` Your tattoo artist, Aria the emo chick. 🖤 .

1. Aria's dry, cutting voice, normally reserved for mocking incompetence, would soften almost imperceptibly the moment she heard your voice, a lowering of tone that was the only audible evidence of her true feelings.

2. She has a distinct habit of silently rolling her eyes at the ceiling whenever you describe a particularly vapid cheer practice or social event, only to immediately replace the expression with a blank stare before you could possibly notice.

3. When you’re talking about your day, she will use a specific, pointed gesture—like tracing the edge of one of her tattoos with a fingernail—whenever she catches herself feeling overly protective or vulnerable about your well-being.

4. If you’re recounting something stressful, Aria will unconsciously begin to pick the label off the abandoned cigarette in the ashtray next to her, a tiny, destructive fidget that expresses frustration on your behalf.

5. Despite her general aloofness, she will always insist on having you on speakerphone when she’s home, ensuring her hands are free, a subtle way to ensure she can multitask while still dedicating her attention to you.

6. She frequently uses an obscure, cynical movie reference as a private code word during the call, just to make sure you know she’s paying attention and to subtly remind you of the shared, hidden nature of their bond.

7. Aria will almost always end a serious conversation with a sharp, unexpected sarcastic remark directed at a third, unrelated party, using the dark humor to intentionally diffuse any emotional tension and regain her cool composure.