Princess

Alex's POV
Damn, Ari can sing and play like no one I've ever met. If this becomes a band, she is totally part of it. 100%. But I'm not going to lie, walking with her to the library, I'm just trying to figure her out.

The first time I met her, I was sure of her type. Bitchy, queen-of-the-word, etc. Now I can't be sure. Because a girl like that wouldn't have ever been friends with Jack Barakat, liked Blink and Green Day, and played music with her brother and his friends. It just doesn't work that way.

She's really quiet. I wonder what's going on inside that pretty little head of hers. But it's not an awkward silence, so I'll let it go. I have the feeling that there's way too much going on here to just figure out rigiht now.

Arianna's POV
Why is Alex staring at me? Why can't I get him out of my head? Today is just the worst. Everything's changing. I've worked so hard to not be the girl I used to be, and here he is, making me change again. I can't do that. I can't let myself become little Ari, best friends with Jack Barakat, music lover, and sweet girl full of life. Why? Because that girl is gone. Her life was fucked-up and taken away, and I was left behind.

I should be bitching Alex out right now. It's what I do. But instead, I'm walking next to him in a comfortable silence wishing that I was holding his h......what. What the hell did I just think? I can't be with Alex! That would ruin everything. This person I've worked so hard to become would disappear, and little Ari would take her place in this world again. Only to be destroyed, because that was all she ever had in store.

We arrive at the library, and like a gentleman he holds the door open for me. I mutter a thanks and shoot him a smile over my shoulder as we walk in. For a few moments, we just roam the shelves, grabbing relevant books before slumping at a table in the back, setting off to work and still not talking to each other.

A few hours later, the project's done and still barely a word has been said. I can't take it anymore.

"Hey, Alex?"

He looks at me, almost startled. "Yeah Arianna?"

"Ari, first off." WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING ARIANNA? He smiles,

"Okay, what is it Ari?"

"Just, and don't freak out, I just, and I know I haven't known you for very long, but..." I trail off, still unsure of what I'm doing.

Alex's POV
What. What is going on. One second this girl looks ready to murder me, and the next she's professing her love for me? This is not okay, and she needs to know it.

"Look, Ari, I appreciate it, but I can't do this. I can't be just another thing you get because you're so perfect and so is your life."

She just stares at me blankly. "Alex...."

"No, just don't okay? The project is done, your commitment fulfilled. I think it's best off if we just pretend we never met each other, okay?"

Her eyes fill with tears. What the fuck? "Fine, Alex. I'll walk away and you'll never have to hear from me again."

"Wait, Ari..."

"No, you've said your piece. You've told the truth. Now it's time for me to go. Have a nice life Alex, and please don't pretend to miss me when I'm gone."

What is she talking about? She isn't suicidal or something is she? Dammit, what have I done?!

"No, Ari. What's going on? Are you okay?" I grab her arm to stop her from leaving, and as her sleeve pushes up I can clearly see the answer. "What have you done to yourself?"

Arianna's POV
Fuck, no. Alex can't see my scars. No one can. Nobody knows this about me, not even Rian. I try to push my sleeve back down but it's too late. He's already seen. So I run. Like always, I run away from my problems. I'm crying too much to register the footsteps behind me, but the strong arms that wrap me in a hug and pull me down to sit on the sidewalk surprise me.

"Shhh, Ari it's gonna be okay. Just calm down, and then we can talk okay?" Alex says comfortingly, stroking my hair as he held me close.

He's too close, too close to me. This wasn't supposed to happen. I can't let people get close to me because it always ends badly. The scene, it's too similar.

"Hey, Ari. It's gonna be okay. You'll always have me." Jack said as we sat outside of his house at 7 years old.

"Thanks Jacky," I reply, still crying into his shoulder. "I just don't get it. Why would he leave?"

"I don't know. But I won't leave. I promise." And with that he took his pinky wearing our best friends ring and hooked it with mine.

I shake my head and sit up a little. It's no time to be thinking about that.

"Thanks Alex. I think I should go home now. Thanks for the project, and for letting me cry it out. I'm sorry."

"Oh Ari, please don't leave yet. I think we really need to talk. Can I at least walk you home?"

I don't know. Talking doesn't ever seem to be a good idea. But he already knows more than anyone should, so what do I have left to lose? "Fine, Alex."

He helps me up and we start heading home, too slowly for my taste. He's quiet. It seems like he's trying to think everything through and figure out how to address this. Me too, Alex. Me too. I still can't figure it out.

Notes