I want to kill Noah for what he’s done to Aria. Yes, she can be a grade ‘A’ pain in the ass, but I can’t see her doing anything bad enough to deserve this. Willow asked me to stay out of it, but I don’t know if I can. I walked up to her room to make sure she’s okay, but the door is closed and I can hear her crying inside. Aria never cries.
Just walk away and mind your own business Thien. This doesn’t concern you. This is between Aria and Noah.
Unable to walk away, I knock on her door, but she doesn’t answer. I try the handle and the door opens. Aria is sitting on her bed with her knees pulled into her chest and she’s staring out the window.
“I just want to check on you. If you’re okay or you need to be alone, just say the word and I’ll leave right now.”
“Its okay.” She speaks barely above a whisper. “You can stay.”
I take a seat next to her but she’s gone silent again and I don’t know what to say to her. I gently place my hand over hers, lace our fingers together and give her hand a slight squeeze. Tears begin to fall from her eyes and I’m hurt that she’s hurt. She finally looks over at me and gives me a slight smile.
“Some scary assassin I am, right.” She half laughs, half cries.
“I don’t know…that running mascara look is a bit frightening.” I tease.
Aria laughs and wipes away her tears. “I’m surprised you’re even talking to me right now.” She confides. “I thought you’d…”
“I’d what?” I frown.
“I thought you’d either still be mad at me for dating Noah or you’d think I got exactly what I deserved.” She sniffles.
“I know you and I know your heart. If he’s upset he could have talked to you about it. Running off with Qi…that’s messed up.” I reply.
She starts to say something but decides not to. My phone rings interrupting our conversation. I’m hoping it’s the Republic because everyone is growing restless, but it’s not…its Desiree.
I swear to Alpha this girl is like a tic that won’t let go. Please stop calling me, accept that you were a one-night stand…okay maybe two or three, and move the fuck on.
I send Desiree to voicemail, but I know its only a matter of time before she calls everyone in the galaxy to find me and comes by the house when she doesn’t get anywhere with that. “Desiree?” Aria asks, noticing the look on my face.
“Remind me never to sleep with another human girl.” I chuckle. “Like EVER. They’re not like girls from the Legion. They get…attached.”
“I would, but something tells me it would be a lost cause.” She laughs. Hey, at least she’s laughing. “Besides, every girl has the potential to get attached when its something she really wants. Guys like you and Noah…you do something to girls that twists us into knots and then we forget how to form a thought or be how we were before.”
“Is that what’s happening between you and Noah?”
“No, he’s just being an asshole. Normally it doesn’t bother me and I can just move on, but somehow he’s gotten into my head, and now…now I don’t know what to feel or what to think. I want to give him a piece of my mind but I’m also afraid if I do that he’ll leave and it scares me because…I’m in love with him. I think I always have been, but…then you came along and I fell in love with you too. So now I have two guys that I’m in love with…don’t even know how that could be even remotely possible…but it is because it’s happening. You’re both slutbag assholes, but I think he takes the art of being an asshole to the next level of being a quintessential asshole. I’ve cried over the both of you like a fucking two year old who’s favorite toy got taken away.” Aria unloads on me.
“You think I’m an asshole?” I frown.
“Really? Out of everything I said, that’s what you want to focus on?” She shakes her head and laughs. “You’re so self-centered.”
“Look, when I broke up with you, I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t think about trying to work things out because I honestly didn’t know if I could. Katnis giving birth would have put me at the mercy of obligation and our parents and…”
“I know why you did it and to be honest, that’s why I fell in love with you, I just…I didn’t want to lose you.” She sighs.
“Now you’re with the quintessential asshole and I’m running from a human girl who’s obsession knows no boundaries.” I laugh.
“Where the hell did we go wrong Thien?” She gazes into my eyes.
Down boy…she’s vulnerable right now and she’ll probably pretty much let you do anything, but she’d hate you for it later.
“Maybe it’s not the right time yet. Maybe you need to see what’s there between you and Noah before we try again.” I suggest, even though the words burn my throat.
She reaches up and gently caresses my face. “You’re going to be an amazing husband one day. Just promise that if it isn’t me you’ll try not to be too happy about it.” She asks.
“I promise.” I laugh.
“And I hope your little girlfriend has insurance on her phone.” She smirks.
“Okay one, she’s not my girlfriend…she’s a lunatic. Two, why?”
“Because I saw what the two of you were doing in biology the other day and I’m pretty sure her warranty doesn’t cover liquid damage.”
We both laugh and I pull her into my arms. I hold her for what seems like forever as she rests her head on my shoulder. When I pull away to say something to her, our eyes meet and suddenly my heart takes over. I press my lips against hers and it catches her off guard, but she welcomes my touch.
Pull away Thien, pull away…this is wrong man…pull away.
I go to pull away but her hand is at the back of my head holding my lips in place. She straddles me and for a second I want her in the worst way but then it quickly dawns on me. I’m just a rebound for her.
“Stop.” I push her away.
Movement in the doorway catches my attention, and Aria and I both turn towards the door. It’s Desiree. She lunges at Aria, but I stop her. I drag her out of the room kicking, screaming and threatening to end Aria’s life. I take her into my room and lock the door behind me.
Desiree slaps me across the face with all her might and her wrist snaps. She cries out in pain, holding her broken wrist in her other hand. I text Hydro to get his ass up here then let him in. I show him Desiree’s broken wrist and he stifles a smile as he walks up beside her and presses his index finger to her temple.
Placing one palm above her broken wrist and one palm below, I conjure up a spherule of light that heals her bones and aligns them. When the light goes away I force Desiree to look into my eyes.
“You came here because you’re pissed at the way our relationship has unfolded. You want more but you realize you’ll never get that with me so you settle for what you can have…meaningless sex. It will be on your terms but you understand that its not a relationship, its an arrangement. An arrangement that you’re more than happy to continue.”
“Really dude?” Hydro shakes his head.
“What? I’m giving her what she wants, I’m just taking away all the crazy that comes along with it.” I shrug. “I don’t want her blowing up my phone or stalking me like some chick with a fatal attraction. I never said I had a problem with sleeping with her.”
“Right.” He replies sardonically. “Continue on with the brainwashing for your benefit.”
Hydro presses his finger to her temple again and I start all over projecting into her mind. He shakes his head as he leaves the room and when she finally comes to, she’s no longer bat-shit crazy, she’s back to being someone I can enjoy having sex with. And we do…ALL NIGHT.
The next morning I walk her to her car and kiss her goodbye. As I’m heading back into the house I notice Aria standing in her bedroom window. Noah still hasn’t come back yet.
I make my way up to her room and the door is open. She’s no longer crying but the sadness is still there. “I’ve been texting him all night and he hasn’t answered me once.” She sulks. “I know he slept with her.”
“Probably.” I nod.
“How do you guys do it? How do you just shut your feelings off like that?” She asks.
“We just…do.” I reply.
The sound of a motorcycle pulling up to the front of the house captures her attention. I walk over to the window to see what she sees. Noah’s getting off his bike and then he helps Qi off the back. She wraps her arms around his neck and they kiss, but not before Aria turns away. She’s trying to hold it together, but he has his hooks in her deep. Tears fall from her eyes.
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