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“I know, that was too much,” I said.
“You’re forgiven,” my mom said with a sour smile.
“I have one question for you, Aria.” The way he said my name made me want to moan.
“Yes?” I stuttered like a fool.
Sebastian took a long pause, and I couldn’t help but stare at him because of how perfect and strong his features were.
“For god’s sake, we’re moving in with Sebastian,” my mum says, and I choke on the food I was eating.
I put my hands around my mouth to help me swallow the food.
“You’re kidding,” I said as I drank some water.
“Not at all.” She smiles at Sebastian and then at me again.
“Mom, it’s only been two years since Daddy left.” I whispered-yelled at her, and her face fell when I said my father’s name.
“Don’t talk about your dad, Aria.” My mom sounds angry and doesn’t believe me.
“Right now that you have your new, young husband, you forgot all about my dad, the man you loved.” I yelled, not caring that we were in a nice place or that Sebastian was right there. I slammed my fist on the table and said, “Who gives a f**k about him, right?” It was very dramatic.
“Your dad is gone, Aria. He’s never coming back. You really need to move on.” My mom yells, and the coldness of her voice makes me jump.
I couldn’t believe how she spoke to me. My eyes were watery as they moved from my mom’s to Sebastian’s. There was something else on his face that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, even though he looked sad.
“Have a nice dinner.” I quickly got up from my chair and threw my serviette on the table.
“Honey, I didn’t mean to—” My mom tried to talk, but I cut her off.
“Nice to meet you, Sebastian,” I said.
I stormed out of this fancy, annoying restaurant with tears running down my face. My mom didn’t even try to stop me.
I didn’t have my dad, my house keys, or the keys to my mom’s car. I’m a mess, so I started walking to the only place I knew I’d always be welcome.
“Maya.”
I knocked on my best friend’s door, crying and shaking because it was so cold outside and I didn’t have a jacket.
Someone I never thought would be there was standing right in front of me when the door opened.
“Is that you, Aria?”
“Is that you, Aria?”
I couldn’t say anything; I was completely numb. First, the whole dinner thing, and now this. Is there any way my life could get worse?
“You’re back in town.” My voice was barely a whisper.
Caleb said, “I just got here tonight.” He looked around outside, and when he saw that no one else was outside with me, his dark brown eyes met my light green ones.
God, he still looks so good.
“This was a mistake.” I tried to turn around, but Caleb was quick enough to grab my wrist and pull me against his chest. My breathing got heavier, and my hands started to sweat right away.
“Don’t touch me, Caleb.” I pull my arm back to my side.
“Just get inside,” Caleb says. His voice is deeper and stronger now, and his eyes are darker than they were three years ago. He didn’t have gel in his hair like he used to; now, it was messy and lighter. He was tanner than usual, and his style had changed a lot.
“No, I’m leaving.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist again and pulled me back.
“I’ll drive you.”
“No, you’re not,” I said, pulling my arm away from his strong grip.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Jesus Christ, I’ll go with you guys. Just stop going back and forth.” My best friend Maya comes up behind Caleb with a look of annoyance on her face.
I said, “Maya, you take me. I’m not getting in the car with him,” while glaring at Caleb.
“Damnit! Just let me take you, Aria,” Caleb yells in anger.
Maya was looking down at her feet to avoid the awkwardness as if her legs were suddenly interesting.
“Fine, but Maya, you’re coming.” I started to stomp towards the car, and Maya quickly and quietly followed me.
I’m in the back right now, and Maya is in the front. My best friend asked a question, and no one else was talking.
“What happened tonight?” Maya asks.
“My mom.” I huffed as I leaned against the car window and watched the lights in the distance turn off.
Back in the day:
“Maya, where is he?” I yelled as I barged into her room. My messy blonde hair and Caleb’s long t-shirt with nothing under it but my skin probably made me look crazy.
I wore dark eyeliner the night before, but now it looks like I have two black eyes.
“Aria, who are you talking about?” Maya gets up from her bed and walks over to me slowly.
“Caleb, your brother!” I yell.
“Aria, he left,” Maya says as if she has known this for a long time.
Those few words made my whole world fall apart.
“What?” I asked, confused and not wanting to believe anything she had just said.
“He left for Louisiana two hours ago. Did he do something? Is that why you’re looking at him? He pranked you, huh?” Maya laughs. “Classic Caleb. What did he do? Wait, he left an exploding confetti box at your door?”
My face goes pale, and everything starts to spin. She thought of all the theories, but none of them were right. He promised he wouldn’t leave me, but he did anyway. He lied to me and took something I could never get back.
Maya asks, “Aria, why are you crying?” with concern.
I didn’t know I was crying until she said something.
“Maya, I gave him my virginity.” I cried as I fell apart in front of her. My legs gave out, and I fell to the floor, where she caught me.
“Please tell me you-”
My urgent nod confirming her new, correct theory cuts her off. She holds me while I scream and shout, and she puts her head on top of mine.
“Shh, it’s okay,” Maya hums.
“I care about him, Maya,” I said through tears.
“Shh.”
Flashback is over:
“Aria…”
“Aria.” Maya’s worried look brought me back to the present.
“Yeah?” My voice broke, and the sadness came back. This time, I couldn’t get away from it.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Aria?” Maya puts her hand on my knee.
“I’m fine,” I said with a weak smile.
I opened the car door slowly and walked to the door of my house. I was too scared to even look back at Caleb one last time.