Case Closed (Hariana | H.S & A.G)

Part 6: Inner Truth

Ariana's POV

"Hey, why didn't you answer my Facetime?" I hear Frankie ask as I answer his phone call.

"Oh uhm, I didn't get it. When did you call? Right now?" I lie. I know he FaceTimed me, he tried twice and I ignored them both. I haven't told anyone other than Amy about what happened, and it's not because I don't trust him or anything because I do, like crazy, he's my brother but also one of my best friends. There's just a lot of reasons not to tell people, first of all the thought of admitting what happens not only makes me uncomfortable but also very embarrassed, plus, I don't want people to treat me differently. Like I'm weak or stupid or damaged. I just want my life to go back to normal and keeping quiet is the fastest way I can accomplish that.

"Yea, literally like two seconds ago how did you not get it? I called twice" Frankie replies, and I know he's telling the truth.

"I don't know, it's weird. Whatever we can just talk like this" I say praying that Frankie doesn't try and hang up so that he can try Facetiming me again.

"Alright whatever. So what's up how are you? I saw a headline about how you and Ricky broke up and I realized how long it's been since we really talked. What's going on, what happened? Why didn't you tell me?" Frankie says and I let out a sigh. Not because I'm annoyed, I mean these are personal questions but also the type of thing I want to, and usually tell Frankie about.

"I know, I'm sorry! I was gonna call and let you know before news broke out but it just totally left my mind. I really only told Amy" I admit.

"You're really making me keep up with you through the headlines and tabloids now? That's a risky game Ari, there's a lot of stuff out there. How am I suppose to know when articles and lying and when you've actually decided to runaway and elope with some Saudi Arabian Prince" Frankie jokes.

"You did not read an article about that, there's no way! Look I said I'm sorry, don't worry it won't happen again. But I mean if you do here about me having a shotgun wedding with a Saudi prince in the future I'm telling you right now, you should definitely believe every word of it" I joke as he and I laugh.

"Alright good to know. So what really happened? Do you wanna talk about it? Are you good?" he asks and to be completely honest, I'm not.

"Yea, yea. I'm totally fine. It's no big deal. I mean I didn't like him, let alone love him at all. Plus one time I was having a panic attack and he barely showed interest. I always said the one thing I needed from a guy was respect" I say trying to completely down play what happened. I know I can't completely bullshit Frankie and say I just wasn't feeling that 'spark' since he knew I never really cared about that in the first place.

"Damn. I don't have to beat him up do I?" Frankie asks as I let out a laugh. Although the offer sounds pretty tempting. I think it's just best to never see him again and just move on. Just because he hurt me doesn't mean I have to hurt him back.

"No, no it's fine. Really, it's all good. I'm fine, I mean leaving him was pretty easy" I say somewhat truthfully. I held on to our relationship so hard until he hurt me, then I let go and haven't looked back since.

"So is it like officially over? No chance of getting back together?" he asks and I can't tell if he's just making conversation or genuinely concerned since I've had a history of on and off relationships, or more realistically, relationship, in the past.

"It's officially over. Yea, I don't know I don't really have any interest in ever getting back together. I don't think I ever really had any real, romantic feelings for him. As weird as that sounds" I admit.

"I know why" Frankie says in a somewhat more serious tone leaving me kinda confused,

"What are you talking about? Are you setting up another joke?" I ask genuinely.