Luna Aria

IV. Love Mom

Aria's POV:

I put on my hood and lay on Sam’s lap to take a nap. She lifted her book and stroked my hair, mumbling the words to herself as the light music beat in the background.

John and Joe were sitting in the front seat of the car, discussing their plan for the weekends. The twins almost always hang out together every weekend. I’m grateful I wasn’t born into a werewolf family because they would have the same mate.

How creepy is that?

It’s like two hotdogs trying to fit into one bu-

My thoughts were interrupted when Joe made a sharp turn into the parking space, causing my body to roll into the ground. “Sorry!”

There is no way he could’ve read my mind...right?

Releasing an awful grunt, I turned my head to see a twenty-dollar bill under the car seat. Joe rustled around, “Did anyone see a twenty? I put thirty dollars in my wallet earlier, but now I only have ten,” he said.

Subtly, I snatched the twenty and sneaked it into my pocket. I turned my head to see Sam staring at me with a brow raised. A sheepish grin made its appearance, and I held a finger to my lips. She shook her head, opened the car door, and left.

Joe opened his side, “Sam! Did you see it?!”

“No, and if I were you, I would drive slower next time!”

After some time, I sat up and crawled out of the car. Joe snapped his neck towards me. “Don’t ask me,” I said a bit too quickly. I grabbed my backpack and walked away.

“You have it!” Joe yelled.

I dash for school. “I don’t!”

“Then why are you running!”

“Because you’re chasing me! Stop chasing me!”

“Give me back my money! I need it to buy a new shirt for soccer!”

“What money? You mean the twenty I found, that’s mine?” I pulled out the bill and waved it in the air, cracking into a ludicrous laugh.

“Aria Sienna Rossi!” He shouted, increasing his speed.

“Ha! It only works when dad says it!” I pushed the money back into my pocket.

When I heard a loud bang, I turned around to see Joe on the floor. My legs stopped. When I made sure he was okay, I resumed my run.

My classroom came into view, and I released a sigh of relief when I saw a teacher inside. I grabbed the frame of the door and stumbled inside, hiding behind the teacher.

Joe dug his shoes onto the floor, causing an obnoxious squeaking sound. He shot me a lethal glare and marched in my direction.

“Joseph, this isn’t your classroom.”

Joe sends him an apology, reverting his glare at me. “I’ll be back,” he said in a deep robotic voice.

I stuck out my tongue, and in return, he stuck out his tongue at me.

“I’m telling mom!” he shouted.

“I’m telling dad!” I yelled.

“What are you going to tell dad, huh?! I didn’t do anything wrong! You are the one who stole money from me!”

“No! I found the twenty that was conveniently under the car seat that you were sitting on!”

“Yes! My twenty!” He pointed at himself.

“It’s dad’s car! It may be his money!”

“No! It’s mine!” He ran around and tried to grab me. I pulled the teacher; he looked like he was having a migraine.

“Well, even if it’s yours, finders keepers, loser weepers!” I blew a raspberry.

“That’s enough!” The teacher yelled.

“But sir sh-”

“Joseph Dante Rossi! Go to your class!” He pointed at the door.

Joe and John are nice guys, but they are short-tempered, so they often fight with other students. Dad constantly screamed at them by their full name when he got a call from the principal. Of course, they never fight without a valid reason. That’s why the school usually sends them to detention instead of expulsion. Plus, it helps to have parents who established a firm reputation in both humans and hunters society.

Joe mumbled a: “Yes, sir,”

“Aria.” I roll my tongue back into my mouth. “Your assignment?”

“Oh.” I puffed my cheeks, “Can’t you give me something else? I don’t know like write an essay about some great life-changing artwork?”

“This is art class.”

“Yeah. That’s why I say artwork.”

He spread his hand, “Book.”

I unzip the backpack and hand him my art workbook. He flips the closest blank page and writes a big fat F. “Can you do that?” I ask. “Is that legal?”

“Perfectly legal,” he responds. “Aria, I don’t understand why it’s so hard for you to do this assignment. All you have to do is think of one unforgettable memory and draw it.”

“What if I don’t have an unforgettable memory?”

“Everyone has an unforgettable memory.” He hands me the book, “Give it some more thoughts.”

“You’re not going to fail me?”

“This is art. No one fails art.”

When I turned my head, Joe had his face on the window, mouthing: “I’ll kill you.”

I ignore it, knowing it will irritate the s**t out of him. Joe hates it when someone purposely ignores him.

The whole day, I avoided Joe like he was a plague. Whenever I saw him, I would rush to my classroom or the girl’s bathroom.

I stood in the hallway, opening my locker, causing a note to fall out. Bending down, I grabbed the crinkle paper, eyes scanning it, and I burst into a burst of laughter.

′ Watch your back, baby sister. Remember, I’m not afraid to punch a girl in the face. Equality is a b***h, isn’t it?

- Love,

Your dear big brother,

Joseph Dante Rossi.

Also known as your worst nightmare.′

When I heard the creepy dramatic background music, I turned around to see a guy holding up his phone. “Joe told me to play it when you read the note.”

My family was taught to treat both males and females the same. If a girl were to drive Joe over the edge, he would fight her, but she has to do something f**k up for him to do it.

Maybe something equivalent to chasing him with a sharp knife. Yeah, that would drive him over the edge. Heck, even I would punch a child if they tried to murder me.

When lunchtime arrived, I knew Joe wouldn’t try to hunt me down because he had a chess club meeting.

I put the books into my locker while nodding mindlessly to Cynthia’s usual talk about werewolves. Zipping up my backpack, we walked towards the cafeteria. My brain jumped back into reality when I heard a finger-snapping in front of me. “Huh? What?”

“I ask you if you’re going to Gabriella’s birthday party this Saturday,” she said. She snuggled her arm around mine as we stumbled back and forth in the hallway.

I pushed my hands into my pockets, “Yeah, why not,” I responded.

“Great, put my name on the gift we are going to give her,” she shamelessly announces with a sweet smile.

Instead of going home with my siblings, Cynthia took me back today since they were busy. When I open the door to my house, silence engulfs me—dropping my backpack in the hallway, releasing a thud.

Quickly I walked towards the living room and turned on the tv. I never like being in a place that’s too quiet. I find silence to be too loud, ear-deafening. It makes specific unwanted thoughts appear.

My stomach growled, notifying me to feed it. I notice a note on the fridge.

Hi Sweetie!

Welcome back! I’m going to be at work till 2 am tonight. Your father will be back around 10 pm after dinner with his client. John and Joe decided to sleep over at their friend’s house tonight. Samantha went to a friend’s house to pull an all-nighter for a school project. You know, she has to be the best. There is dinner in the fridge if you get hungry!

Love,

Mom.