My Neighborhood Love Story

Chapter 29: Better

Aria's P-O-V

I woke up feeling happy as ever! Jawan liked me back and now he knows how I feel, too. I mean, we didn't kiss or anything, but the vibe between us last night... I just know that things are going to start up between Jawan and I.

I pulled myself out of bed and put my iPod on its docking station, playing Kilo Kish's K+ mixtape. I hopped into the shower as goldmine played and was dressed and ready to head off to school by the time better began to flow through the speakers.

"Knock, knock!" I heard my sister say as she entered the room. "Hey. Do you want me to take you to school this morning?"

"Nah. I'll take the bus."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Who is he?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's Jawan that got you all positive and happy this morning, huh?"

"... Maybe."

She laughed, "Well, have fun. I'm going to take the little matchmakers to school."

"Well, at least let me thank them for doing what they did before they go."

"Okay. Come on."

I followed her downstairs and embraced the heck out of the little tikes.

"Did you and Jawan have fun?" Katelyn asked.

"Yeah. A bunch of fun. We're actually going to hang out later, too."

"Yay! We made Aria happy!" Isaiah said busting a weird dance move.

I laughed and hugged them one more time, placing kisses on their cheeks, before saying goodbye and heading into the kitchen for my breakfast of microwavable buttermilk pancakes. After eating up, I grabbed my stuff and dashed out of the house.

"Hey stranger," I said once I walked up to Jawan at the bus stop.

He smiled and came closer to me. He was taller than me so he looked down at me biting his lip.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to talk to strangers, new girl?" He said jokingly.

"But, how else do you build a relationship?"

"Touché."

I slipped my hand into his, hoping to send the message that I want us to be more than friends. We were flirting with each other until a car pulled up in front of Jawan and I. The sight of the driver made my stomach drop. It was Lamar.

"I knew you had a thing for the dork," he said stepping up to us. "So what? Y'all a couple now? I can't get another chance?"

I was tired of him, "Why should you get another chance?"

"You were my good luck charm at the games, you meant a lot to me, Aria. The only reason I acted the way I did was because I was afraid to lose you."

I wanted to believe him, but what he did was inexcusable. If my sister hadn't shown up when she did, who knows what he would've done to me.

"Look, I just think we need to nip this in the bud right now. Lamar, you're a sweet guy, but I don't want to be stuck in a relationship with someone like you."

"What do you mean, someone like me?"

Jawan stepped in between us, "She means a bully. An abuser. Someone who's aggressive towards her and hostile towards others."

He grabbed Jawan up by his shirt, "Stay out of this, nerd."

"See, it's that right there. Who's to say you won't do that to me one day? You have anger issues, Lamar!" I yelled pulling Jawan away from him.

He looked down, rubbing the back of his neck, "Aria, I'm sorry. I just- I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I want to be with you so badly. Just tell me what I have to do to get you back? I'll do anything. I swear."

His gorgeous green eyes oozed sincerity, making it hard to look away from them. I was thrown off by his hypnotizing eyes and soft lips that brought back memories of our kisses and intense, passionate moments that only crazy-in-love high school sweethearts would share.

"Aria, please? Just tell me. Let me know what I need to do."

"Lamar... just stop."

"Stop what?"

"All of this. All of the begging, the pleading. Just stop it. I loved you. I didn't deserve what you did to me. It's one thing to not trust me, but you nearly attacked me!" I said tearing up.

I wish this had never happened. That I had just brought my damn phone with me that day or that I stopped having feelings for one of the two, but that's obviously impossible.

"Okay... you're right. If that's what you want," he replied stepping closer to me.

He placed a kiss on my cheek then went back into his car. He drove off to school and in no time the bus pulled up to the stop.

"Are you alright?" Jawan asked, taking a seat next to me.

"Yeah."

We got to school and I decided to suck it up and focus on Jawan. It would be stupid to let him slip through my fingers again, so we walked together to his friends.

"Oh... Aria. Where's your popular boyfriend?" Delilah asked seeming sort of disturbed by my presence.

Jawan defended me, "They aren't together anymore."

Steven spoke up, "Well, what about Heather?"

"What about her?"

"Well, I don't know. I just thought that she was your girlfriend."

"Oh. That's right. You guys didn't know."

"What didn't we know?" Jason asked.

"We broke up days ago."

"Really? That's not what she was saying. She actually just went to look for you," Delilah responded.

"Oh gosh... We'll be right back," Jawan said grabbing my hand and dragging me along with him. "We got to set this Heather thing straight."

I planted my feet firmly and stopped him from dragging me, "We? She's your girlfriend."

"Was my girlfriend. And she wasn't even my real girlfriend."

"Jawan, what are you talking about?"

"Listen... we were just pretending to date to make you jealous."

"What?"

"I know, it was stupid of me to do."

"Really stupid."

"But can you at least help me get her off of my back. Maybe if she sees that I was serious about you then she'll stop."

"Fine. Let's find the crazy girl."

"Thank you!"

We looked around the halls, in search of Heather. I like Jawan a lot, but I don't know about this Heather thing. Is it really worth it?

"There she is!" Jawan said. "Look like you're flirting with me."

"Okay."

We took a seat at a nearby bench and we flirted with each other. I giggled, put my hand on his knee and blushed at certain points. I could see Heather from the corner of my eye. She saw us and Jawan knew she was watching. That's when he gently grasped my chin and pulled me towards him until our lips met. He kissed me... Jawan just kissed me!