All Chapters of Aria: Scales of Love: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The energy at Oceanview High on Friday was electric. It was game day, and the air thrummed with excitement. Banners and posters adorned the hallways, students wore school colors with pride, and the pep rally was deafening. Even I found myself caught up in the frenzy, a small part of me wanting to believe that maybe, just maybe, I could belong here.Roxy, Marco, Lily, and Sam were in full-on spirit mode, their faces painted with school colors, their voices hoarse from cheering. They dragged me along to all the pre-game festivities, determined to get me fully immersed in the experience.“Come on, Aria! Let loose!” Roxy shouted over the din, pulling me into a spontaneous dance party in the middle of the hallway. “Tonight’s going to be epic!”I managed a smile, but beneath the surface, my anxiety was simmering. The closer we got to the game, the more I worried about running into Lola and her crew. I knew they would be out in full force, ready to pounce on any sign of weakness.....Later a

The weekend was a blur of self-loathing and regret. I retreated into my room, pulling the covers over my head, wishing I could simply disappear. I replayed the events of the party over and over, each memory a fresh wound. I replayed what the football players were saying and how Jude didn't say anything. I knew that they thought low of me. I skipped school on Monday, feigning illness. The thought of facing the judgmental stares, the whispered taunts, was unbearable. I sent a quick text to Roxy, apologizing for my absence, but I couldn't bring myself to explain the depth of my despair.But on Tuesday, I knew I couldn't hide forever. I had to face the world, to confront the ghosts of Saturday night. As I walked through the hallways, every glance felt like a condemnation, every whisper a judgment. I imagined everyone was talking about me, reliving my humiliation, finding me pathetic.Then I saw her. Lola. She was leaning against a bank of lockers, surrounded by her usual entourage, her fa

Jude POVThe door slammed shut behind Aria, and the sudden silence in the room felt deafening. I stood there, frozen, staring at the empty space where she'd been standing just moments before.I kept saying to himself after Aria left “i should’nt have said that, why did I say that, What the fuck, what was the reason for me saying that. FUCK.” Jude closed his eyes, remembering how her face looked after he said “maybe you were too busy daydreaming about your next meal to concentrate.” Jude pulled on his hair while, stomping back up to his room. ‘Why did i say that. Im a fucking idiot’. Jude plops himself on his bed, staring at the ceiling.The image of her wrist was burned into my mind. Those jagged, pale lines, a roadmap of pain etched into her skin.Self-harm. I knew what they were. I'd seen it before.Back in last summer, my friend, Mikey. A quiet, artsy kid who always seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He hid it well, at first. But then I saw the cuts on

Aria POVThe drive home after the study session felt… strange. I was still reeling from the image of Jude's face when he saw my wrist. The surprise, the concern, the… pity? I wasn't sure what I had seen, but it had shaken me.I replayed the scene over and over in my head. Should I have said something? Should I have lied and pretended they were old scars from a clumsy accident? Should I have just run out of his house the second he saw them?Ugh, I just had to ruin everything didn't I. I always do. It's like I can't help but expose my ugly self to those who shouldn't see it.That night, sleep was fitful and restless. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Jude's face, those fleeting expressions of concern warring with the usual mask of indifference. Did he think differently of me now? I wondered. Does he hate me even more? Does this mean he would finally leave me alone and not speak to me again?The next morning, I dreaded going to school. I braced myself for the usual taunts and jeers, the

Days blurred into a routine of classes, homework, and avoiding Jude at all costs. We had finished the Shakespeare project, thankfully. I texted him and told him I had enough material to finish the project, and that I would send my section of the work to him. It was the only way I could prevent from seeing him face to face again, and being alone in his house. The last thing I needed was another awkward encounter. As for Jude, he had been distracted by football practices. A part of me felt relieved that it was easy and clear to separate from him without issue.Then, Roxy was back, vibrant and full of energy. She regaled me with stories of her family emergency, but her high spirits were infectious."Okay, enough doom and gloom," she announced one afternoon, grabbing my hand. "We are going to a party tonight. It's time to blow off some steam."I balked, fear gripping my heart. "A party? Roxy, you know I don't do parties. Especially not after…" I trailed off, the memory of the last party I