Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ch.1: Ariel
I remember the first time I saw him, the way his hair perfectly swooped to one side, his deep blue eyes, that I get lost in every time. Garrett. I snapped back to life as the teacher called on me when I least expected it.
“So Ariel, do you know the answer?” The teacher said in her stupid proper voice. I looked around the room, hoping my friend Emilie would be able to help me, but she was just as zoned out, as I cursed under my breath.
“Um...5?” I asked, not even sure what subject it was as I heard the roar of laughter from behind me. I’m completely sure I turned bright red, while the teacher sighed and continued.
“Ariel, I don’t know what you are doing, or thinking about, but in my classroom, we all pay attention to one another.” She said in that, are you an idiot, voice that teachers use, way too often. I looked down at my paper, and the teacher went on with the lesson. It felt like forever before I finally heard the bell, signaling that next period was starting soon. I was walking down the hall when I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I whipped around to a smiling, snickering Emilie.
“Good job spacey Pacey, you’re lucky Garrett isn’t in history with us.” She giggled and while she was saying that Garrett walked by and he must have seen my jaw drop or something because he decided to come over.
“Hey Ariel, what’s up?” He asked in a deep scratchy voice that I adored.
“I uh…uh…um…I” I stuttered out, and Emilie saved me.
“Oh we were just talking about the dance on Friday, are you going?” She asked and I looked at her like she was a god.
“Oh hey, sorry Weiner didn’t notice you there, and yea, I’m going with Justin and Michael.” He said smiling at me then Emilie then me again.
“Haha s’all good...” She said, and then, the awkward silence, I hated those, I never knew what to say.
“Haha yep, so you guys wanna hang with me and Michael afterschool today?” He asked, and I remembered it was a half-day.
“SURE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!” I blurted out, but I quickly added, “I mean, cool what time?” I asked, angry at myself for sounding like an idiot.
“Um, just meet us in the park when the second bell rings.” He added, and I wasn’t quite sure if I freaked him out or not, which was slightly important in the factor of dating, I mean who dates someone that creeps them out?
“Okay cool see you then!” I smiled, my award winning smile, not really, but you know whatever.
******************
I leaned back on the swing feeling the cool autumn breeze on my face as I sat there in the park, waiting for Emilie and the guys to come back with someone that could look at my ankle.
“I’m such an idiot.” I said sniffling as I looked down at the puffy round thing, that didn’t even look like my ankle. I looked around a bit more and saw Garrett walk up the hill, alone. “Where’s everyone else?” I asked trying to get off the swing but I felt the pain finally come to my ankle and I began to fall, and right there, in what felt like slow motion, he grabbed me and kissed me. I wasn’t sure at first if it was really happening, but when I felt his big, warm hands around my waist, and his warm soft lips on mine, I knew this was reality.
He finally pulled away, and I took a second to catch my breath.
“Uh……” I stammered, as I heard Emilie’s voice and Michael’s, Garrett put me back on the swing, and I’m pretty sure I was wearing my dumbest face possible because Emilie added,
“Did you go into shock? You look like an idiot.” She said as I realized I probably looked stupid and I snapped back to reality, still feeling the tingles on my lips, and waist.
******************
Sitting in the emergency room, I looked over to Emilie, then Michael, then Garrett.
“Sorry about this guys.” I sighed, feeling as though I was bugging them.
“Shut the ******** up, we care about you so we came here by choice!” Emilie sighed as she punched my shoulder.
“Ariel Pacey?” The nurse asked as Michael and Garrett helped me into the room, Emilie close behind. “So what seems to be the problem?” She asked, and I rolled my eyes, it took a lot to keep myself from saying, oh you know it’s not the basketball that is my ankle or anything, so it just came out a sigh.
“Well it’s her ankle.” Michael said, worried.
“No, duh.” Garrett added, as the nurse looked it over, and after, she wrapped it up.
“Can I go home now?” I asked, as the nurse responded.
“You’re ankle has a very minor sprain, you’ll just need the boot, so you should be able to walk without crutches.” The nurse smiled.
As we were walking out of the hospital, me hobbling with my boot, Garrett pulled me to the side.
“Do you want to go to the dance with me?” He asked, sounding like a nervous little boy.
“What about Justin and Michael?” I asked, as he shifted anxiously.
“They can be their own dates, so do you want to?” he asked again, this time sounding a little sick.
“OF COURSE!!!!! I mean, yea sure, sounds great.” I said, trying to sound cool, but I kept involuntarily grinning like an idiot.
“Okay, so I’ll pick you up at eight!” He said running towards his mom’s car that had been sitting there and honking for the past five minutes.
“Bye!” I smiled as I walked over to Emilie. “He asked me to the dance!” I screamed.
WHAT!? OH MY GOD, THAT’S AWESOME!!” She screamed along with me.
“Also…he kissed me…” I said sounding like a guilty little kid.
“YOU LITTLE b***h, WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME EARLIER!?” She screamed, and I wasn’t quite sure if she was actually mad or just calling me b***h.
“Well you know, between the basketball sized ankle, the hospital trip, and trying to hobble around in my boot, I didn’t really get the chance.” I giggled, unable to actually sound mad.
“Well I mean it would have helped…” Emilie sighed looking after Michael and Garrett’s car.
“Sorry, like really….” I trailed off, still feeling the tingles dancing around on my lips. I saw Emilie looking towards where the car had been and I gasped. “YOU LIKE MICHAEL DON’T YOU!?” I screamed.
“Shut up…” she trailed off, and when she blushed I knew I was right.
“Oh my god you little b***h why didn’t you tell me!?” I asked punching her arm, and laughing as my mom’s car pulled into the parking lot.
******************
School was normal, as usual, and boring, as usual. Garrett and I don’t really have any classes together so when ninth period was next, my heart started fluttering.
“Holy s**t Emilie, next period is robotics….and…” I said, waiting for her to finish my sentence.
“Garrett is in your robotics class…” she said, feeling nervous for me, as I felt a hand on my shoulder, I whipped around, and almost punched Kirsten in the face. I gasped, and let out a big breath, I looked at her with a relieved face.
“God Kirsten, you can’t do that to me!” I laughed, feeling the butterflies still lingering in my stomach.
“Eh, calm down.” She giggled as I sighed and pulled her in close so I could whisper in her ear.
“Garrett and I…kissed…and we’re going to the dance on Friday.” I said. I had been dreading this moment since it happened because Kirsten had been a long-time lover of Garrett, and I knew this would kill her.
“W-what!?” She yelled, sounding as if she was going to pass out. “B-but why would you d-do this to me!?” She asked, beginning to cry a little.
“He kissed me! It completely caught me off guard, please don’t hate me!!” I must have said this too late because Kirsten had already stomped away, leaving me and Emilie looking down the hallway, stunned at how angry she was. “Well, I’m going to go to robotics…..” I said quietly as I hurried away to the bathroom, with tears in my eyes. While I was running there, I ran into someone, and when I looked up it was Garrett. “S-s-s-sorry…” I said, trying not to cry while I was talking, and I went around him, but he was too fast for me and grabbed my arm.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, the concern in his gorgeous blue eyes was immense.
“N-nothing…” I said, and my voice finally broke and I began crying. To my surprise, Garrett put his arms around me, and glared at anyone who looked at me strangely as they were passing by. “T-th-tha-th-t-tha….” I said, but he interrupted.
“Don’t talk, just let it out, I’m here, I’m here.” He reassured as I began to cry harder, I buried my face in his chest, and felt him hold me a bit tighter. After a good, solid 20 minutes I let go and smiled
“Haha, we’re so late…” I said, and then before I knew it, Kirsten was standing next to me. I felt the hand collide with my face as I staggered backwards, and tripped over the water fountain, hitting my head.
“Oh god Ariel are you alright!?” Garrett asked looking wide eyed at me for some reason. I soon knew what he was staring at because I felt warm liquid drip down my forehead, as my vision got furry.
“Why are you so far away…?” I asked blankly as I hit the ground with a thud. I could barely make out what everyone was saying as I lay there, unable to move.
“Why did you do that!? Oh god, is she going to be okay? Why did you do that!?” I could hear him repeating that sentence again, and again.
*******************
I could hear my birds singing their special song as I woke up. I sluggishly got out of bed, and moved towards the mirror, when I got there, I gingerly touched the stitches, still fresh from the accident. I could no longer feel the tingles dancing on my lips from Garrett’s kiss, and I longed for them, and wished they were here to comfort me.
“Mom?” I asked, my voice small, raspy, and groggy, as I made my way out of my room, and to the top of the staircase, dreading the fact that I would have to eventually go down them.
“Oh Ariel, you’re awake!” She exclaimed seeing me at the top of the stairs. The next thing I knew I was wrapped up in her warmth, feeling her soft jacket on my cold skin.
“What happened after I passed out?” I asked, gulping because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear this, but I took a deep breath and listened for her answer.
“Well, Garrett called the nurse, and by then Kirsten was already gone…” she trailed off, which was good, for I needed another chance to catch my breath.
“How long was I out?” I asked, dreading the answer, for I knew I had missed the dance because that was just my luck this week.
“Two days…” she smiled, trying to make this better than it was.
I gasped, surprised. “Today is Friday!?” I yelled, running to my room to get dressed. I finally settled on a floral sundress with my brown ankle boots, owl earrings, and the ring that my grandma gave me before she died. I threw on a brown cardigan just to add a little more flare as I looked at my hair in the mirror, and shuddered at the disgusting mop that sat in the place of my hair. I fishtailed it down the side and added a white flower pin to top it all off. I looked into the mirror and smiled as I walked out into the hall and strutted down the stairs, feeling rejuvenated by the thought of seeing Garrett, when I walked into the kitchen my mother’s mouth dropped and I couldn’t help but blush.
“A-Ariel…you look beautiful!!” She exclaimed as she rushed away to find her camera. I apologized under my breath, and slipped out of the house. I ran down the street and into the doors of the school. I was giddy at the thought of Garrett’s relieved look, but I saw it and everything went in slow motion…Garret and Kirsten were kissing. My heart swelled with sadness, but was soon taken over by a fiery rage. I walked over to Garrett, stared him straight in the eyes, and slapped him as hard as I could.
“Wha?” he looked at me in shock, anger, and then guilt. “It’s not what it looks like!” He almost squeaked.
“It’s always what it looks like in the end, isn’t it Garrett.” I said, with only anger in my voice. The whole time this had been going on, Kirsten was looking at me with a smug expression that made me want to smack her too, but instead I just calmly strode up to her. “And you.” I said with fire in my eyes. “Congratulations, you just came in first place for the biggest whore ever award!” I said sarcastically, I was about to walk away but then I added. “You know…I used to look up to you, wish I could be you, but now…I just can’t remember why.” I said innocently as I walked away. The world around me began to spin as I started feeling slightly light-headed. The world slowed down and turned into assorted blobs of color. I kept walking until my vision slowly turned black, and I felt myself hitting the floor. The faraway screams of the students in the hallway haunted my every thought as I drifted into the darkness in front of my eyes.
*****************
My eyes fluttered open to the pristine white of a hospital room, my hand warm from the grasp of my sleeping mother. I looked to my right to see a colorful envelope with my name neatly scrawled with a purple gel pen. I weakly reached over and grabbed it with my free hand. I slipped my hand out of my mother’s grasp and slowly opened the rainbow colored flap, pulling out the white paper inside. I turned the paper over to the neat script of Emilie’s handwriting.


Dear Ariel,
We need you back at school soon because Lauren came back and she’s a doom and gloom without you.
Sincerely,
Emilie

I smiled as I slipped the card into the rainbow envelope once more. I laid back in the bed to stare at ceiling, thinking about the week, all of the events, all of the fighting…I heard a knock on my door and jumped, realizing I had fallen asleep and not realized it. I was about to invite the knock in, when he walked in… “G-Garrett…” I said with surprise, then rage.
“Just hear me out Ariel! You weren’t here for two days and I thought you wanted to break up…I was feeling down and Kirsten was there to pick me up…I love you Ariel!” He yelled…those three little words everyone wanted to hear…filled me with rage and sadness.
“If you really loved me, you would have waited.” I said with no emotion in my voice. He stared at me, his eyes filled with confusion and pain.
"Fine, but don't expect me to come crawling back at your command!" he yelled, slamming the door. I sat there as my eyes began to tear up, thinking about the week that had happened...thinking about the kiss, my first kiss.
"helloooo you there?" a familiar voice called from the doorway. I looked up right into Lauren's comforting face. "Great, I leave for a week and you've already ruined your life!" she exclaimed in a silly fashion.
"Yeaa without you my life just goes insane!" I laughed, all of my stress flying out in the form of laughter.
*******************
I opened my eyes and rolled out of bed, wishing that I didn't have to go to school as I walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower. I stood there, just letting hot water runoff my body as I thought about Garrett, and Kirsten. I finally remembered to wash my hair then I slowly twisted the knob, turning off the scalding hot water. I threw on my off the shoulder sweater and a pair of jeggings. I walked to the mirror and brushed my wet hair, after; I braided my bangs to the side and pushed the rest over my shoulder. I ran down the stair case and grabbed my backpack, not bothering to eat breakfast. School was usual that day, Emilie was sick so Lauren and I stuck together all day. Garrett was a no-show which was a relief, I passed Kirsten a few times, but she was too busy being a caddy b***h to talk to me. Lunch was where everything really picked up, Lauren and I walked in, excited for the salad bar, and put our bags at the table. My bag, of course, tipped over, spilling all of its contents on the cafeteria floor. As I went to pick it up, I bumped into someone...and I know what all of you are thinking, well it wasn't Garrett, sorry, but it was more interesting than that...yes, a new kid...
"Oh, sorry I didn't see you there." his deep voice boomed as my heart skipped a beat.
"It's al-alright..." I stuttered, hoping I wasn't making a fool of myself.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't properly introduced myself...my name is Criss." He said with a sexy charm that made butterflies fly around my stomach.
"Oh, I'm Ariel." I smiled as managing to say without a stutter. He smiled back, his piercing blue eyes stopped my heart as I stood there looking into those pools of crystal blue. I felt the strong grip of Lauren’s hand clamp around my arm and pull me away.
“We have a problem…” Lauren sighed as I looked at her unable to think about anything but those blue eyes, those blue eyes that looked at me, making me feel like the only person in the room. “Ariel!!” She yelled at me, snapping her fingers in my face. I jumped back into reality and stammered.
“Wuh-what happened?” She gulped before her response.
“Well…the no-show is here and he’s been looking for you…” I stood there frozen with the ball of dread forming in my stomach as I heard that voice that made me want to throw up.
“Ariel! I’ve been looking for you!” Garrett yelled running over to me, I looked at him then the table where Criss had sat down…thinking that if I ignored him and went to talk to Criss, Garrett would think I had a new boyfriend and he would transfer out of our school to a school in England where he lives to an old age and dies alone because he cheated on another girl. I shook my head at the ridiculous story that my mind had created, as I turned to Criss’s table, hoping to get away. Ohno. I felt his hand on my shoulder and sighed under my breath. I turned around and defiantly inquired.
“What do you want!?” He looked at me with shock; that seemed to be his expressions of choice now because it seemed he wore it every time he spoke to me.
“We need to talk.” He said his eyes staring into mine. I looked down in annoyance and lifted my head back up slowly as I sighed.
“We’ve talked enough Garrett.” I said; my voice filled with anger, annoyance, and defiance. He just stared at me with a dumbfounded look that made me even angrier, like what did he expect? Me to just melt into his arms and start apologizing? Well if did, he’d be waiting a longggggg time for that. “Now I don’t understand what part of “we’re over” you don’t understand, but you better because all you are to me now, is just a dirty, rotten, cheater who doesn’t even have the balls to admit that he did cheat, not just say that Kirsten kissed you first.” I snapped with fire in my eyes as I stomped away to sit with Lauren. As I sat down, Lauren put her hand on my shoulder, not knowing what words she should use. I nodded and furiously chomped away at my lunch.
**************
During the next class our teacher introduced Lucas; he was an exchange student from England. He smiled to the class as my eyes fixated on the bowtie that he was wearing. I leaned over to Emie and whispered to her.
“See that’s how guys should dress, agreed?” She nodded and he continued to introduce himself in a quirky British accent that I knew made most girls in our class swoon. After class was over I ran over to Lucas, tapping his shoulder.
“Hi my name is Ariel, my friend Emilie and I are going to the mall after school today and we were wondering if you wanted to come.” I inquired politely as Emie walked up from behind me putting her arm on my shoulder.
“Uhm, sure sounds like fun!” he responded excitedly.
“Alrighty how about we meet near the big tree in the front of the school?” I asked hoping he knew where that was.
“Alright, I’ll meet you there!” he smiled as the bell rang, telling us to pack up for the day. I ran to my locker, excited from just having made a new friend, something that didn’t happen often in our school. After the last bell rang, I slammed my locker shut and ran down the hall to Emilie’s homeroom grabbing her, and dragging her out of the room. We sprinted across the quad and stood in front of the big tree in the front of the school. We stood around for a few minutes, thinking Lucas had stepped out on us. As we turned to leave, Lucas came sprinting out of the school, his messenger bag flapping behind him.
“S-sorry...Mrs. Johnson kept me after because a group of girls kept asking me to talk during class.” He sighed, panting. Emie and I looked at each other laughing. Lucas started laughing as well as my mom pulled up to the curb. We all ran to the car, and as soon as his foot went into the car my mom’s eyebrow rose at me, and I shook my head. She nodded, smiled, and turned around to face Lucas.
“Hi, are you Ariel’s new friend?” She asked, her eyes glinting with the hope of me finding a nice boyfriend. I shook my head and sat down.

We sat down in the food court, almost panting from the extreme shopping we had just done. I stood up to get a cupcake, when a tray hit my stomach, spilling Chinese food all over my shirt. I heard a gasp then the sound of someone dropping a tray. I looked up, and saw the spiller; she was short, with short, dark brown hair. Next to her was a tall Asian girl, with medium dark brown hair. On the other side was a tall boy with short, dark brown, gelled back hair. His eyes were a piercing green, and his skin was a beautiful olive. From underneath his thin white V-neck shirt, you could tell that he was in great shape. I could hear a small gasp from behind me and I whipped around. Lucas had his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide with excitement. The spiller finally spoke up, “Gosh I am so sorry…I’ll go get some napkins!” she yelled as she sprinted over to the Chinese food stand. The boy spoke up as the Asian girl sprinted after the spiller. The boy smiled charmingly and put his hand out for me to shake. I took his hand and he kissed mine, wow he’s charming…too charming, there’s something about this boy….
“I’m Landon, I’m sorry about that….that’s Natalya” he said pointing to the spiller. “And that’s Julie.” He said pointing to the Asian girl running back after Natalya. Natalya came back and handed me a wad of napkins. I smiled,
“I’m going to the bathroom, Emie will you come with me?” I asked, looking behind me at her, as she nodded.
“Alright…” she said turning and pointing to Lucas. “This is Lucas; he’ll entertain you until we get back.” The still shock ridden Lucas nodded as we turned and left. Landon smiled at stuck out his hand.
“Hi Lucas, I’m Landon, pleased to make your acquaintance.” He charmed, as you could legitimately see Lucas’s knees shaking.
“H-hi Landon…it’s a pleasure meeting you…” he stuttered out taking the hand, Landon kissed his hand as he did mine and Lucas’s face turned as red as a tomato. Natalya piped up from behind Landon.
“Well we’ll just leave you guys to yourselves, and don’t forget protection.” She joked as her and Julie skipped away to the heart of the mall. Landon even turned a bit red at that. Emie and I had been out of the bathroom for a while, and just spied on them from a table from across the food court. They had sat down and began a conversation, both of them speaking freely together.
“Yea so that’s when I came out…” Lucas finished, “What about you, if you don’t mind me asking?” he asked, his quirky accent making the conversation between them even more adorable. Landon cleared his throat and took of bite of his Danish that each of them had bought.
“Well, I knew I was different from when I was young, you know? I never really fit in, and when I got to 7th grade I really knew. I first told my best friend, who was totally supportive, but when I told my other friend, he told everyone in my school, so it wasn’t a very intimate out, you know?” His deep voice inquired.
“Yea I understand, but at least you REALLY outed, my friends just guessed and I confirmed.” Lucas shook his head and realized that we were still missing. I grabbed Emie’s hand and sprinted to the table.
“Sorry, I had to change into a different shirt, the other one was beyond repair.” I smiled and looked at them, the smug look on my face from the obvious fact that they fancied each other.