WILDFIRE

CHAPTER SIX:

CHAPTER SIX:

CONTINUING ARIA POV:

Toby said “they won't hurt you?”

I said “I have never been around a male adult that wouldn’t hurt me in a very long time since my dad went missing.”

Toby’s mom said “so you are that beautiful young girl.” I looked at his mom weirdly and then I looked at Toby because I thought he broke more than one promise. Tobym watched the different faces I was making.

Toby asked "Aria, are you okay?"

I whispered " Yes. I'm fine."

Toby asked "are you sure?" I nodded her head yes and then my cell phone rang. It was my Aunt Claire telling me she was coming to pick me up in one hour. I said "okay." Toby was wondering what was wrong. So I told him I had to go home because my Aunt was coming to get me. Toby's face changed from normal to really sad.

I asked “Hey, you okay?”

Toby said "yeah, I am just sad I wont be able to see you for a little while. I know it is for the best, but can we still talk on the phone and text?"

I nodded my head yes. And I smiled at him and he smiled back at me. Then he went in to kiss me but I pulled away because his parents were watching us. Toby asked "what's wrong?"

I replied "your parents are watching us. It is kind of creeping me out a little bit."

Toby said "oh umm.....come with me." So I did. He took me to a little river with a waterfall where no one could see us. Toby asked "Is this better?" Aria nodded her head yes. Toby smiled.

I said "hey, do you know how to dance?"

Toby replied "ummm....not really. Do you?"

I said "yes. Do you have a radio?"

Toby replied " Yes, why?"

I asked "can you please go get it?" Toby nodded his head yes, then went to go get the radio. Then he came back and I had a cd and put it on. I changed it to track 5 because it was a slow song, and it was my favorite song.

I said "okay. Here" I held my hand out. Toby grabbed it and pulled me closer to him.

Toby asked "Now, what do I do?"

I said " We dance together. Just follow my lead and you will pick it up really quick." So I taught him and he was happy.

THIRD PERSON's POV:

They didn't know their parents were watching them dance together. Toby stopped and leaned in to kiss her but she jerked because her dad said her aunt was there to pick her up. Her aunt finally got to see her in eleven years because her mother was really sad about her dad, and because of Jack. When her aunt touched her there was still a bruise there. Aria started saying "owe,owe." Aria moved to where no one could touch her bruises. Everybody wondered why. Till her Aunt looked at her back and there were all the bruises, cuts, and scars. Her Aunt looked at Aria's face, and her aunt asked "how old are you now?"

Aria answered "15 turning 16 in a few months."

Her Aunt Claire said "we are going to throw a party with everyone you want to invite and our family members." Aria looked at her weirdly , and Toby grabbed her hand and Aria was shaking.

Toby asked "Aria, sweetie, are you okay?"

Aria replied," Yes."

Toby replied "Do you have to go now?" Aria nodded her head. Yes.

Toby said, "I'm going to miss you very badly."

Aria said, "since she is throwing this party for me, you're invited and your parents."

Toby smiled and said " "mom, dad can you give us some privacy please?"

Toby's mother said, " Of course. Would you like to come in to have a cup of coffee, Aria's Aunt?" Aria's aunt nodded her head. Yes.

Toby said "we are alone again." So they hugged. Aria looked up at Toby and kissed him on his cheek. Toby looked into her eyes and leaned in to kiss her on her lips. Aria kissed him back. Then her Aunt Claire came to take her, so she could settle in. Her aunt saw them making out.

Her AuntClaire said " Okay, you ready to go?" So they stopped kissing and Aria nodded her head yes.

Aria said "Toby, I will call you when I get there and on the way there we can text each other okay."

Toby said "I'm going to miss you when you are gone." Aria smiled, then she left. He went to see her leave. On the way to Claire's house they were listening to music. Then her Aunt asked "Do you like that Toby kid?"

Aria said "yeah. I like him a lot."Then they drove off in silence. Aria's lawyer called her to tell her when the court date was and that he needed pictures of the bruises, cuts, and scars. But she needed her Aunt Claire to send them to him. And for her to tell her side of the story. Aria said "okay." Then she got off the phone with her lawyer and she went into Aunt Claire's house and settled in. Claire called Aria down for dinner. Aria came down, and saw Aunt Claire was having problems planning the party. Aria asked "um...do you want some help with the party planning?"

Aunt Claire replied, " Do you mind helping me?"

Aria said "no." Aria smiled and started helping her. Aria was picking out everything that was cute but not too expensive.

A few hours later, Aria's mother went to Aria's aunt's house to try to make Aria drop the charges against Jack. And let Jack come back to live with them again. Aria's mother got there and she knocked on the door. Aria answered. Aria said "mom."

Aria's mother said "can we talk please Aria?" Aria let her in. Claire left the room but was listening to find out what was said.

Aria asked "what do you want now mom?"

Aria's mother said "I want you home. And you drop the charges against Jack. Honey, I know that you might not understand this, but I love him. And I want to be with him. And I want us to become a family."

Aria said " You are not listening to me. I thought this was going to wake you up but I guess not." Then Aria's cell phone rang. It was Toby. Aria got all smiley and happy. Aria picked up and went to a different room. Aria said "Hey, Toby."

Toby said " Hi, what are you doing?"

Aria said "planning?" Then they talked for at least two hours. Aria's Aunt said "It is bedtime, Aria." So Aria got off the phone and her mother was still there. Her mother asked "are you going to do that for me or what honey please? I want us to become a family after your dad goes missing. So can you please not press charges please?"

Aria said "I don't know. I will have to think about it, but for right now I need to be alone to sort everything out." So she left and she went home. Aria was crying because she was so confused. Aria went to bed when her Aunt Claire walked in. Aria left her cell phone on the table. Her Aunt called Toby, and asked if she could talk to her dad. She talked to Mr. Dodger about everything and what her mother said and how Aria is so confused about everything. So they got off the phone and Toby's dad told Toby, and Toby started freaking out. So his dad told him that they were to go to Aria's Aunt's house tomorrow. Toby relaxed a little bit. The next morning, Aria got up, she got ready to go, then she ate. She told her aunt she was exploring. Her aunt let her go. So she left with water, a map, a flashlight, and her hiking gear and her cell phone. She went exploring and she was enjoying herself. Then she went back and she went into her Aunt's house and she saw Mr. Dodger was sitting at the table with his aunt talking. When she walked in, everybody stopped talking and looked at her. Aria asked "what is going on?" Toby heard her voice and he came out of the living room with a smile. Then his mother came to see what her answer was. So his mother knocked on the door. Aria answered. Aria's mother said "I'm ready to take you home and to know your answer about what we talked about yesterday." Aria's Aunt Claire stepped in and said "you can't take her till the court is all over."

Aria's mother asked " Do you want to bet?"

Claire said "yes, I want to bet." So Aria was standing in the middle of them when they were fighting. Then she got really confused, so she grabbed her hiking gear and ran out of the house. She started running towards the woods. Toby ran after her. Toby was screaming "ARIA, PLEASE WAIT! ARIA." So she did. Toby caught up with her. And all he did was hug her and say "everything is going to be okay. I promise." So they sat down near the woods and they talked about it. Aria leaned onto his shoulder and he put his head onto her head. They loved talking to each other and hanging out with each other. They were always talking.

Toby asked "So what are you going to tell your mom about the case? Aria, are you still going through with it or are you going to drop the case for your mom?"

Aria replied, "I don't know anymore. This case and my mom is making me stressed out. But let's not talk about that right now please."

Toby said "okay. Um, what do you want to be when you get older?"

Aria replied "umm.... either a police officer or a marine like my dad. What do you want to be?"

Toby answered, "I'm going to be just like my dad. I want to help people. Just like I helped you."

Aria smiled and said, "You want to hear something?"

Toby said "of course."

Aria said, "You know we met on top of the hill. Well, I thought you were really cute. When you saved me from Jack I thought of my hero." Toby smiled and he was rubbing her back. They heard their dad calling them down. Toby got up first. Aria was shaking her head no but Toby said "I will be by your side all the way. Can you come with me please?" Aria got up and nodded her head. Yes, and then they started walking and Aria was holding Toby's hand. Aria's mother came out with Aria's bag and said "let's go home now sweetie."

Aria asked "why are you taking me away and putting me back into that house? Please, Aunt Claire, don't let her take me please."

Claire said "I have no control because she is your mom and I'm just your aunt. But please, can I talk to you over there?" So they walked over to the house. Her aunt said "please promise me that you will keep this case open so you can put this man in jail and we are still having this party."

Aria said "I promise and okay." So then she got into the car and she was looking out the window and then her mother told her when she got into the car that her mother was going to bail out Jack. Aria got really scared. They got back to town, they went straight to the jail house and his mother bailed Jack out. Jack saw Aria in the car and he smiled at her. Then he got into the car and Aria got really scared, so she got out of the car and Aria's mother said "Aria, get back into this car right now." So Aria did. And on their way back home, Jack was trying to talk to Aria about the case but she wasn't listening to him. He noticed and he got really mad. Her sister Tonya was home with a babysitter. When they got out, Aria ran to her room. Jack went in and went straight to her room and she locked it and put stuff in front of the door. And she curled up in a corner. Then her cell phone rang, but she didn't answer it. She just let it go to voicemail. Toby called for hours, but she never picked up. So he left her five voicemails. When she finally got them, she was too scared to call him back that night. So in the morning she was still up. She called Toby back. Toby answered. Toby said "hello?"

Aria said "I'm sorry, I didn't pick you up last night. I was distracted all night. So I didn't sleep."

Toby replied "that is okay. Hey, can we hang out today?" Then Toby heard a scream and glass breaking. Toby said "Aria, Aria, please answer me. Aria!" Toby got really scared. He ran out of his house and grabbed a Skylit and got on her and was hurrying to try to get to her.When he got to her house, he saw her bedroom window was broken, and saw her arm and saw that she was climbing out her window. Jack was climbing after her. Toby trotted towards her. He said "come on up here, you will be safe.” So she did. When he saw her arm up close, there was a big piece of glass and she could barely move her arm. They headed to town. Toby said "let's get you to the hospital, okay."

Aria said "okay." Aria saw her arm and saw blood, she was about to knock her out when Jack came up next to her with the car. And he tried to grab her off the horse to get her into the car. But it didn't work well. Toby and Aria went to the land and Jack couldn't. So they made it to the hospital and Toby got off first and Aria blacked out and she fell right into Toby's arms. Toby ran into the hospital with Aria in his arms. They looked at her up to a breathing machine. Toby called his dad, his mom, his aunt, and his mother. They all came. Mr. Dodger saw her arm with stitches in her arm. He asked "how many stitches are in her arm."

The doctor answered "twenty-eight stitches. That was a pretty big piece of glass." Mr. Dodger said his manners to the doctor. Then he went back to her room, and said " Son, do you know who did this?"

Toby said " Yes, it was her mother's boyfriend, Jack."

Aunt Claire said "I never should have let her out of my house."

Aria's mother said " She is my daughter, and I love her."

Aunt Claire replied, "right Star."

The next day, Aria woke up and she saw everybody was in her room. She even saw Jack standing next to her mother. Aria moved her hand and Toby woke up and said " You're okay! I'm so glad!" Aria was looking right, passed him and straight at Jack. She got scared. Toby looked behind him and saw Jack and he woke up his dad. Mr. Doger said "Jack, you can't be here. She now has a restraining order on you, so you have to leave right now."

Jack said "but her mother is my girlfriend. So I am not leaving." Aria started to move and her voice came back. Aria said "Jack, if you don't leave I'm not dropping the charges against you." So Jack left and Toby asked "are you really dropping the charges?"

Aria replied "no, but he thinks I will." Toby smiled. And Toby was trying to talk to her but her mother interrupted them but she was mad that Aria wouldn't drop the charges against Jack. Aria had to get up and move around, but Toby kept telling her to stay in bed. Toby and Aria were talking. The nurse came in to tell her that someone had left roses on the desk for her and that she would bring them in. Aria got them and there was a card on it.

The card said: I'm glad you have changed your mind about dropping the charges and the case. And also you are still going to mark my words Aria. I promise you that.

Jack

Aria put the note down and got up. She went to the bathroom and got dressed. She came out and said "that is it, I'm going to take self-defense classes."

Toby asked "what is going on?"

Aria answered, "you can read the card." So he did. He looked up at her and just went over and gave her a hug and said "I'm sorry." Aria hugged him back and held on to him. Aria's mother came in and said " Aria, why can't you let me be happy with this man?"

Aria replied "she tried to kill me, he beat me, and you don't even care. What happened to her mom when she was with my dad? If you really want to be with this messed up man, then give Tonya and me to Aunt Claire. Or do you just want to kill us and you guys can be alone together? Do you want to know what I wish for?"

Aria's mother said "what do you wish for Aria?"

Aria answered, "I wish dad had never been missing, but you two separated and I lived with him and not you. You shouldn't even have kids because you don't even protect us. You only protect Jack. You are a horrible mother. I hate you."

Aria's mother said "this boy did this to you. I don't want you hanging out with him anymore. Do you hear me, Aria? Toby, you have to stay away from my daughter. Don't come near her anymore. Do you understand me, Toby? Let's go home now, Aria." Aria's mother grabbed one good arm and pulled her near the car. Aria was looking at Toby and Toby was really sad. Aria got out of the car and went straight to Toby and kissed him right in front of everybody. And then she went right back to the car and held up her cell phone to him and he understood what she was trying to say without his mother knowing about it. They drove away. They got home and Jack was waiting outside with Tonya. Tonya was holding her hands out to Aria to hug her. Aria got out and took Tonya into her room. She cleaned up the class and she put up plastic over her window. Aria asked "Tonya, are you okay? Did he do anything to you?"

Tonya answered "no, but I want to leave. He is scaring me. I don't want to live with mommy and daddy anymore. Can we please leave?"

Aria said "wait until next week, I will have enough money for both of us. Okay. Then we go, I promise Tonya. I will not let him hurt you. Okay. You're my little sister and I will be protected with everything I have got. Hey, do you want to go on a hike?"

Tonya said " Okay, and can we go on the hike now?"

Aria smiled and said " We sure can. Go get a water bottle, a sweatshirt and go put on some sweatpants. Okay, then we will go."

Tonya said "okay." Then she ran into her room and put on her pants. She grabbed a bottle of water, and put water into it. and then she went back to Aria's room and she saw Jack standing in her room yelling at her. Tonya grabbed her camera and took pictures of him beating her. Then Tonya put her camera back and went back to Aria's room and Jack was coming out of her room. Tonya said "are you ready to go?" Aria nodded her head yes. Aria said " Let's go, Tonya. Let's get out of this house. You have to be really quiet, okay, so Jack doesn't hear us, okay." So they were really quiet and then went out of the house. And then ran into the woods. They started exploring. They went to a huge hill. Tonya started to get scared and she wanted to go home. So they turned around and started walking back. They got back. Jack and his mother were standing near the door. They went inside and Jack asked "where were you two, huh?"

Tonya replied "I wanted to go on a hike with Aria. And Jack does beat Aria. I saw it with my own eyes, and I took pictures of it. The pictures are getting developed as we speak."

Jack said "you little brat."

Aria said "don't you touch her, ever!" Come on Tonya, get into my room and I will meet you there, okay."

Tonya said "not without you, Aria."

Aria said "Tonya, please I don't want you to see this."

Tonya said " Okay, can I talk to Toby on your cell phone?"

Aria said "sure, you can. Here catch." So Tonya did and she ran into Aria's room and she locked the door. And she got on the phone and called Toby.

Toby said " Hello, Aria, are you okay?"

Tonya replied "this is not Aria. This is her little sister Tonya."

Toby asked "is Aria okay?"

Tonya replied, "I don't know because she told me to go to her room because she didn't want me to see it anymore."

Toby said "I'm coming over there. Okay. Please stay on the phone with me."

Tonya said "I hear screaming, yelling and crying. Toby hurried. She is getting hurt by him."

Toby replied "I'm almost there. I'm on my horse so I'll be there in a few seconds."

Tonya said "Hurry Toby!"

Toby replied "I'm here!" Tonya went to open the door and let him in. Jack was screaming, because he couldn't keep a firm grip on Aria because she kept smacking him. When Toby walked into the room, Aria got distracted and Jack caught her and Toby screamed "ARIA!" Jack was choking her. When she looked back at Jack, she moved her hands. She put one across his arms and then slapped him in his face. Jack dropped her and she kicked him in the stomach and he fell. Aria said " Now stay down Jack, and don't think about getting back up for a while. Tonya, are you okay? Hey, Toby."

Toby said "what just happened?"

Aria said "I'll explain it later. Tonya, go into your room and grab your clothes and grab mine as well, please."

Tonya said "okay, sissy." So Tonya did. Aria was still looking at Jack and her mother came running. Tonya came back with the bags. Aria grabbed the car keys.

Aria said "Tonya, go get into the car, please. We are going somewhere."

Aria's mother said "where are you going?"

Aria replied "I don't know and I really don't care as long as I get Tonya out of this house away from you and him." So Aria grabbed Toby's hand. Tonya got into the car. Toby walked Aria to the car and then asked " Do you have your permit?"

Aria replied " Yes I do." Then Toby leant in and kissed her and then said "please be careful." Aria nodded her head, yes, and said "I will. I promise." Then she went into the car and turned it on. Toby got on his horse and they both left. Aria and Tonya went to a hotel. They got a room. Toby called Aria to see how everything was going and that they would see each other tomorrow morning. They got off the phone and they went to bed. Tonya got scared and she went near Aria. Aria woke up and cuddled with Tonya to comfort her and calm her down. So they fell asleep. The next morning, Aria woke up with a knock at the door. She looked through the peephole and it was Toby. She unlocked the door and opened it and pulled him in. She quickly locked the door again. Toby said " Hey honey! Hey, where is Tonya?"

Aria replied, " Hi. Tonya is still sleeping."

Toby said "that is good." Then she got closer to him and then Tonya woke up.

Tonya asked "can I watch TV?"

Aria said " Yes, but just for a little bit. Okay." Tonya smiled and went to TV. Toby said "Tonya, we are going to the other room. So we talk okay. And please don't answer the door. I will take you and Aria out to breakfast. Okay."

Tonya said " Thank you my new brother-in-law, Thank you." Aria shook her head no. Toby grabbed her hand and they went into the other room.. Toby said, "are you okay staying here?"

Aria said "yeah, but I need a job to get money to get a house, food, clothing, and school supplies for Tonya. And so I can adopt her because my mother is too unstable to take care of us."

Toby said " Maybe, I can ask my dad to hire you part time."

Aria said " No, because then he would think I was weak and that was not fun at all.

Toby said "okay, but I do know for a fact that they are hiring someone to answer phones and it is pretty good pay."

Aria said "Okay. I will apply."

Toby said "good." Then Toby pulled her close and he started kissing her. Aria started kissing him back. Then there was a knock on the door. Aria went to look out the peephole and it was her mother and Jack. Aria ran and shut off the TV and told Toby to get Tonya into the other room and lock the door. Toby did but he came back out and hugged Aria. Aria told him to get back into the room with Tonya now.

Toby said "not without you."

Aria said "I'm getting the stuff and we can leave out the back way because that door is not going to hold Jack very long." So he went to get Tonya ready to go and Aria got everything. The door was almost broken. Aria got the bags and went to the other room. They went out the other way. They got into the car. They started to back up when Jack saw them. Jack ran to the car, but she drove off before he got in. They got on to the highway. But first they dropped Toby off with his dad. Toby looked at her and said "I will be with you. I will help you. Please call me and tell me where you are?"