Chapter 9:

"That's a nice name." Lash says, unaware of who he's talking about. 'Good. He doesn't know who she is.' But I couldn't help but shake the feeling that he did know. I ended up watching most of the movie wondering if I was being paranoid or not.

We walked out of the movie theater. "So...how about that surprise?" I ask Lash, dropping many hints. He smiles at me. "I have to warn you, there are two parts to it." My eyebrows raise. "Really?"

"Yes. So close your eyes."

"Okay." I say doubtfully and close them.

Lash's POV:

'This is it. One kiss, and she's mine.' I lean down to kiss her. We're just about to lock lips, when,"Am I interrupting something?" My head whips around and I see Warren standing there.

Aria's POV:

I open my eyes and see Warren staring at us. "Warren. What are you doing here?" I ask him. He shrugs and jams his hands into his pockets.

"I came here to catch a movie." Lash grits his teeth and growls at Warren. "Can we speak for a minute. In private." Warren nods, and they walk off. 'Something isn't right.' Trusting my instincts, I follow them to behind the movie theater.

"What happened to a 'fair competition'?" Lash hisses at Warren. "I called Aria's house to talk to her about tomorrow morning. When someone finally picks up, they tell me that she's here with you. I put two and two together. Besides, I couldn't just let you kiss her and win the bet...I like her too much."

My blood heats up and I walk around the corner. "You two made a bet as to who would get to date me?!" Their eyes widen. The flames erupt and I turn into the dragon.

"I can't believe you two!" I screech down at them. "Aria, please, let us explain." Warren tries to tell me. "Why? So you can lie to me again? I thought you were my friends." Unable to even look at them anymore, I fly off, tears forming in my eyes.

Narrator's POV:

The boys were left after Aria flew off. "Well, there go our chances." Warren said. Lash sighed. "Man, we really screwed up." Warren laughed. "Yeah. I wish that I had never made that bet with you."

"Me too. It's just that, she's the first girl I ever liked." Lash said, causing Warren to look at him questioningly. "She was a freshman, and personally, I thought she was gorgeous. But she was a sidekick. So, I had to tease and put up that act. It hurt, but I was so concerned about my popularity, I just picked on her."

Warren looked at him again. "You love her. Don't you?" Lash exhaled and chuckled. "Yeah."

"You can have her." Lash looked at Warren. "What?"

"You can have her. You really care about her. So I'm stepping out of your way. The only problem you have now, is to get her to talk to you again." Lash smiled his new ally, and they started talking about how they would get Aria to trust him again.

Aria's POV:

I landed in front of my house and turned back into myself. I ran up into my room, ignoring my uncle and aunt. Slamming the door shut, I jumped onto the bed and began to sob.

'How could they use me like that? I trusted them.' "Awe. What's wrong little sister?" My head shoots up and turns in the direction of the voice.

Cordelia sits across from me at the desk in my room. She's tall, taller than me, and has waist length, scarlet hair that hangs in a braid, pale blue eyes and pale skin. Cordelia is known as the Queen of Hearts, a super villain who can rip out your heart, control you and your emotions. She's extremely dangerous, and she was furious when our parents got incarcerated.

Cordelia was 18, and at the top of her class at Sky High when the Commander and Jetstream took down our parents. When she learned of this, she left and I haven't seen her since.

"Cordelia. What are you doing here?" She makes a hurt expression. "Why, I'm only visiting my most favorite sister in the world. But when I get here, I see her sobbing."

My eyes narrow. "Why are you really here?"

"Alright, joke's up. I'm here because I want you to help me take back this town." I shake my head. "No. I don't want to do that and you know it."

"What if I told you that I can help you get revenge on those two boys who made you cry so much." I furrow my brow. "How did you-"

"I know everything. Now, will you help me or not?" 'On one hand, if I help her, she can turn against me. On the other hand...' "What do I have to do?"