Bad Girl Life

Chapter 18

*Aria's POV*

I woke up with this confused feeling. When Klaus left I had the urge to just down alcohol because we're utterly alone. He just left, maybe I should have asked him to stay. I didn’t even touch my bourbon for my sake. I know it wouldn’t end well. The bang and clinks sounds brought me out of my thoughts. I stood up and tripped over something, I looked down and saw Klaus now waking up. “Morning, love”, he said groggily. “Morning, Is there anyone in the kitchen? I swear I heard noises.”, I asked brushing my hair. “How are you feeling with everything?”, he stood up. “I’m okay”, I placed my brush down. “Are you really? I mean I just left you here when you needed someone by your side.”, he finished, coming closer. “I may not be really fine, but I can handle myself.”, I said straightforwardly, not coming off as rude. “I know, it’s just you have tendencies of drinking and self guilt, it-.”, he stopped but I just got my clothes and got dressed in the bathroom. I know it’s the truth but the way he said it, like I was something that needed to be fixed. My head is f****d in so many ways that it would take years for me to get over, maybe not. 

When I finished getting dressed he was nowhere to be seen in my room. It was near 12, the fight area didn't open till 3. I saw Nick leaving his room, “Hey Nick”, I shouted a little, but I got his attention. “Yeah”, he said. “I need to talk to you”, I opened my door wider. He laid on my bed, took a small ball on my desk and started to play with it. I rolled my eyes and I knew he saw me because he laughed. It made me smile, I haven’t heard him laugh in a while, since what happened Liv. “It’s nice to see you smile”, I said looking at him. “Yeah, it kinda is'', he smiled. “How are you feeling?”, I asked. “It still hurts but I can manage. I’m just trying to think positive at the moment.”, he sat up. “Yeah, that sounds good. So last night at dinner, I met our father.”, I fiddled with my fingers. “How?”, he asked. “We went to the dinner and I saw this man and woman. The man looked familiar and then he introduced himself and the woman. When he said ‘Christopher Young’, I knew he was our father. It was these memories when mother and father always argued. He also has a wife, Isabella Young now. I introduced myself as Aria, he had the audacity to say ‘That’s a nice name, Aria. That’s a coincidence I also have a little girl named Aria’, f*****g dumbass. Then later Isabell asked for my last name, I finally introduced myself after that. Then he finally knew. I basically let it rip on him.”, I finished saying, watching Nick reaction. “I don’t remember him much”, Nick looked toward the window. “Yeah, he also wants us to move in with him”, I said, deciding just to rip off the band-aid. “Is it worth it? Getting to know him and moving in with him”, he asked. “I don’t know, I don’t think I’m going to move in with him.”, I said. There was silence. 

“I don’t even know where he lives”, I broke the silence. “Yeah, I think I need time to decide”, he said. I know he’s confused because I am too. “I’ll check on you later today, let me know if you wanna talk early.”, I patted his shoulder and walked out. 

When I got to the kitchen I saw literally everyone; Conner, Jade, Axel, Mia, and Klaus. “I didn’t know we were having a gathering?”, I asked, taking a water bottle from the fridge. “We came last night because Klaus left, we came to see if you're alright”, Jade said enough to where Mia heard. “Don’t remind me, but i mean you guys already know the answer”, I paused. “Thank You guys for coming but i’m never okay.”, I added. “Want to talk about it?”, Mia asked. I nodded and headed to my room. When we reached my room, Jade closed the door. “Aren’t you guys tired of me?”, I asked, laying down on my bed. “No, we love you. It’s just you have it harder than us, we don’t know how to help but other than being there for you.”, Mia said sitting on my desk chair. “Sometimes I want to end it all, but it’s the fact I can’t because I have you guys that care, and especially Nick. I can’t have you guys go through that”, I said. “What do you mean end it all?”, Jade asked. “I mean, I want to kill myself. A bullet to the head, kick the bucket. I think about it almost every day, as much as I try to get better. It always bites back and it makes me want to stop trying, stop living.”, I sat back up. “Aria, I didn’t know. I will always be here for you when you want to talk. Have you ever thought of therapy?”, Mia said. “I don’t know, If I do then a whole bunch will include my mother and my past and I don’t want to go through that again.”, I sighed. “If you ever do kick the bucket can you let me know, so I can try to stop you. Promise me, you will? I know you don’t break your promise, Aria”, Jade said seriously. “I promise”, I looked back at Jade. 

“Everything good between you and Conner”, Mia asked Jade. “I don’t know. Sometimes it just seems like he doesn’t care, and everytime I ask him ‘if he was okay or what’s wrong’, he either shrugs and says nothing. No matter how many times I asked, he does the same-thing, at this point why stay in a relationship if there’s nothing left to continue.”, Jade came to lay on my bed with me. “Did he ever do what he said at the Thanksgiving dinner?”, I asked Jade. “Only for like a week or two.”, she shrugged. “That’s why it felt awkward when I went in the room”, Mia said. “Yeah, I was asking again. I even clued in why stay together. All he said was ‘no’, for me leaving.”, Jade sighed. Before I could respond, Jade's phone rang and she took it out the room. “How about you and Axel?”, I asked Mia. “We’re good honestly. He’s like a nerd sometimes, it’s adorable.”, Mia smiled. “You and Klaus?”, she asked. “He’s okay, I know he’s not trying to hurt me and he’s trying to look out for me. But sometimes it feels like I’m a thing he’s supposed to fix. Don’t get me wrong I love it when he’s over and everything but sometimes he can be clueless, especially the dinner.”, I finished. “I definitely agree with the clueless part, when he came back. He talked about the party and I was like he knew all of this but didn’t stay with you”, Mia rolled her eyes, while I did the same. 

We heard the door open and saw Jade. “I’m going to the fights, Aria you coming?”, Jade asked. “Don’t gotta ask me twice”, I said. I might as well get this anger out of me for a while. “I see the look Mia, but I'll explain on the way.”, Jade said. We walked down and ignored the boys, but Klaus was stubborn. “Where you guys are going”, he grabbed my arm to get my attention. “To the fights'', I said grabbing his arm off of mine. “You already fought this week, you’re not going”, his tone was off. “You're not my dad”, I said a bit harshly. “Then where is he?”, he vigorously said. It hurted really bad, but all it replaced it with was anger. I chuckled and just left. That was uncalled for, he knew my father and my situation with him. I don’t get why he was mad and demanding. It’s like whenever we fight it doesn’t end well. 

Jade told us in the car that Connor was being controlling and that was the phone call. I asked if Connor and Klaus talked or gave tips to each other, Klaus just seemed to be controlling but she doesn’t know.       

When I got down I saw Klaus and Conner. I told Mia to stay with Jade because she was on a roll. Klaus walked up to me. “Why are you here?”, he asked. “I wanted to fight”, I said before drinking some water. “I told you, you’re not going”, he said with his jaw clenched. “Why are you being controlling?”, I asked because I had enough of this. “I’m not being controlling”, he lies. “You never have been controlling till now, what happened?”, I asked. “Nothing, I don’t want you to fight anymore, okay?”, he raised his voice, but glanced at Connor. “Are you okay?”, I suddenly asked. “Don’t worry about it”, he stated without looking at me. “It’s like you got something stuck up your ass”, I said, then I chuckled. While we were arguing, Jade started to argue with Connor. When Mia appeared at my side I left with her and Jade. Jade wanted to pack some of her things that are at Connor’s.  

When we finished gathering her stuff, we went to Jade’s. “Oh Yeah Aria, you can live with us if you get lonely in the house. Nick can have a room as well. I talked to my parents and they agreed. They are out for a trip and won’t be back for a while.”, Jade casual says. “That would be fun.”, I said. I think I may take her up for that offer. “Connor is blowing up my phone”, Jade says ending with a sigh. “What for?”, I asked as I popped open a soda. “He wants me to stay at his place”, she says. “You going”, Mia asked. “No, I don’t think I’m going to stay with him”, she says which catches Mia’s attention. Mia then shrugged it off. I took out my phone and tapped on Nick’s contact. 

Aria: Hey Nick, Jade offered rooms to us at her place. You down?

Nick: Yeah, I think taking a break from the house will do us some good. 

Aria: Yeah, I think so too. 

Nick: Can I sleep over at Mason’s?

Aria: Yeah, have fun. 

“What happened to you and Klaus”, Mia asked. I can’t blame her, she heard some of it. “He’s just being controlling and said something uncalled for.”, I said, shrugging my shoulders. “What did he say?”, Jade asked. “So, I basically told him where I’m going and he said no. Then I said ‘your not my dad’ and he responded with ‘then where is he’, it wasn’t in a nice way either.”, I said before taking a sip of soda. “That was uncalled for, the audacity”, Mia said. “Yeah, what a dumbass”, Jade grabbed a soda as well. “What’s going on with them?”, Mia asked. Jade and I just shrugged our shoulders. I just think Klaus and I are toxic, I'll even admit it. “Jade, I’ll take up the offer, Nick agreed too.”, I said. “That’s nice. It won’t be as lonely either. You guys can pick your room too.”, Jade says. “Yeah, we can just have fun.”, I smiled. It was nighttime and we all went our separate ways. Before I could hit the bed my phone buzzed. 

Klaus: Why did Jade break up with Connor?

Aria: I don’t know.

Klaus: You were them all day.

Aria: I know, can you stop acting this way.

Klaus: I’m not acting, I just want to know why Connor is hurt.

Aria: Today you have been controlling, why? I’m here for you even for what you said this morning. This isn’t you. 

Klaus: How do you know if this is me or not. What if I was pretending this whole time? You're never here for me, I’m always there for you. It’s hard for me to tell you I love you, but your problems get in the way. I’m just tired of it.

Aria: I’m sorry. 

Klaus: Yeah.  

I just left it at that. It hurted, I wasn’t there for him and he was always there for me. He stuck with me with all my problems but I haven’t been there for him. 

*next morning* 

I woke up with puffy eyes. I cried, all I had been is selfish and careless about his feelings. I just got dressed and headed to school. 

When I walked in, Ezra stopped and started to approach me but stopped and gave me a smile, I smiled back. That’s when I felt an arm around my shoulder, I looked up and saw Klaus. His beanie was put on messy, so was his hair. He also had a dark circle around his eyes. When I felt his arm over mine, I just felt hurt, broken again. I got snapped out of my thoughts when I saw Emma bullying Liv. “Emma, STOP.”, I raised my voice. “Shut Up, are you crying because of your father”, she mimicked a cry face. “No actually”, I raised up my fist, ready to throw a punch until Klaus stood in front of Emma. Was he protecting her? Now I'm just overthinking it. “Move”, I said, anger building up. “No”, he said with no emotion. “Look Aria, your friends came to join.”, she said with her Prada bag showing. I looked and noticed Jade and Mia by my side. Klaus is still in front of me. “Emma, just shut up. You prance around bullying kids. Pick on kids your own size”, Jade sized up with Emma. “Can I get Connor too?”, Emma smirked. Jade threw a punch, until it hit Klaus' chest. He’s protecting Emma, I just felt hurt over again. I saw his jaw clenched when Ezra appeared by my side. “Look Aria, Klaus is protecting me.”, Emma spat. “I can see that'', I grinned after saying that, looking at Klaus. “Jade and Connor didn’t work, Why would he be with Jade. I mean why, when he could be with someone like me. Same thing with Klaus, Aria?”, she put on the fakest smile in the world. I was debating, I was still looking at Klaus. We were just staring at each other's eyes. Should I do it? He knows what my intentions are, I can read from his eyes and is telling me not to do it. Emma clings on Klaus arms, “You know, I think Klaus and I make a lovely couple. He doesn’t have to deal with your daddy issues, and he also doesn’t have to deal with your inner demons”, she added. I looked at Klaus and regretted ‘us’. Did he tell her about my problems, and my so called ‘daddy-issues’. I just looked at him in disbelief. “At least Klaus doesn’t have to deal with Nick anymore right, i me-“, she stopped. I kicked the Klaus leg to get him to the ground and slammed Emma to the wall with my arm over her neck. “NO”, Klaus yelled coming toward me but Ezra stopped him. “You can bring me into things, but don’t bring in the people I care about.”, my voice rises with anger. She smiled and I left.

I heard footsteps coming, and I turned and saw Ezra. “You okay, like really?”, he asked. “I don’t know”, I said looking at him. I was feeling vulnerable and that’s not part of the plan, but apparently it is now. He pulled me into a hug. I surprisingly hugged him back. “I’m here you know”, he said gently stroking my cheek. “Thank you”, I smiled. “Meet me at lunch, maybe we can see grapes you can catch with your mouth, ms.grape champion”, he chuckled after. “Yeah, you could never catch up”, I chuckled after as well.  “I will one day--”, he stopped when a sudden force broke our hug. I looked up and saw Klaus who punched Ezra. Ezra had enough strength to push Klaus off and I got in front of Klaus. “Stop”, I said to get Klaus attention. “I’m sorry Beckett'', I said then pulled Klaus away. We stopped until no one was in the hall. “Why?”, I managed to ask him with my shaky voice. “Why what?”, he says with no emotion. “You protected Emma twice, you told her my problems, let alone the ones I trusted you with. You didn’t pull from when her arm was wrapped around yours.”, I sighed. He just stood up straight and leaned on the wall. “Do you even want to be with me?”, I asked the question, which finally caught his attention. He stays silent, but looks at me and walks off. 

It was near lunch, I just slept through the classes. Jade and I also got detention. She did it for me but it’s the usual. Jade woke me up and I saw Klaus right in front of me. I guess class ended and I slept through it all. I nodded to Jade and I saw her wait outside. “We need to talk”, he stared clearly. “Okay”, I rubbed my eyes and stood up. “Just give me a mi-'', he stopped me by placing his lips on mine. It continued for less than 40 sec most. “stop. I can't”, I say pulling away. “i love you”, he says, caressing my cheek. “i know, i think i love you too, but what you did i-“, I stopped because I’m lost for words right now. “I’m sorry I was just trying to help”, he lies. “Can you stop lying please, Emma, bring Jade and Nick into it, you told Emma my problems.”, I paused to think. “Why?”, I say with a bit of a stutter. “I wasn’t thinking”, his forehead lays on mine. “You weren’t like this before”, I say lightly. “I know, I’m sorry”, he says. “Stay away from Ezra'', he added. I just stopped, pulled away, and left. 

“Hey, Aria”, I turned around and saw Ezra. “Sorry, I got held up with practice”, he added. “Yeah it’s fine. Do you have grapes?”, I smiled after saying. “Yeah, let’s go to a table?”, he says. I led to the table with Mia and Axel. Axel and Mia were just talking while I was catching most of the grapes. We did this when we were over summer. I missed one or two because of Beckett’s throwing. He may be QB but the poor grapes. Jade soon joined as Conner was right behind her. Jade sat by me so Conner sat across from her. “Hang later?”, Beckett asked when he saw Klaus in sight. “Yeah, just let me know when.”, I said. “When you and Nick come, feel free to bring people over.”, Jade said while watching Klaus and Emma come to the table. “Hi guys'', Emma said. Only Connor greeted back. “Klaus and I were planning to go to the mall later, anyone want to join? I think Grayson is coming, Aria you in?”, Emma said fixing her hair. “Wait, Gray?”, I asked. I thought he moved. “Who’s Gray?”, Klaus asked. “Oh baby, he was Aria’s boyfriend during the summer.”, she leans on Klaus shoulder. I don’t even know if we're together but that just stung. “I thought it was only Ezra?”, he clenched his jaw. “Wait, I was with Ezra that summer. You b***h”, Emma spat. “Chill out, we had nearly three months. I think Ezra was in the beginning and Gray was in the middle.”, I explained. “Again, who’s Gray?”, Klaus asked again. “No one”, I said with a smile. “Grayson is my cousin, people prefer everyone to call him Grayson even his parents. Only Aria gets to call him Gray. When they were hanging over the summer, I thought they were going to get married.”, she now clings to his body. “Ooh and we can get married and have some children-”, she added. Jade spitted out the water, stopping Emma. “Yeah, with some ugly ass kids.”, she laughed after and so did I and the rest of the table beside Emma and Klaus. “At least Grayson and Aria’s kids would be adorable”, Jade said. “No”, Klaus says. “Honestly, Grayson and Aria’s babies. The babies are going to be too cute.”, Mia smiles. “Yeah, have you seen him.”, Jade says. I know she said that to piss off Connor and Klaus. Klaus and Connor were ready to pop. Jade on the other hand is just smirking.