18-The Plan
It had been hours since Raven and Kenzy had gone to pick up Aria but Xepher was still nervous. None of the guys had heard from the girls and now they stood, awkwardly in the makeshift dance hall, wearing borrowed or rented suits as they waited. It wasn't a half bad winter dance if Xepher was being honest. The decorations were a mix of white, pale blue, and dark blue accents. A DJ stood at the front playing some 'school-appropriate' music and students joked, dance, and talked throughout the gymnasium.
"I feel awkward." Marco grumbled and Jax chuckled. Marco had put on a dark blue suit white a pale pink tie. His date was Kenzy and according to her, they had to match, though she wouldn't show the guys her dress. Actually, none of the girls had revealed their outfits. Something about it being a surprise. Jax wore what Raven told him to, a simple black suit with a dark red tie. Raven had told Xepher to find a dark green suit, and though it had been difficult, he had done just that, a simple black tie around his neck. He hadn't argued and Xepher knew that both of his best friends and himself were more than excited to see the women they liked in their dresses. None of them had ever attended a school function like this, so it was new to all of them and there was a sense of giddiness in the air.
"We all do Marco, let's just hope they accomplished the goal." Jax answered as he drank some punch from his small glass.
The sound of the gymnasium door opening caught their attention, and the three men turned. What Xepher saw would be in his mind for the rest of his life. The three girls they'd all been waiting for entered the room, and it seemed as though the whole crowd noticed. Kenzy's pixie cut brown hair shone, wearing a royal blue floor length dress. It had a halter top strap and shaped her well. Her eyeshadow matched the blue dress, and her pale pink shoes matched the tie she'd given Marco. Raven wore a pure black mini dress that ruffled at the skirt, blood red boot heels around her ankles, her eyeshadow smokey with a touch of red, her lips matching. Her long hair was in a ponytail, swinging behind her.
As lovely as they looked, Xepher wasn't nearly as aware of them as he was of his Aria. She wore a deep green mermaid-floor-length dress. It had two straps that wrapped around her delicate shoulders and hugged her small hourglass frame devilishly. She seemed taller, and that seemed to be due to the black heels she wore, barely visible from the mermaid-like tail of the dress. Her eyeshadow, like the two other girls, matched the color they wore, and brightened her eyes exponentially. Her hair was down, flowing around her in larger curls, shining in the lights and the necklace around her petite neck sparkled.
"Sweet Jesus." Jax muttered to himself as they approached, Marco grunting his response. Xepher couldn't say anything and when he moved, it was like he had no control over himself. He walked up to the girls, Aria's face lighting up as she looked at Xepher. Her smile made his heart pound and demolished any second thoughts to his next actions.
"Hi Xe-" But she didn't finish as Xepher grabbed her cheeks gently in his hands and laid his lips on hers.
Aria was shocked by Xepher's actions, and if the gasps around them were anything to go by, everyone that saw was just as surprised. However, Aria didn't think about everyone else in that moment because his lips were on hers, and she'd been craving this since the first time their lips touched. Her palms rested on his chest as she leaned into the kiss. She had hoped tonight would give them the chance for this moment, she just hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
One of Xepher's hands reaching the nape of her neck and gripped her hair gently, causing a shiver to run down her spine as his tongue touched her lips. She gasped, surprised and he took that chance to make their tongues meet. They melted together until Aria could barely breathe. Just as she needed to come up for air, Xepher pulled back, his forehead resting on hers. Aria smiled as both their chests rose and fell as they tried to regain their breath.
"I was not expecting that." She giggled softly and it was like music to Xepher's ears. He smiled back at her.
"I couldn't help myself. You're too beautiful for your own good." He responded as the sound of whistling caught their attention. They both looked over to their friends to find them catcalling and whistling at them. Raven and Kenzy smiled cheekily, Raven winking at Aria. She felt her face heating up as she realized they'd just kissed so deeply in front of others. The sound of Xepher's laughed reached Aria's ears and she couldn't help the smile that reached her face.
Everything would be okay.
As the night passed in a peaceful bliss Aria couldn't help but feel anxious. The clock was ticking, and she nearly felt like Cinderella at the ball. Tonight, would go one of two ways. She was going to survive, or she wasn't. Simple as that.
The time she spent with everyone, from the moment Raven and Kenzy had picked her up, to right this second, as she danced slowly with Xepher, her head on his chest, arms around his neck, had been memories she would cherish. Always.
"Aria?" She brought her head up to look at Xepher after he called out her name so gently.
"Yes?" She asked as they turned slowly, their bodies flowing to the music.
"I know we've kissed a few times now, but I still have to ask it. Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked, his eyes piercing hers, cheeks tinting red. Aria felt her smile widen as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. With her lips near his ear she spoke.
"Nothing would make me happier, than to be yours." She said. He leaned back, a smile on his own face, making his handsome face brighten.
"Yeah?" He asked. She nodded and he leaned down, wrapped his arms around her waist, and picked her up, twirling them. She giggled, her heart fluttering at the gesture. That is, until she heard the alarm on her phone beep from the purse that lay on her side. He set her down and she pulled out the phone. It was 11:35. Daniel had said to be home by midnight. Aria felt her heart sink.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he pulled them off the dance floor, onto the sidelines. She held up her phone to him and his eyes darkened. He knew what this meant. He called the group off the dancefloor and they came.
"Is it that time already?" Raven asked. Aria nodded.
"Time flies when you're having fun." Kenzy said.
"Alright, let's roll." Raven said, pulling out the keys of her mom's borrowed SUV. The six of them walked out of the gymnasium and to the parking lot. As they neared their respective vehicles, Aria began to slow, confusing Xepher as he paused beside her a few feet away from the crowd. She grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips, her warm breath spreading over his cold fingertips. She looked him in the eyes then, and his breath froze at the strength held within them.
"Xepher, there's a reason he said for me to be back by midnight." She said, looking away from him. He was confused more now.
"What do you mean?" He asked. She let out a sigh, a puff of white floating in the cold night air.
"At midnight, I turn eighteen." Xepher's body tensed so tightly he thought he might snap as those words left her lips. He prayed that it didn't mean what he thought that meant.
"He's been waiting for this moment since it all started seven years ago. He thinks we're soulmates. He really is sick, and he thinks that he's been noble by not going that far at this point. But when midnight hits, he will do it." She looked back at him then, her eyes misty with that teary sheen.
"Do what, Aria?" He needed to hear it.
"He'll try to take away the innocence I have left." She said, her lower lip trembling slightly. He gripped her shoulders then, panic setting in.
"Then you can't go Aria, do you hear me? You absolutely can't!" Aria shook her head, a sad smile on her lips.
"I need to." She said, making Xepher let out a frustrated noise deep from his throat.
"What do you mean? Call your mother, tell her everything, you can't do this!"
"My mother loves me, and there is a chance she would listen to me, but it can't be from just me. After my father died and Daniel came into our lives, she fell so hard for him and his show that she never noticed the small changes. She may not have wanted to. I can't hate her for it, but it will take more than me. That's why I have a plan." She said looking into his eyes again.
"What is it?" He asked, praying there was something he could do.
"When I call, answer. Put me on speaker, and make sure your dad is in the room."
"My dad?" He asked, then his brain registered. If they said anything alone, the police would treat them like dumb kids, but if an adult heard it, then they'd be more inclined to listen. But then...
"Aria, you'll still be alone with him." She shrugged.
"This is the best I can do. I just hope you'll still want me after this is said and done. I'll see you soon, Xepher." She said as she stood on her tiptoes and planted one last kiss on his cheek, before she left him standing there, leaving his heart pounding as he realized she was waltzing into the wolf's den, knowing full well she wouldn't be able to get out. Raven's car pulled away as he tightened his hand into a fist.
"Damnit!" He cursed as he hopped into the warm cab of Jax's truck.
"I need to get home faster than you've ever gotten me there before." He said. Jax nodded as he slammed on the gas, careful as he drove through the slushed snow.
"I don't like this plan." Marco muttered as they made a turn a tad too fast, the back tires swinging a bit before Jax could get them under control.
"You think I do?" Jax responded bitterly.
"Wait, you guys knew what the plan was? How long?" Xepher asked, furious that his friends hadn't told him of such a dangerous idea about his girl.
"All day, the girls came up with it. Well, Aria did. The girls didn't like the idea, but what can we do? She's ready to throw everything she has away to protect the people she loves. Xepher you'd better take damn good care of that girl." Jax looked back for a second, glaring at Xepher. He nodded, knowing he would do everything in his power to do just that. He just prayed he could stop it in time.