- Miles' POV -

I watch as Aria and her friends leave the cafeteria, no doubt the building. Maya's messed up smile stays on her lips when she turns back to me and the guys.

"What a crybaby. She's probably wishing she could go tell on me to her mommy. Too bad she's dead." Maya cackles.

"Well, actually she wasn't crying when she left. If anything, she was saving you from one of her famous punches. Remember them, Maya?" Hunter chuckles, but there's no sign of humour in his eyes.

"What the hell, Maya?" Ryan glowers at her, but she just rolls her eyes.

Finally, I speak up. "What are you talking about?"

Maya's smirk grows. "Oh, you don't know? Well, three years ago little Aria's parents were murdered in their very own home. According to the news, she found them in the guest bedroom with their guts spilled everywhere. Gross, am I right?" She pauses, then continues, "So now she's an orphan, living with her aunt and uncle. That's why Aria's so wild and crazy. The whole town knows her story."

Aria's parents were murdered? Lydia and Paul were her aunt and uncle? But I always thought they were her parents . . .

But Maya seems like she would make up whatever bullshit she wanted just to get her way, except Hunter's next words confirm hers.

"Maya, that wasn't your story to tell."

It all makes sense now. Why she called Lydia and Paul by their names. Her possessivness with Stitch. The note. But I can't show Aria pity, she'd hate it. She's probably so used to it, just as I am. But I can't show her I care at all, either. Because I don't.

Still, what Maya just said was really messed up.

That day we had dinner over at Aria's and I found her crying . . . she was missing her parents, wasn't she? God, now I feel like such a dumbass.

Who cares? You hate the chick. She made a fool out of you on your first day.

Yeah, she did. And I still hate her just as much.

"Whatever. It's not like she was going to tell it, anyway. She's just a stupid girl. Come on, Miles. Wouldn't you rather spend time with me than her?" Maya bats her lashes at me.

I fake a gag and ignore her, grinning when I hear the clicks of her heals march away.

"We should probably go find the girls." Ryan suggests.

"Yeah, let's ditch." Hunter says just as the bell rings.

"You guys go." I decline. I'm probably the last person Aria wants to see right now, and I really have to distance myself from her.

"You okay, dude?" Ryan puts his hand on my shoulder.

I nod and run a hand through my hair. "Yeah. Just shaken up a bit."

"Yeah, if I were in your place I would be surprised, too. Especially because it's Aria." Hunter says, looking at his shoes.

What's that supposed to mean?

I shrug it off and we part ways, praying Maya wouldn't bug me in History. I walk into the room, obviously late. It's dark and everyone is watching some lame documentary. I slump into my chair, placing my head on the desk, supported by my arms.

Hmm, nap time.

I was just about dozing off when someone pokes my shoulder. I jerk awake and snap my head towards the person, but the guy didn't seem the least bit bothered.

"I'm Leo," The kid says, then continues with, "and I know what next prank you could play on Aria."

Aria. Crap, what is she doing right now?

"And what's that?" I ask, resting my cheek in my palm.

"Meet me in the art room after school."

●●●

We were standing in the art room, Leo and I. I watch as he removes a huge canvas off a rack in amusement and lean over to see what it is.

"She finished painting this the day you got paint all over you. Let me tell you, she worked pretty damn hard on this one, even though it doesn't look like much." He explains, tilting the canvas for me to see. "That's one of the many qualities I admire in her."

The painting was pretty good. It was of a girl in a red dress thing, holding a red umbrella while it rained and the background was gloomy and grey. Aria's signature was at the very bottom of the canvas in black. After I finished admiring the art, I turn back to Leo.

"Aria just left it here and forgot about it, but she'll remember it sooner or later, because it was for the school's art competition. However, when she does remember it, it won't be the same." He smirks, running his hand over the smooth canvas.

"What are you saying?" I challenge.

"I'm saying that you and I could give it some more of our own touches."

"And why exactly do you want to do this?"

Leo laughs. "Why? Well, she rejected me. So I want to get back at her. You in?"

Aria has pranked me way more than I've pranked her. . .

With a smirk, I nod my head and grab a paint brush. "What colours shall we use?"