His Christmas Present

Aria's POV 

I stood still, staring at Caleb, and my stomach was aching. He was standing there smiling at Selene as though nothing had ever come between us, as though the months of chilly silence, the unanswered calls and messages, the increasing distancing, had never been. I tightened my fists at my sides, until I could not take it anymore. 

"What... what's going on?" My voice was angrier than I had meant, and I shook with a combination of shock and anger. "Caleb! Whats this? You are my boyfriend, why... why are you marrying my sister? What's happening!" 

Selene spoke first. "Aria, please... don't make a scene. We have only a couple of before our wedding day. This is no time to start a fight or... anything of the kind.

I turned  and looked at her, my hand itching to slap her face. "Stay out of this! Do not preach to me about how I should not make a scene when this is my life! You know for a fucking fact! What I am saying so shut that hole in your face!"

She began to open her mouth as though to answer me, but I stopped her. "You keep your mouth shut, do not! Push me even more." 

Selene looked shocked but she shut her mouth up , and I turned abruptly to look at Caleb. I could hear my heart beating loudly in my ears and my palms were getting sweaty. "Caleb! You, what is happening here? Why have you not replied to my calls or my messages? I have been making efforts to contact you weeks! You have the nerve to come here like nothing had happened. Tell me what's going on!"

He frowned, evidently displeased , his hands in his pockets. "Aria, you're making a scene."

"A scene?!" I screamed, and my voice broke a little. "I have been calling you, sending you texts, and you have not responded to any of it! I want to be told what the fuck is happening here, Caleb! Why are you doing this?"

He rubbed his face, breathing deeply. "You broke up with me remember? Why are you mad I moved on?" 

I blinked, stunned. "I... I never broke up with you! I only said  that I wanted to concentrate on my education. That's all. I never told you I did not care about us. I never said I wanted to end us!"

He gave a slow shake of his head and his face hardened. "Aria... you gave up. I moved on. I continued with a girl who was ready to be my wife, not one who would prefer school to love, one who did not reject  my proposal." 

My heart went down, and my eyes were filled with tears. "You're just upset. You...we can fix this Caleb, we can fix us. I still love you and I know you feel the same way too."

I had not quite finished when a harsh voice broke in. "Aria! Stop embarrassing yourself!"

I turned around in alarm and saw my father, standing behind me, his arms crossed, and his face grim.

"You are being ridiculous, you are being shameless and pathetic," said my stepmother, Helena. "You are jealous, bitter... you cannot believe that Caleb has a girlfriend...and they'll be getting married soon!" 

The smile on Selene's face  was cruel,  mocking. "Well, Aria... you have always been like that. Cynical, egotistical... incapable of confronting the truth. He is contented and happier with Selene, and you can not cope with it." Helena continued. 

I opened my mouth to be able to defend myself, but nothing came out. Their words were knives, which cut any dignity I had remaining. My throat was tight, my chest was aching. I could sense the heat coming up to my face with the threat of tears.

I looked at Caleb, who might have said something, given some indication, given any look of understanding. But he merely stood, inexpressible. It was as though he had left me to this humiliation, too.

The voice of my father started up once more, more shrill. "You're a spoiled girl, Aria. Being all arrogant that the world owes you everything . Stop turning everything into you! You are here for dinner with your sister's fiancé. I do not give a fuck if he was your ex boyfriend! You do not get to ruin your sister's night and take all the attention away from her!" 

Helena chimed in, her tone icy. "You're only hurting yourself. Jealousy isn't attractive. Quit clinging onto a person who is not yours any longer." 

Selene leaned a little towards me and crossed her hands. "Face it, Aria. You're bitter. You are that girl who will never accept the truth. He has moved on with me and you do not want him to be happy."

My hands were clenched together, the nails pricked my palms.  I had a tight feeling in my chest, and my heart was throbbing. Never had I been so small, so powerless, so humiliated. My family,  were all against me.

At last I could not stand it any longer. I turned  around and walked to the door, disregarding the voice of my father demanding I do not take another step. Each step out of the house was weighted down with humiliation, heartbreak, and anger.

I walked  down the driveway with my eyes filled with tears and my heart aching. I lifted my hand, and waved the first cab that went by.

The chauffeur stopped in a hurry, and I got in, leaning my head against the window. 

"Take me somewhere I can forget my grief, "I said.