Hi everyone! Wow. I cannot believe I let myself get so far behind on my stories. My only excuse is college, but that's a really bad excuse. I've definitely gotten a handle on things, though, and I've really been missing writing, so I'm ready to dive right back in!
I actually found the beginning of this chapter on a file in my computer and decided to finish what I had gotten started! Thank you all for being the best ever and being patient with me! Here's to more of Unhinged!
Knowing that Jacob was spending nearly every day with Bella Swan bothered Aria more than it should've. A lot more. She found the very thought of him glancing at another girl for too long to be upsetting at best. But why then? She had suffered in silence since she was a child, for Christ's sake, so why was it all closing in on her then?
"Hey Ari, want to head out to Port Angeles this weekend for that new movie?" Quil bounded towards her locker, eyebrow quirked and grin intact. His eyes searched her face with curiosity, and she couldn't help but giggle.
"Facepunch? That new one?" She shut her locker, leaning her weight on one foot and raising an eyebrow.
He nodded.
Her nose crinkled.
"How would we get there?"
"April," he shrugged casually, "I asked her last night at dinner."
Aria laughed out loud, turning to him sharply, "Quil!"
He continued on, not even sparing her a second glance, "I want to go to the later showing though, and April's 18, so she can definitely bring us."
"Where's Ape bringing us?"
The duo turned to the familiar face, their eyes lighting up as they came to meet Jacob's playful smile. Aria felt her heart flutter.
"The movies this weekend!" Quil chimed, Jacob's steps falling in-sync with theirs. He pursed his lips.
"Oh," Aria felt a lump form as he continued, "Bells and I actually have plans this weekend."
Aria found her feet moving quicker, taking the corner sharply and propelling herself ahead of the guys. Her hair flowed behind her as she hurried to her classroom, Quil's face dropping as he watched her go.
Jacob faced him, eyebrow cocked and arm gesturing towards where Aria had disappeared from.
"What's up with her?"
Quil brought his attention back to Jacob's face, lips pursed and eyes landing anywhere but Jacob's. He shrugged, "I dunno, man. Have fun."
And he was gone too.
"Art, I just asked if you wanted to come to the movies! Jesus." April yelled, shaking her head and glaring at her twin. He glared back in annoyance, Aria and Quil staring in shock.
"Well clearly I don't have time to go watch some dumb movie." He stormed out the back door, the cold air invading the warm home and making Aria shiver.
April kept her back to them for a moment, her form visibly quivering for a moment as she inhaled sharply. She turned to them slowly, a tight grin forming, "You guys ready?"
The ride to Port Angeles was nearly silent, the atmosphere still tense from April and Arto's quarrel. As much as it shouldn't have bothered Aria, it did. The twins had never fought, even when they were children; it was simply unheard of. Ever since Arto had, changed, though, it was different. They fought nearly every time that Arto was home- even though that wasn't very frequent.
"Can we just share a popcorn?" Aria turned to Quil with big eyes, a smile growing on his lips as he nodded, his smile broadening as hers formed.
The three made their way into the theater, Aria finding herself comfortably nestled in-between her sister and Quil. The lights dimmed, the movie began, and Quil and Aria began fighting over their popcorn.
"Stop," she whispered, "you're going to eat it all," giggling and pushing his hand away from the container. He chuckled and leaned towards her, eyes narrowing as he shoved his hand in for another handful. She stared pointedly at him, smirks gracing their faces as they sat in close proximity.
"Hey is that Jake?"
April's hushed voice broke the moment, their faces snapping to face the direction that hers was.
And there was Jacob.
Seated directly beside Bella Swan.
"No," the word barely passed by her lips before she was out of her seat and fleeing to the lobby.
She heard Quil's hurried shuffle as he got up to follow, his steps heavy behind her.
"Ari," he called, his voice almost desperate as he chased her. He rounded a corner and found her small form on a set of carpeted stairs, knees pulled up to her chest. He sighed.
"Ari," his voice was softer this time, kneeling down in front of her. She met his eyes, green pools filled to the rim with threatening tears.
"I just don't get it," she whispered, shaking her head. She aggressively rubbed at her eyes, angry at the audacity of the tears. She hated crying, and even more than that, she hated crying in front of her boys. She never wanted to be the cry-baby.
"Listen," Quil sighed, his hand cautiously reaching for hers, "Jake's an idiot for not wanting you."
She swallowed hard and felt herself growing rigid. She didn't like the way Quil was looking at her. His fingers shakily grasped at her own, and she felt herself subconsciously pulling her hands into her lap.
She tried not to look at him.
He searched for her gaze.
"You're amazing, Ari, and I-"
"I think I'm gonna be sick."
"You- what?"
Quil's eyes widened and he visibly shifted backwards.
"Yup," Aria nodded quickly, "we should go home."
"But the movie just started."
Aria stood up and brushed past him, her head shaking back and forth, "Yeah, I know, but." She shrugged, "can you go get Ape?"
They stood and stared at each other. She could see that dejected look in his eyes, and for a moment, that look convinced her that she might actually be sick.
What was Quil even trying to pull back there?
Her head was spinning.
He stared at her with that same dumb look.
"Please go get April." She pleaded, her teeth finding her bottom lip as she turned away from him.
The ride back to La Push was even quieter than the ride to the movies had been. Aria couldn't bring herself to turn around and look at Quil in the backseat, she could already practically feel his eyes through the back of her headrest.
She couldn't stop the scene from replaying in her head.
She wasn't a stranger to physical contact with the boys, they had been hugging her and picking her up for as long as she could remember. But Quil reaching for her hand made every hair on her body stand on edge. It was Quil, for heaven's sake.
She could've kissed April on the mouth when the car finally stopped in front of Quil's house.
"Bye Ari, I'll see you tomorrow?" He leaned into the front seat with hopeful eyes, April's harsh stare turning towards him in surprise.
Aria coughed, turning her face away, "Uh, yeah, maybe," she babbled, "I might stay home, I don't know." She giggled nervously.
The car fell silent.
"Feel better."
He shut his door.
"What the hell was that about?" April asked, an eyebrow nearly reaching her hairline.
Aria breathed out a burst of air she didn't even know she had been holding, "April, I have no idea. Shit got weird out in the lobby, I don't know what's going on."
April stared forward as she finished the short route to their house. She blew out from her teeth.
"Wow, I thought my life was getting weird."
