Fifteen: Free Fallin'

Chapter 52: Let It All Go

"Come on, Ari. It's time for lunch." Sophia Kate shook Aria's comatose body. She took in the scene in front of her as her best friend ignored her attempts at getting her up. Aria lay in bed in one of Caleb's t-shirts surrounded by Kleenexes while sad music played in the background.

"Aria you need to eat. You didn't eat breakfast and you didn't eat dinner last night. And no, I don't count tequila shots as dinner." Sophia Kate moved to pull Aria out of bed but she just turned to lie on her stomach. "I can't see him, SK. I just can't." Sophia Kate sighed and sat on the bed. "You won't have to. He's not here." Aria was turned around and sitting up at this newfound information. "What do you mean he's not here?"

"He and Brooke went home. Brooke is his cousin and she's just trying to look out for him like I am trying to look out for you. I'm sure he's had breakfast and lunch already, so come with me and let's get you fed. You can choreograph afterwards." Aria slightly smiled at this.

Her best friend knew she was a wad of emotions and dance is what got her through any life crisis. "Okay, fine. But I don't want to talk about it, Sophia Kate. I just can't." Sophia Kate nodded and got up. "I'll meet you in the living room." Sophia Kate did her best to distract Aria as they talked about dance and school.

"So, how are you and Gracia?" Aria asked mustering up a smile. "Oh, Aria, we don't have to talk about us." Aria shook her head. "I'm happy that my best friend is happy. I want to hear about you and Gracia, so dish girl." She smiled widely and Sophia Kate knew she was being genuine. "Honestly, a lot of the girls are mad at our respective significant others for keeping Caleb's secret. We're all a family and should've been informed asap. We didn't talk last night because I was pissed and it wouldn't have gone well if we did talk. She's texted this morning, but I haven't texted back."

Aria placed her hand over Sophia Kate's and smiled. "I appreciate your loyalty to me, SK. I really do. You're the best type of best friend and I love you so much, but this is Caleb and my issue not yours. Don't let anything get in the way of your relationship even if it's to be supportive of me. You can still support me and love on your girlfriend, you goose."

They chuckled a bit before getting up to put up their plates. "You heading to the studio?" Aria nodded and gave her a parting hug. "I'll see you tonight." Sophia Kate made her way back to her room and called Gracia. "I'm sorry, babe." Gracia said on the other end. "I'm sorry too. I am so fiercely loyal to the people I care about, but I see that you are too. Our best friends are hurting and it just sucks."

Gracia agreed with her. "Do you hate Caleb now?" Sophia Kate sighed but shook her head. "No. I just don't understand why he's a glutton for self-sabotage. He knows what it's like to not have her and yet he behaves in ways that almost guarantee losing her. It doesn't make sense." Gracia agreed once more.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" Sophia Kate didn't know. "Aria seemed like a shell of herself. She cried all night and all morning. She's at the studio right now, which is a good thing. When it comes to emotions, she's like a pressure cooker and dance is what alleviates that pressure." She sighed and looked up at the ceiling as she lay back in bed.

"I honestly don't know if they'll be okay. I love them together. I think they're perfect for each other, but Aria struggles with absent father inflicted wounds that Caleb just seemed to reopen by not trusting her with what was going on with him. In her mind, he basically said 'you're not good enough to have my trust' and that's wrecked her more than any of us can know."

"Well, we just got to be there for our best friends, okay?" Sophia Kate agreed. "Do you want to have a sleepover tonight?" Sophia Kate smiled widely. "I would love to have a sleepover if it means I can have my way with you." Sophia Kate could hear the smile in Gracia's voice and giggled. "I know we've never talked about going to the next level in detail, but I do want to. Tonight."