In My Mind

Chapter Eighteen - Aria's POV

I hop out the shower. I don't even know why I'm upset. I mean, this has been going in for years. Maybe it's just because it's all so real now. Things are actually going to change...
I yell for a towel about seventh hundred times until finally Cara chucks me one. I slip on my white and pink polka dotted pyjama nightie and Cara doesn't judge me on the sweet little girl look.

I soon walk out of the bathroom and see Olivia in a pretty blanket fort and cry. It's beautiful. I haven't had friends for a while. I missed this...
"Thank You so much, I always thought that I never needed anyone, that all I needed was to find India's journal but then I met you guys and everything felt better. I didn't realise how sad I truly was until I met you. So thank you" with that we cuddled together, feeling closer to each other than we've ever felt before.
We watch the cheesy notebook movie that I've probably seen a thousand times. Then we watch If I Stay and I cry so much. Cara even sheds a little tear.
Finally we watch Gimme Shelter which isn't a rom com but I didn't really care that Cara forgot that. It still was a tearjerker.
"So," Cara says turning off the TV. "Want to put on a face mask?"
"Sure," I say.
Olivia stands up and heads to the bag. She starts mixing and Cara sits next to me and I sit with a blank face.
"Are you okay?" She asks concerned.
"I am," I mumble. "Thanks."
"What happened today?" Cara changes the subject seeing my uncomfortable mood.
"Not much," I reply. "I was mugged."
She laughs and so now she's a true friend.
"By who?" She smirks.
"Some girl."
She nods and there is a silence.
"Who was that girl?" I ask awkwardly.
She shifts uncomfortably but I can't tell if it was the question or the stuffed toy she was sitting on
"She was my old friend," she nods. "She returned from jail."
I see Olivia's ears perk up.
"Um..." She starts.
"What?" Cara asks.
"Ellie and I saw you at the mall..."
"What?" Cara replies sternly.
"We took a photo of you two..."
"Huh-"
"Nothing bad!" She says. "Just for fun..."
Cara closes her eyes and breathes.
"We are here for Aria so I will talk to you later."
Liv stops and nods. I feel worried. What happened?
"Let's play a game," I say randomly.
"Okay," Liv says. "What?"
"Never have I never ever," I reply.
They all nod.
"I'm not starting though," I bite my lip.
I hate going first at anything.
"I'll start," Olivia says. "I've never ever forgotten to feed my cat."
"That's boring!" Cara scoffs.
"Fine," Liv huffs. "I've never ever..."
She pauses struggling.
"I've never ever had my mum gone for as long as she is now," then silence. "I'm staying at my Grandma's until mum shows up. Please talk about something else."
I nod.
"I've never ever been kissed," I burst out.
"Aw," the reply synchronised.
Cara has a look in her eye as if forming a plan but I ignore that.
"Not even a peck in the cheek," Cara asks.
"No," I sigh and bite my lip. "I've never ever had a boyfriend except in year three when I boy 'went out' with me for a week as a dare..."
They look at me like I'm some kind of little baby and I blush. I hate it when people do that.