Just The Way You Are

Chapter 9

Ariana's POV:

Who knew hanging out with the cocky singer boy could be actually fun? We spent the entire afternoon together, eating frozen yogurt, walking along the beach, and playing in the water. It really surprised me that for once he thought about something else besides himself.

One thing I noticed was during the end, he was staring at me in an odd way. I couldn't tell what it was, but maybe it was my imagination.

*  *  *

Next morning I woke up to the beam of sunlight in my eyes, the curtains hanging from my window was open a crack, allowing a narrow beam to escape into my room. I yawned and stretched, then I pulled myself out of bed and continued to the bathroom to freshen up.

 Once I was finished, I tied my hair up into a messy ponytail and continued down the spiral staircase.

When I reached the bottom, I found my siblings, my mom, and Isabelle sitting on the couch grinning at me widely. I looked at them strangely and entered the living room.

"Um... Did something happen overnight? Because you guys are acting really weird," I spoke cautiously.

"No, but something did happen yesterday afternoon," my mom replied, still smiling.

"Huh? I'm still confused and a bit creeped out." I racked my brain from the memory of what happened yesterday. All that happened was me showing Justin around town.

"You and Justin," my mom squealed with excitement.

"All I did was show him around town," I shrugged.

"Well yes, but you guys hung out all afternoon," my mom said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Ari's got a boyfriend," Sandy shouted.

"First of all, I was just showing him around and second, I already have a boyfriend, Jack." I explained. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to meet him now." And at that I walked straight out the door.

* * *

  I made my way down the road towards the pier where I was going to meet him. When I reached the pier, my jaw dropped and my world came crashing down.

  ................................  

Justin's POV:    

I woke up to the familiar annoying screeching of my Aunt's tea kettle, that was my usual wake up call now. So I tiredly dragged myself out of bed and trudged towards the bathroom and freshened up.

When I was done, I headed downstairs in a grey hoodie, red jeans, and black and white supras. As usual my Aunt was sitting at the table sipping her tea.

"Oh, you're awake," she spoke when she saw me.

"I would still be asleep if it wasn't for your kettle," I snapped.

"A big ball of sunshine as usual," she retorted calmly.

I rolled my eyes, the woman was crazy, she spent the last 20 years living in this dusty old house in the middle of nowhere, what could she I know.

"Well, I'm going down to the pier," I said as I strolled away from the table.

"You know your curfew," she called out.

"Whatever." and with that I slammed the door shut. The sun shone brightly in the sky as I put on my sunglasses and walked down the street towards the pier.

As I went further down the street, I began to hear the sound of someone crying, a girl. I stopped in my tracks and looked around. My eyes scanning everything in my surroundings and there, a figure sitting against a fence in a blanket of red velvet hair.

I knew instantly that it Ariana, but why was she crying? I slowly approached her, she looked so vulnerable like the slightest touch could shattered her.

"Ari?" I spoke softly. "Are you okay, what happened?"

Her head shot up instantly at the sound of my voice, she looked surprised. I, too was taken back by the way I was acting. There was something about Ariana that was changing me, last night I laid awake on my bed, battling with myself about what I was feeling towards her.

"I-it's nothing," she sniffed as she looked away.

I immediately sat down and wrapped my arms around her, I didn't care who sees, I just wanted to make her stop crying, it was painful to watch. Ok, I'll admit it now, I was in love with Ariana. But it was different from what I have ever felt. I wanted to hold her and protect her, I've never felt this way with Selena.

"W-what are y-you doing?" she choked, tears were rolling down her cheeks. I brought my thumb up and wiped them away.

"Well, trying my best to comfort you, but it looks like it's not working too well." I gave her a crooked smile. She chuckled and did her best to smile.

"It's not too bad, but still could be better," she joked.

"But I could do better if you tell me why you're crying?" I looked at her intently, waiting to hear the cause, so I can make it vanish.

"Well... I was down to the pier to see my boyfriend," my heart stopped when I heard the word 'boyfriend', but she continued, "And when I got there, I saw.........."

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The reason why Ari is crying will be revealed in the next chapter. Thanks for reading, plz comment and vote, the more you comment and vote, the sooner I'll upload the next chapter.

Peace :)