Chapter 7: Aria & Vincent

It didn't take long for Jace to figure out Aria's main major course of study was for medicine. She was getting a minor in business something to fall back on. Aria was trying to be smart and have a few back up plans. She knew she had more time than most to finish the courses hell starting at seventeen with about up twelve years of college sill would not be as long as someone who is starting three to four years later than her. He was quite impressed when he was going over the transcript. Sending a note to his friend who would be accepting interns as part of the lab studies and telling him what's been going on. It did not take long to convince him to get Aria apart of it. After all she was everything he was looking for dedicated, smart, gifted. It was just too easy. Now all he has to do is stay out of sight on that project for a while and then everything will fall right into play. 

 Tris was happily looking at wedding dresses in the café on her break. So many styles, some were absolutely beautiful but too much for her. She wasn't that flashy of a person. She wanted something simple yet pretty. Something that made her feel like herself, she was never a princess and didn't care to look like one for one day. "Those really don't do you justice, besides we both know that's not your taste any way." Jace said with a slight chuckle, as he was walking by her with his caffeine in his hand a few feet away. "Well your right about that. Still doesn't hurt to look." She said looking back to her book turning the pages. 

 "I went to Killian. Like you said. He turned me down, so I guess I'll just pretend I don't exist around you?" Jace said scratching the back of his head. She looked up at him with no emotion. He waited for a moment before nodding and turning to walk away. "That won't be necessary." She said loud enough for him to turn around and look at her with a shocked look on his face. "I don't forgive you yet. I don't feel comfortable or safe in your company. However I am willing to let it go. As long as you keep your promise to keep your distance. We can be civil, or at least I can, you haven't exactly proved that yet. I don't want to make others uncomfortable more than already are around us and the only persons who suffer will be the possible patients so as long as we're both clear and understand you stay on your side of the fence when we HAVE to be near each other, everything should be fine." She said as she gathered her things and left. "TRIS!" He hollered while her hand touched the door. "I didn't do it for you." She said not looking back and exited the store still leaving a smile to his face.

 "I still don't see why I have to be here?" Aria whined early Saturday morning at the gun range. "This is family time. It's important for you girls to be able to protect yourself, so for my own piece of my mind my favorite girls are going to learn how to properly shoot, load, clean and handle a gun safely in case you ever need to in the future. Also the taser guns." He said happily. "Where do you point the taser gun Aria?" He asked her happily. "Oh dad do I have to say it?" "Where?!" He asked her again. She looked down and kicked the ground. "At the attacking man's pecker." She mumbled. "That's right baby." He said kiss the top of her head as he hugged her close to his side. After a long afternoon of shooting a variety of guns, tasers, even archery things. They went to a nice dinner and had a great time laughing the whole meal through like they've been doing this longer than the past year they have. Killian watching the two most important people in his life laugh hard at each other he couldn't believe he finally got his family. Nothing could get better than this he thought to himself as they went home and had a movie night and all passed out in the living room.

 "That strange." Aria said as she was checking her phone as they were dropping her off at campus. "What's that love bug?" Tris said running her hand through her hair pulling it out of the way. "I got an email for an internship after thanksgiving break. Who in their right mind would give a first year med student an internship?" Aria asked looking at them as they looked at her and looked down to the phone. "Well no hold on now what exactly does it say?" Killian asked trying to be level headed about it. "It says you have been recently selected along with a few other students based on specific qualifications to be a part of a selective medical program that will help you log better lab hour and more hands on experience hours work around school schedule and will give you the credits needed for lab and field work, possible credits can be enough to help graduate about two years earlier than scale or planned. Please submit a response in about few weeks of acceptance of the offer. Rejection of offer will not affect another offer in the future." Aria said looking at the with a questionable look. 

 "That sounds like an incredible opportunity. Graduating two years early would only put you in what a nine year plan. You would have a doctorate at twenty-four. Although you already got a three year head start more than anyone else already has. This could also cause more stress for you. I mean it would be extra work, extra everything really. This is your first year of college, maybe just take what you need to for now and take it slow. Than you can reapply later down the road to that place." Tris said trying to be supportive. Killian just looking back and forth between them staying quiet for the moment silent agreeing with Tris he did not want to see his baby girl so overwhelmed and possibly drop out from stress, especially not her first year in.

 "That's the thing, though I didn't apply to this one I have no idea how they even tested me to see how I was selected in the special group of people." "Did the school or your friends sign you up for anything?" Killian asked starting to get some red flags now. "Not that I am aware of, the school wouldn't do that without consent they post possible things like this that you have to apply for but neither I nor my friends have signed me up. I doubt very seriously any professor would put anyone who wasn't at least maybe a fourth year into this program. You know what I will research this and ask around and then I'll let you know what I come around to. If that's ok?" Aria asked nervously to the parental figures in front of her. "That is the smart thing to do. Look at this from every angle and go with whatever your gut is telling you. Offers like these don't always happen and sometimes they could happen at the strangest time in our life. It's those times when it's important to take a step back and evaluate the situation around you. We support whatever you choose to do." Tris said hugging her than placing a kiss to her forehead. Walking to the car to give Killian his moment.

 "Hate to say it but the damn woman is always right. It is weird for something like to this to just pop up. Just promise you won't make any hasty decisions and that you remember you have all the time you need baby girl. I am always proud of you. We'll be right here one phone call away for whatever you need." Killian said hugging his baby rocking her side to side for a moment than kissing the top of her head. "Thanks dad. I know. I promise I will go with my gut. I'll let you guys know later." She hugged him one last time before walking back up to her dorm. Lexy wouldn't be back until tomorrow she will going to class before she would be here. Feeling restless she decided to head over to the library and pass the time. She had to be there all this week for her shift anyway.

 She was so sucked into the book she was reading it caught her off guard when the young man grabbed her leg making her jump a few feet in her chair. "OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY!!" He said completely mortified. She was staring at him in complete shock. "I'm sorry I tripped and I thought I was grabbing a chair I didn't even see you in it. I am so sorry if I hurt or scared you." He started to ramble. His words set in her head as she saw all his belongings completely scattered all over the floor. "I'm sorry just give me one minute and I'll be out of your hair." He said in a sad voice. "Are you alright?" She asked softly as she got on her knees and started to gather his things neatly as she could to help him. He looked at her shocked. "Yeah, nothing hurt but the pride you know?" He laughed scratching the back of his head. Looking back at her. "Thank you." He said still staring at her in between putting his stuff back in his back pack.

 "Why do you keep looking at me like your scared of me?" She asked again in the same sweet soft voice. "It's just no one has ever really spoke to me here before. I'm the invisible kid." He said sadly looking at the ground. "Well with all due respect your one of the tallest guys I have ever seen with one of the deepest voices I have ever heard how do you of all people go unnoticed?" She laughed making him laugh with her. "Well that's simple I know literally no one since I was homeschooled the rest of my high school career and I'm only seventeen here so everyone kind of bypasses me so they stay out of trouble I guess." He said with a small stutter in between. 

 She smiled brightly. "Well if your struggling clearly I have no hope seeing as I am as short as the chair which is why you didn't see me and I am seventeen." She laughed back. "SEROUSLY?!" He asked excited. "Yup, graduated just a little ways back taking summer courses to stay ahead of the game, with my friends." She laughed out reaching out her hand. "Aria, Aria Jones. It's nice to meet you…" "Vincent, Vincent Holden. Without sounding like a bigger creepy nerd than I already have it is so great to meet you. I mean at least someone closer to my age. What's your major?" "I'm going in the doctor route so medicines and such." She said with a shrug. "ME TOO! Sorry for the over excitement. I don't ugh I don't really get to interact so much. I'm actually majoring the same field of course study." He said turning red looking down and shrugging his backpack up to his shoulder. 

 "It's fine stop apologizing. I get it I mean I'm not a social butterfly here myself I mean I actually just made my first set of friends this year. Is it ok to see your schedule?" Aria asked curiously. "Ugh sure, you're actually still holding it." He said pointing down to her hand. "Oh, sorry." She laughed off looking down at it. "We have all the same exact classes. So at least it's nice to know I'll have a friend to talk to." She said smiling looking at him handing his stuff back, while his mouth hung open shock on his face. "Are you ok?" She asked concerned. "It's just you called me your friend." He said blushing. "Is that ok? I mean is there something wrong with that?" She asked sadly taking a step back. 

 "NO! Sorry no, nothing is wrong with it. It's just no one has ever called me that before." Vince said looking down sadly. "I mean I don't want you to pity me or anything." He mumbled. "That's not what I was doing at all. It's just. It's so nice to have someone my age in my classes, who I feel comfortable so far around. I mean you may change your mind about me later when you see what a nerd I am. I mean I was bullied a lot before I jumped from sophomore year to senior in high school. I mean look at you no offense but it looks like you live in the gym." She said poking his bicep making him laugh harder. "Girl you don't know how wrong you are. I was bullied so bad in junior high and parts of the high school I ended up having to go to independent study because my cousin and his friends are actually doctors and they took me to the gym for a hobby and to learn to defend myself when I was thirteen I guess I use it as an escape or hobby now. I took the test to graduate early. My cousin got some cases up here and I decided to just enroll last minute here so I could be kind of close to him, but far enough to try things on my own. It's different that's for sure." He said smirking at her.

 "Yeah my parents live about an hour away, I didn't want to go too far. I made some friends last couple of months and it was like my first real step into the world coming here. I'm excited but nervous. I mean here we are a few years earlier than most people. It's kind of intimidating." She said smirking back trying to find the right word. "Well you know it should be I mean we are hella smart." He playfully said jokingly dusting off his shoulder making her laugh harder. "You know I was just here to kill time. Do you want to grab dinner we can go to down to the student center or the dinner or pizza café across the street?" She asked curiously. "Are you sure you want to be seen out in public with me?" He asked playfully. "I'm enjoying my time with you Vincent, if you're not too busy that is." She asked, not realizing he may have other things to do. "I was just in here to kill some time but yeah I could eat. Let's hit the diner. I can walk you back to your dorm after it'll be dark by the time we probably finish anyway." He said holding the door open for her. "Thanks." She blushed. 

 Early the next morning she went to the café and got two blended cappuccino's and went to her first class in the back of the lecture hall which was actually a lot higher than she thought it would be. Some girl came and asked her some questions realizing she was in the wrong class and asked Aria for help on her map. Vincent walked in seeing Aria he smiled. Four hours he spent with her and somehow it just didn't feel long enough. He wasn't sure if it was just because he was making a friend or if it was because he thought she was beautiful. He wished he wasn't so socially uncomfortable. Not wanting to disturb Aria who was probably just hanging out with him yesterday because she had nothing better to do. He was looking for a place to sit. 

 The girl left and Aria looked down and smiled. "VINCENT!" Aria hollered down to him. Than covering her mouth right away turning red making him smile widely at her as she waved him over. "Sorry. I saved you a sit if that's ok and I needed caffeine and thought you might too I wasn't sure what you actually liked to drink so I got you a blended Cappuccino like me." She said happily handing to him. "You're too cute. Thanks. I should have known you'd be sitting up here as short as you are." He teased her. It was so easy for her to speak to him like they known each other for years instead of just hours. "Yeah well get used to it buddy, the rest of the classes this is how we gonna be so I don't have to be like yo dude down in front." She said playfully. A couple looked back and laughed with them. "Before I forget give me your phone." She said holding out her hand. He slid it to her. She typed in a few things smiling widely than pulling out her phone. 

 "What are you doing?" He asked her curiously. "Saving me in your phone." She said smiling widely. "Alright." He chuckled at her. "See." She said calling her from his phone with both the contact names saying Bestie with two blue hearts on both sides. "Why are they blue?" Was he only thing he could ask. "It's my favorite color it's my happy color." She said shrugging looking even cuter. "It's my favorite color too." He said it was actually grey but any color that could make someone like her that happy has got to be special he thought to himself. "See, that's just another reason why we besties." She smiled smugly.

 "Won't your other friends get mad? I don't want to step on any toes." He put his hands up dramatically. "They'll understand. You'll see when we meet them for lunch today, if you're not busy their excited to meet you." She said simply. "You told them about me?" He asked shocked. "Yup bestie, so hope you don't feel too bad hanging around a few girls. They are looking forward to meeting you." Vincent felt his heart race and began to get nervous. Hoping it wasn't showing and he just smiled as the teacher began the class. Aria and Vincent walked together making some jokes along the way to their next class. "Hey, we still got a few minutes how about you go save me a seat I just have to make a quick call and I'll be right there." He said scratching the back of his head going around the corner where no one else was. Looking around he picked up the phone. 

 "Vince?" "Yeah it's me hey. I ugh I kind of need some advice." He said in a little shaky voice. "What's wrong are people trying to step up to you again? You need me to come get you?" He asked with worry in his voice. "No Travis, I am fine. I'm just getting a little worked up and I was hoping you could give me some advice about calming down. I made a friend yesterday and we hung out for hours. We have all the same classes and everything is going great. It's just she told her friends about me and they want to meet me and we're supposed to all go to lunch and I guess I'm just getting anxiety like I'm going to be in a group of like five girls. What if they are mean or what if they don't like me or think I'm weird? What if my friend doesn't want to be friends with me anymore after they shrug me off?" Vincent got cut off by Travis. 

 "Vince! Chill man. This new chick friend of yours does she know your underage?" "Yes it's fine it turns out so is she I'm only a few months older than her. Turns out we both graduated early the Dean said there was about fifteen underaged kids who got in here." "Ok, so she sounds smart. Also sounds like you got a new study buddy if she's in all your classes. Look is she nice to you? Does she seem like she's just looking for something in you?" "Nope she's just as socially awkward as I am in fact she just meet these friends this year. She said they really helped her through the year of getting bullied." He said with a bitter tone. "Watched the tone there man seems like you might like her more than just being friendly." Travis joked.

 "I might but that's not the point this is my first friend man, like how do I not ruin it before it even starts?" He asked scratching the back of his head. "Vince you're a great person. Just be yourself because apparently that's what she likes so far and should. Just relax and be you. Everything will fall into place. If she is an actual friend they will make you feel welcomed. If they don't you leave them tricks be and walk out. Just stay honest with her, it'll all be fine just breath. I am so proud of you Vince for stepping out of your comfort zone and putting yourself out there. I'm telling you it will all work out in the end. I got to go we have to we are short staffed and have to pull nurses from other offices today. Just breath you go this." Travis said as he hung up. Vincent walked back into the class room smiling and taking his sit next to Aria making small talk until all the classes.

They had finished all their classes and now was going for lunch and then Lexi and Aria would be heading off to work until five. They had a short day during the week only from 12-5 work days. Which helped Lexi and Callie take a night class. Maddie and Rylie were roommates on the other side of campus being business majors. Lexi and Callie were different they were fashion design which was dead set in the middle of the school. So they were actually closer to Lexi and Aria's room. He turned beat red as Aria introduced him as they met at the outside section of the café on across the street from campus. The girls were all beaming at him. 

"Girls I would like you to meet my bestie Vincent Holden. Vincent meet my other BFF's Rylie Wiltman, Alexia Newman, Madison Phillips and Callie Turner. They are all eighteen now. Vince is just turned seventeen." "We heard great things about you. Call me Lexi, I'm dorm mates with Aria so will probably be bumping into each other a lot also I work with her at the library so you will definitely see me a lot." She said shaking his hand with a friendly smile. "Damn you were right he's hot you know if you was just two years older I would so…" "RY!" Maddie said as she smacked her in the head. Making everyone laugh but Aria looked down at her feet while Vince was matching her blush. "It's nice to meet you ignore that one. She aint got no filter bless your poor soul around us crazy ass women." Maddie said shaking his hand. "I heard a lot about you, I feel like we know you already. Pass around your phone so we can get your digits for when we all can hang out or even make study groups. Even just try to blow off steam see were trying this thing starting next week where we take turns pulling names from a hat and that person gets to choose what activity we do on the one night we hang out in the week. It's normally Friday before we go home, if we go home." Callie said smiling.

"So it could be like literally anything and we have to do it?" He asked a little nervous. "Well we all know were on a budgets and we take account for allergies or things like that but yes and you our new friend are stuck with us." Rylie said with a wink. "You can always bring a friend or other guy if you get a little nervous. Just give us a heads up in case we have to reserve spots or something." Callie added. "Ok. Well I really don't have any. I mean I got a dorm mate who's really laid back trying to get me to go to things with him I'm sure he'd be down." Vince shrugged. "Ok, well let's hurry and pick we got to get to work." Lexi said. "You get to pick Vince my boy." Maddie said after throwing his name in the hat they took of Rylie's head. "Ok. Do all of you have jobs?" He laughed and asked as he pulled a name from the hat. "Yes." They all said at same time. "We work here on campus. For some spending money we pretty much all on scholarships like you." Aria said smiling at him. 

"Who is it? Who is it? Callie asked happily. "Lexi." He said out loud. "Awe." Was heard all the way around. "YES BITCHES!!! We are going midnight bowling. This Friday. I'll save two lanes. Vince bring your dormmate." Lexi said with a smile. "That leaves us off set. OH! I'll bring the cute guy from my math class." Rylie said making everyone laugh at her. "You mean Joel?" Maddie asked. "How'd you know?" Rylie whined back to her. "Trick you moan his name in your sleep." Maddie laughed out making everyone laugh with her, even Vince. "I can't help it I mean the man looks like daddy status ok. I'm taking a shot. Y'all wish me luck." She said as they all waved each other off mumbling good luck. 

"So that's the group huh?" Vince smirked feeling really comfortable about them. "That's my sisters from other misters. Hope you get used to it, once one of us drags you in you in they will call you just to make sure you eat and you alright they really do be looking out. You stuck with us now." Aria said slightly pushing him as he was walking her to the library for her shift while Lexi ran off to turn in a paper down the way. "After being alone for so long that actually sounds really nice. I'll talk to Dean about Friday. He's been trying to do the roommate bonding thing maybe this will put me in a better way with him. He seems pretty chill." Vince. "Aria?" "Yeah?" She said standing in front of him getting ready to go in the building. "Thank you for everything, today and all. It means a lot to me you helping me out of my shell and all. You are a great Bestie. You busy after this you want to go get dinner again maybe?" He smirked scratching the back of his head. "I'm your only main Bestie get that straight. I will see you here at five, food sounds great." She pointed laughing walking off. Making him smirk even further. 

 Walking in his dorm he sees Dean look up happily. "Look man I know you're probably going to say no, but I am not letting you spend another Friday night in this place. So pick anything and I will do it just dude let's get out." Dean said as he whined. Dean was eighteen and even though he wasn't into the party scene he still wanted to get out and be social like Vincent and the girls he got in on a medical scholarship too. He was from Maine and Connecticut since his parents split him in half for the divorce. "Dean I made some friends and they want us to go out with them this Friday night." He said stuttering a little bit. "Oh shit seriously. I got to hear this explain dude." Dean said happily crossing his legs on his bed with his hands going under his chin waiting to hear the story. 

"Well you know how I hung out with that girl Aria yesterday for a few hours and how she is in all my classes. Well she saved me a seat in every single one and has claimed me her best friend." Vincent said blushing. "She also introduced me to her four best friends and they kinda threw me into their group. So they do this thing where every Friday they pull a name out of a hat until all names are pulled and everyone has had a turn about doing something that person chooses to do. Alexia or Lexi was the name I drew from the hat today and she said we are going midnight bowling which for some reason starts at ten and ends after two a.m. or whenever we leave. So they invited us and some guy Rylie has the hots for named Joel. So what do you think you want to go?" Vince asked still blushing hard looking at him. 

"That sounds fun man of course I'm in. I don't want to go to the kegger some of the damn frat boys invited us out to. This sounds way better. So Aria huh? Spent about 48 hours with her now right? You like her or at least do you think you do?" Dean asked wiggling his eyebrows. "Well besides you she's my first real friend. She's smart, funny, short which leaves half the things she does cuter than hell. She's just so beautiful though Dean." Vince said looking at nothing particular. "Damn dude you got it this bad after 48 hours, you so screwed man. SO the other friends are they hot?" "They are definitely pretty and something else man they don't have no filter and make you feel like you been a part of the group for years." Vince said shaking his head. "Then I look forward to a night with the special ladies. I'm heading out to a night class, you wanna grab early dinner or something?" Dean asked getting his things together. "No I'm having dinner with Aria when she gets off tonight. 

"Two nights in a row, you sure you just friends?"" He said waving his eyebrows up and down again. Leaving Vince to throw his pillow at him. "Just playing with you bro." He said laughing out the door. Vincent worked through his work and got all his assignments done early. He wanted to be at the top of his game with his grades he couldn't afford college on his own and he refused to take money from Travis he was going to do this on his own. So he spent the whole time studying until it was time to go get Aria. Who knows maybe this could lead somewhere deeper than friendship but for now he just wanted revel in the fact he made a friend on his own. 

 Walking up to the building he was waiting outside for Aria. Watching her come out of the building. Now being the awkward person he was the way his body was built had strange thirsty girls always trying to approach him, he may legally be seventeen but he looked at least nineteen maybe even twenty-one. "Hey there, I'm a little lost I seem to lost my way to my dorm, maybe you can take me back to yours?" The tallish blonde asked him running a finger down his arm. "Nope sorry." He said taking a step back handing her hand back to her. "Oh, come on now don't be shy." She said stepping back up to him trying to touch him again. "NO, means NO. I NEED AN ADULT!!" Vincent said as he blew a whistle from his pocket. Making the blonde grow completely embarrassed and running away from him. 

Aria was leaning over on a bench table laughing uncontrollably at the situation she just saw bouncing her leg up and down snorting trying to breath. He walked up to her. "Thanks for the help bestie." He said opening his arms gesturing the universal signal for what the hell. "YOU… (breathe) You blew a damn rape whistle." She said trying not snort. "YOU…(breath) (clapped her hands) YOU yelled I. Need. An. Adult." She said leaning into him at this point. "I thought I was going to pee myself that was the funniest thing I ever saw. The look on that barbies face." "You done? It was not that funny I blew the whistle because I thought she wanted to rape me. She wanted me to take her back to my dorm because she lost the way to hers like seriously. It was gross it was like her damn ass was a sneeze away from coming out of that skirt that was practically a belt. I feel like I need a shower. Probably got an STD from her touching my arm." Vince said as he shuttered.

 "Alright my poor baby, let's go get dinner at the pizza parlor my treat for not helping you against rapist barbie." Aria said laughing again. "Fine." "The girls are going to roll at this." She said wrapping her arm around his walking to the parlor. "You a mean little woman man you know that?" He said laughing at her. They stayed at the parlor for three hours before they got thrown out and made their way back to the dorms where after he got back they texted for another two. It stayed this way the whole week until Friday came. They don't have class on Friday's luckily the best part of the summer school program they were in. Aria did do two Friday morning shifts at the Library though. This was not a weekend she was going home so after wards she went back to the dorms. Lexi did not work most Fridays so she pulled out a cute halter top and dark washed jeans for Aria and helped her do her make up just the way Tris showed them. 

"You know I don't know how to thank you for being our friend Aria. I learned a lot from you and Tris. I don't think any of us would be here right now if it weren't for you two." Lexi said as she hugged Aria from the back. "I don't think you guys know just how much you mean to me. I mean you guys were my first friends like ever. I know the age gap is kind of like a hold back for you guys right now and if you guys want to go off and do things I can't do I am ok with that. You guys will always be important to me. I just want you to enjoy your college life even if it means I get left out every now and then. I'm ok with that." Aria said smiling. "Why you talk stupid crap for you know it wouldn't be half as much fun if we couldn't share it with you, but I understand where you coming from. We love you; you know?" "I love you guys back." Aria said smiling. They came out of their moment when they heard a knocking.

 Looking at each other confused. They opened the door to see Vincent and what they assumed was his dormmate. "Holy hell you are beautiful." Dean said loudly. Making Vincent smack the back of his head. "I mean hello. I am Dean Johnson and I would like to thank you for the invite tonight. Haven't been bowling in a long time. Looking forward to it." He said leaving his hand out to shake. "Alexia please call me Lexi." "Aria." They both said as they took turns shaking his hand. "Damn man you right they both pretty." He whispered loudly. "Take a piece gum man." Vince said running a hand down his face. "Why?" He asked. "So your mouth will stop saying dumb things." Vince said putting his hands in his pockets. Making the girls laugh. "We were hoping to walk you guys over there you know it's dark outside and some of the people on campus are little wasted already." Vincent said looking down at Aria. 

"That's really sweet the others are almost there." Aria said smiling. "Do you mind that I grab your arm? Maybe I should have asked before just linking myself to you all the time." Aria said with a laugh. "It's fine Ari I don't mind if you do it. I mind when the crazy tricks on campus do it." He said as he little hand was wrapped in his arm as his hands were in his pockets as the conversation they kept mainly stayed between them lost in their own little world until they met up with everyone. Joel surprised Vincent and Dean he stood just as tall as they did muscles matched Vincent yet he had short hair and glasses. If he was to wear plaid clothes he would have been a T.V version of the perfect geek. Except more handsome. They did not see the loud always happy Rylie being so attracted to him. He was quiet for a while but started to loosen up in the middle. He got along with Vincent and Dean great. 

Vincent was starting to rethink bringing Dean who could not keep himself away from Lexi who didn't seem to mind to much. Callie and Maddison decided to go back to the dorms early they were going home in the morning since their class was canceled Monday. Rylie and Joel left around two A.M. Dean and I walked the girls back the same time. Four hours went by in a blink of an eye. Neither of us seemed to want the night to end. "So Lexi, would you mind if I took you out to dinner tomorrow?" Dean asked being the straight shooter that he was. "You know what Dean you're alright. I would love to join you tomorrow. Is this like a date?" She whispered. "Yes." He whispered back. "I never had one of those before." She whispered back. "Well glad to be your first. Tell you what you wear something comfortable and we will go to dinner and a movie and enjoy our first date together." He said scratching the back of his head. "Sounds great thanks for tonight I had great time." She said as she kissed his cheek and waved off Vince.

"It was great meeting you Aria. I had a great time thank you so much for including me. Can't wait for next Friday." He said happily as he went to wait for me outside. "Wow, your boy don't waste no time does he?" Aria asked me making me laugh. "Nope, you know I really admire him for that sometimes, other times it's like damn man get some shame." I told her making her laugh hard. "I really did have a great time tonight Aria. If you would have told me a week ago I would be talking and hanging out with a great group of people I would have laughed in your face man. I'm very thankful I was able to trip and make a fool of myself in front of you. You are a great person Aria. Thank you so much for helping me. Goodnight Ari." I kissed her on the top of the head and walked off before I lost all my nerve and blushed in front of her.

"Smooth man, real smooth there." Dean told me as I walked in. "Shut up man. You're the one who scored a date with Lexi. Please whatever you do bro just please be good to her." I begged him. "Look I actually really like her. So I promise I won't mess this up who knows maybe soon we could be double dating." He elbowed me in the rib. "So Aria got the same offer to intern as you did through your cousins friends friend huh? Are you guys going to take that amazing opportunity?" Dean asked curiously. "Well we talked about it a lot but I think we came to a good smart choice. I mean this is our future careers and this offer is so great. We can't afford to be stupid right now though." "Yeah I hear, you know I get this weird vibe from your cousins friend though he seems kind of I don't know off maybe you two should just watch out. I know you go back to their house they sharing right now every two weeks, just saying be careful around that guy." Dean said looking him in the eye as they both crawled in their beds.

 "Who Jace. Look Jace is one of the smartest men I ever met but yeah he can be such a tool. Man he had this great chick right but you know the type always looking for more instead of being happy with what you have. Well she wasn't ready to leave or switch jobs like he wanted so he ups and leaves her than tried crawling back she goes missing for almost a whole year Travis and Bryce beat the hell out of him. Except he found her again and they sometimes have to work together and now she got a boyfriend and I guess some things went down Travis said it's a tense time at home, I wish he would get away from him for a bit though I know they like close for years and all but last couple years than dude been off the chain. Trust me I stay far away from his crazy ass. Night man." Vince said as Dean turned off the light.

It was now a few weeks of being around each other daily. Early Saturday morning and Aria was stopping to catch her breath. "We can stop if you need to." He said chuckling at her. "No. I just need a minute." I said to him bending over laughing with him. I wanted to start running and Vince decided to come with me seeing as he loves a good run in the morning. Pulling out my phone I noticed he took aside step to pull something out of the small back pack he brought with us to jog in the nearby woods trail. It was a facetime request. "Hey daddy." I said happily waving through phone to see Tris and my dad happily cuddled on the couch at home. "There's our baby. How are you. What are you doing?" Dad asked laughing at me being all sweaty. 

"Well remember how I said I wanted to start running and the girls told me no well my new bestie told me yes. So here we are." I said showing the trail behind me. "Well good for you baby girl your body will thank you for it later. Make sure to drink plenty of water is this the same friend you told me about you met while back?" Tris asked happily. "Yep." I said popping the p. "What new friend? Look at my baby out making friends I'm proud of you baby." Dad said happily. "Yeah hold that thought daddy." I said with a chuckle. "What's that supposed to mean." He asked in a confused tone. "Here Ari, you need to drink this and rest for a minute. Oh sorry didn't know you was on a call." Vincent said as he handed her the water.

 "Who the fuck was that?" Dad asked loudly on the phone. "Calm down babe that's just Vincent Aria's new friend she met last week." Tris said. "You knew she met a boy and didn't tell me?" He asked getting mad. "Yeah she's in college she's going to meet a lot of people no matter what gender they are. She met a stray dog two weeks ago too you want to know that too. Instead of getting pissy why don't you talk to him I mean hell the boy is right there." Tris said making me cringe. "I'm so sorry." I mouthed to him who was smirking strongly shaking his head waving her off saying it was fine. "Aria give that boy the phone." Dad said in that tone that scared both of us. 

 "Hello Mr. Jones. My name is Vincent it's nice to meet you." Vince said sweetly. "Boy just how old are you?" He asked taking him in. "I just turned seventeen not too long ago. I go to the same school with Aria we actually have all the same classes." He said with a chuckle. "I see your parents let you graduate early also?" He asked curiously. "I did graduate early. I ugh don't have any parents though I got emancipated last year, I do stay with my cousin though he helped get everything situated." Vince said in a trying to cheer up the mood type of way. "I'm sorry, son. Didn't mean make you uncomfortable. So are you trying to date my daughter?" Killian asked not wasting no time. "DAD!!!" "KILLIAN!!" Tris and Aria yelled at the same time. "Both you hush I asked the boy a question." He said in that serious tone. 

 "I am growing close to your daughter sir; I cherish her friendship deeply. Considering I never had friends until I met her. I am slowly coming around to being ok in certain social things like in person classes and it's thanks to Aria. She told me she used to struggle too. So we're kind of taking to all of the new school college being an adult stuff one task at a time. If however, in the future if she will let me I would very much like to date your daughter sir. I think she's an incredible person and I am very grateful for having met her. I mean if I hadn't I would probably be having a panic attack trying to get food at the student center." Vincent said scratching the back of his head. "I know that couldn't have been an easy thing to say to my almost face. So if things change between the two of you I expect you at my door step to meet me in person." Killian said leaving no room for argument. 

 "Now that that's out of the way. You better make sure my baby gets home in one piece whenever she's with you. All my girls." Killian added. "Yes sir, always." Vince said as Aria came sitting next to him as he held the phone out so the both of them can be seen in it. "Ok, now Aria what did you tell them about the internship?" Killian asked curiously. "Funny story about that Vincent was offered the same one." Aria said smiling. "Wow, really. Small world." Tris said happily. "Hmmm." Killian said. "We actually talked about it a lot this past week and we came to a decision together. We're going to pass on it for the time being." Aria said looking at him and then back to her dad who was smiling. "Really?" Killian asked happily.

 "Well I was going to say yes but Vincent reminded me we are on scholar ships and this is our first year. It would be stupid crazy to stress ourselves that much so soon. We have plenty of time for these kinds of things and if we don't get into them later it wasn't meant to be but the point is we're not going to over work ourselves any more than we have to for the time being." Aria said smiling to her parents. "I hope you don't think I talked her out of some amazing thing here. It's just We are already ahead by a couple of years on so many things I didn't want to feel like we were cheating ourselves out of anything that is already happening earlier than normal people. Besides I felt like there were too many red flags about it. Like neither one of us actually applied to the offer. Plus a lot of those machines are multi-million dollar pieces of equipment and yeah we may be mature, smart, responsible teenagers but and I'm sorry for saying it like this who the hell is going to let minors operate some of those machines? It's too weird and doesn't make sense to me. So we thought it would be great idea if we just stuck to taking the courses we had planned before we go there and join in study groups. For the time being. I hope you're ok with that and not mad her." Vince taking responsibility for the answer she choose.

 "Well I got to say you really are a smart boy. I did not want Aria to go into that program. I was more scared she'd get overwhelmed and try to drop out or change her major a couple times. So thank you for changing her mind. No offense sweety I would have supported you either way but I'm glad you got Vince there to help you think it all out. I was wondering how you would have been able to be a part of that being underaged anyway." Killian said hugging Tris more into his side happily. "Maybe this kid aint so bad after all." He mumbled to Tris. "Well thank you sir." Vince said smiling making everyone laugh. "Stop calling me sir, I already got this lady right to make me feel old I don't need you adding to it. Just call me Killian." Killian said smiling to the boy. "Ok thank you Killian. "I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and giving you a shot kid because I understand your side of things seeing it from my own eyes with Aria. Don't make me regret it son, they'll never find your body. Bye baby girl enjoy your run." Killian said as he hung up the phone.

 "Oh my God I am SOOOO SORRY Vince about my dad. I didn't know he'd ask and say all that?" "It's fine, but ugh are we going to talk about some of it?" Vince asked looking at her. "Well which parts do you want to talk about or are open to talk about? I will never force you to talk about anything you aren't ready for." "I know Ari. I know." He said cutting her off. "I'm an open book right now so is there something you want to. talk about. Well you know we have talked nonstop about everything in our lives except our parents maybe if your open to it I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours?" Aria said with a sweet smile. "Yeah your parents are really cool by the way I liked talking to them you look more like you dad and nothing like your mom. I mean except being like a white version of your dad." Vincent said as he realized both he and Aria looked the same as the was dark skinned and she was creamy tan with a small laugh.

 "That's because she's not my birth mom she's my chosen mom." Aria said looking down. "What's a chosen mom?" Vince asked raising an eyebrow. "Ok, so when my dad turned 19 he was with my mom and they got pregnant with me by accident. My dad said it was the greatest thing that ever happened to him. My mom wanted to abort me she wanted to go to Yale she just needed a small chunk of change to get there. So my dad begged on his hands knees for her to have me and his parents paid the rest of the money for her to go to Yale. My dad raised me with his parents and best friends I never had any female in my life other than my grandma. My mom signed her rights away went to Yale and got hooked on drugs. She doesn't even know what I looked like and she overdosed and died when I was nine. This whole last year. I have changed all thanks to my nanny slash house keeper my dad hired. I was just this bullied loser nerd with a horrible stutter getting beaten and picked on all day with my OCD out of control. Tris she helped me. She showed me how to be a girl and be ok with myself." Aria took a deep breath.

 "It wasn't just me either you know the girls. Well they never had a mom either my dad's best friend Ryder is with a woman I call Aunt Ellie and she is Tris best friend. They are our mother. Without them I would be so lost still crying every night wondering why my mom and peers just didn't want me. I learned from Tris there is nothing wrong with me. The world didn't have a problem with me, just bad people did. I had to rise up forgive them and keep doing what was best for me. She really grew on my dad and changed him to, their together now about to get married soon and I couldn't be happier to finally be a complete family I honestly hope they have a baby. I always wanted real sibling." Aria said smiling. "That is an incredible story. I am happy for you; you deserve to be happy Ari." He said smiling. 

 "OK well, my parents I remember they were around when I was younger but they didn't like me much I was an only kid. My mom couldn't have any more. My dad really wanted me to be more of a jock but I liked reading instead. My parents were mean bullies in school the popular kids so when they had a freakishly smart son, they were let down I guess. They got into drugs and were always disappointed in me they would hit me slap me around. Make me clean stuff up and I got bullied a lot. My mom's sister was visiting with my uncle her husband, who was always excited to see me. He was like the dad I didn't have for a while and my cousin Travis. They would come check in on me every now and then it wasn't until I was ten that my parents just gave me away to them because they got caught hitting me my uncle put my dad in the hospital. My aunt knocked my mom unconscious and I never had to see them again. I didn't even go to their funeral after they overdosed I did get their life insurance policy they left me and my grandparents share they left them rolled over to me too. I'm still currently living on it. I actually can live it on it until I graduate as long as I stay on the scholarship that is." He said with a chuckle.

 "I stayed with my aunt and uncle until I was fifteen got emancipated last year because I always felt like a burden, even though they never treated me like one. I still just felt uncomfortable. My cousin let me stay with him and he kept me on independent study working out so people would stop bullying me and now he is sharing with two of his friends and I am living in dorms I plan to get an apartment when I'm eighteen and a car and taking and doing whatever I got to do to graduate early. Then I met you and everything just got better." Vince said looking at the ground making us both blush. "Thank you for sharing with me Vince." "Thank you for sharing with me. Guess were more alike than we thought. Both of us just building ourselves from the ground up." He said holding my chin to look at him. "I think we're doing a damn good job so far." I said proudly, I am proud of how far we both have come in our separate lives. "Yes we are he smiled down at me still holding my chin up to look at him. 

 "Should we talk about the other questions your dad asked? Did I cross any lines with you Ari because I meant what I said." Vince said softly. "I don't know. It's all so surreal to me. I never liked anyone before. I never dated. Hell I don't even know how to flirt or if someone is honestly flirting with me or just being nice and playing around. I am out of my element here Vince." I answered him nervously. "I understand. I never done any of this either but I know enough to know I do feel something for you Ari I mean I don't think friends get as excited as I do knowing they get to see each other or get jealous when other guys start looking you. I think we may have a deeper connection and each time we spend together I think the deeper it goes." He said holding both her hands now. 

 "Look so what we don't know how all this dating stuff works. I mean look at our age are we really supposed to. Hell Aria we are just smart kids who had to grow up a little too fast. We have time. So let's just keep doing this. Let's keep building on what we got going on. I want to be with you Ari. I'd like to. We have time for all this though there is no rush. So let's stay open and honest. We will speak up if we are confused or scared about anything. Just can we at least agree until we ready to be officially together agree not to like date around or anything just be like unofficially official or something?" Vince asked scared still holding her hands looking at her. 

"Do you think I would honestly date someone else waiting for you? Who the hell is going to want me Vince I'm walking jail bait." She said laughing making him chuckle. "Yeah we both are. That doesn't stop guys from checking you out though Ari. I'm insecure and get nervous you might come across a guy smarter, stronger or better looking than I ever could be. I get jealous of the thought of someone being able to hold you or kiss you. I would like someday soon to be able to be that guy whenever you ready. I don't want to ruin what we have though. So this is my intentions with you Ari I want to be with you soon and keep working on bettering ourselves." He said looking at her. 

 "Well what if I am ready for some of my firsts to be taken?" Aria asked wrapping her arms around his neck. "What do you mean?" He asked placing his two hands at her waist. Surprised by the movement and how natural it felt. He was so much bigger than her he was scared to break her. She didn't even give him time to understand what was happening when she pushed her lips against his in a sweet way. He was taken back but didn't waste much time before kissing her back holding her close to him. After they realized they both needed air they pulled apart. "That was the best kiss ever. I'm not just saying that because that was my first." He said making them both turn red. "I like you Vince let's do exactly what you said." She said as they went hand in hand walking down the trial back to the dorms. "You realize you going to have to go home with me and chill with my dad." Aria said making Vince smile. "I'm down for that. I will make that man want me to be the son he never had." He said making them both laugh hard. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 It was going to be a long day it's been a good two weeks since I last had to speak to Jace, however two other nurses that wasn't Ellie and I had to go across the street apparently there was a special case that needed our help there were a couple actually and it was an all hands on deck situation. Even a few med students studying to be doctors were here they were just barely residents no real experience what's so ever so this should be fun I say to myself as my eyes roll. When we get there, there is already a student barking orders at some of the others. The other nurses and I look at each other roll our eyes and start looking at charts looking for the attending doctors on hand and their orders, if the patients have any special conditions or PPO those kinds of things. That's when five doctors came out and Jace started to bark back at the boy. Tris was not ready or wanting to see him but she took a little oath and these patients come first. 

 Jace looked at me Travis and Bryce all of them just nodded to me and went to work. The day went fast. I butted heads with the annoying barking resident from before who thought he knew everything but apparently patient history was not his forte, considering he wasn't paying attention to the special conditions such as allergies. He was getting upset with me because I refused to give a patient a certain type of injection seeing as the patient was highly allergic to the main ingredient so I told him I would wait for the attending to prescribe another type of medicine because that one is not permitted and then as soon as he was done screaming at me as how I was just a simple nurse who needed to remember my place that's when Jace stepped in pist as hell.

 "YOU DON"T EVER SPEAK TO HER OR ANY OTHER HELPING MEMBER OF THIS STAFF THAT WAY AGAIN YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Jace said pressing the young man in to the wall. "Maybe you seem to forgot the first day of school when they told you the nurses are the ones who truly run this place not you. This one right has more experience and training on these floors than you do in your whole life. I've personally worked with her for years and would trust her judgement over yours any day. Your still wet behind the damn ears boy. What can you tell me about your patient your arguing about with her right now. He needed the injection for his lungs and she refuses to give it to him check the labs for yourself." "Nurse Alderman?" He asked still holding the little prick against the door. "Yes Dr. Morgan." She answered in the most respectful way she could.

 "What can you tell me about the patient his arguing about?" He asked looking at her. "His name is Joseph Taylor and everyone calls him Joey. He has fluid built up in the lungs and is in a coma from the car accident about a week ago. He is the only one still here, from the accident is 22 old year male, also an accountant for a firm down south and has five main bruises on his chest caused by the seat belt and four pressure sores on his legs, three cuts on the face and a sprain wrist. He is highly allergic to peanuts and coding." "Now tell me while she was waiting for the official doctors' orders to prescribe a medicine, what is the main key ingredient in the injection you were trying to give this man?" "Coding." He said looking down. "You are fired from this office. She just saved this man's life from you being his doctor. You still have a long way to go and way too much to learn before you step foot anywhere near another patient. You owe this woman an apology on your way out my door." Jace said dropping the man back to the floor. 

 The young man looked at her full of rage coming up to mutter an apology to her before she put up her hand. "Save your breath and just leave." She said as she walked up to Jace. Looking at each other for a moment. "Thank you, for that Jace." She said and meant it. "No way in hell will I let anyone talk to you or anyone else on this staff that way. YOU are amazing at your job. I trust you. Not them. I know you know what your doing so please just keep up the great Tris we need you badly here for a couple of days." He said as politely went back in to help a patient. Maybe there still is a good man in there after all, or maybe he just can put on a great show. Either way she was going to be alert on her toes.