"But Jude, I feel so stupid!" Ariel said looking down at her clothes, she was wearing a tight red t-shirt, and black short-shorts.
"Look, it makes Lucy happy to see you looking like this" Jude said his thick Irish accent masking his words, Ariel looked up at him, his green eyes were pleading with her for his fiancé's sake.
"Fine, but you and Lucy both owe me." Ari said exasperatedly, Jude sighed in relief
"Thank you. Stay out of trouble, I'll come visit with Lucy in a few weeks." Jude said reaching down and picking up Ari in huge hug. Ari held on tightly, blinking tears out of her eyes. She gave him an extra squeeze and said
"I'll miss you Jude," it was apparent to anyone looking at them that they were siblings, they had the same flawless cream/gold skin, straight noses, high cheekbones, thick lustrous hair, Ari's was a dark brown/red color, while Jude's was dark brown, the same wolf-like grin. The only place they differed in a noticeable way was their eyes and height, Jude was 6'3", and Ari was only 5'4", Jude had classic bright green Irish eyes, while Ari's were a dangerous lightning blue color, softened somewhat by her thick black eyelashes.
"I'll miss you too baby sister." Jude said finally putting her down, "By Baby Girl" he said before leaving and walking out of Spenser's dorms. Ari sighed, and made her way over to Reid's dorm. She found the door easily and knocked, the door swung open revealing Tyler
"Hey Ty, Reid there?" Tyler stared blankly at her before his face twisted in suspicion
"Ariel?" he said suspiciously, Ari's arm reached out and she whacked him in the chest
"Of course it's me you idiot" she paused "Do I really look that different?" she said looking up at him, he nodded dumbly
"You really do." he said staring, Ari waved a hand in front of his face impatiently
"Is. Reid. There." she said slowly, Tyler snapped out of it rubbing a hand across his eyes
"Yeah, come on in Ari" Ari rolled her eyes and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'boys...'
Reid was sitting on his bed playing Halo on his x-box, Ari walked in catching Reid's attention, until he was staring at her to the point where his man on Halo got shot in the back of the head, Ari plopped down next to him totally relaxed with the playboy of Spenser.
"Do I know you?" Reid said confused, Ari rolled her eyes and looked a little shell-shocked
"Are you kidding me right now Reid! I've known you since Kindergarten!" Ari said looking at him
"Ari?" he said tentatively, Ari nodded at him like he was slow
"Ariel Draven." he said not believing it
"Ariel Miranda Draven, whose brother's fiancé Lucy decided needed a new look and now nobody recognizes her, including her best friend Reid Tristan Garwin!" Ari said angrily crossing her arms and leaning against Reid's headboard and glaring at the television, which was flashing the words YOU LOSE. Reid stared at Ari in amazement, until his well-known smirk came across his face, he dropped the controller and tackled Ari sending her off the bed sideways, and Ari started laughing as they rolled around on the floor
"That's better," she said laughing as she hugged him "I guess you missed me!" Tyler turned and looked at them and sighed, they belong together Tyler decided looking at the two rolling around
"I'm going to breakfast, are you two coming?" he said exasperatedly
"Wait, we're coming!" Reid said standing up still laughing, he reached down and pulled Ari to her feet, she shot up right into his chest, and she gave him a slow smile before she turned to Tyler
"Let's go."
! #&()! #&()! #&()
Reid looked across the table at Ariel. She'd come back from summer vacation totally different. Her light red-brown hair was hanging loose over her shoulders curling in thick waves, her lightning blue eyes were now framed with black lashes and black eyeliner.
Ariel and Reid had been best friends since Kindergarten when she'd been the only one able to get Reid out in four square. She'd been one of the guys, always hanging around the Sons and most of the other guys in Spenser had always seen her as just another guy.
She'd never been overweight or even chubby, but she always wore clothes so loose and baggy, that she looked that way. The girls had never been jealous or even suspicious when their boyfriends hung out with Ari, but he had a feeling that would change very soon.
Now in their senior year Ari had shown up and had the attention of every guy in Spenser. Her brother Jude before her had had the attention of every girl in Spenser, but he had only cared about one, Lucy. Lucy's parents had been hippies so she was a little out there, everyone could tell she was gorgeous, she just never cared. However, in the end Jude's gentle persistence had won her over. Jude was generally very laid back and unassuming, never taking advantage of people because he had money and good looks. The only thing that got Jude worked up into his family's famous temper, was if someone was messing with Lucy or Ariel. It was well known that Ariel and Jude were close and he was fiercely proud and protective of her. Besides Dravens were horses of a different color.
Jude had been extremely popular, well liked, and got along with everyone, one of the guys everyone generally liked, because of his kind and unassuming nature. Ariel was never the popular "It Girl", but generally liked, because to the girls she was never a threat, in the boyfriend area, and with guys, she just got along fine. She was a card, with her flaming Irish temper, if ever a friend were in need of defense.
Her mother and father were both natives of Ireland, coming over to Massachusetts when Ari was five and Jude was seven for the children's education, both parents and both of the youngest Dravens had retained their thick Irish accents. But no matter how much they seemed like they would fit in there was always something about the Dravens that kept them on the fringe of whatever group. There was quietness and aloofness that reared their ugly heads every once in a while. There was something very different about them that set them apart from all the other babbling teenagers, and they were very private about whatever it was.
Reid knew that Ari had insomnia, and when she did sleep she had terrible nightmares. He'd only been present for a few, but they were something awful; Ari would sweat, mutter, and toss around in agony. She would bite her lip to the point of bleeding just so she wouldn't scream. After one of her particularly bad episodes Reid had seen her cry for the first time in his life. Only a Draven could understand another Draven, the people who chose to be with a Draven, people like Lucy Hale, they sometimes understood like Lucy did, but other times they didn't. There were secrets in the Draven family that was for sure, and they weren't telling.
"Oi! Reid you want to go to the batting cages later?" Reid was snapped from his daze by an all too familiar gaze
"Sure Ari, anyone else coming?" Reid said looking back at her penetrating eye, looking back she shrugged nonchalantly
"Anyone who wants to" she said before turning back to her food, she flicked her hair over her shoulder with a graceful movement and placed her hand on her neck looking slightly bored, Reid studied her further, he knew she wasn't wearing any make-up over it, so he was even more impressed by her flawless, creamy gold skin.
Reid knew that now there'd be guys hitting on her left and right and that Ari had a very short fuse, needless to say, it probably wouldn't be pretty. Ari stood up and started walking over to the trash bins to dump her tray, in her tight red t-shirt, her could see her smoothly defined curves, she was only 5'4" so most of the guys in Ipswich towered over her, but her little black shorts showed off a nice amount of leg. Reid sent up his thanks to God that it was a Saturday ad she didn't have to be wearing her uniform. His eyes were still glued to Ari when Aaron Abbott swaggered up to her obviously hitting on her.
He started standing up but felt Tyler pull him back down, he saw the same thing happen to Pogue and Caleb when they started to stand up, Sarah and Kate's hands on their shoulders. He was sure all eyes were on Ari to see how she'd deal with Spenser's prick. Her tray was still in hand so when Aaron leered toward her she picked up her uneaten fruit cup and mashed the contents on his nose. She started walking away obviously in a good mood now, when Aaron reached over and grabbed her by her upper arm, this time Tyler, Reid, Pogue, Caleb, all stood up unhindered. But before they, or any of Ari's other guy friends, who were making their way over to the area could get there. Ari coiled her fist back then punched him square in the nose; he let go in surprise and pain. He bent over pinching his nose trying to stem the bleeding. The Sons got there just in time to hear Ariel say in a low deadly voice
"If you ever touch me again, this will seem like tap compared to how much pain I'll put you in. Do you understand?" Aaron nodded; Reid threw an arm over her shoulder as she walked away
"So I guess you're REALLY ready to go whack the crap out of some unsuspecting baseballs now aren't cha?" Reid said lightly trying to improve the mood, Ari smiled up at him, an act that always turned his stomach over, and her wolfish predator's grin lightening the mood more than any lame comeback
"Let's go"