Chapter 7

• Chapter 7
• My mind drift to that weird tattooed stranger. He made me forget about my pain at least for the few minutes we drove in the same car. It's fruitless, I don't like people and we're never gonna see again. His grey eyes are the first thing i noticed each time I looked at him in that crazy ride. The steam on my bathtub lessen and I wasn't even ready to get out of the water. I wasn't counting the minutes and hours I stayed in that water, but I think it's been eternity. I get out and clean myself.
• I dart my eyes to my ringing phone and it's a private number. I press the answer icon and press the phone on my ear.
• "Ariel." The voice makes me freeze at once. Why's he calling me? I blocked his number. What does he want from me? To hurt me again?
• "Freddie what do you want?" I ask and I can't believe I'm about to cry.
• "Ariel, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I want you okay. I've always liked you. Forget the fact that i dated Aida in highschool, I was blind and i really didn't want to hurt you. I thought i wasn't perfect..."
• "What do you want?" I yell with heavy eyes.
• "I want you, Ariel."
• "I hate you. I mean God forgive my soul, you destroyed me Freddie. I don't want to ever see you again. Don't ever call me, I don't want you. You're a monster. Who takes advantage of their best friend because of their selfish needs? Just leave me alone." I sniffle, wiping my nose and eyes.
• "Ariel."
• "Go to hell Freddie. You'll burn." I flare and hang up throwing my phone on my bed with myself.
• How dare he call? Reminding me what happened? Is he trying to mock my weakness? I stayed till almost midnight and surprisingly nobody called me for dinner. I lay on my bed and go through the pages on the book the therapist gave me. For some silly reasons, I keep on remembering that weirdo stranger.
• I toss my book aside and close my eyes to sleep. It's morning again and I'm awake. My life's boring. Obviously I'm the one who's boring since there's not much to do here. They've never been much. I need a job.
• "Ariel." oh God, please not her.
• "Ariel..." she calls again knocking endlessly on my door.
• I carry my feet off the bed and a glimpse of my reflection made me halt. I had bags underneath my eyes. I shake my head slightly and open the door to witness Alexa.
• "Have you been crying?" She asks me walking into my room.
• "I'm fine. When did you arrive?" I ask arranging my sheets.
• "This morning. I'm here to spend the weekend. You look pale." She states reaching to touch my messy hair.
• "Thanks, Alex." I politely dodge her kind gestures and reach for my toothbrush.
• Leslie walks in singing to a song coming out of her phone.
• "What's up sis." Leslie asks with a grin.
• It's weird. Leslie doesn't care about me. She would pick our cousin Alexa over me countless times. I'm not like them. Leslie is a secret party freak, she likes boys but I'm yet to prove that since she's my nice sweet older sister. Alexa is worse, she doesn't hide anything and she barely cares that my parents cares. She has a tattoo on her waist and back and it's weird her parents don't care. My parents hated the fact that Alexa had to be our cousin. They see her as a bad egg. A really bad egg. I sort of like her a little though. She's pretty with a pierced nose.
• "We're partying tonight, you wanna come?" Alexa asks.
• "Party?"
• "Yes party." Alexa squeals. I turn to look at Leslie who acts like she doesn't care.
• "What about mom and dad? They hate parties too remember?"
• "Ditch that. I will handle that."
• "What are you gonna tell them?" Leslie asks.
• "That I have church service this evening and we won't be back till 10."
• "Mass doesn't take place at night." I press.
• "Ariel, why are you boring? When last did you party? Have you ever party at all? It's gonna be fun. Plenty of booze and boys from all over New York and college." Alexa says.
• Leslie seems to be interested cause her eyebrows lifts with a grin.
• I'm still not interested. I mean even if I decide to go with them, I'm still gonna be the goat. Mom finds joy in ordering me around and making life unbearable for me. And on a second thought, I've been indoors and doing nothing. I'm tired of staying at home and doing nothing. I keep on remembering how broken i am.
• "Okay fine. Don't you think 10:pm is too late?"
• "Ariel live a little." Alexa smirks snapping her fingers.
• "First we're gonna go shopping for creative wears. You're not gonna dress like you're going to a funeral." Alex says directing her speech to me.
• "What about mom?" I ask while Leslie listens.
• "She won't allow us go out this morning to buy clothes."
• "They are not around, dummy." Leslie snaps at me.
• I shrug and breathe in. This is totally a bad idea and I'm grateful I'm not the only one risking it.
• "Go brush your teeth, we're getting dressed. And please dress normal." Alexa smirks and leaves with Leslie who is swaying to a music on her playlist.
• I heave a deep breath and rush to the bathroom to shower. I get dressed on just a simple black jeans trousers and t—shirt. I know I look normal even if not hot. I walk out of my room only to find Leslie and Alexa giggling. Alexa is a fashion model. She fits perfectly on her red short dress with straps and a black leather jacket hangs on her shoulders. Leslie is pretty and I regretted coming in the first place. Their stares made me feel that way.
• "Let's go." Alexa smirks and leads the way with her nice stilettos clicking against our floorboards.
• I feel like I'm sixteen. Alexa drives a real modern Ford car and it's beautiful compared to my box. All thanks to that stranger. I sit at the back seat like a timid girl while Leslie and Alexa dance to the rap music. I really can't tell who's the artiste. She stops by a boutique and without warning I know it's out of my league. I can't afford this type of designer clothes.
• We're not broke but my parents choose to live awkwardly, maybe because they both serve in a Catholic parish.
• "Alex, these are expensive." I mutter looking around every wears and their tags inside the boutique. Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and every classy label you could think of.