Chapter Twenty Five: pretends
Chapter Twenty Five: pretends
Aria’s pov
“Aria?”
“Celeste?” It’s been so long since I last saw you ladies. She pulled us in for a hug. I stood still like I was starstruck.
“Camille, it's so good to see you again.” Celeste hugged her back but I was sure she didn’t mean every word she said.
I guess it’s a small world. I should have been prepared to bump into her, I mean it’s a small city. I know I wouldn’t be able to avoid meeting her for long but I wish it wasn’t so soon.
“Hi Camille, it's been a while.” I hugged her back but I didn’t try to seem too friendly since we don’t share a good past and I know she is the reason my life was going to get ruined.
Since I am the only one aware of what she has done both in the past and what she is still doing and I kept it to myself I didn’t want to act funny because honestly she disgust me. But I just had to play along.
Good thing I didn’t tell Celeste about Camille but Celeste is not the type to keep things to herself. She would ruin the plan with her hot head and her sharp tongue. But I felt guilty for keeping things away from her and I promise myself to tell her everything when it’s all over.
“Let me treat you to lunch.” Camille said with a big fake smile plastered on her face.
“We were just leaving.” Celeste chipped in almost before Camille finished with her statement. I almost laughed at the slight but I had to also fake my smile.
“Thank you for the offer, Camille maybe next time.” I smiled through my teeth. Celeste and myself do the good cop, bad cop thing all the time. She was the bad cop and me the good cop.
“That’s fine.” She smiled gently. I began to wonder what all the fakeness is about because it was just Celeste and myself present there and we all know we don’t have such a good history.
“I really miss you girl, so how about I invite you for lunch some other time, let’s say tomorrow.” With that being said she brought out her business cards and handed it over to both Celeste and myself.
“I hav…”I held her hand before she could complete her sentence. Celeste was about to decline and fake up some important meeting tomorrow just to skip lunch date. Our eyes met and she understood what I was saying without me saying anything and it was for her to play nice. Celeste was reluctant to take it. I could feel her rolling her eyes at the back of her head.
“I hope you don't decline my offer because of our past.” She added. I knew she was up to something I wasn’t sure what it is but I am not backing down and acting like I am scared of her.
“Not at all, that was all in the past Camille, we would make it.” I assured her that I have learned to let things go as she claims she has done the same even if deep down I know she is lying through her teeth.
“Nice hairstyles by the way.” She added and with that she left.
Her last statement was a compliment but it was a compliment that left me worried. I hope she didn’t see any footage of me in the bank when I was to impersonate Mr Patrick Harris' wife.
I tried to shake the thought out of my head. Maybe she just really likes my hairstyle and she is trying to seem friendly. So many thoughts were crossing my mind all at once.
Camille is dangerous and if she actually figured I was the one at the bank that means bumping into her today wasn’t a coincidence. She has something up her sleeve.
I would have loved to clear my doubts and go to the bank myself to ask questions, but Celeste knows nothing about what is going on and it isn’t the right time to tell her about it. She was going to drive me home first before going home herself, and if I told her I’m going to the bank she would suspect something.
“Aria.. Aria..” I snapped out from my thoughts when Celeste tapped me.
“Yh.. yes.” I sounded lost.
“Are you ok?” She was concerned.
“Yes, sure.” I tried to smile it away. I didn’t realize I was that lost.
“Are you sure?” She uses her eyes to scan through my body.
“Yes Celeste.” I tried to sound more convincing.
“Ok then, we should go.” She added and I nodded in approval. With that we left.
“That stupid bitch Camille.” Celeste spat. I know she isn’t the type to let things go. I saw this coming.
“Come one Celeste, she seems different and she was really nice to us today, plus she invited us for lunch.” I had to play the good cop not just because I was trying to calm Celeste down but because I am not the type to hit up someone’s hate for another and Celeste knows it but deep down I also wanted to rip Camille apart as much as Celeste, maybe even more than her.
“Damn right she did.” She rolled her eyes.
“I promise you she hasn’t changed a bit. How can you still have a soft spot for her after everything she did to you?” She sounded frustrated. Celeste might not have known about Camille trying to frame me up for muder but she sure did know a lot of things.
“Let’s just give her a chance, Celeste.” I didn’t mean every word I said and I didn’t have to bother because Celeste is not the type to give people a second chance so I was sure she wouldn’t let her guard down for no matter what I say.
With that we arrived at my house faster than I thought since Celeste was busily stepping on the pedals with determination. I knew she was angry about meeting Camille so I didn’t complain about her driving, I only tried to calm her down and tell her to be careful. Regardless I know she has my best interest at heart and wouldn’t do anything to harm herself or my baby and I.
“Thank you so much for today Celeste.” I said as I came down from the car.
“Don’t mention you know I will do anything for you. I am just a phone call away.” She winked at me.
“Yes sure I know. I smiled at her.” I waved at her as she drove off.
Oh Celeste. I sighed heartily as she drove off. She is such a drama queen but she wasn’t angry for no reason. Camille is a dirty person and even if Celeste doesn’t know all about her, it’s a good thing she doesn’t trust her for a second.
Chapter Twenty Six: The visit
Aria’s pov
“So glad you ladies could make it.” Camille pulled us in for a hug.
It’s a pleasure to have you in my home. She added as she smiled through her teeth.
“The pleasure the ours.” I did most of the talking because if it was up to Celeste she would tell Camille to shove it up her ass.
I must admit that her house is really beautiful, but as we walk by I noticed there was no pictures of her husband or even a family portrait.
“Your house is really beautiful.” I said, I am trying to head somewhere without being the one to ask the question.
“How can you afford such an expensive house?.” Celeste asked the question in my mind. I was sure she would ask. I love how she can comfortably ask awkward questions. If there is someone that can say unsaid things it’s her.
“How do you think, I work my ass out.” Camille chuckled. I felt that strangling her and shouting to the words that she is a muder. If working her ass out means putting her husband in coma and taking over all of his properties, then she must be insane.
“Come on ladies the table is here.” She added. I am not sure what the feast the about but there sure was a lot of food on that table.
“Thank you Camille.” I sent her a small smile as we made our way to sit. Celeste wasn’t even putting up an act to fake her energy, she didn’t really care what was going on and she was only there because I convinced her to come.
“So tell me Aria what have you been up to? How has this city been treating you because from what I see things, it's not been good out there and what the news says... phew.” Typical Camille I have been waiting for her to use those things against me she can’t pretend for too long. She has the guts to tease about my pain. A pain she caused me to begin with.
“What the news says about her or what you want to say to her?” Celeste challenged her immediately.
“My bad I mean no harm, I’m just watching out for my friend.” I could feel the sarcasm in every of her words.
“You better watch it for yourself.” Celeste was starting to lose it. I know putting these two in a room wasn’t such a good idea.
“Maybe you should stop over reacting and relax.” Camille said in her calmest tone.
“You were the one that engaged her man after he abandoned her.” Camille said under her breath but loud enough for us to hear.
“I’ve had it with this two faced bitch.” Celeste snapped as she stood up from her chair furiously as she stared at Camille. She would rip her apart if I don’t do something. I guess lunch has ended even before it could start.
“See who is calling me a two faced bitch.” Camille stared back at Celeste.
“Enough!!” I shouted. Celeste wasn't wrong about everything she was saying but I didn’t want them to fight. I would bet my money that Celeste would take her down but it isn’t the right time yet.
“I told you we shouldn’t have come here Aria.” Celeste said to me furiously, with that she took her handbag and walked away.
“I wouldn’t sit there and watch her disrespect you or me.” She added as she walked away.
“Maybe you should do things on better grounds next time.” I turned and told Camille. I wasn’t going to let her off the hook for disrespecting my best friend and me just because I am trying to investigate her. With that being said I also picked up my bag and turned to leave.
“Maybe you should pick yourself a better best friend.” Camille said as I turned to leave. Her words stopped my motion. I wasn’t going to get into it with her, but I wouldn’t let her talk down on my friendship with Celeste, or be the dictator of how I should pick my friends.
“You hold it right there Camille, Celeste is a better person that you will ever be.” I tried to sound as calm as possible and I let her know that her words won’t get to me no matter what she says. I am not in on her stupid games.
Celeste on the other hand was already in her car waiting for me. She knows better that I would rather come with her than be with Camille over a stupid lunch she never had the intention of having with us, but to use as her opportunity to get under Celeste and my skin.
“Come on Celeste you don’t have to cry about it.” I was shocked to see her eyes teary when I got into the car. The Celeste I know is a tough person and she doesn’t easily break but what Camille said must have really gotten to her.
“Aria didn’t you hear what she said in there.” Her voice broke.
“She think I stole Lucian from you or I am the cause of everything that happened to your relationship with him. I know I have apologized to you about everything that happened, but deep down I have not been able to live with myself. I get bullied by strangers because they think I stole Lucian from you but I didn’t. And I have no idea how to prove my innocence and it’s eating me up. She cried with frustration in her voice.
It made my heart shatter to piece. She would have had to deal with thing like this if I didn’t ask her to pretend to be Lucian’s girlfriend and she would have had to face this humiliation from Camille if I didn’t convince her to come to the lucnch.
“It’s fine Celeste please stop crying. I am sorry I put you in this situation, it must have been really hard on you.” I wipe her tears with my finger and I pulled her in for a hug as I pat her back gently.
“You should know better than anyone that I know you did what you did to protect me. I was just too blind to see Lucian wasn’t worth it. I won’t be able to live with myself if I see you break down like this.” Tear began to gather at the corner of my eyes but I had to hold it back. I can’t be a cry baby in this situation Celeste needs my support but I was breaking inside. My heart felt heavy.
“You know how much I love you and I cherish our friendship. I would never think ill of you Celeste and I must not have said it often, but I really appreciate everything that you do for me.” I also felt relieved apologizing to her.
“I love you too Aria.” She responded softly.
“Come on let’s get you home.” She added. I could tell that she must feel much better.
The drive was short and a little quite. I didn’t want to push having any conversations with Celeste, I still wanted her to heal. So we just listened to some music.
“Thank you for dropping me off.” I hugged Celeste before coming down from the car.
“Anything for you Aria.” She said with a gentle smile on her face. She turned to leave as I watch her drive out I picked up my phone to make a call.
“It’s happens today.”