2. Aria

2

ARIA

AGED 12

I t's Halloween morning, and I'm buzzing with excitement. It's not any Halloween—it's my twelfth birthday! For weeks I've been planning my party, and now it's here.

Bounding down the stairs, the sweet scent of pancakes hits me.

Mom stands at the stove, flipping a stack of chocolate chip pancakes—my favorite.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart!" She pulls me into a hug.

I grin, hugging her back. "Thanks, Mom!"

Jared is slouched at the table, shoveling cereal into his mouth. He doesn't even look at me when I enter. I try not to let it bother me—today's my day. And I'm used to him being an asshole to me. I thought he was mean the first day we met, but it only worsened.

I was excited when my mom told me I would have a stepbrother. I'd always wanted a sibling. And yet Jared has made my home a place I dread to be because he's always so mean.

The hours crawl by waiting for my friends to arrive. When the doorbell rings, I rush to answer it. My best friend, Lisa, stands there with a big smile and a wrapped gift.

"Happy birthday, Aria!" She squeals, hugging me.

Soon, the house is filled with chatter and laughter. We're playing games in the living room, and I can't believe how much fun I'm having! Lisa and I are the best at charades, acting out movie titles as our friends shout wild guesses.

"Okay, okay, I need a drink break!" I gasp between laughs.

I head into the kitchen for sodas and snacks. Mom went all-out with Halloween-themed treats—gooey tombstone brownies and candy apples with marshmallow "brains." I grab a soda and turn toward the counter, eager to look at my birthday cake.

Jared stands there, glaring at the cake. The three-tiered confection is a spooky graveyard scene with RIP tombstones and a haunted tree.

"Pretty cool, right?" I grin at him. He doesn't return the smile.

"This party is so stupid." He rolls his eyes. "Dressing up and eating garbage. What are you, five?"

My face falls. Why does he have to ruin everything?

A wicked grin twists his lips, making my stomach dip. "You know what would make this lame party better?" His hand hovers over the cake...

"Don't you dare!" I cry, rushing forward. But he's so much bigger, easily blocking me as his fingers curl into the frosting.

I gasp as Jared smears frosting and crushes the delicate sugar decorations. "Jared, stop it!"

He ignores my plea, laughing as he drags his hand through the cake's center, destroying it. Chunks of cake crumble onto the counter, and tears prick my eyes.

"What's your problem?" I shove him. "Mom worked so hard on that!"

"Aria?" Lisa calls from the living room. "Everything okay?"

Soon, my friends are gathered in the doorway, eyes wide. A collective gasp rises as they take in the decimated cake.

Jared turns to face them, holding up his frosting-covered hand. "Who wants some?"

Tears spill over as humiliation washes over me. "You're such a jerk!" I cry. "I hate you!"

The words hang heavy in the air. Jared's grin falters before his cruel smirk slides back onto his lips. He's such an attractive boy that all my friends have a crush on him, but he's so rotten inside.

"Whatever. Your dumb party was lame anyway." He shoves past me, his shoulder slamming into mine as he storms out.

Silence fills the kitchen while I feel helpless and stare at the ruined cake.

"Hey..." Lisa wraps an arm around me. "Don't let him get to you. We can still have an awesome time, right guys?"

The others echo her encouragement, and I manage a watery smile. They're right—I can't let Jared win.

Mom rushes in, her eyes wide as she notices the chunks of cake and frosting smeared across the counters and the once beautiful graveyard confection now a sugary graveyard itself. "What in the world happened here?"

Lisa steps forward. "It was Jared, Mrs. Wilkins. He totally destroyed Aria's birthday cake for no reason!"

I nod miserably, trying to blink back fresh tears.

Mom's face darkens with fury as she whirls toward the doorway. "Jared Michael Wilkins! Get in here right now!"

Jared appears hands shoved into his pockets, chin jutting out defiantly.

"What?" he mutters, refusing to meet Mom's glare.

"Don't you ‘what' me, young man!" She points at the ruined cake. "Look at the mess you've made! How could you do something so cruel on your sister's birthday?"

Jared shrugs. "It was just a dumb cake. No big deal."

"No big—" Mom's voice rises. "I spent hours on that cake! Not to mention how upset you've made Aria!"

He cuts me a sideways glance, smirking. "Oops."

The flippant response is the final straw. Her nostrils flare as she jabs a finger toward the front door. "That's it! Get out of this house, and don't return until you've learned some respect!"

Jared's eyes widen in surprise, but Mom doesn't back down. "I mean it! Go spend the day with your friend Mason or someone because I don't want you here ruining Aria's party any more than you already have!"

He storms toward the front door, snatching his jacket from the coat rack.

"Whatever. This party sucks anyway," he tosses over his shoulder, yanking open the door.

"Out!" Mom growls, and he walks out, the door slamming behind him.

Mom sighs, rubbing her temples. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

Lisa gives my shoulder a comforting squeeze, and the others gather around, offering sympathetic smiles. As upset as I am, I can't help feeling relieved that he's gone—at least for now.

Forcing a smile, I scoop up a handful of frosting. "Who wants to help me finish demolishing this thing?"

The tension breaks as my friends laugh and eagerly join in, our laughter and shrieks of delight filling the kitchen. Jared may have ruined the cake, but he won't ruin my day.