It was midnight. The night was peaceful as always, every once in a while, a car would pass there. Everyone was sleeping, happy, and comfortable in their warm beds.
All except for Aria.
Aria was drowzy on the couch. Everytime she would close her eyes, flashes of her memories, particularly, her childhood, would appear. When she would sleep, the sun was already up.
Aria groaned. "Why do these have to show up now?" She thought as she got up. Thankfully, Casper had a coffee machine for her to drink a cup of bitter energy. She pressed a few buttons and let the machine did its work. While she waited, she noticed Casper walking out of the bedroom, stretching and yawning.
"Morning, Aria. You're up early." Said Casper. Aria decided to ignore her as she stared at the coffee maker. Casper walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, you alright?" He asked. She made an affirmative grunt.
"Are you sure? You look tired." He said.
"Nothing coffee couldn't fix." She said as she took the pitcher from the coffee maker and poured it on a cup. Casper looked at her for a few seconds before minding his own business.
At school, Casper would notice Aria being less energetic than usual; she would walk more slowly, more irritable, and would often sleep at random times of the day. When they both got home, Casper decided to confront Aria.
"Aria, can I talk to you for a second?" He asked.
"You are talking to me." Aria snarked.
"I'm not playing around, Aria. What's wrong with you? You're sleeping more so than usual." He said.
"And the point is?"
"The point is, why are you sleeping more?" Aria widened her eyes in alarm.
"Why do you care?" Aria asked.
"I care because you're my friend, Aria. And I don't like my friends troubled." He said.
"Whatever." Aria said as she Walked passed Casper.
"Just... Take care of yourself, alright?" He said as he went to his room.
"Casper?" Said Sonata.
"What is it, Sonata?" He asked.
"Can you please stop asking Aria what her problem is?" She asked.
"Why?"
"Because, as Aria's friend, she doesn't want anyone to know about her. She would only trust me and Adagio."
Casper looked at her with hesitation. "Fine, I'll drop it for you." He said.
"Thanks." She said as she opened her book.
"Now, can you help me with this question?"
A few days went by, Aria became increasingly more agitated, worrying both Sonata and Casper. Aria became more and more prone to fights and arguements with her and Casper rose.
One day, Casper had enough.
"Aria, I've just about enough of you." He said as he threw his bag to the couch. "You're irritable, you barely get any sleep, you caused fights, you get pissed at simple things. What's wrong with you?!" He asked.
"Hey, those guys asked for it! And I was handling it, kid. I didn't need your help. I was about to put them in their place and you ruined it."
"I was just doing what I thought was right, they shouldn't have been such asses."
Aria turned to Sonata, who remained silent. Then returned her gaze to Casper. "You don't understand, I was just about to have them wrapped around my finger" she said while caressing her black choker.
"I was just sticking up for you. It's what friends do-"
"Oh no," Aria said. "No no no, we're not friends. And you had no right to interfere. I want you to apologize."
"Pff" Casper huffed, "For what? All I did was try to help!"
"I didn't need your help!" Aria said, raising her voice. "I don't need anyone!"
"What about her?" Casper shouted, pointing at Sonata. "Would you be having this conversation with her?!"
"Don't bring her into this!" Aria snapped, "You have no idea who we are!"
"I perfectly know what Sonata is, and I have a pretty good idea of what you are!" Casper yelled
"Guys, let's not fight. I think-"
"Shut up, Sonata!" Aria said while shooting her a venomous glare. "What am I then, Casper?"
"Don't talk to her like that! She deserves better than that, you ungrateful bitch!"
Casper's face stung as he caught a slap across the cheek. It spun his head around and almost knocked him down. The pain made his anger swell to enormous levels, but his face became eerily calm.
"I'm going to take a shower. Please clean up your messes while I'm gone." He said monotonously as he went to his room.
Sonata turned around and glared at Aria. "Blaze... you didn't need to do that. I can't believe you."
Aria fumed, "He tried to defend me from those stupid kids, Sonata. He thinks I'm weak! I'm not weak!"
Sonata shook her head, "With the front you put up all the time? How could a boy like that think you weak?All he knows is the tough girl who doesn't take crap from anyone. Adagio and I are the only ones here who know you, Aria."
"And he wants to get to know me," Aria said. "That's part of what that was back there. He can't find out."
"Find out what?" Sonata asked, exasperated. "That you were once a tiny fish in a big pond so long ago? That you were picked on and bullied by so many others? That those experiences changed you?"
"Sonata, I-" Aria began, but was cut off.
"No, listen.." Sonata said while walking over to her. "I love you, Aria. You're my best friend. We've known each other for how long? I know why you act this way sometimes, and I don't blame 's helped you, and it's helped us survive in this strange world. I don't mind it because you're my friend. But you know what? We could use some new friends in this world. Casper is a great guy. I consider him a friend, and I think you should, too. In fact, you especially. Do you know why? Maybe think what he might know about your experiences. Look at him. He might be too big for a guy his age, but I know he has a huge heart to go along with it."
Aria took a deep breath and looked at Sonata, "I'm sorry I shouted at you."
Sonata rolled her eyes and put a hand on Aria's shoulder, "It's alright, Aria. But I'm not the one who needs to hear that."
"You're right... "Aria said with a defeated sigh.
"I'll be in his room for a while."
That night, Casper was silent. He never spoke a word to Aria nor Sonata. He would ignore them if anything was said. All of them went to bed early, and everything was peaceful again...
... Until Casper heard Aria shout in the middle of the night.
"Aaaahhhhh!" Shouted Aria. Casper quickly jumped off his bed and ran to where Aria is. He found her tossing and turning. Casper approached her and saw that she was having a nightmare. He held her shoulder and shook her awake.
"Wake up Aria, Wake up!" He shouted, shaking her. She opened her eyes, but continued panicking.
"No, stay away from me!" She screamed out as she waved her arms around, eventually scratching Casper's cheek, and drawing some blood from it. It was then when Aria quickly calmed down and saw Casper.
"Casper." She breathed out as she noticed his cheek. "You're bleeding." She exclaimed.
"It's alright. It's just a scratch." He said. The two sere silent for a while until Aria spoke up.
"Listen, Cass... I'm sorry. I- shouldn't have snapped at you, and I never should have hit you. I lost my temper."
Casper turned to face her and shook his head, "But why? What did I do to make you so mad?"
"I just- I need to look out for myself. I know that Adagio and Sonata are there for me, but they weren't always. In many ways I was just like you when I grew up. Small, an easy target. I was alone.I didn't need you to stick up for me. I can handle myself."
Casper leaned back on the couch, "Sucks doesn't it? Until I made friends I didn't have anyone to look out for me. No brothers or sisters. It was just me."
"Yeah, it does suck..." Aria said. "But you know, I'm glad you stuck up for me back there. Even after all the crap I've been giving you."
Casper grinned, "I get the same crud from bullies back then. It's no big deal, and besides, Sonata told me you weren't too bad. I just believed her, and you know what? She was right."
Aria blushed a little and chuckled, "Still, I shouldn't have hit you. What can I do to make it up to you?"
Casper laughed, "You don't have to do anything. But just know that you don't always have to go it alone. Sure you might not need any help, but it doesn't hurt to accept some now and again, does it?" He stood up and went to his bedroom.
"Get some sleep. We'll need a lot of it tomorrow." He said as he went back to bed.
Aria gave a smile before sleeping on the couch. And there was no nightmare that entered her dreams back then.