Complications

Chapter 11 - I Needed You

I dragged my feet to the park with my friends.

It was starting to get colder already - clearly the weather's way of saying summer's gone for good.

"I see them from here!" Selina said, pointing out the visible few figures standing in the football cages.

"This is gonna be awkward." Rosalie muttered.

"True." Angel replied.

"It's only gonna be awkward if you make it awkward." Selina stated, trying to make me feel better.

"Yeah, like just tell the truth - easy peasy." Monika continued.

"Okay you guys are so overdoing it. I just explain the photos and we leave - it'll be fine" I said, reassuring them.

Does lying to yourself count as a sin?

**********

"Aria. Aria's friends." Keegan smirked as we walked through the cage entrance.

Why is this dude hella dramatic?

"Sideman. Sideman's sidemen." Rosalie retorted as we stood face to face with the guys.

Remus and Abram were on opposite sides of Keegan, Ishmael was next to Remus and Mitchell was by Abram, slightly behind the rest of the guys though.

"What do you want?" Monika asked, breaking the almost awkward silence.

"An explanation - I'm guessing you saw those photos." Keegan said.

"Hold up." Angel began. "Even if those photos were what they looked like...why are you guys concerned?" 

"Yeah - frankly it's none of your business." Rosalie added.

"You see it frankly is." Abram spoke up.

"Yeah, you see those photos impact a friend. And considering we've realised that this friend has a..let's go with a concern for Aria  - we wanna know what's going on." Remus stated.

"Fine." I replied sternly. "So the hug was at the bottom of my road. And the guy had been gone for ages and I wasn't expecting him back yet so we hugged. Then he had given me his hoodie in the street while we were walking because I was freezing, and the photo of me taking it off was to return it to him. And finally, you can see the faintest shadow of me standing outside my house and he goes in to his because we are neighbours."

I gave them the exact explanation as which I gave my friends.

I had no reason to lie.

Right?

The guys glanced at each other one by one, before all turning their heads to face Mitchell for a second, before he shot them a look that expressed "quit it".

"See - simple explanation." Selina said.

"We done here?" Monika asked.

"Yeah one thing." Ishmael said. "Who was the guy?"

"My neighbour." I replied.

"Do we know him?" Remus asked.

"Probably?" I said.

Remus was about to open his mouth again before Angel cut him short.

"Hey - you wanted an explanation and you got it. No more no less - we're out of here." 

I turned away alongside my friends, not hearing a word from the boys as we walked slowly away...before I felt a stroke of warmth brush against my hand before clutching it.

My brain instantly responded by making my hand grasp whatever was behind me, as if I didn't, it would slip away from me forever.

"Aria.." A voice whispered.

I turned immediately to see Mitchell, only Mitchell, as if the entire world around me had disappeared and we were the only people here.

"Mitchell." I replied.

"W-who was that in the photos?" He asked me, as I felt his grip tighten around my hand.

"I told you it was my neighbour." I said quickly, anxious to get out of this situation.

"I'm not taking just that as an answer. Seriously I'm just asking for a name." He said, his tone becoming more desperate with every word.

I saw the innocence in his eyes as he stared at me, hopeful looking.

"Austin." I said. "Austin Uccello."

Suddenly the embrace of our two hands slipped and his head dropped down.

"That's- that's the Austin then." He muttered.

"The Austin..?" I asked in a low tone.

"Oh come on, I know." He said, hearing slight tones of anger in his hurt voice. "Austin who you always talk about in the playground, Austin who you always smile around, Austin who you take any opportunity to talk to - The Austin..who already had your heart before I ever did."

"Mitchell I-" I stuttered.

"No seriously, forget it." He mumbled, shaking his head and taking a step away from me. "I was stupid to think I could have you."

"Mitchell I...I didn't know.." I continued to stutter as my brain tried to take in what Mitchell had just said.

"No-one knew Aria!!" Mitchell said, raising his voice, the hurt clear. "I didn't even know.."

A faint tear slipped out of his eye.

"And that's my fault. But after that one car ride, I get it, it sounds crazy, but you were the one person who showed me compassion after a long long time." Mitchell continued. "And you can say that I'm selfish or jealous or living in a fantasy but...but I needed you."

"Mitchell please I-" I spoke up, trying to get words out.

"I needed you okay!!" He yelled. "And I'm sorry for ever thinking it could've happened, because everything, everything in my life is always going to be could've instead of should've!!! But that day...that car ride with you.. it was the one time I thought hey..maybe this moment is going to be the one time I get to say it did instead of it didn't.."

There was ultimate silence around us.

My eyes flashed back in to the reality, realising that Keegan, Angel, Remus, everyone...everyone was still here...and they had heard everything Mitchell had just said.

"I'm sorry.." I suddenly broke out with some words.

Mitchell looked at me, his eyes damp, but his face painted with fury.

"Yeah..so am I."