Next Morning Aria woke up with a major migraine and two very swollen feet. Aria had been lucky so far and had only been getting headaches but today she had swollen feet. It was a common side effect to being pregnant but it was properly one of the worst ones so far. She got out of her bed and walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She thought about taking a quick bath but knew if she got in she wouldn't want to get out. Once she was finished she dried off and started on makeup and hair.
Aria was about to get up when Ella knocked on the door, "I was just making sure you were up. I am leaving in twenty minutes so hurry up." And then she left. Aria huffed as she remembered she had to ride with her mom this morning and home and everywhere else she wanted to go.
Aria quickly got dressed and squeezed her swollen feet into a pair of black chuck Taylor's for comfort. Today she didn't need to worry about covering her bump from her parents, but she didn't wear anything to revealing on her small growing bump.
"Morning." Aria said as she greeted her parents in the kitchen. She wasn't too happy to see them but neither were they as they didn't reply. "Okay then, I'll be in the car." Aria announced more to herself then to anyone else in her house. She made her way to her car and slumped back into the passenger seat.
"Here," Mike said handing Aria a slice of toast. "You gotta eat especially since you're pregnant."
Aria smiled grateful for her brother. He actually cared and he wasn't to mad about the whole thing.
"Are you nervous about school?" Mike asked putting on his seat belt. Ella was still in the house.
"Yeah, everyone knows now. I hate Noel so much." Aria exaggerated.
"He said Mr Fitz; our English teacher is the father." Mike laughed. "He's such a dick. I swear today in school I am going to kill him."
"No Mike...Mike stop." Aria interrupted before he spoke anymore.
"What?" Mike asked Aria.
"Don't go fighting him just ignore him okay?" Aria said. "It was some random guy at a Kahn party."
Aria looked at Mike but he didn't reply. She didn't want him going and defending her even if Noel was talking lots of shit. Because it was the truth Ezra was the father and when it comes out that Ezra is the father Mike would never forgive her for lying to him and letting get in trouble.
"Mike?" Aria asked again.
"Yeah, okay I won't go fighting him." Mike looked down at his hands and said, "Are you upset that your baby won't have a father?"
Aria looked down and lied because that was the only thing she could do. "No, I think that would just be extra drama now. But in the future I will be. When my baby asks me who their father is. Yeah I guess I will be."
"I'm here for you Aria. When Mom and Dad don't support you I will cause you may have got pregnant but you're smart and you have reasons for your choices." Mike smiled.
"Thank you Mike, that makes me so happy to hear that. "Aria smiled back.
Aria's little annoying teenage brother was not so little and annoying anymore. He had turned into a young polite man who was there for her and knew exactly what to say. He was smart with his words and she actually thought about being friends with her little annoying brother for the first time in forever.
"How did it go?" Emily asked for the three girls as they all waited for Aria's answer.
"The worst. Mom and Dad told me they were disappointed in me and took my phone and laptop and stuff off of I'm grounded and I have to go to school with my mom and straight home." Aria explained.
"And what about weekends?" Hanna asked.
"I don't know I didn't ask. We haven't talked since." Aria said with a sigh. "I haven't even talked to Ezra and half the school already think he's the father or he's in a relationship with a student what am I supposed to do?" Aria asked her friend and started to cry.
"Okay well first you need to calm down. Stress ain't good for the baby. We're going to get through this day and stay calm. We're going to ignore the whispers and once English is over I want you to go to your next class and then go see Ezra. Everyone will be at lunch or at the brew and no one will notice you're with him."
Aria nodded and slightly smiled at spencer. "Thanks Spence."
"Okay well we need to get you fixed up, come on I have make up in my bag." Hanna said which made the girls laugh and Aria smile. The girls all went their separate ways as Emily went to a swim meeting, Spencer went to her locker and Aria and Hanna went to the bathroom to fix Aria up.
School dragged and Aria couldn't wait for 4th period because that was English. She hadn't spoken to Ezra since she left his apartment and was just excited to see him. As she entered his class he smiled slightly at her but didn't make anything too obvious. She heard people whisper and she could have sworn people were staring at her but she just ignored them and told herself she was paranoid. Once class was over she rushed out, afraid Ezra would ask her to stay back. Spencer met her outside of the class and they walked together to history.
In history Aria sat down in her normal seat and Spencer sat beside her. Aria was so released to sit down she felt like her feet were bleeding. She needed to take her shoes off so bad. She couldn't concentrate in the whole class and once Ella left to go photocopy some sheets she turned to Spencer with a pleading look.
"Help me!" Aria whispered. "I feel like my feet are going to fall off and the baby keeps kicking."
"Remember what I said stay calm. Take a drink; do you have a one in your bag?" Spencer said.
"No. I just want to go home." Aria said and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "I'm okay. I'm fine." Aria said trying to reassure herself. Spencer nodded and went back to her work. Aria did the same but was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder.
"Did I hear you're pregnant?" Noel asked sarcastically. He didn't hear it he told it.
"Shut up Noel." Aria said and turned back around but Noel wasn't finished.
"So you're not pregnant?" He asked. "I heard some shit so if you're not you should go to the principal and tell them that. This kind of stuff could turn into bullying. Maybe I should go to the principal otherwise that would make me the bystander."
"Don't do that." Aria stammered.
"Why? I don't want this to get any worse maybe I should." Noel teased.
"Stop. Just stop Noel, what do you really want?" Aria asked.
"I want you to tell me you're pregnant or I'll tell everyone who the father is." Noel replied.
"Noel you don't even know who the father is so shut up." Aria whispered. She was surprised Spencer couldn't hear but she was pretty into her work.
"We both know I know who it is and what I'm capable of." Noel laughed.
"I'm pregnant," Aria barely whispered.
"What? The father is..." Noel threatened.
"I'm pregnant." Aria said and she knew most of the class heard. All heads turned towards her and Spencer gave her a scolding look.
Ella came back in and the class carried on with their work. She handed out the homework assignments and collected the students work. Aria felt slightly less nervous know that people knew about her pregnancy. It was like a weight lifted off her shoulders.
The bell rang and everyone rushed out of Ella's classroom. Aria walked way behind because her feet were giving up on her. She felt sick walking out into the hallway, rumours spread fast but the truth spread even faster. She stepped outside of the classroom and she could have sworn the world stopped to look at her. She put her head down and clutched her books as she made her way to her locker. Aria could hear all of the comments and whispers about her and it made her nervous. Soon the hallways died down and everyone went to the cafeteria for lunch. She knew this was her chance to see Ezra.
Aria looked through the window and then entered Ezra's classroom. She didn't say anything she just walked inside and sat in one of the front desks.
"Hey." Ezra said with a look of relief on his face. When Aria didn't reply Ezra looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay? What happened yesterday?"
"Ezra everyone knows I'm pregnant. The whole school knows and my mom hasn't talked to me since yesterday and I'm grounded and my parents have taken away everything from me and I lied to Mike and my feet are sore and I want to go home." Aria said without taking a breath and the started to bawl.
"Aria. Aria I'm so sorry. Just breathe its okay. Just calm down." Ezra told her. It broke his heart to see her like this.
"I can't do this anymore. "Aria bawled. "I can't live like this anymore."
"Here, Aria you need to stop stressing this isn't good for you or the baby. "Ezra said handing her his water and making her drink some. Aria calmed down a bit and they looked up at Ezra.
"Mike knew I was pregnant. He told me that he had been watching what I was up to at home cause Noel had mentioned it and he realised I was. Noel threatened to tell everyone you're the father of my baby today, unless I told him I was pregnant. I told him I was pregnant and now everyone knows Ezra. It's not a secret anymore and it's only a matter of time before they find out it's you. I want to go home, I hate this place, I hate my mom and dad and I hate Noel and my feet are sore and I hate being pregnant." Aria sobbed. She was getting herself into an awful state. "Everyone's going to know and you're going to get in trouble and my parent will kill us and I can't raise a baby by myself." Aria cried and her breathing became quickened and she panicked to take a breath. Her breathing was heavy. "I feel sick." Aria said between breathes.
"Aria you need to calm down. You're getting yourself into a mess. Breath please just stops crying. "Ezra begged. He was so worried and if anything happened right now it wouldn't look good that she was with him.
"It's too warm." She complained and Ezra went about taking her jacket and cardigan off of her.
"Are you okay?" Ezra asked as she continued to cry.
"I feel sick." Aria replied.
She couldn't breathe and everything that had happened over the last few months had caught up to her and she just exploded and let every single tear out of her big hazel eyes.
"Physically?" Ezra asked. He wasn't sure and if she was going to puke he needed to get her to the bathroom.
"Yes." Aria nodded as her two hands quickly reached up to cover her mouth. Ezra ran for his bin in the far corner and was relieved that it had been emptied that morning. He held it for her as she gagged and threw up a couple of times. He rubbed her back and she squeezed her eyes shut and cried harder.
"I can't breathe." She complained. Now Ezra was panicking and he wasn't sure what to do.
"It's okay. Take a deep breath in through your nose and then out through your mouth." Ezra told her as he held her close. After about ten minutes are eventually calmed down and her breathing became steady again.
"You okay?" Ezra whispered.
"Yeah, I'm sorry for putting you in this situation. I shouldn't have broken down like that." Aria said pulling away from Ezra's embrace and looking up at him.
"Aria, it's okay. You shouldn't keep it all inside; you need to let it out. "Ezra told her. "I don't mind."
"What was wrong with me?" Aria asked. I couldn't breathe and I was getting sick."
"You were having a panic attack. My cousin always had them when we were younger." Ezra explained. "Have you had them before?"
"No, never. Is that normal?" Aria asked.
"Yeah it is. You're under a lot of stress Aria. And school and parents and the baby it all starts to get too much." Aria nodded and took another drink from Ezra's water.
"You should go home and get some rest." Ezra said.
"No I'll finish the day and go home before study period. I'll tell my mom what happened but tell her I was with Spencer." Aria stood and put her cardigan back on. "I better go."
Ezra nodded and said, "Eat something and if you can get in touch with me and tell me how you're feeling." He kissed her on the forehead and she left.
Aria ate half an apple and then went in search for her mother. She had told her friends what had happened and they had forced the apple down her throat along with some chocolate sweets. The bell rang and everyone left to their separate classes in a rush afraid of getting detention for being late.
"Mom?" Aria asked as she entered the room. She saw Ella in the far corner sorting out some books. Ella looked up at her but didn't say anything. "Mom?" Aria begged her voice slightly breaking.
"What Aria? You want be to turn around and pretend everything's okay? Cause it's not and I don't know if it ever will be." Ella snapped.
"I know and I'm sorry I got myself into this mess so young but I can't change it now." Aria proceeded to talk and then noticed Ella's expression softened.
"You're right. And I guess I just need to be here for you for the time being. Are you okay?" Ella asked.
"Thanks mom. I really appreciate it. I was just wondering if I could leave before last period because it's a free period and I'm not feeling the best." Aria replied looking down at her Chuck Taylor's and thinking they were ready to burst.
"What's wrong?" Ella said.
"Well earlier on I started getting really stressed out and Spencer brought me into an empty classroom and she said I was having a panic attack and I threw up and my feet are really sore." Aria explained.
"Aria are you okay?" Ella question as her mother instincts kicked in.
"Yeah mom I'm fine now. I just want to get my classes done and go home to bed my feet are still sore." She explained.
Ella nodded and said, "You can go home know if you want? And at your next appointment we'll make sure everything's okay with the baby."
"No mom I don't want to fall behind I'll just finish the day and then go home before the last two classes." Gym was her last class and Aria always skipped that.
"Okay. You just go over to Ivy's because I have meeting with the principal and won't be home till late." Ella said.
"Okay what's the meeting about? Is it about me?" Aria asked slightly afraid of the answer. She wasn't sure if she wanted everyone to know just yet.
"Yes baby, I'm sorry you have to go through all of this by yourself." Ella said simpathicaly. "Go to class here I'll give you a note cause you're late and if you don't feel well again go home Aria." Ella said sternly and Aria nodded.
The day dragged on between unfinished work, the baby kicking and her swollen feet Aria couldn't wait to leave her final class if the day. She went to her locker, collected anything that needed finishing and left the school. She walked down the road and across the street to where a little park was that led to Ivy and Ezra's apartment building.
She knew this was the perfect time to go see Ivy and Kasey but she also wanted to go to Ezra's apartment. As she walked through the familiar hallways she walked past Ezra's door and up to Ivy's.
"Hey." Kasey's big eyes grew bigger as she saw her aunty Aria.
"Are you allowed open the door by yourself?" Aria asked jokingly and bent down to hug the little girl. She stepped inside and took off her coat and Converse.
"Hey, I wasn't expecting you here." Ivy said as she hugged her little sister.
"I wasn't feeling well and had a panic attack in school so I got sent home sort of." Aria laughed. "Mon told me to come here until she picked me up at eight."
Ivy nodded and said. "Why is mom collecting you at eight? I thought you were on lockdown." She smiled simpathicaly.
"She has a meeting with the principal about me. She has to tell them I'm pregnant and she also has a lot of grading to do."
"Oh I remember that. God I was scared shitless." Ivy laughed.
Kasey's head shot up and she gave her mom a scolding look before running over to the table and collecting a small tin jar and returning to her place beside her mother.
"You said a swear word. Penny in the jar!" Kasey said and Aria tried to hold in her laughter.
"Are you serious? Can we not just let this one slip?" Ivy begged which made Aria break into a form of giggles.
"No." Kasey said sternly. "If you don't put a penny in it now I'll tell dad."
"Okay wait!" Ivy said frustrated as she reaching over the table to take her purse and get a penny out, "there. Are you happy now?"
"Yes Mommy." She smiled. "Aria can we go get ice-cream?" Kasey asked looking up at Aria with a slight pout.
Aria sighed but didn't reply to Kasey's question. She didn't know how to tell the little girl no.
"Please Aria, we never do it anymore. I never see you anymore, I miss you." Kasey said and her words made Aria's heart break a little.
Kasey was right. She was so caught up with all her worried and stresses that she had forgotten what was important. Her family was important. Kasey was important and she missed her.
Aria crouched down so she was eye level with Kasey. "Why don't we go dress up as fairies and go to uncle Ezra's apartment and eat all his ice-cream?"
Kasey's eyes lit up and a big goofy grin spread across her as she nodded. Her beautiful loose curls bounced as she nodded. They both put on wings and flew up to Ezra's apartment. The giggles were loud and innocent as they jumped from sofa to sofa and onto the bed. Eventually they ate the entire Ben&Jerry's ice-cream in the freezer and drank lots of fizzy drinks. By the time they were done Kasey was bouncing off the walls.
"When are you going to have your baby?" Kasey asked.
"In a few months. Are you excited?" Aria asked as Kasey nodded.
"I'm going to be the best big cousin ever. I hope it's a girl and we can play fairies like we do." She smiled.
"Good because I know this baby is so excited to come out and meet you."
Soon after Wren came down to collect Kasey and Aria was left alone in Ezra's apartment. It had been weird sleeping in her own bed last night she missed Ezra's bed. She missed his arms that laced around her and the warmth of his body, his steady breaths as she listened to his heartbeat. Is she had her way she wouldn't be leaving to tonight.
"Hey." Ezra said as his eyes widened. "I didn't know you'd be here." He walked over to her and kissed her head.
"Yeah well my Mom's in work till late and I just thought I'd come by. She thinks I'm in Ivy's apartment." Aria smiled. "What's this?" Aria asked holding up a baby book.
Ezra's eyes widened and his cheeks turned a light shade of pink as he smiled. "I decided that if I can't be with you through your pregnancy anymore that I'll read this and try to understand what you're going through." He looked up at her and then said. "Is it weird?"
"No." Aria said smiling and shaking her head. She walked over to him and threw her arms around his neck and said. "It's so adorable and I'm so happy you want to understand." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips and he kissed back gladly.
"I missed you." He said as Aria lay with her feet in his lap.
"Well maybe I kinda missed you too, maybe." Aria smiled cheekily.
"Oh really? Just maybe?" Ezra asked sarcastically.
Aria nodded and giggled as Ezra grabbed her feet and started to tickle them. "No Ezra." Aria screamed as she giggled hysterically. "Please, please I'm sorry I missed you loads." She begged.
"No too late." Ezra laughed as he carried on tickling her.
She carried on laughing for a few more moments until suddenly she stopped and she had a shocked expression on her face. Ezra stopped too as shock ran through him.
"What's wrong Aria?" He asked worriedly.
Aria slightly smiled and turned a light shade if pink. "I might have just peed." She laughed as Ezra's eyes widened.
"You what?" He asked trying not to laugh. It wasn't really a question since he had heard her.
"Don't look at me. I need to go to the bathroom." She laughed.
"Oh god you are so classy." He laughed even harder.
Aria feigned shock and said, "I'm pregnant and you're lucky I didn't pee on you." She stood up and warned Ezra not to look as she walked to the bathroom and just before she opened the door Ezra shouted. "That's going to leave a stain." Aria jumped and ran into the bathroom. She changed into some black leggings that she had in one of Ezra's draws and when she returned from the bathroom he was still laughing.
"What?" Aria asked and tilted her head to the side.
"My girlfriend wet herself." He laughed. "I can't believe you wet yourself."
"Okay when are you going to get over this?" Aria asked trying to be angry.
"You could come over here and give me a kiss and maybe I'll just forget." Ezra said cheekily.
Aria gave him a sly look before walking over to him and kissing him deeply. He kissed her back and Aria could feel things starting to heat up. She hadn't admired it yet but she was really horny lately and really wanted to have sex with Ezra again.
Aria broke away and looked up at Ezra and smiled. "I have to go before my mom gets here. See you tomorrow?"
Ezra nodded. "See you in school." He rested his hand on her bump and kissed her one last time before she left.