19- [You've Got To Be Kidding]

The days seemed darker and longer now. Everything seemed to hurt. Every moment a sucking blackness seemed to creep closer and closer. Aria had broken up with Levi the moment she saw him and left on the first plane out of Lucky Palms.

When she made it home, she quickly found out she was pregnant, yet again. She wasnt shocked by the news, but it made everything even harder.

She gave birth to Aesop and a few weeks after, word reached her that Sparrow had also had Levi's child. Twin girls, Leah and Shasta. 

She felt like something inside her broke in that moment. She didn't even feel like herself anymore.

Teagen <3 YA.

Arcadia and Asher, YA.

Winter, YA

Rhythm and Paxton, YA.

 The kids aged up and left one by one until there was only the youngest left. Aria isolated herself from everyone, spending every waking moment crying.

She missed Levi more with every breath she took, but she just couldn't let it go. After everything she had been through, she didn't trust him. She was done with love in general. She decided to make her challenge her main focus. 'Which it should have been all along.' She thought, putting her makeup on.

She snuck out the side door, sliding into her car with a deep breath. She needed to get her mind off of everything. She pulled out of the driveway, choking back tears. 'No, Aria, Not now.' she said to herself, squeezing the steering wheel. She needed something, anything. Even if it was just a random challenge dad.

She hit the road and drove. She found herself at the same club she had came to with Levi all that time ago. 'Smart choice, Aria.' She scolded herself. She threw her car keys in her bag and took a deep breath, climbing out of the car. She could already smell alcohol in the air. She planned on getting as drunk as possible.

As she entered the club, she noticed there weren't very many people here. She headed towards the bar, ignoring the pain she felt. A drink would solve that. "Rum and diet coke." She nodded at the bartender. 

The guy next to her had beautiful blue hair and he wore a grin that she could have sworn he had directed at her. "Can I help you?" she snapped, sounding more defensive than she meant to. The guy's smirk vanished.

"Hey, no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. You're just.." He looked away, and then back at her. "You're pretty is all." He might have blushed but the lights were so dim, Aria couldn't tell. Aria snorted. 

"That's sweet, Thanks. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound callous. I am just... going through a rough time right now." She glanced at him. "What's your name?"

He smiled. "It's Brody. What's yours?" Aria took a long drink, draining her glass and motioning to the bartender for a refill. "Aria. Do you wanna help me take my mind off of things Brody?" He looked unsure for a second. "What did you have in mind?"

Aria smirked. "Do you want to come back to my place?"

The next morning after Aria took a shower she broke down in tears. For the first time in her challenge she literally felt ashamed. She couldn't believe she took home a random guy from a bar she didn't even know for an hour. She was in pain, but that was no reason to be so ridiculously reckless. She sighed, picking herself up and getting dressed. She needed to do something about how she was feeling. She wished more than anything she could talk to Danielle, but that option wasn't there anymore.

 Aria was lost.

She knew she needed to talk, and she knew Ariana and Mila would be there for her no matter what, but Danielle filled an empty spot in her life that no one else came close to filling. And she had messed that up just like everything else.

Once she even swore her phone rang and Danielle's number had been on the caller ID. As soon as she answered, no one was there.

It wasn't long before Aria found out she was expecting Brody's baby.

A few weeks later, She was at the park, trying to cheer herself up when she spotted a familiar face. "Char! Is that you?" She exclaimed, completely surprised. Her cousin Char lived in Hidden Springs and Aria hadnt seen her since she was a teenager. "Hey, how are you Aria? I am in town dropping my friend Koby off. He heard about your challenge and was interested." She smiled at her growing stomach. "But I will let him know he has to wait a little bit."

Aria forced a smile, sadness filling her heart. Sometimes she forgot she was still doing this challenge. It didn't even seem worth it anymore at times. "Thanks, Char. I will give him a call after I get back from Hidden Springs. I am going to visit my parents. My friend Ariana and my sister are going with me. I will get together with you when I get back." Char gave her a hug and went on her way.

Aesop, YA

It wasn't long before she felt familiar sharp pains in her stomach. It was baby time.

Twin Girls. The first, Kimaria, a name Brody had suggested. He said it sounded like his mothers name and Aria loved it

And the second, Nataleigh.

Kimaria Rapture.

Nataleigh Rapture

Aria stood in her kitchen, surrounded by the mess she didn't ever feel like cleaning up. She took the dishes and began washing them, crying her eyes out. She was losing her mind. Shouldnt she be better by now? She dropped the dish in the sink, hearing it shatter as she slid to the floor. The hole in her chest just seemed to get bigger and bigger.

At the sound of her doorbell, Aria's head snapped up. She stood, wiping her mascara off with the back of her hand. She poked her head in the living room where the babies were playing and headed to the door. She peeked through the window and almost fainted.

 "You've got to be fluffing kidding me."

Aria tore the door open, glaring at Harry Little with a look that could set him on fire. "What do you think you're doing here?!" Aria demanded, stepping outside and slamming the door behind her. Harry winced. 

"How did you even find me?" Aria snapped, her voice cracking. Harry hesitated, and then, "Because the entire time I've been gone you're all I can think about. I miss you Aria. And I honestly think i may be in love with you."

Aria's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe those words had just came out of his mouth. "Don't you think it's a little too late for that? I am pretty sure it was you who left Riverview without even a hint about where you were going or even saying goodbye!" Aria could feel the tears threatening to fall. She stepped back over the threshold and slammed the door.

A pitiful knock sounded from the other side just as she was starting to walk away. She took a deep breath, opening the door with as much composure as she could muster. "Harry, please , why are you here? Can you please just leave?" He shook his head, taking her hand in his. She pulled it out, disgusted. "Do NOT touch me." She spat.

 "Aria, please, just meet me at the park later? I need to talk to you. It's important." Harry begged.

Aria scowled. This was ridiculous. What could he possibly have to say to her that she would actually want to hear? "Fine, Harry. I will give you 15 minutes. I'll see you in an hour." She slammed the door once more, sliding down the back of it, stunned at the encounter she just had.

An hour later, Aria stood in the mirror. She was contemplating if what she was wearing would send the wrong message. And she was also thinking about Levi. She was always thinking about Levi... And she couldn't help but think about how she felt about Harry when he was actually here. 

'Ugh, no. Calm your hormones Aria. No more useless rebounding. ESPECIALLY not with Harry.' She pursed her lips one last time and flashed the mirror a smile, heading for the door.

The air was freezing and Aria could see her breath. She could see Harry by the gazebo. He looked adorable. And Aria hated him for it. Her tone was a lot nicer than she wanted it to be as she greeted him. "Hey Harry." She said softly. He looked up at her and the emotion in his eyes made her heart ache. Stupid boys. "Aria." She stiffened as he hugged her but allowed it.

"Why did you leave me?" Aria blurted before Harry could say anything. Harry sighed, he looked like he had been expecting this question. "I left you because I was terrified. I felt things that I had never felt before. And honestly I was petrified." Aria scoffed. "Do you really think that gives you the right to just leave me? And say nothing?!"

Harry looked like he wanted to hold her, kiss her, something. Aria took a giant step backwards. "This is not right. You can't just come back and expect everything to be okay." Harry tried to come towards her and once again Aria stepped back. "I told you not to touch me." Aria said again, annoyed.

"Aria, please." He closed the gap and Aria froze, about to lash out again. She watched in silence as Harry dropped to one knee. Her heart stopped beating. 'This HAS to be a joke'. 

"Aria Eden Rapture, I came back just to ask you one question, Will you marry me?" Harry smiled at her and Aria's head filled with all of the memories of the time they spent together. All culminating in one final word.

"No."