ARIA
As soon as I get home—and yes, I walked all the way here because Uncle Barty let earlier and I had to meet with Ryder, so I couldn't—my uncle gives me a look and narrows his eyes.
"Aria, is everything alright?"
His question shocks me so much that I gasp lightly and my hand flies to my chest. "Uncle? What do you mean?"
"I don't know," he says, straightening his spine and narrowing his eyes to look at me better. "You look different. I catch you smiling all the time and you've been distracted."
I walk slowly toward the kitchen and set my bag down on the counter. My heart has no business beating this fast. "I...I'm not sure what you mean there, Unc. I'm just being myself. Nothing's happening or anything."
But even as I utter this denial, I can hear how hollow my words are. It sicke
