The Bet

Chapter 20

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand

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

This is by far the hardest rebuilt I have ever done. Is it even worth it in the end?

I finished boxing up all my things last night. Most my belongings have already been brought down to my car. I walk swiftly out to the parking lot and pulled my car to the curb of my dorm. I walk back up to my dorm and grab the remaining bits. As I come down the sidewalk, I see my brother and Noah. I watch as Devon hands Noah something every familiar. I watch carefully as he opens it and begins to read what I had written. He glances back up at me and looks back down at the letter. Rereading it probably for the fourth time. I load my suitcase in my trunk and walk back inside to grab one more box. I walk back down the sidewalk with the box in my hand; not sparing Noah a single glance. As I look around to make sure I've gotten everything, I notice one item is physically missing. I walk back into my dorm building to retrieve the item. As I make it outside with my scrapbook folded against my chest; I make sure to walk with my head held high. My strides were made with confidence and I looked unbothered. I place the scrapbook into my front seat and begin to close all opened doors. I walk over to my brother and him as they talk about who knows what.

Noah...." I whisper out with a nod of my head. "I'll call when I make it home." I look over at Devin and say.

"I'll be waiting." Devin replies with a sad smile.

"See you at Christmas?" I ask my brother with the biggest puppy dog eyes I could muster.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world Ari. Be careful. Take care. And see that therapist I set you up with back home. Don't do anything stupid." Devin says in a warning.

"I see you two days from now. Be careful and wrap that thing. We can't have mini yous running around." I joke as I punch my brother's side.

"Whatever. Be careful Ari" Devin replies as he shoves me back.

"I love you." I whisper out. Either for Noah to hear or Devin. I wasn't for sure. Maybe both.

"Aria." Noah croaks out. His letters getting stuck here and there in the back of his throat. With all the courage I could muster to keep walking without turning around.

"Bye Noah." I softly say as I open my door and glide into my seat. Before I knew it, I was already exiting the parking lot. I complete the state drive, it's only a couple hours but my home is in a different state. To be precise, it's a three and half hour drive back home to Salem Massachusetts. As I pull up onto my road and can see my home at the end of the cul de sac. I can see my room from here. My room is on the third floor, it has the only room up top besides Devin's. His is on the other side of the third floor. We each have our own bathroom in our bedroom. I can tell our parents haven't went upstairs or if they did, they cleaned and placed my patio set and fake palm trees back into their original spots. I pull up into my gated driveway; with a click of a button, gate opens and the garage door slides up. Revealing my princess parking sign in an empty place..

My spot.

I climb out of my car and open the garage door that leads into the house. As soon as I step foot into the kitchen; Calum, my ten year old brother is chasing our fifteen year old sister Camilla with something.

"Cal I told you to stop running in the house. Don't make me repeat it again or I'll beat you with my chancla." Mother yells out at my brother.

"Not the Kélchí!" Calum yells out in fear.

"Yes the Chancla. Or Kéchí! Mom stops and sees me. "Oh hey Ari." Mom says as she turns her attention back to Calum. Three steps in she turns back around in shock. "Oh my goodness! Ari! You're home!" Mother yells out.

"Ari?!" Calum and Camilla yell out in a questionable shock. Before I could blink, I'm near hugged into the group.

"Ari, your father will be home in a few house. Unpack and take a nap. I'll wake you up for dinner." Mom rushes out as she shoves me towards the stairs.

Like a breath of fresh air, a smile grows on my face. Just maybe this is what I truly needed all along.

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