by Abbie Lynn
I looked over and saw Jason and Ty sitting at a table.
I shook my head.
“Are you and Ty in a fight?” He joked but he seemed like he knew that something was wrong.
I shrugged. We weren't in a fight and we aren't really even friends.
“You two should um work it out.”
I shook my head.
“Why not?”
I pointed to my arm.
“I'm not following you.” He sighed. His eyebrows were scrunched together like he was trying really hard to understand me, like it’s his job or something.
I sighed back and then pointed at him and then the table Ty was at.
“You aren't going to come with me, are you?” he asked in defeat.
I smiled and gave him a thumb up.
“Alright well if you change your mind we'll be over there,” he added before walking away.
I shook my head.
Dear Diary,
Today was hard.
I failed.
Ty heard me scream… he knows I'm capable of talking.
He makes me want to talk and laugh. I'm lost. We will both end up getting hurt in the end so why can't I seem to get him out of my mind? Why does he even talk to me?
My dad is home… I'm scared. Why does he have to hurt me?
~Aria
Chapter 4
Dear Diary,
I don't know if I can take any more pain...
~Aria
I woke up the next morning feeling sad.
Today all I have to do is stay away from Ty and avoid his friends. How hard can that be?
I walked into English, arriving just before the bell rang.
Ty was sitting in his usual spot, looking well besides the obvious, incredibly adorable but he also looked tired. His brown hair didn’t look as silky and soft as it usually did. In fact, it was kind of all over the place like he just rolled out of bed and came to school.
I sat down in my seat next to him and faced front.
I didn't look at him.
I didn't even acknowledge the fact I had seen him when I walked in.
After English I went on break. Today I sat on a bench away from my tree and away from Ty and his friends.
“Hey,” a boy from my math class waved.
I gave him a small smile and waved back.
“Do you think you can give me the homework from last night?” he asked.
I nodded and wrote it down for him. I can write numbers for him; no words, just numbers.
“Thanks, Arrabella.” He smiled, walking away.
Surely there had to be someone else he could have asked. What is it with the guys at this school?
What was his name anyways? Damon, Dustin, Dlake? Wait. Dlake? Is that even a name?
“What did Drake want?” Ty asked, sitting down next to me.
DRAKE! Yes, thank the lord. That would have bugged me.
“What's that smile for?” he asked.
I shook my head and then wrote down the math assignment again.
“He wanted the homework.” He nodded, understanding.
“So why does he get to call you Arrabella?” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes.
“I'm curious,” he admitted.
I drew a cat on my paper.
“Oh curiosity killed the cat?”
I nodded.
“Well I'm not a cat, am I?”
I laughed.
It just came out.
Like a quick ha.
I slapped hand over my mouth in shock. Ty looked at me with mixed emotions. I got off the bench and bolted, leaving my backpack in panic. I sprinted until I reached the pond near my house.
I swear Ty is going to be the death of me.
Dear Diary,
Ty did it. He made me laugh for the first time in nine years.
~Aria
“Aria the last time you ran you broke your arm,” Ty shouted at me. I was sitting near the pond with my arms wrapped around my legs.
I glanced up at him; he had my backpack in his hands.
I nodded.
“You have an amazing laugh.” He sighed, sitting down next to me.
I shook my head.
“Why, why is laughing so bad?”
I lowered my head so he couldn't see me.
“Don't hide your face.” He demanded.
What the hell, Aria. I was supposed to be avoiding him. But no here I am sitting next to him just about two blocks away from my house.
I looked up at him.
“I want to help you,” he said.
I am not a charity case!
I stood up and grabbed my backpack.
“Not like that, I mean I want you to trust me. I want to be friends,” he added, but he stumbled on the word friend.
I shook my head.
“No.”
I began to walk away.
“Aria,” he called.
I looked back at him.
“I guarantee I am more stubborn than you, so challenge accepted.” He grinned.
I looked at him as if he were crazy. Wait he is crazy.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Don't give me that look,” he scoffed.
I flipped him off once again and then walked away.
* * *
Ty is all that's been through my head since I've been home!
UGH.
Today I woke up happy.
It is Saturday.
My dad leaves me here alone on Saturdays; he goes golfing, I think.
I got up cleaned the entire house and then went to my pond. Once I got there I smiled remembering the last time I was here. I can't help but be a little scared though. I mean what did Ty mean by challenge accepted?
“Fancy meeting you here,” an amused voice called.
I looked up to meet Ty's face. I glared at him.
“Cute,” he smirked.
I shook my head in response.
“Well the doctor, the one you saw a few days ago, wants to check your arm,” he informed.
I shrugged.
“Is that a yes?” he asked but it sounded like it didn't matter what I implied.
I shook my head; I can't keep going out in public with him.
“It's really not an option, Aria, you have to see if it's healing right.” He sighed. It sounded like he was explaining this to a small child.
I sighed.
“Come on.” He grinned, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the parked car.
I got in and we rode to the doctor's in comfortable silence.
We arrived and it was weird because I can kind of remember the doctor's from when I was little but I don't remember it looking like this.
“This is my house,” he said.
I stared at him like he was crazy.
“The doctor inside is a family friend,” he added.
I nodded I guess that's better than being at a real hospital where someone could tell my father that they saw me there.
I got out and Ty led me back into the small white room.
“Hello, Arrabella. I am just going to check your arm,” the same lady who attended me before smiled.
I flinched away from her. Ty sat next to me and held my other hand. I sighed, letting her take the cast off. I clenched my teeth together as she started to poke at it.
“Hurry,” Ty growled.
“Yes sir.”
I almost cussed out loud at the pain shooting through my arm. I buried my head into the side of Ty's arm.
“It's okay.” He soothed.
The lady put the cast back on and I lifted my head from Ty.
“Another two weeks.”
I nodded.
“Thanks,” Ty muttered, leading me out of the room.
We went out to what looked like a living room.
“Do you want to watch a movie?”
I nodded.
“Okay.” He beamed, rushing over to the television.
He popped in one of the movies. Ty was laughing
out loud at the movie. I almost laughed because his laugh was contagious but I swallowed all of them down. I love hearing him laugh.
“Come on. This is hilarious.” He chuckled again.
Wow, he is trying to get me to laugh.
“You know you want to.”
I smiled at him but shook my head.
“Aria,” he sang.
He then started tickling me!
I am a ticklish person however this hurt like hell. I have bruises all over my ribs and hips, which is exactly where Ty was pressing on. I pushed his hands away.
“I'm sorry. You look hurt, is it your arm?”
I shook my head.
“Aria, I'm really sorry.” He apologized again.
I stopped him, holding up my hand. I pointed at the clock and then got up.
“You have to go?”
I nodded.
“Okay I'll drive you.” He smiled.
I nodded.
He drove me back to the house that wasn't actually my house.
I waved to him and then once again ran to my house.
Dear Diary,
Ty.
He isn't like Dad.
Maybe all guys aren't the same…
~Aria
Chapter 5
Dear Diary,
Today I woke up happy.
I would say maybe my life is turning around or someone is really watching over me, but I know the truth.
It's Ty. He may just be good for me.
~Aria
Sunday's always dragged on.
I woke up and cleaned the rest of the house, and now I'm at the grocery store.
I walked down the cereal aisle in search of my dad's favorites. Since I was barely allowed to eat food, I couldn't pick up anything I like.
“Aria,” a voice called out.
My body instantly felt at ease, telling me it was Ty.
I looked up and waved at him. He came racing over and gave me a hug. I flinched back at first but then I melted into him and hugged back. He beamed at me.
“Are you here alone?”
I nodded.
“Grocery shopping?”
I smiled and kept walking.
Now why is he here? I pointed at him and cocked my head to the side.
“Why am I here?”
I nodded. He looked a little embarrassed.
“I needed to pick up a few things.” He shrugged. He was lying, I think.
Why would he come all the way to this market when there was a convenient shop like a block away from his house? Oh my, is he following me? No. Why would he be? It's not like two people can't be at the same place at the same time.
“What are you thinking about?”
I smirked and then grabbed some cereal and tossed it into my cart.
“Oh, you aren't going to tell me?” he mocked as he started walking with me to the meat section.
I shook my head.
“Really?”
I nodded.
“Hmm, well I guess I could always kidnap you,” he teased.
I punched his arm.
“Ow okay you're tough, but I could take you.”
I shook my head.
“I'm just saying,” he said defensively, putting his hands up in mock surrender.
After we both checked out we headed outside.
“Are you walking home?”
I hesitantly nodded.
“I will drive you.” He almost demanded.
I shook my head in protest. It was too late he already took my bags and put them in his car. I walked over to take them out.
“Aria, I will take you home or walk you home.” He ordered.
I sighed.
I bet I could outrun him.
I was about to take my bags when Ty pulled me away from the car. He opened the door to the passenger seat, pushed me in and buckled me up.
He then got in his side. I punched him when he got in.
“Yeah I knew that was coming.” He laughed.
He drove me to my fake house. I got my groceries out of the back and then waved to him. I walked to my house and then started to put the groceries away.
* * *
Monday mornings are usually the worst, but not this Monday. I combed my long brown hair and changed my outfit three times. I looked at myself in the mirror and my usual dull green eyes were a little brighter this morning.
I walked into English and sat down next to Ty.
“Well someone's happy this morning.” He observed.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
He shrugged and I smiled.
“Tyson,” a girl called, walking up to him.
“What, Claire?” he asked sounding annoyed.
“What are you doing hanging around with this shit?” Claire sneered.
“What did you just say?” he growled.
“People are starting to talk, Tyson.” She clicked her tongue in anger.
“Let them talk.” He shrugged.
“You're going to throw everything away for some mute freak? She doesn't talk because she wants attention,” she almost yelled.
How dare she!
“Claire,” he warned.
“I'm serious, Tyson. I hear she's deaf too. Watch her. She stares at people's lips when they talk.”
“Claire,” he growled. She flinched back and flipped the both of us off.
“Sorry about her.”
I shrugged. She was right. Why is Ty hanging around me?
“Are you okay?”.
I nodded and smiled.
“Good because you are beautiful and important. Never let anyone tell you different.”
I looked at him in awe; no one has ever told me I'm important. I smiled and then reached out and hugged him. He seemed surprised but he instantly accepted it. He sighed and I swear he said I love you, but I know I'm just hearing things.
Once English was finally over Ty and I walked outside to my tree. I saw the woman from the office approaching us.
“Arrabella, your father is here. He says he needs to take you to an appointment.”
I froze.
“He's waiting over there,” she added, pointing to the parking lot.
I peeked over and saw my dad leaning against his car watching me carefully. I nodded at the lady.
“Are you okay?” Ty asked.
I pointed over to Carter and Jason.
“What?” he asked confused.
I shoved him slightly.
“Aria, Aria, calm down. What's wrong?” He panicked.
I shoved him and then started to walk away.
“Aria,” he called.
He grabbed me and looked into my eyes.
“Are you going to be okay?”
I nodded.
“Is that your dad?”
I nodded again.
“Stay here, with me.” He suggested but ordered it at the same time.
I shook my head. He is getting me in so much trouble right now.
I shoved at his chest and then walked away.
My dad was glaring at him and then his eyes snapped to me as I got into the car.
“Who is that boy?” he roared, pulling out of the parking lot.
Maybe I should tell him that he bullies me and makes fun of me?
“Arrabella, I'm done with this I don't talk act.”
Is he serious? Hes did this to me!
I stared at him to see if he was joking.
“Speak to me girl dammit!”
I cleared my throat.
“He, he bullies me,” I spoke softly.
“Bullies you?” He almost laughed.
“For, for not talking,” I whispered.
I started shaking. It was too much.
I can't deal with this. Talking is hard; it brings back too much.
The last thing I remember was my dad pulling up to our house and slamming the door, leaving me in the car.
Chapter 6
Dear Diary,
I spoke.
My first words
in so long.
It hurts when I talk like he's going to do it again—take away my voice.
I want to talk to Ty, but I can't.
This is my life. I will always be broken and Ty deserves better.
I'm done. I'm checking out.
~Aria
I woke up and walked slowly to school.
My head was pounding.
When I arrived at school I walked into English and saw Ty sitting impatiently at his desk.
I almost smiled but then I remembered that I was done dragging him down with me.
“Hey,” he greeted.
I glanced over and nodded in his direction.
“Really Aria just a nod?” he joked.
I shrugged.
“About yesterday,” he started to say.
I held up a hand to stop him.
“I'm sorry if your dad doesn't want you hanging out with guys or something.”
My dad doesn't like me associating with anyone.
Ugh why am I even here?
“So I talked with Sherry, the doctor at my house, and she said she can check your arm and take off the cast today.” He smiled.
I'm pretty sure my dad broke my arm again last night.
I shook my head.
“You can't come?”
I nodded.
“Why?”
I shook my head again.
“Draw it, Aria.” He sighed.
I took out my notepad and threw it at his face.
He caught it and then placed it back on my desk.
I picked up my arm to slide it off but Ty snatched it off my desk and sighed.
“Fine, be stubborn.”
The rest of the hour I ignored Ty, which was easy because he was ignoring me as well.
He didn't even follow me out for break so I sat alone.
Maybe he finally realized that he was hanging out with a mute, might as well be talking to a wall.
I put on my headphones and listened to some Kesha. I took them out when there was about three minutes left of break. I finally looked over for the first time all break and I was sorry I did. I saw Ty sitting with Jason and Carter, however Claire was on Ty's lap. My heart clenched and I looked away and stood up.
I glanced over one last time to see Claire attacking his face! I ran and grabbed my chemistry book from my locker. This is what I wanted: for him to be happy and find someone better, but Claire is not better!
I sat down in chemistry and drummed my fingers on the desk. Ty came strolling in a minute later, looking pissed yet nervous. When he saw me, his expression changed to hurt. He walked over and sat next to me. I thought I could handle it but I couldn't. I got up and was about to leave when Ty pushed me back down into my seat.