ARIA’S POV
I wake up to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the sound of steady breathing beside me. For a moment, I'm completely disoriented. Then I remember where I am and who I'm with.
Xander's arm is wrapped around my waist, pulling me close against his chest. His face looks peaceful in sleep, younger somehow without the usual guarded expression he wears at school.
I check the time on my phone and my heart stops.
"Oh my god," I whisper. "Oh my god, oh my god."
It's almost ten-thirty. We're supposed to be in second period right now.
"Xander," I say, shaking his shoulder gently. "Xander, wake up."
He mumbles something and pulls me closer, his face nuzzling into my neck.
"Xander, we're late for school."
His eyes open slowly, and he looks at me with a sleepy smile.
"Morning, beautiful."
My cheeks heat up. "We're late. Really late."
He glances at his phone and groans. "Shit. Why didn't my alarm go off?"
"I don't know, but we need to get moving."
He sits up, running his hands through his messy hair. "Do you want to skip? We could just stay here."
The idea is tempting, but I shake my head. "I can't. I've never skipped school before. My mom will kill me if she finds out."
He gets out of bed and starts looking for his clothes. "I'll drive you home so you can get ready. Then we can go to school together."
"Together?"
"Yeah. Is that okay?"
I think about what he said yesterday, about not wanting to be seen with me at school. But right now, looking at him getting dressed in the morning light, I don't care about any of that.
"Yeah," I say. "That's okay."
He smiles. "Good. I'll take a quick shower while you get dressed."
"Okay."
He heads toward the bathroom, then stops and turns back to me.
"Ari?"
"About last night..."
My stomach flips. "What about it?"
"I just want to make sure you're okay. That you don't regret anything."
"I don't regret anything. Do you?"
"Not for a second."
Relief floods through me. "Good."
"Good," he echoes, then disappears into the bathroom.
I hear the shower start and quickly get dressed in yesterday's clothes. I check my reflection in his mirror and grimace. My hair is a mess and I look like I spent the night doing exactly what I spent the night doing.
When Xander comes out of the bathroom, his hair is damp and he's wearing fresh clothes. He looks annoyingly perfect for someone who just woke up.
"Ready?" he asks.
"As ready as I can be looking like this."
"You look beautiful."
"I look like a mess."
"A beautiful mess."
I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling. "Let's go before we're even later."
The drive to my house is quiet but comfortable. Xander keeps glancing over at me, and every time he does, I feel butterflies in my stomach.
"Are you nervous?" he asks as we pull into my neighborhood.
"About school? Yeah, a little."
"About your mom?"
"Terrified."
"It'll be okay. You stood up for yourself last night. That took guts."
"I hope she sees it that way."
We pull up in front of my house, and I see the curtains move in the front window. My mom is definitely home, and she's definitely watching.
"I should go," I say, but I don't move to get out of the car.
"Ari?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For last night. For trusting me."
"Thank you for being there when I needed you."
He leans over and kisses me softly. It's different from the desperate kisses we shared last night. This one is gentle, sweet, full of promise.
"I'll see you at school?" he asks when we pull apart.
"Yeah. See you at school."
I get out of the car and walk up the driveway, very aware that my mom is probably watching from the window. Xander waits until I reach the front door before driving away.
I take a deep breath and open the door.
My mom is standing right there, like she was waiting for me. Her arms are crossed and her expression is stern.
"Where have you been?" she asks immediately.
"Out."
"Out where? You never came home last night."
"I was with a friend."
"What friend?"
I try to walk past her toward the stairs, but she blocks my path.
"Ari, I asked you a question."
"I heard you."
"Then answer me. Where were you?"
"I told you. With a friend."
"Which friend? Camile?"
"No."
"Then who?"
I can see she's not going to let this go. "Someone from school."
"Someone from school," she repeats. "The same someone who dropped you off just now?"
"Maybe."
"Don't 'maybe' me, young lady. I saw you kissing him."
My cheeks burn. "So?"
"So I want to know who he is."
"His name is Xander."
"Xander," she says, like she's testing how it sounds. "Is that the tattooed boy you spent the night with?"
The way she says "tattooed boy" makes it sound like she's talking about some kind of criminal.
"Yes," I say, lifting my chin defiantly.