My Only Exception

Chapter Two

Shouldering open my bedroom door, Aria and I stepped into my still unpacked and messy bedroom. Clothes were thrown about, waiting to be folded or hung up. Aria's eyes danced around the room, taking everything in.

I saw the hesitant look that came over her entire face once she spotted my closet doors.

Trying to ignore the questions I knew were coming; I let my feet carry me toward my bed and sat waiting for what I knew my best friend was about to say.

But it never came.

"This place is fucking huge, man!" I grinned, mimicking her movements and looking around as well.

"Yeah, it's weird, but it feels so familiar if that makes sense." She nodded, agreeing with me. "Yeah, I completely get it, I have the same feeling."

"Mom and dad told me that we grew up in this house." I shrugged as she ran her hand across the picture of us on my fireplace TV stand. She grinned as she held it up, mouth parting like she was going to say something. She stopped, once she took sight of whatever she was looking at.

I watched silently as her eyes zeroed in on my closet. She crossed the room, in four large steps - her long legs guiding her to the shiny glass piece that shimmered in my closet. She pulled it out turning toward me, a small sinister grin twisting on her lips

I mimicked her borderline-psycho grin, an unspoken language causing the both of us to run toward the balcony together.

Sliding the door open and stepping outside, we took our seats across from one another, Aria glancing down at the piece and grinning. "I can't believe you still have this!"

I laughed as I shook my head, "I know, normally Ryan would've broke it by now. He always breaks my favorite bongs. I feel like he does it on purpose at this point." Her laugh was bubbly, dripping off her lips like honey.

Aria has been my best friend from the time I could remember. Auntie Belle, Jake, Tyler mom and dad all grew up together and were best friends, Aria and I even sharing our birthdays together; Unplanned of course.

Mom went into preterm labor, almost died and lo and behold she got me as a daughter. A daughter they decided to name after the car her mother gave birth to her in.

I watched intently as my best friend clutched the water bottle in her hand and poured it into the hole at the bottom of the piece. She wiped at the excess that dripped out of the side on to her jean cladded leg. Bringing the lighter up, she lit the marijuana and took a long pull.

The bong bubbled as she pulled, pulling off all together and exhaling. Passing me the bong, she coughed lightly before she spoke. "How are you?" I didn't provide an actual answer as I was already taking a pull myself.

I exhaled as I glanced up at her and decided with a shrug. She gave me a dry look as she took the piece from my extended hand.

"I'm not doing good, if that helps." It was my turn to give her a dry look. She grinned casually at me, as she brought her lips back into the wide opening. Her slightly shorter, curly haired mullet flipped unruly in the wind, as it rushed past the both of us.

I admired, Aria - looked up to her even. She was the most kind hearted soul I had ever met. Unlike me, her depression made her love people more than she could love herself. She blindly entrusted her soul into everybody, constantly justifying their actions.