29. Aria
29
ARIA
H atherley Hall was buzzing. It seemed as if everyone was excited for the final lacrosse game of the year, even those who weren’t normally interested in sports. The truth was, this was a momentous occasion. Our team needed a win against Clifton, and they also needed Burford to win their game against St. Peter’s. If that happened, Hatherley Hall would become the league champions. Sitting cross-legged on my bed, I stared out of the window, watching the figures gathering below, a sea of navy and royal blue with everyone wearing school colours. Some people had even painted their faces in shades of blue.
I inserted my earbuds, pulling up a playlist on my phone to drown out the noise that I could hear even from this high up. Flipping open my politics textbook, I stared down at the page in front of me, the words swimming before my eyes.
My phone vibrated.
Two new messages .
My hand trembled as I unlocked my screen and saw who the messages were from.
Tristan:
I know you said you didn’t want me to contact you again but I had to try. Please come to the lacrosse game. It’s important. If you never want to speak to me again after that I understand and I’ll respect your wishes
Please come, Aria
“Oh, fuck,” I whispered. How could he ask me to do that? Why was it so important? Surely he could see that it was better for us both to go our separate ways, especially after everything that had happened?
Me:
I can’t. I’m sorry
Tristan:
Little scorpion. I’m begging you here. Please
A tear fell from my lashes onto the screen. I hadn’t even realised I was crying until then. I pulled up my knees, curling my body over as I buried my head in my arms. I was tired of denying it to myself. The truth was, I missed him so much. Why did I have to fall for the one person who couldn’t be mine?
My phone vibrated again.
Tristan:
Forget my messages. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. For what it’s worth, I understand why you don’t want anything more to do with me and my family. I’ll leave you alone now, you have my word
I threw my phone to the bed and let my tears fall.
When I raised my head again, my eyes swollen and my head pounding, I re-read Tristan’s messages.
Please come to the lacrosse game. It’s important. I’m begging you here .
I did the only thing I could. The thing that I’d known was inevitable the second I’d seen his name on my phone screen. The thing that had been inevitable for much longer than I wanted to admit to myself. I fixed my make-up, removing all traces of my tears, put on my clothes, and after a quick detour to grab an item I knew I’d need, I went to the lacrosse game.
I’d never seen so many people at a game before. The stands were completely full, and extra benches had been brought outside to provide additional seating for both sets of supporters. Even with that, there were still spectators clustered around the edges of the field, standing in little groups, undeterred by the rapidly darkening clouds that held the promise of heavy rain.
Drawing closer to the stands, I scooted around a group of year ten girls dressed in the standard Hatherley Hall uniform, but with their eyelids decorated in glittering blue and the school logo painted on their cheeks. I breathed in as I squeezed past them before giving an apologetic wave as I swerved to avoid a man carrying an armful of water bottles. With this many people around, it was going to be difficult to find a spot to watch the game.
Did I even want Tristan to see me?
I looked down at myself and rolled my eyes. Obviously, you want him to see you, Aria. Otherwise, why would you have broken into his dorm room, stolen his spare lacrosse jersey, and put it on ? I hadn’t gone as far as to paint my face in the school colours, but in wearing Tristan’s jersey, I might as well have been carrying a giant sign that said, “Yes, I am gone for Hatherley Hall’s lacrosse captain.”
Ah, well. My pity party for one was over, and I had no fucks left to give. People could think what they wanted. The only thing I needed to do right now was to find a place where Tristan would be able to spot me.
Sidestepping yet another group of students, I came to a halt. Rising onto my tiptoes, I scanned the stands. It was times like this when being short was a real inconvenience. I just needed to…
I ducked under the barrier that separated the spectators from the pitch. Now I was out in the open, I could move quickly and easily.
I’d just reached the edge of the home stands when the crowd roared, those seated rising to their feet.
Slowly, I turned around, my stomach sinking. I hadn’t been quick enough.The teams were jogging out onto the field.
My surroundings melted away as my focus narrowed to one person. Hatherley Hall’s team captain, looking every inch the god he said he was, with his perfectly tousled hair and glowing tanned skin, his muscles flexing beneath his uniform as he moved across the grass with his helmet clasped in one hand and his lacrosse stick in the other.
He suddenly faltered, electric-blue eyes arrowing straight to mine. I felt a jolt deep inside me, like I’d been shocked by a bolt of lightning.
I came alive.
My lips formed his name, but no sound came out as I stood there, vibrating out of my skin, watching as he began to move again, a disbelieving smile curving over his mouth as he drew closer to me.
He really was so fucking beautiful, both outwardly and beneath the surface. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever let myself admit it before. All the reasons I should stay away from him were still there, but I didn’t care. How could I when he was smiling at me like that?
Coming to a stop in front of me, he let his helmet and stick drop to the floor. He looked down at me, his bright eyes shining. “You’re here.”
“Yeah…well, y’know. I didn’t have anything better to do, and the lacrosse captain himself gave me a personal invite, so…” I shrugged.
His smile was so fucking wide. “Is that why you decided to wear his jersey? That’s a pretty big statement, Aria. Wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.”
“What would the wrong idea be?”
His smile disappeared. He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body, and I had to tilt my chin up to keep holding his gaze.
“That you care about him,” he said.
I swallowed hard. “Maybe I do.”
Exhaling harshly, he rubbed his hand across his mouth. “Fuck. Aria. Fuck.”
“Did-did I?—”
“No!” His eyes widened, alarm flaring in his expression. “Don’t say anything. Give me a second to get my head around the fact that you’re actually here and I’m not just hallucinating it because I want it so badly.”
“Okay,” I whispered. My heart was beating so quickly I felt light-headed.
“Do you mean that?” he said eventually. “That you care about me?”
It was so difficult to admit it to his face, but I managed a nod, knowing my cheeks were flushing red. Before he could respond to that, I asked the question that had been playing on my mind ever since he’d sent me the text. “Tristan, why did you tell me it was important to come to your game today?”
He reached out, cupping my jaw, sliding his thumb back and forth across my skin. “How can I play without my little scorpion to cheer me on?”
“You want me to be your personal cheerleader?”
“No. I want you to be so much more than that.” Releasing my jaw, his hands went to the back of his head. “Here. I didn’t think you’d come, but I wore it just in case.”
I stared as he unclasped a gold chain from around his neck, lifting it from beneath his jersey. Taking my hand, he turned it palm up and let the chain spool into my cupped palm. A little golden lightning bolt was strung from the delicate links, tiny diamonds embedded along its length.
My gaze flew to his, and he blew out a heavy breath. “That night at the manor?—”
“Tristan.” Roman came jogging up, obliterating our private bubble, and all at once, the rest of the world came filtering back in. “Everyone’s waiting.”
“Fucking shit timing, mate.”
“Yeah, I know.” Roman shot me a sideways glance, mouthing sorry . “But hey, your girl came.” Tristan punched him in the shoulder, and he laughed, then turned to me. “Quinn and Elena saved you a seat in case you decided to come.”
I nodded, still staring at Tristan. His expression was suddenly defeated, and I couldn’t have that. Closing my fingers around the chain, I reached out with my free hand, gripping his shoulder as I rose onto my tiptoes. “I’ll wait for you,” I whispered into his ear.
When I stepped away, he caught my wrist in his hand, his lips curving upwards. “Where are you going?”
“Um. I’m going to sit down and watch you win this game.”
“You are,” he agreed. “But first, I want a good luck kiss from my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend! That’s a bit presump?—”
He shut me up with a kiss, slanting his mouth over mine, still smiling. My whole body was alight, buzzing with euphoria and nerves and so much happiness I didn’t know what to do with myself.
Releasing me, he gave me a brisk nod, his smile turning a little smug. “That’s better. Go and cheer me on, baby. We’ll talk everything through after, okay? But you and me—” He flicked his finger between us. “—this is happening. Any problems with that?”
I sighed loudly. “No one else has the mental fortitude to put up with your dramatics, so I guess I’d be doing everyone a favour.”
I remembered Roman was still standing there when he snorted with laughter. “You two are a match made in heaven. Or hell. Either way, it works. Come on. Saunders looks like he’s about to explode.”
“You’re the dramatic one,” Tristan told me. “I’ll see you after.”
“Whatever. Don’t you have a game to win? You’re not going to win it standing over here chatting, are you?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Why do I like you so fucking much? I must be insane.”
“You are,” I agreed. “Sorry about that. See you later.”
As he backed away, he gave me the finger, and I returned it with a smile before making my way along the stands towards my friends.
When I reached them, ducking back under the barrier, they both stared at me with wide eyes.
“What was all that about?” Quinn breathed.
“What’s that in your hand?” Elena asked at the same time.
The whistle blew. I shook my head. “Tell you afterwards.”