Once Again

chapter 13

Emory

Jessica did her best to act as if things were normal today, but around four she handed me forty bucks and asked if I'd order a pizza when it got close to dinner time. After that she went up stairs for a nap. I appreciated the effort though. Aria on the other hand wasn't happy about her mother not making it through the whole day. This confused me slightly, since she had acted as if she didn't even want Jessica around the entire time that she was downstairs with us. Truthfully I think  trying to navigate around Aria's feelings might have been what wore Jessica down so much, not that I was blaming Aria.

I was currently upstairs working on homework, and trying to eat dinner, despite the no food In our bedrooms rule, when my phone range. Well it didn't really ring as much as alert me that I was getting a video call. When I saw it was Bentley, I decided homework could wait and quickly answered. Leaning back in my desk chair I prop my feet up on the desk it's self, "hey, I haven't heard from you all day." I didn't want to start the conversation with, I know what's been going on and what you don't want to talk about. I figured that might be a bit overwhelming.

"Yeah, sorry, I took a nap after i," she then trails off. She looks like she so desperately wants to tell me about what's been going on, but won't let herself.

"It's no big deal, so wanna hear a funny story?" I suggest, and that pained look on her face is replaced with a light smile.

"Always," she then repositions the camera so that she can lay down while we talk.

"So early..." A few stories later she's laughing and I can tell that her mind is miles away from everything going on at her house at the moment. As I watch  her face light up I can't help but think about how much I enjoy seeing her like this. Almost like her self again. Then I thought about what Aria said this morning. She practically confirmed that Bentley had a crush on me, and I can't help but feel guilty. I was just going to end up hurting her again, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She stops laughing, watching me with concern now.

"Oh um nothing sorry," I try to cover. "Hey so um, Jessica told me about your fight with your dad this morning," I blurt out, then instantly regret it. Why was that the the topic I chose to change the subject too?

She instantly frowns, her entire demeanor changing. "How does your mom know about that?"

I look down, feeling horrible for bringing it up. "Your mom called the house looking for you, I guess she told her."

"Oh, well it wasn't a big deal, just a fight, it happens." She says, and part of me is annoyed that she won't talk to me. I hadn't broken my promise to her about keeping her secret, yet now she doesn't trust me.  "Hey um, I've been a sleep all day, and I haven't eaten yet, so talk later?"

I frown, "yeah, talk later."

She was struggling and she refused to talk to me about it because of something Aria did. It wasn't fair. It was as if Aria was still hurting her, by the choice she had made when she chose to go through my phone. Unfortunately for Aria she chose that moment to walk in. "Georgie passed out watching a movie with half a slice of pizza in his mouth I took a picture, wanna see?"

"What is wrong with you?!" I snap, I didn't mean too. I was just upset that I couldn't help Bentley and what Aria did happened to be on my mind at the moment.