Aria came prancing down the marble stairs, mahogany hair whipping behind her with each step she took. It was late morning, and her father, Byron, was on one of his usual business trips. Meaning she was home along for a week or so. Her mother, Ella, had passed away a few years ago, leaving her father widowed. Ever since, Aria became incredibly troublesome, yet mature. The new found maturity she gained 3 years ago was a necessity, because she was alone all the time, having to do all the things a mother would with a home. With the house to herself constantly, she threw house parties more than she should. She was bad in the eyes of many who knew her and lived in Rosewood.
Normally, at this hour, she would be in school. However, Aria tended to ditch class quite often. Being incredibly intelligent had made her complacent, and lazy. Any time off school never mattered, she was already ahead of her years anyway. School was strange for her, even with friends and a good reputation, Aria was always the odd one... Too old for the place, even though she's only sixteen.
By early evening that day, she had the clothes washing done, the floors mopped and the kitchen gleaming. Dinner was an assignment saved until last. Byron stepped onto the threshold hours later, the smell of food assaulting his senses. Aria's cooking. Serving the white wine risotto, the table set and ready, she finally placed their meals before them. Byron's expression wasn't the one she was hoping for though. No hunger, no gratitude... just isolation, anxiety.
"This looks wonderful, darling." He commented, picking through the rice with a fork, eyes on the table. Eyeing her father curiously, she came to the decision that something was terribly wrong. It seemed much more awkward, rather than the calm atmosphere that usually held dormant every other night. Luckily, he spoke; getting straight to the point without hesitation.
"Aria... I know you may not want this, but, considering, it is actually best for you." Byron began with; pulling out a brochure from his suit jacket pocket, and placing it face up on the table. Aria watched his every move carefully, with large eyes that seemed to widen as she laid eyes on the brochure.
"...Boarding school?" She questioned him; her voice with hint of petulance, completely incredulous. Why he would want this for her was beyond her understanding, and she was usually open-minded. "An all girl's boarding school..." Aria finished, her eyebrows knitted together in a frown now. That part bothered her, because surely the place would be dull without interaction with boys.
"I know what you're thinking... But please just trust me this once. It has an amazing campus, and I would pay for one of better rooms for you... and it's safe." He emphasised each point carefully. Aria had picked up on this.
"Safe? What's going on dad?" She asked, tilting her head, all traces of a smile gone. He was worrying her. This proposal was so out of the blue; and now this?
"Something's come up with a few of the people I do business with, and let's just say it's causing... friction... between everyone; and I have enemies, willing to act on what's recently just happened. Lennie was murdered darling." He concluded; all traces of joking gone from his voice. The latter part made her sad; the man he spoke of was one of her father's few business partners she knew, and he was a relatively good man. Aria nodded her head limply, she knew there was no questioning him with this; she was going whether she wanted to or not. It would be a new chapter of her life in a way, something new and life changing. That she was looking forward to. She was good at making tough situations cope-able. It was settled. Over dinner they discussed when she would leave, and that he would come see her every so often. Two days from now, Aria would be packed and ready to move to the St. Peter's campus, with a day to spend in preparation for the beginning of schooling the following Monday.