Coexist // Dave Franco

chapter 1

***8 years ago***

-4th grade-

Aria's POV

"Alright kids listen up!" yelled Ms. Freeman "All of the desks have a name tag on it, so once you find your name sit down and be quiet." I roamed around the room with my three friends Demetria, Stella, And Jocelyn. They all ended up finding their seats quickly and as for me being clueless one I couldn't find it. I swear I looked through all the desks, how could my name not be he--

*thud*

what the heck?

I bumped into a brown haired boy who was an inch taller than me but he wasn't the most attractive guy I've seen so far. then again he didn't look familiar from last year so he must be new.

"oh sorry my bad." the boy said.

"oh um its cool" I said quietly looking past still trying to find any empty seats that possibly could be mine.

"I-I'm Dave by the way" he said with a slight smile.

"Aria. are you a new student I haven't seen you last year?" I asked.

"uhh yeah kinda. And I think you sit next to me..well because it says your name and your the only one still trying to find your seat. " Dave chuckled.

thank god.

"oh okay cool thanks" I said as he lead me to my seat.

"Okay Aria. are you good?" asked Ms. Freeman referring to me finally finding my desk.

I fake smiled and nodded. I hated being called out by the teacher. I was a shy goodie goodie and I bet my face was red while everyone laughed at me.

"Well then," she continued facing everyone else "I have an evaluation sheet for you guys to fill out. It basically has common questions like favorite color, favorite food and all that good stuff.. this is more for you to interact with everyone, make new friends, and find out what you like and dislike.."

She kept taking about the worksheet as she passed them out to everyone and she even started talking about herself which I honestly couldn't care less. ok that was mean but you know what I'm talking about.

I got the worksheet and started to fill it out

Name: Aria Thompson

Age: 10

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Pizza? no strawberries. NO. watermeleons no no no I like sushi. you know what I'm leaving it blank for now. god I'm so indecisive.

Hobby: Art

Favorite Movie: The Little Mermaid

Favorite Animal: Elephant

Favorite Show: Wizards of Waverly Place

"When you finish you can switch with anyone around you so you can get to know them." Ms. Freeman said

"you w-want to switch with me?" Dave asked looking at my paper.

"uh sure, but I'm not finished yet" I told him awkwardly

"that's alright let me see what you have so far"

He gave me his paper and I hesitantly gave him mine and quickly noticed one thing in common, he was an artist too.

"so you draw?" I asked

"yeah sort of. you too?" he smiled

"haha yeah. I'm more into painting landscapes not people"

"cool. I'm more of drawing cartoons"

"can I see some of your drawings?"

I was starting to get interested if he was actually good.

"haha. no"

"what? why not?" i asked

"cause you might not think its good"

"well how would I know? let me see them" I told him

Dave and I got along really well. For starters he is a really good artist. We would always play together at lunch. 'play' as in we would go to the tree house at the back of the school and just talk for what seemed like hours. He became one of my best friends. And I felt like I could tell him anything. We would always get in trouble for talking or fighting with each other and we'd end up getting detentions which was even worse because we would talk more in detention. I sure wasn't a goodie goodie anymore, Dave was the only person who could let out my wild side. He taught me to live a little. Sure I got grounded a bunch of times and plenty detentions but it was worth it cause Dave and I would just laugh about it. My 4th grade year was probably the best.

"Come on Aria! Hurry!" yelled Dave as he helped me up into the treehouse.

"Goodness Dave why are you such in a rush?"I said looking up at him from the ladder.

"just hurry!"

"Dave I don't think this is a good idea. we can't sneak out of detention again." I said worriedly

"We've done this a bunch of times Aria"

"I just feel like we're gonna get caught this time."

"We're not. Trust me."

I sighed as I got into the treehouse. nobody knew about this treehouse because it was hidden behind by a bunch of trees and Dave and me convinced people that found it that there was rats up there. but there weren't.

"Okay. So? What's so important?" I asked

"Look." Dave said pointing behind me

I turned around to see a beautiful sunset. I was breathtaking. Especially with the silhouette of the buildings. I definitely need to paint something like this.

"Wow" that's all I could manage to say.

"I know right."

He started to lay down on the floor.

"Come on." he said patting the hard floor next to him.

I laid down beside and he opened the roof to reveal shades pink, orange, and purple.

"It's so pretty,"I said mesmerized "why'd you want to show me this?"

"Why? well like you said it's beautiful... Aria I need to tell you something" he began

"What is it?"

"um uh-" He stuttered. "I- uh, um I-"

"You what?" I asked confused.

"I uh wanted to.." He said trailing off. "..wanted to know what would be the number one thing on your bucket list? Or you know places you want to go, the perfect date before you die, meet any famous people.."


"Yeah I get it," I chuckled," Um before I die? I don't know I'd probably want to go travel to anywhere honestly. It would be fun. And I've never had a date, but a fun first date would be to watch a drive-in-movie."

he stared at me for a good 5 seconds.

"What?" I asked confused

Dave started bursting out in laughter.

"HAHAHAHA OH MY GOD!" he said in between laughs

"What's so funny?!"

"Why would you want to go to a drive-in movie before you die? Like what movie would you watch?" he said still laughing

"I don't know okay. It's something I want to try and I don't know what movie but it would be a good one"

"oh I know Forest Gump."

ugh. he always kept asking me about this movie. he has been trying to get me to watch for months

"Ugh, why are you obsessed with that movie?"

I didn't let him answer before I asked him "What would you do before you die?"

"Hmm I'd probably want to hike to a high cliff and jump off it into the ocean." he said sternly

"That's pretty cool I guess"

"I guess? What do u mean?"

"I'm afraid of heights" I admitted

"wow. really?" he sighed "okay let's make a promise"

"what?haha"

"if I take you to a drive in movie you have to go with my to jump off a rock cliff into an ocean"

"as much as i want to go to a drive in movie. i am not jumping off a cliff."

"come on Aria when we get older i bet you'd conquer your fear by then"

"okay fine"

"pinky promise?"

"pinky prom-"

"HEY THOMPSON AND FRANCO GET DOWN HERE NOW! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN DETENTION!"

why do I always get interupted?

"oh no its Principal Lewis"

"oh my god. I told you we would get caught Dave! I am so dead"

-8th grade-

Dave and I drifted apart the last few years. After 4th grade we ended up in different classes until this year. My mom got pissed off obviously and she told I was to never hang out with Dave again. But I don't care anymore. Dave became a jerk. He started hitting on my friends and he would make me feel like i was worthless. Everytime he would walk up to my friends he greets all of them except me. He even dated my bes friend Jocelyn and cheated on her. oh and on top of that he's not even a virgin.

We just graduated today and right now im at our last dance. I wore a maroon and black sweetheart dress with black wedges.

Everyone was crying it was like somebodys cat died for crying out loud. I just couldn't wait to leave. all of this Dave drama has to go and when we go to seperate high schools i'll forget all about him. all of my friends were going to a different school and i was by myself so i have to make friends. yay,

its already midnight and my parents were supposed to pick me up 2 hours ago but thats what you get for having parents who like to drink. i went downstairs to the lobby and wait but obivously Dave just had to be there. please don't see me please don't see me please do-

"hey aria."

oh god dammit.

"hey."

i was quiet for a few seconds. you can literally feel the awkwardness.

"you look really, really nice" he smiled looking at my chest

what a pervert

"thanks.. but um my parents are waiting outside so i got to go." i lied

"oh well before you go uhm i just wanted to say im sorry. and even though we haven't talked in years i'm gonna miss you"

"you too"

he came closer and opened his arms to hug me and i hugged him back. i had to admit that was sweet of him. but only if he would've talked to me like that 3 years ago we could've been friends still.

"bye aria" he said letting go

I smiled turned around and that was the last time i saw him.

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author's note: okay so feedback would be nice ja feel? i feel like this was a long chapter i had writers block and it wasn't supposed to be that long of a flashback. but whatever. so please vote and comment for the next chapter:)

love always,

daaydreamer_