ARIA
Babe, could you come pick me up?
I stared at the text Josh sent me. Was this the reply to the message I sent him four hours ago? Unbelievable.
I sighed and replied:
Where u at
The reply was instant.
Sage.
Sage was a nightclub not far from Freesdale. A lot of students frequented there to get a load of college life, get piss drunk, laid…. You name it.
I didn't.
I didn't like crowds. Or loud music. Josh knew this. So why did he want me to come pick him up? And just how do I do that?
He crashed my car last week. I had an earful from my dad for that. He told me that Josh was irresponsible and didn't care about me, but just wanted me to fix the mess he got himself into.
But he still says I'm too much.
I scoffed. I wasn't gonna be his mother anymore. I'm his freaking girlfriend, not a maid or mechanic.
I'm sorry babe. I can't come. My car's still at the workshop and I'm currently in Lucia's place for an all night study sesh.
I twiddled my fingers as I waited for his reply. What was he gonna say this time? Would he understand?
Oh Lord. Maybe I should go pick him up, a degenerate thought came through my mind.
I shook my head and knocked. I was here to study. I had a very big test tomorrow morning and I haven't ever seen the professor giving the test.
Before my anxieties could eat me alive, Lucia opened the door.
"Heyyyy Ari. What's good?" Her eyes raked up and down my body and when it landed on my face, her face darkened.
"What's with the look Luce? Not happy to see me?" I joked, but I knew it wasn't gonna get me anywhere with her.
"What did he do this time?"
"Who?" Play dumb. Play dumb. Play dumb.
"Girl I swear imma knock yo ass out if you try to play dumb with me".
I trembled. Okay. She's serious. Whenever her African American accent comes out, she means business.
"Can I at least come in? No no", I cut her off as her glare intensified, "I'll spill. I swear. I don't need any ass whooping".
She sighed and walked into her apartment and plopped onto the couch. I walked in and shut the door, then I sat beside her.
"He asked me to come pick him up. He's at Sage. I'm guessing he's wasted".
Lucia facepalmed. "Girl where'd you find that motherfucker? It's barely eight pm and bro's already wasted. And didn't you say he's got a test tomorrow?"
"He does. I mean, we have the same major and that's what the test is on".
She wiped her face with her hand and rubbed her eyes.
She's frustrated. And it's my fault.
"Ari listen", she held my hands and stared at me with warm brown eyes, "You need to dump his sorry ass. He's not good for you. He makes you feel…. Much".
"Am I not? I'm loud and chatty and bright and clingy and I feel too much".
"Since when is that a bad thing? You feel too much because you've got a big heart. You're a joy giver Ari. The world is damn lucky you're in it".
"Well I don't", I sighed, "Can we stop? Please. Yeah Josh has his quirks but don't we all? Love conquers all and I love him. He'll change".
Lucia looked at me sadly and shook her head, her beaded braids rattling with the movement. "I wish I could see the world- people, through a kaleidoscope of color like you do Ari. You're an angel".
I smiled and brought my books out of my black crossbody bag. "Study time".
"Oh my gosh. That's a cute keychain", her eyes lit up and she took it in her hand, "Nezuko-chan".
I laughed and swatted her hand away. "Lucia, study".
° ° ° °
"Good luck on your test tomorrow Ari", Lucia called from her window as I walked on the street below her apartment.
"I just left Luce", I laughed but blew her a kiss nonetheless.
If I was that good to be around, how is it that Josh never wanted me?
I shook my head, my brown hair falling into my face. I wasn't going to let those thoughts haunt me. Everyone had their tastes.
I've known Lucia since I was six. I only met Josh in freshman year. There's no way you can compare the two of them.
My phone rang and I pulled it out of my bag, hoping against hope it was Josh.
It wasn't.
"Hi daddy".
"How're you doing? I didn't think you'd still be up", my dad said from the other end of the line.
"Me either. I went over to Lucia's place to study. I've got a big test tomorrow".
"Ahhh, our academic comeback is still on".
I laughed. "It is. I know I haven't been the most consistent".
He laughed. "Aria you haven't been consistent at all".
I laughed too. "Well it's a necessary evil now".
"Just do your best, muffles".
"Dad", I groaned, "I'm 19. I'm too old for you to still be calling me muffles".
"You're wrong sugar. You'll always be my little girl".
"Maybe not so little anymore. I'm technically 5'8".
"And I'm 6'2. Little Miss, your point is?"
I glanced up at the stairs leading to my apartment. I didn't even notice I'd gotten to my apartment.
"I'm almost home dad. I'll call you tomorrow after the test".
"Sure thing muffles", he chuckled.
"Dad", I groaned again.
"Did you have dinner? I don't know how you forget to eat".
"I was at Lucia's. Of course she fed me", I smiled and patted my stomach though he couldn't see me, "She made Cajun pasta with garlic bread".
"Alright. Just checking".
"Good night dad. I love you".
"Love you too muffles".
He hung up before I could say anything and I smiled wryly.
I sighed and made my way up the stairs to my apartment. If Mila was around, which of course it didn't matter, I wasn't taking that risk, it was safer to talk to my dad outside the room.
Her dad was in prison, so she didn't get to talk a lot to him. I get it. But at least her mom was still alive.
I blinked back the tears as I thought about my mom.
I walked hurriedly up the stairs. Fatigue was quickly setting in and I needed a solid six hours of sleep. If not, I'd be very cranky by my 8am test tomorrow. Caffeine worsened it for me, so I don't do coffee.
I checked the time. 23:30. I'd need to get up by six thirty so I'm not late. I had a serious running late problem.
I got to my door, which was ajar. My eyes ticked repeatedly. I took a deep breath to calm myself.
I couldn't walk in and yell at Mila because she left the door open. She might be asleep, one. Two is that I'm older. She's still finding her footing and I should show her the way, like an older sister would.
I walked inside, carefully shutting the door just in case she's asleep. I walked to my room and plopped down onto the bed. My bones melted into the mattress and I sighed.
"Harder", a breathy voice floated through the walls.
I heard Mila moan as I closed my eyes to sleep.
Did she bring someone? Mila's not like that.
I shrugged the thought away and snuggled deeper into my sheets. Then I heard a grunt of pleasure.
"Oh baby you feel so good".
My heart stopped beating for several breaths.
"Was that… Josh? No, that can't be right. He…" I stopped. I didn't know where he could possibly be.
I slipped out of the bed and quietly padded to Mila's room.
"What's if it's not Josh? Maybe I really am paranoid. Josh loves me. He told me so. He can't betray my trust like this".
The minutes I tiptoed to Mila's room felt like a millennia. I didn't know what to expect. If it wasn't Josh, I'd be mortified. Mila would never forgive me for barging in on her like that.
But deep down, I knew it was Josh. Call it self preservation, but I refused to believe it.
I stopped at her bedroom door.
"You feel so good", he said again.
"Better than that bitch?", Mila said and I felt a sting in my chest. I've never been anything but nice and sweet to her.
"Much. I've never even fucked her".
My throat was tight. I needed air, but I also needed closure.
"Mila", he groaned, "I'm coming".
"Give it to me. Fill me up".
He groaned loudly and I pushed the door open.
I gasped as I saw the lean muscular back of Josh spasming. He flinched and turned around.
"Aria?"
Mila's eyes went wide like saucers for a moment, then she smirked.
"You disgust me", I whispered shakily.
"Big whoop Aria. He asked you to come pick him up. Did you?", She made a mock sad face, "No. I did. And this was my reward. Damn Joshie, you're amazing. Too bad she cut you short".
The first tears rolled down my face and I coughed out a sob. I covered my face and ran out of the room.
"Aria wait".
I didn't. I rushed to the door and flung it open.
Josh grabbed my wrist and spun me around.
I slapped him. "How could you?"
"Aria it was a mistake. I was drunk. She got me an Uber. I told you to come pick me up. If you had, it wouldn't have happened".
"So it my fault?! I'm the reason you buried yourself balls deep inside my roommate?! Typical", I scoffed, "All I've done is love you. I gave you everything, but what did I ever get? You criticize me. I tried to be what you want Josh! What more d'you want?"
He gave me an annoyed look. "Could you stop yelling? I told you it was a mistake! Everyone makes those. You would know because you're such a klutz".
My heart broke into a million more tiny pieces. "I'm done", I said quietly and left the apartment.
"Aria.."
"Forget her Joshie. You want round two?"
I ran downstairs. Not caring that my neighbors were giving me weird looks.
I stepped outside and a clap of thunder mocked my heartbeat . Then it started to rain. Heavily. No mercy.
I screamed and thunder roared. My chest was incredibly tight and it was difficult to breathe. My knees crashed into the sidewalk and I gripped my chest, wheezing and crying.
I needed to forget. Josh. Mila. My mom. Everything.