Hey everyone, I am really sorry for taking this long to update! I have started a job and recently have had no time but the good news is it seems like I'll be having more time in the coming weeks so I should be able to update then! Anyway enjoy! :)
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I woke up barely feeling rested. I was constantly having dreams of that girl bleeding out and then seeing Damon hurt her followed by Stefan defending him. I shook my head to attempt to force the thoughts out of my head.
"Hey honey," my mom said entering my room, "You don't have to go to school today if you don't want to." I could tell she didn't want me going.
"No I'm fine," I said but I knew she didn't believe me.
"You sure?" she asked worriedly.
"Yip," I said as she nodded.
"Aria?" she asked.
"I'm fine mom, I think seeing Scott and Stiles will help," I said and she nodded in agreement.
"Fine but if you want to come home-," she said.
"Don't worry mom, I'll be fine," I said.
"Stubborn, like your father," she said as she walked out to make breakfast.
Even if I wanted to skip there was too much I didn't know and needed to figure out. Staying at home would just make me agitated. I got ready, grabbed some breakfast and headed to school.
There were still so many thoughts spinning in my head from yesterday. I looked to see Allison just walking up the steps. I rushed to talk to her remembering the conversation between our fathers. As I did I noticed looks from almost everyone, it was like I was walking around with a flashing red light saying "stare at me please."
"Allison," I said as she turned towards me.
"Aria," she said, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I told her and figured this would become my automatic reply. "Look I wanted to ask you if you knew anything about our fathers talking."
"What are you talking about?" she asked confused.
"After everything yesterday, they spoke and your dad said they are going to alert the council?" I told her.
"Wait he said that?" she said putting things together in her head.
"Look, I don't what's going on but there is definitely something," I said.
"Yeah I agree, my dad has been acting a bit strange now that I think about it, he actually-," she was cut off by Lydia.
"Allison! What are you doing talking to her," Lydia said giving me a disapproving look.
"Hello to you to Lydia," I said with a fake smile.
"Lydia! I see your friend is friends with my friend which makes us friends of friends but still friends right?" Stiles said coming out of nowhere. Lydia rolled her eyes and we stared at Stiles trying to decipher what he had just said.
"Allison can we go?" Lydia said annoyed.
"Hey Allison," Scott said smiling sheepishly while coming to stand by us.
"Hey," Allison said her eyes lighting up.
"You're still showing up for tryouts?" Jackson said from behind taking Scott's lacrosse stick, "That is sad, you know you suck."
"Maybe," Tyler said, "But I bet you and him are on a similar level," he said to piss Jackson off.
"Jackson, Jackson! Calm down," Lydia said going to console him, "You'll show him who's boss on the field."
"That's my friend's," I said attempting to snatch the lacrosse stick out of Jackson's hand but he held on to it as I grabbed it.
"I don't think so," Jackson said as I stared him down. I released the pressure to make him think that he had the upper hand and just before he pulled it I pulled it forcefully and he fell over.
Scott and Stiles burst out laughing and I could see Allison was trying her best to not laugh very obviously.
"Damn, owned by a girl," Tyler said smirking and then walking off.
"You're going to pay for this McCall," Jackson said threateningly to Scott as he stood up and walked off.
"Seriously can you two do anything without my help?" I asked them jokingly.
"I could have handled it," Stiles said.
"Please, you were too busy being a lovesick puppy," I said.
"Thanks," Scott said taking the stick as I sighed.
"What?" he asked.
"Well it sucks that you guys you know," I paused and they looked at me to continue, "Well that you do suck," I said knowing it sounded bad.
"Wow, you should win the award for supporting friend of the year," Stiles said.
"Scott!" Allison called from above, "I'll see you at tryouts," she smiled at him.
"That's great!" Scott said as she walked into the building.
"Oh my God that's horrible," Scott said immediately, "I'm going to make a fool of myself."
"Look if she really likes you then no matter how much you suck, you know she'll still like you even if you do become the laughing stock of the school," Stiles said.
I stared down Stiles.
"Try not to think about it," I said as we headed towards the building.
"Aria, How are you doing?" Scott asked concerned.
"Fine," I said.
"Really after a girl almost died in your arms?" Stiles said bluntly but I knew he was trying to get to admit I was not fine.
"Stiles!" Scott said.
"Fine, I'm not fine but I'm dealing with it," I said honestly.
"Well we're here for you, you know that right?" Scott said.
"Just talk to us Aria, you know it's not good when you keep everything in because then stuff builds up and ka-boom!" he said making a gesture with his arms.
"I know, thanks guys," I said.
"Of course," Stiles and Scott said putting their arms around my shoulders either side of me.
Classes went on as usual but it seemed like yesterday's incident was still the news on everyone's lips. Everyone seemed to have their own theories but one thing was for sure, no one could keep their eyes off me. I felt like I had a spotlight on me wherever I went.
"I heard she was spurting blood everywhere,"
"Apparently Aria stabbed her first"
"I heard her ex-boyfriend stabbed her 8 times"
"I heard Derek did CPR and it must have been his kiss that brought her back to life"
"Apparently she flirted with the guy Aria liked so Aria stabbed her, she must be crazy"
"I didn't stab her!" I burst out at the one girl and I knew everyone was staring at me but I couldn't take it anymore. I thought people would be scared but it seemed everyone was just more curious. Clearly something is wrong in this town.
I walked irritated to my locker not looking at anyone.
"I could smell your irritation from a mile away," Aiden said smiling leaning against my locker.
"What do you want?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Just to know what actually happened," he said casually but his eyes were piercing mine.
"How the hell must I know?! I got there and she was bleeding, why is it so hard for people to understand!?" I screamed loudly getting very annoyed. I clearly caught even more people's attention now but I had reached my level of tolerance. No one was asking me how I was doing besides my actual friends.
"Ok, I believe you," Aiden said and I looked at him skeptically.
"You do?" I asked him, "Are you listening to my heartbeat?" I asked bitterly.
"Maybe but all that anger can't be a lie," he said, "But you need to be careful."
"Why because you care if something happens to me?" I asked sarcastically.
"I need you remember?" he said as I rolled my eyes.
"For what?" Stefan said staring him almost angrily and Aiden just gave a smile.
"She knows," he said looking at me.
"You need to stay away from her," Stefan said threateningly.
"No, you both need to stay away from me," I said slamming my locker door closed and walking off. Since when did I become part of a scorecard for these guys?
"Aria," Stefan said coming after me.
"Look last night's talk doesn't change anything," I said turning to face him and Stefan looked a bit disappointed.
"I was being honest," he said seriously.
"Honest about what?" I heard Derek say and I rolled my eyes.
"Oh you just have to show up now don't you?" I said annoyed.
"Can you all just leave me alone?!" I shouted at him but he didn't seem phased.
"I just wanted to ask if you're ok," he said and I searched for a hint of insincerity but I couldn't find it.
"I'm perfect," I said sarcastically.
"Sorry for asking how you are," he said. I sighed, I was just in an irritated mood but to be fair he was the only person that asked if I was ok.
"I'm-," I said searching for a word, "Confused," I said after a while.
"That makes two of us," he said scanning the hall.
"Three, actually," Stefan said.
"Do you know who did that to that girl?" I asked Stefan staring into his eyes.
"No, I swear," he said and Derek could sense there was something he was missing.
"Do you?" I asked Derek staring him dead on as well.
"No," he said offended at the question.
"Look I have to get to class, see you there?" Stefan said looking at me.
"We'll see," I said to him as he left. I could tell he wanted me to trust him but how could I?
"I don't know her yet," Derek said, "I'm going to see her at the hospital," he said.
"Wait, now?" I asked and by him silent I knew I was right.
"Let me come with," I said and he looked surprised.
"You have class to attend to," he said.
"Academics is a strength of mine, one class won't make a difference," I said.
"Look I do things on my own," he said.
"I think everyone is well aware of that, I mean your friendly touch will definitely get the girl to talk, she'll feel so safe around you," I said sarcastically.
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth but I knew he hated that I had a point. I followed him towards the exit.
"Aria, don't you have English now?" Matt said coming out of nowhere.
"Yeah, I'm just using the bathroom," I said to him naturally.
"See you in class them," he said.
"Yeah," I said, as I walked towards the bathroom until he was out of sight.
"Wow, you're a natural liar," Derek said and I knew he meant it as a compliment but I wasn't sure if I wanted it to be one.
We walked to the parking lot and I got into his car. I wasn't scared because I knew he wouldn't do anything to me, he needed me. Plus no way I was every going anywhere without my knives.
"So you really don't know who did that to the girl?" I asked as he drove.
"No," he said.
"Why do I get the sense you're lying?" I asked and he stared ahead in silence.
"Because you are," I whispered looking out the window.
"I'm not, I don't know for sure," he said and once again it didn't make sense that he could hear me.
"But you have someone in mind," I said.
"Not someone, something," he said and I looked at him to see if he was being serious and he had a straight face.
"Something," I said, "Great."
He parked and we both got off to go into the hospital. Derek simply flashed his smile and we easily got the room that she was in.
"Excuse me you cannot go into her room," a nurse said, "Only close family."
"We just want to pay our respects," Derek said.
"I'm sorry," the nurse said.
"Look," I said pretending to tear up, "We were together since second grade and my hands were stained of her blood yesterday as I tried to save her life. Please we just need a minute," I said emotionally and I could see the nurse give in.
"Ok, you have five minutes but that's it," she said.
"Thank you," Derek said as she walked away.
"Not a complete waste to bring you," he said as he opened the door and I rolled my eyes.
"My hands really were stained of her blood," I said.
"Mine too," Derek said as if it wasn't a big deal. We walked into the room but she was still unconscious.
"We need to wake her up," Derek said.
"Are you crazy? She's unconscious, you can't just shake her awake," I said.
"Yes I can," Derek said but I stood in front of him.
"No. You can't," I said sternly, he was crazy. He rolled his eyes at me and went to look at her chart on the table.
I turned to face her and felt sympathetic towards her. She didn't deserve this. I glanced down and noticed her gown had a gap showing her stomach but what intrigued me was the scar. I moved the gown to get a better look and felt my eyes go wide. It looked exactly like Scott's scar.
"She's not getting better," Derek said putting the file down.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Her condition is getting worse," he said and he almost seemed sad about it.
"Why?" I asked, "That doesn't make sense." I looked at Derek who was shaking his head and I knew he knew something I didn't.
"We should go," he said heading to the door.
"What? Nothing is making sense," I said.
"We need to go," he said sternly.
"I'm not going until you tell me what's going on," I said crossing my arms.
"You're so stubborn," he said irritatedly coming towards me.
"Thanks," I said with a smirk.
"But there is nothing to tell," he said, "Now let's go," he said grabbing my hand. At first I was shocked he was literally grabbing me to get me out but I stopped him from dragging me.
"No, tell me what you know," I said stubbornly.
"Come with me or I'll have to carry you out," he said seriously.
"Oh please," I said but within seconds he had me over his shoulder in a stiff hold that I couldn't break out of.
"You're such an ass," I said as I struggled to get free. When we got to his car he finally put me down.
"Are you crazy!? What the hell is your problem?!" I shouted at him.
"You don't get it," he said, "You can't talk in there, people could be listening."
"What do you-," but then I clicked, he was serious.
"Are you talking about vampires?" I asked knowing how stupid the question sounded.
"Vampires? What are you talking about?" he asked and I guess he didn't know about Stefan and his brother.
"Nothing," I said but he could tell I was lying.
"You're lying, what do you know?" he said walking close to me.
"I'm not telling you anything until you tell me something," I said and he just shook his head.
"Just get in," he said annoyed, "Why do you want to know so much anyway?"
"Because it's starting to affect my life," I said in an obvious tone.
"You shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous, you saw what happened to that girl," he said.
"Wow, it sounds like you actually care," I said sarcastically.
"I do," he said, "Now let's go." he said as he walked to his side of the car and I got in now with more questions than answers.