!!

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Coming out of shower in my trouser and black t-shirt, I went to my dresser and took out some moisturizing cream and applied it all over my hands. Except my left forearm obviously.

It was a lot fine today with weather and fortunately with me too. I eyed my antidepressants placed beside my bed's side table.

I didn't take them when I came home...

Since beth died, so many questions were messing my head for which i needed answers. I was thinking for a walk for some time. It would clear my mind a little, or maybe I would find the answers I was looking.

Dad didn't know Ethan is back nor did I tell him about his arrival and threats. He had always liked him when we were together. I didn't want dad to hate him now.

Sadly Ethan didn't get a chance to meet mom. She could had adored him more than his own mother for sure. She was a lovely women.

Earlier in the music room while I was just pouring myself out. I did feel so much better. This is what Ethan taught me. He said

'Whenever You feel alone play your own music and listen to it.'

Guess it helped. I didn't want to think what Ester did. So I just unlocked the door and started to play.

Not much students go there so the room mostly found unlocked. While playing the guitar, the flashes of us happy together, me and ethan playing guitar while me sitting between his legs or all 6 of us having fun, pinched my heart so bad that I felt full of sorrow.

The tears came out on their own and I was just sitting there remembering our euphoric moments, which couldn't be reversed and now we were all left with scars.

I looked at my wounded forearm which was still wrapped with my handkerchief. Dad didn't know about this too cause I was in full sleeves coat when I came back.

Unfortunately Finn noticed when I went to cafe after school. I couldn't skip my job. In fact I knew Finn wouldn't mind but still.

Lara didn't notice just likh He didn't before but when he saw me struggling with tray, he asked and some how I couldn't lie to him just like I couldn't to Blake.

I just told him that a little accident happened in chemistry class while performing experiment and he somehow bought it. I hate that I had lied to him.

I looked at myself in mirror. My body was screaming for some kind of help. I sighed and adjusted my cardigan.

It was a bit odd wearing it today. As it was a bit warm. I hope dad wouldn't ask questions. But I know it'd not be long for him to know. I sighed when dad voice echoed from downstairs.

"Dinner is ready Aria," I replied back with a smile. "Coming!."

He had been home since two days, and he wanted to cook for me as long as he was here so I agreed. Not kidding but he was actually a good cook.

When mom was pregnant with me, she was so weak that she needed a lot of care. No doubt dad did his very best for her and me.

My grandparents died after mom got married and my grandma from my dad's side lived in canada, still does, so it was only them here.

I miss her, My Granna.

I took my phone from dresser and wore cardigan to cover my left forearm and left the room. The smell was divine.

I stepped in kitchen as he was setting the table. I took a seat and he did the same.

"So how's been school going?" He asked while chewing lasagna.

"It was good, classes are fine, I have friends to spend my time with," My mouth full of delicious food. A moan left my mouth involuntarily.

"Is it too much balancing cafe and school?, you don't have to work, if it is," I shook my head and gulped some water before speaking.

"It's fine dad, I love doing it," He gave up and continued to eat. The whole house was silent with cricket sound from somewhere.

"I...saw the tournament form in your bag," I paused but didn't look up to him. A sigh escaped my mouth and I slightly pushed my plate away on the wooden table.

"Yeah Coach Lee gave me some days ago but I'm not joining this year," He took off his glasses and turned towards me a little. "Listen Aria, you have loved it for so long. It's your passion princess. You know how much Blake loved when you played."

He couldn't emotional blackmail me with Blake.

But his words came out in a lot more comforting way but it just made me perplexed. Maybe I should go for some fresh air and think about it.

"Okay I'll think about it, I'm full and I'm going for a walk. I'll be back before 9:30," With that I took my plate and placed it in sink before washing my hands and left.

Luckily he didn't notice my arm. It still hurt a lot but I was not using it so much for him to notice the pain on my face.

°°°°°°°

The fresh air made me relax and made me think properly. Beth and I loved skating. We became friends when I came to new York and then grew up doing skating together.

I stopped and sat on the bench, as it had been ten minutes I was here. This park was close to my house and not many people were here this time so it was just me around. The street lamp light was illuminating my body a bit.

The cardigan was making me a bit hot so I took it off and placed it on my lap. The fresh chill air hugged me as I stared at the dark sky for answers, sparkled with diamonds and then closed my eyes for a bit.

"What are you doing here this late?" I jerked up the next minute and opened my eyes too see Ethan.

How come he'd be always be present wherever I was.

I turned my head back at sky, my eyes on stars. Night Sky was like a warm blanket in winter. Nature somehow always helped with a lot of things. Mom taught me that.

Ethan sat beside me at some distance. He was in black leather jacket with black t-shirt and black shoes, probably going to a club.

Then why came here?

"You didn't reply Aria," He sounded relax which was somehow unusual.

His jaw was perfect from my sight, that it could cut my hand if I touch it.

I didn't want to ruin my mood so I replied in same manner.

"Just for a walk, you?" He didn't reply though we sat in silence, I looked over at him, he was stargazing.

There were some things irritating him. He was looking for answers, that was why he came here... Just like me.

We continued to stargaze when he blew out deeply, i turned my eyes to him but his eyes were fixed on my lap. I followed his gaze to see the cardigan slipped off my arm and now was showing my grey handkerchief.

"What happened to your hand?" He asked with hard furrowed eyebrows on me. I scoffed on his act, as if he wasn't behind all this. His eyes were still lost, waiting for an answer.

"How come you didn't know after doing this to me?" A dark chuckle left my mouth.

How could he come here and asked me all this?

My words hit him hard as he stood up with anger on his face that I almost flinched.

"What are you talking about?" His all over faking it made me shocked. He was so good in acting.

"Oh please Ethan, Did beth's death hurt you this much that you forgot what we had?, didn't you send Ester with that chemical." I spit it out without knowing as he whispered the word Chemical' and his eyes widened like he figured out everything.

He immediately rushed to me kneeled and took my left hand in his.

He examined it and started to unwrapped it but I pulled my hand back.

"Don't touch me and leave!" He didn't listen and took my hand again with pleading eyes.

"Let me see it please," His voice came out in whisper but he didn't look in my eyes this time.

I didn't say anything further as he unwrapped carefully and it did hurt a bit that I hissed. The sight was ugly that I looked away but he stared at it before stood up. The pink flesh peeking out of the dark bluish skin.

"Wait here, don't go anywhere I'll be back," With that he jogged to his bike which was visible from where I was sitting and put his helmet on before rode away.

I sat there with exposed burnt skin as cold wind caressed it. After 5 minutes, I heard rushed footsteps towards me and Ethan was back with a white shopping back. He kneeled again and took out some kind of ointment.

I was completely mute on his behaviour. All this time he was here in New York, he threatened me so much that I couldn't believe my eyes.

He put some ointment on the tip of his finger and looked at me with soft eyes.

"It will hurt a bit, okay," My head nodded on his own, teeth cutting my lips. I couldn't process what was happening. My mouth was sealed.

A hiss left my mouth when the ointment met my skin but he blew on it while applying. The pain made me teared up a bit. Didn't know it'd hurt this much.

What was more shocking was that he was here with me, bandaging on my wound. Never ever I thought this would happen. I shook my head so that I could come out of my dream.

He then wrapped it in a proper bandage that he brought along with ointment but didn't stand up on his feet. Our faces were so close to each other.

The faint sound of traffic could be heard in the background as the park wasn't that far from main street. He then looked up at me still kneeling on the concrete ground.

"Just One Question, One Answer Aria," His gaze was back to straight and hard like he was in no mood of joke as he asked. "Was it Ester who did this or not?".

He raised his eyebrow on me as if he was saying 'Do not lie to me' And it was obvious he would read me if i did.

I retreat my hand from his warm ones and cleared the lump in my throat. My eyes roamed everywhere but on his.

What should I do?

He placed his hand on my knee and I looked up at him again. I breathed in and slowly nodded my head. I didn't know why I did that but the next second he stood up and jogged to his bike and left me again.

So It wasn't him who did this?

That made me some kind of relief that he didn't dare to hurt me on this extinct but I didn't want to tell him about ester being the one behind all this, cause I wanted to deal with her on my own.

The way he asked me, his anger was about to explode so I responded. Now god knows what would happen to her.

°°°°°°

I waited outside the club for her to come out. My mind couldn't accept the scar on Aria's hand. Her pain I felt, and she thought I did it?

I hate her but I'd never do this to her.

The blue and purple club light blinked and two body guards were standing at the gate. I saw Ester coming out of the gate in her green silk short dress and high ponytail. Her high heels clicking against the floor annoyed me more.

"Why did you call me out here?" Her high pitched voice boiled my blood but I stayed neutral outside despite of the storm crashing inside me.

I sat on my bike without a word, wore helmet and started it, she looked confused but smirked afterwards and sat behind me, probably got her signal.

We rode off to the highway. I knew I shouldn't had left Aria alone but I had to calm myself down first. When she confirmed my suspicion, I had to leave or otherwise I'd have hurt someone pretty bad or myself.

Ester wrapped her hands around my waist as we reached the point I wanted her to be. I got off the bike as she did too and stood there completely blank.

"I thought we were going your home?" She said as cold wind pinched her skin.

Skin..She burnt Aria's hand. The thought itself made me wanna kill her.

I stepped towards the edge of the cliff and looked at the waves crashing the shore. She came and stood beside me calmly.

All this time, I had spent the nights with her, it was all just bullshit and I knew it. I had never liked her or kyle.

"Did you burn Aria's hand," I asked on which her head spun towards me. The shock on her face was obvious that she was thinking how did I know that.

She knew very well that Aria wouldn't tell anyone or me because we broke up and all.

Dad had been putting so much burden lately about his stupid business that i needed answers that's why I came here but then I saw her sitting there alone with close eyes.

She was looking for some answers too...

The cold wind hit me but couldn't calm my boiling blood now. I knew she wouldn't confess easily so I passed her a smile to which she freaking laughed and nodded.

Pathetic!

"It was so much fun right, she was begging me to let go and-

In a swift I grabbed her hand and held her body towards the edge of cliff. Her eyes widened as I tightened my right hand on her jaw very hard. Tears started to form in her eyes.

Fuck!

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER ESTER!" She flinched at my roaring voice as my face probably turned red with anger.

I remember when she tried to cut aria's hair last year but luckily I got there at time but this, this is no way acceptable.

"I..I-thought you will like-

"THE FUCK YOU THINK, YOU BURNT HER SKIN!!, IT'S MY FIGHT WITH HER, DO YOU GET THAT!" She sobbed left her throat as I backed away from the edge and threw her on dried grass.

The darkness was covering our bodies in it. But I could see the fear she was feeling at the moment.

I stepped towards her with loud creaky steps against hay. She backed away in terror. Crouching down on her level, the sweat on her forehead was noticeable.

I pointed at the scary cliff and stood up before dusted my jeans and rode off and left her alone. The place wasn't that much far so she'd have no problem calling kyle to pick her up.

It was my fight with Aria and I know how to deal with her. If she or anyone came in between us, they would face me as a consequence.

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