Chapter 6 Birthday Disaster

As winter took its hold over Riverview, so did the approach of Aria's nineteenth birthday. However Aria forgot about it and it seemed as though Hunter had as well. Separately they both moved forward with their lives, the conversation of how they would celebrate it never coming up. On the day of her birthday Aria went straight to work, burying herself in as she usually did, not even registering the day. A call from Hunter came in midday asking if she could come home at five as he wanted to take her. A small smile touched Aria's lips knowing that he had not forgotten. 

Aria was disappointed when they pulled up outside the bar, any thoughts of a romantic dinner at the Bistro were shattered. Aria wondered if Hunter was doing this more out of duty than actual want, walking in Hunter placed a tentative hand over her own and the smile on her face when she gripped it firmly, told her this was not out of duty. 

As soon as Aria stepped through the door, she realized how wrong she'd been when all of her friends, jumped out saying surprise. The busy times had not led her to be forgotten, she gave Hunter a quick kiss assuring him that she really did appreciate the gesture. 

She quickly made her way over to Hunter, spying him holding his new baby. A little named boy named Alexis. 

Aria bundled him up in her arms smiling, "That'll be you soon then," Larry joked up coming off. 

Aria snorted, "God I hope not, I'm not ready yet." 

As much as she loved children the thought of having her own made her feel slightly sick. Someone depending on you, Aria couldn't help but think that if she couldn't sort out her own life, how could she raise a child? Maybe someday she mused, someday far into the future.

 "How's life though?" she asked the two of them, feeling as if they hadn't spoken in moons.

In truth they probably hadn't and Aria was feeling the effects of seeing someone every day to hardly seeing them at all. Hunter was enjoying life and being a father and working in the bistro was less hours than the salon which allowed him more time with. Larry had never seemed more happy, in fact unlike Hunter who had a sense of regret at leaving the salon behind, Larry wished he could have left it sooner. Aria listened on smiling, thinking she wished life was going as well for her.

 "What about you?" Hunter C asked her. 

"Oh umm," Aria stuttered trying to think of what to say, "Garth seems alright, and things are really the same," she admitted. 

Aria didn't spend as much time at the salon preferring house calls because it just wasn't the same. The atmosphere at the salon that made Aria love Riverview had seemed to disappear with Hunter and Larry. 

"Well as long as things are good," Hunter C muttered seeming to leave the sentence hanging as something else caught his eye. 

Aria turned around to see what it was and nearly growled at the sight of Constance basically hanging off Hunter's arms. 

"I'll be back," Aria told the two boys making her way over to where Hunter had led Constance's outside. "What's wrong with her?" Aria questioned, pretending to be concerned. 

Hunter sat her down, "She's a bit drunk, things have been difficult at work, you know how it is," he replied. 

"Yeah," Aria responded with barely concealed hostility. 

No matter how bad things got, Aria would not show up to a birthday party, drunk it lacked class. 

"I'm going to take her home," Hunter announced. 

"Excuse me?" Aria hissed her arms crossed. Hunter stared at her surprised, "Aria, I can't just leave her here," he explained. 

"Call a taxi," Aria said simply shrugging. 

"She's my friend and she's upset, I wouldn't do that. If it was Hunter or Larry wouldn't you do the same?" he asked her, trying to reason with her loyalty to her friends but Aria was having none of it. 

"My friends aren't trying to sleep with me," she snapped, keeping her low so Constance couldn't hear anything.

 Hunter sighed, "Aria, I love you but this isn't about you. I hate the fact that you can't trust me with anything."

 The words stung because he had brought it back to her secret. 

"That's not because I don't trust you," she protested. 

"Well it feels that way," Hunter replied firmly. 

Aria was shocked she had never known he felt like that, "Its not it," she said weakly. 

"Just forget it," Hunter told her coldly. 

Aria could tell she had let him down and she hated the feeling. 

"Hunter," Constance groaned bringing their attention back to the main problem.

 Hunter rushed over to her, "It's okay I'm going to take you home," he promised and then turning back to Aria he said, "I'll be back."

 "It's my birthday," she shouted to his retreating figure, then in a soft whisper, "you're meant to care."  

Aria returned to the party but her heart just wasn't in it anymore. It was meant to be fun, surrounded by people she loved, but the most important person was missing. Aria ordered drink after drink, growing more depressed as each minute passed and Hunter still had not returned. 

If she had bothered to let her hand crossed the small distance to her phone she would of seen numerous texts from Hunter and missed calls saying the car had broken down. However Aria didn't bother, she assumed he would have some pathetic excuse about Constance. As the last of the people began leaving Aria's entire world was swinging, she felt energetic and great and depressed all at the same time. 

"No," she complained as Larry put her in his car, "I want to party all night."

 "Yeah I'll bet you do," Larry laughed taking the seat next to her. 

"Am I bad wife?" she questioned Larry laying a head on the seat looking at him.

 Larry gave her a side glance, "I think you're to drunk for this conversation," he replied but on seeing Aria's face he added, "buzzkill."

 Aria grinned, Larry was great at making her smile. She thought about that as he helped her out of the car, "Home sweet home," Larry declared to her.

 "I wouldn't call it that," she muttered. 

Larry was dependable and she loved dependable. Pulling Larry towards her she gave him a drunken kiss which he deepened before pulling away.

 "What?" Aria pouted.

 "You're drunk sleep it off," he advised her. 

"But I don't want to," she argued advancing towards him again.

 He pushed her away harder this time, "Aria I'm serious," and he did indeed sound serious. 

"Buzzkill," Aria remarked making her way inside.