The Bet

Chapter 14

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." -Helen Keller

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No matter what the kind gesture looks like; he still hates my guts.

Those forest green eyes meet the same deep ocean blue eyes then a scowl forms on his striking face. And I know it's all because of me. The knife I plunged into him, hit deep.. Deeper than I thought. Deeper than I intended. The scowl on his face reminds me daily, I'll never be able to put that certain smile back on his face... Ever again. It reminds me daily of the horrid bet I took and the consequences of it. I damaged a person who shouldn't have been a target in the first place. I damaged myself, whom I thought never could get hurt from such an innocent bet. I damaged my fractured heart that hadn't fully healed from the start. The damage I done to it is irreversible. The same damage I caused myself; I done to Noah... Our bond is irremediable and I'm the cause of it. The more I try to fix the damage I have done; the more I realize the repair is unrecoverable. The more of me becomes fractured... Broken. I realized in the shorten time.... Noah is truly irreplaceable. My heart, my body, and my soul craves him. He was like the fresh of air I didn't know I needed. He was like the sunlight peaking through the clouds on a cloudy day. Dancing on my skin. I never knew Noah would become so important to me. Yet, he walks around as if I'm a stranger, which is my own fault. He walks around as if he isn't mangled like I am. However, we both know he's just as injured as I am. He's just a broken as I am. I truly don't believe he'll ever forgive me. And if he does, it'll be a miracle sent from above.

Every time I try to attempt to go to class, one look at Noah and his scowl has me dashing the opposite direction. Silly how I can't go to class because of one guy. But again, it's my doings. I don't blame Devin. I don't blame my friends. I don't blame Noah. I blame myself, I could have said no to a silly bet; but I didn't. I took it as if there wouldn't be an effort on the outcome. Like there was no way I could harm a hard as stone Noah. There's consequences to actions and I've finally met mine. I hardly speak to anyone now. After Owen, I changed but I still had friends. Different groups of friends but nonetheless, friends. Now, I stick to myself. I utter a few words to my dorm mates. I utter a little more words to my twin, Devin. But I'm rarely seen outside with any of them. I party a lot more when I'm not stuck in my broken shell. Alcohol and Devil's Lettuce... Maybe a little more than those two, help me forget just how fragmented I am.

Here I am, face first in a toilet... Too much to drink does this. Even if I'm throwing up, I know once I exit the bathroom; I'll be sober. Sober enough to realize that I'm broken... The realization will have me needing alcohol again. And I'll end up with a massive cup of tequila and dr. pepper in my hand.... Maybe it'll be a tequila sunrise or a tequila sunset that'll make its way in my grasps. Any drink will do at this moment.

As I exit the bathroom, I bounce down the hall and chase into a body. Glancing up I realize too late who I ran into. Judging by the tattoos on their arm, I already know whom it is. I swerve around Noah without looking up at him. I already know there's going to be a scowl on his handsome features. Why look up to see the anger on his face? I've learned by now don't look up at Noah. I pretty much skip towards the kitchen and mix myself a tequila sunrise.

"Aria. Do you think it's a great idea to drink more. I mean you're high as a kite on Klonopin." Devin says in a worried voice.

"Like you're not? Hypothetical much? About like the time I took a silly bet that I shouldn't have? Where was the caring brother then?" I snap back as I move around my brother. Who do you think I get the pills from? Devin has a whole stash in his room. He takes them for his anxiety but it also became his downfall. The doctor prescribed him more than he needs in a month supply leading to his misuse of the medication. I rarely took his medicine for my own anxiety. Sometimes I truly needed it. I hated doctors so I never went to get my anxiety under control. Something I should have done but I was too scared of how any medication would get me hooked. I mean I was scared to take Tylenol like I could become addicted to such a thing. Yet, here I am depending on my brother for his klonopin. What happened to Aria who was scared of even taking Tylenol? Apparently lost in the back of my drunken mind... Forever lost.

"Seriously Aria. You can't drink that much on them. You have to be careful." Devin warns as he catches up to me.

"Like I previously said before dear brother.... Hypothetical much?" I growl out with my brows furrowed. Making hideous wrinkles against my skin.

"Ari. Just take a break. Step back before you damage yourself anymore. Take a semester off or a year off. Get yourself back together." He pleads. One look at Noah crushes my shattered self even more.

"Can't be damaged if I'm already dead." I reply with no emotions on my face. I chug the rest of my drink and toss it on the cup filled floor beside me.

"Anyways I'm the reason I'm so broken. Why do you even care." My whisper is barely heard over the loud music. I still look over at Noah who I know is reading my lips. Devin looks in the direction I'm staring at...

Noah.

"He'll come around. Mend yourself the proper way. No need to go to the grave early Aria." Devin yells out in frustration.

"I'm already dead so you worried a little late there brother." I laugh out like a lunatic.

"Please Ari. Go back to be the hood twin. The Angel." He pleads again.

"God you're killing my buzz with your nagging." I groan in frustration. Noah is meters behind Devin now watching the encounter.

"Go home and rest. You'll fix yourself one step at a time." His voice is stern like there's no debate. My defiant ass looks Devin the eyes.

"The damage is already done. It was done the moment I took that stupid ass bet. Deal with it. This is me and this is what that Angel of a sister has become. Write an article about how Aria Leanne Quinn, the golden child. The girl who was the captain of the dance team went down hill. The golden child has nested into alcohol and drugs. I don't really give a shit. Like I said..." I pause to catch my breath through my rant. "The. Damage. Is. Done." I growl out emphasizing each word. Before I turn on my heels, leaving my brother standing like a statue. I notice Noah standing directly beside my brother. His face doesn't hold his usual angry scowl. Instead he has worry placed on his features. I spin around and head away from the party... Back towards my room. All I know is.....

I'm going to have a massive hangover when I wake up.

: ¨·.·¨ :
' ·. 🦋
╱|、
(˚ˎ 。7
|、˜〵
じしˍ,)ノ