CHAPTER THREE
When I open my eyes again, it's morning. Rays of early sunlight are just starting to shine through Ezra's dusty apartment windows. We must have fallen asleep right there on the couch, because when I lift my head off of his shoulder and look up, Ezra's eyes are still shut and his head is resting, sound asleep, on the dark leather that makes up his sofa.
I sit up, and look at the clock on my phone; 6:02. If I'm going to make it home in time to shower, get dressed, and be at school by 8, I'd better leave now.
I turn to face Ezra, and give him a small kiss on the cheek. With that, his eyes flicker open and he sees me. He smiles, pushes my hair back behind my ear.
"I love it when you're the first person I see in the morning," he says.
I kiss him once more, but this time, not on the cheek.
"I should go," I say.
"Right," he says, as we simultaneously stand up from the couch. I pick my purse up off the floor, and head towards the door.
"So I'll see you tonight?" I ask, turning around again to face him.
"Yep," he says, "sounds good."
"Okay." I give him a quick pat on the shoulder. "Bye."
Before I can make it out the door he takes my hand, and pulls me close.
"Aria, hey, wait." His hands are on my waist, now, and the gap between us closes in. "I love you. And I know you're scared, right now. I am, too. But we're gonna' be okay. Okay?"
That's the thing about Ezra. Even when I don't say anything, he knows exactly what I'm feeling and exactly what to say all the time.
"I love you," I say back, managing a smile. He kisses me, once more and I finally make it out the door.

The drive home seems endless. A million thoughts are running through my head, and I realize I finished none of my homework. All I want to do is stay home and lay in bed all day, but I know that if I do that, I'll only be more behind.
When I finally arrive at my house, I set my bag down, walk up upstairs, and hop in the shower. It's a quick one, because dad and Mike have already showered this morning, so hot water is scarce. I get out, wrap a towel around me and head to my room. I open my closet and pull out a dress I've worn a thousand times, and my old leather jacket.
Once I'm fully dressed, makeup applied, hair done, I bend down and reach to the back of my closet for a pair of shoes. I pull them out, and with them comes an unwanted guest.
A note.
"Have a good day at school, Mama. Kisses! -A"