Long Distance

Ten Dollar Bill.

[Mason]

My eyes opened, instantly flinching at the light shining into the room through the window. It didn't take long for the headaches to start making me collapse back onto the bed in pain.

I was in Aria's guest room which only made me more confused. The last thing I remembered was going to Applebee's for a beer. I slowly stepped out of the bed and out of the room, walking into the bathroom. I cursed at the sight of my face in the mirror.

My busted lip and bloody nose were only a fraction of the damage. My jaw had a huge bruise on it that was already beginning to purple and there was a cut on my eyebrow.

What the hell happened last night?

I left the bathroom knocking on Aria's door. She opened it after a minute, a blank look on her face. She ignored my presence while she turned around to look through her closet. I shook off her odd demeanor, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.

She places a shirt and a pair of denim shorts next to me on her bed before I grab her hips and pull her to stand in front of me.

"What's wrong?" I ask, a serious look on my face. She was being so weird and it was killing me.

"Don't touch me," she spits, ripping my hands off of her and returning to her closet.

"Aria," I sigh. "Come one what'd I do?"

"Where were you last night?" She snaps. Shit.

"I-i was with Matthew," I lie.

"Really?" She sarcastically asked. "Because according to Ethan, you were drunk at Applebee's and got in a fight that you clearly lost."

"Ethan?" My eyebrows furrowed. "What the fuck does he know?"

"He's the one who helped you and brought you here."

"Please," I scoffed. "Owens just wanted to play nice guy."

"You're ridiculous," Aria shook her head, a look of incredulity on her face. She grabbed her clothing before stomping into her bathroom and slamming the door.

I had never been so frustrated and confused in my life. For starters, why the hell would Owens help me? This was all probably part of some twisted plan that he came up with to try and break Aria and I up.

I get up from the bed, ignoring the pain in my head as I shuffle into the bathroom after her.

"Ar, can't you see? He's doing this to tear us apart."

"So Ethan made you get up last night and drive to a bar? Ethan made you get shit-faced drunk and start a fight with some guy?" She raises her voice with each word. "Funny, Mason. I didn't know Ethan had the power to control you."

She puts her hair up into a ponytail before storming past me and grabbing her things.

"I'm going out with Madison. I want you gone by the time I get back." She slams the door as she leaves and I just stand there, stunned.

This was the first time I had seen this side of Aria. I knew I had messed up big time and I had to make this better. Aria and I were engaged now, which meant these arguments weren't a joke. I didn't blame her for being pissed though, I was such an idiot.

There was nothing I could say to defend myself this time. If I were to tell Aria the truth, she wouldn't take it well.

The truth was I was frustrated. It had been almost two weeks since I last smoked or drank and I couldn't take it. I was suffering the whole day which put me in a bad mood and by the time I left Aria's house, I couldn't take it anymore.