Hey guys, I posted this story in fanfiction Press and figured, why not, I'll post it here too. :) Hope you guys love it.
-Strawberrygirl2000
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Six weeks. That's how long she'd been running. Arianna had been running since her 14th birthday party and honestly she was exhausted. Normally Arianna would warm up at the chance to take a hike in the wilderness for hours on end, but right now all she wanted was a cozy bed and a chance to relax. Perhaps she should explain a little better.
Six Weeks Prior:
Arianna stepped out into the sunlight and covered her eyes with her hand. Later today was her 14th birthday party and she couldn't wait. She ran her hand through her curly strawberry blonde hair and sighed, sitting down on a lawn chair behind her. Her father told her that people would come to her birthday party, maybe even the guy she'd had a crush on for two and a half years would show up.
Arianna rolled her eyes, why would Jason even bother showing up to her party. He was the most popular guy in school and Arianna was just a nerdy girl that no one ever took seriously, just because she was a 'blonde'. (Although her hair was more red than blonde. I really was must a red with light streaks, but enough about hair.)
Arianna was naturally gifted at a lot of things. She could read Ancient Greek, do high level math problems, preform the greatest science experiments, but she was also good at artistic things, like chorus, orchestra, sculptures, paintings... etc.
A lot of the popular girls also hated Arianna because she was athletic. Arianna seemed to fit into all corners of the school, except the popular one. (But who really likes being in that corner.)
"Arianna, Sweetie, Where are you?" A voice called from the house.
"I'm right here Jules." Arianna called back. Jules was Arianna's 'Babysitter.' Arianna really thought of her as a mother. She had been there since Arianna was two and had really acted like a mother towards her- because Arianna's real mother, she was never there.
"It's Juliet, and you know that." Juliet said, walking out from the backdoor. She was holding a tray of cookies and kindly offered one to Arianna before saying, "So, have you received word from anyone new about your party at four?"
Arianna sighed, RSVP's, barely anyone answered. Her best friend Jonathan , his girlfriend, Katie, Ida, Laura, Jacob, Sam, and another girl named Jennifer (Ack-who decided that she had to come just because Arianna invited her boyfriend A.K.A Jason {Arianna didn't know that they were dating until she got her RSVP}.)
With that the doorbell rang. Arianna got up from the lawn chair she was sitting on and walked carefully to the door. She peaked through the door and seen Jonathan and Katie. Arianna opened the door, a wide smile appearing on her face. Jonathan gave Arianna a huge hug and then said, "Happy birthday Ali."
Katie smiled at Arianna when Jonathan was looking but when he looked away Katie stared daggers at her. Arianna gulped and led the two of them inside. "The party wont start for about another hour, but you already knew that."
Jonathan laughed and said, "Yeah well, I wanted to do three things. One- Give you your present before anyone else had the chance, so mine would definitely be the best. Two- Get the chance to chill before your party started. And Three- Eat some food before the other people touch it."
Arianna laughed along with him and said, "Well, One, You can't give me your present until later, it wouldn't be fair, but I'll open your's first. Two, sure we can chill, I'll get the popcorn. And Three, I totally get you, I put aside some snacks just for you."
The smile lines crinkled around Jonathan's eyes and Arianna was glad that she had a friend like him. He was pretty chill and he always knew what to say to make things better.
"So- Arianna, what are we going to do while we wait-" Katie was cut off by the sound of the doorbell. Arianna jogged to the door and oped the door to find, Jennifer. Along with her entourage-Laci, Hannah, and Melissa.
"Hello Ali. I see you've invited Jonathan, nice choice. Katie-Not so nice choice."
Katie growled at this and Jonathan said, "You Invited her."
"No, she decided to show up because I invited her Boyfriend."
Jennifer smiled and waved in a Flirty way at Jonathan . Jonathan rolled his eyes and said, "So how did you manage to date Jason. Did your mom pay him that much."
Jennifer chuckled, "No, I just used my feminine charm and Jason said yes."
"I said yes to what?" A voice said from outside. Arianna stomach did fifty jumping jacks before Jason walked inside the door.
He was wearing a tank top and jeans, a backpack was slung over his shoulder and there was a small gift box in his hand. His brown hair was in it's usual style, cute, and his blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight. He was smiling and Arianna found herself grinning back. A worried expression appeared on Jennifer's face as she looked at Jason. She eventually found her cool and sashayed up to Jason.
"Hi hon, I was just telling them how you said you'd date me." With that Jennifer put her arms around Jason and pulled him closer to her. He shoved her off as gently as he could and then stepped back.
"We aren't dating. I came because Arianna asked me to." He gestured towards Arianna and her heart nearly exploded.
"Why are you even here Jennifer, last I checked you were trying to get a plastic surgeon to fix that face of your's, I guess it didn't work out."
Jonathan Chuckled slightly and Arianna's lips curved upward. Jennifer's smile wavered and Jason walked over to Arianna's side.
"This is the Birthday girl, not you. And I believe that you weren't invited, so see you at school."
Jennifer huffs and leaves the house and Jason clicks his tongue. "Tsk, she didn't even bother bringing a present."
Katie smirks and says, "Well why don't we chill."
Shortly after Jason arrived, Arianna skipped up to her room and changed into her bathing suit, pulling a tank top and shorts over it. After Arianna came downstairs, her father was home. His eyes were sparkling and he had a gift-bag in his hand.
At four Everyone was there, even a few people Arianna didn't invite, but she was cool with it because Jason showed up. He even made Jennifer, the girl who hated Arianna from day one, leave her house and leave her alone.
Jason also made it clear that he was single. Tonight was Arianna's chance.
Her father opened up the in-ground pool and almost everyone threw off their clothes for a chance to swim. Arianna jumped at the chance to swim. Swimming was also one of her forte's. She was going to make the swim team next year, even if Jennifer's mom was the coach.
Arianna walked up to the diving board and jumped, doing a full flip and diving in. When she was underwater, the air-bubbles rose around her and she just sat on the floor of the pool, thinking about life.
'Jason is at my party!'
'AGH!'
'I wonder what flavor my cake is.'
'I wonder what presents everyone got me.'
'I wonder if Jason likes me.'
Arianna wasn't sure how long she had been under water, but it must have been a long time because Jonathan and Jason both jumped in and looked frantically around in the water. Arianna waved up at them and pushed off the bottom, kicking upward towards the surface.
When she reached the surface she exhaled whatever air she had left and took a big breath in. Arianna's father sighed and gave her a look. Juliet put her hands on her hips and shook her finger at me. Jonathan and Jason shook their heads after they got out of the pool. Arianna shrugged and sat down, draping a towel over her shoulders.
About an hour or two later everyone had cake, strawberry short cake with buttercream icing. Everyone gave Arianna their presents. Arianna told them that she would open them later, After they played some games.
They played Truth or dare... that went well... They played manhunt once it got dark, Wii bowling, and they even decorated some cupcakes that Arianna helped Juliet make the day prior. After that everyone left, except Jason, Jonathan and Katie.
Arianna's Dad went upstairs and Juliet went home for the night. Jonathan was waiting for his mom to show up so they could take Katie home and Katie was texting her mother asking her if Jonathan could take her home. Jason-Arianna wasn't sure why Jason was still at the party.
Arianna pulled out a bag from underneath her bed and pulled out a box that her father gave her. Apparently whatever was in it her mother was supposed to give her on her 14th birthday, Arianna was ready to open it.
"What's in the bag?" Jason asked looking at the backpack she held close to her chest.
"Oh, this." Arianna said, a blush covered her face. "It's a bag I keep in case I need to run somewhere. I just figured it would be good for emergencies."
Jason's eyes lit up, "Wow that's really cool. I have something similar, but I always keep it on me." He gestures to the backpack he has on the floor.
"I should do that. What's in your's?"
Jonathan smirked at Arianna and said, "Well my mom's here."
Katie stood up, pulling Jonathan along with her, "And my mom said he could take me home, so see you guys soon. It was a great Party. Bye."
With that the two of them walk out the door hand in hand, leaving Arianna and Jason alone in her bedroom.
"When's your mom picking you up? And you can answer my question from earlier too."
"Oh, I'm gonna walk home." (I understand gonna is not a proper word, but people speak like that... so... XD)
Arianna nodded, thinking that is the worst idea possible at this time of night, but whatever. Jason sat up and answered her other question, "As for your other question, I have a lot in here. A spare pare of clothes, two hoodies, two water bottles, hard candies, duct tape-"
Arianna laughed, a blush covering both of their faces.
"Duct tape solves everything, okay, continue." Arianna said between giggles.
Jason rolled his eyes and said, "As I was saying- Duct Tape, granola bars, whatever spare change I find goes in here, a flashlight, matches, some extra batteries, A map, a picture of my mom and-"
His voice faltered. Arianna looked at him, eyes pleading to know what was in the bag. He must've seen the want in her eyes because he said, "And my Di-uh-Journal."
Arianna smiled at him, placing a hand on his shoulder, before blushing and pulling it away. "I have one too, There's nothing wrong with writing down your thoughts... Especially when no one else seems to listen to them."
Awkward silence stretches around the room.
"So... since I have to leave soon, I just figured... Could you open the present while I'm here. I want to see your reaction."
Arianna smiled at the blush on his face and the fact that he stammered when he was normally so confident.
"Sure."
Arianna pulled the tiny box off of his bed and her eyes widened and she said, "Whoa you got me a car, thank you so much!"
Jason laughed and shook his head as Arianna opened the box. Arianna's face lit up and she looked back at Jason with sparkles in her eyes. "I-I've wanted this necklace since I was-"
After that it got fuzzy.
Arianna remembered Jason pushing her out of the way and a giant-lion?-swatting it's paw at her. She remembered her father running in the room, throwing her backpack at her and screaming, 'RUN!'
Arianna remembered the running most of all, because she had been doing it for 6 weeks since. Her father put a note in her bag, it told her to run to the Long Island Sound. For what exactly, she wasn't sure, but Arianna knew that she would be safe, partially because of the gift her mom gave her, and partially because Jason was right by her side the entire time.
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Okay, I will try not to do double Author's notes too often but this is just a tester to see if you guys like the story so... I guess it's kinda like a prologue.
Let me know if you guys like this story. :)
-Strawberrygirl2000