Jason looks worried after Aria until she finds the key in her handbag and inserts it into the lock and opens the door. She doesn't look back at him because she isn't even aware that he is still sitting in his car at the side of the street or that he is looking after her.
Aria feels as if the evening has sucked the energy out of her body. In fact, she was afraid of the evening. More than she would have ever admitted. Because of the events of the past week she has brooded very long whether she should let herself be persuaded into going to another party so soon.
In fact, these fears weren't unfounded. Noel and the game, which he has played with her, ran her off the course. She just wants to go to bed and creep up the stairs as quietly as possible, so that she doesn't wake up anybody.
Tomorrow, she'll have to explain to her parents why she hasn't slept at Alison's place. But a sudden headache will surely already be reason enough without her parents worrying too much or without forcing her to explain herself further.
Although Jason knows that it is already a risk to have driven Aria to the front door, if only the wrong person passes at the right moment, he doesn't manage to start the engine, as she has long disappeared behind the walls of the house.
He doesn't understand how she could decide to go back to a party so soon. Not after what happened at the last one. If he had known what she was up to, he would have stopped her. Above all, he would have prevented her from going to Noel's party.
Even if Noels is harmless, his intentions regarding Aria aren't that innocent. Noel stood in front of her as Jason pressed his lips on hers. It was Noel, whom he pushed away from her because he realized that she felt uncomfortable near him and she didn't seem to share his intentions.
Aria looked tired and upset at the same time tonight. As if she needs someone to support her because otherwise she would have collapsed in front of him. She looked so nervous as if she needed someone to hold her and soothe her.
Nevertheless, something keeps him from being the one who holds her and soothes her and assures her that he is reassembling each of her parts into a whole. They are friends. They have agreed to be friends. And that should legitimate every action he would like to do so badly.
Every minute that she sat next to him in the car and silently looked out of the window, while he drove silently along the streets to her parents' house, he has searched for the words that made her forget the words of Noel.
Every second, he thought about just grabbing over the center console and taking her hand and responding to her smile she would have given him.
Instead, he remained silent and held the steering wheel with both hands, always straight ahead, so that he didn't get the idea to turn around and take Noel to task.
It doesn't even sound music out of the car radio as Jason drives through the silence of the night. Only the headlights and a few streetlights break the darkness with their bright light. And her trembling voice still sounds in his ears when she told him what happened at the party.
For a moment, he doubts that the figure really sits on the steps of his parents' porch as he stops the car and the engine. But even after he has screwed up his eyes, which feel heavy because of his fatigue, Ian is still sitting on the bright wood. Next to him is standing a six-pack beer. He holds one bottle already in his hand and lifts it as he sees Jason.
Sighing, Jason gets out of his car. He doesn't want to spend time with Ian. He wants to go to bed. He wants to suppress the thoughts of Aria in a deep sleep. And he doesn't want to talk to anyone tonight anymore.
"You don't keep a good friend waiting for you", Ian says to him. Jason looks at him angrily. "Be quiet", he hisses angrily. Meanwhile it is after midnight and even if he knows that his sister isn't at home, he hopes at least that his parents are sleeping and therefore didn't notice that the girls haven't carried out their agreement once again.
"We haven't arranged to meet", he replies angrily, but is sitting down next to Ian on the porch. "What do you want?" Jason asks annoyed.
"Wow, you're in a good mood", Ian replies sarcastically. "I thought I'd like to visit my good old buddy if he can't find time to call me", Ian says and Jason isn't sure if he's really disappointed or just bored enough to meet him in the middle of the night.
"I was busy", Jason replies briefly. "Busy to play the hero and save the little girls from the bad guys?" He asks and Jason can hear that Ian is making fun of him.
"Come on, shut up", Jason whispers angrily. "Goodness, you can't even stand a joke. You became really sensitive", Ian replies. "Was it of use for you? Did she let you do it with her?"
As soon as he asked this question, Ian feels the push against his shoulder, which hits him so surprisingly that he loses his balance and bangs with the upper body against the wooden pillar next to him. "Are you sick or something?" Jason whispers, while Ian doesn't understand why his friend is so upset.
"I could ask you the same", Ian hisses angrily, rubbing his aching shoulder. "What's wrong with you? Does she keep you dangling or what is your fucking problem?" Ian asks. Jason just stares at him. His eyes sparkle from anger.
When he sees the way, Ian is looking at him, Jason knows he has to calm down to keep his secret from him. He breathes deeply a few times without notice of Ian. "Aria is Alison's friend. That's all. I don't want anything from her. She's much too young", Jason says finally, staring at his shoes.
He is always afraid that his gaze, every emotion in his face, will betray his lies. "Alison was desperate and needed my help. And this asshole couldn't get away with mixing drugs into the drinks of the girls", he whispers, still not looking at Ian.
"Ok, so what's her name?" Ian asks impatiently. Jason looks at him confused. "Come on, Jason. You haven't called or talked to me since days. The only explanation I can accept is that you get laid every night", Ian says and suddenly Jason feels so far away from his friend.
"Where have you been?" Ian asks, noticing Jason was coming home in the middle of the night and is obviously sober. "It doesn't concern you", Jason hisses, without bothering to make any excuse.
"Slowly, I really doubt that it has to do with a woman. Otherwise your mood wouldn't be so miserable", Ian murmurs, before taking a large sip of his beer.
"Take a beer. I like you better when you're drunk", Ian finally says, holding out a beer to Jason. Hesitantly Jason takes the cold beer into his hand and stares at it.
The reason they met so little lately, is of course Aria. And that is exactly what he realizes now. He realizes how much time he spends with her. And each of these evenings, each of these hours, has kept him from drinking.
As if the reason why Jason doesn't start to drink is that he can't open the bottle, Ian takes his bottle-opener out of his pocket. He takes Jason's bottle out of his hand and opens it with ease. Ian gives him the bottle back. "Drink!"
Finally, Jason drinks and they empty the six bottles so fast that Ian taps him proudly on the shoulder. "Come on, we need supplies. Finally, you are yourself again." Jason trudges after him and wonders if Ian is right. Perhaps he is much more himself than he is in Aria's presence ...
Jason suspects that this night will turn out badly, as he can feel the vibrations of the bass of the loud music in his body. It is difficult for him to keep the orientation. The alcohol has an enormous effect. But when he hears the music, he knows which house they are heading for.
Jason stops abruptly and doesn't move a step further. Ian walks until he realizes he's going to the front door without Jason. "What's going on?" He asks as he turns around and sees Jason staring at the house.
"I can't go in there", Jason replies with a staring look and without any explanation. "Are you kidding?" Ian asks. "There is free alcohol in that house! Let's go! Come on", Ian asks him again. But Jason is still rooted to the spot.
They are standing in front of the cabin of the Kahn family. The loud music is part of Noels Party. Noel is in there and celebrates himself gloriously while Aria sat completely devastated in his car. He can't meet him now. He promised her.
"Name me one damn reason why you can't go in there and drink yourself into oblivion", Ian says annoyed. But Jason just stares at him without a word. He can't tell him what is going on with him. Even if he wanted.
It isn't just her secret. It isn't just his secret. It is also this fucking chaos in his head when he thinks of her. And Ian is definitely not the one with whom he can discuss his thoughts. Unless he wants to be laughed at mockingly.
"Never mind", Jason says, shaking his head as if he wants to free himself out of his stiffness and as if he wants to shake the thoughts of Aria out of his head. "Let's go", he finally says, walking past Ian, not hesitating any moment longer.
Satisfied, Ian looks at him as Jason walks through the entrance door of the cabin and the babble of voices sounds between the loud music. Immediately when they've entered the cabin Ian heads for the next girl, who greets and hugs him happily and he doesn't recognize Jason any longer.
Jason gets a big beaker of beer and heads for the back door just as purposefully. Since Ian no longer pays attention to him anyway, he can spend the rest of the night protected in silence, which hopefully will save him from doing something stupid.
Relieved, that he escaped the noise and the people so quickly, he lets himself sink to the ground against the wall of the cabin. The beer tastes stale and warm and the night is cold, even if it is still in the middle of summer. Nevertheless, he enjoys the silence and darkness of the night much more than the hustle and bustle of the party.
He takes a big sip when he hears the giggle of a female voice. Curiously, he turns his head to the direction from which the voice came and sees a couple sitting closely on a wooden bench. Perhaps they just got to know each other. They probably have.
As little as he is interested in who the two are, so less as he is interested in what the two do, so much he remembers the evening, when he met Aria and they sat together on this bench.
Her delicate, warm voice resounds in his ear, as if he has turned back time and as if she is sitting next to him right now.
I can't believe I'm doing this.
He can remember her smile when she whispered these words to him. And without even realizing it himself, Jason closes his eyes to remember her smile a bit better.
Relaxed, he is leaning against the wall of the cabin as he thinks of her soft lips, which she placed so carefully on his. He can remember that he took her hand because it was shaking.
"I can't believe it!" Jason startles, when he hears that voice. Annoyed, he rolls his eyes when he sees Noel Kahn standing directly in front of him. Immediately, he notices how his relaxation is replaced by the tension of his body. He suspects that this will turn out badly.
By the way Noel is looking at him, Jason can see how much Noel enjoys looking down at him. It suits his character. Arrogant and high-handed.
"I really didn't think the others were telling the truth when they told me you entered my party", he says and Jason doesn't miss the mocking undertone.
"So, she ran straight to you", Noel notes. He has drawn his own conclusions from Jason's visit at his party. It is no coincidence that Jason is here. Noel is just confused that Jason is sitting alone in his garden. Noel expected Jason to confront him immediately.
Jason doesn't respond to his words and just stares to the ground silently. He wants to prevent Noel from recognizing a minimal reaction in his face that would reveal his secret and he knows that it is easier for him to maintain control if he doesn't look at Noel.
"You of all people. I can't believe it", Noel says, shaking his head in disbelief. For a moment, there is silence between the two men and Jason knows that Noel is waiting for a reaction from him.
"I have no idea about what or about whom you're talking about", he finally murmurs without looking at Noel. Noel starts laughing loudly. "Don't fool me", he hisses and Jason wonders why Noel is suddenly so angry.
"At least admit it!" Noel shouts. Now Jason looks up, because he no longer understands Noel's reaction. Sure, he kissed Aria in front of his eyes, although that was obviously his plan, but this reaction is disproportionately vehement for a bit of injured vanity.
"What's your problem, Noel?" Jason asks. "My problem, my damn problem?", Noel turns away from him and kicks an empty mug lying on the lawn. "You're a huge asshole, who can't even admit that you're dating her", he murmurs, but still so loud that Jason can hear him.
Jason has absolutely no idea what Noel's behavior caused. "You are not only a total failure", Noel cries so loud that Jason believes that soon people will come outside to find out what's going on, even though the music is still so loud that you don't have to be inside the cabin to listen to it.
"You aren't able to put things straight. You go to college from time to time. Seemingly, no idea. You are drinking and smoking pot all the time. Now you are sitting completely drunk in front of me." Still, Noel cries angrily.
"Anyway", Noel cries so loudly that his voice almost cracks. "Still, you came, the biggest failure in town, to her and just kissed her and then that's it. Apparently, you deceived her completely", Noel accuses him.
Apparently, he himself is completely drunk. Even if Jason doesn't know him very well, he has never seen him like this before. And even if he would like to say that it isn't like that, he can't deny that Noel hit a sore spot with his words.
He can feel that his heart is beating faster and his muscles tense in his body. The rage rises in him and he doesn't even know who he is really angry at.
Noel stands in front of him and yells at him with full rage. And even if Jason doesn't really understand the reason for this anger, he can't even claim that he is angry at Noel. Rather, he is angry at himself. Because Noel is right.
"You are a drunkard, a pot-head, a failure. You are the mockery of the whole town. Ali is ashamed that you are her brother! And she's dating you", Noel cries, pointing cynically at him.
"Aria is falling for you!" Noel repeats, laughing mockingly. But he isn't only making fun of Jason, but also of himself. He can only mock at himself because Aria prefers Jason. Jason knows he has to go. He shouldn't sit and listen to these words.
Jason doesn't even want to beat Noel. If he could, he'd beat himself. Or he would hit against a stone wall for hours. He would see the blood on his hands and hear the bones breaking. But it would make the pain in him more bearable.
Jason tries to get up. A slight dizziness overcomes him. He starts to walk in the direction of the back door. He will fight his way through the crowd and then he will go straight home. He has to remain reasonable now.
"Sure, you're leaving now. You can't even defend yourself. You just let me insult you and you can't even be man enough to defend yourself", Noel shouts behind him.
"I've no idea why she likes you. Probably she just likes it, when you fuck her! Actually, she's just a little slut!" Noel says, looking provocatively after him.
Jason stops abruptly. For a moment, the night is silenced and the music no longer echoes in his ears. It is as if it has been simply turned off. Although, the music is booming in exactly the same volume out of the boxes as a few seconds before. But Jason only hears Noel's words again and again- every time a bit louder.
The next sound he hears is the sound of his fist on Noel's cheek and his impact on the ground and his own steps in the sand as he turns around and leaves the party.
What do you think? How will Aria react? Please tell me what you're thinking about this chapter :)