"Can we talk?"
The question came from none other than my best friend Nat. We were at her house, decorating it with all types of things that screamed Christmas. Every year her family and her host a Christmas party for friends a couple days before the 25th of December. I was in the middle of hanging up lights around the stairs when Nat says that. I stop and let go of the lights before walking down the steps to where she is.
"Sure," I say, "what's up?"
"What's going on with you?"
"What?" I question suddenly caught off guard.
"I mean I know you're fine, or you act like you are but," and her voice trails off and she gives me knowing look.
"But what?" I say. "I'm actually fine Nat. I passed all my classes with a high B and-"
"I mean with Aaron Reeves," she says and this time crosses her arms as she looks at me with an expectant look.
"Aaron? What about him?"
"That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out. Ever since that day that he asked me where the wedding was something happened between you two. I know it did because you two barely talk now. You two barley even stare at each other in the hallways, and when you guys are around each other you're all weird and awkward. I mean I know you don't have to tell me if you don't want to but-"
"I'm sorry," I say and look down, suddenly feeling ashamed. This entire time I've been moping, only thinking about my feelings toward Aaron that I was too blind to see that my best friend was worried about me.
Nat lets out a sigh and shakes her head.
"You don't have a reason to be sorry Lux. I just don't want you to act like you're okay in front of me when you're not. That's what I'm here for, to make you feel better when you're feeling down."
"Thanks," I say and give her a hug.
"I'll tell you what happened," I say when I let her go.
"You don't have to I just-"
"I want to," I assure her.
We sit on the steps next to each other so that I can tell her.
"I ruined the wedding," I say.
"What? How?"
"Remember how I told you about my mom's crazy plan about all of us, including my dad, acting like if they didn't get divorced?"
"Yeah."
"So like you know Aaron was late and the entire time throughout the ceremony I was moping around because I though he had completely forgotten about me, or even worse did it on purpose. I just kept thinking about how the day before I was completely excited about him going and I even created a fictional scenario of how the wedding would go. Obviously it didn't happen that way. By the reception I was fed up, angry because he didn't show up. So I made a big speech about it to everyone, letting my emotions get the best of me. And along the way I revealed the lie between my parents to my mom's side of the family and I completely ruined the wedding with my yelling."
"Oh my god," she says, "I can't believe this. So then what happened? How mad was your mom? And what about Aaron? I thought he did go."
I let out a sigh and continue to retell the events of that night.
"So my mom was furious. She told me to leave the reception and wait outside until it was over. So there I was, a complete mess, as I sat on a bench outside alone when suddenly Eric showed up and-"
I stop midsentence, suddenly realizing something.
"And what?" asks Nat.
"Wait did you talk to Eric the night of the Wedding?"
"No? What do you mean?"
"Well Eric showed up and said that you talked to him and told him that Aaron wasn't going to go to the wedding so he did. But I just remembered that Aaron said he went to the diner to ask you where the wedding was. And by the time Aaron arrived Eric was already there which is why he didn't show up, because he saw us two together."
"Wait I'm confused. What do you mean Eric went?"
"Yeah he said you told him to go at the diner."
"I didn't though. He wasn't even at the diner that night, he had told me the day before that he wasn't going to work because he had a lot of homework."
"But then how did he know about the wedding?"
Nat shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe-"
Nat's words come to an end when suddenly we here the front door open and her parents walk in yelling at each other.
Nat suddenly looks to me and I can tell from the look she's giving me that she's embarrassed I'm here to hear this.
"Let's go to my room. We can fix the lights later."
I don't say anything but instead nod my head and we walk up to her room. I sit on her bed in silence and suddenly there's a tension in the room.
"Are-"
"It's probably just a bad day," she says not giving me the chance to finish my sentence.
I shut my mouth and nod realizing that she doesn't want to talk about this and it would be better if I just leave it for now.
The yelling gets louder and soon her parents are upstairs. Their voices loud and clear behind the door and I look down at my shoes unsure of how to react.
"Why don't we finish the decorations later?" she suggests and I know that she really doesn't want me here to hear this.
I nod and get up.
"Sounds good," I say, "I'll be going, text me if you need anything."
"Yeah, okay."
I smile at her and she forces one back before walking me down to my car.
I text Nat the next day but she doesn't answer. And now that school is on winter break I don't see here every day like I used to. Saturday is the Christmas party and it was Thursday, I had expected her to text me to help her finish the decorations but she doesn't. The next day goes the same way and by Saturday morning I am more worried than ever. I had texted her on Friday but she never replied.
I decide to go to her house earlier than the time the party started. Four hours early to be exact. As I'm walking out my house my heart jumps out of my chest the moment I see Aaron Reeves.
"Holy shit," I say, "you literally gave a heart attack just now."
Aaron lets out a laugh.
"Sorry," he says, "it wasn't my intention. Are you going somewhere?"
"Yeah, Nat and her family are having a Christmas party and I was about to go."
"Christmas party at eleven in the morning?"
"Well it actually starts at three but I wanted to go early."
"Did you know getting to the party early isn't cool?"
"Wouldn't you know," I tease.
"Ouch," he says and places his hand over his heart, "that one hit me right here."
"Sorry," I say, "I didn't mean to-"
"I know," he says letting out a laugh.
"Jerk," I say and he smiles at me the way he used to. And it hurts a little because I know that things aren't as they used to be. His smile is torture to my heart.
"Lux we need to talk," he says.
"I can't right now," I say.
"I know, I just..." his voice trails off and suddenly he's walking over to me.
"You what?" I say as I walk him get closer and I take a step back, not wanting him to be too close. But it doesn't matter how many steps I take back he continues to walk closer and closer to me until we're only a few inches away.
"Aaron?" I say-or whisper; I'm not too sure because all I can hear is the sound of my heartbeat ringing in my ears.
He takes one last step forward and with his hand he pulls my head closer to his.
"What are you-"
My words are cut off by none of than my phone ringing. With that I gently push Aaron away and I grab my phone to see Nat calling me.
"Nat?" I say worriedly when I answer.
"Hey," she says and her voice cracks. She's sniffling and I can tell that she's been crying.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?"
"The party is off," she says.
"What? Why? What happened Nat?"
"My parents are getting a divorce," she says.
"I'm on my way okay? Don't go anywhere. I'm on my way for you."
Frantically I look for my keys unsure of where I left them when only minutes ago did I have them in my hand.
"What's wrong?" says Aaron.
"My keys, I don't know where they are and I need to go now and I-"
"Lux calm down, you're fine. Your keys are inside your bag. See?" he says and points at my purse, and sure enough the keys are hanging there.
"I swear I looked there," I say and grab them before walking to my car. I let out a curse when I struggle unlocking my car.
"Here let me drive."
"What? No. You don't know how to drive."
"Yes I do. I drive a motorcycle."
"Cars are different."
"I know."
"When was the last time you drove a car?"
"Mm two years ago? Whenever I took my driver's test to get my motorcycle permit."
"Yup you're definitely not driving."
"Oh get to the other side and quit being dramatic," he says snatching the keys away from my hand and opening the driver's door before getting in.
Reluctantly I go and before I know it he begins to drive.
"Maybe don't drive so fast?" I suggest five minutes within the drive.
"Are you seriously criticizing my driving?"
"Yes, you're driving too fast. This isn't like a motorcycle."
"I know Lux, relax."
"Would you quit telling me to relax? You're getting me irritated."
"Okay then freak out but at least shut up."
"Shut up? Are you serious?"
"Yes? You're nagging is getting on my nerves."
"You're getting on my nerves," I retort.
"I've missed you so much," he mumbles.
"What?" I question confused.
Aaron gives me a side glance and smirks.
"You heard me," he says.
"I didn't."
"What? Do you want me to say it again?"
"Maybe."
"You say it first."
"Say what?" I ask.
"Don't play dumb."
"I'm not playing dumb."
"I just want to know if you've missed me as much as I have missed you."
I look at him, taken off guard, and when he looks back at me I quickly look away.
"Don't say things like that," I say.
"Why?"
"Because you confuse me."
"Confuse you how?" he asks.
"Never mind," I say.
"What? Why? Tell me how I confuse you."
"Just keep driving."
"Oh come on Lux."
I don't say a word and suddenly he pokes me really hard on my side.
"Ow what the fuck."
"Tell me what you meant."
I let out a groan.
"Tell me."
"I meant that if you continue to do weird things like you did today you might give people the wrong idea of us."
"So?"
"So I don't want people making up lies about how you like me or whatever."
"And if it wasn't a lie?" he says.
"What?"
"What if I did like you?" he questions.
My heart stops. Why does he have to play with me like this?
I force myself to laugh.
"Yeah right," I say and laugh harder, "quit saying dumb things and just drive."
"Dumb things huh," he mumbles quietly. I ignore it and instead look out the window. I can't let myself overanalyze things. I can't let myself get too excited over nothing. Not again.
When we get to Nat's house Aaron stays in the car and I walk inside the house with the key they keep inside the mailbox. I don't fail to notice Nat's mom's car gone from the driveway and I walk upstairs to her room. When I get there I open the door and call for her, finding her in the corner of her room, crying on the floor. I walk over to her as quickly as I can and embrace her, letting her cry as long as she needs because I know just how much she is hurting. I know how much family is important to her and I know that this must be one of the hardest things she has gone through. I soothe her with my words and I don't let her go until her crying stops.
All I've got to say is that you all should watch out for the next chapters. Maybe not the next one but after that...ð¤ð¤ð Crazy stuff happen lmao
Anyways hope you all like this chapter, pls let me know in the comments, it would mean the world for me. Lastly do you all want to know how many more chapters are left (not saying that we're close to the end or anything lol) but rather just curious haha
Hope you guys had a great day,
Love you all
Arið