Everything Changes

Chapter 17 I'd Rather Not

                                                                Aria's P.O.V

The days when I didn't have P.E were the best days. Compared to the days that I did anyway. They were total disasters. I did everything that I could to stay out of Alison's and Cindy's way.

It never seemed to work. One way or another they found a reason to make me their target. Today was one of those days. I knew they were mad at me because I caught Zack staring at me and so did Cindy.

I did my best not to let it bother me. Another thing I noticed was Abby had been hanging out with them more and more. She was starting to look just like their other little clones. One by one. There wasn't anything I could do, and I couldn't find it in me to care anymore. She made her choice.

The only thing that did tick me off is that she started treating me like they did. Shoving me here and there whenever we passed each other. Em was livid when it first happened. I even had to hold her back. Abby wasn't worth the fight. I had bigger fish to worry about.

Just like any other day, I got to P.E and went to change my clothes. I noticed that the lock on my locker door was completely gone, and my P.E clothes that were inside were all ripped apart. It didn't take a genius to figure out who was behind this. It didn't help that they were standing by their own lockers, giggling as they watched me. Em walked up, and saw what was going on. She walked over to Alison and shoved her against the wall.

"I told you to leave her alone." Alison, who took a second to re-compose herself after the shock wore off. Pushed herself from the wall and got in Em's face. "What the heck do you think you are doing?" Without thinking, I stepped between them as fast as I could. "Come on Em, she isn't worth it." I grabbed her by the shoulders and started guiding her away from them.

"I swear to god. If she keeps messing with you, I'm going to flip." Em, sighed and reached into her locker, to retrieve her own P.E clothes. Her hands were shaking as she gripped onto them.

"Thank you, and I get it but don't stoop down to her level. We are better than that." I steered her to the bathroom so we could change and get out of their sight. I know Em didn't mean to, but I knew she was going to make it worse if she didn't stop. And that I'd be the one to pay the price.

Em, has a bit of a temper when someone messes with the people she loves. I wouldn't know how to protect her. All I know is that I'd do whatever I could to make use she didn't get hurt because of me. I loved and appreciated her too much for that.

P.E went exactly how I expected it to go, but I just kept telling myself that they can't keep this up forever, right? Either way, I just had to keep my chin up. One of the bright things about this week was that Zack didn't ride with us. Cindy made sure of that.

She told him she just didn't understand why he kept riding with us when he had his own car. Or could just ride with her instead. He also hadn't come around the house as much either. She really had him wrapped around her finger. Honestly, I was happy, because I didn't have to see him that much anymore.

The only person who suffered from it was my brother. He didn't act as if it affected him, but I know I would hate it if Em stopped coming around so abruptly. Today though, the person who was sitting in my brother's truck, really threw me. It was Chris.

He was sitting in the front seat, looking like the confident guy that he was. "Well, if it isn't the beautiful Aria. You know we haven't spoken since my party" Yeah, and it wasn't for the lack of trying.

"Well I'm here now." It was strange seeing him sit there in Zack's spot. It was honestly strange seeing him in my brother's truck in general. "Now that you are, we should go out sometimes. I promise I'll treat you like the princess you deserved to be treated as." This made me chuckle. Chris was asking me out?