Chapter 11

I hadn't heard anything from Aries for almost 3 months, and I was too chicken shit to ask George about him, and too prideful to text him first. The only thing I did was reread his texts, which came in handy during the night when I got nightmare's. Thinking of him before going to sleep seemed to keep the nightmare's at bay, but I was slowly classifying myself as creepy for doing so.

It was getting close to summer now, a month or so away, and the thought had me so giddy. My summers usually consistent of cleaning house, washing cloths, making food, while everyone else went on vacation of had fun. Few time we went on vacation as a whole family, but I would end up sitting in the room doing "school work" my mother would make up for me, or so sun burnt I wouldn't be able to leave the room till our vacation was actually finished.

This year however, was different I was sending the whole summer with my grandmother. She was the only women who cared for me enough to ask me what I wanted. I guess you could say she was my safe zone, the one person that made me so happy I never wanted to leave.

I began packing my thing when George walked by, stopping Infront of my door before he continued walking. Peeking his head in he cleared his throat trying to get my attention.

"Yea?" I called over my shoulder, still packing a months worth of cloths.

"Hey, so since your going to your grandma's, you won't be home this summer?" The question seemed wierd almost like he knew what I was doing but just wanted to verify.

"Yes...." I dragged, stuffing pants into a duffle back.

"And no where else?"

I turned to look at him, confused as to why he was asking so many questions. George stood in my doorway with only a pair of shorts on and I averted my eyes. "I'm going to the beach with Grace on the weekend but that's it."

"Does your grandma know?" He frowned when talking, almost looking annoyed.

"Of course she does, she didn't mind it's only one day."

I felt my eyebrows pinch together confused by all his questions.

"Just making sure. Sheesh." He huffed before walking away, pulling his phone out of his pocket and typed away on it.

Weird, paying him no further mind I proceeded to finish packing and once I was done I was off to bed, last few weeks of school need to hurry.

---

Busting through my last class I stretch just outside the door ecstatic with school ending and summer break was finally here. Grace pushed me lightly from behind as I giggled with excitement, practically bouncing around her like a new born puppy.

"So in 3 days the beach? Will you come get me or will I meet you there?"

Grace just rolled her eyes as she opened her locker pulling all her books, and left over trash out. I on the other hand had cleaned my locker out yesterday and didn't even bring a bag today. Which to Grace's dismay and horrified face I danced around the hallways making fun of her lack of responsibility, and readiness.

"I'll pick you up, and -" she was cut off then I felt someone's dainty but strong hands cover my face. The smell of strawberries and something else wafted around me.

"Guess?" They whispered in my ear, but her voice was noticable no matter how low or high she tried to pitch it.

"Ellie?" My eyes were uncovered and I heard her huff with a pout.

"Couldn't even have played a long?" Her blonde hair was pulled half up half down, her face had little to no make up and she still looked like she stepped off a magazine. Ugh, jealous yes...

"Sorry, your voice is just too noticable." I shrugged, before wrapping my arms around myself. It was something I had noticed I started to do, if I was uncomfortable, nervous, or just uneasy.

She stuck her tongue out at me before turning to Grace. " What this about the beach?" Grace face turned a light tint of pink before her eyes darted to me then back to Ellie before she turned to her locker. I knew she was having a fast debate in her head whether or not she should tell Ellie about our plans. I felt the uneasiness roll off her in waves as the seconds ticked by, so I spoke up. Ellie recently had become a close friend of ours, I was still weary of her, and the things she would say to Aries, but over all she had been...well...nice, so I didn't see the harm in not inviting her.

"Grace and I were thinking of heading to the beach on Friday, just to hang out all day there then come home, did you want to go?"

Ellie's face light it while Grace's body sagged in relief as I spoke, turning her head she mouthed a soft 'thank you' before finishing her packing.

"That sounds like a lot of fun, of course I would like to come. Do you both have a ride?"

Honestly my invitation was an empty one I didn't honestly think she would accept, "Grace is picking me up, and we were just gonna stay their the whole day."

Ellie thought for a minute and I thought just for the slightest second, I thought I saw her eyes shift a different color. She looked back up at me and smiled like nothing happened, "Then I will meet you girls there, what beach were you heading too?"

"Seal beach." Grace said with a handful of her belongings and her backpack over flowing now, I took what was in her arms and shook my head.

Ellie just giggled and waved as she started to walk backwards out the front double doors."I'll see you girls then."

Turning my head to Grace she sighed with relief before looking over to me. "I didn't know if you wanted to invite her, after the whole Aries thing."

"What about Aries? I haven't heard from him in months, good riddance too, he was getting clingy."

Graced looked me up and down as we walked out the front doors and towards her car. I knew she was scanning me head to toe, and I knew she saw right through my facade. Aries not texting me, did have me bothered, so much so I was starting to loose sleep over it.

"You know, you could always message him first." She nudged her shoulder into mine just reaching her car and placing her books inside.

"And say what? Why haven't you called me or text me? You get upset when I don't call or text and yet you don't expect me to get mad? By the off chance he does start talking to me again what do I tell him? How do I say, hey just so you know I'm damaged goods now."

Grace turned to me but froze on the spot as I kept ranting on, my feeling exploding now with anger, frustration, and hurt. But it was too late, my bigmouth had just finished and my chest heaved from lack of breath while I had spoken.

"Who said you were damaged goods?"