Chapter Four Continued...

If you thought I went back to class like a good student. Then you're sadly mistaken. Normally, you would've been correct but when it came to Ari all the rules I've lived by my entire life get thrown out the window.

We go in separate cars. I drive behind her, unsure of her intended destination. The mall? Starbucks? Bookstore? Science museum? She arrives at a skateboard park. I park next to her and cautiously get out of my car. She pulls two skateboards from the back of her Jeep and hands me one.

"I have an extra deck."

I take it and stare at it likes it's a venomous snake.

"Can you skate?" She asks.

I shake my head. She reaches back into her Jeep and pulls out a helmet. I take it but I'm not sure how it's going to magically help me learn to skateboard.

"Are you sure about this?" I ask. Immediately images of broken limbs and skulls flash into my brain.

Ari chuckles. "I'll teach you. It'll be fun."

She walks away expecting me to follow. And I do. There are only a few skaters around. I assume most are still in school. A couple of them call her by name and wave.

"I'm going to drop in on vert. Do a couple of runs in the bowl and then I'll be back. I need to get some of this pent-up frustration out."

"Yeah, sure." I nod my head.

She could have told me she was flying to the moon and back. I thrust the helmet she gave me towards her. She waves it off. She walks away, ignoring my disapproving stare, and the helmet.

I watch as she climbs up a fourteen-foot ramp. It looks incredibly dangerous. There's a small queue of boys but she says some words. They all smile and let her go first. And then she drops in. And all I can think is 'Sweet mother of Pope Francis, why isn't she wearing a helmet? Did she have a death wish?'

She zooms down the ramp and up to the other side. Her body flies in the air and twists mid-air. I don't know the trick. But I figure it's rather impressive because the guys start to hoot and a holler. She rides back and forwards doing tricks until she loses momentum. Then she hops off the ramp and heads for the giant pool shapes in the ground.

My attention is pulled away when a guy skates up to me and asks.

"You skate? Sick deck." He points to the skateboard in my head.

"No. I'm watching."

He looks disappointed, but he stands around. "Too bad, we need more cute skater girls. You want me to show you how?"

"I don't know," I say slowly. "I've never ridden a skateboard."

I hadn't missed him calling me cute either and I don't want to embarrass myself in front of him. He has a bad boy vibe, tattooed and scruffy, but also a kind smile. I definitely did not want to fall on my face in front of him.

"No one will judge. Skaters are super chill..." He hesitates then adds. "Most of the time." Then he smiles.

I give in to his charm, but not before securely strapping the helmet on. He's a decent teacher; patient. He shows me the basics and helps with my stance. It's easier than I thought. He applauds my balance. Balance, I've got. I've been in ballet since I was little. Who knew it transferred over to skateboard.

Ari finishes crazily flinging herself around and approaches us. She is sweating and there's a giant grin on her face. All traces of today's early stresses are gone from her expression.

She hi-fives my bad-boy-skate-teacher and ask's him about his day. He makes a joke and Ari laughs flirtatiously. Scratch that I shouldn't say flirtatiously. To be honest, I can't tell when Ari is flirting. I've given up on trying. She talks to everyone in the exact same way whether you're male, female, short, fat, or ugly. She appears to be flirting because she's always attentive, smiling, breaking into the person's personal space. It's probably why her guy friends are confused about their friendship status.

Heck, half the time I'm confused.

My impromptu teacher waves bye then skates away. Ari places her skateboard on the ground and sits on it. I mimic her actions.

"Happy he helped you, I'm a terrible teacher," Ari says.

I already knew this. We were lab partners, she rarely explained things in a way I could understand. And she didn't have the patience for it. I decide to be polite and say nothing.

"He's cute too, huh?" She asks.

The heat rises in my cheeks and I look over at her sly smile. I'm convinced she purposely says these things to get me to blush.

"Yeah, he's alright," I say. She continues to scrutinize my face.

"He seems into you," I say. It's an attempt to pull the spotlight off myself. But I do want to know. "Did you guys date?"

She gathers her hair and starts pulling it up into her favorite updo. "Sort of. I don't date. When we first met we hooked up but now we're just friends."

Ari had used this word "hooked up" before, I'm not sure what it entails and am too shy to ask for specifics. I kind of have a good idea though.

"Why? Interested? I don't mind, I could get you his number." She says.

"No, no. I was just curious."

She nods her head, my answer seems enough. "I've got a lot of history at this park." She sways side to side on her board. "I used to come with my brother and his friends when I was a kid. Now it's my sanctuary, at least in the spring and summer. The slopes are my real safe place."

My safe place is locked in a room, my face pressed in between the page of a fantasy romance novel. But I guess hurdling down steep inclines surrounded by several observers could be seen as a form of...tranquility. She was always steeped in drama at school. Maybe this is her only way to get away from it all. A place where no one knew about The Dirty.

"Why do you do it then?" I ask.

She looks at me quizzically, I'm about to rephrase my question when understanding flashes across her face. Our brains work similarly, jumping from one topic to another. I'm not surprised she understands the leap.

"Why give them the opportunity to catch me in some 'salacious act'?" She asks and I nod.

Ari looks thoughtfully out at the skateboard park. "I've tried to behave and it made me unhappy. What's the point? Is the point of my life, to make others happy? Should I fit into everyone's box of what I should be? I can't force myself to change for someone else. I try to be a good person. I try not to hurt other people. But you only get one life and I want mine to be full."

She pauses and looks down at her fingernails. The nail polish is old and flaking off. I realize for the first time she bites her fingernails. The skin is raw and red where's she bitten around the nail and cuticles.

"I make mistakes. I unintentionally hurt myself and sometimes others. Karma. Things come back to bite me. But I'd rather deal with the kids at school and their judgments, then live a boring life. The good far outweighs the bad."

Then she locks her eyes on to me. Her gaze feels heavy and I have to look away. "Everyone likes you."

I'm about to protest. She is making this up, being nice. No one knew I existed.

She shakes her head. "No, they do. You're the charming new girl. You have a zen quality, no drama."

I want to hide my face in my hand, I'm most definitely blushing again. She sees my discomfort, smiles, and nudges me softly with her shoulder. "You don't step on anyone's toes and you don't make anyone feel bad about themselves. I wish I was more like you. I suppose it's one of the reasons I love hanging with you."

"I always want what I can't have." She says and presses her shoulder against me again.

She loved hanging out with me and wished she could be more like me. Holy hole in a doughnut! It's a lot to unpack. She also pointed out I didn't make people feel bad about themselves. Her observation is on point.

I didn't outshine others. Ari unashamedly shone her light the brightest. And I exerted an exorbitant amount of energy trying to blend in and not stir up any drama. I'm a pretty light to look at, comforting but too dim to light up a room. Is that what I'm always trying so hard to be?

"Let's go! I suddenly don't feel like being here anymore." Ari snaps.

Her words pull me out of thought, as well as the looming shadow standing over us.

"Are you stalking me now!" She hisses and gets up from her skateboard.

"Ari, wait. I figured you'd be here. I saw the Dirty. I wanted to check on you."

I get up from the skateboard to face James.

"Priceless coming from you." She nods towards the parking lot and we start walking towards the exit.

James frantically blocks our path. "Dechlan told me about the pool. Everyone's leaping to the wrong conclusion and I want to be there for you."

She rolls her eyes. "Your brother is a dick. And I don't need your consoling. Now move!"

His brother? I stare at James. It hits me like a sack of bricks. The resemblance is uncanny, they could practically be twins if not for the difference in size and coloring.

Dechlan is stout, all muscles, and bulk. James is tall, lean muscle, and toned. Looking at him, was like looking at the reflection of Dechlan but stretched up half a foot and blonde. I must have missed it because of the difference in their disposition. James gave off an air of seriousness, he was clean shaven and charming. In contrast, Dechlan was playful, rugged, and seductively dangerous. They were different sides of the same coin. I feel dumb for not seeing it before. But if they're brothers then...

"Please hear me out for one second. You haven't spoken to me in weeks. Give me a chance to explain." He begs.

Ari reluctantly nods her head.

"You're blaming me, but I didn't post the hot tub pic."

She scoffs, "It was your username Captain James! What? You were hacked?!"

"Yes. That's what I'm trying to tell you. I was right next to you. I didn't take the pic. If I had, I wouldn't be stupid enough to post my name? Somebody took the pic with my phone and posted it on The Dirty."

"Right," Ari says, clearly unconvinced. "I'm supposed to believe someone grabbed your cellphone, unlocked it, took pictures, then posted it hours later with your cell?"

Ari has her arms crossed in front of her. "It's more likely "somebody" took the pic, gave it to you, and you posted it. You wanted to hurt me. Get back at me for kissing your friend. Admit it!"

She walks up to him and shoves a finger at his chest.

" I didn't ask him to kiss me! I'm sick of guys thinking I'm here for their own sexual amusement! He kissed me and I pushed him away! But you were too busy getting pissed off!"

Ari is shouting, and I want to shrink away from the scene she's causing. James is much taller than her but seems shorter in comparison to her outburst.

"If you were a real friend you should've had my back!"

James looks ashamed.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I should've. I thought you wanted to be with him." He reaches for her hand. Ari tries to yank it away, but he grabs it and pins it to his chest

"I didn't post the picture of you." He directs his gaze, deep into Ari's eyes, begging her to see the truth in them. "I would never do anything to hurt you. We've been friends for years. Why is it easy for you to believe a post over me?"

They are staring at each other. Motionless with her hand over his heart. It reminds me of the moment I'd glimpsed between Ari and Dechlan at the party. I feel like an intruder.

"Ari, I'm heading out. I need to pick my mom up from work." It's a lie my mom doesn't get off work for a couple of hours. But I feel uncomfortable watching them together. I need to get away. They look over at me as if only now noticing me.

"Right, I'm sorry." Ari looks over at James then back at me. She seems torn but ultimately chooses James. I don't blame her. "Text me later?" She says to me.

I nod my head and lift the skateboard for her to see.

"Put it in the back of my Jeep. Or keep it for practice." Ari smiles but it's distracted.

"Sure," I say. I smile and wave at James. He nods, but his eyes gloss over me.

I retreat as fast as I can without looking like I'd straight up just robbed a bank. I put her board in the back of her Jeep and slide into my car. I'm about to start the ignition when I look through my windshield. I can see them, but now from a safe distance. They're standing closer and calmly talking. I wish reading lips was one of my talents.

James steps in, closing the small gap between them and places a hand on her chin. Ari leans into it his hand. The moment is loving and caring. And I've seen the exact same look he's giving her on an almost identical guy's face. Dechlan's. James leans down. Is he is going to kiss her? She redirects it and they embrace in a hug instead.

Ari said she tried not to make choices that hurt other people. Was she sincere? What I'm witnessing is a clear violation against some moral law. I want to think the best of her. However, there isn't an ounce of doubt in my mind that both brothers are in love with her.

Perhaps it's a misunderstanding? I've seen how Ari speaks to people, it would be an easy mistake to believe she loved you back. In fact, as the reader and unbiased observer, it must have crossed your mind at least once that she might have feelings for me as well. Don't be silly. It's just Ari's way.

What do you think is Ari wrong to be a little wild or she better off like our MC?

And do you think Ari is into James, or maybe someone else...?

Thanks for reading! Chapter 5 next. :)