"The most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what's in between, and they took great pleasure in doing just that." ~Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth.

Not edited

Chapter 9

Aria

Do you know the feeling when everyone's prepared for something, but you are still snoring lying on your bed? Yes? That's what I'm feeling right now, except for snoring. Snuggling in the warmth of my comforter, I sigh deeply in satisfaction. Ah, the comfort I get. Before I go to sleep again, my comforter is pulled off me and I'm exposed to the cool weather. I blindly search for the covers with my hands but it's gone.

Someone shakes me vigorously, earning a punch from me. Both of us groan, the other person in pain, while I groan out of frustration. He, the person sounded like a male, grumbled a few colorful words under his breath and tried to wake me up again, "I swear we'll leave her and go if she doesn't wake up."

Wait, what is he talking about?

"Besides, I don't think she's packed yet."

That made me shoot out of bed hitting the person in the process. He groaned again and I looked up to see Lee clutching his nose like his life depended on it and glaring murderously at me. I grinned sheepishly at him and looked at the digital clock on the wall.

Shit, we're leaving in two hours.

"Get ready soon." Lee muttered and left the room. I swear, these guys act like little girls whose dolls got ruined. Soon after, Kate entered the room screaming on top of her voice, "Come on Ar, get your ass up soon and let's—" She paused immediately when she saw the condition of my room.

"You haven't packed yet, have you?" She narrowed her eyes at me.

I grinned sheepishly in reply and run into my bathroom to escape her wrath. After doing my business, I came out with only my undergarments on and my towel around my body. I walked into my closet and took out a pair of light blue denim shorts and a black and white striped top. After getting into my clothes, I cursed when I realized that I have to still pack. I glance at the digital clock and almost faint when I see that I have an hour left.

Pulling out a suitcase and a duffel bag, I dump some undergarments, tops, shorts, jeans, and a few dresses into it. I throw in a pair of sneakers, some heels and... done.

"Woah, slow down your horses woman." Kate chirped. I glared at her back as she switched my laptop on. I snatched my laptop from her and stuffed it into my suitcase causing Kate to huff in irritation, "Jeez, what got your panties in a twist?"

I close my suitcase and zip it. "I'm hungry."

⭐

"Well, it's your fault you didn't pack." Alex stated.

I glared at him as I stuffed food into my mouth.

"You eat like a pig." Logan pointed out.

"No shit, Sherlock." Alex snorted, repeating last week's words.

"As if you are any less Log," Lee winked at me, making me grin at him in gratitude. "I feel you eat worser, but better than a bunch of hungry Arias." My smile slipped and I threw Lee my deadliest glare. He didn't seem to be affected by it and smirked, "Ah, revenge is sweet."

"Revenge for what, bro?" Alex asked munching on an apple he grabbed from the fruit basket. Lee smirk fell, but an evil smile crept up my face.

Lee glared at me and said, "Your sister is pretty strong Al."

"I know that, but what makes you say so?" Alex muttered making me roll my eyes.

Ah, my overprotective older brother, you have experienced that.

"She punched me in my face when I tried to wake her up."

Ethan spat out the milk he was gulping, Logan choked on his food and Alex snorted. And me being me, I rolled my eyes again at their response.

"So that's why you were sporting a cut lip and a bleeding nose."

My eyes widened as I choked on my food. I smiled sheepishly at Lee who removed his hands from his face.

Fuck, I never thought I was that strong.

I fake gasped, "Shit Lee, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Lee glared at me again and eyed the piece of hair that was on his face. I had the sudden urge to run my hands through his hair, but I shook away those thoughts. He tried blowing that piece of hair away, but to no avail. I got up and put my plate in the dishwasher and went out of the room. On the way, I ruffled his hair and sprinted away into my room and plopped on my bed.

Lee marched after me into my room and opened his mouth to say something, but after noticing that we were alone, he turned away embarrassed. I giggled looking at his flaming cheeks as he scowled at me. I shook my head, smiling at him, "Come and help me take my luggage downstairs." I carried the duffel bag and skipped down the stairs.

Lee came grumbling under his breath, hauling my suitcase along. I bit my lip to contain my laughter when his eyes widened hearing a small noise behind him. He gave the suitcase to Alex and went back upstairs, probably to the bathroom. I let out a small laugh when the hall became empty since Alex went to keep my luggage in his SUV.

I went out and watched the girls chatting their lives away and the guys placing the luggage in Alex's deep red Range Rover Sport. It was seven in the morning, so we could hear birds chirping and flying.

Lee came out stretching his arms, while I locked the front door. Evelyn had gone out to the neighbors, I guess. Dad went to Dubai to attend some business meeting. We had already said our farewells to them, so we didn't have to wait for them, mostly Alice, to take leave.

Lee draped an arm around my shoulders and started dragging me towards the SUV. He had changed a lot. From a chubby little buy with freckles all over his face, he has turned into a man full of muscle and strength. Back then, he was shorter than me, but now he's six inches taller than me. He used to be a mischievous little brat. His parents were worried about him every single time of the day. Reminding me of his parents,

"How's your mom?" I asked absentmindedly, toying with his fingers. Lee stiffened, nevertheless replied, "She's fine."

"Your dad?"

This made him freeze in his place. Stone cold eyes met my gaze, "Why do you care?" He spat and stomped towards the guys, leaving me slack-jawed and stunned beyond words.

Well, I never knew it was a touchy topic.

⭐

Lee

"Why do you care?" I spat at her and walked towards the boys without sparing another glance at her shocked face.

"Why the long face?" Logan chirped. This guy never seems to have a bad day, always hopping around happily. "Nothing," I grumbled and helped them.

"What happened bro?" Alex slapped my back. I merely shook my head, silently telling him to drop the topic.

Alex seemed to have understood, so he dropped his hand from my back and opened the door to the driver's side of his truck. Alex switched the engine on, while Katelyn sat shotgun. I sat to the right behind Kate, Ethan to the left and Rose sat in between the both of us. Then Sid, Aria and Logan sat behind us starting from the right side.

I ignored the confused look shot by Aria towards me, but I felt horrible for leaving her like that. Besides, I'm trying to find out what happened to her mom and Olivia. Both Olivia and Aria were so close, they were always joined by the hip. Olivia seemed to have disappeared. I'll ask her later after I cool down.

Behind me, Aria's phone started ringing loudly amongst their chatter. I looked out of the window but listened to her talk.

"Dad?"

I stiffened immediately. Aria and her dad had a rough relationship. That is why after her parents' divorce, she remained with her mother.

What does that bastard want from her now?

Maybe he called for saying goodbye.

"You should have called him itself." Aria huffed.

Not.

"He's driving, yes."

Obviously, he wouldn't give his 'baby' to anyone.

"Uh-huh."

What happened?

"Okay. B—"

Motherfucker.

The whole car had gone quiet, and through the corner of my eye, I noticed Alex shaking his head knowingly. Sid broke the deafening silence with his thick accent, "What happened?"

After a pregnant pause, Aria seemed to have gotten over her shock and replied, "Good news everyone, dad called and said that he booked us a cottage in Vegas so we could stay away from trouble."

"Oh." Was all Sid could say.

I could feel two holes burning in the back of my head, surely Aria, but I suppressed the urge to turn around and beg for her forgiveness. I had to, some day. But not right now. Logan was yapping stories of his childhood to Aria. Rose had her head leaned on Ethan's shoulder who was looking out of the window, Logan hasn't noticed it yet. Alex was driving silently, but paid full attention to the girl sitting beside him chatting continuously.

The guy is whipped, but who am I kidding? Even I'm whipped.

I shook my head and looked at the scenery outside the window. The trip of our life has just started. The real story is yet to begin.

⭐

'Yeh sirf trailer hai, picture abhi baaki hai mere dost.' (This is just the trailer, the movie is still not over my friend.)

Hello my dear lovelies, I updated quite early, inspite of  me having my pre-board exams. Yup, Lee's past is a sensitive topic to him, so he's pissed. The next few chapters will be full of fun, since their first stop will be...

*drum rolls*

A Hotel!
Muhahahahahahah.

Anyways, I won't be able to update anytime soon, so you could do me a little favor. Please VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE!

Question: Will Kate end up with Alex?

Love,

_born_sarcastic__

[Teaser: "Well, aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"]