Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  Jesse shrugged, smiling happily. “You never know,” he said.

  “Don’t ever call him,” Dallas said, looking at her seriously. “For anything. If you need help or whatever, call me. Got it?”

  “Yeah, okay,” she sighed, looking down at the phone in her hand. Hopefully her father wouldn’t realize she had it. She wasn’t sure she could explain how or why she’d gotten it. He’d probably just confiscate it anyways, she thought.

  Jesse and Dallas disappeared back into the cafeteria, and Aria muttered a goodbye to Scarlet before wandering off across the courtyard. She didn’t have an honest destination in mind. The Performing Arts building was drawing her in though with an indescribably seductive pull, calling to her like a siren. She pushed open the exterior doors, tiptoeing into the deserted hall as the echo of her own footsteps followed her.

  She stopped in front of the music room, brushing her hand over the weathered door and peering in through the window. Empty. No teacher, no students, and more importantly, no judgmental stares. The door swung open quietly, and she pushed it closed behind her, not letting it latch all the way. The spacious, open room managed to feel both foreign and safe as she leaned lightly against the door, staring at the abandoned instruments. She crossed the floor slowly, approaching the piano and running her fingers gently over the keys. This was what she needed—a song—a way to express herself. It was like that quote by Hans Christian Andersen. ‘Where words fail, music speaks.’ Sometimes it was the only way she knew how to find her voice.

  Ariahna sat down at the bench, tucking her knees carefully under the piano. She was searching for a song – something to let out everything that was buzzing beneath the surface. She stared down at the keys for a minute, waiting for the right one to come to her, groping for something that could put words to how she was feeling. When she found it, she closed her eyes and began to play.

  The piano chimed gently, ringing out in the perfect silence. Her voice echoed through the room, as clear and beautiful as a bell, and the haunting sound washed over her without regard. This was the purest form of expression she knew. Sometimes, when she was sitting alone in that big, empty house, it was all she had. When her father was gone, after the comfort of her mother’s embrace had become just a distant memory—when all she had was time and space—this had been her little escape.

  She thought about Christian as she sung. About everything she’d felt for him, and everything she thought she might have felt. Letting him past her defenses in the first place had been a mistake. And the horrid part was, she’d known all along. Trusting anyone other than yourself would only get you hurt. Her father had taught her that. She should have listened. She should have listened to Scarlet, and Dallas, and even Rome. Everyone had told her to stay away from him. They’d warned her, and she’d ignored them. She’d been stubborn, or stupid. She’d had to learn the hard way. What hurt more than knowing it meant nothing to him, though, was the startling realization of just how much it had meant to her. Christian had squeezed past her walls and made a little nest in her heart. He’d made her like him, care about him. And now, she felt empty inside.

  Scarlet leaned against the doorframe, watching Aria drop the fallboard back down onto the piano. She tilted her head, waiting for the right moment to speak up. There really wasn’t a ‘right moment’.

  “I Knew You Were Trouble?” she said softly, startling her. “I’ve gotta say, I didn’t take you for a Taylor Swift fan. Though admittedly, I think that version had a little more soul,” she smiled.

  Aria exhaled, looking up at her from beneath lowered lashes as she approached. Scarlet sat beside her on the bench, and the quiet crept back into the room.

  “Christian’s a prick,” Scarlet muttered.

  Ariahna shook her head softly. “No,” she whispered. “He’s a guy. I think there’s a distinction. And you were right.”

  “I didn’t want to be, hon.”

  “I know.”

  Ariahna couldn’t decide if this was weird. She smoothed her hands over her skirt, looking up uncertainly at the older girl beside her.

  “Why are you trying to be my friend?” she asked.

  Scarlet’s instinct was to shrug or roll her eyes at the question, but she managed to stow the sarcasm for the moment. “You seem lonely,” she replied. That wasn’t why she’d initiated this little relationship.

  “Aren’t we all?”

  Scarlet’s face pulled into a frown. “Maybe some of us,” she said. “Usually by choice.” She propped an elbow up on the piano, resting her chin in her hand and turning a probing look to Aria.

  “You don’t have to take it, you know – the things they’re saying about you. The hellfire isn’t going to last forever, and you don’t have to let that sadness and blame I just heard weigh on you. We aren’t perfect creatures. Not every choice we make is going to be a right one. When it’s done though, how you handle yourself is what determines who you become. So are you going to be the sad, crushed little girl who got kicked to the curb by a guy? Or are you going to be strong and confident, and surprise them all? Turn it around, work the spotlight to your advantage. You don’t have to let them paint you however they want. You don’t have to become the helpless victim or the easy lay in this scenario. Make them see who you want, who you are, and tune everything else out.”

  Ariahna took a deep breath, sweeping her fingers through her hair. “I wonder what they’d say,” she smiled, “if they knew that person that I just saw. Thank you for being so genuine with me—for being kind. I really didn’t deserve it, and you definitely didn’t owe me anything. But thank you,” she muttered. “Thank you for deciding to be more than a stranger.”

  Chapter 30

  The school was silent, but if Rome listened hard enough, he could hear the distant sounds of the party taking place on the other side of the trees. He’d been waiting for Ariahna in the student lounge like she’d asked, but he was starting to worry that something was wrong. She was already a half an hour late before he decided to go see what was keeping her. He was smiling, wondering if she just couldn’t figure out what to wear. Rome had been so nervous that he’d showered, twice. He even did his hair and tried to find something that he looked really good in. Of course all he owned were t-shirts and ripped jeans. Kaleb’s jacket helped to complete the look, though. Something he felt a little guilty about.

  He knocked softly on her door. “Ariahna?” he whispered. “It’s Rome.” The door opened a few seconds later, and when it did, Aria was standing there in her PJ’s. Rome frowned. “Did… did you forget?”

  She pressed a hand to her forehead, staring down at his boots. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not going. I’m sure Autumn will be there, though.”

  “Autumn? Why would you—did I do something wrong?”

  “No… I did.”

  “Are you alright?” he asked. Ariahna responded by slowly attempting to close the door. Rome pressed his palm to the wood. “We don’t have to go to the party if you don’t want to, but maybe I could cheer you up? We could talk, or sneak into the music room? I just don’t like seeing you upset.”

  “Do you honestly care,” she asked quietly, “or is this just a ploy?”

  “Aria, I care about you. I know I was a jerk the other night, but I meant it when I said I wanted to protect you. I want to keep you safe, and make you happy. Nothing I’ve ever done or said to you has been fake. I’m not him. And I know you just want to be friends, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be the person you run to. If you’re upset or you’re hurting, you can talk to me. I don’t even care if you’re just using me and you never feel the same way about me that I do about you. I can’t turn it off, and I’d rather be your friend than not be a part of your life at all. At least it makes me feel needed.”

  “Now I feel like the jerk,” she sighed. She looked up at Rome, standing in her doorway dressed, with his hair done, and smelling unbelievably good. “Do you still want to go to the party with me?” she asked. “If I have at least one
friend there who actually sees me as a person instead of a walking joke, it might be worth going after all – especially if that friend is you.”

  “Yeah, I’d like that. On the way you can tell me what’s going on.”

  Rome waited outside her door as a few more people snuck off down the hall. When Aria stepped out of her room, his jaw nearly fell to the floor. “You look… wow,” he breathed.

  Ariahna glanced down at her attire, suddenly feeling self-conscious. She’d picked out a flirty, pleated white skirt and a curve-hugging navy blue top. The sleeves ended just below her elbows, and the hem of the skirt fell mid-thigh. A cream colored belt cinched at the waist and strappy blue sandals finished it off.

  “Are the shoes too much?” she asked, glancing back at the short heels. “I’m not fond of heels, but it’s better than being the shortest person in the room.” Rome hadn’t answered her yet and she was starting to doubt her entire outfit. “Or maybe I should just wear jeans?” she said nervously. “You know what, I’m going to change.”

  “No,” he said, grabbing her hand. “You’re going to be the hottest girl there. You might have a hard time walking in those in the sand, though. Then again, you always have me to hold your shoes for you,” he grinned.

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “I’ve never been to a party before. I mean, I’ve been to parties, just not… with people my age.”

  “I’m positive.”

  He led her out of the building and they crossed the field, disappearing into the tree line. Leaves and small twigs crunched under their feet as they went. Aria was having a difficult time walking through some of the brush in her heels, and Rome wished he would have thought about that.

  “I’m sorry, I’m slowing us down,” she said.

  “I could carry you?” He could see her blushing even in the soft moonlight shining through the treetops.

  “No, that’s alright.” A second later she got her heel stuck in a bit of mud. Ariahna let out a sad, frustrated sigh. Rome didn’t give her much time to pout, though. He picked her up without warning, making her squeal in surprise. “Rome,” she said softly. “You can put me down.”

  “Nope. You can be mad at me if you want to, but at least you won’t break an ankle.” She couldn’t seem to argue with his reasoning. “So you gonna tell me what’s got you down, or do I have to rough it out of you?”

  “I’m surprised you don’t already know.”

  “Is someone saying something about you?”

  “…Everyone knows,” she said, dropping her gaze. “About me and Christian.” Rome startled her with a growl, and she felt his fingers tighten around her, his eyes flashing gold.

  “I’m gonna kill him,” he muttered, tromping through the shrubbery.

  “I don’t want you getting into another fight. That’s not going to solve anything. I made a mistake, and now I have to live with it.”

  “Not like this,” he said. “I just hate people. All of them freaking suck. Every single one of them.”

  “Sometimes,” she whispered.

  Rome set her down carefully while still in the cover of the trees. He took her hand and led her out onto the soft sand. She was having an even harder time walking on the beach than in the woods. She finally seemed to get fed up with trying, and stopped to rip off her shoes. Rome held an arm out for her to lean on for support as she slipped them off.

  “That’s so much better,” she said, losing a few inches as her feet sunk into the sand. “The shoes were definitely a bad idea.” She dangled them from one hand as they walked into the mass of people. Loud music thrummed energetically through the air, making the trees and the shoreline come alive with sound. A bonfire flared in the center of the gathering, separating a small stage on one side of the beach and several kegs on the other. Dallas appeared seemingly out of thin air, startling them.

  “And here I thought you were going to be smart and stay in your room,” he said. “Come on, you’re with me tonight.” He grabbed her arm, pulling her off towards the alcohol and away from Rome.

  Rome took one step after them before Eliza zipped into his path.

  “Hey blue eyes, you made it!”

  “Uh, yeah. Look, I got to—”

  “Do me a huge favor? Awesome.” Eliza dragged him excitedly over to the stage as he practically drew lines in the sand with his feet. “Jason! Matt!” she shouted, drawing the attention of the two boys leaning against the stage. “You can thank me now. I found you a replacement. In lieu of gifts, I will accept cash as appreciation.”

  “Hell no,” Jason said. “JT can leave his love songs for the auditorium.”

  “My name’s not JT,” Rome said seriously. “It’s Rome.”

  “All apologies, Romeo.”

  Rome grit his teeth roughly. He’d heard that nickname at least a thousand times in his life, and it had never gotten any funnier.

  “People are calling you Justin Timberlake because of that performance,” Eliza informed him. “Personally I thought it was a turn on. It’s sexy when a man isn’t afraid of his sensitive side.”

  “Okay,” Rome drawled. “I was kind of here with someone, so…”

  “No!” Jesse said, jumping off the stage. “You have to sing! They’re going to riot and kill me if there’s not live entertainment. I promised live entertainment! Why in the hell did I promise live entertainment?”

  “Because you’re an awesome friend who got us a gig,” Matt said.

  “Yeah, and you’re screwing it up! Where’s what’s-his-face?”

  Jason and Matt shrugged as if they’d choreographed the gesture.

  “He has a problem showing up on time. Or at all,” Jason said.

  “And you’re just telling me this now?”

  “This doesn’t concern me,” Rome mumbled. “I’m going to go.”

  “No!” Jesse shouted again, grabbing both his arms. “Come on, you have to do this for me. I’ll owe you something, anything. God, I’m giving away so much free shit,” he said. “I’m going to go out of business.”

  Rome sighed, trying not to look at Jesse’s pleading blue eyes. “Can you get ahold of any old books, like really old ones?” he asked. Maybe this could actually work out in his favor.

  “Old books?” Jesse said. “Why in the world would you want—? You know what, old books it is. I can do that. The older the better.”

  “I’ll do it for anything you can get me on The Grove, the yew tree, the Artisan, or those old wands he made. Or anything about the six families.”

  Jesse just stared at him as his eyebrows rose higher and higher into his hairline. “You know how many books there are on that shit?”

  “I just need some info. I don’t even need to keep them, okay?”

  “Fine, whatever. Just get up there and sing your ass off.”

  Rome stepped onto the stage, throwing the strap to the electric guitar over his shoulders. He was actually going to have some fun with this, and he’d be off stage in time to meet back up with Ariahna before the night was over. He caught her eye in the crowd, smiling at her.

  Aria grinned at Rome curiously as he turned to talk to the two other boys on stage. She hadn’t expected him to be performing tonight, and she couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t told her. She rolled a red plastic cup between her hands, distantly listening to the sound of Dallas laughing and generally acting like an idiot with his friends. This wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind when she’d agreed to come. No one was making fun of her, but she didn’t have anyone to talk to or dance with, either. She was beginning to wonder if maybe she should just go when a smiling face stepped in front of her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

  “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”

  “Um, thanks. It’s Shawn, right? The RA?”

  “I prefer just Shawn, but Shawn the RA works too,” he laughed.

  “How did you know I was…?”

  “I was the one who found you on the roof.”

  “Oh,” Aria replied, looking away a
wkwardly.

  “I didn’t tell the nurse where I found you, though. I didn’t want to get you in trouble. What were you doing up there, anyways?”

  “Uh, it’s a long story,” she smiled. “So… you’re not the kind of person I would have expected to see at a party like this.”

  “Oh, because I’m the nark, right?” he said playfully.

  “No, I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “It’s okay. I live in a grey area. People don’t tend to like me because I represent authority, but I’m also captain of the soccer team, and I’m a pretty impressive swimmer, too, so… jock outweighs nark, I guess.”

  “Co-captain,” Dallas corrected, butting in to their conversation. “The lesser captain, if you asked some people.”

  “If by some people you mean you, Hayes, your opinion is obviously biased—besides just being flat out incorrect.”

  “Jealousy can make a man say petty things, Ericson.”

  “It’s okay, I forgive you,” Shawn smiled.

  Aria frowned at their back and forth. “Are you two… friends?”

  “No,” they answered.

  “Do you want to dance?” Shawn asked, turning back to Aria and ignoring Dallas for the time being.

  “She doesn’t dance,” Dallas said. “She has… hip problems.”

  “Dallas!” she exclaimed. “I do not.”

  “Well you’re going to if I tell your dad. He’ll break both your hips and you’ll never be able to dance with another boy again,” he laughed.

  “The threats are getting old,” she said somberly.

  “You know I’m playing.”

  “I’m not. Cut it out.”

  Aria turned away from them as they started bickering again. She didn’t really want to stand around and listen to them argue. She stared down at the sand, kicking it gently as she wandered off along the beach. Rome’s voice drifted over the crowd as heavy rock pulsed through the air. It was drastically different from what he’d sung this morning. A pair of legs came into view and she stopped in her tracks, eyes snapping up to find Christian staring back at her.