Feather After // Chapter 56 // Happy Times

Aria's POV

As I climbed out of my car, I couldn't help but notice that it was relatively chill in Seattle. The warm feeling was gone and one had to actually wear a coat over their shirts at least in the morning. I got off and shoved my hands in my jacket pocket after grabbing my bag and hanging it on my shoulder. I smiled at Manchurian who smiled back.

When I got home yesterday I kind of got into a fight with my mom. She didn't want me to be late on a school night and at the same time, she didn't want me out because my wedding was soon approaching. There were only a few days left before I would be married to a guy who, I didn't know anything about.

"Where were you?" She asked me as soon as I stepped inside. With her narrowed eyes and her arms resting on her chest, she tapped her heels in the ground.

"I was; I was at Rachael's," I told her.

"And her mother lets you stay this late! It's eight o'clock for god's sake," she said and went into the dining room through the hall. Nothing had changed in the house at all. It was the way it had been, very fashionable but lacked the feel of a home. There was nothing cozy there, nothing.

"Yes, and she doesn't leave her child into the hands of someone else," I barked back. I knew she was my mother but I was so surprised she had said that "and yeah also, she doesn't arrange her seventeen-year-old marriage to a guy she hadn't met before just so that her hotels and business can have a profit!"

"How dare you?" She turned around and walked towards at me, "how dare you talk to your mother like that? Don't you have any regards for anyone?"

"Oh no, let me ask you the same thing," I said and walked towards her, "do you have any regards for me? Do you know what you're putting me through, you had the right to do whatever you want, you can do whatever you feel like and I don't? Just because I stayed a little late doesn't mean you have the-"

"You're such a little brat! We gave you everything we could; we made sure you had the best of everything that was possible. Not so that you could come and scream at me like this! What has happened to you?"

I wanted to burst out crying, "Every parent does that mom, and every parent does! Guess what I never wanted this. I never wanted the fame and the money. I just wanted you and father to be here, that's all. And if asking for love and attention from parents is selfish then yes, I'm more than selfish. And I'll tell you what? I'll choose to live on the streets with parents who love me than live in a big mansion where my parents see me as nothing but business bait," I was crying and as tears streamed down my face I couldn't believe that she had said this.

"I know what you're up to. And the guy you are mad after, the guy who you think will give you a good world, will be the same guys who'll rip your world apart abs you'll not be able to do anything about it! This what these cheap class people do, they don't care about anything, nothing, as long as you have a good amount of zero in your bank, nobody will care!"

"He is not like that! He is a good guy, he has made choices so what? Everyone does that! It's not such a big deal!"

I always saw my mom as an epitome of grace but I never really knew she would say things like that to me. I guess sometimes the situation gets the best of you or sometimes it's the way it is. I turned around and went to my room, leaving my angry mother and a surprised Nanna behind. I had never stood up for myself always thinking that I would insult my parents but I stood up for Ignatius because he wasn't there to defend himself.

I moved towards school and turned around towards the school entrance. Before I could enter the school I was pulled behind the statue of Mr. Maple. I closed my eyes because I thought I would collide with someone. Soon I was pushed and my back collided with the statue of Mr. Maple and I felt someone grab my hand. By the form touch, I knew who the person was.

Ignatius, the lone fucker.

"Hi," he said and bent down to kiss my cheek. I kept my eyes closed. God, I didn't want to give away the emotions I was feeling, I was irrevocably in love with the guy who couldn't be mine. I felt his lips against my cheek and my skin tingled. How did a single kiss feel so intimate, I don't understand.

"Hi," I managed to say after clearing my throat and for revising how to say it a hundred times in my head. His hands moved to my sides and he pulled my hands in his.

"Are you ready for today? Because it's going to be a long ass day," he said and pulled me towards him. I could really get used to it, really.

"We have school to attend; I'll meet you after school?" I asked him and let him shove both his and my hand in his front pocket.

"Who said anything about attending school?" He stopped me from pulling my hands out of his pockets. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What do you mean? I have never skipped school before!" I told him and wiggled my hands out of his pockets. I was no way going to skip school to go out with him.

"The how am I supposed to take you out? Nobody will notice," he assured me, "I have done it like a million of times."

"The simple point is-"

I was cut off my Ignatius, "the simple point is, I know your parents are protective and your mom is no less than an agent okay? She'll get to the root of this. She knows at least I think so she does, so if you want to get caught let's don't skip," he looked in my eyes.

I guess, I could skip school for one day, right?

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"Today's going to be so much fun," he said and pulled us towards the parking lot, "Today is motorcycle ride day, so we'll spend the day with my baby, by the way, did you know she is a classic as well?"

"You're awfully chatty today, what's up?" I asked him as I sat behind him on his motorbike and put in the helmet.

He leaned back and smirked, well I had the rare view mirror to see his reactions in my defense, "is that a problem?"

"Yes, it is. No, it's really nice seeing you like that. This chatty side of you is better than I'm a bad boy and stay away from my attitude," I honestly told him.

He raised his eyes brows at me, "well hold tight, you don't want to fall off."

I don't know where we were going, but I could really get used to the feeling of the wind on my face. When you lift the mirror a little way from your face that's I guess is supposed to protect your face from dust. While traveling, Ignatius would change lane and the fear of falling down would make me hold him more tightly. I soon saw the sign, woodland zoo park. We're going to a zoo? That was so very cool.

"When I was a little boy, this was the only place I wanted to be at," he said as he parked his bike.

"I have never been to a zoo before, so I don't know, but I'm very excited," I told him as I got off his bike.

"Well, I have been here more than a hundred times and sometimes mum jokes that even the animals have started to recognize us, well don't worry I came here for the first time only after Veronica was adopted. Used to hate this place before that," he removed his helmet and smiled at me.

I wanted to ask him more, I wanted to know more. But I knew I couldn't do it. He was in a good mood and just because I was his company and he was mine didn't mean that I had to know every single detail about him. Don't get attached to him Aria, the lesser you know the better.

"Hey!" I heard him snap his fingers in front of my face and he continued, we'll have to measure your height, you get to pay half for a child's ticket! Let's see if you're below the height of three ft," he smiled at me. He was mocking my height. I knew I was a short girl but it was so funny.

I smiled back at him, "why are you so small?" He asked me while walked towards the entrance of the zoo.

"Let's just be happy that it's at least longer than your dick."

He put his hands over his chest and made a hurt face, "ouch?"

I smiled at him sweetly. When I looked at him, I realized that he was way taller than me not that I had realized that right now. He was probably six one or six two. If he was Burj Khalifa, I was Taj Mahal.

"What are you so sassy today?" He asked me while he turned to buy two tickets. We were handed two wrist bands which were neon yellow in color.

"I guess you're not the only one who is in good mood," he rolled his eyes at me and we entered the zoo after obviously going through the security check.

As I picked up the broacher he patted on my hand and said, "drop that, I'll be your guide today," he took my hand in his and we walked through the zoo and we looked at each and every cage.

"Aren't you even a little bit out of your breath?" I asked him and I guess we were just halfway through the zoo.

Ignatius rolled his eyes at me like the hundredth time and then said, "You have zero stamina, now come on," he bent forward and put his hands on my knees.

He went to a nearby long garden chair and he stood in front of it. "Climb on the chair and then first put your hands around my neck and your legs around my waist."

"You're a very sweet guy," I told him and before I knew what was happening, I kissed the back of his left ear.

He laughed because I guess it tickled and then said, "I could get used to it," and tightened his grip on my hands.

We're soon out of the zoo and I don't even remember how many hours we spent on looking at animals. They were all so beautiful. I guess I was more excited than the kids there. The zoo was relatively empty considering that it was a school day but it all together made the experience even more fun.

What I was more surprised about was that he knew all the ways of the zoo. As we exited the zoo Ignatius looked at me and said," I can take you many times you want, I promise."

"Come on we have another thing to do," he said. Little did I know that he was talking about the Great Ferris Wheel at Pier 57 in ElliottBay; I had heard about it before.

I can't do this," I told him and he bought the tickets and we stood in the lines.

"Why not?" He asked me but he sounded very excited about it, "I'll promise, it's going to be great."

I nodded I didn't want to make a big mess out of it. I knew he was having a good time and I didn't want to ruin it for him. In no time, Ignatius and I were sitting in our cart and we were all the way up. Oh my god, I held on to Ignatius's hands like my life depended on it.

"Open your eyes," Ignatius whispered in my ears and opened them. I was on top of the Ferris wheel and I could see almost see the full Seattle. It was like sitting in an airplane only an airplane with less security system and an overboard.

"It's so beautiful," I told him, partly happy and partly in aw with the view.

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