It's Real

Chapter 12

"Do you need a ride?" The guy who I saw yesterday on his lawn asked me through the open window. I could feel the heat coming out of the car. Without thinking about it I said yes and hopped in. It was so warm in here.

"Thank you so much." I said glancing at him. He glanced back with a smile.

"No problem. What are you doing in the rain so early anyway?" He asks eyeing the road. I could've asked the same thing. But I didn't.

"Oh, I was at a friends house. " I said.

"Oooh it's like that?" He asked chuckling. He looked over at me with a smirk.

"It's like what?" I asked curious as to what he was talking about. I honestly didn't know what he was talking about.

"Never mind." He said. I just shrugged it off. But I was still curious about what he was talking about.

"Ok then" I say. We share a look and then it goes quiet for a while.  I contemplate just telling to pull over so that I could just walk the rest of the way home, but I resist, thinking about not wanting to be in the cold and rain.

"Ok" He says smiling. "So how long have you been with your boyfriend?"

What? Where did that come from.

"Oh, I don't have a boyfriend. Why did you ask that by the way?" I say looking at the side of his head.

"Oh, You don't?" He grinned. "I only thought so because you stayed at a friends house." He said looking at me the entire time. I was getting kind of nervous.

"No I was at my friend Sarah's house. Well, not really a friend but I hung out with her and her friends. " I say in one breath. It was silent after that.

"So where is your house? I have no idea where I'm going." He said stopping the car in the parking lot of a Ralphs. He turned in his seat to face me. "So...are you going to tell me where your house is?" He asked with the same smile.

"Oh! Sorry! You just turn left here and then make a right then my house is like right there. " I say using my hands. I look at him and he looked confused but just started driving anyway.

In a couple of minutes we are in front of my house. As I'm about to climb out the car, he grabs my wrist. As I'm about to turn around and practically yell at him to not ever touch me he says,

"Wait, I didn't get your name." He said with a smile letting go of my wrist.

"Oh, it's Ariana, but just call me Ari." I say relieved.

"Ok Ari, I'm Marcus maybe we can hang out sometime? He asks with a smile and hope in his eyes.

No I want to say, but he looks to sweet to turn him down. 

"Yeah maybe..." I say hesitantly and begin to clear the car door.

"Great. I'll text you later or something yeah?" He says with that same smile.

I nod my head and finally close the door and start walking towards my front door.

When I tune around to see if Marcus left, his car was still there. He rolled down the window and waved to me. When I opened the door and got inside I stared at the back of his car as he drove away.

As I walk into the house I see my aunt  sitting on the living room couch. She's just sitting there doing nothing. I'm a little creeped out.

Not knowing what to say or do I just stand there. Waiting for her to say something or do something to me.

"Ari, please sit down. I think we need to talk. " She says patting the spot next to her on the couch. Finally she says something. I can't tell if she's mad or sad. I can't tell what she is at all honestly.

"Ok, I'm jut going to change out of my wet clothes first." I say walking up the stairs. She nods an ok and still continues to just sit there doing nothing. Strange.

When I'm changed and dry I walk back downstairs to my aunt. She's still just sitting there. I wonder what's wrong with her. I sit down on the couch next to her and prepare myself for what she is going to say.

"Ari, I know why I did was wrong about Sarah. When you left yesterday morning I followed behind you. But you didn't notice." She started to say.

She followed me? As I'm about to question her about it, she starts taking again.

" I saw you walking then you started to cry. I understand. I'm sorry about what I did. I should have just left you alone. It's just, I want to see you smile. You haven't smiled since...well you know" She let that topic go. "When I saw you cry, I almost broke down too. But I stopped myself. So I went home and drank a little bit." She said. She looked embarrassed to tell me, but I appreciated that she was being honest with me, but it still makes me mad that she drinks when she upset or something.

"Yeah I know. I saw the bottles on the floor." I say harshly. When I look to her face, she is emotionless, as if my words don't hurt her.

"Yes. I hope you can forgive me Ari." She asks grabbing my hand and patting it. I focused my eyes on her bracelet instead of answering her.

When I meet her eyes her face is filled with sorrow hoping that I can forgive her.

"Yes of course I can forgive you." I say with a sigh. Even though I know I don't really mean it.

"Ok, thank you Ari that's all I wanted to hear." She said then left to go upstairs.

What was that about? I honestly expected more from her. I guess not.