~ Ariel's outfit above ~

The rest of the weekend flew by, and before I knew it, it was Monday morning. Our dad had gotten back late last night, and I was pretty sure I heard him stumbling up the stairs. I learned to lock my room door when he came home like this.

After that one incident.

"Ariel! You coming?!" Adam called from downstairs, snapping me back into reality as the thought of my dad climbing onto my bed crossed my mind.

"Coming!" I shouted back, grabbing my bag off my desk, and headed out of my room.

As I walked to the top of the stairs, a groaning sound came from the bathroom, then the door opened, revealing my dad, who, I could tell, was still a little drunk and very hungover. I stood there watching as he tripped into the hallway, leaning against the wall with his hand, then his eyes shifted over to me.

"What the hell you are looking at, brat?" He asked, glaring at me. My eyes quickly fell to the floor, avoiding eye contact with him. He chuckled at me, which turned into a cough as he took a few steps forward, getting closer to me. I glanced up at him, now standing next to me as I gripped onto my backpack strap tighter, my heart skipping a beat.

"Ariel! Let's go! We're gonna be late!!" Adam shouted from the kitchen, making me look down the stairs leaning forward. I turned my head back and gasped, seeing my dad's face inches away from mine. I could smell the alcohol from last night still in his breath, making me take a step back onto the edge.

Before I could react, my foot slipped, losing my balance as I tumbled down the stairs. I rolled onto the first-floor landing on my stomach as I heard my dad laughing from upstairs.

"Ariel!" Adam shrieked, running over to me as I pushed myself up onto my elbows. I glanced up the stairs, seeing my dad's bedroom door slam shut as Adam asked if I was okay.

"I'm fine," I replied, slowly pushing myself up off the floor, groaning a little in pain as Adam immediately grabbed my shoulder, helping me stand up, then leaned me against the wall for support. He looked at me cautiously, checking to see if everything was broken or twisted the wrong way. 

"I'm fine." I repeated, "Just sore." I added as he looked up at me in shock at what just happened. He heard me tumble down the stairs and probably thought the worse.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He demanded. I nodded yes, "Gezz, Ariel, you almost gave me a heart attack!" He said dramatically.

"Well, it wasn't my fault!" I told him, glancing up the stairs. He sighed, glancing upstairs too, then shifted his eyes back to me.

"Why don't you go get in the car while I go grab my bag." He told me. I nodded and sighed before heading out to the car.

A couple of minutes later, Adam joined me in his jeep and started the engine, then pulled out of the driveway.

The whole way to school, all I could think about was running into Kian.

What would he say?
What do I say?
Do I ignore him?
Or should I just let him explain himself? 

Was this all just some sinister plot planned by the guys to embarrass me in front of the whole school?

Many thoughts ran through my mind as we drove into the school parking lot and pulled into a spot. My mind went blank as I heard the loud slam of the car door, pulling me back into reality. I glanced over at Adam, who was standing at the opened rear door, grabbing his bag from the backseat. I sighed, taking a deep breath before opening the passenger door and climbing out of the car.

"Ariel, you okay?" Adam asked as I met him at the back of his jeep. I nodded and walked toward our school building. When I got inside, I quickly walked directly to my locker, trying to avoid the guys and or Kian.

Luckily I made it to my locker without any encounters and opened it, grabbing the books I needed for my first few classes.

"Hey." Julia greeted me as she walked up to me at my locker. I glanced over at her, and she frowned, "What's wrong?" She quickly asked, considered. I flickered my eyes up at her staring at me.

Should I tell her about Kian kissing me?

"Nothing." I lied. She looked at me for a second before speaking.

"I'm sorry about Saturday. I know you wanted to get out of the house with Kian there, but Caleb was bringing me to this new restaurant that just opened." She apologized, then asked, "How did it go anyway?" My eyes darted over to her.

"Uh." I said nervously, "It was- okay."I finished, my voice a little shaky and my eyes back on my locker. Julia looked at me curiously.

"Did something happened?" She whispered, asking, leaning toward me. My eyes flickered over to her, seeing the little bit of worry in her eyes, "Ariel?" She said in a worried tone.

"Kian kissed me," I admitted whispering so no one would hear me. Julia's eyes widen in shock and surprise.

"Long story short. He came upstairs to grab something for Adam. I bumped into him, then accused him of sending me strange text messages, then as I was going back into my room, he pushed me up against the wall and kissed me." I explained. She looked at me, half shock, half confused.

"Ariel, I'm sorry." She replied. I nodded, looking down, embarrassed, "I know  you had a crush on him."

Had a crush?  I still have a crush.

"Someone sent you strange messages?" She asked as I flickered my eyes up at her, changing the subject. I nodded yes, "Who?" She questioned, raising her elbows. I sighed, shrugging, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"I don't know." I answered, shaking my head, "I thought it was Kian, but I was wrong."

"Maybe it was one of the other guys trying to mess with you," Julia suggested. I nodded, then looked at her again as she looked at me sympathetically. I sighed to myself, then said, closing my locker.

"I should head to homeroom. I'll see you later." Julia nodded, and I gave her a quick grin before I walked past her, down the hall, and around the corner.

As I was about to go into homeroom, I felt someone grab my arm, yanking me away from the door. I was pulled into the girls' bathroom and felt them let go of my arm as I stumbled forward. I heard them lock the door, and I started to panic. I quickly turned my body around and saw Kian standing by the door. I stood a couple of feet away from him, staring at him with a mix of worry and anger in my eyes.

Angry that he kissed me the other day and worried about being alone with him.

"We need to talk." Kian finally spoke after a long period of awkward silence.

"About what?" I asked sarcastically, crossing my arms in front of my chest.  He stared at me for a minute before saying, taking a few steps toward me.

"You know what." I sighed, rolling my eyes, then scoffed, "Ariel let me explain." He added, whispering.

"Explain why you kissed me?" I questioned, flickering my eyes up at him, "I'm pretty sure I know why." I added.

Well, I had a theory.

"You don't know why I kissed you." He replied, "At least whatever you're thinking is wrong." I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I turned my head, looking away from him shaking my head, "What are you thinking?" I heard him ask along with footsteps. I turn my head and look at him again. Kian was directly in front of me, inches away, staring at me.

"What are you thinking?" He asked again, whispering in a soft sexy tone.

Honestly, I was thinking about kissing him at that moment. After he kissed me yesterday, all my old feelings started boiling up again. Feeling for Kian before he became my bully.

"I think you were just trying to mess with me," I replied finally after a minute as I started up at his big brown eyes. He let out a chuckle and licked his lips.

"No." He whispered, looking down at me, "I kissed you because I like you." He admitted, "A lot." My eyes widened slightly in surprise.

He has a crush on me too?

"What did you just say?" I asked-whispered a little bit shocked and confused. He sighed and looked directly into my eyes, then said.

"I like you, Ariel." My eyes dropped to the floor as I bit my bottom lip, unsure what to say. I wasn't sure if I should tell him that I like him too, but I had to make a decision fast as I heard Kian say whispering close to me, "If you don't have feelings for me, just say it, and I won't bother you with this again." I sighed, shaking my head.

"I can't," I whispered, then flickered my eyes up at him,

"Because... I do have feelings for you." I admitted. Kian smile, and I smile back as he slipped one arm around the back of my waist, then leaned in. My eyes closed as his lips touch mine pressing hard. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he slipped his other arm around and pulled me closer, making our bodies touch. I opened my eyes and looked at him as he slipped one hand off, then slid the other down my arm to my hand and held it. I pressed my lips together, smiling as Kian asked.

"So, will you go out with me?" My smile faded, and I shook my head as I said.

"No."