Ariella Garcia is an 18-year-old girl who dreams of leaving her current situation behind and starting a new life. She's fiercely independent, and her love for nature and animals is unparalleled. She's always surrounded by people who care about her...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Nic's voice shattered the silence. "You like her, don't you?"
I didn't bother to answer his question. Instead, I continued to fixate on Ariella, gracefully swinging back and forth, her locks bouncing in perfect sync with her movements. Dion was there too, giving her a gentle push every time she descended. The sight of her beaming with childlike joy made my heart skip a beat, as she kept talking with Hazel and Dion.
"I don't," I finally replied, although deep down, I knew there was a soft spot for her. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was her innocence or her ability to embrace her inner child.
"Wait, you like Ariella?" Lucas chimed in, sitting up abruptly.
I shot him a glare that could have melted steel. "Are you fucking deaf?" I groaned, exasperated by the obviousness of the situation. Lucas simply slumped back down, his expression saying he had already received his answer.
"You treat her differently," Nic observed. "How?" I asked nonchalantly, my eyes still locked on Ariella.
"I know she slept in your room," he said, raising an eyebrow. "So?" I shrugged, trying to downplay the significance.
"Alex, we've been friends since we were practically six, and I've never set foot in your bedroom before. Not even one of your hookups had the privilege."
"It's different with Ariella; she had a panic attack," I pointed out feeling the need to justify myself.
"Have you ever cared about someone's emotions like that before? With Ariella, I've seen you calm her down when she was crying. I didn't even know you had it in you. And let's not forget, you paid her a visit at her house yesterday," Nic stated matter-of-factly.
I found myself glaring at Nic as he lounged on the ground, arms folded behind his head, casually gazing at the sky. "Just shut up," I snapped.
He let out a sigh. "You know, it's okay to feel something for her," he said, unfazed by my hostility.
"It's not okay! You're forgetting who I am," I gritted through clenched teeth. "She could get caught in all of this, Nic. If anyone finds out about us, she'll be in danger. She's innocent, and in her eyes, I'm just a friend. That's all I see her as—a friend."
Nic simply hummed an infuriatingly calm response. At that moment, I had an intense urge to kick him, but I resisted the temptation.
I didn't even notice that Ariella, Dion, and Hazel were heading our way, grinning from ear to ear. They flopped down on the blankets, Dion pulling Ariella closer while Hazel rested her head on Nic's legs, all of them staring up at the sky.
"What were you guys talking about?" Hazel asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"The future," Nic replied with a sly grin.
I glanced over at Ariella, who was happily playing with Dion's hair. They looked comfortable together, and I couldn't help feeling a pang of envy. Dion had this natural ability to make everyone adore him, especially Ariella.
