Long Distance

Dare.

[Ethan]

I thought drinking this bottle of vodka would somehow numb the overwhelming pain I was feeling, but sadly I was wrong. Rachel was out for lunch with that one guy which sucked considering she was the only person I could talk to about this.

As if on cue, Rachel comes in through the door with a wide smile on her face as she shuts it closed. She hasn't noticed I'm at her house until I clear my throat.

"Holy shit," She breathes holding her chest. "What are you doing here?" I lift up the bottle and a sad look replaces her smile. "I'm guessing you talked to her?"

I nod my head before she walks over, taking a seat next to me. She doesn't say a word and instead wraps her arms around me and no matter how pathetic it makes me look, I begin to cry. I cry at the fact that the first girl I fell in love with was the first girl to break my heart. I cry knowing that she's engaged to the guy she loves, and that guy isn't me.

All I can do right now is be angry at myself. I'm the one who got involved with her. I was the one who kissed her and in the end, I was the one who got attached. I couldn't stop replaying her words through my head.

I'm engaged to someone that's not you.

[Aria]

"Okay just let it out."

I had called Madison over because there was so much going on now. I couldn't keep all of my emotions in or else I was going to burst.

"Ethan said he was in love with me the night of his party," I blurt. The two girls exchange a wide eyed look before turning to me.

"What?!" Madison screams. "The Ethan Owens is in love with you?" I nod my head still not believing it myself.

"I'm not finished." I continue. "Today he met me outside the hospital and he told me that what he said was true and he basically told me that Mason kept messing up and if I was sure I could put up with that forever."

"And what did you say?" Madison asks.

"I-i said that I was engaged to someone that wasn't him. And that he and I could never happen." For some reason something inside of me ached as the words left my mouth. The look on Ethan's face still hadn't left my thoughts and I was beginning to think I felt something for him too.

No matter how much Ethan has done, I was always forgiving. But why? Was it because I liked him too? Or was it simply because he was different towards me?

The night Ethan revealed that he liked me and kissed me, I had felt something. Maybe I had just chosen to ignore it because of Mason. Oh my God, Mason. He left to New York without even saying goodbye.

I guess I couldn't really blame him though, I did say I didn't want to see him. But now, I have to. I had to know if he and I were really meant to be. That would solve everything.

"Well that's good," Madison sighs in relief.

"No it's not," I argue. "Guys, I think I might like Ethan."

"Aria are you hearing yourself?" Kris added in. "You're engaged to the love of your life!"

"I know!" I cry. "But maybe all this going on between Mason and I is for a reason. And there's only one way to find out."

"How?" They both ask.

"I'm going to New York."

________________

[Ethan]

"He's the sweetest ever! Too bad he has a business trip to New York next week," Rachel pouts.