Ariana's New Friend ( Tristan )

“MOM!” Ariana cried out as she covered her burning cheek.

“Don't you dare call me mom, you useless child?” Mrs. McCarthy spat furiously.

A hand pulled her to the floor, and it was also no other person than her father.

“You witch, how dare you betray your sister? Why couldn't you pretend to be her and let those girls beat you up instead? Why must you let your sister have these bruises instead of an invalid like you?”

Ariana felt like vomiting from her so-called family. So, it was okay for her to be the unfortunate one according to their logic.

But she's also their child, in fact, she is a twin sister of Aria. They even look identical, so why must she be the unfortunate one? What crime did she ever commit?

“Mom, Dad, what in God's name did I ever do wrong to you? What is my mistake? If you are being truthful to yourselves, you all know that I have never disobeyed you in my entire life, not even once.

I work to pay my college fees and expenses. I've never asked you for any help since I know you will never help me anyway.

Frankly speaking, mom, you know perfectly well that I've never caused this family any sort of problem, yet I often take the blame caused by Aria.

Why can't you for once let her know her mistake? You think you are showing her love and affection, but do you know that you are the one pushing her to her grave? She will never mend her ways like that.

Does that mean I will always have to be her shadow and take all the blames for her?”

Ariana spoke through her tears. She had promised not to cry anymore because of her family, but the unfair treatment they are giving her breaks down her entire being into a thousand pieces.

“Oh yes, you will always have to be her shadow. You will have to take all her blames because she's more important than you.

Ha! I even remember how you stupid thing here gave me a hard given birth to you.

Not like your sister, who came so easy and simple.” Mrs. McCarthy spat at her.

Ariana felt like she just heard a joke. Does that even consider as a good reason for all the abuse they have been given her?

“How funny, how can you blame me when I was just a baby and didn't even know the kind of cruel world I was coming to? How can you--"

“SLAP”

Another slap landed on her face from her father.

Ariana screamed in pain while Aria stood somewhere in the house laughing at her.

“One more word from you and I will throw you out of this house.” Mr. McCarthy said furiously.

Ariana chuckled through her tears, whilst Mrs. McCarthy and Aria felt scared about what the man said. It seems he forgot to see the reality of his words.

“Well, that would be great, Dad. At least I will be free from this curse.” Ariana said sarcastically to her father.

Aria immediately ran downstairs to her parent's side.

“Dad, Mom, please stop yelling and making things hard for my sister. Can you at least just ground her in her room?” Aria pretentiously pleaded with their parents.

“Hahaha… How funny and messy this family looks. Aria, you can drop the act. I know you are just scared that, no one will be your shadow and take all your stupid blame if I leave this house. “

Aria's face turned gloomy from knowing that Ariana has voiced out her thought.

Mr. McCarthy also realized his foolishness in telling Ariana that he would throw her out of the house.

“You are grounded for two weeks, you stupid invalid. Now leave my presence and move to your room.” Mr. McCarthy thundered at her.

Ariana knew she was going to starve for these whole two weeks. Her parents never cease to torment or abuse her.

She has already made up her mind to leave the house after her graduation, which is just two months ahead.

Ariana stood up from the floor and wiped her tears before going to her room.

She heard her door being locked from the outside. That was the least of her problems.

She checked her bottle of water and the snacks she hid in her room. It was good enough to keep her alive for the next two weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy together with Aria continued living their lives as if they were the only people living in the mansion.

Because of their miserliness, they didn't even want to hire a maid to help them with their household chores, since they won't want to pay them.

Ariana was the one doing everything and now that she has been grounded in her room, the lives of the rest became nothing but a total mess.

Days went by quickly and two weeks of Ariana ground was over.

Since she has everything joined to her small room, she went into her bathroom and took her before dressing up for school.

She waited patiently on her bed for them to open the door from outside.

Soon enough, she heard the sounds of keys on her door, indicating that they were going to open her door.

Her door finally opened, and she was greeted by the face of her mother and father together with Aria.

Pure rage surged through Ariana's body, but she masked it well as she looked at any other place and totally ignored their presence.

“You are now okay to come out. Go downstairs and prepare something for us and your sister for breakfast if you don't want to get ground again.” Her father said, irritated.

Ariana didn't say anything, she simply picked up her school bag and hang it over to her right shoulder, and went out of her room.

The moment she stepped out of her room, she turned to face her so-called family and said, “I'm an invalid who can't do anything good in life. Well, that is what you people have always been saying to me.

Since I can't do anything good in life, then let your Princess daughter who is good enough with men in bed and also at clubs and at any other places cook breakfast for you.

Don't tell me she only knows how to fuck with men? That would totally be a shame, though, you know.” Ariana said sarcastically before she finally left the house for college.

She heard her parents screaming and yelling her name in anger, but she never bulged.

She had had enough of them already, this time around, she was going to live her life as she wants. No one can stop her. Including her ungrateful family.

*********

People kept staring at her as they knew exactly what might have happened to her sake of the incident two weeks ago with her sister.

Ariana made sure to ignore every curious gaze and unnecessary questions.

The day went smoothly for Ariana as she finished her first classes.

She was walking in the school hallway when a boy with blonde hair suddenly appeared in form of her.

Ariana found the boy sinfully handsome, but she was not just any other person. She can't dwell on something like that.

She tried to walk away from the boy, but the boy stopped her.

“What is it? What do you want?” Ariana asked, being irritated.

“Chill baby girl, I just want to be friends with you, that's all.” The boy said and gave Ariana a sweet smile.

For a moment, Ariana was lost in his smile. How can someone be this sinfully handsome?

She asked inwardly while she still gawk at the boy without her realizing it.

“Uhm, I think starting too much is bad, baby.” The boy teased her.

Ariana blushed at his statement. She tried to walk away again, but the boy also stopped her again.

“What in God's name do you want from me? Sorry, but I don't think I'm the person you want to be friends with. It's rather my twin sister, Aria.

You are mistaken me for her. So please, kindly go and look for her and stop bothering me.” Ariana said, feeling more irritated.

She's just sick and tired of everyone mistaking her for Aria. But the boy's next statement shocked her.

“What? Do you mean that bitch sister of yours? I will never be friends with her. I even fought with her at the club the day before. She's such a crazy, desperate bitch.” The boy said, annoyingly.

Ariana was shocked because that was the first time a guy is speaking like that about her sister.

And to top it all, he fought with her? What the heck is wrong with this boy? Ariana thought inwardly.

“This is the first time hearing someone talk about Aria like that. And hey, why will you fight with a girl? That's a big shame over there.” Ariana said as she tried not to laugh.

The boy just chuckled at her remarks before he spoke again.

“She tried flirting with my fiancé, of course, I didn't only pull her hair, I also pulled her ass.” The boy said, and both he and Ariana burst into laughter.

“You know what, that's the craziest thing I have ever heard. By the way, you said your fiancée, are you engaged?” Ariana asked as she started feeling comfortable around the boy.

“Sorry, point of correction, I said 'My Fiancé'. I'm gay, and I'm engaged for two years. By the way, I'm Tristan, Tristan Bailey.” Tristan said and extended his hand for a handshake.

Ariana was a little taken aback by the sudden revelation.

“Uhm, congratulations. I didn't know that. Anyway, I'm Ariana, Ariana McCarthy.” Ariana said and shook his hand.

They both smiled while staring at each other for a while.

“Ari… I mean I hope you don't mind if I call you that, right?” Tristan asked her.

“I'm cool with that. It sounds like a pet name, though.” Ariana chuckled.

“So, Ari, what do you have for your next class?” Tristan asked as they walked in the hallway, gaining more gazes with each step they took.

“I have literature. What about you, T. S? Well, I hope you also don't mind if I call you that?” Ariana said with a smile.

Tristan grinned at her and nodded his head vigorously like a child. “Yes, you can call me that, and I'm off to play basketball. By the way, I'm the school basketball team captain.” Tristan answered with so much pride.

Ariana burst into laughter at how proud he sounded.

“Ari, can I have your phone number, well, don't get me wrong. I just want us to get in touch more often.” Tristan said cautiously, not wanting to create any misunderstandings.

Ariana gave him a sad face before she replied to him casually.

“I don't have a phone T. S, I can hardly feed myself, not to mention buy a phone.” Ariana chuckled sadly at herself.

Tristan's expression changed as he felt bad for his new friend.

“Okay, let's see each other after classes, okay? I have to go now.” Ariana said and bid Tristan goodbye, who just stood there and watched her figure disappear.

He really felt bad for his friend. An idea suddenly came into his mind which made him smile.