Wanting to avoid her brothers, Aria headed to the diner for breakfast the next morning and had just ordered when Dexter walked in with his dad.
"Hey," he greeted with a smile, "I didn't think you knew that this time of the morning actually existed."
"Only when I'm avoiding people," Aria mumbled, thanking Leah as she paid and turning her attention back to her friend, "What about you?"
"Early breakfast with my dad, he's working nights at the hospital and so I don't get to see him all that much," Dexter explained, "You do know that this is probably the worst evasion effort I've ever seen... I mean, everybody comes here."
"I admit that it wasn't the smartest decision, but I was hungry," Aria told him, causing him to chuckle and shake his head, "Anyway, have a nice breakfast with your dad and I will see you in school."
Not ready to head home, Aria decided to eat on the beach and watched as the waves washed over the sand by her feet. Finishing her food, she made her way back to the house to get ready for school and entered the kitchen to find Romeo sitting with Casey.
"Where did you go so early?" Casey asked as she put her books in her bag.
"I went to the diner for breakfast," Aria replied with a shrug, slipping on her jacket and slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Alone?" Romeo added.
"Yes, alone and if you don't believe me then you can ask Dex or Leah," Aria snapped, storming out of the house and slamming the door behind her.
The school day seemed to drag, but finally, the bell rang and Aria left before anyone could stop her. Bumping into Brax as she let herself into the house, she muttered an apology and locked herself away in her room.
"Ari," Brax called through the door as he tapped gently on it, "Can I come in?"
"Sure," Aria stated, turning off her music and putting her homework to one side, "What's up?"
"I was going to ask you that, is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine, why do you ask?"
"I heard you snap at Romeo and storm out of the house this morning is all," Brax said, taking a seat on the bed, "I also wanted to finish what we were talking about last night, do you really think that I would leave you?
"I don't know, all I seem to do is upset people and make them hate me," Aria mumbled, "Mom hates me, Romeo thinks that I'm up to no good with Andy and Heath is mad because I won't give dad another chance to screw up my life... I don't know what's wrong with me, Brax?"
"Ari, there's nothing wrong with you."
"Then why do I feel like such a huge disappointment?" Aria added, lowering her gaze to her hands and continuing, "Why does it seem that in the end, everyone leaves me?"
"You've never disappointed me... ever and I'm not planning on going anywhere," Brax stated, "There will be a point somewhere along the line that I'm going to want to get my own place, but I wouldn't be far away and it would only ever take a phone call to bring me right back."
"I know that it doesn't get said often, but I love you, Brax and I'm grateful for everything that you do for me."
"I love you too, kid, now why don't you take a break from your homework and come help me make dinner."
Nodding, she got up and followed him out into the kitchen. Finding some burgers in the bottom of the freezer, Brax decided to grill them and stood in the garden talking to Aria about school.
"When is Heath going to see dad?" Aria inquired as she threw together a salad.
"Later on tonight," Brax told her, "I think Casey and Kyle are going as well."
"What about you?"
"I'm going to go along with them, just to make sure that dad doesn't try any of his old tricks..."
"I smell burgers," came Heath's voice as he walked through the front door with Kyle in tow.
"They won't be long," Brax announced, giving Aria a smile and heading outside to finish cooking.
Finishing the salad, Aria set the table ready to eat and took a seat as Brax returned a short while later with the burgers. Eating in silence, she listened to her brother's talk and decided that she would go with them to see their dad.
She knew that he would never change and she'd accepted that a long time ago, but perhaps she needed to go for her. Perhaps seeing him and reminding herself of who he was would allow her to close that chapter of her life, or maybe she'd finally get some answers.
"I'll go with you to see dad," Aria said, causing her brothers to fall silent and turn their attention to her.
"You don't have to, Ari," Brax replied.
"I know, but I think I need to do it and I'd rather face him with you than by myself."
"It's your choice," Brax added, earning a nod from Aria and returning to his dinner.
It was late by the time they headed back to Mangrove River and Aria was nervous, but she would never show her dad that. Climbing out of Brax's Ute, she joined him outside their mom's house and stuck close to her oldest brother as they headed inside.
Author's Notes: Hey just wanted to apologize for the wait, life got crazy lol, but I am back! Thanks for reading