Keeping My Secret - Sequel

Chapter Three

*Aria's POV*

Nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks. I washed my hands with the purple, liquid hand soap that smelled like lavender and cotton spread out on a beach. I quickly dried my hands trying to make the water droplets on my skin disappear. It brought me back to when I was washing my hands in the hospital room after I lost the baby. The soap smelled the same, the towel felt the same, and the water was the same temperature.

I quickly left the restaurant bathroom after looking at myself in the mirror thoroughly. I was wearing a black dress paired with black wedges. My hair was curled, like usual, and my makeup was very natural.

I started walking towards the table where my family was seated along with my friends. They all looked at me in awe. I never thought I'd see the day Hanna would stop drinking her Gin and tonic to watch me walk to a table. All I heard was a bunch of white noise and, "Wow, Aria. You look amazing." It was hard to catch my breath and hard to remember to keep smiling. After three months in a nut house you forget how to be happy. I was faking everything the entire time; my attitude, my smile, my happiness. This all used to be so easy; so genuine.

| 120 Minutes Later |

"So, Aria. How does it feel to be out?" Emily said with a sweet smirk on her face.

"Uh, it feels fine, I guess." She looked at me and furrowed her perfectly plucked eyebrows. I turned away and looked at the empty seats in front of me. Everyone but Emily, Hanna, and Spencer left.

"What do you mean, 'I guess'?" She stammered. My hands started quivering.

"I just mean I'm not really sure yet. I've only been out for seven hours, Em," Spencer looked over, "Yeah, Emily. Stop giving her the third degree." Emily squinted at her and took a sip of her pink lemonade with a strawberry on the rim of the glass. I looked at my hands in my lap and fiddled with my fingers.

"I think I'm gonna go." I said as I looked at the three girls sitting before me. The ones I called my best friends. I was so lucky. I smiled at them and put down twenty dollars.

"Oh, okay, Aria. I'll call you." Spencer said, Hanna and Emily agreeing. I nodded my head. I walked out of the restaurant with the same anxiety I had walking out of Radley. Before I knew it, I was in my car.

| 10 Minutes Later |

I arrived at Ezra's apartment building and almost threw up with excitement. He came back to the same apartment when I went to Radley. I knocked on the door with force and got no reply. I was desperate for his affection that I would've broken the door down just to get in. I started to go through my messy bag to get to my keys. Once I found them, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs with a voice that sounded a lot like Ezra's. He didn't know I was back because I told my parents not to tell him, I wanted to surprise him. He was with a girl...I could hear the heels. Once they turned the corner, my heart stopped beating. He pushed her up against the wall and started to kiss her. I took the key to his apartment off of my key chain and threw it on the floor. One single tear fell to the floor as I walked past them; both of them staring at me as I drifted by.

-

Author's Note:

So, I know this definitely isn't one of my best, I tried though. I have a lot on my mind and this helped distract me. I love writing for you guys. Make sure to check out my imagines and send the requests the email given. Thank you! An update will be in twenty reads.