Chapter Seven
I woke to the sounds of the Muppet’s Mahna Mahna , my cellphone ring tone, which normally put me in a cheerful mood. However seeing as how I slept only for an hour before it ripped me away from my sweet slumber, the song pissed me off.
No I couldn’t blame the happy tune. It was whoever was calling me that was the culprit. I reached for my phone and looked at the name on my call display.
Justin.
I put my phone on mute and tossed it back onto my night table, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
I was bailing on musical history class, and like an overprotective brother, Justin was probably trying to figure out where I was.
I’ll meet up with him later tonight and grab whatever notes I missed from class. But for now, I wanted nothing more than to be seduced by my warm duvet and Mr. Sandman’s dreams.
#
Justin opened the door to his condo, dressed in torn jeans and a white tank top.
He greeted me with a boyish “kiss me beautiful” type of grin, like he always did.
“I missed you in class today,” he said.
“I noticed,” I replied. “You called me five times in the span of five minutes.”
“I was wondering if you forgot about our test today,” he said. “I guess you did. ”
Oh shit! There was a test today on Schubert’s Erlkonig. It was one of the more interesting topics in music history, and one that I read up a great deal on. It would have been an easy way to boost up my average in the course, which was presently suffering because of my dick-faced professor who didn’t agree with a few of my essays.
“Fuck,” I cursed.
“Yeah,” Justin said. “It was on a topic you liked as well. Where were you anyways?”
“Come on, let’s go grab some food at the Brickstone,” I said. “I’ll fill you in on the way there.”
“I was in the middle of making dinner, but I guess I can save it for tomorrow. Just let me get my wallet,” Justin said as he headed back inside.
“No way, you bought me lunch last time. Let me at least get your burger.”
“Are you buying me dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Is this a date?”
I saw the twinkle in his eye and regretted my offer almost immediately.
“No,” I replied. “I’m just paying you back. I don’t like being in debt to anyone.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Justin said.
“Yes I do. Now no more debating,” I said. “I’m starving.”
#
I was hesitant to tell Justin the truth, especially seeing how clandestine last night’s celebration was, but I was going to explode if I didn’t spill my guts to someone about it. Justin was my closest friend and I trusted him with just about any secret.
After having Justin swear an oath of eternal secrecy, I filled him in on last night’s events. As I listened to the words coming out of my mouth, I was beginning to realize how preposterous it all sounded: masked aristocrats, the Golden Virgin, secret societies, fucked up rituals, arranged marriages, and a dating contract. The only thing I left out were the names revealed to me.
Justin stayed quiet the entire time. I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought I was crazy.
When I finally finished spinning my yarn, I looked at him and shrugged my shoulders.
“Well?” I said. “Sounds crazy right? Am I going nuts?”
“You shouldn’t go on those dates,” he replied. There was anger in his voice along with resentment.
“Why?” I asked, but secretly I already knew the answer. It was a mistake to tell him about the dates.
For a second, I felt guilty that I was letting him down.
“Just don’t go,” he replied.
“I have to. I signed a contract remember? And I’ll be fine. Who knows, it might even be fun, mingling with the rich and famous.”
“What if I don’t want you to go?”
I met his question with a shrug. So this was it; the relationship talk. I knew this day was coming at some point. I had tried so hard to put it off, but I knew I couldn’t run away from the inevitable forever.
“Aria…” Justin began.
“Look Justin, you’re an important part of my life,” I said. “In fact, you’re the only friend I have in this lonely place.”
“I can be more than that,” he said, reaching for my hands. I pulled them back and saw the look of hurt on his face.
“Why not?” he asked.
“I just don’t want any relationship right now.”
“What about later on?”
I shook my head. “Eventually yes,” I said and paused before adding. “But with someone else.”
If this were a street fight, those words were the knockout punch. Justin looked at me like I had stabbed him, tears welling up in his eyes.
“I…I love you Aria.”
Ugh. I brought this on myself. Justin needed to know how I felt. I had been stringing him along for far too long now, all because I was a lonely, selfish girl.
“Justin,” I began, “I told you this many times, you’re important to me. But I’ve always seen you like the brother I never had. To start dating you would be…” choose your next words wisely Aria, “…like incest.”
Legendary failure.
“The thought of us together disgusts you that much?” he asked.
“No,” I said, “that came out all wrong. God, I’m terrible at expressing myself sometimes.”
“No,” Justin said, the look of hurt evolving into anger now. “I think you made it loud and clear. Well, I wouldn’t want you to feel like being with me was some forbidden taboo. We’re done here.”
He turned around and stormed off. I wanted to call out to him, but stopped myself. Emotions were at a peak, and nothing good would come out of anything he or I said right now. I’ll text him in a few days. Hopefully he’ll have cooled off by then.
I watched as Justin—my only friend in the world—disappeared over the horizon. Like everyone else in my life, he left me alone and feeling miserable.
But telling him the truth was the right thing to do; the only thing to do wasn’t it?
#