Aaron took a left at an intersection. He frowned as he viewed his school in the mirror. 'Why do I have to find out about this now of all times…?' Aaron thought as his eyes burned with unshed tears of pure frustration, and perhaps a twinge of something else. Now that Adam was gone, Aaron felt that it was safe to stop pretending, if only for a moment.
'What can I do?' He kept driving, although his troubling thoughts did not let up. 'I am human… and compared to…everything…' He hit the wheel of his car, trying to let out some of the uselessness he felt.
Aaron reached his home rather quickly with only his disturbing thoughts to keep him company. He still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that Michelle was going to get married, and he couldn't even tell her how he felt, right? The fact that she wasn't human didn't deter the feelings he had for her.
'Now I know why they say you should open your mouth while you still have the chance…' He thought with the very beginnings of depression. 'But would that have changed anything?' Wondered Aaron hopelessly.
For as long as Aaron has known Michelle, he has harbored a massive crush on the beautiful, intelligent, blunt blonde.
Aaron entered his room and laid down on his bed. His eyes felt like they were about to explode and his throat constricted painfully. He couldn't hold it back anymore. He sniffed lightly as he cried softly. Honestly, he felt pathetic.
Aaron's mother stood on the other side of his bedroom door. She could practically feel his sadness, and she knew it was from heartbreak. After all, mothers are supposed to know everything there is to know about their children. She gently opened the door, "Sweetie…are you…okay?" His mother asked in concern, even when she knew he wasn't.
Aaron looked towards the door and quickly wiped his tears as he nodded almost on instinct, "Yeah, I'm fine… just bit my tongue," Aaron inwardly cursed himself for such a pathetic excuse of a lie. However, try as he might, right now, he could think of nothing better.
"Aaron…something is bothering you," His mother said as she sat on the bed next to him, "I'm here for you. Always have, and always will be."
He wanted to refuse, but the sincerity he could hear in her voice, the way her eyes traveled on his face, searching, trying to help made him hesitate. Aaron bit his lower lip even as he started talking, "You…know Michelle?" It came out as a question, but Aaron knew the answer. He took a moment to group his thoughts as his mother nodded and waited patiently for him to continue, "Well…I just found out that she's…getting married," Aaron muttered in such a soft tone, his mother just barely heard him.
His mother's paused as if she was processing what she just heard when her eyes widened in what could only be shock and disbelief. "Married?!"
"Yes, it's arranged…apparently, her family set it up a long time ago," Aaron said in an attempt not to go into more details as he tried to stop the tears from flowing freely on his cheeks.
"Oh, my boy," His mother's natural maternal instincts took over, and she hugged him tightly, "Does she know?"
Aaron looked at his mother with a questioning look shining in his eyes. "Know what?"
"That you love her," Aaron felt himself freeze.
"How?" Aaron asked, even as he felt surprised and, somewhere deep within, a bit embarrassed, "How…did you know?"
"I noticed long ago" His mother patted his head and smiled gingerly. "Every time someone says something about you and her being a couple, you turn red. You go the extra mile to help her if she asks and the way you look at her when you think no one is looking…you don't look at Jasmine or Brianne that way. She probably feels the same about you" Aaron marveled at his mother's analyzing skills, but he gave her an incredulous look. "She stands up for you each time you're in trouble or need help. She sometimes glances at you and smiles." His mother continued with a fond smile.
Aaron looked at his mother with wide eyes that were brimmed with hope. "You think so?"
"I know so…but, if you never tell her how you feel, you will never know for sure," His mother said, provoking Aaron to nod.
He shook his head and wiped his tears away. 'I'm so pathetic…' Aaron thought as he finally hugged his mother back. 'But, I am not going to let her get married without knowing about my feelings…I can only hope she doesn't-' Aaron didn't allow himself to continue that line of thought.
"I came up here to tell you that your father and I are going to leave soon. It's our anniversary today, so we're going to a fancy lodge," His mother said with a relieved smile and a wink. "We are not coming home today or tomorrow, so you have the house to yourself," His mother said cheerfully before her tone became stern. "No parties!"
"Thanks, Mom…" Aaron stood up with a goofy smile on his face. "I'll see you later. I'll invite my friends over, and we will look after the house" His mother nodded in acceptance and left the room after bidding him farewell. Aaron took out his phone and dialed Adam's number first.
"Hello, Aaron. What's up?" Adam's voice came from the other end of the line.
"My parents are going on a mini-vacation for a couple of days, so want to come over?" Aaron asked and was confused when Adam ended the call without another word. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle and stand up when he could feel heat from behind him. He looked back to see Adam leaning casually against his bed.
"I'm in" Adam started calling the others before Aaron even got to sit down.
One hour later…
"It's cool we have a house to ourselves! Let's throw an epic party!" Jasmine suggested with a whoop.
They all had gathered in his room, lounging about like they owned the place.
Dean laughed at the idea before answering with a plain. "No."
Jasmine looked at him. "Hey! At least think it over…"
Jasmine muttered as she glanced at Adam for support. 'Come on!' Her expression was practically pleading.
Adam looked at her and shook his head apologetically, "As fun as that sounds…It wouldn't be smart. There are still a couple of creatures that want Aaron dead, many think he had something to do with Bruce disappearing. Let's just enjoy our time together" Adam said in a rare act of wisdom.
Brianne nodded in agreement. "We don't want to put him in any unnecessary danger."
"It would have been perfect a week ago though…" Dean's eyes light up as another idea crossed his mind. "How about a movie?"
"Which movie though?" Brianne asked and her question got multiple nods from the others. Aaron was sitting quietly. Although he was watching his friends, he was also thinking about what his mother said. He pretended to look around the room and saw Michelle if he didn't know any better it kind of looked like her eyes shifted from him. Or at least he hoped so. 'She was right that Michelle sometimes glances my way… but it probably doesn't mean anything…why would she…I'm human, after all…maybe I am imaging things and my own mind is convincing me' The sound of Adam's snapping fingers in front of his face broke Aaron out of his reverie.
"Someone isn't concentrating" Adam commented with a teasing smile. "We decided to watch a comedy," Adam informed helpfully. Aaron shrugged and pushed all thoughts concerning a certain blonde to the back of his mind. 'I have to enjoy my time with my friends…' Aaron thought as he grinned and got Adam in a headlock.
"You say I am not concentrating, huh?" Aaron chuckled as
Adam tried to pry his arms off of him. Jasmine watched eagerly and tackled them both to the bed, taking them both by surprise and winding them. "That's how it's done, boys! Come on! We have a movie to watch!" She dragged the groaning boys off of the bed and onto the ground, hearing them moan in pain all the way into the living room.
The gang met up in the lounge and pretty soon the movie started. They all decided to steal the best seats before anyone else could sit down, Aaron, unfortunately, was left standing and sighing at his misfortune.
"Sorry, Aaron…sucks to be you…find a seat somewhere." Said Jasmine as she relaxed in her seat. He looked at the seats and saw that there was a space available, a hand touched the seat and tapped it.
Aaron's eyes traveled up to see the hand belonged to Michelle.
"Take a seat, Aaron, you can be my pillow." Said Michelle with a smile, Aaron played it cool and nodded before making his way over to the seat, but his mind was in utter chaos, he didn't know what to do, he sat down and felt her lean on him making his heart rate increase, Jasmine's eyes broke from the TV and glanced at Aaron before turning back to the movie.
Aaron found himself being Michelle's cushion as they watched the movie. He couldn't help but smile. He found himself watching her instead of the movie most of the time. He loved her, and he knew it. He loved her hair and her smile, her gentleness and coldness, all the same, her cute frown and bright eyes.
He looked back at the movie and laughed at the scene along with everyone else. "The only retard I know that would do something that stupid is Adam." Commented Dean as he laughed.
Adam puffed out his chest. "In what world?" Retorted Adam as Jasmine laughed.
"This one" Finished Brianne.
"You guys think you're so funny!" Said Adam as Michelle scoffed.
"Think? I am pretty sure you are usually the first one to laugh or agree." Said Michelle with a light smile. Adam opened his mouth to counterargue but realized she wasn't wrong.
"You think you're soooo smart!" Said Adam as Aaron laughed.
"That's because she is!" Laughed Aaron.
Michelle looked up at Aaron and giggled making his heart skip, they shared eye contact for a couple of seconds and smiled.
She inwardly frowned before standing and moving away. "I am going to get some fresh air." Her voice echoed.
Aaron watched her get up and walk away, he frowned, was it something he did? He didn't know but he knew he felt something between them. He got up and followed her, everyone present gave each other uneasy glances, they knew what was up with their friends, and honestly, neither of them knew how to fix the situation.
Silently they decided who was going to go and defuse the situation; Adam, he gave off an exasperated sigh, why was it him? He gave them all a stare which they skillfully ignored.
Michelle stopped by the balcony and let out a heavy sigh. She stood outside and felt calm as the wind played with her hair.
'I have to stop this…it will just be harder when the time comes.' Thought Michelle, her mind was in disarray and her emotions weren't too far off either. 'It is a nice thought…but it can only ever be a thought...'
"You okay?" The voice she was trying to get away from asked. "You just stood up and left" Aaron came up from behind and stood beside her. Michelle forced a smile.
"I'm fine." She said, heading back inside to the others and further away from Aaron, who stood there with confusion evident on his face. Adam cleared his throat from his place, leaning against the wall.
"That's Michelle for you," Adam said as he approached Aaron. "I have to go visit a friend tomorrow, and you have to go to your martial arts training. We can go together?" Aaron nodded absentmindedly.
Adam looked at Aaron with a pitied expression. "Look, Aaron…it won't work," Aaron looked at him, he could tell Aaron was confused and Adam hated himself all the more for what he was about to say. "You and Michelle, I mean."
Aaron looked at him in shock and a tad bit of anger. "What do you mean by that!?"
"I mean that you and she will never be able to be together, it's just…impossible," Adam said bluntly, but he didn't stop there. He had to get this out in the open before things got more complicated. "Everyone in the group knows how you feel about Michelle."
Aaron's mind sputtered for a second. 'Am I that see-through…?'
Adam quickly continued. "She doesn't know, and it will stay safer that way."
"Why would you say that?" Aaron asked as his voice rose ever so louder. He wanted to understand Adam's point of view, even if he wouldn't accept it.
"Because she is a Dragon. Even if she did have feelings for you, none of that would matter," Adam said slowly so that Aaron would understand his every word. "If she has the same feelings you do, and you two start dating…then you will be signing not just your death certificate but hers as well," Adam stated gravely. "Trust me…Dragons get violent when their prizes are on the line…and in this case…Michelle is the prize."
Aaron looked like he was just about ready to explode. "This isn't right…why do I get the short end of the stick?!" Aaron angrily crossed his arms and scowled. He didn't care how childish he sounded in the moment.
Adam looked at Aaron with pity. "The only way you would be able to stop a marriage that was decided hundreds of years ago would be to have enough power to defeat her current fiancé and have a high status that would elevate her family's name, and you…you have none of that," Adam stated, he had to be blunt and straight forward and stop Aaron from creating a real disaster.
"What am I supposed to do then?" Aaron asked, the last of the fight in him draining out.
"Move on." Adam stared at Aaron right in the eye. "That would be the best and safest route for you and her."
Aaron clenched his fists. 'This…this is…not right…' Aaron started heading to his room. Adam got the unspoken message and left him alone.
"Don't forget about tomorrow," Adam called out as Aaron reached his room and locked the door, just for some semblance of privacy. He couldn't be around anyone right now.
Jasmine came around the corner and looked at Adam. "That was…wow…I didn't know you could be so brutal, Adam"
"It's for his own good…how much did you hear?" Adam asked as he sighed.
Jasmine's expression was slightly guilty. "I heard everything. My ears aren't just for decoration y'know" She said lightheartedly before she sighed. "But, you're not wrong."
Adam nodded. "Let's head back." Said Adam, Jasmine just nodded and started walking.
"Where's Aaron?" Brianne asked as she saw them come back without him.
"I think he decided to sleep early today," Adam replied without missing a beat.
"Well, the movie is only starting to get to the good parts now," Brianne reassured before she glued her eyes to the screen once more. The others didn't question any further things were in an awkward stage and they all knew why.
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