Falling Apart (GANG Series)

Chapter 13

Aria's POV

I grab my hazelnut coffee off the pick-up counter and go to join the rest of them at one of the homely furnished booths. I'm hanging out with Gina, Nate, Carter, and two of his senior friends. Both girls. They seem nice but I have a habit of being intimidated. Every time I speak I feel like they're judging me in a way. Or they look at me weirdly whenever Carter speaks to me. Maybe it's all in my head. My anxiety riding the tide. It's been a couple days since my birthday. I've been able to be relaxed since that night. It's like I was able to put my outbursts into words. Finally convey my emotions instead of just being an uncontrollable train wreck.

I'm just excited to pack my bags for when I go back to California in a couple days.

"Did you have a fun birthday?" Carter asks me.

"Oh, yeah I did." I reply.

"She sure had a lot fun pummeling us with snowballs." Nate reminds me and eats more of his fries.

Carter raises his brows in amusement at me and I just smile and sip my coffee.

"And it hurt too. Didn't think she could throw that hard." Gina adds and I laugh.

"So, Aria, there's gonna be a Christmas party this weekend, you should come. I'm sure Carter could use a date." One of the girls speak up. Sasha, I believe her name is. She looks at me and then just stares at Carter.

"I would love to but I've actually got a flight to go back home in a couple days."

"Really? So you're not from here?" The other girl asks.

"No, I'm from California."

"Interesting." They just say.

I feel Gina and Nate looking at me. They have that annoyed look on their faces. I don't wanna laugh out loud because then the two girls will start asking questions. I unlock my phone to see the message I just received.

J: are you free later?

Me: depends what you mean by later

J: like the evening

Me: yeah that's fine I'm just with some people from my college right now

J: where do you wanna meet

Yeah, I don't know how I'm suppose to stay acquainted with Jake or Aaron since I'm not even allowed to see them. Or anyone affiliated with a gang.

Me: you can park down my block I'll see you there

J: alright I'll see you later

I try to enjoy the rest of the thirty minutes here. Eventually Nate and Gina felt they reached their tolerance with the new company. We missed the seniors who actually acted like seniors. But those two were working today.

I shivered as I stepped outside again.

"God, those girls might as well have been wearing a sandwich board that says I'm obsessed with Carter and ringing their bells."

I felt rude as I laughed at Gina's witty remark.

"I know, I felt like I was the new cheerleader on the squad."

"I don't know how you didn't snap at them." Nate says as we cross the street.

"I don't know either."

"So, mall?" Gina asks.

Nate and I agree and we all drive off to the mall. It's decorated so beautifully here during Christmas time. It smells like pine trees and peppermint. We grabbed complimentary candy canes from the food court when we passed it. We sucked on the delicious treats as we shopped.