Falling for the Fire

Chapter 47

*Ariana's POV

I got out of the office that night as quickly as I possibly could. Everything that I'd worried about with Brooklyn was happening, and I was irritated with myself for letting it get to this.

I couldn't stand to be around her after what had happened, but I knew that I was going to have to get used to it.

We still had about a month left before the food and wine festival, and I couldn't completely shut her out or we wouldn't get anything done.

I got into my car and texted Avery before I started home. I didn't want to admit it to her, but she had been right, and I needed someone to talk to.

"Come over and we can order dinner tonight?"

By the time I got back, she'd responded that she would be there soon.

I quickly changed my clothes and started to look through dinner options, and Avery came through the front door a few minutes later.

"Hey Ari," she said as she joined me on the couch.

She gave me a quick once over and very quickly realized that I wasn't doing very well.

"Wait, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Please don't say I told you so, okay?" I pleaded.

"Oh no..." she hesitated, "Brooklyn?"

I nodded as I felt tears prickling at the corner of my eyes. I didn't want to be this upset over her, but I had let myself get in way too deep.

"I talked to her last night, told her that I didn't want to just do the casual thing anymore," I said, "it um, it didn't go over very well."

"I'm sorry," Avery said as she patted my leg.

"I feel like such an idiot," I said, "I don't know why I thought this was going to go any differently."

"You thought that because she was acting like it was different," she said.

"Exactly!" I responded with a shrug, "I guess - I don't know, I must have misread everything."

"I don't know Ari," she said, "I wasn't around you two all that much, but I don't think you were imagining it."

"Then why did she say she didn't want anything more and give me some bullshit excuse that I was too good for her and she didn't deserve me?" I asked angrily.

"Because she's the one being an idiot," Avery said, "she's obviously got something going on that she's not telling you about, which isn't good either way."

"God I wish I could just be done with her," I sighed, "I don't want to have to see her every day."

"Yeah I'm sure that's not going to be easy," she said, "but you only have about a month until the event, right?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "something like that, it's still too long."

"Well maybe she'll come around eventually," Avery said.

"I don't think I want her to honestly," I responded, "after this I - I don't really want much to do with her."

"I get that," she said, "she definitely hasn't been the best to you."

"Well she was," I said as I leaned back on the couch, "but apparently she was just leading me on this entire time."

"Fuck I really should've listened to you," I continued.

"Well I am usually right," she teased.

I looked over at her and jokingly rolled my eyes as she grinned at me.

"I was hoping you weren't going to be about this one," I said, "really, really hoping."

"I know," she sighed, "I was hoping that too."

"I was really starting to like her," I said, "there's just - there was something about her, I don't know."

"I could tell that you were," Avery said, "that's why I've been so worried."

"And unfortunately you were right to be," I responded, "the way she treated me at the very beginning should've been a clue I guess."

"I'm not saying that she can't ever change," she said, "but it doesn't really seem like she has yet, whatever her reasoning for that may be."

"Guess not," I said as my shoulders slumped, "God I told her so much shit that I don't usually tell anyone but you, what the hell was I thinking?"

"I even thought she was starting to open up to me more too," I continued.

"Ari don't blame yourself for this," she said, "I think you did the right thing, telling her how you were feeling. You shouldn't feel bad that she can't figure out that she feels the same way."

"Well," I started, "maybe she really doesn't."

"Maybe not," she said, "I don't think that's the case, but even if it is, it's still not your fault."

"It feels like it is..." I trailed off, "especially after she made herself very clear from the beginning, and you warned me."

"I know," she nodded, "but you don't need to be so hard on yourself."

"That's what I do Ave," I said sarcastically, "I can't help myself."

She grinned at me and patted my leg again, and I squeezed my eyes shut and rested my arm over top of them.

"Let's order some food and get something to drink," she said, "you look like you need it."

"Yes please," I said in a muffled voice.

I wasn't sure that there was much that would make me feel better right now, but dinner and drinks would definitely be a start.

We got our food a while later, and Avery went to the kitchen and poured us each a glass of wine as I set everything out.

"You going to survive?" She asked as she handed me one of the glasses.

"Yeah," I sighed, "just need to be pissed about it for a while, but I'll get over it...I don't think dating is in the cards for me right now."

"We can be old and single together," Avery grinned, "don't worry."

"I'm not sure if I should thank you for that or not," I teased, "but I'll take it."

"You know," I continued, "I think I'm still going to blame this whole mess on Owen...if he wouldn't have cheated on me then none of this would've happened."

"You're right," she agreed enthusiastically, "keep the blame on him, he deserves it."

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