The Summer House

Chapter Three- You New Around Here

Aria climbs into her car with a half sleepy Annabeth sitting in the passenger seat. Annabeth has a tea thing for the debutante today, so Aria offered to drive her since she needs to re-register as a member at the club.

"What do you do for like work, like what's your job, because I never see you working, which is weird, cause with a house like that, there's got to be bills, plus food needs money, and you love shopping, so how is it that you make money", Annabeth quickly questions the adult. "Good morning to you too sunshine", Aria laughs lightly. "I'm serious, what do you do for a living", Annabeth exclaims as she sits up in her seat all the way. "Seriously, nobody ever told you, I figured your dad would, if not your grandma", Aria laughs lightly again. "Aria", Annabeth whines. "Alright, jeez, calm down", Aria giggles as she turns down the street to get out of their neighborhood.

"I'm a writer, I write books, a couple kids' books, some adult fiction, I haven't really written anything recently and my publisher/editor is down my throat about writing a new hit", Aria explains to the kid. "Maybe you could write about this adventure, you know, about coming back to your past, confronting it, and the progress to you marrying my dad", Annabeth suggests. "How about your dad takes me on a couple dates before I agree to marrying him, how does that sound kiddo", Aria giggles as she turns into the country club. "Deal", Annabeth smiles as they both climb out of the cars.

"Have fun, behave, and text me when you're finishing up, alright", Aria instructs as they start to separate. "Yes Mom", Annabeth responds back sarcastically while laughing. They separate fully and Aria can't help but smile, even if she was sarcastic, she's glad that the kid could have a positive role model for once.

"Hello, I think I need to re-register my membership here, it's been a couple years since I've been around", Aria greets the desk lady as she pulls out her checkbook and wallet. "Aria Romano, no freaking way, it's Jessie Montgomery, we were in the same debutante class together", the lady greets Aria back. "Wow, sorry, didn't even recognize you, how are you", Aria chuckles nervously. "I'm good, working here part-time in the summer to keep an eye on my kiddos with their friends", she explains. "Are you staying on the Romano property at the top of the lake, or are you living somewhere else", Jessie asks as she pulls up my old registration information.

"At the Romano property, I actually own it now, believe it or not", Aria chuckles as she pulls up whatever information she's supposed to pull up still. "I just need your check and the donation to re-register you for the next five years", she explains as Aria starts filling out the check while she scans my newer I.D into the system.

"You and I should catch up over tennis and lunch sometime soon, you can fill me in on whatever new book you're writing", Jessie laughs as she hands her back her membership card and she puts her stuff away in her purse. "Sounds amazing, I'm just going to go meet with the Debutant coordinator, make sure the girl I'm sponsoring has everything all set", Aria smiles as she walks away from the desk and into the building more.

"Well, I'll be damned, look what the tide dragged in", Lucy smiles as Aria opens her door. "Lucia Russo, damn you look great, it's been ten years since we saw each other in person", Aria smiles as the two hug. "What have you been up to", they begin small talk. "Writing and traveling mostly, I decided to settle down here for a little bit", Aria explains herself yet again. "What can I help you with, I'm sure you're not just here to ask about my recent hobbies", Lucy questions. "Well, I'm sponsoring a girl, I just want to make sure that everything's in place as it should be", Aria explains to her other childhood best-friend as they both begin the long grueling paperwork behind the debutant's process.

"Hey, how was it", Aria asks Annabeth as she walks towards her at the entrance. "It was good, a lot of nice girls there, some of the adults said they know you, that you were all in the same class together, there's photos of you all over this place", she explains. "You new around here, can I help you, you seem lost", Jake questions. "Uncle Jake", Annabeth cheers as she hugs her uncle. "Jake, always good to see you buddy", Aria smiles as he hugs her. "Hey, good to see you too, when the next book coming out, the guys and I have bets going", he explains as both girls notice him in his work uniform. "Not sure yet, you boys just keep placing them bets, alright", she smiles at Jake as he leads them back to the car.

"Do you think your dad would care if I took you somewhere for about an hour or so", Aria asks Annabeth while driving. "Probably not, I'll just text him and tell him we're headed into town", Annabeth answers as she types away on her phone before putting it back in her lap. "So, where are we headed", Annabeth asks. "You'll just have to wait to find out buttercup", Aria smiles at the young girl as she pulls out into traffic.

"How did you know about this ice cream place, literally only the top of the top people around here knows about this place, let alone go in there", Annabeth questions Aria as they eat ice cream next to the field of strawberries in front of them. "After each debutante event leading up to the ball, your dad and I would come here when we were fifteen, he said after hours of being taught how to be a proper adult, we deserved to be a kid for just fifteen minutes while eating ice cream", Aria fills in the young girl. "I hope you don't mind if I start this tradition with you", Aria speaks calmly with the girl. "I think I like this tradition", Annabeth smiles at the lady. "Good, I'm glad", Aria smiles back at the kid in front of her.

Aria walks back onto her porch as she looks out at the sky. Everyone knows what's coming up. She's not sure if she is entirely ready for it, or if she'll handle it. All she knows is that she won't let that kid see her at her low just yet. She doesn't deserve to see her role model fall apart.

Aria opens up the fridge and sees all her sad foods are where they should be. She opens the blinds in the living room as she grabs her laptop. Settling down in the perfect spot as Aria opens a blank document. Emails have been pouring in from everyone asking when she'll be sending the next chapter. She just needs to write something, even if a piece of her feels like it's dead inside at the moment. Watching the sun in the sky, she thinks about the only thing still on her mind. Bethany, her beloved mother, the person she misses most in the entire world.