Chapter 16: A Fight And A Story!
*Aria's POV*
It was now a few days into April and I was happy. Aunt Mary and Uncle Fred Came back 2 days after Archie's car was wrecked, and while that took some explaining and Archie being grounded, they told me I could stay here for the next school year and maybe summer as well. I was so happy I could continue school here. I was walking around Riverdale and, while I was happy to stay, I grew bored. I had no one to hang with today and there were no real good mysteries. I know it has been a bit past one week but come on. Oh well. Weather was nice though. I had decided to go to Pops to get a bite to eat when I happened to run into Big Ethel.
"Hey BE!" I called to her. Yeah a little while back I started calling her BE for Big Ethel. She didn't mind it since she had a bee club. She invited me but I told her of my allergy.
"Hey Aria. What ya doing?" She asked me.
"I'm heading down to Pops. Wanna join me? I could use the company." I asked her.
"Sure. I was heading down there anyway. We can have lunch together." She said as I smiled at her. We walked down there and got a booth in the back.
"What do you kids want?" Pops asked us.
"I'll have a burger and fries please." BE ordered. I pulled out my money and did a quick count. I was short today so no burgers I guess.
"I'll just get my usual nachos and a coke with no ice please." I said.
"No usual 5+ burgers today?" He asked me as I shook my head.
"I don't have enough today so I'll just stick with nachos." I said with a smile. Pops left to get our food together.
"Wow. 5 Burgers?" BE asked me.
"I tend to eat a lot. Plus some days I get more." I confessed as I went pink and rubbed the back of my head in an awkward way.
"It's funny how much you eat and don't gain weight like Jughead does." She said as I looked at her.
"Oh no I do gain weight. Actually since I've arrived I've gain 12 pounds. It's not that I can't it's just that I work out a lot and move enough to be okay. Plus gaining the weight wasn't bad." I told her as I then silenced myself.
"Sorry. I ramble sometimes." I told her as she smiled at me.
"Don't apologize. It's not a bad thing. It gets people to know you better is all." She said as I smiled at her. Soon our food came and we were digging in. I barely ate 1/3 of my nachos before someone sat next to me and wrapped an arm around me. I froze in my place and by the looks on BE's face it was not a good person.
"Hey babe. Miss me?" I heard a familiar voice. Vinnie Wells.
"What? Shocked to see me?" He asked as I didn't move. Yeah Vinnie freaked me out more than werewolves did.
"Guess so. Gonna share your nachos with me this time or buy me some too." He asked me as I snapped out of it and looked at him.
"Get your arm off me and go away!" I scolded him.
"Hey! I'm willing to forgive last time but learn to treat me better babe." He said as he then leaned in next to my face.
"Or I'll have to make you." He whispered as I shuttered. I didn't even want to know what he had in mind.
"Hey leave her alone Vinnie. In fact bug off." BE said as he glared at her.
"Wasn't talking to you bucktoothed freak." He raised his voice a bit at her as she scrunched back and looked ready to cry a bit. I was pissed now.
"Don't you yell at my friend like that." I yelled at him as he then glared at me.
"I'm warning you babe." He started but I interrupted him.
"No! I'm warning you! Leave now and I'll forget the whole thing or I'll make you!" I was starting to yell at him.
"You seriously can't be defending her! She's a bucktoothed freak who shouldn't see the light of day! And she definitely shouldn't be around my babe!" He said as he wrapped an arm around me and used the other to make me look at him. Now I saw red. I head butted him in the nose as he flung back. Once he let go of me I sprung up and tackled him. I grabbed his wrist when he tried to punch me and I nearly dislocated his shoulder when I pulled it behind him. He screamed in pain. My face was slightly red and I looked madder then a bull seeing red.
"I don't care if you treat me like an object or even touch me but you do not, I repeat, you do not bully my friends! Any of them!" I screamed as I put my foot on his back and tugged his arm a bit, earning a yelp, and calmed down a little bit.
"You got that?" I questioned him with venom in my voice.
"I got it." He muttered.
"What was that?" I asked as I tugged again earning another yelp.
"I got it!" He shouted.
" Good! Now apologize to her." I said to him.
"I'm not going to-YOW!" He started to say but then yelped when I tugged harder than needed.
"I didn't quite catch that. What did you say?" I asked him.
"Grr. Sorry Buck-YOW! Alright Alright! Sorry. um." He growled and went to insult her but I tugged again and started to make him apologize correctly before he stopped. He didn't even know her name.
"Ethel." I told him.
"Sorry Ethel." He muttered until I tugged and he yelped again.
"Okay okay! Sorry Ethel!" He shouted as I loosened up a bit.
"Good boy!" I told him before grabbing him and throwing him out the door. I whipped my hands together and went back to BE to enjoy our food.
"I'm sorry about that. He seems to like to bother me a lot. I just hated the fact that he insulted you." I told her as I took a bite of my nachos. I could feel everyone staring still.
"It's alright. I'm used to it. I'm surprised you let him talk to you like that though." She commented as I shrugged.
"Eh. I'm used to it. I probably would've kicked him away from me again. I just saw red when he insulted you and didn't want me being your friend. Yeah calling me his didn't help either but I don't like my friends bullied at all." I told her with a smile. Soon Pops came over to us.
"Aria. I don't allow fighting in the Shoppe." He told me.
"I'm sorry Pops but in reality it was in defence out of fear of BE or myself being harmed in any way. And he was touching me and I didn't like that." I told him.
"I saw everything but I'm afraid I am going to have to ask you to leave." He said as I frowned a bit.
"I get it." I told him.
"I don't want to but if I was lenient towards you then I would be to everyone else. I can wrap up your food if you like." He said as I smiled and nodded.
"Sure. And again I understand." I told him.
"Can you wrap mine up too please?" BE asked him as Pops nodded and walked away.
"BE you don't have to." I started but she shook her head.
"It's okay. I'd rather not stay knowing you got kicked out. Besides we could hang out a bit longer." She said as I nodded and smiled at her. She was a great friend. Pops put our food in containers and we paid for our food before we left the Shoppe and walked around a bit while talking. I explained what happened last time and she understood. It was soon getting dark and I waked her close to her house before I headed home. She tried to talk me out of it but I told her I'd be okay. It was getting dark fast so I stopped near a bench and pulled out my skates from my bag. I clipped them on and was soon on my way home. The sooner I got home the better. I passed by the library and shuddered. I've been meaning to get a library card, since the school library was super small and limited on books and you couldn't take them home either, but kept pushing it off. This library felt cold and creepy and I couldn't explain why. I finally made it home and took off my skates before I walked inside. Just as soon as I did though.
"Aria Andrews! Living room! Now!" I heard Uncle Fred yell. Uh oh. I'm in trouble. I walked in and saw the werewolf sheriff, with the silver chain still on him, and my Aunt and Uncle in the room.
"What's wrong?" I asked innocently.
"Sit!" My Uncle said as I gulped and sat down.
"We didn't convince your parents for you to stay here another year just to fight people. What were you thinking?" My Uncle scolded me. How'd they find out?
"But-" I started but was interrupted.
"I had gotten an anonymous call that you started a fight at Pop Tate's. Is that true Miss Andrews?" He questioned me as I sighed.
"I didn't start it." I said to them.
"But you were in one?" Uncle Fred asked as I nodded.
"What were you thinking?" Uncle Fred yelled at me as I held back tears.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got into a fight. I've been doing good but he started touching me and insulting Big Ethel and I got mad. I didn't know what else to do. It's just that Vinnie-" I was saying before I was interrupted.
"Hold on. Did you say Vinnie as in Vinnie Wells?" He asked as I nodded.
"He's bothered me before and I pushed him away. He keeps calling me 'Babe' and 'His' and keeps putting his arm around me or touching my face. He threatened to 'Teach me a lesson' and yelled and insulted my friend. I only did it to make him apologize and leave us alone. I'm Sorry!" I screamed the last part as I started bawling my eyes out. I didn't want Uncle Fred yelling at me anymore. He sounded like my father. I didn't want him or Aunt Mary disappointed in me. I felt someone sit next to me and hold me close to them and rub my arm.
"It's alright sweetie. Don't cry." I heard Aunt Mary comfort me.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Uncle Fred asked.
"I don't want anyone to worry. I'm used to dealing with these things alone. Archie doesn't even know." I said as I started to stop crying.
"Miss Andrews if this is true then you're not in trouble at all. Vinnie Wells is a delinquent and it wouldn't surprise me if he did start this. I'll have to ask witnesses though." The Sheriff said.
"Pops had to kick me out but I think he knew what happened. I don't remember who else was there but Big Ethel was with me and witnessed the whole thing first hand. She wouldn't lie. You can ask them both sheriff. I wouldn't fight unless needed. You know that." I said to him as I indirectly pointed out the 'You know that' part towards him for the werewolf incident. He in fact did remember that I would fight if I had no choice. He smiled lightly at me and nodded.
"I know Miss Andrews. I remember. Which is why I believe you. Your not in trouble. After I talk to those two I'll chock it up as self defence and leave it at that. I'll see to it that Mr. Wells is fined for all this." He said as I, finally, looked up at him with wet eyes, tear stained cheeks, a small smile on my lips that appeared when I saw him smile and nodded at him.
"Mr. and Mrs. Andrews. Miss Andrews. Have a pleasant evening and sorry to have bothered you." He said as Uncle Fred showed him out the door. When Uncle Fred came back in he looked at me and sighed while shaking his head. Suddenly the door busted open.
"Mom. Dad. What was the sheriff doing here." He asked as he then looked and saw me crying.
"Aria? What happened?" He asked me but Uncle Fred spoke to stop me.
"Mary. Take Archie upstairs. You can tell him what happened but I need to talk to Aria alone." He said as she nodded. She then grabbed Archie and led him upstairs to his room. Once they were gone Uncle Fred glared at me. I shrunk back and gulped. He came over to me and I closed my eyes and shrunk back even more. I then heard the cushions on the chair near me and then a small sigh.
"I know my brother hits you when you get into a fight. I'm not going to though. I just want to talk to you." He said as I started to sit normally and looked at him.
"Archie told you didn't he?" I asked as he nodded.
"He told me what both of them did to you and, after seeing how you reacted, I believe you. I thought for a moment that they were right with some of the fights when the sheriff came but if you say it was defense then I believe you. I've heard of Vinnie Wells and his bad attitude. But what I want to know is why you didn't say anything sooner? Why didn't you just tell me or Mary or even Archie? Why keep it to yourself?" He asked me as I sighed a shaky breath.
"I'm used to dad or mom punishing me for it. I don't need to worry Archie at all and make him over protective. I especially didn't want to worry you nor Aunt Mary about something stupid like this. I doubt he would fully act on his aggressive actions but, even so, that's why I started to train to defend myself. I just don't want to be a Home wrecking troublesome brat like my father always says I am. I'm starting to think he's right." I say as I took a few more shaky breaths and looked down.
"You are not a home wrecking troublesome brat. My brother is wrong. You've been a delight and a big help around here. You've helped Archie with his grades, you've helped us keep thing clean and in order, you've been doing wonderful in school. I've gotten phone calls from Principal Weatherbee and he's told me how active you are around the school. How you've helped the kids in your classes, how the teachers praise you, and how you even help with set ups and clean ups around the school. Everyone thinks your wonderful. Even the sheriff knows you wouldn't do this unless necessary. He said so before you showed up. But I would like to be kept informed if your being bullied or are in trouble with something. Mary and I are willing to help any way we can. Archie would help if we weren't here to. You can talk to us about anything you know that." He said as I teared up and looked at him.
"I know but…..When you started yelling you sounded like dad and I-I." I said before I buried my face in my hands and cried again. I soon felt him next to me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stir up anything." He said as I felt his hand rub my back to comfort me. As he did though he stopped.
"Aria What's this?" He asked me as I knew what he was talking about. I pulled away from him and looked at him with a frightened look.
"N-nothing." I stuttered but we both knew I was lying. I sighed and looked away.
"You don't need to see it." I told him as he stood up.
"I'd like to." He said as he came over. I sighed.
"You better get Aunt Mary too. But not Archie. I don't want him to see at all." I told him.
"Mary. Could you please come down here. Archie! Stay in your room!" He yelled. Soon I heard Aunt Mary come down the stairs and into the living room.
"What is it Fred?" She asked him.
"Aria has something on her back that I want to see. She wants you here to see too." He said to her.
"Go on." Aunt Mary said in a calming way as I sighed. I turned my back towards them and removed my top. I heard them gasp as a tear fell down my eye. I had a burn mark, a large one from a small part of my upper right part of my back to my right ribs. It looked bad really. I always covered up and always wore a black top over my swim suit for that reason.
"What happened. How did you get those?" Aunt Mary asked me. I explained it to them.
*Flashback to 12 years old."
"Hey Toots. Wanna try some?" Some drunk in his twenties had come up to me, while I was sitting at a park bench waiting for mom to sober up a bit or for dad to come home, and sat next to me holding up a cigarette and offered it to me.
"No. I'm good." I told him.
"Then how bout a drink? Hm?" He showed me a bottle of booze, probably vodka, in a brown paper bag and pushed it towards me. I grimaced at the smell and pushed it away from me.
"No. I'm too young to drink." I told him as I pushed myself away from him.
"Come on. I won't tell." He said as he pushed it closer to me.
"I said no." I said loudly as I scooted away a bit more. He then grabbed meby my arm and pulled me to him.
"Come on Toots." He said as he poured the vodka into my mouth and spilled it all over me as well. I pushed him away and spat it out as I coughed and choked on it. I had swallowed a bit as I spat the rest up.
"Aw too strong?" He asked me as he tried again. I smacked the bottle from his hand as it then smashed on the ground. He was pissed now.
"You ungrateful little bitch. I give you good vodka and you waste it on me?" He yelled as he attacked me. As soon as he did I screamed and fought as hard as I could. A bit of my shirt ripped as he then got off me and kicked me. I protected my stomach and head as he kicked my back.
"This'll teach you." He said as I looked and saw him drop his cigarette on me.
"Hey! Stop!" I heard someone yell. Just as they said that and he ran the cigarette landed on meand my side burst in flames.
"HELP!" I screamed and cried as the fire burned into my flesh. I was put out after a few minutes and brought to the hospital. My parents didn't believe me and, if it wasn't for the eye witnesses, the cops and doctors wouldn't have believed me either. The man was found dead later on and the 1stand 2nddegree burns I had suffered on my arm, side, back and stomach healed up with no scars. But the small patch I have scared was from the 3rddegree burn that never healed. No one had rubbed close to there so no one knew. I was glad about that.
*Flashback Over.*
"And that's what happened." I explained as I put my shirt back on. I turned and looked at my Aunt and Uncle's horrified faces. My Aunt covered her mouth and was crying while my Uncle looked like he was going to be sick.
"Is that why he told me that you might sneak alcohol in your room?" He asked me as I was stunned about that one.
"I guess. I had alcohol in my system because of that. As I said if it wasn't for the witnesses then I would've been charged with under age drinking. If dad is saying that I have the drinking problem than that's why. Thank goodness no rehabilitation group believed him nor my mother." I commented as I then hugged my Aunt.
"Please don't cry Aunt Mary. That event is the reason why I started taking martial arts. So nothing like that would happen again." I said as I rubbed her back and comforted her as best as I could.
"We had no idea." Uncle Fred said.
"Archie doesn't even know. I really don't want him to either." I said to them.
"I heard everything." I heard Archie say as we all turned and looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He said as he put his hands up in a why/I don't know motion while walking up to me.
"Because this was when you were sick and had a fever. I couldn't tell you then. I didn't want to tell you at all. You were having a great summer and I didn't want to ruin it for you. Not at all." I said as a tear fell down my cheek.
"Aria you could've told me anyways. Is that why you talked about getting a tattoo around there?" He asked me.
"What? A tattoo?" Uncle Fred blurted out as Aunt Mary looked at me.
"When I turn 18. I learned that since I couldn't get surgery to heal it I would get a wonderful tattoo to cover it and hide it from the world. Problem is I haven't figured out what I wanted yet." I explained to them. Uncle Fred sighed.
"One problem at a time I suppose. When your 18 we legally can not stop you. As for the discussion earlier about the fight." He said looking at me as I bit the bottom of my lip. Grounded?
"I want you to clean the garage this weekend. Not because of the fight but because you didn't tell us about what happened sooner and for you about to not tell us about this either." Uncle Fred told me. That's it?
"Your not grounding me?" I asked him.
"No. You've been doing to good for yourself. Just clean the garage and think about telling us, or at least Archie, next time something like this happens. Understand?" He asked me as I nodded.
"Yes Uncle. I understand. And I didn't mean to worry and upset you." I told them. I really do need to learn to open up more. The three soon smiled at me.
"Good. Now lets eat dinner. We're having chicken." Aunt Mary said as we went into the kitchen. The weekend soon came and I cleaned out the garage by my self. It took all of Saturday but I used Sunday to organize. I had a few calls from some friends to hang out over the weekend but I just said I was cleaning the garage this weekend and didn't really say why. I ended up showing Archie my burn and he was so mad he punched the wall in his room. I just comforted him and told him I was fine. I begged Archie not to let anyone else know and he promised he wouldn't. I ended up going to bed that night feeling a little better that I talked more about my bottled up past to someone. It hurt but it hurt more to bottle it all up.