NEIGHBORS • Why Don't We

Chapter: 14

Chapter song: Good thing by Jake Miller

Tuesday

Aria's POV:

I sit up and rub my eyes, wondering why max is barking. Its still dark outside so I it can't be one of the boys, they would have called first. I start to get a bad feeling then hear a loud pounding noise and immediately call Jack. 

It rings and goes to voicemail. I curse and nearly jump out of my skin as another loud bang echoes through the house. Dear god I'm too young to die. I call Jack again and he finally answers. "Aribug, whats wrong?" he asks sleepily.

"Jack oh my god I think someone is trying to break in to my house I keep hearing loud banging and max is barking like crazy." I say, absolutely terrified. "What? Okay Aria, go into your bathroom and lock the door. Do not come out until the boys and I get here." Jack sounds alert and panicked. 

"Jack please hurry." I whimper as the banging gets louder. I hear rushing around on the other end followed by sleepy mumbles. "Stay on the phone baby. We're on-" He's cut off by the security breach alarm blaring through my house. I gasp and run into the bathroom, locking the door and hiding in the towel closet.

"Jack." I choke out as my voice cracks. I hear yelling and sirens all at once and feel myself starting to have a panic attack triggered by my claustrophobia. I try to slow down my breathing and hear someone yelling my name. I try to respond but before I know it everything goes black.

Jack's POV: 

The police secure the man that broke in,  a rich drunkard that used to own the house before we moved in next door. I frantically call for Aria, running up to her room. I pick the lock to the bathroom open but she's not in here.

 I check every area crevice in the bathroom and finally find her in the towel closet passed out. I pull her out and lay her on her bed, trying to shake her awake. "Ari, baby. Please wake up." I go into full panic mode and continue to shake her awake. 

She finally starts coming to and I scoop her up in my arms. "Oh thank god your okay." I say, holding her tightly. "I-I had a panic attack in the closet. I was so scared then my claustrophobia got the best of me and I couldn't slow down my breathing." She cries into my shoulder.

"Shhhh baby girl its okay now. The man that tried to break in was drunk. He used to own the house. The police have him, your safe now." I say softly, kissing her head . She sniffles and lets out a shaky breath. 

"I'll be right back okay?" I say and set her down, running downstairs. "She had a panic attack. She was hiding in the towel closet . Im gonna stay with her okay?" I say, trying to blink a tear away. The boys smile at me and nod.

"Just for the record. We ship it." Zach grins. The boys chuckle and agree as my cheeks turn red. They leave and I go back upstairs and lay down with Aria, it is only 4 in the morning. She nearly gave me a heart attack. She falls asleep quickly after she relaxes. 

I think Im at the point that I want a relationship with her. I want to love and care for her. But will she let me in that close? I drown in my thoughts, ending up falling asleep. 

Later

Aria's POV:

I wake up in Jacks arms and sigh. He's not helping my crush situation. I grab my phone and check the time, 11a.m. I yawn and stretch slightly when Jack's eyes pop open. He smiles sleepily and kisses my forehead. "Morning Aribug, how are you feeling?" He says in that antagonizingly heaven laced morning voice. 

"Better, it was just really scary and I tried to calm myself down but it was too late. I started to hyperventilate and couldn't slow down my breathing." I shake my head and sigh, looking down. "Hey" he says gently, lifting my chin. 

"You have a lot to look forward to right now. You start dance today, you could easily start your singing career, and you have the world at your fingertips. You can't go anywhere but up from here." He says reassuringly. I smile softly. I look at my phone and my mouth drops.

"I've reached almost 500k on every platform..." I say shocked. Jack gapes. "What?! you passed me, Daniel, Corbyn, and Jonah! In the matter of DAYS!" he says bewildered. I giggle at his reaction and smile.

We watch movies until its time for me to go to dance. I get changed into uniform, put my hair in a bun, and grab my dance bag. Once I get there my nerves start to set in. You got this Aria. As I go through the class I let all of my skill come out to play and surprise myself, and the teacher. 

By the end of class all of my fear is gone, I let myself shine. It feels so good to be on pointe again. I drive home and expect to see my parents when I walk in but the house is empty. Thats weird, they were supposed to come home today. 

I decide to go for a swim when I get a call from an unknown number. "Hello?" I ask. "Hi, is this Aria Vitali?" the man questions. "Yes, this is she." I say politely." my name is Grey Dimitri. Im your parents personal assistant. They wish for me to tell you that they won't be home for 20 more days do to a new deal popping up." he says. 

I say okay then cut the call at that, not wanting a full conversation. I sigh, this is nothing new, just a longer period of time. Besides, your a big girl now and you have the boys and Logan to back you up with anything you need.

I lose the want to swim and get a shower instead, getting changed and starting the first season of bates motel. Jack comes over to stay the night with me so I'm not alone. I have to start pushing these feelings away before its too late.

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Hi loves! We're climbing pretty quickly! When I posted the previous chapter this morning we were at 2.3K now we're at 2.6K holy nuggets. THANK YOU GUYS I can't say it enough. Its an accomplishment for all of us to celebrate.

Stay cloudy loves

-McKenna ((June 1st, 2017))