Lockdown {COMPLETED}

Chapter 7: Futile Hope

Aria couldn't even begin to comprehend what Rae felt. While she wasn't an expert on self-love, she knew Rae's self-hate was very high. It was almost comical how one little aspect could change someone's views about themselves so drastically. She couldn't imagine living with all that pain and hate for so many years. Freshman meant Rae had been fourteen when he found out.

Holy shit. Rae's been like this for ten fucking years.

For someone who could pick up on emotional cues quite easily, Aria hadn't even glimpsed a cue from Rae in the two years they knew each other. Granted, she didn't know Rae well at all, since they rarely met even when he was dating Lilliana, but picking up cues from strangers was her expertise. Rae hid his pain really well. She wondered if he was clinically depressed or something. Either way, she was going to help him. Whether he liked it or not. And then, she will take care of his parents.

Right now though, she would whip them up some amazing food.

Aria was setting up their plates, when Rae came out of her room. He stood a little taller, as if the thing that had been weighing down had lightened. It was by no means gone, but it was lighter. Aria smiled. "I've sent you the number of my mother's friend. She's a really good therapist. You could call her, if you want to. Her name's Ava. My grandparents can help but not by much. If you ever want any professional help..." she trailed off.

Rae nodded gratefully. "Your grandparents are pretty tech savvy," he commented. "This smells amazing."

"Thank you, Rae. Let's eat." Rae moved towards the living room when Aria stopped him.

"Where are you going?"

Rae frowned. "To the couch," he said, pointing in its direction.

In response, Aria moved to a door behind her, and opened it. She switched on the light. It was a dining room. It had a round table situated in the middle with chairs around it. "There was a reason I bought this house." The lights in there were soft, such that the moonlight streaming in from the windows didn't go unnoticed, and the overall aesthetics of the room was quite pleasing. Rae walked in and sat in one of the chairs. Aria put down a plate in front of him and went back to the kitchen to get the rest of the food, for second servings. The way her stomach was rumbling, she knew it would be needed.

"What's that door there?" Rae said, pointing to another door that was situated to the left of the door that led to the kitchen.

"A gym of sorts," Aria said, while eating. "This dining room is rarely used, Jill and I usually eat on the couch. I decided I wanted to use it today. It's cleaned every other day though, after I workout."

"There's a gym?! What else are you hiding?"

Aria grinned, "Nothing else, I swear. I'll show you the gym after dinner."

They hadn't touched any heavy topics yet, and Aria wasn't going to either. Dinner is always supposed to be a light affair.

Rae asked, "Aria? Your last name is Katmann right?"

Aria smiled, knowing what was coming. "Yup."

"Is your mother's name Katmann too?"

"Yup. And before you ask my Meemaw and Pops are my mother's parents. In case you forgot."

"So how come you have their surname?"

"It's my mom's. I could ask you why you have your dad's, can't I?"

Aria was only half-kidding.

"Touché," Rae said.

"Besides my mom and dad got divorced before I was born." Aria said.