Chapter two
Early next morning, Aria sat up in bed with a throbbing headache and a fuzzy recollection of the previous night's events. Lying next to her was Jason. He was fast asleep and shirtless. Aria looked around the motel room. Both she and Jason's clothes were scattered around the room. Aria screamed on the inside and tugged the white bed sheet tighter around her chest. She was wearing nothing but a bra.
Ugh, how could she be so stupid? Getting drunk and sleeping with your best friend's brother was not a good idea. Not on any planet. Not wanting to wake Jason up and face shame and embarrassment of being a one night stand girl, Aria grabbed her clothes off the floor and threw them on as quickly and quietly as possible. Aria grabbed a notebook from the bedside table and wrote:
''Thanks for last night, it was fun. Call me or don't, it's okay if you don't. I think we can both agree this situation is kind of awkward _ Aria.''
Aria ripped out the A4 page, laid it on the pillow and tiptoed out the door.
As Aria made her way over to her parked car, she couldn't help but get that spine tingling feeling she got whenever A was around. Besides her own silver car, a delivery truck and a minivan, the parking lot was isolated. Aria shook her head and reminded herself that she was just being paranoid and nobody was watching. It was just a way of her shameful conscious reminding her never to act like a reckless slut again. Not that she was one of course. Aria got in the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
Aria arrived home at 8am. Stopping outside the front door, she hoped to God her father wasn't back from his convention in Maryland yet. Her father wasn't an idiot. If he saw her stumbling in the front door with smeared make up, crumpled clothes and tired eyes, he'd be able to put two and two together and would be angry enough to send her to church camp. Expecting the worst, Aria sucked in a big breath, turned the key and slipped inside the house.
Inside was quiet. Maybe she lucked out and her Dad's flight got delayed or cancelled. Just as Aria was half way up the stairs she heard her name being called. She turned around. Standing at the end of the stairs with a cup of coffee was her father, looking none too happy.
''Are you just coming home now?'' Byron asked.
Aria ran her hand through her hair and hoped Byron wouldn't notice how dishevelled she looked ''Yeah''
Byron raised his eyebrow suspiciously '' Well where were you?''
Aria racked her brain for a response ''I, uh, I-I was with Hanna. We all decided to stay together after the dance'' Aria fumbled nervously.
''I thought you said you weren't going to the dance''
''I guess I changed my mind''
A grey colour washed over Byron's face as if he just realized something horrific. '' You weren't with him were you?'' Byron looked disgusted even asking the question. He really hated Ezra's guts.
Aria's grip on the bannister grew a million times tighter and she felt her cheeks boil. A dead give-away. '' No, I told you I was with Hanna. Okay, Mike's out of town too and being alone in the house at night creeps me out. I wasn't with Ezra, Dad, I swear''.
Byron didn't look convinced. ''You better hope that's the truth, Aria, because if I find out differently, I…''
''You won't hear differently because I'm telling the truth'' Aria shared a long glance with her father before clamouring upstairs and locking herself into her room. She hated lying to her parents; it made her feel so dirty and fraudulent. But what could she do? She sure as hell couldn't tell him the truth. He would absolutely kill her. But would thing she was certain of, she needed to call Hanna and confirm her story.
Aria dialled Hanna's number and waited for the blonde to pick up.
''Hello'' A groggy voice on the other end of the phone said.
''Hanna, hey. Can you please cover for me?'' Aria said
'' Who is this?''
Aria grinded her teeth ''Bigfoot! Who do you think it is?'' She snapped.
Hanna yawned Aria's name. ''Okay no need to be so sarcastic. What's up?''
'' I told my dad I was staying with you last night. He doesn't really believe me, so if he calls please tell your mom to say that I was at your house last night. He finds out that I'm lying I'll be grounded until I leave for college'' Aria could hear Hanna's bed sheets ruffle.
''Lying? So where were you really? Getting it on with Fitz in the library?'' Hanna joked.
'' No I was not getting it on with Fitz .Wekind of broke up''
Aria could hear Hanna shoot up in bed. ''What? Why? What happened?''
''Nothing happened. Can you please just cover for me?''
'' Uh, you woke me up at 8am on a Saturday. I deserve gossip''
'' Hanna please.''
''Fine. But I want details later. So the mall at 1pm? I need help picking out a birthday present for my Mom''
Aria sighed ''Fine''
Aria plopped onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. She got up and inspected herself in the mirror. She had the eyes of a racoon, smeared make up and a hickey. Aria clapped her hand over her neck. How the hell did her dad miss that?
After brushing her teeth and taking a hot shower Aria changed into a loose knee length dress. Seeing as it was still pretty early and her head was pounding like hell Aria climbed into bed and took a nap.
Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. The next chapter will be better I promise. I will update soon.
