|Damage||cth| -au- DISCONTINUED

|Thirteen|

creds to tumblr.

Luke:

I saw the hurt in Aria's eyes as she walked away from me. She was really determined for whatever reason to make sure that Dakota was fine. It never ceased to amaze me how Aria would do anything for my sister in a heartbeat but Dakota wouldn't even look at her in public. Aria suddenly stopped her on her path. She walked back in the other direction and past me

"Wait! Where are you going?" I asked.

She continued running and bumped into Michael and Ashton.

"I can't do anything about this," she said to Ashton. "You have to say something."

"I can't. I might just end up-"

"I don't get it with boys. You guys are so stupid. You think that you have to solve everything with violence. Use your words Ashton, not your hands." 

"I can't," he walked away from the three of us and Michael followed after.

"Ugh, what a pussy," she whispered to herself.

"If this is so important to you, why don't you do it yourself?"

"I can't talk to her, you idiot."

"I don't get why you're willing to take a bullet for her any day and she won't even talk to you in front of people. I really don't get it."

She walked away and back into the Lunch room. I followed after her and before I knew it, she was over there talking to Calum. I felt like a dick. I mean... I knew she would've done it. She was scared of Calum. That's why she couldn't talk to him. She didn't give a crap about what people thought of her. She was just afraid of Calum. 

"Uh...you-" she could barely get any words out as her voice shook.

I slipped my hands into hers and pulled her away.  Her hands were moist and sweaty. I pulled her out of the school, outside. She didn't bother to question it. I opened the door and she sat inside my car, quietly.

"Just be glad it's Friday because we're leaving."

She nodded and didn't say anything else. Aria really wasn't the same person I knew at the beginning of the week. Whether it was a good or bad thing, I was yet to determine.

I appreciated that she didn't fight it but I wanted her to say something... anything.

She kept her eyes glued to the window as we drove out of the school parking lot. I had no clue where we were going, nor did I care. But somehow, we ended up at the beach. I guess we'd been driving longer than I thought because Aria was asleep. I didn't even think we were in our town anymore. She greeted me with a nasty look as I woke her up. She looked around and sighed.

"What are we doing at the beach?"

"I don't know."

"If you don't already know, I hate the beach."

"I don't like it either."

She unbuckled her seatbelt and left the car. Aria stretched, causing her dress to go up and as much as I didn't want to, I stared at her thick thighs. She yawned and I got out of the car. I wrapped my arms around her tall but small body, embracing her into a hug. She kept her arms to her side but didn't bother to push me off her.

"I hate everything, Luke. I couldn't even talk to him. I'm such a pussy," she spoke.

"You're not. I am. I was the one who didn't go... why did you agree to come with me?"

"I wanted to leave. I've never ditched school before. I feel so damn guilty."

"You get used to it."

"Delinquent."

"Prude."

"Jackass."

"Smartass."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"You're cute when you're scared."

"I'm not scared."

"Then why are you shaking?"

She sighed.  I let go and we sat next to each other on the sand. 

"Aria."

"Luke."

"All jokes aside, it's okay to cry in front of me. I won't judge."

"I don't need to cry."

"You can only pretend like this didn't happen for so long. Then... it will eat inside of you and one day you'll just-"

"Will you just shut up already?" she snapped.

"Just trying to help."

I looked over at Aria. I could hardly see her face. Her hair was in the way and her head was down, hardly made any eye contact with me. I heard a few sniffles and she wiped her eyes with her sleeves. I scooted closer to her and wrapped my arm around her. She rested her head on my shoulder and began crying. 

It disturbed me how quiet the beach was but it was then when I realized that it was probably going to rain soon. Families began leaving and as they walked past, they gave us judging looks. Even though it slightly bothered me, the beach became nearly empty. It was okay because it was kinda like the rest of the world was left for us. I stared at Aria's off-black dirty converse and did the best I could to admire every inch of her. As if on cue, small amounts of rain began to fall on the two of us but Aria didn't flinch.

"Going to my house with a heater and tv... sounds nice," I spoke.

She rose her head up at me. She looked like a kid begging to stay longer at an amusement park. 

"You're going to get sick."

"You sound like my mum," she laughed.

Her phone rang in her pocket. She ignored it. I reached into her pocket and pulled it out. She didn't bother to say anything about it. I already knew who it was. At the same time, I was glad it wasn't her mother.

"Hello," I answered.

"Where did you take her?" Dakota asked.

"Narnia."

"This isn't some stupid joke, Luke. This is my best friend we're talking about here."

"Some best friend you are."

"Don't worry. We'll be home in an hour."

"Is she okay?"

"What do you think?"

"Don't be rude. Angela asked me to look after her today."

"Something you obviously can't do."

"Can you stop being so rude?"

"I'll stop being rude as soon as you treat me like your brother."

"I don't want to have this conversation right now."

"Neither do I."

"I swear to god Luke... if you hurt her-"

"Yeah, yeah. You'll kill me."