A Lifetime's Worth

Chapter 10

"It looks perfect on you, Aria!" Natasha commented. She had dragged Ariana out for shopping with her and had pushed her into trying on a black and white bandage dress. "God your boobs are so perfect. Mine are like tennis ball. They are so tiny." Natasha continued her rant about her boobs which eventually covered her hairline and every other little imperfection that she had. All that despite her being one of the prettiest girls in town. Ariana nodded. She honestly wasn't interested. The only thing on her mind was that there had been no word from Parker for the past week and a half. She was honestly worried about him. She had tried going to his apartment to check on him but one of the neighbors told her that he was still out of town.

"You're getting the dress, aren't you?" Natasha asked. She was standing in the queue at the billing counter, with her shopping bag full with four new dresses that she intended on buying.

"No..I'm not really in the mood." Ariana replied dismissively as she took her cell phone out from her pocket to check for any messages. From Parker. Natasha looked away, clearly very pissed.

"What is wrong with you these days, Ariana?" she snapped all of a sudden. "Seriously? You've been acting like this for a whole week now. Even longer, maybe. What is it? Do you not want to hang out with me any more? Do you just want to hang out with your newly found nerd buddies and play Lets Solve Differential Equations all day?"

Ariana looked up defiantly, all ready with a retort that could begin a cat fight right in the middle of the store, but when she saw Natasha, for the first time, she noticed that her face betrayed her jealously. Natasha actually hated the fact that Ariana was spending more time with someone else. 

"Tash... I'm sorry. I just.." Ariana began.

"You know what? Save it. You can go if you are so busy." Natasha said coldly as she handed over the dresses for billing and paid for them.

"It's Parker." Ariana said softly.

"What about him?" Natasha asked, her bright blue eyes gleaming. Between collecting the bags and walking back over to her place, Ariana told Natasha everything.

"Oh my God, you have such a crush on him, don't you?" Natasha said in a matter-of-factly way.

Normally, Ariana would have straight up denied it, but this was Natasha she was talking to. She knew her better that Ariana knew herself. "I don't know.. I love being with him. He makes me all giddy and happy and bright and weak. All at once. And I think he likes me too. Well, liked. Maybe I should just go tell him. Get it all out in the open. In the clear. I should, right?" she asked.

Natasha remained silent as she looked at Ariana with a funny expression on her face.

"What?" 

"Babe. You are so screwed." She replied with a chuckle.

"Yeah, I know. But I should tell him that, right?" Ariana asked.

"Of course not. Are you crazy?" 

Ariana was taken aback. This was  not the answer she had been expecting. The Natasha she knew would have told her to 'who cares, go for it!'

"What? Why?"

"Cause he technically is sort of your teacher. I mean, yes, he is college going guy, nevertheless, your Dad his paying him, isn't he? To teach you? And even if It was okay, what's your Dad gonna say when he finds out?" Natasha sermoned. "And think about it yourself. How much of Math are you gonna learn from the guy when you are busy making out with him?"

Natasha was right. Probably more about the last bit than any other part of it.

"I really am screwed, aren't I?"

Natasha looked at Ariana with symapathetic eyes. "It's ok babe. You always do that. Remember Aaron? Besides, maybe you'll get over it in a few days." She said. "Hey, I think your white gold hoops will go really well with this green dress that I bought. You wanna try them on?"

Ariana and Natasha tired on various combinations of dresses, took pictures on Natasha's iPhone and for a while, Ariana forgot about Parker. She did not even notice her phone buzz a message alert.

"Bye, Tash. You can always make me feel better. No matter what." Ariana sad as she hugged Natasha goodbye.

"There is a reason why I am your best friend, silly. And about the Parker thing, think of it this way, The more you want to impress him, the more you will study. It'll be better for you." Natasha winked and walked out of the front gate.

"HEY SEND ME THE PICTURES!" Ariana called after her. Natasha waved her hand in agreement.

Ariana smiled as she closed the door behind Natasha and went back up to her room. It was the best she had been in the past two weeks. She picked up the phone to see the photos, only to find a message staring at her.

                                                                         You called?

                                                                                        - PJ