Way To Fame

Chapter Four

"I told you to let my mom take you home." Zayn says while handing Ariana a cup of strawberry lemonade. She scoffs at his remark.

"I didnt want to be a bother. It was late and I assumed she was already comfortable." she says, taking a sip of the strawberry lemonade.

"But your safety comes first Ari. That guy could have really hurt you." Zayn takes a seat next to Ariana on the bench in his backyard.

"But did anything happen to me now? No, so lets just forget about it." She gives a sarcastic smile. Zayn sits back and starts sipping his lemonade.

Ariana sat back in her seat as well and began thinking about the beautiful brown eyed boy who practically saved her life. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her just plays in her mind over and over. His hands were as soft as clouds, his eyes were as brown as a chocolate brownie. Something about him was different. Ariana knew that he was not like any of the other boys she had encountered.

"Ari!" Zayn shouts with his thick accent, trying to get her attention.

"What?" She replies escaping her thoughts.

"I asked what are you doing for your birthday?"

"Oh." Ariana looks down at her drink. Her face turns sour as she thinks about the event she dreaded so much.

Birthdays were not her favorite holiday to celebrate. Every birthday turned into a day of studying because of her mother. But every night, her grandfather would place a candle lit cupcake on the nightstand next to her bed. He then wakes her up and she would make a wish. Each year her wish was to become a star. Thats what she enjoyed about her birthdays.

"Studying, again." Ariana finally replies. She lets out a sigh.

"Really? Youre turning 16 Ariana. We cant let you just sit around and study, you do it all the God damn time." Zayn chuckles.

"I know, but maybe I should just continue to study. I have to start tutoring with that Gregory kid sometime next week and I have to make it seem like I was actually studying." she says with exasperation in her voice.

Zayn looks at her and chuckles again.

"Whats so funny?" Ariana shoots him a glare.

"You."

"Why?" Her eyebrows are furrowed and her lips pouted.

"Youre so adorable when your frustrated." he says while chuckling again.

"Im not supposed to adorable! Im really upset right now." she stands up and walks a few inches away from Zayn. Her arms are now crossed against her chest as she looks down at her feet.

"Ari, Im just joking." Zayn follows her. He looks at her but she doesnt look back. "Its not that serious."

"It is because youre right. I havent had a real birthday since my parents divorced when I was 5. Im going to be 16 years old and Im not getting any younger. Just by missing a birthday I feel like Im losing a piece of whats supposed to be my childhood."

Zayn looks down at his hands, not knowing what to say. Ariana looks at him with despair as he thinks of the right words to speak.

"Look, you may think that youre losing youre childhood but youre not getting any older either. Youre 16 for gods sake. Its the age for you to have fun, so who says you cant still throw an epic 16 party?" Zayn raises an eyebrow at her and she smiles.

"Fine, but we cant let my mom know about this."

"Deal."

✨✨

Ariana spent the rest of her day at home with her family, watching old 30's movies. The entire family had been slouched on the big beige couch in the living room. Everyones eyes were focused on the big tv, while Ariana put her mind to studying. Ms. Grande looked at her in delight. She loved to see Ariana engaged in books.

The doorbell rang.

Ariana looked around to see if anyone would answer the door, but everyone was too intrigued by the movie. Or too lazy to get up. She rolled her eyes and walked to the door.

"Hey, I came here to check on you." said Nathan who had been standing at her door with a pie in his hands. Strawberry Rhubarb to be exact.

"Thanks but Im fine." Ariana finds something to say. "H-How did you know where I live?" she asks confused.

"I asked the police." he smiles sheepishly at his feet. He rubs the back of his neck and his hands run through his curly hair.

"Why would you want to know where I lived anyway? Were just two strangers. After you help me, I say thank you and then we go our separate ways." Ariana says, trying not to be rude.

"Thats true but were not really strangers." he says. She looked at him even more confused. "We went to the same middle school and we still go to the same high school. Plus we live only a few houses away from each other."

Ariana looks at him for a while and realizes that what he was saying is true. They were both in the same class every year in middle school and share at least more than 3 classes together.

"Oh. Im sorry." she says.

"No, dont be sorry. Its alright."

"Ok. Well, good night." Ariana says bluntly, beginning to close the door. Nathan wants to stop Ariana from closing the door, but lets her continue to do so.

✨🎤✨

As Ariana wakes up the next morning she hears her brother and mother arguing. She sits up in her bed and rubs her eyes, trying to hear the argument between Frankie and Ms.Grande. Walking to her door she can hear the strain in her mothers voice.

"Frankie get back here! Youre not leaving!"

"Yes I am! I wont have to come back here ever again and that sounds amazing!" Frankie screams back. Ariana walks out of her bedroom and creeps down the staircase so neither of them would notice her.

"You cant just go to New York and think youll be able to be on your own there. You need a job, a place to stay. You dont have neither of those things!"

"Marco is gonna let me stay with him and his family, and I have an audition for a musical on Broadway! Cant you see thats all I wanted, mom, I just want to be somebody! Youre treating me like a child, Im old enough to be on my own right now. Ill be fine." his screaming wears off.

"You wont be anything without me Frankie, Im your mother!"

"A mother shouldnt be her childs first bully, a mother shouldnt clip her childs wings. You dont know what it means to be a mother." Frankies grip grows tighter on his suitcase.

"Fine, if this is what you want then go ahead. But dont come running back when things dont go 'Frankies way'!

Ms.Grande stares at him with tears building up in her eyes. Frankie turns around and walks out with his bags and suitcases following him. Ariana bursts into tears as she watches her brother walk out the door.

DONT FORGET TO VOTE GUYS! THANKS (: