Nat's parents got divorced a couple days after Christmas. The process was fast seeing as which they were both in agreement that they didn't want to be together anymore. This hurt Nat more than anything and I could tell that she didn't want to choose a side. I made sure to stay by her side, guiding her so that she doesn't feel alone. After all I've been through this as well only a couple of years ago with my parents. Just because it didn't hit me as hard as it hit her didn't mean it didn't hurt.
From the day where I found Nat crying in her room to now, December 28th, Aaron had been coming more often to my house. At times unannounced and other times he would tell me. For Christmas I struggled with what to get him since I was unsure of what exactly we were. More than friends? Definitely not. I wasn't even sure if we were friends to start with. At times things would be so awkward between us and other times it would be like before in which we would spend our time bickering. He irritated me to say the least, but yet I loved it.
When the nerves came with not knowing what to give him for Christmas I gave up and asked him through text.
Me: hey so...what do you want for Christmas?
Aaron: hmm...why don't you come over and I can tell you exactly what I want ;)
Me: Come on I'm being serious here!
Aaron: you don't have to get me anything Lux
I was at loss with what to respond. I didn't want to push because in the end I wasn't even sure what was going on between us. Another minute passes and I begin typing a reply when he sends another text.
Aaron: How about we go to the movies on the 28th? I want that as my present.
Me: Movies? Sounds good...but are you sure that's what you want?
Aaron: Yeah I'm sure. :)
That damn smiley face. Maybe it was just me acting like I'm thirteen all over again but I couldn't help but squeal at the stupid emoticon.
It was only a few hours until Aaron and I would be going to the movies and I was at Nat's house. I had slept over the night before and I had just made us breakfast.
"Thanks," says Nat when I give her the plate filled with pancakes and eggs.
"No problem," I say and sit in front of her. We begin eating when she speaks again.
"You never finished telling me what else happened at the wedding," she says.
I look up, realizing that as well.
"Oh yeah," I say.
"So what happened with Eric? I'm really confused on that."
"Yeah so am I. Because he said that you told him to go because Aaron called. But you said you didn't tell him that at all. And Aaron's story is different too."
"Do you think he lied?"
"Who Aaron?"
"No," she says, "Eric."
"Oh," I say, "I don't know. It doesn't seem like Eric to do that. But I don't know. I think I should ask him."
"You should," she agrees, "So what else happened? Why were you and Aaron not friends? And also I did notice you two are talking again so I'm really confused."
"Well I was mad at Aaron because he didn't show up. The following Monday after the wedding when I saw him I avoided him but eventually he found me. He told me that the night before he went to a party and got really drunk, by the time he woke up the next day it was late and the wedding had begun. When we finally arrived to the reception he saw Eric and I talking and he thought Eric and I were more than friends and decided to leave."
"Damn what the fuck. So much happened that night. So then what did you say?"
"Well he apologized for not going after telling me what happened. But I was still upset and told him it would be better if we weren't friends anymore."
"Geez that's harsh," Nat comments and I give her a look.
"Sorry, just voicing my opinion," she defends.
"Anyways Aaron started apologizing again and he said that he didn't want us to stop being friends and that he would do anything so that I could forgive him. But I was still hurt so I told him that in order for us to be friends again he needed to give me time apart from him."
"Oh my god what kind of Wattpad story is this," mumbles Nat.
"Watt-what?"
"Nothing," she says, "go on."
"Well that's kind of it. We haven't talked until recently but things are still weird."
"Okay I have three questions for you. But you have to be honest," Nat replies.
"Okay, go on."
"One, do you like Aaron? Two, does he like you? And three, why the hell are you guys not together yet?"
"What? Like Aaron? No-"
"Either you're in denial or you don't want to tell me. Come on Lux, it's me. I know you."
I let out a sigh of defeat.
"Fine," I say, "yes I do like him."
"I knew it," she replies proudly, "Okay now answer my other two questions."
"Does Aaron like me? I don't know. I doubt it, but sometimes he really confuses me."
"What do you mean?"
"Like the day you called he stopped by my house and was acting all weird."
"Weird how?"
"Well he kept smiling and started getting really close to me."
"Close to you? What? How?"
"Like...like if he was going to kiss me or something. I don't know."
"So he was getting close to you as if he were going to kiss you, but you guys didn't kiss?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Well," I say and pause a little, "right when we were going to you called me."
"Seriously? Oh my god."
"Yeah."
"You should've just ignored my call."
"No!"
"Dude yes! Aaron freaking Reeves was going to kiss you. My perfect timing huh?"
"Nat," I scold and frown.
"Alright," she says brushing me off, "What else?"
"So in the car on the way to your house he told me he missed me."
"Why didn't you kiss him right then and there?"
"Nat!"
"What? I can't help being honest."
"I told him that he needs to stop acting weird because then people are going to confuse things and think we're a couple. And he said, 'so what if people think we're a couple?' I thought I was going to die when he said that."
"Did you?"
"No I laughed."
"You laughed?"
"Yeah," I say.
"Wait so you're saying you laughed when Aaron confessed to you."
"Confessed?"
"Um yeah he practically told you he liked you."
"I'd rather not get carried away with-"
"Oh come on Lux. You like him, he likes you...what the hell is stopping you guys?"
"He's Aaron Reeves," I tell her.
"And you're Lux Callaghan."
"No Nat. He's Aaron Reeves. He plays with girls' feelings. He breaks their hearts. He makes you think he likes you but when you least expect it he'll leave you when he doesn't want you anymore."
"Do you honestly believe that?" she asks.
"I don't want to," I reply, "but it's all facts. Just think back to all the girls he's been with and the way he left them. I don't want to get hurt. I'm going to let myself get hurt; I already did when he didn't show up at the wedding and even then, we were nothing but friends. What's going to happen when I confess my feelings for him and I give him all my trust and care and at the end he gets bored of me and decides to leave me? I'll be crushed. I don't want to go through that."
"So you're scared of heartbreak. Lux, I know liking someone is scary but you shouldn't let fear go in the way of your happiness. You should just go for it."
"I can't."
"But-"
"I really can't Nat. I just can't."
Nat frowns.
"You should come to the movies with us," I say.
"Are you seriously sabotaging your own date?"
"It's not a date!"
"Um yeah it is but the moment you bring me along I'm just gonna ruin it."
"Oh just come."
"No. I will not be a part of helping you ruin your chances with him."
"You're coming with me to the movies."
"No I am not."
"Yeah you are," I say and being typing on my phone. A few seconds pass and I smile triumphantly and show her my phone.
"Did you seriously just tell Aaron that I was going with you guys?"
"Yup," I reply, "And I told him to bring his friends too so it's even."
"I honestly can't believe you."
When Nat and I arrive to the movie theatre we find Aaron and Omar waiting by the concessions.
"Hey," I say when I meet up with them.
"Yo," replies Omar and he looks over to Nat and pulls out his hand to shake hers. Before I have a chance to tell Nat not to shake his hand she's already reached for his and suddenly he brings his hand back in the jellyfish motion.
"Jellyfish," he exclaims with a laugh. I can't help but laugh as well when Nat glares at him.
"To refresh your mind from the night of homecoming," he says, "I'm Omar and he's Aaron."
"I know," she says flatly, "I'm Nat."
"Yup I know," replies Omar and rolls his eyes, "Lux has mentioned you a lot before."
Nat smiles.
"SoHo and Bianca?" I question.
"Probably at their houses. Something has been going on between those two and it's kinda weird. I think they're in a fight or something."
"Oh, that is weird," I agree and Omar nods.
"Well I already bought the tickets," says Aaron, "why don't we get some snacks."
We all agree and end up buying popcorn and candy before heading inside the theatre. Aaron sits first, then Omar, then Nat and lastly me. At times throughout the movie I can't help but glance at Aaron, trying my best not to be obvious. Sometime in the middle of the movie Aaron stands up and I panic a little but ignore him as he walks over us albeit trying to head to the bathroom. But instead he sits on the other side of me. I tense up, confused as to why he would sit there.
"Hey," he whispers, his face close to my ear.
I don't turn around as I reply.
"Hi."
"What's up?" he replies.
This time I turn to look at him, not realizing how close our faces would be the minute I did that. I pull my head back so that I can create a greater distance between us.
"I'm trying to watch the movie," I tell him and turn my attention back to the movie in hopes that he would stop and go back to his seat.
Instead he gets his face closer to my ear again.
"Am I bothering you?" he replies and I know he's doesn't really care if he's bothering me. It's almost like he's daring me to admit that he is bothering me. Instead of continuing of taking part of this conversation I merely ignore him and continue to watch the movie. Once he realizes that I'm ignoring me he speaks again.
"Just tell me that I'm bothering you and I'll go back next to Omar."
Silence. I don't say anything; I don't want a reason to provoke him so I keep my mouth shut and my eyes on the screen.
"Fine," he says, "If I'm not bothering you then I guess this won't bother you either."
Unsure of what he means I continue to ignore him until suddenly I feel his hand on mine, holding my hand tightly. Immediately I jump up and out of my seat, causing to catch the attention from not only Nat and Omar but the people behind us. When I see their faces of confusion I sit back down.
"Did that bother you," whispers Aaron.
I turn to look at him and glare at him.
"Don't do that."
"Why?"
"Because-"
My sentence is cut off by the people behind us shushing me. I look back at them and apologize before going back to glaring at Aaron.
"Because I don't want you to," I whisper harshly before turning my attention back to the screen. With that said Aaron stands up and goes back to his seat next to Omar. I glance at him one last time before giving the movie my utter attention.
When the movie ends Nat and Omar bring up when I stood up during the movie. I brush it off merely changing the subject when I feel my phone vibrate. I take it out of my pocket and answer the call.
"Hello?"
"My parents aren't going to be here for New Years," is the first thing Maru says to me.
"Oh," I say, "do you want to spend it with me?"
"I was thinking more of a party? What do you think?"
"A party? Where?"
"At my house, duh!"
"Are you sure? Who would be invited?"
"Yeah, I don't want to be alone this New Years and I was thinking of inviting anyone from school."
"Anyone? So no restrictions of who can go?"
"Nope, I just wanna have fun."
"I don't know-"
"Oh come on, it'll be fun. I'll provide for everything, it's not like my parents will notice I spend any of my money, besides they're not even gonna be there so they won't notice I had a party either."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, definitely. Text everyone you know from school and invite them. I'm ready to party."
"Okay," I say and we hang up.
"Who was it?" asks Nat.
"Maru, she wants to have a party on New Year's Eve."
"A party? Oh hell yeah," responds Omar.
"Yeah, she said to invite everyone I know so I guess she wants to have a big one."
"We've got you covered on the people, isn't that right Aaron?" Omar says.
"Sure," he replies and Omar smiles excitedly.
When we walk back to the parking lot Aaron pulls me to the side. Omar turns around and notices that we've stayed behind but I watch as Nat pull him away with her.
I look back at Aaron, suddenly feeling shy in front of him so I look down at my shoes, unsure of what to do.
"So," he says.
"It's getting late, I should probably go take Nat home," I say and begin walking but he pulls me back.
"Hold on, I have something to say to you."
I look at him expectantly, my heart beating rapidly I am unsure if I am even breathing.
He opens his mouth to speak but closes it right after and he lets out a frustrated groan.
"Your friend's party, I'll tell you then," he says before walking off.
I give him a confused look as I watch him go. When I go inside the car with Nat she gives me that look and I know exactly what it means.
"Nothing happened," I tell her.
"Then?" she asks.
"He just said that he's going to tell me something on the night of Maru's party."
"Maru's party? New Year's Eve? I don't know if it's just because I read too many Wattpad books but I can sense a kiss coming soon."
"A kiss? No! No kissing is going to happen."
"Sure," she says, "that's exactly what the main lead says but by the end of the night of New Year's Eve she's suddenly found herself alone with the other main lead and suddenly it's midnight and they're kissing and it's romantic."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You'll see," she says but I continue to stay confused on her previous words all throughout the drive.
So I wrote another chapter right away bc I got too excited lol. Hope you all enjoyed it. Love you all!