Dear Diary, I Have A Mate

by Abbie Lynn

  I held back the tears and tried to stand up again, but he once again pushed me back into my seat.

  “Aria, I'm so sorry.”

  Why was he sorry?

  “Just please sit here,” he begged.

  I rolled my eyes and stood up once again. This time Ty followed me out of the classroom. I turned around and shoved him and pointed at the classroom.

  “I'm not going back in there without you.” He shrugged.

  I sighed.

  “Are you going to go back in?”

  I shook my head.

  “Great, let's go.” He smiled, grabbing my hand and pulling me outside of the school.

  I let him take me to his car but stopped when he was opening the door and telling me to get in.

  I turned around to go back to class when Ty grabbed my hips and hugged me.

  “Please come,” he pleaded.

  I kicked him in the shin, and he didn't even seem affected.

  “Go ahead. Hit, punch, and kick me. I deserve it.”

  I sighed.

  “Please, Aria,” he pleaded.

  I shook my head.

  “Aria,” he whined.

  I flipped him off and then got into the car.

  I am not good at not following demands. When we arrived at his house I became nervous. We walked in, and Sherry took off the cast.

  “Oh my,” she said.

  “What?” Ty asked.

  “Aria, what happened to your arm?” she asked.

  I looked at her, acting confused even though I knew what she meant.

  “It looks like it got broken again,” she noted.

  “Aria, what happened?” Ty asked.

  I shrugged.

  “Sherry?” he asked.

  “Well I'm not sure but it seems as if it just snapped in half again.”

  “Leave,” he ordered, and she left immediately.

  “Aria,” he demanded.

  I looked anywhere but his face.

  “Arrabella, what the hell happened?” he growled.

  I peeked up at him and his eyes grew darker. They were no longer their usual cheery light brown color; they were more of a chocolate color.

  I flinched back and looked away.

  “Arrabella, I'm not going to ask again.”

  I looked up and gave him a blank stare.

  “I will find other ways to find out.”

  I sighed and then drew a car.

  “A car?” he asked, obviously frustrated.

  I drew a tree.

  “The car hit the tree. Wait you were in a car accident?”

  I nodded. It wasn't true of course but what else could I have drawn?

  “Aria, I know you weren't in a car accident.” He sighed.

  I shrugged.

  “Just tell me what happened, who did that?” he roared.

  He sounded like my dad. It wasn't directed towards me as much but I was still scared. I ran out of the room and out of his house.

  “Aria?” a familiar voice asked.

  I looked over to see Carter. I ran over and hugged him.

  “Oh hey,” he laughed.

  “What's wrong?” he asked.

  I wiped my tear away and got out a piece of paper. I drew my house on it with a question mark.

  “Whose house is this?” he asked.

  I shook my head and then drew a car.

  “Oh, you want me to take you home?”

  I nodded.

  “Yeah I can do that.” He smiled.

  I smiled back as he led me to his car. He got in and I pointed the way. I pointed to the house that I told Ty was my house just in case it was ever brought up. I smiled at him and waved.

  I then ran to my house. My dad wouldn't be home until later. I blasted some music, lay down on my bed, and cried.

  Dear Diary,

  Ty hates me. I kind of hate me too.

  ~Aria

  Chapter 7

  Dear Diary,

  I'm tired of feeling like this.

  ~Aria

  I walked to school, feeling sick.

  I feel like I'm going to cry and puke at the same time.

  When I arrived at school I trudged into first hour, dragging my boots on the floor. Ty wasn't here yet. I guess he has better places to be.

  He didn't come at all. I waited, and when the bell rang my heart just sank even more in my chest. I walked out to my tree and sat against it. I felt a presence in front of me so I opened my eyes to see Ty.

  “Can we talk?”

  I shook my head.

  “It's not really an option, Aria.”

  I looked away from him.

  He sighed and then lifted me off the ground, threw me over his shoulder and carried me to his car! I squirmed and punched his arm but it was no use. He then placed me in his car, buckled me in, and then he got in and drove off.

  Where are we going?

  He pulled up to his house and I sighed. He got out and was opening my door before I even got my seat belt off. I stepped out and followed him in. He sat down on the white couch in his living room and I sat next to him.

  “Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday. I just feel very protective of you and when you didn't tell me the truth I just snapped,” he explained apologetically.

  I nodded.

  “You've lied to me a lot,” he added.

  I didn't lie.

  “I know you didn't get that black eye because you ran into a door, that you didn't get into a car accident, and that you live about six houses down and I drop you off at a random house every time.”

  I stared at him in shock. Was he some kind of stalker?

  “I need you to stop lying.”

  “You can trust me,” he added.

  Trust him? I barely know him. I stared at him for a long time.

  “Tyson, do you know why—,” Carter started to say as he walked into the room, but then he stopped when he saw me.

  “Oh sorry. Hey, Aria.” He waved.

  I smiled and waved back.

  “It's okay Carter just tell me later,” Ty replied. Wow, he didn't even say hi to him.

  “Okay have a nice chat.” Carter smiled but then stopped once again.

  “I mean talk or write or…” he stuttered.

  I smiled at him. I mean it's not his fault he doesn't know what to say, at least he tried.

  “Draw,” Ty corrected.

  “Oh you draw right? I just thought you liked to write since you always write those little notes in your notebook.” He shrugged.

  I froze. When did Carter see me writing? I thought back to one of the first days I started. So it was last week, Wednesday.

  I was in math with him and I did write something in my notebook! I wanted to transfer it over to Diary. I was sitting in the corner at the back. I didn't think anyone saw me.

  Ty said something to Carter that made him leave.

  “Aria,” he pushed.

  I snapped my head up at him and then got off the couch.

  “Nope you owe me a lot of answers.” He demanded, lightly pushing me back down.

  He got out a notebook and pencil and pushed it towards me. I stared at it for a moment and then wrote my first thing to him.

  'I'm sorry.' I scribbled down.

  “Just tell me what's going on,” he begged.

  'Can't.' I wrote.

  “Why?”

  I looked away and tried to control my breathing.

  “I know this is probably hard for you but I want to help you so bad,” he pleaded.

  I pointed to the “I'm sorry” written on the paper.

  “Stop being sorry just let me help you.”

  I got up and headed towards the door.

  “Aria wait,” he ordered, grabbing my waist.

  I drew in a sharp breath. He looked at me skeptically before lifting up my shirt a little ways. I pushed at his hands but it was too late; he already saw the scratches, burns, cuts, and bruises. He then looked up at me and slowly took off my scarf. I pushed at him but h
e held me still. Once it was off he backed away from me took the lamp that was sitting nicely on the table and threw it against the wall.

  I flinched back and away from him, was he angry with me? I waited for him to come over and attack me. He walked slowly over to me and I backed myself against the wall.

  “I'm sorry, I'm not going to hurt you.” He promised.

  He grabbed my hand and led me back to the couch.

  “Who did this?” he asked.

  I shook my head and pleaded with my eyes for him to let it go.

  “Arrabella!”

  I took the notepad.

  'Please don't do this.' I wrote.

  “Just tell me who did this,” he repeated.

  'Why?' I wrote.

  “So that they can go to jail,” he growled.

  'No, why do you care?' I clarified.

  “I care about you.”

  'Why?' I wrote.

  “I told you I feel protective of you and you make me happy,” he admitted, smiling a full and complete Tyson smile.

  I gave him a small smile back.

  “So please, who did this to you?” he repeated.

  I stared at him for a long moment.

  'My dad.' I wrote slowly.

  He sucked in a breath.

  “What about your mom?”

  My mom, a person I never like to think about.

  I shook my head.

  “Where is she?”

  Rotting in hell I hope.

  My mother left me when I was eight. Eight was a big year for me: my mother left, my father's abuse got worse, and I stopped talking.

  Wow, what should a normal eight-year-old be doing? I don't know. Maybe learn to ride a bike? Have their first sleepover? I was never taught to ride a bike and I have never had a sleepover.

  “Aria?” Ty asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

  “You need to get away from your dad.”

  NO! This was what I was afraid of.

  I shook my head.

  “Why do you still want to live with him?”

  I don't want to. I have to! I got off the couch and walked towards the door once again.

  “I'm not going to let you go back to your house and get abused.”

  I turned to him.

  “I know you're scared Aria, but you have to get away from him.”

  Where was I supposed to go?

  “You're staying with me.” He added like he read my mind.

  I stared at him in shock.

  “Is your dad home right now?”

  I shook my head.

  “Great, let's go get some of your things.” He smiled.

  I shook my head and stared at him like he was crazy.

  “Don't give me that look Aria.” He snorted and then led me outside.

  He drove me to my house; he must have seen me run to it one time, otherwise I have no idea how he actually knew where I live.

  'Wait here.' I wrote.

  “I want to help you with your things,” he replied.

  'There is not a lot. I can do it.' I wrote.

  “Okay go fast.”

  I nodded.

  I ran in and grabbed some shirts, jeans, shorts, tank tops, undergarments, tennis shoes,

  and scarves, which I stuffed into a duffel bag.

  I also put in a hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hair ties,

  and tampons.

  I then grabbed my diary, shoved it to the bottom of the bag, and ran downstairs.

  I got into the car and threw it in the backseat, finally taking a deep breath.

  “Aria, Aria, it's okay. Look at me.”

  I looked over at him.

  “This is for the best. I'm proud of you.”

  I stiffly nodded.

  Proud— a word that has never been directed towards me.

  He is proud of me?

  I like this feeling right now. I want to hug him but he's driving.

  Would he want me to hug him?

  He pulled up to his house again and we got out. He grabbed my duffel bag and then helped me out. We went upstairs. He opened the door to a bedroom with navy blue walls. There was a blue comforter on the bed and black dressers.

  This must be his room. I turned around and raised my eyebrows at him.

  “This is my room,” he whispered. Did he blush?

  I walked over and pinched his cheeks.

  “Stop it,” he teased.

  I smiled up at him and then hugged him. He hugged me back instantly.

  “So um do you want to unpack your things?”

  I shrugged and went over to my bag.

  “You can use these drawers,” he added, pulling out some clothes and putting them in the closet.

  I unpacked my clothes and stuffed my diary in my backpack. I kept my bathroom stuff in my bag.

  I then sat down against the wall. I wonder what my dad will do when he finds out. He will be getting home from work in five minutes.

  In five minutes, dinner won't be on the table and he will look in my room and see my most of my stuff was missing.

  “Aria?” Ty asked.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, sitting next to me.

  I shook my head. I have to get home before my dad does. I got up and walked out of the room. If I get home before he does I might be able to throw something together.

  “Aria, Aria where are you going?” Ty asked, standing in front of the door.

  I looked for a notepad and found the one I was using earlier.

  'Can you drive me home?' I wrote.

  “Aria you are safe here. He won't find you,” Ty said confidently.

  'What about school?' I wrote.

  “Don't worry about it,” he begged.

  Don't worry about it? I sighed and then went to try to find Carter.

  “Carter won't take you either,” he called.

  I groaned.

  “Come on.” He sighed, grabbing my hand.

  I walked with him as he led me into the kitchen. He pulled out a stool from the counter and gestured for me to sit. I sat and then placed my arms on the counter and rested my head in them.

  “It's going to be okay. I will protect you.” Ty stated.

  A few moments later I heard a plate being set in front of me. I raised my head to see that he was now sitting next to me. We each had a plate of food in front of us.

  He made me dinner?

  There was a small pile of spaghetti in front of me with a roll and green beans. I looked over at him and saw he was watching me; his food was untouched. I put my hands in my lap and waited for him to tell me what to do.

  “Aren't you hungry?”

  I slowly nodded.

  “Then eat,” he encouraged.

  I pointed at him and then his plate.

  “I should eat?”

  I nodded.

  “I'll make you a deal. If you eat, I will too.” He smiled.

  I nodded and then picked up my fork. I ate it all and for once I was full.

  “Do you want more?” he asked, standing up to get some.

  I shook my head and then grabbed a pad of paper.

  'Thank you.' I wrote.

  “You don't have to thank me for giving you food.” He laughed.

  I nodded and smiled back.

  After that I followed him to the living room where we watched Twilight.

  'The book is better. ' I wrote for Ty to read. He laughed and said the book is always better.

  It’s inevitable though. The book is like your own personal movie in your head and then Hollywood makes it into what should be going on in your head, but really they just ruin it for creative kids everywhere.

  “You ready for bed?” he asked.

  I yawned and nodded.

  The movie took my mind off of what's probably going on at my house right now. We walked into Ty's room and he started laying a blanket down on the floor. I stopped him because I am capable of doing it myself. I then lay down on it.

  “Aria you aren't sleeping on
the floor.” He laughed.

  I sat up and grabbed my notebook.

  “I was setting it out for me,” he added.

  'No this is your room.' I wrote.

  “I'm not letting you sleep on the ground. You can have my bed.” He shrugged.

  I shook my head in protest and lay back down.

  “Aria,” he snorted.

  I then felt two strong arms go underneath me and then the ground disappeared.

  I opened my eyes right as Ty was laying me on his bed.

  'No Ty!' I scribbled down and forcefully shoved the notepad in his face.

  “Ty?”

  'It's what I call you in my head.' I wrote, blushing.

  “I like it.” He grinned.

  I sighed and then thought of the only other possibility.

  'If you won't let me sleep on the ground then will you sleep up here with me?' I wrote.

  He grinned widely and then pulled himself together.

  “Gosh Aria you should have just said that's what you wanted in the first place.”

  I slapped his arm as he climbed into the large bed.

  I had changed into my sweats before the movie and so had Ty. I had also taken a shower. Ty said he takes his shower in the morning because it makes more since, but really it doesn't because then it's like going to bed dirty.

  “Good night,” he whispered, turning off the light.

  Great, first I move in with in with a boy I met a week ago and now we are sharing a bed; this is going to be one hell of a night.

  Chapter 8

  Dear Diary,

  I squirmed out of Ty's arms to write to you. At one point in the night he must have wrapped them around me because we started out on opposite ends of the bed.

  It felt nice and for once I felt safe.

  Ty looks peaceful right now and innocent.

  I better go before he wakes up.

  ~Aria

  I crept back to the bed and lay down once again.

  Almost immediately Ty's arms found me and once again I was in my warm bubble.

  It was about four in the morning so we still have about two hours to sleep.

  With that in mind I slowly drifted back to sleep.

  * * *

  I woke up to the alarm clock and Ty moving around to try and turn it off.