A. Queen

I've Never Seen You Cry, Aria.

Once I got to the park, I started working on my Fashion Designs. But after a few minutes, I saw Ken.

“ Hey Barbie! “ Ken said.

“ Hi Ken! “ I said in a cheerful tone, trying not to let my anger out on Ken.

“ How are you? “ Ken asked, as I sat down at the picnic table.

“ I’ve been better. How about you, Ken? “ I said/asked.

“ Good, I’m sorry you’re not doing too good. “ Ken said.

“ It’s okay, Ken. It’s not like it’s your fault. “ I told Ken with a small smile. Which caused Ken to smile. Then I heard someone walk toward us.

“ Hey Justin! “ Ken said cheerfully.

“ Hi Ken. Hi Aria. “ Justin said, in the cheerful tone as Ken.

“ Hi Justin. “ I said, getting back to work on the latest Designs, I’m working on. Then some took it from the side of me, I looked up and saw Justin took it from me.

“ Wow, these are wonderful Designs, Aria. “ Ken said, looking over Justin’s shoulders.

“ Thank you, Ken, that means a lot. “ I said, with a smile.

“ You’re very talented, Aria. “ Justin said, as my smile grew a little. Then I took a deep breath as my phone rang. It was Lucas, I was hesitant about answer. But I answered.

“ Hi this is Idon’tcare.com please leave a message at the beep. “ I said, in a bored tone. Lucas sighed.

“ Okay Aria. I know you’re there. “ Lucas said.

“ Get to the point already. “ I said, to Lucas wanting to end this conversation.

“ We are going out to eat with old friends of Dad. “ Lucas said, happly.

“ Nope, not going. “ I said, to Lucas.

“ Why not? “ Lucas asked.

“ Old friends of Dad’s meaning I would have to meet him soon. “ I said, stating the obvious. Ken looked at me knowing what I meant by him.

“ You are going to see him on Christmas. “ Lucas said. I laughed.

“ Lucas, oh Lucas, I vowed I would never meet him. He’s not my Father never was and never will be. “ I said, before continuing. “ I may never have met him, Lucas but I don’t like him. “ 

“ You will meet him! “ Allen growled, in the background. But I hung up and Lucas called again but I declined the call.

“ Are you okay? “ James asked, making me jump.

“ I’m fine. “ I said, I’m always fine.

“ I don’t believe you, Aria. “ James and Ken said.

“ You don’t need to. I’m fine, a bit upset but fine. “ I told everyone. “ I need to go though, but I don’t want to. “ I said, sadly, getting up and grabbing my stuff, leaving.

After a few minutes, I arrived at ‘home’. I opened up the door and I got bombarded with questions about where I was. I didn’t reply.

“ Probably whoring around. “ Will said, I didn’t do anything like they expected. I just walked up the stairs and went into my room and sat on my bed, video calling J.

“ Hey J. “ I said, happly.

“ Hey A. “ J said, just as happy as me.

“ Anyone love interest? “ I asked, J.

“ No. You? “ J said/asked.

“ You wish, you know you would be the first person I would tell. “ I said, with a smirk.

“ I know, I know. “ J said, laughing.

“ You think it funny yet I have enough blackmail to blackmail you into doing anything I want. “ I said, as he took his shirt off.

“ Aria, you’ve seen me without a shirt enough to not look away. “ J said.

“ I’ve seen everyone in that Mansion shirtless, not wanting to. “ I said, as I stopped smirking.

“ True. But at least we never saw you shirtless. “ J said.

“ Did you ever find out the reason? “ I asked, J.

“ No. I respect your privacy. “ J said, I was glad. I didn’t want anyone extra to know. Then Ace opened my door and entered.

“ I gotta go, J. “ I wined to J. J sighed.

“ Je dois aller rencontrer un vieil ami de leurs pères. “ I said in French. (Translation: I gotta go meet an old friend of their Fathers.) Then I ended the call.

“ What did you tell him? “ Ace asked.

“ Je dois aller rencontrer un vieil ami de leurs pères. “ I said to Ace, because he didn’t ask me to translate what I said in English. Then I got up and went down stairs. I was not greeted, which I didn’t mind. 

“ Where are we going? “ I asked.

“ Olive Garden. They don’t like super fancy dinners. “ Austin replies. Glad I’m not the only one. I thought to myself. Then they walked out of the house. I didn’t want to follow but I also didn’t want to be called a w***e for staying home alone. 

After about a half an hour, we arrived. I got out of the car last. When we entered the Restaurant, we got seated immediately. We waited about five minutes before ‘Fathers friend’ came.

“ Hello! “ He said, politely.

“ Hello, Max. “ My ‘Brothers’ said. I didn’t want to be here, and I was not really paying attention. 

“ You must be, Aria. “ Max said.

“ No, I’m their Mother. “ I said, sarcastically. Max laughed as Allen glared at me.

“ I like you already, Aria. “ Max said.

“ I don’t remember asking for your approval, Mr. “ I said, with a playful tone. Max smiled, as he sat down. 

“ Please call me Max, Aria. “ Max said.

“ Compromise Mr. Max. “ I suggested.

“ Okay, that’s better. “ Mr. Max said, as I zoned out. What was my ‘Father’s’ name? Why did it matter? I thought. It’s not like I want him in my life. But when I have kids, I will give them the option to meet their GrandFather. I don’t want them to be biased because I was raised to hate him. When will I meet the ‘love of my life’? What does it feel like to be a parent? Will I be like my ‘Mother’? God, I hope not. I don’t want that for my kids. I don’t want my kids in the Mafia, always having their life in danger because of who I am. But it will be their choice, I won’t force them. Why did I choose this life? I didn’t need the money. I guess I coulda said no but Papa’s face. Damn, I was so soft. But it led me to J and Alex, which I couldn’t be more thankful for. But the things I had to go through to get here… Sometimes I wish I said no. But it’s not like I could see the futcher. Even if I could, the futcher always changes.

" Aria, what do you want? " Allen asked angrily.

" I'm not hungry, but thanks for asking. " I told Allen, looking out the window. Why was Allen angry? I thought. Why do I care, they hate me. They don't respect me, yet I respect them. Maybe I shouldn't respect them anymore. I sighed turning my attention to Max.

" How's Lara? " Max asked me.

" 6 feet under. " I said without a single tear.

" You didn't like your Mother. " Max said, I laughed.

" You have barely known me and you can read me like an open book. Yet my 'Brothers' can't. " I replied, with a huge amount of respect for Max. I sighed.

" How'd she did? " Lucas asked.

" Overdose, Lucas. " I said, shaking my head.

" Mother like daughter please. " I heard Will pray. I didn’t answer, it doesn't matter, it never did. I got up and said to Max " Mr. Max, it was lovely meeting you but I have to go do drugs now. " After I said that I went to the nearest Cemetery. I walked around, not caring about anything right now. I sighed and fell to the ground and let out a quiet sob. Why did they think so little of me? Why did I care? I wiped my tears, getting up. And looked around, not that it mattered. I'm a daughter of a Drug Addicted that's all they will ever think of me. I'm going to stop shedding tears for them. Then I suddenly heard a twig snap. I looked up and saw Austin staring at me worried. I walked away when he took a step forward.

" Aria, are you okay? " Austin asked me.

" Austin, I haven't been okay since I met you. Whether you see it or not I'm hurting, you guys never noticed. " I said looking Austin in the eyes.

" I've never seen you cry, Aria. You always have a blank expression, so we never saw how hurt you were. " Austin tried to explain. I shook my head, softly. Looking away.

" Austin, you and your 'Brothers' don't care about me. " I said, not caring about his feelings since he never cared about mine.