Unspoken

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“So, I was thinking about something,” Declan says as he runs a hand through my long hair.

I’m snuggled against him with my head resting on his chest. Ever since he got back from school, we have been holed up in my living room watching movies. It has been raining all day and it just seemed like a good day to do nothing. Normally we would have gone to Declan’s house, but I don’t really want to leave my mom here alone yet. She says that she is fine, but I don’t want to take any chances.

I tilt my face up so that I can see Declan’s face. He looks back at me with uncertainty in his eyes. I wait for him to tell me what he has been thinking about, but he remains silent. He is starting to make me nervous and I pull away from him self- consciously. Is he about to break up with me?

“Relax, Ari. It’s not what your thinking,” he says and tugs me closer.

I frown at him until he continues speaking.

“Okay, so you know the big camping trip every year?” he asks and I nod my head.

Every year a bunch of kids go on some big trip out to the middle of nowhere. It is sort of like a tradition for all of the seventeen and eighteen year olds to go. I remember when I was younger my friends and I always used to talk about it. We dreamed about what it would be like when we were finally old enough to go. Okay, yeah it is kind of pathetic, but there really isn’t much to do out where I live and this is as exciting as it gets.

Now that I am actually seventeen, I really could care less about going. I haven’t talked to any of the people that will be going in years and I doubt I’m even invited. Besides I went camping with Declan and that was way better than this could ever be.

“I was thinking that we could go together,” Declan finishes, looking like he already knows what my answer will be.

I bite my lip anxiously and glance down. I don’t want to disappoint him, but I really don’t want to go. I don’t have a problem with him going, though. If I came along it would probably just ruin it for him. I mean, it’s not like I have anyone else to hang out with. He will be stuck with me the whole time and that isn’t fair to him.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to go. I just thought that it might be good for you to get away from here for awhile. I mean with everything that has been going on I figured you need to have some fun. We can find something else to do, though,” he says and turns back to the movie that is still playing on the TV.

I get his attention again, and then shake my head. He can still go, even if I don’t.

“Come on, Ari. You don’t think I’m going to leave you here alone when Richard is still out there,” Declan says and grimaces.

I was able to convince him not to go to the cops, but he still doesn’t seem too sure about the decision. I roll my eyes at him dramatically. I will be perfectly fine on my own for a little while.

“Look, It wouldn’t feel right going without you anyway. It’s fine, just drop it, alright?” he says.

How is it that he knows just what to say to make me give in? I know he is serious about not going if I don’t go and there is no way I can let him miss out on this. I would feel way to guilty.

I sigh and shake my head yes. An immediate smile lights up Declan’s face and I am forced to smile back. I can see how excited he is to go and I am glad that I gave in. Who cares if it sucks for me? He deserves to have a good time after everything I have put him through.

“Are you sure?” he asks.

Not really, but I nod anyway. He brings his lips down to mine and kisses me until I become light-headed.

“We are going to have fun, you’ll see,” he grins happily.

I return his grin, but I can’t help but to feel anxious. Jennifer is sure to be there and we didn’t exactly leave things on good terms. Not to mention all of the other girls that I used to be friends with. I haven’t seem them in awhile and it is going to be really strange. Oh well, I guess I will just have to suck it up and hope for the best.

* * *

“Bye, Mrs. Meyers,” Declan calls before walking through the door later that night.

I follow him to the door and he leans down to kiss me once.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he says and goes out to his truck.

I wait for him to pull out of the driveway before heading back inside. I go upstairs to my mom’s room and knock on her door. She has been up here since I got home and I am starting to get a little worried. There is no reply to my knock, but I go in anyway.

I look around confused when I don’t see her. Then I hear a noise coming from her bathroom and am able to relax a little. I knock on the bathroom door and this time I do receive a reply.

“Come in,” she says loudly.

I push the door open and find her in front of her mirror, doing her make-up. I frown as I take in her appearance. She is wearing a dress that hugs her curves and red stilettos. It actually looks as if she is going on a date. I raise an eyebrow, waiting for some reasonable explanation for her getting all dressed up.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I am going out to dinner tonight with a….friend,” she says.

I definitely heard a very long pause before she said friend and I assume this means her friend is a guy. She doesn’t want to tell me because she knows that I will judge her going on a date so soon after my father died. I honestly don’t care, though. This is probably good for her and I won’t have to worry about her for a night.

“So, what do you need?” she asks, going back to applying mascara.

I already wrote a note, which I hand to her now. I watch as she reads it, pursing her lips.

“Sure! You always wanted to go when you were little,” she replies smiling.

My note was asking whether I could go on the camping trip the following day. I was kind of hoping that she would say no, but she actually seems pretty happy about it. Probably because she can have her new boyfriend over if I’m not here. I roll my eyes when she isn’t looking.

We both head downstairs when we hear the doorbell ring.

“Oh no! I forgot my purse! Please get the door, Arianna,” my mom says and races back upstairs.

I do as she says and open the door. I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised when I see Richard Sims standing on the other side.

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