Chapter Three
After a swim, a shower and a quick dinner with her Mom, Aria headed to Camille's apartment. She was slightly nervous for tonight. She had just met these people and had no idea what to expect. She knocked on the door to Camille's apartment. Camille answered it and gave Aria a huge hug and invited her in.
"This is James' girlfriend, Jenna." Camille said gesturing to the girl sitting on the couch, painting her nails. Aria smiled at her a sat next to her and they chatted a little bit.
"So, Aria how did you end up at the Palmwoods?" Camille asked casually.
"Well, I was the stage manager for the dance recital at a dance studio I volunteered at and this one group was dancing to 'Love Story' by Taylor Swift and their music cut out so I ran and grabbed a mic and started singing so they could finish their routine. There was a talent scout in the audience and they said that I'd be perfect for the new artist that Gustavo Rocque wanted to produce. So, they gave me their number and I thought about it and talk it over with my family and we agreed it would be a great experience. So here I am." Aria explained.
"That must have been tough; don't you miss your friends? Your boyfriend?" Camille asked.
"My friends said it'd be an awesome experience for me and they really told me that I wasn't allowed to turn this down. I miss them so much already…" Aria's voice trailed off.
"Oh, well what about your boyfriend?" Camille asked. She had to get this answer if she didn't want Kendall to hate her for not finding out.
Aria laughed. "Yeah, he doesn't exist. I was kind of invisible at my school especially to guys. The only people who ever noticed me were my friends and my teachers." Aria looked down disappointedly.
"Well, they were all stupid then because you're like gorgeous!" Jenna said. Aria's face lit up.
She looked down. "Thanks…" she said shyly.
Camille grabbed her phone while Aria & Jenna talked. She texted Kendall "She doesn't have a boyfriend. Go for it."
Almost immediately after she hit send, she got a message back. "Awesome! Thanks, Camille! You Rock! :D"
The girls did their make-up and hair and helped Camille chose and outfit. Camille knew Kendall would be happy to hear that Aria had asked about him a lot. It was 6:55 when they heading out of Camille's apartment.
They entered the lobby to see the boys sitting on the couch. Camille and Jenna both went on sat on their boyfriend's laps. Aria just stood there, awkwardly. Kendall got up to talk to her.
"Hey! What's up?" Kendall asked her with a big smile on his face.
"Hi. Um, nothing I guess…" Aria said looking down nervously.
"You look really beautiful tonight." Kendall said staring at her.
Aria smiled as she looked up at him straight into those beautiful green eyes of his. She could easily get lost in them and stare into them all night.
"Cab's here!" Carlos shouted, snapping them back to reality. Kendall held out his hand as if he was inviting her to go with him. She took it and they walked to the cab. Aria usually wouldn't do that with a guy she just met but there was something different about Kendall. She just felt safe with him.
They arrived at the bowling alley, paid for their game and went to get their bowling shoes. The girls went to the women's shoes.
"You and Kendall seem to really be hitting it off, Aria." Camille pointed out.
"Yeah, whatever happened to 'guys don't notice me.' That's totally not true. Kendall's really into you!" Jenna chimed in.
"There's something different about him." Aria said tying up her bowling shoes.
"I think you just might have yourself a boyfriend by the end of the night…" Jenna said.
James appeared behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek. Jenna grinned widely.
"What're you talking about?" James asked curiously.
"The fact that Aria and Kendall are going to be a couple by the end of the night." Camille informed him.
"Well, duh. All Kendall could say over there is how gorgeous Aria looks tonight." James said with a chuckle.
All the sudden they hear Carlos yell "LET'S BOWL YO!" They all laughed and went to the lane. They decided on the order they'd go in. Carlos was first. Aria sat next to Kendall. They talked and flirted until Logan stated that he was hungry. Kendall offered to get food for the group at the snack bar. He looked at Aria who then agreed to go with him. They ordered French fries and popcorn and drinks for the group. They said it'd be about 5-10 minutes. Aria and Kendall waited. Suddenly Aria let out a gasp and started flailing around.
Kendall looked at her slightly scared. "WHAT?" he asked.
"I LOVE THIS SONG!" Aria said as she danced around. Kendall grabbed her and started to dance with her. A slow song came on next. Aria found herself with her head on Kendall's chest, he was holding her close. She looked up at him; she was getting lost in his eyes again. They both leaned into each other. "Order's Up!" They both snapped back to reality. They smiled at each other, grabbed the food and went back to their lane.
"Oh my god! FOOOOOD!" Carlos said as they finished their bowling game. They sat at the table at their lane and ate. Aria could feel Kendall looking at her as she talked to Carlos. It was almost 10 when James said that we should probably head back to the Palmwoods. Logan called a cab and they went outside to wait.
It was fairly cold that night and Aria was in a tank top. Kendall could tell she was cold so he removed his hoodie and put it around her shoulders. She slipped her arms into it. Kendall put her arms around her. "I really really really like you, Aria." He whispered in her ear. She giggled a little and smiled. "I really like you too" she breathed. She turned around in his arm so they were facing each other. Aria wanted to kiss him. She wanted to so bad. Until Logan interrupted them. "Uh, guys. The cab is here." He said. Kendall let go and walked her to the cab. He let her get in before him and then climbed into the seat next to her. He grabbed her hand and they chatted and giggled together the whole ride back.
They entered the Palmwoods. "I'm going to walk Camille back to her room" Logan said as they headed for the elevators. "Yeah, I'm going to walk Jenna back to hers too." James stated. "I'm just in time to catch my favourite show! Gotta run!" Carlos said running to the stair well. "Can I walk you back to your room?" Kendall asked Aria. "I'd like that." She smiled.
They reached Aria's apartment door. "I had a really great time tonight." Aria said to Kendall. "Me too." Kendall smiled at her. Boy, his smile was perfect, thought Aria. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked him. "Yeah. You can text me… if you want." Kendall said. Aria smiled and nodded. She reached for her doorknob. "Aria…" Kendall said. "Yeah?" she said looking into his eyes. Kendall leaned down to kiss her, when the door opened. Aria's mother was standing there in her pyjamas.
"Aria! Sorry! I was just going to ask the manger for an extra pillow until I have the chance to go out and get some." She said. She looked at Kendall than back at Aria.
"Uh, Mom. This is Kendall. Kendall this is my Mom." Aria said beginning to chew her bottom lip.
"It's nice to meet you, Kendall. Aria, it's about time you come in and get to bed." Her mom said. Aria nodded and said goodbye to Kendall.
She walked into her bedroom and got out her pyjamas. She then realized she was still wearing Kendall's hoodie. She took it off and changed into her PJs and put it back on. It smelled like him and she liked that. She flopped down on her bed, thinking of Kendall.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Enter." She said in a cheery tone. Kendall opened the door. She sat up and raised her eyebrow in a questioning way.
"You're Mom let me in." he smiled at her.
"Oh, do you want your hoodie back? I guess I kinda stole it…" She said getting up and reaching for the zipper.
"No. You can keep it. I really just wanted this." Kendall walked towards her lifted her chin and kissed her. Aria immediately kissed him back. Kendall rested his forehead against Aria's. "Good Night, Aria." He breathed. She smiled. "Good Night, Kendall."