Reunited

chapter 10

Aria could barely move, everything hurt. She couldn't escape the pain, she couldn't defend herself.

She was laid crumpled up on the floor coughing blood whilst her abusers hurt her.

She had never had friends before but she desperately wanted Ares to be her friend. So she stayed for dinner. She didn't dare speak only a thank you. She never looked up so Xander couldn't see the girl.

Ares wouldn't let her go home alone but she insisted on walking so he had walked her home.

Her parents had seem him and as soon as she entered they attacked her.

The next day she barely made it to school.  Everything was hurting but her parents forced her out of the house. It was the better option for Aria, she would only suffer more.

She sat at the back of her class in most lessons, she could hear the whispers about her.

After a few classes she had to go to one of the lecture halls. Apparently there was a talk on safety or something going on.

Ares hadn't seen Aria all day so he was smiling widely as he saw a small girl with her hair covering her face, not looking up at the back of the hall. He quickly made his way towards her leaving Ethan to follow.

"Beats class doesn't it. I haven't seen you today Aria" Ares said taking a seat next to her which caused whispers.

Ares was not known to sit with anyone with his brother other members of the football team or Ethan. Girls always clung to him. So it was a odd sight to see Ares the guy who didn't make a effort with anyone, he just asked and they gave. Every girl was desperate to be with Ares or Xander.

Aria didn't dare say anything. She didn't want another beating like last night. She should have known she couldn't make friends no matter how she felt.

"Aria?" Ares could see something was wrong.

Aria glanced up and when he saw the bruises his eyes darkened. Whoever hurt his Aria would pay.

He paused. He was being way to protective but he couldn't help himself. He hated how Aria, his enemy had quickly become someone he cared about, at least cared enough to end the person who hurt her.

"I'm taking you to my brother after this or do you want to go now" he stated.

"He means Jake. He's helping assist the guest lecturer. They are doing it on health and wellbeing" Ethan clarified.

Ares rolled his eyes. His parents were both contributors of the school so they often were around for career events or guest lectures,Greyson and Jake mainly for lectures.

Aria refused to tell anyone what had happened and she planned to keep it that way but Ares wasn't having that. He carefully lifted Aria's face up. Ethan was quietly watching with two thoughts on his mind.
1. What the hell happened to make Ares treat a person so nicely.
2. Why do they look the same.

Ares inspected the bruise and his eyes darkened "was this your brother" he said as his thoughts turned to breaking all the bones in his hands so he couldn't hurt her.

"No. It just happened on the way to school. A mugging" Aria quickly said.

"Then you need to report it. I can help. My dad knows some people. Was anything stolen" Ares fussed.

"I'm fine Ares. Please leave me alone" she didn't want him to leave. Ares didn't want to leave.

He almost left but in walked a few guest lecturers and his brother who looked at him smugly.

Ares rolled his eyes, his two eldest brothers were a perfect example.  The school always insisted on them coming and giving speeches as they were former students.
"Looks like you are stuck with me" he whispered knowing he couldn't move now.

Meanwhile

"Daniel please, you work to much"  Jess complained. She and her husband were suppose to be having lunch before both going back to their jobs.

"This is serious case" Daniel said not looking up from his file.

"Daniel I'm your wife. I know these cases are important but you need to eat. You promised me we would have lunch. All I ask is an hour. You are even distancing yourself at home" Jessica understood her husband but it frustrated her how he wasnt around. Especially in the past few days.

"Fine if you are not going to come have lunch why don't you tell me why this case is so important" she asked wanting to understand.

Daniel glanced up from the paperwork.
"It's not. Let's just go get lunch"

He couldn't tell his wife. His wife already had it in her head Aria was Ares twin. Of course Daniel hadn't seen her face and he believed his princess was dead.

But at the weekend from what Ares had mentioned about her brother. He couldn't help but dig into her family. It was a personal case really. He hadn't found much really, they had nothing on them. But if her brother really acted like that. What were her parents like?
The question had made him do his research.
She wasn't his daughter but he needed to know the girl was safe.

His daughter was dead. There was more proof that she was dead then alive.

So in his mind Aria wasn't his daughter.