Six

ARIA'S POV

That Saturday morning, Xavier dragged my suitcase down the stairs as Savannah and I walked behind him.

"The place won't be the same without you but we can't stop you from leaving." Savannah sighed for the tenth time that morning.

"I will miss you guys too except Xavier though."

Xavier scoffed. "We both know that's a big lie."

I rolled my eyes but I knew he was right. There was no way I wouldn't miss his bossiness and his annoying personality.

"I can't believe my baby is finally going out to the city." My mom sniffed when we got to the bottom of the stairs. She pulled me into a hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Mom." I wrapped my hands around her. "Always remember that I'm just a phone call away." I pulled away and wiped her tears.

"Be careful out there, dear." Dad caressed my hair. "As much as it bothers me to let you go into that big city alone, I know I can't keep you under my wings forever. You need to go out there and find your path."

It was expected that my parents would be paranoid because it was the first time I was going far away from home. Even when I started college, they didn't let me stay in the dorm since it wasn't too far from our home.

But they should have expected that I wouldn't stay with them forever.

"You don't have to worry about her," Savannah said to my dad. "Lena is a very nice person, I'm sure she will look after Aria."

He nodded and sighed in contentment. "Very well."

"Let's go before you miss your train." My brother urged as he dragged my suitcase to the door.

As I moved toward the door, I stopped and ran back to hug my mom. "I'm going to miss seeing you every day." I sobbed into her shoulder. She wrapped her hands around me and my dad enveloped the both of us in a hug as we sobbed together.

"I promised myself that I wouldn't cry but you guys are making it so difficult." Xavier's voice cracked.

"Come here, will you?" Dad said, and he came closer to wrap his hands around us.

"Okay, I have to join in too." Savannah joined the hug.

After some seconds, we pulled apart and I walked out with Xavier. He placed my bag in the trunk of his SUV and drove us to the train station as I waved at my parents and Savannah until they were out of sight.

As heartbreaking as it is for me to leave my parents after twenty-two years of living under their protection and care, I knew that I had to leave someday to create the future I had envisioned for myself. I hoped Chicago would be the perfect place for me to do that.

Xavier stopped the car in front of the train station and we walked in with my ticket in my hand. I still had ten minutes to spare before my train leaves, so Xavier used that opportunity to give me a little prep talk.

"I don't know if you already know this but the city is not all that safe. They are a lot of dangerous people lurking around in the dark and some wicked-minded people who would hurt anybody to get what they want, so you have to be extra careful. No walking around late at night and be careful who you associate with, okay?"

"Okay." I nodded.

He took out his phone and typed some things on it. A few seconds later, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

"I sent some money to you, use it to get whatever you need." He smiled. "If you ever get stranded, always remember that I'm only a call away."

Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I gasped when I saw the amount of money he sent. "I can't accept this, it's too much. You and Savannah need it more with the baby on the way."

"Take it as a congratulatory gift from me." He shrugged.

"But..." I started but he cut me.

"Aria, I know I've not been the best brother to you and I regret that. Just let me do this for you maybe it can take away the guilt in my heart, please," he said while looking into my eyes with his hands on my shoulder.

"Okay." I nodded. "Thank you," I said with a smile on my face.

The train's horn filled my ears as people rushed inside to take their seats. "You should get going." Xavier nudged me toward the train.

I dragged my suitcase to the train and stopped at the entrance. Turning back to look at me, I said, "No matter what, you will be the best brother ever. Remember that." I stepped into the train.

"Thank you." He smiled at me as the door closed.

I took my seat and burst into tears as the train began to move. The people sitting by me gave me a confused look but I couldn't care less as tears run down my cheeks nonstop.

After ten hours, the train stopped at the Chicago train station. I alighted from the train and fished out my phone to ring Lena who promised to come to pick me up at the station.

She answered the phone on the third ring, "Hey Ari, did you arrive yet?"

"Yes."

"Good. Find your way to the entrance, I'm waiting outside in a blue shirt and white shorts by a blue Porsche."

"Okay." I hung up and found my way to the entrance.

As I stepped out of the train station, I gasped at the sight of the beautiful city before me. The night was brightened up with different colors of light as people moved through and fro. I looked around to Lena talking on the phone with her back leaning on a blue Porsche as she said.

I couldn't help but notice that she looked more elegant and beautiful than the last time I saw her. Being the Head designer of one of the biggest Fashion companies in Chicago was no small feat. The city was doing well for her.

I approached her but she didn't see me as she continued to talk on the phone. "Yeah, I came to pick up a friend from the station."

"Lena," I called and her lips stretched in a smile as she turned to me.

"I'll call you back." She hung up the phone. "Ari, it's good to see you again." She pulled me into a hug.

"It's good to see you too." I hugged her back. I pulled away and took in her appearance."I must say you look so beautiful than the last time we met."

"Oh, stop it." She swatted my arm before she took my suitcase and put it in the back seat. "You must be exhausted and hungry from your journey, but the good news is, I made you some casserole."

"Really?" A smile made its way to my lips and she nodded.

We got into the car and she drove us to her apartment. "Make sure you get enough sleep tonight because I'm taking you on a full-day tour tomorrow."

"I can't wait then."

"It's going to be so much fun having you around." She squealed. 

Rolling the windows down, I stared out at the busy streets of Chicago. I believed coming here would be the best decision I've made.