Rejecting Hope (Old Copy)

Chapter Twenty Four - "Spit it Out."

(Aria)

I find it quite peculiar, the way how when most people are in love they have that flutter of butterflies just turning in their stomach and smiles that never leave their faces. But I on the other-hand, do I have that sweet sensation? No, I have a heart beating heavily and wildly against my chest. It's beating so hard I can barely even hear anything that's around me, everything just sensors into that one movement...

Thump... thu-thump... THUMP, THUMP,THU-THUMP, THUMP!

"ARIA!"

I jump at Lacey's voice, "Y-yes?"

"I've been talking to you for the past 15 minutes but you don't even seem to be paying attention!" She laughs messing with my curly blond hair.

"Sorry what were you saying?" My palms are moist from the anxiety, I rub them on my pants... god, why am I so nervous? It's just Hope! It's just Hope, you've known him all your life and he's loved you for all of it! He'll take you back Aria, who would be stupid enough to waste those 15 years of effort anyways? I can't help but to close my eyes in pain, but what if he doesn't? This little voice whispers in the back of my mind.

Lacey spins me around in the computer chair so that I'm no longer facing the vanity mirror, but that I am now facing her.

"I was saying that I don't understand... I mean Aria, if you go around kissing other guys. Won't that just make Hope despise you even more?"

It takes me a while to finally process her words before I finally shake my head no.

"Lacey... I don't really know how to... Well it's hard to explain."

"Ha, well then come on Arie! Spit it out!" I stop fumbling with my fingers to look up at her.

Exasperated I explain to her my plan, "I was thinking the other day of ways to get him back and somehow it made me think... When were the moments that I had always wanted him most, you know? I realized that the only times I have ever wanted him more than anything else on this planet was when I saw him kissing another girl. ...I never let anyone know though, I was always too stubborn to let anyone think that he was getting to me... especially him. But after a while, it just really got to me you know."

"I know," Lacey smiles to me, taking a fallen strand of my hair and pushing it back behind my shoulders so that she can see my face.

"Aria, I understand that you're doing this to make him feel what you felt whenever he kissed other girls. But I don't think you should do it..."

"And why not?" I ask clearly frustrated, my arms cross my chest and I'm fuming.

"Because Aria, A. It's dangerous, teenage boys can and will rape you."

"I'm strong, I can call police and were in public it's not like I'm going anywhere secluded with a boy. I mean I'm only doing it so that Hope will see."

"That's not the point Aria! Anyways, B. Revenge is never the answer!"

I close my eyes and huff out a breath exhausted and yet still nervous, "I know, but Lace I need to do this."

"Fine then Aria, how 'bout C. You'll hurt him."

My eyes snap open at this reason and my heart is speeding wildly again. "I don't want to hurt him... I just want him to feel what I felt." I whisper heartbreakingly, Lacey sighs. She turns me back around so that we are both facing the mirror, "Tell me Aria what do you see?"

Images of millions of shards of glass raining down on me comes to mind and I immediately shut my eyes. Screaming... he is angry and I brought this upon myself.

"Aria, come back and open your eyes." I do as she says.

"You know what I see?" She huffs after she starts to realize that I am not going to answer.

"I see a beautiful girl that does not realize just how beautiful she really is." I smile gently at her kind words. But even still, I take one last look into the vanity mirror before she spins me around again. His words echo within my head, "Just who are you?".

Lacey smiles timidly at me...

"Okay, let's just drop it. Just please, promise me you won't do anything stupid Aria."

Instantly I smile weakly at her, "Thank you Lacey."

Smiling back she nods, "No problemo kid! Now let's make you pretty!"

"Hey what's that supposed to mean!" smacking her, I laugh.

"It means that you're a hot mess sweetheart and not the good kind!"

We both burst into laughter as Lacey then preps me to be 'pretty' for the party.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Looking in the mirror, I gasp... I don't even look like the same person. I'm so surprised at this entity in front of me that I have to get up and get a better look at her, can this really be me?

I mean Lacey had respected my wishes, she used light make up and little tease to my hair yet I still looked pretty. My long curly blond hair was left alone to cascade down my shoulders. My bright blue eyes were outlined with aqua-green eyeliner and I had on a strapless blue dress. But my eyes were wide and my cheeks were flushed. To think... I actually thought that I looked pretty for once, it was a miracle and it felt like a dream.

"So what do you think?" Lacey smiles winking at me.

I couldn't respond I just gaped at this mystery person reflecting back at me.

Somehow she gets the picture and suddenly she hits my butt, I jump surprised.

"I make some good stuff huh!" She winks at me.

"Lacey!" I exclaim but instead she just smiles.

"Oh come on you know it's true! Everything I make is hot, I mean imagine my babbies someday!"

"Oh my God Lacey!" I laugh covering my ears.

"Lalalalalala!!!! I can't hear you!"

Looking at the clock she jumps with joy, grabbing my arm she nearly drags me out of the room. Time to go and party! I call drivers seat!"

"Oh God, just kill me now!"

Smiling mischievously at me she gives me a good wink.

Looks like my wish just might come true.