“Aria!”
I blinked, my body halting at the sound of Mom’s voice, but I didn’t turn to face her. I wasn’t sure I could look at her and not break down even more than I already was. I wasn’t sure I could open my mouth and say a word without self-destructing.
“Aria!” Her hand clutched my shoulder, and she spun me around. My gaze hit her bare legs and drifted over her body to the dress she wore. It wasn’t her usual diner uniform but similar. Maybe she was trying on the new uniforms for her new diner.
Her mouth was moving, but all I could hear was buzzing, a static that wouldn’t pause. Then she shoved her hand in my face, waving her fingers at me, and I finally saw it. The ring on her finger that could only mean one thing—
“Sal asked me to marry him!”
I blinked and blinked again, sure I’d heard her wrong. She wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t say yes. She wouldn’t—
“And I said yes!”
My nostrils flared, and I looked away from her, not able to bear seeing the happiness on her face. Why did she get to be happy when I was so sad? Why did she get to start over? Why did she get to replace my dad?
My dad.
I placed my hand over my chest, feeling like I couldn’t catch my breath. All the men in my life always left me, and it would only be a matter of time until Sal did the same, and I’d be left to pick up the pieces.
The paramedics strapped Dad to the gurney, but he didn’t stop fighting.
“Where are they taking him, Mommy?” I clutched on to the back of Mommy’s dress, staring with wide eyes as they started to wheel Daddy out of the apartment.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” Mommy’s hand drifted over the top of my head, and when I looked up at her, tears were streaming down her face. She was sad, just like Daddy had been the last few days. Only when Daddy got sad, Mommy worried, which made me worry.
“I’ll be back, Aria!” Daddy shouted, still trying to get out of the tight straps wrapped around his body and to the bed. “They can’t get you while I’m gone! Remember to cover your window at night!”
I nodded, silently promising I’d do as he said. I wasn’t sure who “they” were, but Daddy was always worried about them.
Everything was bubbling up inside me, but I had to push it down. If I let it come to the surface, it would boil over, and I wouldn’t be able to stop it.
“Cong…” I cleared my throat and tried a second time. “Congratulations, Mom.”
Mom grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hallway and into the living room, seemingly oblivious to what was going on with me. I went willingly, not able to get up the courage to tell her I was hurting. I couldn’t voice what I was feeling, so I did as I was told and sat on the sofa.
I listened to her talk about how Sal had proposed at the new diner last night after the cookout. She told the story of a perfect moment, and all I could think about was what I had been doing last night. I’d thought I was safe. I thought I’d put my trust in someone who deserved it.
I was wrong.
I’d been stupid.
I’d let my guard slip.
I’d let him break each of my walls down, and now I was scrambling to put it all back together again.
“So? Will you?” I shook my head and widened my eyes at Mom. I had no idea what she was talking about. “So that’d make you my maid of honor, and I was thinking Belle could be my flower girl. What do you think?” I opened my mouth to reply, but she beat me to it. “Yes, that’d work well. We could get you matching dresses.” She screwed up her nose. “Maybe not fully matching, but you get the idea.” She clapped her hands and jumped off the sofa. “I need to call Lola!” She scrambled across the room to her cell.
I kept my gaze on her as she pressed it to her ear and started talking a mile a minute to Lola through the line. I was happy she was happy, but that didn’t mean I didn’t envy her. She was making a new life for herself, and I didn’t think I had a place in it anymore.
“An engagement party?” Mom’s brows flew high on her head. “Yes! That’s a perfect idea!”
I stood, my muscles aching more than they ever had, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of last night or because I was losing myself. I was lost in the wind with no branch in sight to grasp.
One last look at Mom told me she hadn’t even noticed I’d moved off the sofa. She never noticed anything, but it wasn’t anything new.
I shuffled down the hallway, opened my bedroom door, and shut it behind me, determined not to come back out.
Chapter Fourteen
ARIA
Monday came and went, but I didn’t move from my room. I told Mom I was sick, and she didn’t even come inside to see if I was telling the truth. She told me she’d get me some meds after her shift and left a couple of minutes later.
Tuesday whizzed by with my bed and comforter to keep me company.
My cell vibrated with several messages from Hope on Wednesday, but they went unanswered.
Thursday Sal knocked on my door, but I ignored him.
Then Friday came.
Friday was the best day of the week—or it had been before. Before I’d given myself over to someone who hadn’t wanted me.
Mom knocked on my door. I ignored her, and seconds later, her footsteps moved away. I rolled over and pulled the covers over my head. I hadn’t been expecting her to come into my room. I hadn’t expected her to rip the covers off me. I hadn’t expected her to demand I get up.
“I’ve let you have four days off school,” she said, her voice firm and demanding. “It’s time you push down whatever is going on and get on with things.” I stared up at her, wishing some kind of emotion would bubble up. Anger at being told to push everything down. Sadness because she didn’t even ask what the matter was. But there was nothing. I felt nothing.
“Now, get up.” She pulled on my arm, and I let her drag me out of bed and across the hallway to the bathroom. She switched the shower on as I leaned against the sink, not willing to look in the mirror.
“I’ve got an important business meeting in the next town over today,” she rambled on, testing the water in the shower. “Get showered and dressed, then I’ll drop you off at school.”
She patted my cheek twice, but I didn’t look away from the small crack in one of the floor tiles. The door clicked closed behind her, and I wasn’t sure how long I stood there until I pulled my clothes off and stepped under the spray. The hot water batted against my skin, trying to wash away the pain embedded into me, but it wasn’t successful. Nothing I did made anything appear, I was a shell, and part of me wanted to stay that way. At least then, I wouldn’t have to feel anything.
I brushed my teeth and left my hair wet as I went back into my bedroom. Black jeans and a black T-shirt were the first things my hands landed on, and I pulled them on. My boots were last, and then I grabbed my bag.
Time moved by in chunks, and then I was in the car with Mom as she pulled up in front of the school. I was late, but I didn’t care.
“Sal said he tried to talk to you yesterday.” I unclipped my belt and opened the passenger door. “He was trying to tell you he’s bought us a new house. We’re moving next weekend.” I paused, waiting for the anger or happiness to break free, but…nothing. I nodded and pushed out of the car, slamming the door behind me and then walking up the steps.
I went to the office, got my late slip, and shuffled to my first class. My second class flew by, but I didn’t do any of the work. I stared at the board, thinking and feeling nothing.
Lunch came, and I heard my name being called by Hope, but I ignored her, just like I had all week. But it was Jasmine’s voice that finally broke my trance.
“Ugh, you’re back. I’d hoped you died.” My fingers shook as I put the code into my locker lock. Her friends all laughed from behind us, but I didn’t look at anything other than the chipped paint covering the metal. The lock unclipped, and I pulled on it and grasped it in my hand. “Maybe you could have killed yourself like your dad did.” I
took a step back from my locker. “It’d do us all a favor.”
I turned, and everything slowed down as I looked at her. She was flinging things at me, and even then, I didn’t feel anything. What the hell was wrong with me? The lock bit into the palm of my hand, and before I could even think about what I was doing, I flung it at her face.
The metal connected with her cheek and she squealed. Maybe I should have smiled at the sound, or even been shocked at what I’d done. But I simply stood there, waiting. Waiting for her to retaliate, because maybe if I felt the pain, it’d be better than nothing.
“You stupid bitch!” she screamed, and then gripped my hair, yanking on it. Her palm connected with my face, and then her fist followed. “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you!” I didn’t move as she slammed my body against the locker and rained her fists on my face. I stayed still as she kneed me in the stomach, only feeling the loss of breath at the last second. My body bowed forward, my instincts kicking in, and then finally, finally, I felt something.
I lifted my head, blood trailing from my lip down my chin, my one eye swollen from her violence, but it was what I needed. Everyone blurred around me, the only thing mattering was Jasmine as she went to hit me again.
I grabbed her wrist, stopping her momentum. “Thank you,” I said, a second before I raised my fist and punched her in the temple, knowing it’d knock her out. She went down, the back of her head smacking off the solid ground.
Silence surrounded us, but I didn’t look away from Jasmine and her still body. She’d given me back the feeling, but now it was evaporating again. It was disappearing before my very eyes. It didn’t come back when someone grabbed my arm and demand I go to the office. I saw the back of Cade’s head as he rushed into the nurse’s office with Jasmine’s sister, and even then, I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything or anyone because it was safer that way. It was safer to feel nothing than everything.
Paramedics rushed into the office, and I rolled my eyes. I’d knocked her out, not killed her. She always was a drama queen, but at least she’d given me hope for a few minutes. Hope I wasn’t completely gone. Hope that this was only a phase and not how I’d feel forever.
The office phone rang, footsteps rushing in and out, students’ voices calling from the other side of the wall of windows that separated the hallway from the office. But all I did was keep my gaze glued to an anti-bullying poster attached to the wall. It was ironic. Jasmine had been throwing insults at me for years, but now I’d fought back, and I was the one waiting for the principal to call me into his office.
Justice was never served. I learned that a long time ago.
“Miss Sayer?” a deep voice called, but I didn’t look away from the poster as I stood. I walked over to it, tracing the letters and wondering how many people actually believed the bullshit written on there. The teachers didn’t give a crap if someone was being bullied. All they cared about was putting in their hours and then going home. “Miss Sayer,” the voice repeated, this time more demanding.
I flicked my gaze over to the principal and noted the frown on his face. Of course he was frowning. He was having to actually deal with something. Just like everyone else, he loved to pretend things in this school were fine.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Smegly,” I said to him, causing his nostrils to flare. I had nothing to lose, but he wasn’t aware of that. He’d find out soon enough.
* * *
CADE
I paced out front of the school, waiting for Sal’s truck to come into view. I scrubbed my hand down my face and through my hair for what felt like the thousandth time. The school was buzzing with talk, but it didn’t matter what anyone else was saying. A teacher had seen what Aria had done. She’d watched her knock Jasmine out, so there was no way of getting past this.
Willow’s screeching voice was still batting around in my head, threatening to press charges, and there were only two people who I could call that I knew would help. The office had tried to call Jan, but her cell had gone to voicemail. Which left Sal and—
My dad’s Mustang followed Sal’s truck into the lot, both of them parking right in front of the steps, not caring one bit about the fact they weren’t parking spaces. They all filed out, and I was hyperaware of Ford pushing out of Dad’s car.
“What the hell is going on?” Sal asked, his face a mask of anger. His protective instincts were at full height, but so were mine. This was my fault. She was lashing out because I’d…
No, I couldn’t think about that right now. I couldn’t remember the way her voice sounded the last time I spoke to her.
“Aria got into a fight,” I told Sal, and put my hands on my hips. “She knocked another student out.”
“Holy shit,” I heard Ford whisper, and I narrowed my eyes on him. I wanted to blame him too, but the fact was he’d been looking out for me. “I didn’t think she was the scrappy type.”
“She’s not,” Dad ground out. “Where is she?”
“Principal’s office.” I spun around and jogged up the stairs, knowing they’d all follow me inside. “The other girl’s sister is threatening charges. She’s a teacher at the school.” I met Dad’s stare, a silent conversation happening between us. There was no way he’d let her get charged for this, or at least, I hoped.
I pulled the door to the office open and kept my gaze focused forward. The principal had told me to call Aria’s parent or guardian, and he had no idea my dad would be walking through that door with Sal. They protected their family, and I was doing my best to protect mine too. Aria may think I didn’t care, but that was furthest from the truth. I cared—way too much.
Aria’s dark-red hair was a matted mess on one side, and it took all my strength not to go to her to make sure she was okay. Jasmine was taking up the nurse’s office, which meant Aria was stuck in here.
The principal stood and frowned as all four of us filed in. “Who—”
“This is Sal,” I said, waving my hand to him and spotting the way Aria’s back straightened at the sound of my voice. “He’s Aria’s guardian.”
The principal—Mr. Smegly—held his hand out to Sal who shook it. “And these two gentlemen?”
“Special Agent Easton,” Dad said, offering his hand next.
“Special Agent Ford,” Ford said, shaking the principal’s hand too.
“Oh,” Mr. Smegly blinked and stepped back to sit in his seat. “I wasn’t aware someone had called the authorities yet.”
“I’m Aria’s uncle,” Dad said and crossed his arms over his chest. Technically he wasn’t, but Mr. Smegly didn’t need to know that.
I stepped back and leaned against the wall, not prepared to leave this office. I kept my gaze fixed on Aria, wishing she’d look my way, but she didn’t. She didn’t turn to look at anyone else in the room, keeping her gaze fixated to Mr. Smegly.
Mr. Smegly cleared his throat and steepled his hands on his desk. “As you may be aware, Miss Sayer assaulted another student.”
“That right?” Sal asked, gripping on to the edge of the empty seat next to Aria. I wasn’t sure whether he was talking to Aria or the principal.
“Ye-es,” Mr. Smegly replied. “Aria knocked the other student out, which I’m afraid means an automatic suspension. We don’t condone bullying in this—”
Aria’s laugh cut him off. She laughed so hard she bent over in her seat and gripped her stomach. My eyes narrowed at the movement, and I wondered what the hell was going on. Why was she laughing when she was in trouble? Now wasn’t the time or place for her to lose her shit.
“Miss Sayer!” Mr. Smegly shouted, his voice rattling around the room.
“Watch your tone, teach,” Sal growled out. “You don’t raise your voice at her.” He pointed at Mr. Smegly. “Got it?”
“I—”
Aria lifted her head, and I stared at her as she gripped the sides of her chair and stood. “That girl has been flinging insults at me since the first day I started here.” She stepped forward but kept her hand attached to her rib
s. “Not once have I bitten back. I’ve never said a word to her, not when she stole my gym clothes, not when she called me names, but a girl can only take so much.” Aria’s head turned, and she looked straight at me. “I can only take so much before it becomes too much.”
Her words broke part of me, and I knew she was trying to convey more than what had happened in the fight. She wasn’t breaking apart; she’d already shattered before my very eyes.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Dad’s voice boomed. “Has she had medical treatment?”
I shook my head, the mist around the edges of my eyes clearing, and I finally got a proper look at her. Her one eye was swollen shut, dried blood above it, along with her cut lip. Dark purple bruises were forming on her beautiful face, and I had no doubt she had bruised ribs with the way she was holding on to them.
“I…” Mr. Smegly pulled at his collar. “Not yet. The victim has been in the nurse’s office.”
“Victim?” Sal growled out.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Aria as Ford stepped forward. I hated how close to her he was. That was meant to be me, not him. “Lemme look at you.” Aria turned her head, and his eyes roamed over her face. My hands clenched into fists as he gripped her chin. I couldn’t bear watching someone else touch her.
“She needs to get checked out,” Ford told Dad.
“Come’re, baby girl.” Dad held his hand out to her, and she didn’t hesitate to take it. She trusted him. She trusted him more than she trusted me, and I only had myself to blame.
“I’m gonna sue your fuckin’ school!” Sal shouted. “I’d bet my bottom dollar the other girl don’t look half as bad as Aria.”
“Mr.—”
“Don’t you fuckin’ mister me.” Sal slapped his hand on the desk. “You’re done. You hear me? Fuckin’ done.”
I stepped forward as Ford opened up the door and followed him out, but turned back to see Dad’s arm wrapped around Aria’s shoulders. “Call the authorities, Mr. Smegly,” Dad said. “Be sure to tell them who I am and that you kept a minor away from medical treatment.”
Defy Fate: Fated Duet: Book One Page 17
