Lockdown {COMPLETED}

Chapter 10: Too soon

"What?!"

Aria jumped off the ledge back onto the roof, and raced to the door yanking it open and leaving it unlocked in a hurry to make sure her apartment would not be damaged. It had happened once before, when Jill was not her roommate and the price to fix it was through the roof.

She raced down the stairs, taking two at a time and almost tripping. She cursed as she opened the door and- she stopped short.

Rae stood in the living room holding a cake with a big smile on his face. Her family was there too, having face timed together.

"Happy Birthday!" they chorused.

A huge smile threatened to break out, but Aria reeled it in, going for a faux confused look. "Wait so the kitchen's not on fire?"

Rae rolled his eyes, and her grin broke out.

"Now cut the cake while we sing happy birthday to you!" her seven year old cousin said, giddy with excitement.

"Aria, she's been asking for this since last week, please get it over with," Uncle Charles said, rolling his eyes playfully.

"Alright, alright," she said, raising her hands in surrender. "Don't worry kiddo, one day you'll turn old too."

"Hey! Be happy you aren't turning sixty."

She rolled her eyes.

********

Rae was flitting through the news channels, when the doorbell rang. He sighed and got up, retrieving his mask first and then opening the door.

A police officer stood outside. "Officer," he said, in lieu of a greeting. She wore a black lives matter mask, which made him smile. Aria and Rae had had an hour long discussion about racism in their country, Aria having particularly strong views about it, seeing as her uncle had married an African American man, whose niece and nephew were orphaned in a car accident. They'd been adopted by her uncles, making them her cousins.

"You're Rae Thompson?"

"That's me," he said, frowning. A tendril of dread curled in his stomach. What if his father somehow had gotten wind of this and-

"You personally asked us to inform you when the lockdown is lifted as you do not live in this area. Well it's lifted. Good day."

Rae sighed in relief. "Thank you. Good Day, Officer."

She left and he shut the door. As he removed the mask, he noticed Aria leaning against the wall next to his room's door.

"Who was it?" Her expression was carefully blank, and if Rae wasn't so relieved he would've frowned.

"It was just an officer. The lockdown's been lifted."

Maybe it was because he said it out loud, or because it was the first time it was piercing his bubble of relief, it hit him. He could leave.

But instead of feeling relieved that he could finally leave, he felt nothing. As if it didn't matter to him the way it might've a few weeks ago. But what did matter to him was whether or not Aria would still help him. He hated that he wanted her in his life. He hated that he was dependent on her support and her belief in him. For so long he'd had only his best friend Jill, who he could count on, but now even she wasn't talking to him.

Aria, as if sensing this, came closer and hugged him. "You aren't getting rid of me so easily Rae. I know I'm not as helpful as Ava is, but I'd like to be there as moral support. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not." His arms tightened around her, and he mumbled something incoherent.