Aria’s POV
———

The afternoon sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the dorm as I sprawled on my bed, my laptop balanced on my knees. I was supposed to be working on that redo for Ethan’s stupid seatwork, that i forgot to submit earlier because we argued again. My phone sat on the pillow, Ethan’s unanswered text from Sunday morning glowing like a warning sign. Every time I thought about him...his kiss, his pleading eyes, that whole blackmail mess with Claire. My head turned into a war zone, and I was losing.
Zianne was out, probably terrorizing the quad with Jiro and the crew, leaving the dorm blissfully quiet. I was halfway through typing a half-hearted sentence about that stupid seatwork when my phone buzzed, loud and jarring. I flinched, nearly knocking my laptop off the bed, and grabbed it, expecting another text from Ethan. But the caller ID made my stomach lurch, Allie.
My sister never called out of the blue. She was Miss Perfect Lawyer, always busy, always scheduling calls like they were court hearings. A random Monday afternoon chat? That screamed trouble. I swiped to answer, my voice cautious. “Hey, Allie. What’s up?”
“Aria,” she said, her tone sharp but with this weird, shaky edge that set my nerves on high alert. “You got a minute? It’s about Mom and Dad.”
My heart stopped, then kicked into overdrive, a cold prickle racing down my spine. “What about them? Are they okay?” I sat up, my laptop sliding forgotten to the side, my free hand gripping the blanket like it could anchor me.
“They’re… fine, physically,” she said, but the way she paused made my gut twist. “It’s just—Gosh, I don’t even know how to say this. They’re fighting, Aria. Like, really fighting. I went over to the house yesterday, and it was… bad.”
“Fighting?” I echoed, my voice small, disbelieving. Mom and Dad? They were the poster kids for annoying, lovey-dovey parents, always holding hands, sneaking kisses when they thought we weren’t looking. Sure, they bickered about stupid stuff like who put empty bottle in the refrigerator, but bad fighting? That wasn’t them. “What do you mean, bad? Like, yelling?”
“Worse,” Allie said, her voice dropping, heavy with something I couldn’t place. Worry, maybe, or exhaustion. “I walked in, and Mom was crying in the kitchen, Aria. Crying. Dad was in the living room, just… staring at the wall, all quiet and tense. I’ve never seen them like that. They wouldn’t tell me much, just said they’re ‘working through some things.’ But it’s been going on for weeks, apparently. Kai noticed it too, but they’re shutting us out.”
My breath caught, a sharp pang hitting my chest. Mom crying? Dad all stoic and distant? That wasn’t my parents. They were the ones who threw cheesy family game nights, who sent me care packages with my favorite snacks, who always seemed so… together. “Weeks?” I said, my voice rising, a mix of panic and frustration. “Why didn’t anyone tell me? I’m not a kid, Allie! I should’ve known!”
“I know, I know,” she said quickly, her lawyer-calm kicking in. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but Kai thought it’d stress you out, especially after the accident. They didn’t want you worrying while you’re healing and dealing with school. But I couldn’t keep it from you anymore. You deserve to know.”
I scoffed, flopping back against the pillows, my eyes stinging. “Great, so everyone’s just deciding what’s best for me again. Typical.” My mind flashed to Kai, always playing big brother, and Ethan, hovering like I needed a babysitter. Now this? My family falling apart, and I was the last to know? It was too much, piling on top of the Ethan drama like a cruel joke.
“Aria, don’t do that,” Allie said, her voice softer now, almost pleading. “We’re not trying to baby you. It’s just… messy. Mom and Dad aren’t talking, not really, and I don’t know how to fix it. I’m telling you now because I need you with me on this. We might have to step in, figure out what’s going on.”
“Step in?” I laughed, a bitter, shaky sound. “Allie, I’m a mess myself! I can barely handle my own crap, let alone play family therapist. What am I supposed to do, sit them down and make them hug it out?” My voice cracked, and I hated it, hated how small I sounded, how the thought of Mom crying and Dad shutting down made me feel like a scared kid again.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, and that scared me more. Allie, the one with all the answers, sounding lost. “But we can’t just ignore it. I’m going back to the house this weekend. Can you come? Maybe if we’re both there, they’ll open up. Or at least stop pretending everything’s fine.”
I stared at the ceiling, my throat tight, my thoughts spiraling. Going home meant facing whatever this was. Mom’s tears, Dad’s silence, the crack in the perfect family I’d always leaned on. It also meant being closer to Kai, who’d probably grill me about Ethan, and farther from campus, where Ethan’s stupid, pleading eyes kept pulling me in. I didn’t want to deal with any of it, but the idea of Mom and Dad falling apart without me there? That hurt worse.
“Yeah, okay,” I said finally, my voice quiet, resigned. “I’ll come. But I’m not promising miracles, Allie. I’m barely holding it together myself.”
“You don’t have to fix it alone,” she said, and I could hear the relief in her voice. “We’ll figure it out together. Just… don’t tell Kai I told you, okay? He’s already stressed, and he’ll flip if he knows I went behind his back.”
I rolled my eyes, a tiny smirk tugging at my lips despite everything. “Fine, my lips are sealed. But you owe me, big time. Like, ice cream for a month.”
“Deal,” she said, a hint of her usual sass creeping back. “I’ll text you the details for this weekend. Love you, Aria.”
“Love you too,” I mumbled, hanging up and tossing the phone onto the bed. It landed with a soft thud.
I groaned, loud and dramatic, dragging my hands down my face. My family was imploding, Ethan was a walking heart attack, and I was stuck in the middle, trying to keep my head above water. Mom and Dad fighting? It didn’t make sense. They were my rock, the one thing I could always count on, and now even that was crumbling. I wanted to scream, to run, to hide from all of it.Ethan’s kiss, Claire’s coffee stunt, this new family mess that felt like a punch I didn’t see coming.
But I couldn’t. Allie was right, we had to face it. I’d go home, see Mom and Dad, try to figure out what the hell was going on. Maybe it’d be a distraction from Ethan, from the way my heart kept fluttering at the thought of him, even when I was furious. Or maybe it’d just make everything worse. Either way, I was in it now, no backing out.
I grabbed my laptop, shoving it aside, and flopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling like it could solve my problems. My phone buzzed again, and my heart did that stupid, hopeful jump, thinking it might be Ethan. But it was just Zianne, texting about some dumb party tonight. I ignored it, my mind too full, too heavy.
Mom and Dad. Ethan and Claire. Me, stuck in the middle, trying to hold it all together when I was falling apart. This weekend was gonna be a disaster, I could feel it—suspenseful, heartbreaking, and way too real. But I’d show up. I’d try. Because even if everything else was a mess, family was supposed to mean something, right?
I just wished I could believe it’d be enough.
———
The bus ride home felt like a countdown to doom, each clack of the wheels on the tracks ticking off another second closer to whatever mess awaited me. I slouched in my seat, my backpack wedged between my knees, earbuds blasting some angsty playlist that matched my mood. The window reflected my face. Pale, tired, with shadows under my eyes from dodging Ethan’s texts all week and stressing about Allie’s call. Mom and Dad fighting. The words looped in my head, heavy and surreal, like a bad dream I couldn’t shake.
I’d packed light, just a change of clothes and my laptop, figuring I’d be back at Inkwell by Sunday night. Allie had texted me the plan. She’d pick me up from the station, we’d head to the house, and we’d… what? Play happy family while Mom cried and Dad stared at walls? I had no clue how to handle this, and the knot in my stomach grew tighter with every mile.
When the train pulled into the station, I spotted Allie’s car idling by the curb. She leaned against it, her lawyer-perfect ponytail and crisp blazer making her look like she’d just stepped out of a courtroom. But her face—tense, eyes scanning the crowd gave her away. She was as freaked out as I was, just better at hiding it.
“Hey,” I said, hoisting my backpack as I reached her, my voice flat. “You look like you’re about to interrogate someone.”
She smirked, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Funny, Aria. Get in. We’ve got a long weekend ahead.”
I slid into the passenger seat, tossing my bag in the back. The car smelled like her fancy lavender air freshener, and I wrinkled my nose. “You know this stuff makes me sneeze, right?”
“Tough it out,” she shot back, pulling onto the road. “You’ll survive.”
We drove in silence for a bit, the radio humming some old pop song neither of us cared about. I stared out the window, watching the familiar streets of our hometown roll by. Strip malls, the diner where I used to beg for milkshakes, the park where Kai taught me to ride a bike. It should’ve felt comforting, but it just made my chest ache. Home wasn’t supposed to feel like a battlefield.
“So,” I said finally, picking at a loose thread on my jeans, “what’s the game plan? We just walk in and… what? Demand they spill their guts?”
Allie sighed, her hands tightening on the wheel. “I don’t know, Aria. I’ve been trying to get them to talk all week, but they’re dodging me. Mom keeps saying it’s ‘nothing serious,’ and Dad just changes the subject. I figured if we’re both there, they might crack.”
“Great plan,” I muttered, sarcasm dripping. “Sounds like a total winner.”
She shot me a look, half-annoyed, half-pleading. “Can you not? I’m trying here. This isn’t just about them, it’s about us, too. We’re their kids. If they’re falling apart, it affects all of us.”
I swallowed hard, her words hitting like a punch. She was right, but I didn’t want to admit it. I was already drowning in my own drama. Ethan’s revelations, Claire’s coffee stunt, the way my heart kept betraying me every time I thought about him. Now I had to deal with this? It was too much. “Fine,” I said, crossing my arms. “But if they clam up, I’m not pushing. I’m not good at this feelings crap.”
Allie’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “You’re better at it than you think. Just… be you. They love you, even when you’re a sarcastic little gremlin.”
I snorted, rolling my eyes, but a tiny warmth flickered in my chest. Allie could be a bossy pain, but she was my sister, and she had my back. “Whatever, just drive.”
———
The house looked the same as always when we pulled into the driveway, but the air felt off, heavy, like the place was holding its breath. I grabbed my backpack and followed Allie inside, my sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor.
“Mom? Dad?” Allie called, her voice echoing in the quiet. The living room was empty, the TV off, no sign of the usual chaos... Dad’s sports magazines, Mom’s stuff. It was too neat, too still.
“In here!” Mom’s voice came from the kitchen, bright but strained, like she was trying too hard. We rounded the corner, and there she was, stirring something on the stove, her apron tied tight. Her hair was pulled back, but a few strands stuck to her neck, and her eyes were red-rimmed, like she’d been crying or fighting not to. Dad sat at the table, a coffee mug in front of him, his face blank as he scrolled through his phone. No smile, no “Hey, kiddo!” like usual. Just… nothing.
“Hey,” I said, dropping my bag by the door, my voice awkward. “I’m, uh, home.”
Mom spun around, her smile too wide, too fragile. “Aria! Oh, sweetie, it’s so good to see you!” She rushed over, pulling me into a hug that was too tight, like she was scared I’d vanish. I hugged her back, but my eyes flicked to Dad. He looked up, gave a small nod, but didn’t say anything. My stomach twisted.
Allie cleared her throat, setting her keys on the counter with a deliberate clink. “So, what’s for dinner? Smells good.”
“Oh, just rhe usual,” Mom said, pulling away from me to fuss with the stove again. “Your favorite, Aria. I thought it’d be nice to have a family meal.”
“Great,” I said, forcing a smile, but the tension in the room was suffocating. Dad still hadn’t spoken, and Mom’s chatter felt like a cover-up, like she was trying to drown out the silence with the food and small talk.
We sat down to eat, the clink of forks and plates loud in the quiet. Allie tried to keep things light, asking about Mom’s new case at the hospital, Dad’s latest project at work, but their answers were short, clipped. Mom kept glancing at Dad, her smile fading every time he didn’t look back. Dad just pushed his food around, barely eating. I shoved a bite of rice in my mouth, chewing hard, trying to ignore the way my chest ached.
Finally, Allie had enough. She set her fork down, her lawyer voice kicking in. Calm, but firm. “Okay, enough. Mom, Dad, what’s going on? You’re acting like strangers, and it’s freaking us out. Talk to us.”
Mom froze, her napkin crumpling in her hands. Dad’s jaw tightened, his eyes flicking to her, then away. The silence stretched, thick and heavy, and I held my breath, waiting for someone to crack.
“It’s nothing you girls need to worry about,” Mom said finally, her voice shaky, her smile forced. “Just… grown-up stuff. We’re handling it.”
“Handling it?” I blurted, my voice sharper than I meant. “Mom, you were crying. Dad, you’re barely here. That’s not handling it—that’s falling apart!” My hands shook, and I clenched them under the table, my heart racing. I didn’t mean to snap, but the words spilled out, raw and desperate.
“Aria,” Dad said, his voice low, warning, but there was a crack in it, like he was holding back something big. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” I shot back, my eyes stinging. “Don’t care? Don’t notice that you guys are acting like you hate each other? I’m not a kid, Dad. We deserve to know what’s happening!”
Allie reached for my hand, squeezing it under the table, a silent calm down. But I couldn’t. Not when Mom’s eyes filled with tears, not when Dad looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“Girls,” Mom said, her voice breaking, “we don’t hate each other. We love each other. We’re just… going through something. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?” Allie pressed, her voice steady but insistent. “We’re family, Mom. If you’re struggling, let us help. Please.”
Dad stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “I need some air,” he muttered, heading for the back door. It slammed shut behind him, and Mom flinched, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“Mom,” I whispered, my throat tight, my anger dissolving into something softer, something scared. “What’s wrong? Just tell us.”
She shook her head, wiping her face with her napkin. “I can’t… not yet. We’re trying to work it out, I promise. We didn’t want you to see this.”
“Well, we see it,” Allie said, her voice gentle but firm. “And we’re not going anywhere until you talk to us.”
Mom nodded, her shoulders sagging, but she didn’t say anything else. The kitchen felt smaller, the air thick with everything unsaid. I stared at my plate, the food cold and untouched, my mind spinning. This wasn’t my family. This wasn’t home. It was a stranger’s house, full of secrets I didn’t understand.
———
Later that night, I sat on the porch swing, the cool air brushing my face as I stared at the stars. The house was quiet now, Mom and Dad in their room, Allie on the phone with some work thing. I’d tried talking to Dad when he came back inside, but he’d just hugged me, said, “We’ll be okay, kiddo,” and disappeared upstairs. It wasn’t enough. Not even close.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, my heart doing that stupid flutter when I saw Ethan’s name. A new text, short and simple: 'Just checking in. Hope you’re okay.'
I stared at it, my thumb hovering over the screen. Part of me wanted to reply, to spill everything... Mom and Dad, the fight, the way I felt like I was losing my anchor. Ethan would listen, I knew he would. He’d always been good at that, even when everything else went to hell. But another part...the louder, angrier part screamed to ignore it. He’d hurt me, lied to me, dragged me into his mess with Claire. I couldn’t lean on him, not when I was already falling apart.
I typed out a reply... 'I’m fine. Stop texting.' But didn’t send it. Instead, I shoved the phone back in my pocket, my chest tight. Ethan was a problem for another day. Right now, I had to deal with this—my family, my home, the crack running through everything I thought was solid.
The swing creaked as I pushed it back, the stars blurring as my eyes stung. Tomorrow, Allie and I would try again, push harder, get answers. We had to. Because if Mom and Dad couldn’t hold it together, what chance did I have with Ethan or anyone else? Family was supposed to be my safe place, my fallback. If that was gone, what was left?
I leaned my head back, letting the night air cool my face, and made a silent promise. I’d fix this, somehow. For Mom, for Dad, for Allie and Kai, for me. Even if it broke me in the process.