Ever Since Middle School

Chap 5

Ari's POV
It was finally the Halloween party. Blake has already went to the party in his costume so I took the chance to get my costume on after doing my smokey eye makeup, red lips, and slightly curling my hair. "Time to join the party," I smiled. I joined the party and I saw Blake instantly. "Ari, wait for him to find you."
"Ari," BB said walking up to me.
"How'd you know it was me?" I asked.
"Ari, you can have a paper bag over your head and I'll still know it's you," BB replied. "Why are you dressed as a cat yet your not on full out cat mode?"
"Blake loves cats," I smiled. "Let's see if he could pick up on that note." I looked at the crowd and one mysterious stranger caught my eye. "BB, who's the well dressed guy with a mask?"
"You're asking the wrong girl," BB replied. "You should know. They're part of your guest list."
"Everyone's in costume," I replied. "You know I'm shy."
"Ari, you're in costume, its a role. It's easy to play a role, but being yourself, that's a challenge," BB replied. "He doesn't know you and you don't know him so go and talk to the guy. Yet, don't get too attached because you are with Prince Charming over there."
"Why did I imagine this conversation with Drew?" I asked. "I want to know why Blake dressed as Prince Charming anyway. I'll figure that after I talk to the masked man." I sighed. "I'll be around if you need me." I walked up the masked man and tapped on his shoulder. "Excuse me." He turned around to face me. That lip piercing and his somewhat grey/blue-ish eye were just so mysterious. With his hair covering part of his right eye, seems to make him even more mysterious. "I don't recognize you."
"My friend said that too," he chuckled. "I'm Adam. Adam Lundgren." He loomed at me. "And I don't recognize you. Are you friends with the hostess?"
"More like the same person," I smiled, now knowing who my best friend was. "Adam, I remember you now." I took off my mask. "I've missed you."
"Ari," Adam smiled as he hugged me. "I didn't even recognize you."
"Vice versa," I smiled. "Glad you could make it here."
"Well, I wouldn't miss my best friend's Halloween party," Adam nodded. "Who's house?"
"Mine and Blake's," I replied. "We bought it and now we have to find a job."
"That should be really easy for you," Adam responded. "You're determined and head strong. You could get a job just like that."
"I wish," I smiled. The party went on until the end. Everyone cleared out but Adam, Drew, Blake BB, and I. I sat on the bottom of the stairway. "Okay."
"The whole party, I couldn't find Ari," Blake sighed.
"She was right in front of you the whole time," I smiled. Blake looked at me and I took off my mask. "I was there the whole time, Blake. I would also like you to meet a friend of mine." Adam took off his mask. "Adam, this is Blake. Blake, Adam."
"Nice to meet you," Adam shook his hand.
"So, I am a little exhausted," I smiled. "And we still gotta clean this room." I looked at everyone. "Since you're all here, you're helping me."
"Man," Drew groaned.
"I'm pretty sure she worked her ass off to throw an amazing party," Adam nodded.
"With the help of Prince Charming of course," I smiled. "Also, with security walking all over the house. It was tough but we managed."
"I'm surprised," Blake nodded. "Didn't think we would have the place done in time."
"Well, you know Ari is always amazing on ---" BB was cut off by breaking glass. We all had our back turned to shield ourselves from the debris. I turned around. "I think the party's over unless that's a real ninja."
The ninja got out a samurai sword. "That's a real ninja," Drew nodded.
I quickly grabbed one of the samurai swords. The ninja swung at BB but I blocked the hit. "No one swings are my girl and gets away with it," I replied. "You crashed the wrong house, buddy."
"I think I got the right house," he replied.
"Wait a minute," I said. "I know that voice." He swung at me again and I managed to make him let go of his sword. I took his mask off. "Mike." I relaxed. "What the hell, dude?!"
"I just thought that maybe I could kick your ass when you're caught off guard," Mike replied. "I guess I was wrong."
"You two know each other?" Drew asked.
"We met on the combat boat," Mike smiled. I let out a sigh. "They didn't know?"
"They think it was a year of education on a boat," I sighed. "It wasn't. It was a combat boat for self defense like law enforcement. I met Mike on the boat after he approached me because his mentor wanted to recruit me."
"Recruit?" Adam questioned.
"I'm the green Samurai Ranger," Mike confidently stated. "We are the rangers team here in NYC. Ari, offer still stands, by the way."
"I don't even know if I want to be the pink ranger," I replied.
"Do it," Blake nodded. "I know you can and I don't wanna hold you back."
"Mike, I tell you what," I sighed. "Pick me up at nine in the morning and I'll take a whirl in the dojo, and, if I love it,I'll take it into consideration."
"We do get paid," Mike nodded. "See you in the morning."
"Bye," I smiled. He jumped out of the window. "Why do you want me to be a ranger?"
"That way I could say you're my superhero," Blake smiled.
"Smart guy, its supposed to be the other way around," BB joked. "But its a good occupation. You should do it, Ari."
"And possibly get myself killed?" I asked. "Thanks but no thanks."
"Being a detective in the SVU is even worse," Drew blurted before I could cover his mouth. "And probably shouldn't have mentioned that."
"Detective?" Blake asked. "Damn, I'm dating a badass."
"Shut up," I rolled my eyes. "I just wanna be something that keeps me alert." I smiled. "Especially living in a big house. Anyone could be hiding here."
"With the security we hired, I highly doubt it," Blake nodded.
"Really?" I asked. Blake nodded. "Adam, get your friend put from behind the curtains."
"Sam," Adam dropped his head. Sam walked over to us. "How'd you know?"
"I always do," I smiled. I saw a red dot on Adam's suit. "EVERYONE DOWN!" We all hit the floor and as soon as we did, a gunshot was heard. I got up and started running. I got to a closet and opened it. I got out a shield. "Adam!" I threw it to him. "Go!" Everyone got behind the shield as I put on my bulletproof vest. I grabbed a gun. "You got this, Ari."
"What is she doing?" Sam asked. I got up. As soon as I turned around, a gun clicked near my head causing me to put my hands up letting the gun hang on my index finger. "Ari."
I looked at who it was. "This is between me and you," I replied. "Just let them go."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," he replied. "Little Ari never learns, does she?" He left a sinister smile. "Always playing fire with fire."
"You don't know what you're talking about," I nodded. "You know nothing about me. I've changed since then."
"Not even a bit," he responded as he took my gun away from me and put it on the ground. "You put on a brave face but underneath all this Ari Armor you're just a scared little girl."
"That's where you're wrong," I nodded. I dropped and swiped my leg under him, causing him to fall. I grabbed the gun and pointed it at him. "Guys like you are the reason I kept fighting. The reason I'm not the girl who hides in a corner anymore." Everyone got out from behind the shield. "You're the reason why I am stronger than I ever used to be."
"Ari, you're a little close to the edge, don't you think, sweetheart?" Blake asked.
"I wouldn't if I were you, Blake," BB replied.
"BB's right, Blake," I nodded. "I brought you guys into this mess and never would I had the chance for this moment if I hadn't taken the risks that I did."
"Well, could you answer at least one question for us?" Drew asked.
"Yes, and I just answered your question," I responded, still holding the gun steady on the guy. "You're not leaving here with what you came for."
"What do you think I came for?" he asked. "You're a girl with many talents, Ari." I looked at him. "You're known as the Treasure."
"I'm what?" I asked.