QUEEN OF OUTCASTS

"Lila, Will you do me the honor of being my Wife and making me the happiest man alive" Asher asked as he knelt on one knee in front of the beautiful blushing woman in front of him.

"Yes, I will marry you" Lila replied in an excited squeal as Asher stood up picked her and spun her around.

Aria felt a pit forming in the pit of her stomach, She felt like her world was coming to an end. Her best friends were engaged to each other, she hadn't ever known they were in a relationship or that they were serious to even consider marrying each other. She had been so excited for this night. It was their welcome home party, She had looked forward to reconnecting with them tonight.

She quietly sneaked away while their families surrounded them congratulating them.

Aria returned to her little house where she stayed alone, Unlike her friends, she had no family, no one to share her sorrows or joys with. Aria was an orphan, her parents had died when she was just a baby. Her Aunt had been the one to raise her, sadly she had died two years ago when Aria was just seventeen, leaving the little house to her.

Aria made herself a light supper and ate as she reminisced about the events of the evening. she had grown up with Lila and Asher. Her late aunt had worked for Asher's family before her death, that was how she had met him, Lila lived in the next compound and hence the three of them played together and became best friends or at least that was what Aria had thought

Growing up, Aria hadn't cared much about the vast difference between her world and their worlds, she had been too naive to notice it. However as she grew up, she started to notice and pay attention.

Soon after her aunt's deed, Lila and Asher were sent to the elite finishing school all the elites sent their children to. Over the past years. Things had strained between them and the letters had gradually lessened. She had thought it was a result of their workload, but now it was clear to her that they had been very busy in their relationship.

Aria tried to swallow past the painful lump in her throat, she was happy for them of course, but why hadn't either of them told her about their relationship? Had they forgotten her so soon?

Especially Lila, Lila who was aware that she had a crush on Asher, she had confessed her crush during one of their girl talks during a sleepover when they were sixteen.

She blinked the tears away, "Don't cry....don't cry" she repeated the words inwardly.

She heard a knock on her door.

"Who's there?" she asked.

"It's Asher, open up, it's raining"

She stood up startled and with trembling hands, opened the door. Asher darted inside immediately, he was completely drenched.

"The rain is like a beast out there," Asher said as he stood in the Middle of her small house drenched like a wet puppy, with a goofy, charming smile on his face.

She gave him a towel so he could dry his body. And then she gave him one of her blankets to cover himself up.

Afterwards, she gave him a hot cup of tea and they sat down at the kitchen table while he drank the tea.

"Did you have to come while it was raining?" she asked him.

"Don't scold me, I wanted to see you. you left in the middle of the party, I looked for you everywhere and then the servants said you left early" He told her.

"I wasn't feeling too well, I didn't think you guys would miss me that much, seeing how engulfed you were with each other" she replied.

He smiled sheepishly at her and fiddled with the cup in front of her.

"You are angry aren't you?" he asked.

"Shouldn't I? I thought we were friends but I thought wrong"

Asher reached out to hold her hands, "That isn't true at all, we are friends" he replied.

"Really? And neither of you told me about your relationship?" she questioned him.

"Aria, it's not like that, the whole relationship thing happened fast and we were still figuring out our feelings, we didn't mean to keep anything away from you," he told her in a pleading voice.

"I assume you already figured it out since you proposed to her," Aria told him, trying to keep the resentment out of her tone.

"Aria....I am sorry we kept it away from you"

"It's okay, I am happy for you guys," Aria told him.

He rubbed her hands together and smiled. "Thanks, Aria, you are my best friend," he told her.

Aria smiled and tried not to let the pain show. She was happy for her friends, they were in love and she was happy for them. She wasn't feeling jealous at all.

"So will you come to the engagement party? It's next weekend" he asked her.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world." She replied.

"Thanks, Aria"

"You are welcome Asher," she said with a smile.

THE ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY

Aria looked around, she felt out of place, it was an event for the elite. She just wanted to see Asher and Lila, congratulate them and leave. She hadn't seen Lila since the night of the welcome home party, maybe she was busy with preparations, she tried to tell herself.

One of the servants came up to her. "Miss Lila wants to see you," she told her.

Aria felt happy about this. Lila wanted to see her and talk to her, that was a good sign.

"Okay, take me to her," she told the maid.

"This way" thru maid said as she walked off and Aria followed her.

Lila was in the room touching up on her makeup when Aria entered the room.

"Hey Lila," she said with a friendly smile on her face.

When Lila turned around to look at her, the look on her face wasn't friendly at all.