Ginny and Georgia: The Younger Shadow

Chapter 35-Hearing Aria's Story
"Charlie! It's nice to see you here again. The girls are upstairs, doing God knows what!" Ellen's arms waved wildly in my direction and I thanked her and headed to Madi's room. I knew the Baker house like the back of my arm at this point, because I was here so often. Madi said it was my second home, and it felt like it too. Especially since I needed to escape somewhere from all the mess in my life. Everything was homey here. Comfortable and safe. There was a pleasant and rich smell wafting down from the kitchen that I noticed as I walked through the hallway, and the aroma made my stomach rumble. I hadn't had a chance to properly eat something after my hectic morning. I wondered about asking Madi and the girls to go to Blue Moon for some cakes and cookies as I opened the door. But there came a loud, painful groaning and muffled screams. My face twisted into concern and I could see Kara and Madi on Madi's large, unmade bed holding Aria in their arms. Madi was calmly stroking her flaming hair and Kara whispering some words to her. Because a pit dropped in my stomach when I saw my best friend crying on the bed, thick tears racing down her face, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably and her head dropped like a dying plant.
"Aria! What's wrong?" I flung my arms over to her, and Kara and Madi acknowledged me with a quick squeeze.
"Char, her parents finally got divorced." Kara explained, and by now Aria seemed to straighten up a little, though she still sniffled and there was a dull, faded look in her usually bright eyes. It unnerved me to see her like that.
"Finally? Finally? They shouldn't have got divorced! It's not fair!" Aria curled her hands into her fists with a searing expression painted on her face.
"Aria, it was going to happen sooner or later..." Madi tried, but Aria turned away and ignored her.
"Aria, hey. I know it's hard, but we're here for you. You know we're always here for you, right?" I let her rest her head on my lap like she always did, and I think I was really taught how sorrow was the true cause of anger, and it showed me how fragile we cold be. How we could break at the slightest news, which contributed to another tear in our hearts.
"I know, Charlie. I didn't mean to snap at anyone. I mean, I knew it would happen...my dad didn't exactly announce he hates my mom every night, but he's left and I don't know if he'll come back. How do you deal with it, Charlie?" My heart melted at her innocent green gaze, but I was stuck at her question.
"Well, my dad left before I was born, so I guess I don't know. There's always been some empty void in my life, but maybe some things are meant to be. My mom would say they're written in the stars." Aria snorted at those last words, and I was glad to cheer her up slightly.
"Aria, you deserve the world. Don't blame yourself for anything that happens between your mom and dad though, ok? I always blamed myself for my dad leaving. I thought- I thought that he never wanted me, but he would've been happy with just my mom."
I handed Aria a tissue and wiped a stray tear off her face before we got back into Madi's bed and all spoke together. We just talked. Talked for how long, I didn't know. We were all a bit lost lately. Tears had been spilt, laughter had been poured into our hearts, but our everlasting bond grew stronger.
"Hey, where's Abby? And Amos? Is your brother with your mom?" I asked as we munched on some chips Ellen had bought us.
"Abby's in Max's room. They're probably doing it." Aria giggled, and I hoped she was going to be ok. When one of my friends was hurting, it always felt like they were part of me too. Any pain felt was felt by us all.
"Wait, Charlie, didn't you say Ginny's dad came to visit you?" Kara asked, and I had almost forgotten Zion ever came. The thought had left my mind.
"Oh. Uh, yeah. Zion came in the middle of the night, but I don't know how long he'll stay. He also Ginny to some poetry mic thing, but I wasn't exactly invited." Kara raised her eyebrow mockingly, but sympathy was all in their eyes.
"But I don't want to make it about me, guys. I'm not that interesting." I said, taking another chip and Madi flung her black hair, that flowed as sweetly as a poet's ink and quill, saying,
"Not that interesting, huh? I feel stuck in a reality show! But we're all crazy lately." She added, and Kara bumped her shoulder playfully.
"Madi, did you take my pink pants from the shop Rainbow Icon?" Maxine strolled into the room with surprising ease and confidence. Abby was beside her, and she didn't look any better than Aria. But maybe she was the better sister at hiding how she felt.
"No one took your mangy clothes, Max! Why do you always blame me?" Madi got up and dragged a protesting Max out of the room, shutting the door with a hefty BANG!
"Where were we- yes-" Her face went from easy going to something unexplainable in a matter of seconds, and a lump welled in my throat as she stared at her phone screen, the brightness radiating literally to her face.
"Oh. My. Fuck." She breathed and grabbed my arm so hard I really thought she would make me pass out.
"Mads, what the-" She poked her lithe fingers to my mouth and her mouth twisted up and down as she seemed to be reading aloud to herself.
"Madison Baker, tell us what the flying fuck you're doing!" Aria jumped up beside her and snatched Madi's silvery phone from her.
"Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!" Aria's face seemed to stutter for a second, and I felt a wash of cold over me.
"A, tell me. What's made you guys go so gaga?" I pressed, twisting my hair into locks anxiously.
"It's Amaya. She thinks-she thinks she's found Jonathan Hills."