could talk to. He was paying attention to me, he listened…''

''And what? You had a thing with him because we are bad parents?!''

''NO! Dad, I had a thing with him because I liked him. We connected… And you also like him… Both of you… You mom went to plays with him, book fairs… And you dad had a beer with him few times and recommended him for the job he has now. He took the job so we could be together… He is not my teacher now…''

''But he was…''

''And he found another job…''

My dad had million arguments against me and Ezra, but my mom was silent…

''All this time I lived in conviction that he is seeing Spencer…''

My father turned towards my mom…

''He is with her too?''

''No, dad… He has nothing going on with Spencer…''

''How do you know? Ella, what happened so you believed he is with Spencer?''

''I saw them in his car. It looked as they argued about something….''

''Jason…''

My parents turned towards me.

''What?''

''Jason likes me…and Spencer told Ezra that he should step up and show Jason I am off the market…''

''What? She knows too?''

I nodded…

''They all know… Hana saw us…talking in Ezra's car on the night of the accident… She made me confess to the girls next day…''

''Oh, my God! They all know?! What will their parents say?''

''No one else knows…''

''Aria! This is outrageous!''

My mom looked at my angry dad and silent Mike…

''Do you have something to say Mike?''

I tured towards him too. I was corious what he has to say.

''I think you are overreacting. She is happy and Fitz takes good care of her…''

We were all stunned by what he said. Our parents couldn't believe what he said

''WHAT?''

''I saw them together… He makes her smile and it looks that they are very happy….''

''You saw us?''

''Yes…''

''Where?''

''In Philly…''

''When?''

''Near the museum. I was there with some friends. We went for a burger and I saw you holding hands and walking down the street…''

Now mom was worried.

''Did any of the boys you were with see it?''

''No, they were too taken by some girls we were talking to. So, no one saw Aria and Mr. Fitz's date…''

Mom felt relived…

''Oh, God… That's good. No one saw you…''

My dad was not so sure of it.

''So, you go on dates in the city?''

''Yes…''

''When?''

''Usually on weekends.''

''When you are at ''Hana's, Spencer's or Emily's'' ? Then you go on dates?''

''Yes, dad…''

''And you sleep where Aria?''

How do I explain to him I sleep at Ezra's and that I didn't have sex with him…? That would be difficult.

''Dad…''

''Answer your father Aria… I want to know it too…''

''At Ezra's…''

My mother covered her face and my dad was furious…

''But we never, never had sex…''

''How do you expect us to believe you?! After all this, how Aria?''

''Your mother has a point… He had an affair with his student, with a child…He took advantage of you and the state you were in… He used you… It's statutory rape…''

''Mom, dad! I never had sex in my life… And that is something that puts yours and dad's theory about Ezra to a different prospective… He didn't get ''what he wanted''… He didn't get it for two years dad…and still, he was with me and he never even tried to force me to do anything I didn't want. When we have sex, it will be when I choose…''

''WHEN? You will not see him ever again Aria… I can promise you that… That man is finished! I am calling the police and telling them what we know…He is done…''

I jumped from the chair. I couldn't believe what he said. He wanted Ezra in jail…

''You would not do that?!''

''Byron! No!''

''Why Ella?''

''Because if you call them, you will harm Aria too. She just got out of the community service for that thing with Melisa's husband… We don't need more finger pointing… You will not do that!''

''But he gets away with it…!''

''And we are protecting our daughter. What do you think would happen if it got out?! He would be arrested and she would be labeled as ''teacher's whore''. People would not only question her English grades, but every single grade she has in classes of the male professors. I will not allow you to do this. You leave it alone. We will monitor her and it will pass… It's just childish infatuation…''

I listened to what my mom was saying. She was right. If it gets out, all my grades would be in question I would be labeled as Ezra's whore or who knows what else would be said about us. My parents continued to argue…

''She is seventeen and he is six years older than her… He should have known it will have consequences.''

''He did… He tried to end it few times, but we would end up somehow back in each other's lives.''

''Aria, go to your room… You too Mike. We have to find the way around this…''

We went to our rooms and the time was passing slowly. My mom came to my room at midnight and told me to pack up my things.

''We are going back to Iceland…''

''What?''

''We are going back. You father got a job offer and he spent a lot of time thinking about it. I believe that this situation made him finally..realise how good opportunity this is.''

''MOM!''

''Aria!''

''I can't go… I don't want to go..''

''It's either that, or he goes to jail…''

There was not dilemma. I packed and we were in the cab going towards the airport. It was dead silent in the car. That was the worst ride we ever had. I cried for the entire flight and my parents completely ignored me. My dad looked at me with so much anger and my mom's eyes were full of disappointment. We moved back into the house we already lived in. It took us about two days to get it all back as it was, but this time I felt even more broken that I was when Ally disappeared. I didn't have phone or any way to talk to my friends or Ezra. I was dying inside and the only way for me to express my feelings was writing. In my new school my parents made sure I have as much as possible female teachers and if I have to have male teachers, they were supposed to be very old. And the best moment was that my own mother was my English teacher. How about that! Mike adapted pretty fast and it took me so long to even wish to leave my bed. I was good at school. I found my escape from all in books and writing. My mom tried to sign me up for different clubs and activities, but it didn't really work out. My teachers often approached her and told her that they never met someone as smart as I am but so sad and uninterested in participating in anything. My tests were all A or A+, when I was asked the question I always gave correct answer, but I never wanted to talk to my classmates or anyone. My only ''friend'' was my diary where I wrote about how I felt and how much I missed Ezra. After first semester ended, my parents made huge New Year's masquerade in our house. Some of the teachers from my school and dad's work were coming and we all had to dress up as some character from the book. I had no doubt who would I be. I brought my costume with me. That was all I had left from Ezra. He got me a black beaded dress and satin slippers that go with it. I also got a necklace and hair ornaments I never got to return. And the ring… There was a ring he gave me before we went to see my parents. He told me to keep it safe as his promise that he loves me and he will not stop because of my parents. It went well with my dress, so I put it on. I never really knew their value until that masquerade. I was finishing my makeup and hair when my mom entered the room. She was surprised to see me already dressed.

''You look nice… I don't remember that dress…''

''I got it for the school masquerade at that vintage shop near the grill…''

''Oh, I must have forgotten, that was a crazy time…''

''You were not in the house. You probably haven't seen it…''

''I came to tell you the guests are here…''

''I'll be there in a minute…''

My mom left the room and I finished the last touches of my makeup and put on the gloves. I got down and there was already about sixty people in the house. It was a bit crowded, but it was better that way than if it were less people. I would have to talk to someone and I hated talking. When I got down all eyes were on me. One of the professors looked at me in awe…

''The similarity is amazing…''

My father looked at him.

''She looks just like lovechild of Zelda Fitzgerald and Daisy Fay Buchanan.''

Everybody was looking at me and I didn't like it… My father was studying me.

''Look Byron… She has that sadness of Daisy, but the dress and the jewels are just like Zelda had. I saw them in the exhibition family had few years ago.''

''I remember the exhibition. I couldn't go. I had some stuff and the university, but I remember how fascinated you were by the things you saw and family…''

''Oh,yes… Diane Fitzgerald is a piece of work, but her sons are decent.''

''Enjoying the family money.''

''Younger one does, older one lives of a professor salary and works in a small college somewhere in the states.''

''Oh, that's a first.''

''He is not in good relationship with his mother… But let me tell you, that family has amazing collection of photographs of the writer and his wife. And your Aria is dressed just like Zelda was.''

I smiled… Ezra got me a dress and things to look like her. He knew how much I loved her books. And how proud I was to have one of her first editions given to her husband as a present. In my secret box I had one of her books, first edition. I was in my toughs when I noticed professor Jona coming towards me…

''Fitzgerald made them for her first outing after they got married. Black diamonds and whit sapphires. It was expensive, but he didn't care…They belong to the great grandson. All the family jewels and books are his… Some estates too, but he focused on books and memorabilia more than anything else. Book worm… English teacher just like us… I wanted to see them recently, but Mrs. Fitzgerald told me they were not in the family vault anymore. Her son took them…along with Zelda's ring…''

I touched my necklace and took a deep breath. Could this be that necklace she had? Could I have been walking around with the most valuable Fitzgerald jewels ever? Before the conversation went on, someone interrupted and I was left alone. When the party started, I went back to my room and took off my dress and placed it back in the box it was kept in. I placed the jewels in the box Ezra gave me and then i noticed something I never saw before. Inside of the wooden box were initials ZF and on the buckle of the necklace were too. I had the jewels Diane was talking about. I looked at my finger and I couldn't breathe. I was carrying for months around my neck her engagement ring. Ezra gave it to me… He gave me something so valuable to him, not just for the material value it certainly had, but for sentimental value. Now I understood why he was very passionate when we discussed Gatsby in class or when two of us spoke of Fitzgerald's work. He was talking about his family heritage. I sat on the floor staring at the ring with mixture of fear, happiness and love for Ezra like never before. You don't give someone gift like that if you don't want them forever. At that moment, I decided to fight for us. I made promise to myself that I will become Mrs. Fitzgerald as soon and I could. There were just few weeks between me and my eighteenth birthday… And I couldn't wait for that midnight…