S[HE] Be[LIE]ve[D]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN A PROMISE

ARIA

"Aria are you ok? You seemed to be in shock. Do you know that guy? asked Janice.
"You know you can tell us anything, that's what we're here for." added Angela

I sat down and wiped the tears in my eyes.

"Hey, there's no rush to go bowling if you're not up for it anymore, everything ok?" Aaron patted my shoulder and sat beside me.

It took me awhile to speak.
"It was Alex.." I finally said. "Oh my God! That was him?" Janice said shocked the she covered her mouth before she can say anything.

"Ok, you know what he's not worth thinking over. It's clear he had moved on so should you." Angela sat in front of me on the floor as she held my hand.

"You want us to drive you home?" Asked Jamie.
"Yeah, I better get home, do you mind Jamie?" I blurted as I went beside him clearly I am not in the mood anymore for anything.

"Not at all." "Ok guys, see you all tomorrow." As Jamie placed his arms around my shoulder and headed for his car.

He opened the door for me and once I'm inside he turned to face me.

"Aria, I don't have any idea what you've been through with that guy, but its obvious you got strucked hard. You can share it with me if it makes you feel better. I won't judge, just here to listen."

I told him everything and after that I cried in his arms. He patted me and offered if I want to have sleep over in his place. I agreed. I texted my mom and my family knows Jamie and they trust him. The lights in their house are still on when we came.

"Are you sure your parents won't mind?" I asked him tugging on his shirt.

"Nope. They know you. That's fine. You can sleep in my bed I will sleep on the floor. Everything should be fine." "I can stay up and talk to you until we fall asleep." We did just that and I felt calm and relieved.

"Jamie! Jamie! Open up! Prrrrtttt!!!!" I woke up to the sound of the whistle. Jamie stood up groaning.
"Aaahhh!! Tabitha! It's too early!!" "Mom! Can you get her please?" As Jamie's mom came running up the stairs.

"Sorry, Tabitha honey, let's finish your breakfast downstairs." Mrs. Schoeller said.

"Sorry about that. My sister is annoying at times." Jamie said while closing the door.
"Well, I find it cute! I never had a baby sister. I need to head back anyways, Mom must be waiting for me." I started getting up.

"Stay for breakfast mom cooked bacon, eggs and even oatmeal." "I'm not accepting no for an answer." He blinked and pulled my hand.

"Looks like you trapped me." "But first things first, washroom!"

I managed to escape his hands and grabbed my bag, brushed my teeth, combed my hair. I had to look presentable on the dining table.

We sat on the dining table with Jamie beside me sitting across him was Tabitha. Mrs. Schoeller gave us plates and utensils and a bowl for the oatmeal.

"Good morning Mr. And Mrs. Schoeller. Good morning Tabitha."

"Good morning." They all said. Mr. Schoeller stood up to get some coffee. He motioned for me to sit down.

"Don't be shy Aria, eat as much as you want, you're family here." I smiled and blushed at her words.

"Thank you Mrs. Schoeller." As she handed me a tall glass of orange juice.

"Oh." She said waving her hand. "Call me Emma." She smiled at me. She is a very nice woman. She has blond hair like Jamie and oval shaped face as well. She works as a bank accountant.

"Sorry for waking you up my daughter Tabitha is playful she is very close to her brother. Saturday is park day for both of them in the morning that's why she came knocking making noise to wake up her brother."

"But not today honey, Jamie has a visitor." As she looked towards Tabitha.
She is a three year old little lady, with brown curly hairs like his Dad she was poking her bananas on her fruit bowl.

"Are you Jamie's girl?" She suddenly asked.
All of us laughed at her comment. "Honey, she is a friend. His classmate." Mr. Schoeller said.

"Would you like me to come to the park with you?" I asked changing the subject.

"Wow! That would be awesome Jamie's girl!" She gave me a thumbs up.

Ok. That didn't help I was still labelled Jamie's girl. Lol.
"Oh oh! You sure? You sure? Pinkie promise!" Tabitha went down to go beside me and we did the pinkie promise on our fingers.

We finished our breakfast and Tabitha grabbed my hands and pulled me towards the front door. She can't wait for an adventure.

We brought Max, their dog with us to the park. "Hey, thanks for doing this." Jamie said as we sat on the swing watching Tabitha play on the sand.

"No Problem." "Once in a while it's nice to be a kid again." I blinked at him.
"Thank you for having me at your place and for listening to my drama last night."

"Oh not at all. Anytime." He blushed. Jamie is a real nice guy. But then I cannot go beyond boundaries, although it's harmless I don't want to get hurt again.

We went to get ice cream and hotdogs for Tabitha, played ball and tag. My mom suddenly called informing me I should head home as Erika and her Fiancé will be at our house this evening. I bid goodbye to Jamie and Tabitha and started walking two blocks away heading home.

ALEX

I was so nervous to be meeting Erika's parents finally after she said yes to my proposal last night. I know I should be happy and relieved that I am settling down but I don't know why Aria's face from last night kept on popping in my head. That got me into thinking did I do the right thing? Was Erika the right girl for me? Or was it Aria who I let slipped out of my hands without fighting for her....

Erika blindfolded me as a surprise for me not to know where she lives but will see everything upon sitting on the dining table. Which I totally don't understand why it is necessary but she insisted on it, so she drove my car on the way to her parents house and me blindfolded beside her. That got me into thinking shouldn't it be the other way around? She is full of surprises, my woman.

As I entered the house I felt an unexplainable nervousness. Her mom greeted us on the entrance and she wanted to remove the blindfold but Erika said to wait for everybody at the dining table. Her mom told us that his Dad is still in a work meeting and will join us in an hour.

"Oh great that means I get to be blindfolded for another hour?" I whispered to Erika. Which she find so amusing that she laughed it off.

"No Baby. We can remove it as soon as we get to the dining table." "Dad informed Mom we can start without him." She said patting my shoulder.

"Oh! Thank God!" I sighed.

As soon as we sat on the dining table. Mrs. Summers introduced herself.
"Nice meeting you Ma'am. I also know someone by your surname though only by name but haven't met the mom yet only the Dad. If that is in any way made sense." She chuckled.

"That's my other daughter Erika's only sister." "Honey let's remove his blindfold now." Erika started removing it off my eyes as soon as I opened my eyes I could not believe who was seated across my chair.

It was Aria. I felt a sudden pain twisting my tummy until it reached my throat like I was gonna choke or vomit at the same time. I wanted to run or hide under the table. But I have to be a man and deal with the situation.

"Aria, meet my fiancé Alex." Aria did not move at all. She was dumbfounded. Tears suddenly came flowing on her cheeks.

"Honey, is something wrong?" Mrs. Summers asked.

"Mom, may I be excused?" She didn't wait for her response with that she stood up running up the stairs.

"Excuse me for a minute I will just follow Aria." She stood up and I stood up as well. Erika faced me then confusingly asked. "Is there something going on?"

This is the worst night ever, I cannot stand and wait for Mr. Summers until he gets home. I am in big trouble right now. I just want to head home and be done with it.