"I remember you were the first friend I ever made. Others looked down upon me and bullied me but you, you were different" Aaron says and I swallow hard plastering a smile on my face
"You were always there for me. You made me feel human" he continues making tears flood my eyes
He sighs and looks at me straight in the eyes with his crystal green ones.
"I don't know what I'll do without you Nicole! I cannot afford to lose you or else I'll....I'll kill myself"
"Don't say that!" I scold as it pierces my heart. He doesn't know my heart belongs to another person. Its better I do not tell him or he will be so heartbroken
"I. Need. You." He enunciated the words and this made my vision blur with tears threatening to fall.
"Excuse me. I need to use the restroom" I tell him and he is a bit surprised but allows me to go.
I smile widely and walk away searching for a female washroom. I finally spot one and enter. I let the tears fall freely and wiped them with the back of my hands. I can't do this to Aaron! I cannot tell him the truth!
I finally gathered strength and fixed my makeup which had spilled because I was crying. I'm glad I took my makeup kit along.
I walked back to where Aaron was sitting and sat down. The waiter had already brought our main meal with red wine. I plop down on the chair and give Aaron a reassuring smile. He has been there for me all the time too. He is the only one who knows so much about me, even to the smallest details like my shoe size. Weird isn't it? I chuckle at the thought.
"Did I say something wrong?" Aaron asks dragging me out of my thoughts.
"No you didn't" I reply in a fake cheery tone.
"I know you Nicole! You became emotional all of a sudden! Please tell me" Aaron urges
"Okay I got emotional because you said the sweetest things to me! That's all"
"Are you sure bout that?"
"Yes Aaron! I really appreciate your kind words" I tell him and he has a skeptical look on but he shrugs and eats his honey baked chicken.
"Eat before your food gets cold" Aaron tells me and I begin to ingest my risotto. It tasted heavenly delicious and I nearly bit my tongue for chewing so much.
I gaze at the sky which was dark now with the full moon out together with stars.
"Beautiful right?" Aaron asks
"Yeah!" I reply and continue to eat my risotto.
Aaron's phone rings and he smiles when he sees the caller.
"Its Troy" he murmured to me and I chuckle as he picks up.
I silently eat my food as Aaron talks to Troy.
"We couldn't come because we are on a date Troy! Sorry" Aaron says and I feel my stomach flutter.
"Oh Troy seriously?" Aaron says chuckling.
"Okay. Bye" Aaron finally says and hangs up.
"You told Troy we are on a date?" I ask him and he shrugs giving me a smile.
"That's what we are doing right?" He says motioning between the two of us with his long rough and slender index finger.
"Well yeah but I know Troy is going to get crazy" I admit and Aaron laughs
"Don't worry, he already did"Aaron admits and I go bug eyed.
My phone rings distracting me and I see its Kimberly calling.
" I guess he already told Kimberly"I tell him with a smirk.
"Hey Kim" I say into the phone when I pick up.
"You bitch! You didn't tell me you and Aaron had a thing?!" She yells and I chuckle
"Relax Kim! I bet Troy told you about it"
"Hell yeah! And we are all shocked to the bone here!" Kimberly admits and I chuckle.
"I thought you were with Jake! Were you guys hiding your relationship from us? Cause its not cool" Kimberly spits and I swallow hard when I hear Jake's name.
"Well erh, we just started Kim! Its not like we had it a long time ago"
Kimberly snorts.
"Well, continue with your date! We will talk later" she says and hangs up.
"What did she also say?" Aaron asks with a mischievous smile
"She also went crazy telling me all sorts of stuff."
Aaron laughs and chokes on his food.
"Oh Kimberly and Troy! I remember when we befriended them in 8th grade" He admits and I take a trip down the memory lane.
"All of you have been there for me! Especially you Aaron and i really appreciate it but..." I trail off about to say I don't love you. But that will hurt him and it will hurt me to hurt my long time best friend.
"I know you don't have the same feelings towards me" Aaron says as if reading my thoughts giving me a reassuring smile and brushing some hair out of his perfect face. His expression is unusually soft.
"I'm willing to fight for your love Nikki! Even if you love someone else" He says tenderly and I gasp making my heart melt.
"But what if I can't love you back? What if I hurt you in the end Aaron? I don't want anything ruining our friendship" I say sincerely and he just looks at me pointedly.
He puts his hands on mine on the table and it sends some warmth throughout my entire body.
"That's my problem! But it wouldn't be your fault if you cannot love me back and our friendship wouldn't end because of that I promise"he assures and I smile.
" thanks Aaron. You are so understanding "
He smiles and eats the rest of his honey baked chicken. I also cleared my plate and Aaron filled two flutes with red wine.
"So this date officially seals our relationship together" Aaron says and lifts his flute up.
"Yeah" I reply and we put our flutes of red wine together making a small clink. I smile and sip my fluke of red wine.
"Halloween will be here in a few days time. Have you thought about it?" Aaron asks and I realise what he is talking about. Halloween is coming up.
"Today is 25th October. Halloween is on thirty-first. We have like 6 more days to go" Aaron says and I gasp.
"It came quicker than I thought! I don't have a costume yet" I reply honestly.
He chuckles.
"I remember you dressed up in your mom's old marching band uniform during sixth grade Halloween and we went trick or treating together remember?" Aaron says with a chuckle.
"Yeah I do" I say giggling at the thought and Aaron laughs along making our laughter mix up in such a perfect rhythm like a symphony. God! We had so many memories together. Should I choose him or Jake?
"And you dressed up like a 'cereal killer' holding a box of cereal and a knife" I told him and he chuckles
"But I looked good last year! Give me some credit" Aaron says and I chuckle taking another sip of red wine.
"Just because you dressed up like Batman?" I spit and he gives me a pouty frown.
"Well yeah! I looked good" he says shrugging
"You looked like a cat" he adds up and I smile
"Yeah. I wore my black cat costume but this year, I'm coming out even more dangerous"
"Hm I see. So what are you wearing this year babe?" He asks
"Relax honey! There is no need to rush! You will find out on that day" I reply and he chuckles.
"Well I have my costume ready and I can't wait to display it that night! We can even go trick or treating again" Aaron suggests.
"I would love that" I reply.
I'm still tolerating Aaron because I do not know Jake's intentions right now. I think he is still in love with Helen and has something up his sleeves. Am sure he will never get over her, never! And it pricks my heart that his heart belongs to her but I hope I'm just being delusional and not realistic. I just hope. What if he really meant what he said? That he loves me. But I know Jake! He will do anything to overthrow me and make me pay for what I did to him but I hope its not true or else I'll be heartbroken. Aaron on the other hand is transparent and sincere. I know he loves me genuinely its just that I cannot return it back even though I wish I could.
I sigh and just listen to Ed Sheeran's song playing at the background.
°~â¢~â¢~°
"I really loved the date!" I tell Aaron as he drives on the road towards my vicinity.
"I loved it too but most importantly, I loved to see you there in your beautiful dress with all your curves on display smiling at me" Aaron says and I blush. I punch him on the arm and he laughs at me.
"Its been a long time we actually hang out though" I reply with a sigh.
"Yeah! I really cherish this moment and every moment we have spent together tonight! And I believe this is the best way to start our relationship together" Aaron speaks tenderly and I melt.
"Yeah! I agree" I reply and look out of the window.
"So I'll see you on Monday Nikki! Good night! I love you" he says and pecks my cheek.
"Good night Aaron" I reply and kiss him lightly on his lips and he is bewildered. I smile and get down. I watch as he drives away with that infamous smile I've known since sixth grade on his face.
I strut to the front door and yawn. I grab the handle and its locked. I growl and grab my spare key from my clutch and open the door then I lock it again. I go to my room and fall on my bed. I was exhausted. I look at the time on the wall clock and its 00:34am in the morning.
I'll call it a day. I spent most of the day with Jake and the other quarter with Aaron.
ððð
My eyes snap open and the room is bright. I stretch as a small smile graces my lips remembering my date with Aaron yesternight. It was adorable and I would never forget it. I pick up my iPhone from my bedside cabinet beside me and there are a few messages including Aaron's own. Today is Sunday and Jake and I will be going somewhere. He will be here by eight. I look at the time and its 7:34am. I'm still clad in the outfit I took to Aaron's date yesterday.
I shrugged and just read the messages on my phone.
Aaron: Good morning love! Thanks for making yesternight an unforgettable one for me.
I smile imagining him having that infamous smile on his face while he typed this message.
My reply: I'm also grateful for what you did Aaron. You are the best friend anyone could ask for.
Jake: I'll pick you up at ten instead! Something came up. Sorry for any inconveniences caused.
My reply: okay. I'll see you at ten.
I dropped my phone on the cabinet and dragged myself out of bed. IÂ peeled off my dress effortlessly from my body together with my undergarments and threw them into the hamper of rumpled clothes. I took off my maroon boots and made it into the shower. I took a hot bath. It was a long one and I almost dozed off in my bathtub.
I get back into the room with my hair moist planting my butt on my stool in front of my dresser. I blew dry my hair and made it straight. Then I combed it and left it flowing down to my waist. I got into Troy's black adidas tracksuit which he gave to me as a birthday present together with Danny's double deckers. I put on Aaron's golden bracelet and Claire's shades.
I placed Alec's rose diamond necklace in my drawer together with Kimberly's watch and Jenna's Gucci tote went into my closet.
I did some light make up and applied my lip gloss smiling at my reflection in the mirror one more time before going downstairs.
As I descended the stairs everyone looked at me as if they had seen a ghost or an imposter.
I shrug it off and sit beside Trina at the table saying good morning to all of them in general.
Dad coughs exaggeratedly and Trina has a mischievous smile etched on her face
I ignore them and fill my plate with pancakes.
"How was your date with Aaron?" Mom pipes up. I glanced at their faces and they all have smirks on. I roll my eyes.
"It was lovely" I say honestly to the and they are at a loss for words.
"So, tell us! What did he say to you? Are you guys an official couple?" Mom asks
"Maybe we are. But he said the sweetest things to me" I reply with a huge smile.
"Awwwm" mom and Trina coo.
I poke my pancake and begin to eat it. I was hungry as hell and couldn't wait for it to enter my alimentary canal.(tummy to be precise). I was wondering why because I ate a lot yesternight.
"I'm delirious to know that my daughter has finally found love. I was starting to think you want to be a nun" Dad taunts and Trina chuckles alongside mom. I on the other hand, was bewildered. They all thought I wanted to be a nun? Being a nun is not bad but how could think of me in that way?
"Being a nun wasn't in my books dad" I deadpan and he chuckles.
"All the same, I would like to meet that scrawny kid again! Its a long time I saw him since he is now going to be your boyfriend" Dad jokes and mom and Trina burst into hysteria.
"Dad! He is not scrawny anymore!" I scold him. He cannot give such a rude remark about my best friend!
Its true he was scrawny at first but now he is much more presentable.
"I'm sorry sweetheart but that's what I use to remember him" Dad says with a shrug and I scoff.
After breakfast, Trina and I played a few games in the backyard together until ten. Jake's car pulled up at the driveway.
"I need to go Trina!" I tell her.
"Who is that?" Trina hollers but I ignore her and jog to the glossy black Lamborghini. I opened the door and hopped into the passenger seat. Jake's cologne fills my nostrils and I sit in. His blonde hair is unusually neat and he is clad in a navy blue polo shirt and jeans.