"Was there the word love anywhere? No."
"As a woman its our job to read between the lines and yes there was. Why don't you ask him?"
Aria's eyes widened. "Ask him what?"
"The obvious question here: Does he love you?"
Aria immediately shook his head. "I'm not asking him that,and you better not either."
"Can't make any promises."
Aria looked at Zachary as he talked in his phone. He was pacing and even though he was in a hoodie he still looked gorgeous and it made her sigh,why is it in a females nature to be attracted to the bad boys? Penelope held Aria's hand to get her attention, "How are you? I heard some things and it honestly just heard like rumors to me."
"If they were about me being depressed then they're facts."
"Do you know what happened to make you get this way?"
Aria shrugged. "Zachary being gone just to find out that he died."
"Yeah he told me about that..he wasn't in his best state at that time."
Aria frowned. "What do you mean?"
But before Penelope could answer Zach came back. "Alright let's go." He took one of Arias hand.
"Where are we going?"
"I don't know yet but I didn't come here just for you two's reunion."
"Zachary's finally doing something other than giving threats and killing people,today is just full of surprises." Penelope said with playful look.
"Ha ha very funny Penelope."
Zachary picked up the bags and each held one as they strolled the halls. Full of smiles,jokes,and admiring looks. They window shopped before they stopped in a café because Penelope wanted a coffee. Aria sat down at a small round table and waited for the two to finish their order but instead of buying something Zachary sat down across from her.
"Why aren't you ordering?"
"We've been through this,I'm not hungry."
"Do you really think in buying that? You never went three hours without eating something but three years and your still not hungry? I can't stand to see you starving yourself."
Aria looked down at her hands when she caught a glimpse of Zachary's. Her eyebrows pulled down as she reached for them and looked at his knuckles and wrists,there were scrapes and cuts.
"What happened to your hand?"
Penelope came to sit down and when she saw what Aria was looking at she immediately stayed out if the conversation.
"It was just a minor relapse but you can't expect me to calm down after what you told me."
"About? Both of your hands are bruised and looked like you got into a fight."
"When you told me about what Naomi did,I lost it as soon as I went home. I probably would of broke every window there if it wasn't for Brandon. But seriously,hearing what you told me about what you went through. I had to take out my anger somehow."
"Soo,what did you break?"
Penelope intervened. "You don't want to know."
Aria ran a hand through her hair and made her add something to her list. "I have to get a haircut too."
"Okay,that's where we'll go right now. Come on."
They went to the beauty salon and Penelope assistance immediately kicked in. She took Aria by the hand and walked to salonist who was sweeping underneath the chair, "Excuse me your not busy right now right?"
She put the broom and dust pan to the side and spoke with her French accent. "Not anymore."
"Good. My friend needs an extreme cut."
Penelope took hid hand and brought her behind Aria and she moved her hair around. "Am I cutting it till its above the ear?"
"Oh god,no. Till its at the middle of her back,gotta restore her beauty."
Aria sat down in the chair and when she put the apron around her she immediately got to work. Penelope sat in front of Aria while Zachary sat near the entrance looking through one of the magazines provided. Long portions of brown hair fell on the floor and on Aria's lap while Penelope was looking at a panel that showed the various things the salonist could do.
When she was done Penelope smiled at the new length. "Can your curl it? Medium,please."
"Don't I get a say in this?" Zachary suddenly asked.
"Why would you?"
"Because as the boyfriend in this relationship who is going to be looking at her most of the time I think I at least get an opinion on how her hair should be."
Penelope wiggled her eyebrows at Aria. "You didn't tell me you were in a relationship Ari."
"That's because technically she didn't know yet."
"And when we're you gonna tell me?" Aria asked as she looked through the mirror at him.
"Actually,you were gonna tell me." He said as he stood up with a smirk pulling at his lips.
"I don't even want to know what that means." She replied.
"Me either." Penelope said.
"I wouldn't have told you so that's probably best."
Aria's phone started ringing from one of the bags and and the caller id said Naomi.
"Can I have the phone?" Aria asked.
"Why don't I answer it?" Zachary said as he looked up from the screen.
"Because she thinks your dead and you would literally fight her through the phone." Penelope took it from him and handed it to Aria. She answered it and put it to her ear.
"Yes Naomi."
"Where are you?"
"I'm still in the building if that's what your asking."
"I'm at the car so I know that. How long are you gonna be?"
"You want to leave now?"
Zachary brows frowned as he saw Aria's face changed through many emotions.
"Yes. I still haven't practiced today and a friend of mine is coming over. What are you doing that you don't want to leave yet?"
Aria sighed through the phone. "Nothing. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Aria hung up the phone and covered her face with her hands.
"Sister drama?" The salonist asked.
Aria looked through the mirror up at her. "Yeah and the most common topic:boys."
"Does it have to do with the one in this store?"
She smiled as she looked at Zachary and saw him already looking at her. "Yup."
"Well if it helps,I'm done."
She removed the apron and Aria stood up looking at her full reflection. Her her was very curly and came up to the curve of her back,she ran her hand through it from the back before Penelope squealed. "You look just like you did the last time I saw you."
She turned around and rose her eyebrows at Zach. "What do you think?"
He stared at her before he smiled. "Gorgeous."
They left the store and walked towards the exit. When they were as far as they could go with out being seen hugs were given, "This isn't goodbye." Penelope said.
"Take care of Zachary for me. Make sure he doesn't kill anyone ."
"Ari, do you know who your dating? I cant prevent that."
Aria took a few steps towards Zachary. "At least try."
She stood on on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. He wrapped both his arms around her and slightly laughed in her hair. "We're hugging just to talk to each other later."
Aria smiled in his neck then Penelope started talking, "Speaking of later I need your number so I'm gonna text you later."
Aria smiled at the both of them and was about to walk out the door before Zachary grabbed her hand,spun her around and kissed her. She immediately dropped the bags and tightly rewrapped her arms around his neck and their tongues explored each others mouth for the first in three years. In the background Penelope aww'ed.
And you heard a flash go off. The kiss was full of nothing but pure emotion and Aria felt that and something else in the pit of her stomach. When they pulled away for the second time and Penelope handed her the bags she smirked. "And you and I are definitely texting later."
Aria back out of the mall and spun on her heel as she walked to the car.
"You cut your hair?" Naomi asked when Aria relaxed in her seat.
"Full of surprises."
***************
Till the next episode!?
ENJOY!?
2 out of 4.