Chapter Seven Continued...

"Katie and I used to live next door to each other when we were kids. I didn't have many friends."

I look at her with disbelief. I have a hard time believing it. She sees my expression.

"Believe it or not, it's true. Other kids never liked me. I was a dork, a total nerd, I always had my head in the pages of a science magazine or textbook. I didn't understand other kids, especially girls. I was socially awkward and funny looking. You've seen my brother I used to rock the same unibrow."

I can't help but let the corners of my lips turn up, at the small jab.

"My parents put me in dance and gymnastics, hoping I'd make friends with some girls my age. But I preferred to hang with my brother and his friends at the skatepark. Basically, I had no friends until I met Katie. She was my childhood BFF. My brother had an insane crush on her. " Ari chuckles at the memory. I mentally take note of this Damien isn't gay.

"We even went to the same school. K through eighth grade. She was pretty and a year older. I was the nerdy girl without friends, but she hung out with me anyway. We stayed friends for years. Then in seventh-grade things changed." Ari pauses and her demeanor saddens.

"My family and I went to Italy for the summer. My mom took me to a beauty stylist. Superficial but she was trying to help me fit in. I got laser hair removal treatments, I was given make-up tips and a new wardrobe. The whole princess diaries shebang. After a summer in Italy, I came back with my new look. Everyone treated me differently. My classmates for the first time wanted to be my friend and invited me to parties. I joined cheerleading, the dance team, and the soccer team. It all sort of got out of hand. My grades started to slip. I didn't care because I thought I was the prettiest girl in school. I was unkind and self-centered."

Ari looks down at her hands in embarrassment again. I can't imagine Ari being "that-girl". Not her being beautiful and popular. What was hard to imagine was her preening around like a peacock.

"I should've been kinder to Katie." She continues. "Our relationship was...complicated. But I was excited to be "popular" when I'd been a social pariah. I canceled on her and didn't include her. Made fun of her behind her back. We were still friends, sort of, but we were growing apart."

I feel guilty. Katie and I were drifting apart too. Was I doing the same thing Ari had done?

"Then Steele happened. He was an eighth grader in Katie's class. As cool as his name. Cute, popular, and on the basketball team. All the girls liked him especially Katie. She'd been crushing on Steele since the fifth grade. She would obsess over him. Then he started paying attention to me."

I already know where this story is headed. It was classic. Girl like boy, boy likes girl's friend.

"I was mean. I wanted to hurt her feelings. Rub it in her face. He liked me and not her. I asked him out and we started dating. He was my first boyfriend and my first kiss. Then a rumor started going around I'd given him a blow job at school."

"Seriously?!" I don't mean to shout it, but she was a child.

Ari nods her head. "Kids can be cruel. I was only twelve and someone had started a dirty rumor about me. I still thought holding hands in public was risqué. Steele broke up with me. Said I was cheating, because he hadn't been the one to get a blow job. He told his friends and they told their friends. I was labeled a slut and a cheater. I cried for days, I confided in Katie. Only to find out she'd started it."

"I confronted her. She apologized, but it wasn't enough. I know she was only thirteen, but it felt like she'd ruined my life over a dumb boy. I ghosted her. I told my parents and she wasn't allowed over anymore. I removed her from my life. She wasn't wrong for being mad at me, but what she did was unforgivable. The perception of the kind of girl I am has followed me. I tried to change myself and be less rumor-worthy. Eventually, I said screw it." Ari threw her hands up in the air.

"I know she's your friend. And I don't want to get between you two. That's why I thought I'd offer an olive branch and invite her to the party. What happened is between her and me, not you and her."

Ari's poise surprises me. I contemplate her words. The puzzle pieces were coming together in my brain. It all made sense now. Katie hated Ari because she had once loved her as a friend, maybe even as a sister. Ari had gone the other path to not care about Katie at all. Sliced her completely out of her heart. Which was more painful?

"Whoa," I say. Any attempt to hang out with both Kate and Ari would fail miserably. Though deep down I'd already known that. "I don't know if I could be nearly as mature as you about the situation."

Her stormy eyes lock on to me. "Yes, you could. One of the reasons I love you."

Ari smiles at me.

The uncomfortable heat is rising again and my ears start to burn. I have to look away. She loves me? I'm caught up in how casually she'd said stated her affection I almost miss her next question.

"What made you finally ask?"

Her eyebrows scrunch in curiosity as she waits for me to answer. Should I tell her about my suspicions of Katie? I would hate to bring up old dirty laundry. Especially, if it turned out she hadn't posted it. If Katie had done it, I'm not sure I would tell Ari.

She'd put her past to bed, there was no reason to dig it back up. And no one was taking stock of the rumor anyways.

I lie. "No big reason. I think Katie and I are drifting apart."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it's not because of me, but I suspect it is." There's sincerity in her voice.

"Hey, James and I are going rock climbing and we might hit up a bar after. I'm trying to make it up to him for not inviting him last night. You want to go?" She asks.

"Sorry, I can't. Cameron is picking me up in five." I look at the clock on my phone. "He's celebrating my birthday dinner with me and my mom. Since I'm celebrating with you tomorrow, she wanted to make a big deal of it."

Ari nods and stands up. I can't help but needle her a little bit.

"You and James alone, huh? Going on a date."

She whips around. "Oh, come on not you too. We're just friends."

I laugh at her put-out expression. James looked at her like Cameron had before he took my clothes off last night.

"Sure," I say and I sling my backpack onto my shoulder. The keychain Ari stole is still dangling from it. It feels more accurate now. I'm becoming a badass...kind of. At least by proxy. Not many people would tease her. I should get some credit.

"I'm serious." Ari whines.

I don't say anything but only stare at her.

"We're friends." She says again.

"Okay." I agree with her and shrug my shoulders.

Ari lifts her finger and points it at me, "You're the worst."

Then she stalks off, but before she leaves, she turns around and huffs. "Meet me at my house tomorrow. We will drive up together." It was one of her non-question statements.

"I'll be there." I nod.

Cameron shows up a few minutes later. I ask him to come into the gym. It's ridiculous but I feel like I have a point to prove. He is dressed nicer than usual, probably to impress my mother. He's in a black button-up and a blazer; he looks incredibly sexy. I greet him by wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him down into a passionate kiss.

The kind that should be done behind closes doors. The gym is full of people participating in different activities including the entire dance team. There's a series of whistles and hollers called out from the students around us. Satisfied enough people have seen me make-out with my boyfriend, I let go of him.

He grins. "What was that for?"

"No, reason," I say as I grab his arm and steer him out of the gym.

"And..." He presses; he knows me well.

I sigh, "And there's a rumor I'm gay."

"For real? Then you..." He warps a muscular around my shoulders and pulls me closer to his side. "Are welcome to use me anytime you like, any way you like, as many times as you like." His innuendos make me think scandalous thoughts I shouldn't on school property.

We drive to my house. The moment we walk through the front door, I know something is terribly wrong.

My mother greets us when we arrive, but it's not with her normal enthusiasm. Her hands are on her hips and her lips are pursed into an angry line.

"Where were you this morning?" She asks.

TBC next week...somebody is in trouble.

As always thanks for reading and voting. Lots of Love.