Chapter 3 No turning back
ARIANA'S POINT OF VIEW
The hallway felt strangely quiet as I stepped out of my bedroom.
For the first time in two weeks, I wasn't. behind a locked door.
The early morning sun spilled through the tall windows, bathing the polished wooden floor in soft golden light. Somewhere downstairs, I could hear the clink of cutlery against porcelain and the faint murmur of voices....The maids.
As soon as I appeared at the top of the staircase, every sound stopped.
One of the maids nearly dropped the stack of folded towels in her hands,Another covered her mouth with both palms.
Their eyes widened, I noticed they weren't looking at me,they were looking at my hair.
One side was shorter than the other, the rough edges making it obvious that no professional had touched it.....I'd done it myself.
Ignoring their stares, I walked past them and made my way downstairs,Every step felt heavier than the last.By the time I reached the dining room, my parents were already having breakfast.
Dad sat at the head of the table, reading the morning paper with a cup of coffee beside him while mom was quietly stirring her tea....Neither of them noticed me.
Not until I pulled out a chair,The scraping sound echoed through the room.
Mom looked up first and immediately the teacup slipped from her fingers.It hit the saucer with a sharp clink, spilling tea across the tablecloth.
And immediately dad lowered his newspaper.For several seconds.....Neither of them moved.
"Ariana..."Mom's voice came out as nothing more than a whisper.
"What... what have you done to your hair?"I looked down at my plate.
"I cut it."
"I can see that."Her chair scraped against the floor as she hurried toward me.
She reached out to touch my hair before stopping halfway, as though she was afraid I'd pull away again.
"Why would you do this?"I finally looked at her.
"Because I meant every word I said yesterday."Dad slowly folded his newspaper.
"No."His voice was calm.
"We're not starting this again."I pulled out my chair and sat down.
One of the maids quickly served breakfast with shaking hands before disappearing from the room and I picked up the fork.
It felt strange.I hadn't sat at this table since Gerald's funeral.Mom noticed too.
Her eyes softened for the briefest moment.
"You finally came downstairs."
"I was hungry."She smiled through watery eyes.
"Thank God."I took one bite.
Then another,Neither of my parents said a word.
They simply watched me eat.When I finally set the fork down, I wiped my mouth with the napkin.
"I'm still going."The small smile disappeared from Mom's face.
Dad sighed.
"Ariana..."
"I've already made up my mind."
"So have I."His voice remained firm.
"You're not going to Silver High."I slowly pushed my chair back.
Then...Before either of them realized what I was doing.....I dropped to my knees.
Mom gasped.
"Ariana!"I crawled the short distance separating us and wrapped both arms around Dad's legs.
He froze.
"What are you doing?"Tears blurred my vision.
"Please."My voice shook.
"Please, Dad."He tried to pull me up but I refused to let go.
"Get up."I tightened my grip.
"Not until you listen."
"Ariana..."
"I can't stay here."The words poured out between broken sobs.
"I can't keep pretending."
"I can't keep sitting in that room wondering what really happened."
"I can't."My shoulders shook uncontrollably.
"I'll lose my mind."Dad's hands stopped trying to pull me away.
"I promise I'll be careful."
"I promise no one will know."
"I'll come home as soon as the term ends."
"I just..."My voice broke.
"I just need to know the truth."The room fell silent.Dad looked down at me for a long time and walked to the window.
He remained standing by the window, his back still turned to us.For a long moment, he said nothing.Then, quietly...
"If I refuse..." he said.
"...what will you do?"I didn't hesitate.
"I'll find another way."Mom's head snapped toward me.
"Ariana!"
"I mean it." My voice shook, but I didn't look away from Dad.
"I'll find a way into that school with or without your permission."Silence.Dad let out a slow, tired breath.
"I knew that was going to be your answer."He rested one hand against the window frame, his shoulders slumping beneath a weight that seemed too heavy for one man to carry.
"You're just like him."A lump formed in my throat.
"When Gerald made up his mind..." he continued,
"...nothing could change it."Another long silence followed.Then he turned around.His eyes were red.
"I've spent the last two weeks terrified of losing another child."His voice cracked.
"And if I lock you in this house..."He looked straight at me.
"...I'll spend every day wondering if you've climbed out of a window... boarded a bus... or disappeared without telling us."Mom's eyes widened.
"Denny..."
"I'd rather know where my daughter is..." he whispered.
"...than spend every night wondering if she's out there alone."The room fell silent.He closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.
"I know someone."My breath caught.
"An old friend."
"He sits on Silver High's Board."Mom stared at him.
"Denny..."He raised a hand gently.
"If he agrees..."
"...he may be able to arrange an enrollment."His gaze settled on me, firmer now.
"But don't mistake this for approval.
"I'm doing this because I know you."
"But..."His voice hardened.
"This doesn't happen unless you follow every condition I set."
"I will."
"You've already thought this through?" Dad asked quietly and I nodded.
"What name?"
"Aiden," I answered.
"My name will be Aiden."
He held my gaze for several long seconds.
Then...Very slowly...He nodded.
"I'll make the call."I couldn't stop the tears that filled my eyes.
For the first time in weeks...They were tears of hope.
Three days passed faster than I expected.The suitcase felt heavier than it should have.Maybe it wasn't because of the clothes folded neatly inside.
Maybe it was because every step toward the front door felt like another step away from the life I'd always known.
Mom stood beside me, straightening the collar of my oversized black hoodie for what had to be the fifth time.
"You'll catch a cold if you don't wear your jacket."
"I'll be fine."She frowned.
"You always say that."Despite everything, I smiled.It was small,Barely noticeable.
But it was enough to make her eyes fill with tears again.
"Oh, sweetheart..."She cupped my face gently.
"I already miss you."I wrapped my arms around her.For a moment.....I was just her daughter again.
"I'm coming back," I whispered.
"I know."She pulled away and brushed invisible dust off my shoulder.
"I packed some snacks."I laughed softly.
"Mom..."
"What?"
"You always complain that I eat too much."
"You do."She smiled through her tears.
"But boarding school food is terrible."A laugh escaped both of us....It lasted only a second.
Then silence returned.Dad stepped into the hallway carrying my duffel bag.
"We should leave."His voice was calm...Almost too calm.
He hadn't spoken much over the past three days.Most of his time had been spent making phone calls.
Apparently, his friend on Silver High's Board had managed to arrange everything.Not as Ariana Hart.....As Aiden....A transfer student.
He picked up the suitcase.
"You ready?"No....Not even close but I nodded anyway.
The drive to Silver High lasted almost four hours.Dad kept both hands on the steering wheel.The radio remained off.
Neither of us seemed interested in filling the silence.Trees rushed past my window,Small towns disappeared behind us.The farther we drove.....The more real everything became.
I looked down at the student ID resting in my lap.
AIDEN HART.Even seeing the name printed there felt strange.Dad glanced at it briefly before looking back at the road.
"You won't have a room to yourself," Dad said after a long silence.
"You'll be sharing with another male student."My stomach tightened.
"I figured."
"Even the principal doesn't know," Dad said.
"What?"
"My friend handled everything personally."Dad's expression remained serious.
"As far as everyone else is concerned..."
"...you're simply a late transfer."I nodded slowly.That was better....Much better.
The fewer people who knew...The safer I would be.
After another hour, Dad finally spoke again.
"If anything feels wrong..."
"I'll call."
"If anyone suspects anything..."
"I'll leave."
"If I tell you to come home..."
"I won't argue."He gave a small nod.
"Good."That was probably the longest conversation we'd had all morning.
Then.....The car slowed.My heart immediately began pounding.
Dad turned into a long driveway lined with towering oak trees.Students in black blazers walked along stone pathways, dragging suitcases behind them.
Dad parked the car and neither of us moved. For several seconds......We simply sat there.
He turned off the engine.The silence inside the car suddenly became deafening.
I looked through the windshield.The enormous iron gates stood open.
Above them, carved into gray stone, were three words. SILVER HIGH ACADEMY.
Dad picked up my duffel bag and handed it to me.His fingers lingered for a moment before letting go.
"I'm still not convinced this is a good idea."
"I know."
"But if you're anything like your brother..."A sad smile crossed his face.
"...trying to stop you would only make you more determined."I smiled sadly.
"Thank you."He nodded once.
"Be careful, Ariana......."He paused......Then corrected himself.
"...Aiden."Hearing the name aloud made something shift inside me.I wasn't Ariana anymore,Not here.
I opened the car door,The cool morning breeze brushed against my face and I stepped out.
My duffel bag rested heavily on my shoulder.The gates stood only a few feet away and I reached for them.
My fingers tightened around the cold metal and for one brief moment.....I hesitated.
Then I thought of Gerald.I pushed the gate open......and stepped inside.
There was no turning back.
