Querencia

Chapter Thirteen

Life is never simple and easy is it? There have been many points in my life where I thought the world wanted my life to be completely even. Get a good family, still an outlier. Get an amazing girlfriend, old boyfriend creates a mess. In this moment I feel good, stable, which of course only makes me worry more.

I see Sarah walking towards me with wide eyes and a stiff posture. "You'll never guess what is happening."

"Well it's been a week or so since the prank, so it's not Scott. He's not smart enough for a long game revenge." I comment.

She shakes her head rapidly "Not Scott, worse-or I guess weirder."

"You're not making sense."

She grunts and grabs my arm "Just come on."

She drags me down the hall, past many bewildered students, and out the doors. We come up to the parking lot where a small crowd has gathered around a car.

"Wow, loitering students, what a shocking twist of events." I state dryly.

She directs my jaw so I look at the center of the crowd "Look harder."

I hold back a groan as I roll my eyes in realization. I can't help but feel as if I jinxed myself. "You've got to be joking."

However, as I stare at the one guy Ariella has ever been with, I know this isn't a joke. He stands near his car as many other students conversate enthusiastically with him.

"Just when things are settling down? Really?" I hear Ariella as she comes up next to me.

"He hasn't reached out since he's been back?" I ask.

She shakes her head "Doesn't mean he won't though." She grabs my hand "Come on, I don't want him to spot me."

. . .

"You wanna talk about it?" I ask Ariella.

We're sitting the library, lounging in a window seat. Usually our free period would be spent outside, especially on a beautiful day, but Ariella felt like hiding.

"I don't know what there even is to talk about. It's been years."

"How 'bout why you feel like hiding? Or why you think he would reach out?"

"I told you we left things on rocky terms. He was firm, not entirely controlling, but what he wanted he usually got. He assumed I would let him live with me, he didn't even ask. So when I told him that I realized I liked girls, and only girls, he acted like I was making an excuse. Like I could still be with him since I had been with him for a year already, that our future he planned was still on track. When I wouldn't budge he rolled his eyes and gave in, but I knew he thought it was a temporary situation."

"I can see why your parents love him."

She cracked a smile "I just wish they didn't make it so complicated. I'm only attracted to girls, end of. Ya know? But because I don't want to cause conflict with my parents we pretend my sexuality doesn't exist. I don't know what to expect from Liam, but I know it's probably gonna cause a mess, just like Scott."

I grab her hand with mine "Then we'll handle it like we handled Scott, together."

She holds my hand against her cheek and smiles sweetly.

. . .

Avoidance has never worked for us. Me avoiding my feelings, avoiding my issues, and avoiding Ariella. Now Ariella is avoiding Liam, and I realize time has ran out as I see him sauntering across the cafeteria in our direction.

I groan a drop my head, nudging her arm.

"What? Oh."

I feel Sarah lean down next to my ear "This should be fun." She states dryly.

"Well if it isn't the woman herself, for such a popular girl you are a hard person to find." Liam quips as he sits in front of us.

I pick my head up, keeping silent so Ariella can take the lead.

"Been at school all day, maybe you weren't looking that hard." She smiles sarcastically.

He chuckles "Maybe not. Now that I found you though I think we should talk." He flicks his gaze at me briefly "Privately."

"No." She states.

His easy smile falters for a second "This isn't really a discussion for company."

She stays quiet.

He sighs "Fine, as the princess wishes. Now that I'm back, I need to know where we're picking back up from."

She cocks her head "What?"

"Square one? Mid-way? Where we last left off? It's not a difficult question." He laughs.

"I'm not confused on the question, just what it's referring to? Picking what back up?"

"Our relationship of course."

I purse my lips, trying to stop from laughing, even when Sarah leans into my arm to hid hers.

Ariella gives a startled chuckle "Well we weren't friends for long before we dated so I guess friendship would start at square one."

I smile at her trying to divert his question, knowing what he actually meant.

His smile doesn't reach his eyes anymore "You're as humor is as enjoyable as when I left. However, I do need an answer."

She sighs heavily "That is my answer Liam. For one, I only, only, like girls. For two, I'm taken." She grabs my hand "Happily."

He finally meets my gaze, and as he does I pull her hand to my mouth. Remaining eye contact, I kiss her knuckles before setting our hands on the table. I know my actions are a bit territorial, but I don't like how arrogant and demanding he is.

"Yes, I heard about your...girlfriend." He states slowly before looking back to her "I assume your parents are unaware."

She goes quiet.

He smiles "So their approval still remains with me. I will give you your space, but we know this-" he gestures to our hands "won't last. It's a brief flash in the pan, a fond memory to look back on. I see the appeal I suppose," he looks me up and down "for something..different."

I bristle but remain silent.

He raises an eyebrow "Do you speak?"

"When I need to."

"So when spoken to." He laughs.

"You should be thankful, you seem to love hearing yourself so much that I thought I'd make room for it."

"Smart mouth. Surprisingly."

"I'd watch your own mouth if I were you."

He smiles cockily "Why is that?"

"You're being a disrespectful prick."

"Am I? And why should I respect you?" He leans forward, trying to intimidate me.

I lean forward myself "You really wanna piss off the daughter of a lumberjack?"

His confidence falters briefly before leaning back and sighing heavily. He looks towards Ariella "You're lucky I'm patient." Then stands and walks away.