Characters: Arron Belmont tasteofwar & Aria Dixon museicalme Date/Time: Friday, May 4th Location: New York City, New York. Rating: PG Warnings: Oddly enough, none. Summary: Meet the Family.
The flight had been decent and without screaming children from coach. First class tickets were fairly common to Arron given his parent’s status, but at least he didn’t attempt to charter a private flight. Sometimes he felt that Aria wasn’t comfortable with him spending a lot of money on her, so he was more conscious about hiding the money spent. Of course, this was the second trip to New York. The first one the couple days before her birthday party had been a bust. The intention was to take her to see the one women in his life that had been there forever and felt had control over him- his mother.
The black taxi pulled up to the building. The architecture wasn’t as decorative as some of the other places nearby, but the trade off for the view had been the deciding factor for his Mother and Step-Father. This was their third place and second within the city limits, but Mrs. Belmont had maintained it as being their ‘main’ house. The place where Aria and Arron had stayed the week earlier had been the apartment.
Arron took a deep breath as he stepped out of the Taxi and held a hand out to help Aria out. Being so close to his home made him act more the gentlemanly than normal.
“So, welcome to house number two.”
------
For all her love of traveling there was something about flying that Aria would never get used to. It wasn’t the actual in the air part that bothered her, but the taking off and landing that gave her the jitters. Of course, she was much too prideful to let Arron see how nervous she got, so she would find ways to distract herself so that she didn’t become one of those travelers. She had the feeling he knew anyway, but then again he was good like that when it came to her. This was her second time going to New York courtesy of Arron, and while she wasn’t sure exactly what the plan was he’d told her to wear something nice- which made her vaguely suspicious.
She stayed quiet all through the ride to the mystery destination, watching buildings zoom by and every so often smoothing miniscule pieces of lint from her skirt or checking the neckline of her top to make sure the cleavage she displayed was tasteful and not trashy. That was always an issue with her, and if Arron was concerned enough to request that Aria dressed up then she didn’t want to disappoint him. Especially not when he’d gone out of his way for her.
Aria took his hand, allowing Arron to help her get out of the taxi in a more dignified fashion. They’d pulled up to a nice building that had a doorman. This didn’t bode well.
“House number two? How many houses do you have?”
------
“Personally, I don’t have any.” He smirked that cocky smile that he held typically in her presence. “But my family owns three... well two and a half- that apartment we were in should only be counted as a half since it’s not really a family home type of place.”
The doorman opened the door as they approached and nodded at Arron with a wink after he looked at Aria. “Afternoon, Mr. Belmont.”
“Hey, Vick. Long time no see. Later we should catch up on the fights?” The Doorman nodded again, this time far more interest in his eyes. Vick and Arron had become buddies quickly when they found out they both loved fighting. Arron considered Vick the kind of guy he’d want on his side in a fight since he not only did it for the rush of adrenaline, but had a business mind that could take them far.
Normally Arron would walk into a building with his arm around Aria- if they were going anywhere together- but after helping her out of the car he had given the non-verbal option to her that she could keep holding his hand or not. He wasn’t going to slide his arm around her when first bringing her into the home.
Even the elevator had a personal operator. He wasn’t always there, but during high traffic times the building manager felt it was a luxury his attendants needed. Arron nodded as he entered the elevator, but he didn’t know the guy as well. In a hushed tone, he leaned over to Aria. “So... my mother...” He didn’t know how to phrase it without have her panic last minute. “Is here.”
------
“Your family owns three houses?” That seemed excessive to her. “My family had one, and an RV...” And that had been more than enough for them. She couldn’t even imagine taking Arron to Stockton, but then again she barely wanted to go back there herself.
As they approached the doorman Aria smiled slightly to hide the growing dread forming in the pit of her stomach. The fact that he winked at her wasn’t helping.
Aria stood there with that same semi-friendly grin plastered on her face as she listened to Vick and Arron chit-chat, her grip on Arron’s hand tightening despite how calm and collected she appeared. This whole situation was slowly turning into something she wasn’t comfortable with, but she was giving Arron the benefit of the doubt that he wouldn’t spring something awkward on her without some sort of warning. Aria hoped she wouldn’t come to regret it.
Walking inside, Aria could see things only getting worse. This place had an elevator operator too? Only hotels, high-class stores, and really swanky places had those. The look she shot at her companion was one of complete and utter confusion, but it didn’t stay in place for long as she realized wherever it was they were going people knew him here.
When he dropped the bomb about his mother being in the building, she squeezed her fingers around his, blinking and smiling in an almost angelic fashion. Aria took a deep breath to compose herself before tilting her head up so she could respond just as softly to Arron. “Really? That’s lovely,” she started, sarcasm oozing in her tone. “You’re so not getting any tonight.”
------
Arron’s eyes closed in response. He knew she’d react like that. If he said something beforehand she would have refused to even join him in the trip. Of all things that Arron was, he was a mama’s boy. Every week he talked with his mother about what was happening in his life and every week she asked about potential girlfriends. She had been brought up in a society where who you were seen with was everything and marriage was even more important. Arron was aware that he didn’t have a great track record in her book, but he also didn’t subscribe to the same ideology.
The elevator opened up to a short hallway before the door to the home. Unlike an apartment building, every floor or couple of floors belonged to one family. Knocking lightly on the door, a younger woman in a dark uniform opened the door; their maid Maria. Of all the beautiful people Arron tended to surround himself with, she was rather plain looking. “Mr. Belmont, we’ve been expecting you.” Her words were heavily accented and a light blush ran across her cheeks at the sight of the couple.
Stepping out into the foyer, an older woman in a business suit approached them. She had light brown hair, pale skin and strict eyes. Everything about her demeanor said that she didn’t take shit from anyone and that she had earned that right through her life trials. Her eyes trailed over Aria with obvious judgement and when they stood across from each other the woman turned to Arron with a hard smile on her lips. “This is the girl then?” Her voice fit her look perfectly. There was something underneath that said that she was currently unimpressed, but Arron knew that Aria’s beauty was not going to be what won his mother over. And what Aria was likely unaware over was that very few women made it to this point- friendship or otherwise.
“Yes, mother. This is Aria Dixon.”
------
Aria’s moment of triumph would be short-lived, but she reveled in it while she could. He completely threw her for a loop with this, and Aria couldn’t even begin to understand what possessed him to take her to meet his mother. If this was his way of distracting her from all the Aidan drama and Ben arrow-slinging shenanigans then they’d need to sit down and have a serious discussion about what are and aren’t appropriate surprises to spring on the chick you routinely go five rounds of verbal sparring with. Aria relinquished her hold on his hand to smooth down her hair, wondering if it was still mostly neat.
Her heart leapt into her throat as the door opened, and one last glance was spared Arron’s way as she waiting for him to start walking. Hopefully this would be far less painless than she was assuming, but she’d never met a guys’ mother before and the entire concept seemed nerve wracking. Although she and her ex dated for years his mother wasn’t in the picture and his dad was bandmates with hers, so parental things never came up. Aria couldn’t stop herself from smirking as yet another person called Arron ‘Mr. Belmont.’
Following him into the foyer, she marveled at how big the place was. Her entire house could fit inside here, which was rather daunting to imagine. Growing up, Aria had loved the nomadic sort of life she and her father led and never wanted for anything, but apparently the word ‘want’ wasn’t even in Arron’s vocabulary unless it pertained to a whim. When she finished looking around, aware that she was getting the once-over from a woman who looked more fearsome than even Professor Cadogan-Snow on her worst day, Aria offered forth a hopefully charming smile. The urge to attempt to shake her hand in a proper introduction was bouncing around in her head, but she stifled it when she heard herself referred to as ‘the girl’. Oh, so Arron’s mother was that type, huh? Aria was completely unintimidated by the obvious snobbery.
“That’s right, I’m Aria Dixon. Pleasure to meet you,” she murmured after Arron introduced her.
------
His mother quirked an eyebrow at Aria, her eyes glancing over the girl once more. The look was similar to when Arron was jealous with a guy Aria was flirting with. “Pleasure,” she replied. Mrs. Belmont took a moment before returning to the polite etiquette. “Well, welcome to our home.”
Another pause. “I’m surprised your step-sister didn’t travel with you Arron. Though from what I hear she decided to travel abroad instead of studying within the country.” His mother gave Arron a look that even he was unsure what exactly was running through her head. There was a competitive nature pushed onto Arron from his mother and that did not stop with his social circles. Even his step-sister was fair game to the invisible competition that only his mother and her society friends knew what the goal was.
“Charles will be pleased to see you as we missed your visit last week. You know how business can pop up at the last minute.” His mother had turned on her heel and headed back through the way she came. The high ceilings gave even the short hallways an expansive feel. In the living area, a tray of tea and coffee had been set out with four cups. Maria, the maid, had gone about her business making sure everything was right for the guests.
Arron looked over at Aria when his mother wasn’t looking and gave her a soft smile. To him, this reaction was better than the last time a girl had been in his mother’s presence. “I think she likes you,” he teased in a whisper before lightly touching Aria’s back to keep her from storming out the door. Now that everything was said and done, he knew she would hit him eventually.
------
Used to being assessed on a semi-frequent basis Aria didn’t flinch under the woman’s gaze. Though, the similarities between her expression and the one she’d come to refer to as ‘Arron, grr’ were incredibly unsettling in light of the situation. “Thank you, you have a lovely house,” she responded quietly.
When the topic shifted and the focus was no longer on her, Aria relaxed slightly. She was still treating this like a job interview and confused as all get out over Arron decided it was time for her to meet his mother- the implications that went along with the situation, if she stopped to think about it, were so out of left field considering their tenuously defined relationship- but at least now she didn’t feel as much like an exhibit in a crazy zoo. She attempted not to appear too interested in Arron’s conversation with his mother.
The apartment stretched on forever, leading Aria to believe that she could legitimately get lost here if she wasn’t careful. Had she not been of the mindset that this was one of those times where it was best for her to keep her trap shut and just smile and nod she might have asked for a map. When they entered the living room she was bemused to see that tea and coffee had been set out, bringing to mind the continental breakfast perks one usually saw when staying in a hotel. This was so not what she was used to.
Aria caught the smile from Arron and raised her eyebrows in a questioning glance. It was cute to see him looking somewhat pleased even if she had already decided his cuteness wasn’t getting him anywhere once they were alone. “Why wouldn’t she like me? I’m amazing,” she shot back, sticking out her tongue quickly so that Arron’s mother wouldn’t see. “Don’t think you’re out of the doghouse, there will be words later.”
------
“Well I know that, it was just about convincing my mother the same thing,” he whispered into her ear. “You can’t say that this is so terrible of a thing.”
The decor of the house and its furnishing looked like it belonged in the early 1900s. Arron’s mother was one of those snobbish socialites whose family line was made up of wealthy people. Most of the furnishing and art were antiques handed down or given to her when family passed. The living room was no different, the couch was relatively small and not something anyone could sleep on comfortably. The tall chair his mother sat in looked in very good condition though it was obviously old.
“So.” She started when Arron and Aria were seated on the couch. “What does your father do for a living?” Arron had told his mother about Aria and what she did, but again a Family line was what mattered more. If his mother had lived in the Victorian or Edwardian age she would have checked the girl’s teeth to see how many she still had. Offering Aria some tea, Arron poured his mother a cup before taking the other pot and filling his cup with coffee.
“Mother... really? Why don’t you just put a sign on the door that says full interview required?” Mrs. Belmont smirked at the comment, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t expecting an answer. “A person’s family is a view to how their mind works, Arron. And I’ve heard enough about her from your lips, now I’d like to hear it from hers.”
------
“You’ll have to explain to me later why that’s a big deal,” she responded. “No, not terrible, just unexpected, confusing, and more than a little awkward.”
From the way the house was decorated it was obvious that the people here were used to a certain standard of living, and it was vastly different than the world Aria grew up in. For the briefest of moments she wondered if Aidan’s family would be anything like this, and thanked her lucky stars that she probably dodged the bullet of being compared to Maddie. At least the only person Arron’s family could feasibly compare her to was his step-sister, and they had nothing in common beyond a gender. Even the furniture screamed ‘classy’ here.
“My father?” she repeated, raising an eyebrow at the question. Was she going to have to run a gauntlet before leaving as well, or possibly leap flaming alligator pits? “He’s a musician, the lead singer and fiddle player in an Irish folk band.” Aria answered, raising her chin slightly as she spoke. While in her mind there was nothing wrong with her father’s source of income she had been around long enough to know some people looked down upon musicians. She wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs. Belmont was one of those people.
“It’s so funny that you say that, mi abuela likes to say you can tell a lot about a person by their mother. It’s a shame you couldn’t meet mine, but then again I never did either.” Aria cheerfully- perhaps a little too cheerfully- explained. “Arron, if you could be so kind, I prefer coffee.” Mocha lattes were her drug of choice, but short of running to a Starbucks she doubted that was an option.
------
Calling over Maria, Arron asked her to get Aria a Mocha Latte, or as close as Maria could make one. He winked at the maid with a smirk before she turned and ran off to the kitchen. The environment that surrounded Arron at home was like an entirely different dimension from what he surrounded himself with while at the University or anywhere else. He did play the rich playboy every so often, but his love of the more bloody sports kept him drowned in the reality of the world. Not every fight he participated in was exactly legal. It was like looking at the colour inverse of how he lived his life while at school. He never worried about money, sure, but he also didn’t bother to live in an off-campus apartment or house and he didn’t throw his money in the face of others like some of his cousins tended to do. He was also not born to a socialite father so there was a level of disdain that his mother’s friends held for him.
Mrs. Belmont allowed a real smile to pull on her lips for a moment. Sure, a musician was not exactly a job in her mind, but the question held multiple levels. It was posed to see the obvious- what her father did- but also to see how much pride she held in whatever it was that her family did. The fact that she was being overly cheerful was a sign- to Mrs. Belmont- that there was a hidden sarcasm and bite behind her words. The only way to win Arron’s mother over was to prove to be strong; a shy girl with no backbone or one easily intimidated would not be tolerated. She wasn’t looking for her son to hang out with women who were delicate flowers- he needed a woman in his life that could smack him down.
“A musician? Isn’t that a rough life to put your child through without a mother?” She showed no sympathy in her expression. Mrs. Belmont was going to attempt to push her buttons in the politest way possible. She was also watching for how Arron and Aria interacted and reacted off of each other. Her son’s words were nothing without something visual to back it up. Of course, that was part of where Arron got his mindset from. Arron placed his hand on Aria’s knee as he started to see where the conversation might be leading.
------
Amused that Arron remembered her fondness for getting her caffeine in the form of a mocha latte, Aria smiled gratefully at him as she felt heat rising in her cheeks. If this was a romantic comedy this would probably be that moment when the female protagonist had an epiphany about the gorgeous yet caddish guy she’d been seeing having more layers to him than originally advertised, and in truth if Arron hadn’t made it perfectly clear that he wasn’t into relationships or being tied down Aria would be convinced that this was his way of finding out if she could fit in with the type of lifestyle he was accustomed to. She’d read in quite a few questionable novels about how guys based a lot of stock on how a girl got on with his mother, and it was no secret that Arron was something of a mama’s boy. Up until now she thought it was endearing, but being put in the position of meeting the woman he held in such high esteem so abruptly was coloring that opinion.
Aria took note of the momentary smile but didn’t let her guard down yet. If she knew anything about that type of fleeting expression it was that a smile like that was designed to distract a person from whatever calculated attack was coming next. Her ex used to smile in a similar fashion before he got on her case- lovingly, or so he said- about something he wanted her to change. It didn’t help that the topic of family was one that Aria was of two minds over, feeling it was reasonable for others to be curious about it but they had no place in judging her and hers without accepting that they’d be judged in return. There was also the overwhelming lack of evidence supporting Aria’s need to prove anything to this woman, regardless of the friendship/relationship/thing she and Arron had going on.
“Not really, I love traveling and children learn instruments best when you start them young,” she responded without hesitation. Aria could sense that Arron’s mother was trying to get a rise out of her, and she was in no mood to dance to the tune of someone else’s aulos when she had her own back in Colorado. A quick shifting of her eyes confirmed Aria’s suspicions that Arron had chosen to rest his hand on her knee, though whether it was to show support or to stop her from leaving Aria couldn’t say. “Besides, the other members of the band were like family, and after my grandmother sold her restaurant she was always around.”
------
Maria brought out the Mocha latte and set it down in front of Aria. Her soft footsteps quickly turned and exited the room, only a few moments before the phone rang. “Hmm,” was Mrs.Belmont’s response to Aria. Arron would step into the conversation if needed but this was a female game. They were the great tacticians of mental warfare and Arron preferred everything to be said straight out or with a fist to the face.
“Mrs. Belmont, Mr. Astor is on the phone.” Maria said from the doorway. Arron’s mother nodded, set down her cup and stood from her seat. “Excuse me for the moment, dear.” She hustled into the next room for her phone call.
Arron ran his fingers through his hair. He may adore his mother but he wasn’t oblivious to her style and tactics. Even though he had told her that Aria and him were just friends it was the fact that his stories tended to involve the girl that had intrigued his mother into wanting to meet her. There were many reasons in his mind for this trip, the number one was to show Aria off. She was strong and sassy and he believed someone his mother could bother to like. The other reasons included wanting to see if it was the school environment that kept him going back to her and to feel that normal actually dating feel momentarily. Test it out really.
“So how’s the Mocha?” He chuckled. “We have one of those all in one coffee things in the kitchen, but I think only Maria knows how to use it.” He looked around the room briefly. “Want to see the rest of the place? Mother will probably be a while.”
------
Aria thanked Maria when she brought out the drink, picking up the cup and taking a tentative sip. It was weird to be served the beverage in something other than the paper travel cup she was used to, and she worried she might spill it. Thankfully years of playing various instruments had blessed her with steady hands, but for all she knew Arron’s mother would say something that would bother her current calm.
A polite smile curved her lips when the older woman excused herself, Aria doing her best to cover her relief at the interruption. The awkward tension that filled the room dissipated slightly, bringing to mind that last similarly weird situation Aria had been in, which was when Aidan ended up being her designated driver.
Aria had less difficulty adjusting to being seen in a vulnerable- though she wouldn’t have used that term herself- position with her fellow RA and almost-boyfriend but that was most likely because she’d been the one holding all the cards while he was the one needing to whip out some fancy footwork in order to get back into her good graces. At least by the end of that experience Aria felt as though something of value was gained, whereas with this one she was still in the dark over how being here and meeting Arron’s mother was something she should be invested in. What was the likelihood of her ever crossing paths with her again, even if she and Arron continued to be whatever they were? They were friends and even sometimes lovers now, but he could get bored with that at any time.
“It’s good, they taste different when served in an actual coffee cup.” She allowed an appropriate amount of amusement into her voice. “If that’s true then I’m not sure we can stay friends. Are you saying you can’t operate a coffee maker?” That was baffling, she even knew how to make coffee on a stovetop. “Sure, a tour would be nice.”
------
He made a shocked, insulted face. “I can make coffee, doll, just not on the contraption in the kitchen... Once mother leaves there I’ll show you the beast and you can wow me which your coffee skills.” He smirked. Standing up, he stretched. There was a tension in his shoulders from his mother’s mere presence around Aria. Yeah, it was his fault it even happened, but he couldn’t say no to his mother. It was hard enough saying no to any woman about anything really.
Back out to the hall, he took her to the other end across to the library. Books of all different colours filled the shelves from ceiling to floor. As a child, Arron would pick a book at random and read it before he started to run and fight during his down times. He was still a smart guy, but the fight outweighed his intelligence when presenting himself to others. “This is our library.” He pushed the door open and lead her in. Immediately he went to the world globe by the singular table in the room and unlatched the side. The globe opened up into a mini bar of sorts. He pulled out a small bottle of rum and poured it into his cup.
“Want some? Maybe you’ll hate me less if you have some drinks in you.” Arron couldn’t help but tease. Sitting down on the table, he swung the bottle back and forth in a taunting manner. “Or we can continue the tour. There are three bedrooms...” His smiled turned more mischievous. “But one is off limits... three bathrooms and one half bath, breakfast nook, dining room, etc.” He waved off the tour really, but if she wanted to see any of it he would willingly lead her around.
“Actually other than the large windows the best part is out here.” He hopped off the table and gestured for her to follow him out the other door. The door lead to the small terrace. The beginning of the flowers starting to blossom filled the flower pots near the thick stone ledge. Beyond the terrace Central park spread out. It was one of the best views in the city.
------
She wasn’t buying that he was really insulted. “It can’t be rocket science, it’s just a machine. Let me guess, you never tried looking at the manual?” She wasn’t going to comment on her coffee-making skills, since they were decent at best. Standing when he did, she rolled her neck to work out the stiffness. It was exhausting attempting to keep herself looking poised when all she really wanted to do was find out what Arron’s angle was in bringing her here. It wasn’t like she could blow his spot by asking that in front of her.
Genuinely interested in the tour, because any insight into Arron had to be worth even suffering through playing the social niceties game, Aria stayed close behind him as he headed into the next room. The only other place she’d ever seen this many books was at the school, but that didn’t stop her from side-eying Arron when he felt the need to announce the room with all the books in it was their library. “You don’t say?” she murmured, rolling her eyes. She shouldn’t have been surprised that the globe housed a mini bar, rich people always had James Bond style gadgets in their houses.
“Has it occurred to you that telling a girl that she might hate you less if she has some drinks in her is like one step below windowless white van on the creeper scale?” Aria had stopped trying to figure out where Arron’s mind went sometimes. “And I don’t hate you, far from it. I’m just not going to reward you for ambushing me into meeting your mother by luring me in with promises of a trip to New York. I have no idea what you’re playing at, Arron Belmont, but I’m not going to rest until I find out what your game is.”
Grudgingly following him out yet another door, a snarky remark about breadcrumbs dangling on the tip of her tongue though it remained unsaid, she was unprepared for the sight that graced her eyes. He was right- not that she assumed he wouldn’t be- the best part was definitely out there. It was beautiful, the type of view that her inner romantic could see as the backdrop for a love song music video. “Wow, this is breathtaking...”
------
Arron rolled his eyes at the creeper comment. “I meant to relax and you know it. You’re obsession with making everything a rape innuendo makes any phrasing impossible.” He had placed the bottle on the table when he got up.
Out on the terrace he watched her more than he looked at the sight. He had seen Central Park from this view time and time again, so seeing Aria react to it was far greater of an experience. Arron wasn’t heartless nor too stuck up to appreciate when someone could find joy and awe in something that no longer gave that feeling to him. Walking up behind Aria, he snaked his arms around her waist. “I told you it was the best feature of the house.”
The wind blew cold around them, but there was a warmth to the air underneath. “I didn’t lure you with promises, because we are in New York so the promises were made real.” He bit on his lower lip in thought as he looked out over the lush green park. “And it was at my mother’s insistence that I bring you to meet her... I figured the only way to do that was to not tell you.” His voice was soft, a feature that seemed more present since they entered the house. That mischievous smirk crawled back on his face.
“But if you’re not going to rest until you think you’ve found a reason for it, I have a few ideas as to what to do with that time.” Arron may have softened up while at the house, but he was still Arron.
------
Aria smirked in her best approximation of an Arron-smirk. “It’s not my fault you make a lot of rape innuendos. Seriously, have you listened to the words that come out of your mouth sometimes?” She could have pointed out rapists want their victims to relax too, but then it wouldn’t be funny.
Drinking in the sights of the park from the terrace, she could almost allow herself to forget that any minute now she would have to go face Arron’s mother again. If the situation was different, like if she knew why it was this woman wanted to meet her, then she might not feel so blindsided. She compared the experience to going for a job interview and expecting the human resources person to ask the questions but finding out your potential manager would be doing it instead. She hadn’t prepared, and now thanks to Arron felt foolish.
She leaned back against him, sighing softly even as she resigned herself to admitting she wasn’t mad anymore. “Fine, you brought me to New York, so the promises weren’t false. However, if I’d known your mother wanted to meet me I would have packed something nicer than this.” Not that she felt her outfit wasn’t nice, more like it didn’t convey ‘to the mother of the guy I find intriguing, I promise I have the best interests of your boyo at heart’ as well as she could have.
“I can feel you smirking, you know,” she drawled, swatting at his arm. “I can’t even feign surprise you’d think of that while your mother’s in the other room.” Aria wasn’t about to laugh. Really. “Pervert.”
------
“And here I figured you’d just lock me out of your room and tell me the trip was off.” He looked her up and down from the only position he could. “You look great. It’s not like she’s a Duchess, you don’t have to look super fancy. Not unless there’s a dinner party...” He scoffed. If she wanted nicer clothes he could just take her shopping for them, but if she didn’t feel she looked amazing already she might be set off by the incredibly snobbish ladies at the stores.
“What? I bet you that call from Charles was informing her that they have been invited out by some business couple tonight. She’ll take all of ten minutes to argue that I’m in town and that either we should be invited along or the couple should be informed they had plans for dinner already. Then Charles will agree but do so in a way that makes mother rethink the situation, because their social-business life is above their family life.” Arron shrugged. Since he was a child he was use to being left alone and he enjoyed it more once his biological father was put in jail and twice as much once his step-sister was in the picture.
As if on cue, his mother poked her head out the door. That sly smile gracing her lips once more but fading back. Truthfully, she expected her son to be caught in some illicit action when he had a female over. Not that she was around to catch him, but their maids had been time and time again since he was a teenager. “Arron, dear,” she started as she walked out with them. “Charles and I have been invited out, but the meeting shouldn’t last too long. We expect to be back for dinner.” She gave Aria a polite smile. “Then we can continue our conversations. If you do leave, please be back by seven.” Mrs. Belmont nodded to them and left once more.
“Wow, she must really want to have dinner with us.” He mocked after his mother was out of earshot.
------
“What, and give up a chance to see this view?” Not that she’d known about it beforehand, but she’d reached the point where she was able to joke comfortably now that some of the tension had been diffused. She still felt like a bull in a china shop, but he was doing an expert job of handling her nerves. “She’s your mother, and she dresses like she’s made of money. I’m pretty sure she knew within two minutes of seeing me that nothing I’m wearing cost over forty dollars, including the shoes.” Aria was an excellent bargain shopper.
“You do know that if this was my family there wouldn’t be a phone call, there’d be someone shouting for my dad, then they’d shout back and forth for a few minutes, my dad would offer you a beer and tell whoever it was to take a flying leap because he was busy, and he’d try and stump you with a combination of Irish rebel history and ‘how well do you know my daughter’ trivia. He’d also ask you uncomfortable questions like have you found all of my tattoos, did you know I’m ticklish where, and if I ever told you about that time I tried to do something ridiculous when I was two or three.” Aria couldn’t understand why he seemed amused when she was a wreck.
Looking over at his mother when she made her reappearance, it was so obvious that she expected them to be in some sort of compromising position. All things considered, the way they were standing with Arron’s arms around her waist and her allowing it like it was the most natural thing in the world gave off a far more coupled impression than Aria felt was necessary, but she made no move to shrug out of his hold. If he wanted to act like they were sweethearts of some sort to please his mother then who was Aria to judge? It’s not like he’d introduced her as his girlfriend or even as his friend, just as Aria. It was much better than ‘the girl’ so she wasn’t going to argue. Lost in her thoughts, she almost missed the word ‘dinner’ being tossed around.
“Wait, she wants to have dinner with us?” So the interrogation was going to continue? Damnit.
------
Arron cocked his head to the side. “What were you expecting? For us to get away with not sitting down for a meal with my parents? There was really a 50-50 chance that we could get away with that.” He stuck out his tongue at her. “We weren’t so lucky.” He slowly unwrapped his arms from her waist and twirled her in his hands.
“So, since we have several hours what would you like to do? Tour to my room? Shopping for nicer clothes?” He teased her again. Arron was trying his hardest to break all the tension that might build up. Actions needed to be taken before more talking happened that made her mad at him again. Not that they could ever help that, it was the nature of their relationship as it were.
“Anything you want to do, this is part deux of your birthday present.” Maybe not the better part of the present, but it sounded like a good excuse. “We can go for a walk in the park even?”
------
Aria wasn’t going to lie to him. “Yes, I absolutely expected that, is that so hard to believe?” Now he was just being obnoxious about it, and if she wasn’t so frustrated she might have tried to catch that tongue of his before he put it back in his mouth. “I just don’t understand why your parents would want to meet me, this isn’t really something I’m used to.” It wasn’t like she was someone special or anything.
“Oh hah hah, funny. You would bring up checking out your room. Let me guess, you want to show off your bed linens?” It actually might be interesting to see what his bedroom was like, but not for the reasons he’d think. The way a person decorated their bedroom said a lot about them. “Wait, why would I need nicer clothes? Am I expected to go full-on prom dress for dinner or something?” Gods, she hoped not.
“Show me your New York, how ‘bout that? I want to see this place through your eyes...” she said, biting her lower lip. “But with less hitting on girls. I’m not wearing my wingman hat today.”
------
Arron decided not to answer the why question. The real reason behind it all was his mother’s observations on how he talked about her over all other girls. The fact that he even mentioned her once by name over the phone immediately said something about their friendship that only a mother could catch on. Admitting that it was anything more of a plan on his behalf would be admitting feelings that he was trying to hide under his roguish persona. He would also have to admit that he felt them to himself and the only time that ever happened was under the arrow of his son’s.
“Hey the bed linens are the best part!” He announced. “And you don’t need nicer clothes- you don’t need any clothes in my opinion- but you were just complaining about not feeling dressy enough. I figured I’d offer to buy you something you might feel you need.”
Arron narrowed his eyes are her and smirked. “My New York happens after dark. So I guess it’s my bedroom or Central Park for the day version.” Leaning in he whispered in her ear. “Why would I need a wingman when I already have the prettiest girl accompanying me.” Kissing her cheek, he turned around and headed inside. “Come on, bedroom first!”
------
Aria felt her resolve melting away little by little. She could tell she wasn’t going to get an answer out of him, but she was past the point of caring. She could either continue to let her mind run off on tangents about all the things this could possibly mean, or just accept that for undisclosed reasons he felt the need to introduce her to his mother. The first was more likely, but the second made more sense. Irregardless of the unanswered questions she was already admitting to herself that it was much easier to just let him sweep her up in whatever grand scheme he was plotting. Fighting him never worked out.
“I’ll be needing proof of that before I can agree, since unless they’re made of satin and kittens I doubt they’re any better than mine.” That was a lie, they were probably six hundred count Egyptian cotton and like sleeping on a cloud of dreams. “What have I told you about you buying me things?”
Aria disliked when he spent money on her because it gave her the impression that he thought she could be bought instead of won over by actions. “You’re so full of it, like hell I’m the prettiest girl you know.” She wasn’t just saying that to be contrary, she’d met the other girls he chatted up.
Blushing at the kiss on the cheek, she grinned. “Fine, but we’re not staying there long!”
------
“Oh I’ll give you proof if that’s what you’re looking for.” He laughed. Really, he didn’t know what linens were on his bed. He picked a colour scheme and his mother’s designer did the buying. Arron decorated in his own way, but there was still going to be those pricey insignificant things that hadn’t been his choice to begin with- like the sheets. Arron just winked at her when she commented about him buying her things. She could try to pay for things herself, but he knew he didn’t have to wear roller skates for hours on end to make up for a day of shopping. His intentions were not to buy her off, but he did grow up thinking nothing of buying expensive things at random. Arron mostly spent money on sporting equipment, guns, beating on fights, and buying off security guards to look the other way in a place they were looking to fight.
For a true warrior, beauty was not just a physical thing. Girls didn’t need to be delicate flowers, because they had more confidence in themselves that they didn’t need to make themselves feel strong. A true warrior wanted a warrior minded to play against and that confidence and strength was far more attractive. In the old days he was obsessed with Aphrodite, not only because she was the most beautiful creature, but because she had confidence and spice; much like Aria did now. He wondered why Euterpe had never caught his attention back then.
“No, no not long... we only need what twenty minutes? Hour if we’re having fun feeling the sheets.” He loved teasing her. Making everything sexual was almost his instinctive defense against creating a stronger bond, he didn’t know what the obsession with taking things beyond friendship and casual sex was in his previous life, but Aria was this strange quirk in that aspect of his life and he really didn’t know how to appropriately deal with it.
------
The first comment went ignored as she shook her head and followed him back inside, her thoughts centered around the complete ridiculousness of their day. Aria would never get used to the way Arron could just smirk and know exactly what to say to have her going along with whatever idea he put forth, and the loss of control he brought about in her was enough to have her considering never talking to him nearly every time they were together, but he was just the right kind of addictive. Aria was convinced she could quit him at any time, even though he’d already proven he wouldn’t let her that easily. His total disregard for her attempts at being self-sufficient bugged her beyond belief- Aria had been paying her own way since she was fourteen and didn’t want to accept handouts or be indebted to anyone, even him- but she knew he’d never understand it.
She appreciated his treatment of her most of the time, minus the classic rich boy ‘buy your love’ techniques he employed and his inability to keep his hands to himself when they were in public, and was thankful he still kept company with her after the emotional clusterfuck they’d been through, but that didn’t mean she’d be letting him get his way that easily after springing the ‘meet the parents’ thing on her. She wasn’t mad at him anymore, as she knew Arron had figured out, but she was a little freaked out by the idea of playing between the sheets in his bedroom when she was still mentally preparing herself for dinner later.
“We’re not feeling the sheets, Arron, and you should know by now that it’s never twenty minutes with us,” she teased back, reaching down to take his hand. “Unless you want to leave me disappointed, that is.” That had never happened, but at the moment it was the only retort she could come up with. “Besides, what if the maid were to walk in on us, or your mom? They might think you actually like me, and it could ruin your reputation.” Or improve it, but what did she know?
------
When she took his hand, he smirked again. She made him smile far more often than he had on average in his life. Without a thought about it, he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, before pulling her into his room. “I have a lock on my door, as you can see here.” He pointed at the basic deadlock in passing as he closed the door behind them. “And I said twenty minutes to an hour. Something simple... they won’t be home for several hours really.” He quirked his eyebrow in offer. Arron did want her, because he always wanted her, but he wouldn’t insist- only tease.
After the dinner he would take her out to the underground fight ring to make up for the socialite experience she was having to deal with. That would involve more normal clothing. He wondered if after he said to dress nicely if she bothered to pack normal clothes for the short vacation. She looked good in his shirts though...black bra and panties covered by a white shirt... It really was sexy.
------
The blush that painted her cheeks at the combination of the gentlemanly gesture and his word made her feel silly, the way her heart skipped a beat not helping whatsoever. Allowing herself to be pulled into his room without protest, she glanced where he was pointing although it was clear from her body language that he had already won round two. “When you say something simple it makes me want to point out the last time we did ‘something simple’ was when you convinced me to meet you at the track to go running and you couldn’t keep your mind on actually running.” There was a slight hint of reproach in her voice, but no fire behind the words. Aria wanted it just as much as he did, she just loathed letting him see he had that effect on her.
Leaning back against his bedroom door, she glanced up at him from half-closed eyes and licked her lips. “Fine, you get your way. Show me the bed linens, and we’ll see what your definition of something simple is this time.” Whatever it ended up being, she was going to make sure she didn’t get as loud as she would back at the school. Something about knowing the maid was bustling around was just weird.