Chapter 4 Crossroads

"Hey girl! What the hell? How can you afford all that when we are barely surviving and you barely pay for anything around here?" Ari said storming in.

"Chill girl, I just saved your ass! Do you know who that was?" Trace said rolling her eyes mysteriously

"I don't give a damn who that was hun. " She said eyeing her suspiciously. Tracy was a mirror image of her at this point which felt weird. Wasn't she doing too much? She knew very well who was in the car but choose to act ignorant.

"Says the girl who was cowering in the corner instead of walking up to her home. You can deceive others, not me hun. It's clear you don't want this so why the hesitation?' Trace said looking at Ari pensively.

"I do not want to disregard my late dad's legacy, he worked so hard for his name. I am at cross roads." She said dejectedly, her shoulders slouching as she clutched her tummy.

"Well you definitely can't get married while pregnant for God knows who? I mean sleeping with a total stranger? I thought that was my thing. It seems you are trying so hard to be me'" Tracy said rolling her eyes but realised what she had said when Ari gave her a look of suspicion.

"I didn't tell you I was pregnant. How did you know? I didn't even tell you I had been with a stranger? How did you find out?" Ari said.

"Lol! It was so obvious. You disappeared in the club and got home so early, like you were being chased by the police. Then there's the excess trips to the bathroom. And since you didn't mention a man, it means he's a stranger" Tracy said defensively, swearing internally for talking too much. Arianna should never find out what she did.

"Well that makes sense. But still you shouldn't be so rude. I am going through a lot already"

"So sorry girl! I know this is hard on you and I feel really bad that I can't help you. But you can't afford the disgrace and the media will swallow you up. Then there's Daniel and how he might react to all this". Trace said.

"I need a break! I need a nap! I need a getaway even if it's just for a few days" Ari replied absent mindedly, staring at a picture of her and her dad. Oh dad I wish you were here, she thought to herself. If she had not been overthrown by grief that night, she would never have agreed to go out with Tracy. Her life wouldn't have been a in shambles right now. She thought back to what Tracy said about her disappearing. If she remembered correctly, Tracy disappeared first, leaving her alone and without direction. That's how she got into trouble in the first place.

"Oh girl that's a great idea. It will take your mind off things for a little plus it's not good for the baby".

Trace said, as she observed Ari curled on the sofa with delight. Ari was walking right into her plan and she was delighted.

"I need to find the father of this baby" Ari said as she drifted into a beautiful sleep.

Panicked, Trace thought to herself, she can't find out. She should never find out. And immediately she knew she had to get Ari far away from this town before the truth came out. Glancing at her sleeping friend one last time, Tracy went out the door to put her plans in motion.

Ari woke up hours later on the sofa, cold and hungry. She had left the windows open and the evening chill had set in. She remembered her conversation with Tracy and the pain in her heart was still there. Her friend had told her the plain truth and it hurt so much. Tracy had suddenly become a replica of her; same hair colour, eye contacts and all. Though they looked alike, this was taking it too far she thought! But Ari's mind was made up. She will leave town for a few days and gather her thoughts. She also had to find out who was the father of her child. She hurriedly packed a little box of essentials, stacked her credit cards and essentials in the box. As she was about to put her, last card, her mom's chain and her social security card in the box, a wild breeze rushed in. So she put them in her pockets and hurriedly went to close the windows.

Just then, she heard a screeching beneath her windows.

"Hello'!" she called out but got no reply.

"Anyone there?" she asked again but got no reply. The screeching was getting louder and against her better judgment Ari stepped out to see what was going on outside. She hated seeing animals trapped so she thought why not rescue the animal. But as she crouched to inspect the source of the noise, she heard a sound, felt the pain and slid into unconsciousness.

Tracy peered in the darkness, nudging the henchman to check if Ari was still breathing. She wanted to ensure her friend was gone for good. Especially if the baby she was carrying could be Dan's. Ari had disappeared that night and so had Daniel and his friend. Since Ari was so tight lipped, it had to be one of them and Tracy couldn't risk it.

Tracy hurriedly got Ari's box out of the house as the henchman loaded her into the car. This had to look as real as possible, in case Ari was found. She casted one last glance at Arianna, the girl who had everything she wanted and treated her like a sister. Many a night Ari had fed and sheltered her after one of her numerous exes threw her out of her drunk mom came with a new boyfriend. She was never judgemental, lived a private life and didn't ask too many questions. She was a good friend; but she had everything Tracy wanted. And Tracy couldn't let this pass her by. If Ari had found out what Tracy had done, she'd never forgive her and Daniel would ruin her life for good. Tracy sighed, it was too late for regrets and the deed had been done. She told the henchman to be to go on his way and dispose of her as far as possible from New York City.