Chapter 9
The music blares through the speakers in Harry’s apartment, making the floor vibrate beneath my feet. I shoot Harry a mischievous grin, tossing my hair over my shoulder.
“You ready for this?” I ask, already feeling the excitement and bliss coursing through my veins.
Harry raises an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
“Oh, I’m more than ready. You sure you can handle it?”
1 laugh, stepping toward the center of the living room.
“Please. I’ve got moves you’ve never seen before.”
He chuckles, his hands raised in mock surrender.
“Alright, Aria. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
The beat drops, and I immediately throw myself into the rhythm, letting the music take over.
I spin, twirl, and sway my hips, feeling the freedom that comes with dancing without a care in the world.
Harry watches for a moment, his eyes gleaming with amusement, before he jumps in, matching my energy step for step.
It’s a full–on dance battle now, and neither of us is backing down.
“Come on, Harry, is that all you’ve got?” I taunt, throwing my hands up as I spin around, doing a quick shimmy.
He grins, his competitive side coming to life.
“You’re going down, Aria,” he taunts, before launching into a ridiculously over–the–top move that has me laughing out loud.
“Okay, okay, I see you,” I say, trying to catch my breath between fits of laughter.
We keep going, the music turning into a blur of beats and movement. It’s wild, hilarious, and totally liberating.
My heart pounds, but not from stress or anxiety–just pure joy. For the first time in a long time, I feel free.
Finally, after a ridiculous move where I try to spin and end up tripping over my own feet, I collapse on the couch, gasping for air.
Harry follows, flopping beside me.
“I think I won, just for the record,” he says, sounding smug, but his grin makes it clearl he’s just messing with me.
I give him a playful shove. “Oh, please. I was totally winning until you pulled that ridiculous move.”
He laughs, wiping his forehead.
“You almost had me, I’ll admit.”
We both sit there for a moment, catching our breath.
The music still plays in the background, but the energy between us shifts to something more relaxed.
“Okay, okay,” I say, wiping my hands on my pants. “You’re right. You won. But I’m not going to let you forget it.”
“Not a chance,” he replies, his voice teasing but soft.
Just as I’m about to respond, my phone buzzes on the coffee table. I glance at the screen and see that it’s an unknown number. Frowning, I pick it up.
“Hello?” I say softly, my voice a little hesitant.
“Aria?” The voice on the other end is shaky, almost pleading. “It’s me, Caroline. Brandon’s mom.”
My stomach drops at the mention of her name. I haven’t heard from her in weeks–not since everything went down with Brandon.
“What can I help you with? Is everything okay?” I ask, sitting up straighter.
“No, no, it’s not,” Caroline says, her voice breaking. “Brandon’s really sick. He’s in the hospital, Aria. I–he wants to see you.”
1 freeze.
My heart thuds painfully in my chest, the memories of everything that happened rushing back in an instant.
“Wait, what do you mean he’s sick?” I ask, panic rising in my voice. I think I still care about him.
“What happened?”
“He’s been diagnosed with something serious,” she replies, her words shuddering.
“I don’t know all the details, but the doctors say he’s not doing well. I–he really wants to see you. He keeps asking for you.”
I feel a lump form in my throat, my hands shaking as I clutch the phone.
“Is he…is he going to be okay?”
Caroline sighs softly. “I don’t know, Aria. I wish I could tell you. But he’s asking for you, and I just… I think you should come. For him.”
I sit there in stunned silence, the force of her words sinking in.
Brandon–sick? He had been a jerk, a llar, but hearing that he’s in the hospital, possibly in a life–threatening situation, makes my chest tighten.
“I don’t know if I can,” I say quietly, looking up at Harry, who’s watching me closely. “After everything that’s happened, I don’t know if I should.”
“Aria,” Caroline says gently. “I know this is hard for you, but he’s really hurting. He’s asking for you. Please, just come.”
I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing.
“Okay,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll come. But I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing it for you. For you, and for whatever the hell is going on in his life right now.”
*Thank you, Aria I’ll send you the details. Please, don’t wait too long.”
The line goes quiet as she hangs up, and I sit there for a moment, staring at the phone in my hand.
Barry has been quiet the whole time, but I can feel his eyes on me.
Are you okay?” he asks sotth
I shake my head, trying to force back the tears that are threatening to spill.
“No. I don’t even know what to think right now. He’s sick, Harry. He’s asking for me, and I don’t know if I can even face him after everything that happened.”
Harry reaches over, placing a hand on mine.
“You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. But if you do decide to go, I’ll be here. I’ve got your back, no matter what.”
I look at him, grateful for the kindness in his eyes.
“Thank you, Harry. I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”
“No problem, Aria. You’re not alone in this.”
I swallow hard, trying to shake the feeling of dread that’s creeping up on me. Because right now, everything feels so freaky.
“I guess I better go. I don’t know what else to do.”
“You don’t have to make any decisions right now. Take your time,” Harry tells me in a reassuring voice.
I nod, standing up slowly.
“I’ll go see him. But I don’t know if I can forgive him. Not yet.”
Harry gives me a small smile.
“You don’t have to forgive him. No one said you should do that. Just do what you have to do. But don’t forgive him.”
Harry chuckles after his last sentence.
I give him a grateful look before walking toward the door, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.
I don’t even know how to put all the twisted together. This is pretty much complicated. What am I about to walk into?
