Fifteen: Free Fallin'

Chapter 55: Joke's On You

Brooke sat on Aria's bed as Aria woofed down the chicken wrap. It was as though the moment she stopped and had a bite everything had turned on its axis. "That's what happens when you don't eat for days." Brooke chided with a smile. Aria took a sip of her ice tea and smiled at her friend.

"What do you want, Brooke?" Aria knew Brooke hadn't followed her to watch her eat. "I want you to watch a performance for me and tell me what you see and feel. That's how you artist interpret art, right? You feed off the emotions of a performance." Aria nodded and followed her into the living room as she hooked her phone to the cable on the tv.

Aria's eyebrows scrunched up as she saw a still of herself at what looked to be Cather in the Rye. Brooke pressed play and Aria on film began singing. Aria couldn't help but smile. This was the night she sang 'Run to You' for Caleb. The night she chose him over Stefan. In all honesty, this was the night she knew she loved him but wasn't ready to admit it.

She watched herself sing wholeheartedly to a man she cared so deeply for. As the performance came to a close Brooke looked at her friend who had tears streaming down her face. "What do you feel, Aria?" Brooke stood in front of her holding her hands. "I can't do this, Brooke." Aria sobbed. "Yes you can! Just open up your heart, Aria. What do you feel?"

Aria felt nothing but love for the boy who had already had two chances at her heart. "I love him, Brooke, but I don't trust him. He's hurt me twice already. Why does he deserve a third chance?" Brooke squeezed her hands and smiled. "He deserves a third chance, because your heart aches for him. You two are meant to be together and you know that. I'm not saying that you have to trust him just like that. No, I'm saying work on the foundation. The woodwork is there, but it just needs some concrete." She took in her friend's watery smile. "What are you a builder?" Brooke laughed heartily. "I may have picked up some things from my Grandpa."

"I miss him." Brooke nodded and gave her friend a hug. "Then go to him. Tell him your rules and stipulations and if he can honestly deal then give it another go." Aria pulled back and looked at her friend. "You're a really good cousin, you know that?" Brooke nodded in agreement. "Make sure he gets me a really good Christmas present." Aria laughed loudly at this and it warmed Brooke's heart. "I need you to do something for me," Aria stated filling her in on her plan.

When everyone left, Caleb and Avery cleaned up his room. They talked about Avery's predicament and Caleb had nothing but wise words for him. "You love her. You wouldn't be this hung up if you didn't. And it's because you love her that you have to let her go. You had your chance and you messed it up and she is with someone else now that gets her and loves her for who she was and who she is. She's happy, Avery. If you love her like I know you do, let her be happy."

Avery sobered quickly at his words and nodded. He had to let Brooke go for her benefit and his good. "You going to let Aria go?" Caleb looked at his friend and sighed. "If it means she stays healthy and gets back to her old self then yeah. I love her too much to watch her become a shell."

"You ever think we'd have normal freshman problems like STDs and poor grades from partying too much if we hadn't met the group." Caleb laughed at Avery and nodded. "But things wouldn't be as fun and interesting as they are now if we didn't have each other."

Avery agreed as he finished his beer. "I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow." They dabbed one another and said their goodbyes. Caleb showered and dressed for bed. He laid down and planned on repeating his nightly routing of scrolling through pictures of him and Aria when he got a text from Brooke.

B: Hey cousin, I need you to be at the dance studio tomorrow morning at 8am. Don't ask questions just be there.

Caleb had no idea what Brooke was up to, but he hoped it wasn't something that would drive Aria further away. He was slowly giving up hope that they would ever be together again, but at least he held out hope that they could still be friends. He scrolled through pictures before falling asleep hoping tomorrow would be a better day.

Caleb stood in the dance studio alone looking around. He had no idea what he was doing there, but it was 8am and he trusted his cousin. A soft melody began playing as he watched Aria come from a room in the back. She wore black dance shorts and a white lace sports bra and moved with the lyrics. Caleb was entranced as she told a story. She told their story.

Every move, every sigh, every smile meant something to the overall performance and Caleb was drinking it all in. She did a turn that had him spellbound. It seemed to last for hours and yet she did it so masterfully. As the song came to an end she twirled and spun until she was directly in front of him.

Her hair was in a ponytail, which she rarely wore but he found himself liking it. He stared into her eyes and saw a kaleidoscope of emotions. "I love you." She said and Caleb thought he was dreaming. He physically pinched himself to make sure. "I love you so much that it hurts. Love shouldn't hurt, Caleb. I want to be with you and I want us to give this another try, but you have to understand that this is your third and final chance. I can't be your doormat or someone that you take for granted. I won't be."

Caleb was speechless so he simply nodded his head. "If you lie to me again, we're done. No relationship. No friendship. Nothing. I will cease to exist in your life, do you understand?" He sobered at the reality of how much he had hurt her and how big of a chance she was taking by giving him her heart once again.

"I do. I understand and you don't have to worry, I know what I have and I'm going to cherish you." Her facial expression told him she didn't believe him. "I know you don't trust me, babe. I will do whatever it takes to gain your trust back." All Aria could do was nod her head. "I need to kiss you, Ace." Aria smiled softly at this and nodded her head. In milliseconds his lips were on hers.

Aria knew the moment they touched she would forget everything. She ached to be in his arms and as his lips coaxed hers and his arms wrapped around her tightly, she felt at home once more. "I love you." Aria sighed into his embrace. "I love you more." He looked into her eyes. "Not possible." Aria stared at him as if she was staring into his soul. "Yes possible."

Everyone was shocked to see a smiling Caleb and Aria. Granted, Caleb's was much larger than Aria's, but there was a smile. "Are Mom and Dad back together?" Preston cooed earning him laughs all around. "Yes!" Caleb was too excited and everyone could tell. "I don't deserve her, but she's giving me another chance to prove just how much I love her."

They all cheered as they headed to grab food. "How are you feeling?" Sophia Kate asked her best friend knowingly. "I don't know. I'm happy I guess. A part of me just feels I'm setting myself up for the more heartbreak." Sophia Kate squeezed her arm. "You made the decision to take him back, so let him woo you and show you he's all in. Don't let the doubt and negative thoughts win. Let love in." Aria nodded and headed towards the table.

"I think we should go to Game Pavilion this afternoon." Daisy offered with a smile. They all agreed they were due for a fun weekend. Aria had forgotten in the midst of all the madness that the girls were planning Stefan and Tyler's surprise birthday party. She was looking forward to seeing their faces. Stefan and Tyler both deserve the love and affection they were receiving from their girlfriends.

Aria thought to the birthday surprise she had planned for Caleb. He was born on Christmas and she had already bought her plane ticket to Austin Christmas morning to surprise him. She had talked it over with his Mom and everything. She looked over at him laughing at something Avery said and her heart melted. She really did love him, but was love any good without trust.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Preston asked Aria earning him a glare. "Why am I the Mom of the group?" Preston laughed heartily. "You just are. You're always checking on everyone and making sure we're all good like the great Mom you are." Aria huffed. "Why can't I be the hot Aunt or something?" Preston pointed to Daisy. "Hot Aunt role goes to Daisy Reynolds."Daisy winked at him. "Damn right."

They all laughed as they talked about the games they were planning on playing at the Game Pavilion that afternoon. Stefan and Tyler had no idea that Daisy and Olivia had rented out the room and decorated it in their shared favorite movie franchise, Star Wars. "Our boyfriends are nerds," Daisy had told Olivia who agreed wholeheartedly.