WILDFIRE

CHAPTER NINE

Toby continued….

I left the bathroom. I noticed Aria was watching me and she started to smile at me.Her smile was very contagious, so I smiled at her.Tonya came up, and got Aria’s attention. Tonya said "Aria, can you drive me to school today please?"

Aria nodded her head down and said "Tonya, go downstairs to wait please." Tonya nodded her head. Yes, I got up and went towards her. Aria turned around and I was right behind her. I took the opportunity to kiss her. We started kissing for a little bit. Once we both needed oxygen, we pulled apart. Aria is like a drug to me. I can’t get enough of her. I said "we gotta get Tonya to school and you off to work and me to school.”

Aria answered "OK, let's go and I'll pick you up for my lunch break, okay."

I said "Oh and don't forget, we are going to dinner with my mom tonight at 8:00pm." Aria nodded her head, yes. We all got in the car and drove off. Aria dropped Tonya off and then went to my school. My friends came up to me when I watched the car disappear around the corner. My best friend asked “who was that, that just dropped you off?”

I answered “Mike, do you remember the woman I told you about?” Mike nodded his head yes. I then stated “well that was her. Dude, I am really in love with her. She is amazing, she is strong, caring, and kind.”

Just then, one of Mike’s friends, Taylor, came out of nowhere and stated “how do you know you are in love with her? You just met her. Maybe you need to give her more time so the past doesn’t repeat itself.”

Mike said “Taylor, leave him alone. I think he knows how he feels. I am happy for you dude. You deserve to be happy, after you know who.” I smiled and we started to walk inside the school building. I noticed Taylor was really pissed, but I don’t like her like that. Hell, I can only stand dealing with her because of Mike. And when she stated she always had a thing for me last year, I told her I don’t feel the same way. She stated she would wait because it all happened right after my first relationship, and Terry never wanted to be with me. She was only with me so she could get out of trouble by using the boyfriend of the cop’s son. Terry cheated on me for two years and I didn’t even know. She found someone outside of the country, so, basically, we will never meet. Well, that plan backfired because one night I was going over to her house for a surprise and I had really good news and I wanted to share it, so I went to her house. I saw her car there. Her parents loved me so they always told me to walk right in. So I did and at that moment I should have just knocked but I found her and this other dude having s*x on the couch, she was on top of him riding him. But that was the day her parents found out everything because they came in right behind me. I couldn’t even speak because I was hurt badly. Terry said “Toby, it is not what it looks like.” I didn’t even respond to her. I just walked right out of the door. Terry went outside and screamed “Toby, please, it was a mistake. It didn’t mean anything.” I just got into my car and left. The next day, at school, she tried to talk to me and I just ignored her. She is still at the same school. Everytime I catch her looking at me. She looks hurt because I don’t want to be with a cheater. But when Taylor found out that Terry and I broke up, Taylor kept hinting that she would be so much better than Terry, and she would never cheat on me and Terry was very stupid. And then last year, she literally came out and asked me to date her. I told her “no.” But I think she still has hope that I will be with her. That is the backstory of that situation and why Taylor is pissed. But anyway, I was still happy with Aria. Mike has had a crush on Taylor for the longest time but refuses to tell her because he is afraid he would ruin their friendship if he confessed everything to her. But anyway, Mike and I started talking about everyone that we hang out with when they can meet her. I would love it if my friends and my girlfriend became friends. Anyway, we walked to class. I was in math class, and I just couldn’t for the life of me pay attention. I was thinking about Aria’s situation and about how she was unable to finish school because of her family. And now she has a sister and a job. Maybe I can get my father to agree to have her work after school hours for full time while I help watch Tonya. I know Aria is very smart and it is time she had help with everything, and has a support system. I smiled at that. My teacher yelled at me to pay attention. I then started to try to pay attention. When lunch came, I called Aria. Aria picked up. Aria said “hey babe.”

I said “hey, I was calling to see how your first day was going.”

Aria answered, “I like it. It is going well.”

I replied “that is good. Well, I will see you tonight. I love you.”

Aria said “I love you as well. Goodbye. Get back to studying.” With that, we hung up and I went to the table. I saw Mike, Josh, Marie, Elena, Kayle, Shawn, John, Taylor and Chuck, who were already sitting down and eating. Elena saw me and said “So, Mike told us that you found a new girl. Why didn’t you tell us?”

I answered “it just happened, I just wanted us to know each other at this stage. I will talk to her about meeting you guys.”

Taylor said “what are you hiding, Toby? Why don’t you want us to meet her? We are supposed to be your friends.”

I answered even though I was getting pissed because of Taylor. She is getting pissed because I don’t like her that way. I stated “because I am getting to know her. And honestly, you are not really one of my “friends” that I will not talk about anything with or ask for your advice. Most of us just let you hang out with us because there are like one or two people that believe you're a good friend to them. And when I talk to her about meeting MY friends you do understand.”

Elena said “Toby, come on, let’s go for a walk. Taylor, why don’t you think about what you said to Toby about his relationship? You need to understand that Toby does not like you like that. You are jealous because he didn't pick to be with him. I am sorry your secret is out, but honestly, you need to get it together.” With that, Elena and I walked away. While I was walking away with Elena, I looked at Mike. Mike looked at Taylor with sad eyes. I feel bad for him because he actually likes her. I couldn’t understand why, because there is nothing in her to like, but Mike knows her better than anyone. So he has to see something that no one else does. Once I was away from Taylor , I started to relax. My phone rang. I looked at it. It was a text from Aria that said “please have a good day. We can cuddle when we both get done. I love you. Pay attention. :).” I smiled and Elena said “there you go keep smiling. Don’t let Taylor get you mad about that. And that was rude to what you said. She didn't deserve to be talked to like that even though she was getting on your nerves and mine. It is still not okay. Go call Aria and then be on time for class. I know you will not give up your heart again until you know for a fact that she won't hurt you. And I know you already gave her your heart. But I do have a question. Have you even had s*x with Taylor?”

I answered “No, I have not and would not have s*x with her. And yeah, I have fallen in love with Aria. Can this thing we talk about stay between us?” Elena nodded her head. Yes. I told her a little bit about Aria. Now she understands why I have to go really slow with her and be careful. Elena understood. I could see in her eyes that she felt guilty and really sad about what Aria had been through.

Elena said “now I understand why you are going really slow, because of what you have been through with a person who should not be named. But I would like to meet her and get her to do some fun girl things like shopping or spas or something. So, when later, I will stop by your house with my boyfriend and we can just hang out so she can get the feeling of me and that I want to be her friend and I am not going to hurt her. I nodded my head. We kept talking about the plan while we were walking to class. Once we got to class, I couldn’t help feeling really happy about everything. Hopefully, Aria won't freak out about hanging out with Elena. School went by fast. The last bell rang. I noticed that Aria was waiting outside for me. It was really nice to see her. I started to walk to the car when I noticed Taylor walking up to the car. I stopped far enough to hear what Taylor was saying to Aria.