All I've Ever Wanted and More

10. Official

I woke up with the worst headache. When I opened my eyes and turned over expecting to see Ariana, she wasn't there. I started to have a little panic attack, and jumped out of bed. I ran out of the room wondering where she went.
"Bella do you know where Ariana-" I said stumbling upon my words when I realized Bella was sitting there with Ariana having breakfast together.
I was relieved that she was safe, but she had a light bruise on her cheek from the horrible night before. It was noticeable from where I was standing, and I felt extremely bad.
Without a word I turned back around and went into the bathroom so I could look for some headache medicine. I found some on the bottom shelf and plopped some of the medicine into my mouth. Then I threw on a shirt and joined the girls in the kitchen.
"Good morning sleepy head." Bella said not looking up at me but continuing to read her magazine. Ariana avoided eye contact with me because of her bruise and I think she felt embarrassed.
I could tell she was ashamed of it and didn't want me to see her like this. "Bella said I could stay here for as long as I want until I find a more suitable home, and I am not going back to my house." She said softly.
Bella got up, "I have to go to work, I'll bring dinner home later." And she left the now silent house. I took a seat where Bella was just sitting and it was across Ariana.
I stared at her until she looked up at me. She hesitated but eventually made eye contact with me. The bruise was way worse up close. "You can stay here for as long as you want. Anything here, help yourself to." I said reassuringly. Ariana nodded her head and finished her breakfast.
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened last night?" I asked softly hoping it wasn't too much of a sensitive topic. She hesitated at first but then spoke up.
"Well when I went home last night after finding out about Mikey, my dad was drinking. And then he told me I was coming home too late recently and I said I was sorry. He told me that wasn't a good enough answer and I should stop talking back. Then before I knew it, he was yelling and hitting me. My mom doesn't do much because she's afraid of getting hurt too."
She took her hand and rubbed over her bruise. She closed her eyes probably as memories flashed by. By what she told me, I was angered.
Angry at her mom for being to selfish, her dad for hitting her, Mikey for leaving her, and myself for not stopping this sooner. I couldn't even imagine how long she's suffered from this.
"It's okay he won't hurt you now. I'm here." She got up and pulled me to the couch and she sat down next to me. "I'll be right back." I said and jogged over to my room. Scrambling through my sheets I tried to find the bear I got Ariana the night before. I couldn't find it at first, but then I spotted it on the ground next to the bed. Picking it up I walked out of the room with it.
As I walked out, Ariana had her eyes locked on it. "What's that?" she asked. I sat back down and looked at the thing instantly feeling insecure.
"Well, yesterday after you left the fair, I felt really bad and I thought I should get this. To cheer you up. And I went to go give it to you at your house, and that's when everything went down." I explained to her and waited for a response. But then I thought maybe I should actually give it to her first, so I handed it out to her and she took it for an exchange of a smile.
"Thanks, it means a lot." And then she gave me a hug. But this hug lasted for awhile. I enjoyed it and I didn't want it to end. The feeling of her in my arms made me so happy.
"I don't know what I would do without you." She told me softly not letting go of me. I smiled and she pulled away. "Hey do you remember much of last night at my house?" I asked.
She looked at me confused, "Yeah I wasn't drunk." She laughed and I did too. "I am wearing your clothes after all." She added.
And then I continued to say what I was going to say. "Well when we were in bed, you said you wanted to tell me something." Ariana smiled and then it went away quickly. "Yeah I did say that didn't I."
Silence took over and I felt like she was regretting telling me that last night. Or that she doesn't want to tell me anymore.
Ariana played with the bear in her lap and was silent. "Can we have a day to ourselves today?" I think she might have been avoiding the previous subject. I snapped out of the trance when I was thinking what was she going to tell me. "Yes, anything." Was all I said and we headed for my car.
***
We went to the beach and laid down our towels on the soft sand. Then we sat on them after placing everything in our spot.
Previous to this, I grabbed my swimming shorts and I bought Ariana a bikini since she wasn't going home to get hers. "Want to go in the water?" I asked her. She looked at me with a little worry, "But isn't it cold?"
I shrugged my shoulders and stood in front of her. "Yeah it may be, but come on!" I extended my arms and I helped her up.
I pulled her into the water and once it was up to her knees she froze. She put her arms around her and shivered. "It is so cold!"
I laughed and splashed her. She trembled. "You're so mean Hunter Bowens!" She yelled laughing. I walked up to her, "Fine don't come out, you're missing out!" I winked and turned away.
What I wasn't expecting, was when Ariana jumped on my back. "That's the last time you splash me!" She was laughing and so was I. I twirled her around and then we fell into the water when I lost my balance. "
Oh my god! It is so cold!" I said coming up from the water and shaking my head to get my hair out of my face. Then out of nowhere, Ariana came up and pushed me back down. But before I actually fell, I managed to pull her down with me.
We were in pretty deep water now, to about our stomachs. When we got up, she was about to fall over because the current was bringing us down, but I carefully placed my hands on her waist to steady her. She looked down and noticed I was doing it and then she made her way back up to making eye contact with me. I wasn't sure she felt it, but every time we touched it was like sparks flying.
I don't even know when this happened. By the way Ariana was looking at me, it made me think that she felt whatever this is too.
"Um, you're right it is really cold. Lets go back." I said letting go of her waist and making my way back to shore. When we got back, I picked up the towel and wrapped it around myself, and Ariana did the same to herself. "Wanna go for a walk?" I asked after drying myself off. Ariana nodded her head.
"Can I borrow your shirt? I don't really want to walk around San Diego half naked." She giggled and I gave it to her. I respected that, she wasn't that kind of girl.