Chapter One
"Aria," Samantha called. Samantha is a woman I help with volunteering. I volunteer all the time. I've volunteered at the animal shelter, dog shelter, bird sanctuaries crazy houses (literally), preschools and even retirement homes. I love volunteering it makes me feel good, like I accomplished something.
I'm sixteen years old, I'm Quilulite and it shows. I'm naturally tan, dark brown hair, I'm thin but curvy. I'm very proud of my body. My eyes are dark green. I play the guitar, dance, sing and cook.
I was currently volunteering at the Bird Sanctuary. I was in the Bird Hospital, feeding a baby screech owl, it's mother had abandoned it when it was two days old and it had fallen out of its nest. We'd rescued it and its siblings. It's name I gave it was Pumpkin because he was very plump.
Samantha walked in the room, "Ah, here you are…have you cleaned the cages outside? Because it smells like shit." Did I mention, Samantha's a total bitch? She is.
"Not yet, I was going to finish giving everyone their medication and food," I responded.
"Well get on it then!" She shrieked.
The birds all cawed, and crowed in terror because of Samantha's loudness. Samantha jumped and fled from the room. "Well she isn't very pleasant, is she?" I chuckled, kissing Pumpkin on his beak and set him down. He cawed and flapped his wings wildly. I scratched the back of his neck and he nuzzled my hand and fell asleep. I continued feeding the birds then went outside. I changed the newspaper on the bottom of the birds cages and put fresh food out, spraying water wherever they pooped.
I left at 5:46 PM. I hopped in my Station wagon and drove home. I climbed out of my car and waved to my neighbor, Billy Black. "Hey Billy!" I called.
"Hello Aria, how are you?" He asked.
"I'm good, how are you?"
"I'm doing pretty well."
"Good! See ya' Billy!" I ran to the front door and sighed. I opened the door, and was yet again welcomed home by an empty house. But a bottle of tequila lay on the coffee table. It was on its side and spilling out. I sighed and picked it up, mother's red lipstick had stained the lid. I took a long large swig and placed it back in its spot. The ash tray held a freshly lit cigarette on it. I picked it up and crushed it. I stripped off my shorts and my shirt when I noticed the windows were opened, and my neighbor was watching me. Jacob Black and a few of his friends.
I walked to my room and pulled on my blue scrubs. I walked back to the living room and took another swig of tequila. Then I walked out the door, and unlocked my car.
"Hey Jacob!" I smiled.
"Hey Aria, come over here for a minute!"
I walked over to him and his friends. "Yeah?"
"Where are you off to?" He asked.
"The looney bin," I laughed. "I'm volunteering there again."
"Jesus! Is that safe?"
"Well, maybe not," I shrugged. "But what is safe?"
"Staying home, perhaps," he suggested.
"Yeah my house is safe," I mumbled sarcastically.
"Didn't you just get back from volunteering?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Damn, you keep busy."
"Yep."
"Aria!" I heard Billy call.
I whipped around and saw him, "Yeah?"
"How's your dad doing with your mom being gone?" He asked.
"My mom isn't gone…" I said. What was he talking about?
"Oh, I haven't seen her in a while…" he replied.
That's because she's a drug addict prostitute, Billy. "Yeah she leaves early and comes home late…" It was the truth…
"How're your folks then?"
"…F-fine."
"Tell 'em we should get together. Haven't seen them in ages. How about dinner? On Saturday, around eight?"
My eyes widened, "Y-yeah…sure."
"Great!"
"Well I-I gotta go…" I ran back to my car and drove to the Institute.
I signed in and went to Ms. Benton's room, Room 202. Ms. Benton was a thirty year old woman, she has schizophrenia. She hears voices in her head. She was here because those 'voice' told her to kill her husband and three month old daughter.
"Hi Kara," I greeted her.
"Hello Aria," she smiled pleasantly. But it was a fake smile. Her smile didn't touch her eyes. I knew what she was thinking. After spending time here, you learn to know what your patients are thinking. She was thinking about how she hated me, she hated that I had put her here. I had gotten her locked up. And by the way her hands were curled into white-knuckled fists, she was thinking of ways to kill me.
"How are you today?"
"Same as usual," she responded dryly.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
"No."
"Okay, well have a good day Kara, I'll see you soon."
All of the visits consisted of basically the same conversations. Same thoughts… They all blamed me. They all hated me. Except one. Her name was Belle, she was five years old. She had blue eyes and brown hair. She was the sweetest little girl. She had a split personality though.
"Hi Sweetheart," I smiled.
"Aria!" She ran over to me and hugged me tightly.
"How are you today Princess?" I picked her up.
"I'm happy!" She giggled.
"Are you hungry? Its about time for dinner isn't it?"
"Yeah!" She exclaimed.
"Let's go to the cafeteria, Sweetie," I carried her to the cafeteria and sat her down. I got her food, and she dug in. When she finished we talked about our favorite things and I told her I missed her so much. Yes, I knew her before. Before she was diagnosed. How I knew her, will remain a mystery to you because you don't need to know.
She yawned, her eyes closing slightly.
"C'mon your tired. Lets get you to bed, Honey. Do you want me to carry you or do you want to walk?" I asked, moving the hair out of her face.
She reached her arms up, so I picked her up. I changed her into her pajamas and tucked her into bed. I stayed with her until she fell asleep and stayed a few minutes extra. I kissed her forehead and left. I signed out and drove home.
When I got out of my car, I heard barking. Then something jumped on me just as my eyes adjusted to the small amount of light. "Chico!" I exclaimed. "Where were you boy? I missed you!" Chico is a Siberian Husky. He licked my face and barked again. He got off and sat next to me.
I got up and walked inside with Chico behind me, he followed me inside and we went in my room. I changed into my pajamas and laid next to Chico, who was already snoring.
I fell asleep, dreaming of nothing.
I woke up to Chico licking my face. "Chico! Hi boy! Good morning!" I kissed his head. "I'll be right back, Honey." I took a shower and got ready, throwing on jean shorts and a white tank top. Chico nudged my guitar with his snout. I picked it up and he sat down in front of me.
I drift away to a place Everything I've held Falling apart, and all that I'm asking Oh, he's under my skin So what you had didn't fit Braids have been un-tied Falling apart and all that I question Oh, he's under my skin I don't believe I'll be alright Oh, he's under my skin Oh my permission to sin
Another kind of life
Take away the pain
I create my paradise
Has hit the wall
What used to be yours
Isn't yours at all
Is it a crime, am I overreacting
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie
Among the pretty things
Never fear, never fear
I now know where you've been
As ribbons fall away
Leave the consequence
But my tears you'll taste
Is this a dream or is this my lesson
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie
I don't believe I'll be OK
I don't believe how you've thrown me away
I do believe you didn't try
I do blame you for every lie
When I look in your eyes, I don't see mine
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie
You might have started my reckoning
I've got a reason now to bury him alive
Another little white lie
I finished and set my guitar down. I put Chico on a leash and peeked out the door. My father was sitting in his chair.
"Good morning sir," I greeted him as I made myself breakfast.
He grunted a reply.
"Um…sir?" I asked after I ate my cereal.
"What?" he asked, itching his beer-belly.
"Billy Black from across the street invited you and mother over for dinner on Saturday at eight. I accepted for you, s-sir…" I murmured.
He grumbled. "Fine, you're coming too then. Don't misbehave, Alena."
"My name's…Aria…sir."
He grunted.
I went over to the liquor cabinet and grabbed the half-filled vodka.
I walked outside with the liquor without my father noticing. And if he did notice…he didn't care. Once we were outside I unhooked Chico's leash and tossed it in the grass. I took a swig of the vodka while I sat on the sidewalk.
Chico ran around the yard.
Jacob ran out of his house, suddenly, wearing only cut off shorts. Eight other muscley guys with only cut off shorts on and one girl with a dress on. Jacob suddenly looked over at me. I took a gulp of vodka and fell onto my back. I took another gulp and another and another…then it was empty.
"Aria?" I heard Jacob ask cautiously.
"Yep?"
"Are you okay?"
"Peachy! Ooh! I gotta go volunteer," I grabbed my keys out of my pocket and unlocked the car.
"You aren't going to drive," he took the keys from my hand.
"Yes I am," I glared.
"No, think about going to the preschool smelling like alcohol."
"Ugh, fine! I'll go to the elderly house," I started walking.
"No, now let's get you inside." He took my arm and started bringing me inside. "Chico!" He called.
Chico ran inside.
We followed inside.
Father suddenly stood up, "Elena! What the hell are you doing here still?" He barked.
"She's going to bed," Jacob interjected.
Suddenly mother came out of their bedroom, "Who is this?" She pointed to me. She was only wearing a thong.
"I'm Jacob," Jacob said, thinking she was talking about him.
"Not you, I know who you are. That girl," she nodded at me, lighting a cigarette.
"That's Elena," Father said.
"Why is she here?"
"She's our daughter," Father replied.
"Oh yeah… Why are you still fucking here Elena?" She shouted in my face.
"I'm goin' to bed! And my name's Aria. A-R-I-A!" I spelt.
"And that damned dog! I thought we got rid of that, Jerry!" She yelled at Father.
"It came back," he belched.
"Gimme the gun, Jerry. I'm gonna get rid of it," she hissed.
"No!" I screeched. I grabbed Chico, and threw him outside, "Run Chico! Go, Sweetheart!" He ran. He ran as fast as his paws could carry him.
"Dammit Ilene!" She yelled.
"ARIA!"
"I don't care!"
I turned to Jacob, "You can go."
He hesitated.
"LEAVE!" I shouted.
He left. He was safe. Thank God…
As Mother and Father yelled at me, I went to my room and slammed the door shut. They were still yelling through my door, even thirty minutes later. I eventually drifted off into a drunken sleep.
JPOV
"LEAVE!" Aria shouted as her parents yelled and screamed angrily at her. So I left.
I ran across the road to the woods, Chico was sitting with the Pack.
Leah walked up to me, "What happened?" She asked, holding my hand in her own.
"Bad things…" I said vaguely.
"Is she okay?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, she's okay. I'm gonna have to keep Chico for her, for a while." I murmured.
A second later we heard her door slam and her parents bang on her door and yell and scream. It lasted for a long time. We decided someone would stay and watch the house and Jared, Paul and Seth would run patrol along the border first.
APOV
I woke up the next morning, at 8:10 AM. I peeked out my door, all clear! I ran to the bathroom and took a shower. Then I got ready, running back to my room and threw on shorts, and a white shirt. I put on make up, grabbed my keys and, to be sure my Mother or Father weren't waiting now for me to come out to leave, I opened my creeky window and slid out. I looked at the driveway. SHIT! Father's car was still here. Father hadn't left to go for more beer. So neither had Mother left.
I decided to catch the bus, otherwise my parents would know I left. I snuck to the front window and looked inside, my Father was in his chair and Mother was holding a knife. My eyes widened and I snuck back to the side of the house. I closed my window and walked down the street.
Then I heard my front door open and close, Father's car unlock and the doors open. I started breathing heavily. I looked around quickly. I was a fast runner. I was on the track team. I can do this. I can do this…The car pulled out of the drive way. I paced myself, getting into position, breathing deeply. The car started driving, stopping right next to me. The door opened and I took off. I ran down the road, I was turning the corner in a matter of seconds. I turned into the woods and jumped, catching myself on a branch. I pulled up, and went to the next branch. I continued until I was almost all the way to the top.
I stayed there until I knew they were gone. Then I ran back to my house, I found a baseball bat and placed it under my bed. I found a knife and put it in my drawer and found a gun and put it under my pillow.
It was Friday. Tomorrow was Saturday… Shit.
Tell me what you think!
Who's Belle?
Where's Paul?
What's going to happen?
XOXO,
Jordan