A Way Back To You

17| Ball

Definition: Definition: To make ready or able someone or something in order to achieve something.

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Trigger warning: This book deals with mentions and implications of abuse, mainly physical but potentially sexual. While the latter is never descript, reader discretion is still advised.

Note: Multiple Pov's will be included in this chapter. Please keep note of which pov you are reading to prevent any confusion. 

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With Ariana. Sunday, 6am.

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Ariana had enjoyed yesterday, and the day before that too. She didn't really like having dinner at the big house. It was scary to see Kaiko and Will. She couldn't explain why, but it seemed like Ant was scared of them too. They were nice, but Ariana still knew to be careful. 

Today, Ariana awoke with a funny feeling in her tummy and Teddy snuggled against her side, with Ice-cream on her other. She looked around the room, wondering why she felt funny. Brando said funny feelings came when something exciting or scary was going to happen. Was today exciting or scary? Ariana carefully got up, trying not to make a sound as she tiptoed out of her room with Teddy on her heels. Ant was still sleeping, she could hear him 'snoring', Maddy had said it was. 

Teddy made a funny noise as Ariana tried to get him his food. She didn't make any noise, no one would've known there was a child in the house. Ant said he had to get up to go check on the 'last minute' things, not that Ariana knew, nor had she asked, what that meant. No one else had seen it, but Ariana was pretty sure that she'd seen Ant hug Maddy yesterday. It was nice, but Ariana hoped Maddy was ok. She had seemed a little surprised when she came back inside. 

She could ask Brando about it. He was coming over today because Ant invited him and his mommy to the ball. But Ant also said that there were a lot of people coming. Ariana was nervous. She'd met her new bodyguard yesterday. He seemed very nice, and he was tall. But Ariana didn't want him, she wanted Ollie. He'd broken his hand or something like that accidentally, so he couldn't do his job properly, Ant told her. And Ariana got a strange feeling in her throat when Hamish, her new bodyguard, was by himself with her. Ant didn't know. She didn't want to make him angry. 

Teddy jumped up at her hands as she tried to get the jar of his food out of the fridge. It feel from her grip and hit the floor, hard. Ariana jumped, panic crawling into her chest. She glanced around and heard Ant getting up. For some reason, she panicked more, desperately trying to find somewhere to hide. She slipped behind the tv cabinet, a gap only she could fit in, as Ant came out of his room. 

"Ari?" He called. "Hey, I'm not mad. Don't hide, please." 

Ariana wiped at her face quickly. She'd started to cry. Ant sighed, probably realising she wasn't coming out, and set out to find her. Around 20 minutes later, he found her behind the tv cabinet and carefully pulled her out. "Hey, Princess." He said softly. "It's ok." 

She did it again. Ant was gonna be angry. "Sowwy." She apologised. "I got scawed." 

"That's ok. Don't be sorry. You've got nothing to be afraid of. Do you want something to eat?" Ant offered. "We've got to head to the Pavilion at 5 so that we're ready. Maddy's coming with Mina and Zelan and Wally and Al. She should be there at 6. Don't worry, ok? Everything is going to be fine." Ant explained. 

Ariana let him make her some toast and Teddy stayed at her side. Teddy barked at people he didn't know, so Ari felt more safe when he was with her. And he always listened very well. Teddy was the best present ever. "Ant?" Ariana asked.