Reunited

chapter 7

As soon as Aria got in the abuse started. She knew this weekend was going to be hell.

She missed Ares. Even though he bullied her in the beggining, she now felt a sense of safety whenever she was near him. She would talk to her parents on Sunday about the project.

Ares' home was alot different. Jake was not at university so he was home for the weekend which meant he would constantly tell his younger siblings to shut up. Xander would be busy street racing at some point, Grayson would likely spend it at his own place. And his parents usually worked.

Ares usually went out but how could he when Aria was constantly on his mind.

At dinner that night he decided to ask if Aria could come over to study during the week, he knew his parents wouldn't mind but they always wanted to know when one of their boys had a friend over.

"So did you make friends with this new girl" Jess asked starting a conversation with her younger son.

"Not exactly but we have a project together, can she come over during the week" he wanted to spend time with her, maybe get to know the real Aria.

"Of course" Jess smiled.

"She's already having a better influence on you, you actually wanting to do work is shocking" Daniel said to his son.

"Yeah it seems you don't hate her anymore" Xander added.

"She's not a bitch so I have no reason to hate her. Although her brother, I can't stand him. The way he treats her. I swear if I ever had a sister I would never treat her like that" Ares ranted.

Both his parents looked to each other. They felt guilty for not telling him but they couldn't let their youngest son feel the pain they felt everyday.
"So what's your new friend called" Grayson asked changing the topic.

"Her names Aria, she's really shy so when she does come over no questioning her, actually just don't even talk to her." Again he found himself becoming protective.

His parents looked to each other. Their baby was named Aria. Just the mention of a sister and using their baby girls name had them heartbroken.

"Excuse me" Jess said not wanting to cry in front of her children.

Grayson and Jake looked at their mum with sadness. They missed their sister but they could barely imagine how it must be for their parents.

That's why they couldn't tell Ares. Knowing his twin was most likely dead would kill him.

"You kids get eating I'm going to go see your mother" Daniel said and also left.

He found his wife in their bedroom crying over a picture they kept in a drawer so Ares wouldn't accidentally find it. It was of the twins wearing matching outfits.

"My baby" Jess cried holding the picture.

"I know. I know. My poor princess" Daniel said letting his walls fall as he became vunerable. He tried to comfort his wife but the grief for his daughter was hitting him.

The two sat looking at the image holding each other for support.

"I love you my baby" Jess said kissing the forehead of Aria on the picture, she did that most nights.

"We love you princess" Daniel muttered not wanting to look at the picture anymore, it was too painful.

He  knew the body was my most likely her. Everything about the body made it unidentifiable only it was a young girl, with Aria's baby clothes. Not just a random outfit bought at a store but the exact ones Aria was wearing. They had been matching Ares so Daniel had written on the inside label that it was Aria's and did the same with Ares.
No fingerprints on the clothing were found. Nothing but a dead girl who was most likely Aria, their daughter.

They thought she was dead but in reality she was not too far away, being beaten by her family. She cried in pain, she wanted it to disappear but it wouldn't. She found herself wishing Ares would save her. She hated how she felt and so she quickly got rid of that thought. He was not worth it, he didn't care.

Over the weekend, Ares finally brought up the courage to talk to his parents. It didn't help  they both were sad.

His parents were in a better mood on Sunday as the two of them were sat together on the sofa watching TV.

"Mum,Dad can we talk" Ares asked hoping they were able to talk.

"Of course" Jess replied smiling but Daniel and Ares could see it was fake.

"It's about Aria"

Jess started to cry "mum I'm sorry" he panicked.

"We were just watching a sad film, what about Aria" she said pulling herself together.

"She has my eyes. Do I have any distant relatives I don't know about. She says she wasn't put up for adoption but maybe she's related" he knew there was no easy way to say it so he did his best.
"Alot of people have blue eyes" Daniel replied.

"Trust me dad she looks like me. Maybe she's a cousin "

The parents glanced at each other. Jess had a smile on her face. She had hope.

Daniel didn't accept this though, to him she was found dead. He hated it but it was the truth. He wanted his princess but she was dead. He could never have her back.

"You don't have anymore cousins" Daniel said choosing his words carefully.

"Okay but I swear she looks exactly like me, even Ethan sees it" Ares said.

Jess smiled "then invite her round Monday we would love to meet her"

Ares smiled already looking forward to monday. Both his parents noticed the smile. Daniel sighed, he didn't want to get his wife's hopes up. "Maybe you could study at her house?"

"No. Like I said her brother treats her like shit" What Ares didn't say was that if her brother denied her a apple, what where her parents like.

Ares left shortly after leaving his parents alone.

"What if it's Aria" Jess ask.
"My princess died" Daniel replied sadly.
"But what if it was a trick' Jess replied her voice breaking.
"There are thousands of Aria's, and if she was alive they most certainly wouldn't let her go around school looking identical to Ares, they would have made her wear contacts and have her hair dyed, stuff like that" he explained even though it was painful.

"Okay but can we just wait till we see her" Jess replied.

"You can, I don't wish to meet her" Daniel replied. It wasn't that he didn't want to, he knew how painful it would be to see the girl and how painful it would be to see Jess upset.

Afterall this girl was most likely false hope.