The Cat-Fight!

I scratched the outside of my jeans fiercely. They weren't bothering me like they usually were. I am just very uncomfortable at the moment. Ari is the one driving us to school today, and she's unusually quiet. Ash is in the backseat, which is a first because I am used to him being upfront.

Anyway, his fingers were flying through his phone, and I could see him smiling. "Who are you texting?" I asked.

"An old friend," He sighed happily. I raised my brow at him in question. "What? I have a life too."

I couldn't help but notice that Ari's hand tightened around the wheel. What in the world happened to her after she dropped me off at home?

"Okay! Enough of the silent treatment, Ari! What's going on? You were fine when you dropped me at home after the game." I asked.

She didn't say anything for a long minute, making me look back at Ash. He only shrugged his shoulders in response. I shot him a glare, nodding in her direction before he let out a sigh.

"Ria! Please, tell us what's going on. We are your best friends." Ash said. I notice a tear fall from her eyes, then another before she brought the car to park.

"My dad is getting a divorce." I froze at that statement. Most importantly, my heart broke for my best friend, who has been my source of strength since the day I met her. "I overheard Mady talking to him last night, or it was more like she was pleading for him to stay. He left the house saying he's going to send the divorce letter soon. I mean I can't help but think that he never actually love my mom. He moves on like we are nothing to him."

She had her hands covering her face, her voice mumbled by her hands. But from the way her shoulders were shaking, I could tell that she was crying. I wrapped my arms around her as tightly as the car console would let me.

"I'm so sorry, Ari. I can't imagine what you are going through." I whispered as I ran my hand up and down her back. She sobbed quietly on my shoulder. Ash joined us as he placed a soft kiss on our forehead.

"I promise you, Ria. Whatever happens, we will always be here for you." Ash said. Ari pulled away, wiping the snot on her face with a tissue.

"I know! That's what I love about you guys." She passed us a sad smile before looking away. "I'm gonna go in now. I'll see you guys later."

I watched as she walked into the school, my heart shattering for her. "Do you think she'll be okay?"

Ash let out a sigh, "I hope so. She may not look like it, but she is stronger than she'll ever know."

I turned to Ash, my voice quivering a little. "Why did her dad do such a thing? Mady is the sweetest person I've ever met."

"I guess some things ain't bound to last forever. No matter how hard you try to make it work." I leaned my head against the car window before jumping out of the car with Ash.

Entering the hallway, I noticed the girls in the school in small groups looking at their phones, all giggling and squealing. I roll my eyes as I made my way to my locker to find another group of girls who were 'oohing. Were they watching fireworks or something?

"Excuse me," I said. "You're in front of my locker."

One of the girls, Naomi Black look up at me and smiled. "Hey, Do you follow Aiden Knight on Instagram?"

I shrugged, "Why?"

"Because his pictures are- you just see them." She shoved the phone in my face, and I took a look at the 20 photos Aiden posted just last night after the game. All of him shirtless. One, he was flexing his muscles, and it had as many likes as the 100k followers he had. But the most liked was a video of him winking into the camera. The likes and followers are still going up. Were girls that desperate these days?

I handed the phone back to her and opened my locker. "But no one knows who Aiden was talking about when he said he was about to kiss a girl called Hazel. Apparently, she rejected him. Who in their right mind rejects this hot specimen? If I were her, I would let him do anything he wants with my body."

'Yeah, that's why he would never choose someone like you.' I muttered under my breath, but like always, mother luck doesn't smile on me.

"So are you saying he would choose someone like you? I've seen the way you look at him. I know you feel something for him." I rolled my eyes as I closed my locker.

I was about to respond when another person did. "Why would Aiden want to be with someone like her?"

I could feel Ari tense from her locker that was only two down from mine. She may be having a bad day, but she's always there for me when I need her. My best friend slid over to me as we turned to find Ella smirking at me.

She was wearing a crop top and high waist skirt, or should I say what was supposed to be a high waist skirt. Hers is more like a mini one, her blonde hair curled in locks. She gave me a tight smile, walking towards me. Her minions were beside her, reminding me of the little stunt they pulled yesterday.

"I don't think the sexy Aiden Knight would want to be with someone like her anyway. Why would anyone want you?" Ella looked at me up and down and pursed her lips, shaking her head. My ears rang at the sound of her voice. I shifted on my feet in pure discomfort. I'll rather be anywhere but here.

"Yet he saved her from the little stunt you pulled yesterday and even tried to kiss her after that. Does that mean anything to you?" Ari snarled. "Just leave, you skunk bag. I'm already having a bad day. Trust me. You don't wanna piss me off."

Ella looked over at us before settling her eyes on me. "She's your mouthpiece now? Face me yourself, you moron."

"Okay." Ari snapped her phone shut and put it in her pocket. She had a mean look on her face, and that wasn't good news. By now, we've attracted a crowd. "Listen here, you Shitface. You don't get to call my best friend names because only I can do that. Got it? Good. This girl right here is the girl Aiden wanted to kiss last night, and she doesn't even throw herself at him like the thousands of times you've had to."

"What's that supposed to mean, you psycho?" Uh-oh, someone is about to get their head ripped off. Ari hates it when someone calls her or anyone she is close to a psycho. Some girls are too dumb. Can't Ella see that Ari is mad already? Why is she trying to wake an angry, sleeping lion? or in this case, the lioness.

Ari's head cracked, and she lunged herself at Ella, yelling profanities out loud for the whole school to hear. "It means you are fucking whore! I'll show you who the real psycho is."

I struggled to let the smile off my face as Ari punched the living hell out of the girl. I've known Ari for almost two years now, and I never knew she could throw punches like that. That's when Ash decided to show up and pull Ari off of Ella.

"Let. Go. Of. Me." Ari tried to wiggle out of Ash's grip until he threw her over his shoulder, which led to her kicking and slapping him.

Ash put her down, exasperated, on the floor and whispered soft words in her ear. Ari breathed heavily but eventually calmed down, smiling at me. I wrapped my arms around her in thanks. I nodded towards Ella, who is nursing her bloody nose. Damn! My best friend throws the best punch.

A loud scream broke out in the hallway. "This crazy girl broke my nose! She broke my beautiful nose."

"Oh God," Ash turned to the crowd. "Can someone get her to the nurse and get me an aspirin? She's giving me a headache."

Everyone in the hallway started laughing at that. She's so dramatic. Her minions tried to calm her down, but she pushed them before running away, still screaming like she saw a ghost.

"I got to say, I'm impressed," Ash said. He flicked Ari's forehead, making her yell out.

"Ow! The hell was that for?"

"That's for kicking me. Damn! Girl, you sure know how to use your fist and legs. Remind me never to piss you off." We all laughed at that before going to our first class of the day. It's a good thing the principal wasn't there this morning. It would've been a completely different story.