Chapter 7 Persuading Aria

Aria's POV

If humiliation is an actual object, I'd be it right now.

Jason didn't mention that his teammates were coming over. So I can imagine how confused I look once I push open the door and standing in front are his hockey teammates.

The jocks. The popular guys from our school. The ones who sometimes called me a nerd for being the principal's daughter.

And they are all staring at me. Please, earth... open up and swallow me, I pray.

I recognise some of them. Like Jason's friend from the party and Aiden. They give me polite little nods as they step past me into the house without a word. I could kiss them for being nice and respectful. Love that for me. But for the others?

Of course not.

"Wait, wait, wait." One of them grins so wide it hurts to look at him. "Is that... the principal's daughter? In Jason's house? Bro."

I'm still trying to recover from the rude remark when another one whistles lowly. "Jason, my man. Bagged yourself a whole principal's daughter, huh?"

He didn't bag anything, I want to scream.

But the hollers and the laughter from the other guys make me shut my mouth. They are all trooping in one after the other and each one of them has something to say. It's either them hailing their stupid captain or laughing.

The last person is someone I know. Nate. I've tutored him once before when he was failing algebra and the least I expect from him is to be nice. Like Aiden and the other guy.

"Yo, is this the walk of shame?" He says. "Looks like it to me. She's running out with her face red as hell. Hold up, hold up," He continues and the laughter dies down. "Jason has never... I repeat, never... given any girl his jersey."

"I... just..." I stutter, then shut my mouth because what am I even supposed to say? Hi, yes, it's totally not what it looks like? Yeah, sure. Like that will fix the rotten brains of these guys.

So I do the only thing I'm good at. I hold back my tears and run out the open door, making straight for my car.

I yank the car door open and the second I slam the door shut, I can't hold back the tears any longer. I zoom off, barely seeing the road through the blur in my vision.

The sob that breaks out of me is so ugly, I have to press a hand over my mouth so no one can see me if they pass me by.

Screw Jason.

Screw his stupid, idiot friends.

And screw my father for being a principal and for even signing me up for this. I am never going back to Jason's home again. His parents can find someone else to tutor their son.

I'm already halfway down the street when my phone buzzes. I wipe my face with the back of my hand and check who it is.

Lily.

I sigh and answer. "Hey."

"Well?" She asks immediately, no hello, no nothing. "How was your first tutoring session with Hockey Boy?"

I roll my eyes even though she can't see me. "Don't even start."

"Oh my God." Her voice perks up. "You sound weird. Did something happen? Please tell me you at least got a..."

I stay quiet as Lily trails off.

"Aria..." she drags out my name suspiciously. "What did he do? Whose ass am I kicking? Because you know I will."

I let out a weak laugh. "Nobody's. He was just being a jerk. That's all."

There's a pause on her end. "Ugh, I knew it. My poor baby. You sound miserable."

"I'm fine," I mutter, even though I don't sound like it.

"No, you're not," she says gently. "But that's okay, because I know exactly what'll cheer you up. I'm coming over. Five minutes. Just get ready."

"Lily, you don't have to..."

"Too late. I want to, and you need me. End of story." I can hear her moving around, probably already grabbing her coat.

I smile a little despite my moody self. "You're ridiculous."

"Yeah, but you love me that way. Don't you?"

"...Yeah."

"Good. Now stop sulking till I get there. I'll bring snacks. We'll talk. You can rant as much as you want, okay?"

I exhale, feeling a little lighter already. "Okay."

"See you in five."

The line goes off and I pull up in front of my home.

The first thing I do when I enter my room is take off Jason's jersey and hurl it across the room. I also take off the panties and the soaked-up pad.

Everything that Jason gave me burns my skin. I can't even look at the stupid number 17 jersey without recalling all of the insults hurled against me by the hockey team.

And it's his fault. It's his stupid fault.

I'm curled up on my bed, when I hear the knock at the front door. Seconds later, Lily barges straight into my room.

She drops a plastic bag of snacks on my desk and raises a brow at me. "Wow. You look... great."

"That bad huh?" I mutter.

She plops down next to me, nudging me with her shoulder. "Alright, talk to me. How bad was it?"

I shake my head. "I don't even want to talk about it."

"Figures." She rolls her eyes. "So, solution time. We're going to the diner."

"What? No." I sit up a little straighter. "Absolutely not."

"Yes."

"No, Lily."

"Aria Bennett, don't test me. You're coming. You can't sit here sulking in your room all night. The longer you stay in bed, the more you're gonna replay everything in your head. And then you'll call me at two a.m. crying about it. So let's just skip to the part where I drag you out and you thank me later."

"Lily, I look like crap, I feel like crap, and I don't want to be seen in public right now."

Her eyes narrow. "Okay, first of all? You never look like crap. Second of all, you need fries... and milkshakes... and me."

Typical Lily. But I am still not going. I shake my head stubbornly. "Nope. Not happening. End of discussion."

Lily leans back, crossing her arms. "Alright. So you can say no... but remember that time I didn't want to go to your cousin's baby shower because it was literally a two-hour drive, and who still went with you? Me.

I'm speechless. "Lily, you know that's different."

"Different my butt. Or what about the time I covered for you when you skipped gym and hid in the library?"