Dead End ↳ Jake Fitzgerald

↳ ten

ten - Another Cinderella Story

''How does it feel to finally be back, Ari-Cakes?'' Audrey Jensen grins at the brunette that strolled through the kitchen that Saturday afternoon in a new pair of pajamas, her hair drenched from the shower she got out of.

The young Foster mirrors her smile while making her way towards the cabinets, opening the wooden pantry and reaching for the box of fruit roll ups. ''Good.''

Noah Foster snickers as he's leaned against the island across from Audrey. ''Yeah, now, because saving Jake Fitzgerald life scored herself a date with him to the dance.''

Audrey's eyes blew wide before turning to her. ''What?''

''I know!'' She squeals. She turns with the treat fiddling in her grasp. ''Jaria is finally happening.''

The raven hair girl tilts her head to the side and pursed her lips. ''And you're not the least bit curious how this all might have came into play?''

''Can we focus on the fact that Will is dead and Emma is in complete shock?'' Noah exclaims.

Aria's shoulders stooped and a frown appeared on her moist lips. ''Why do you have to be a downer on the best moments?''

''I'm serious.''

Aria takes a step forward towards the island, taking a stand next to Audrey and rested her forearms against the surface. She sighs. ''Is she okay?'' 

''Okay wouldn't be nearly be the word to describe her mental state,'' Noah worded which cause Audrey to send a pointed look.

''She's really shook about the whole situation, Ar,'' She raised a brow. ''Like, it's bad. She's been seeing his ghost all around school and just starts freaking out.''

''Yeah, well,'' Aria shrugs her shoulders. ''I mean, I think that's understandable. His death was literally on her hands. The whole situation is just rattling her conscious.''

Noah juts his chin out towards her. ''And what about your conscious? Are you okay, you know? From facing the killer and all?''

Aria inhales sharply. ''Oddly, I feel more confident.''

Audrey smacks her lips apart while her brows continue to remain furrowed. ''Elaborate.''

''I don't know how to explain it, honestly,'' She gnawed on her bottom lip. ''But the experience of fighting off a mass killer and having the highest of high chances of dying only to come out alive, it's thrilling, really.''

''So what if I died?'' Noah points at himself. ''Will that be thrilling then?''

Aria shakes her head frantically. ''Bitch, I said when I almost died. But, see, I resurrected, I came through. I didn't flat line, do you hear the difference, the comparisons?''

''Okay, jeez,'' Noah laughs.

''I swear, Noah, you are the most conceded person I know.''

He gapes at his little sister. ''Says the one who always stops herself at the sight of her own reflection.''

Aria flips her hair off of her shoulder. ''If you'll excuse me, I have a party to get ready for.''

×××

Aria kept tugging at her hair resting behind the shell of her ear while her lips were pursed as she felt foolish standing next to Jake Fitzgerald at the school's Halloween party, given he was more entertained with whatever was playing on the screen of his phone than his date next to him.

''Uh,'' Aria nervously stammers out. Her features contorted into a cringe, she couldn't believe she had to be the one to ask this. ''Do you wanna dance?''

He shakes his head, his eyes glued on the screen.

''Okay,'' She mumbles to herself, bopping her head before looking around the gymnasium. That's when she spotted Emma's mom, Maggie Duval serving drinks from behind the bowl.

''Do you want me to get us drinks?''

''Yeah,'' He looks up from his phone and catches Emma making her way over for a cup. ''Actually no, I'll do it.''

The brunette couldn't even begin to protest before quickly dashing off.

This was certainly not the scenario she had in mind.

''Hey,'' She jumps when she felt an arm nudge hers. ''Lose the frown. You're dress in a very cute Dorothy costume.''

She rolls her eyes. ''Audrey, I'm not Dorothy.''

''I know,'' Noah chuckles. ''You're a terrible Dorothy. Why do you have a ponytail when she had pigtails?''

She playfully slaps his chest. ''I'm Wendy.''

''Wendy had pigtails too.''

She peers back at him with furrowed brows. ''Wendy from Peter Pan had pigtails?''

''Oh!'' Audrey and Noah exclaim. Noah instantly turns to Audrey. ''You were thinking about the fast food place, right?''

''Yeah, that's why I was so confused-''

''Anyways,'' Aria cuts the entire conversation short.

''Wait,'' Noah tilts his head to the side. ''If you're Wendy, where's Peter?''

''He-'' She looks over at the punch bowl and miraculously didn't find Jake nowhere near there. ''Was getting us drinks.''

''Awe,'' Audrey pouts. ''Did your date ditch you?''

''I don't know,'' Aria turned sharply to Noah and points an accusing finger at him. ''Don't you dare say, I told you so. I don't want to hear it.''

Noah flattened his lips into a straight line. ''I was going to say, maybe he went to the bathroom.''

''With our drinks?''

He shrugs his shoulders. ''Maybe he made a B-line-''

She waved him off. ''Forget it.''

Audrey jerks her head back. ''Somebody's cranky.''

''He's been on his phone all night,'' She shakes her head vigorously. ''I don't know what went wrong. One minute he is the most kindest person to me, now he's all shut out.''

''Aria,'' Noah rests his hand on her shoulder. ''Please, just give up on him now. Before you get hurt.''

''When are you going to stop telling me this, Noah?''

''Until you realize what a dip shit he is,'' Audrey remarks furiously. ''Seriously, Aria, Jake Fitzgerald isn't going to shape up for just one girl. He will and always will be a player. You're setting yourself up for a disaster.''

''And what if I'm not?'' She inhales sharply. ''What if you're all wrong and I'm getting the happiness that I feel I deserve?''

Audrey's shoulders slumped before turning to Noah. It was hopeless trying to convince her others. It's just, they didn't want her to be stuck with somebody who was never going to fully see the best of Aria.

''Brooke invited me to her after party, I'll see you guys later.''