Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Aaron's POV

Maybe if Ava hadn't hugged me like that, things would have been different.

If she hadn't been so worried about me, if she hadn't showed me that little side of her that cared about me, I would have had doubts that she even felt anything for me.

I would have been planning another date with Brenda.

I would have made progress in trying to forget about her, not that it was working anyway.

She was on my mind, she was in my thoughts, she occupied every living fibre in my body.

And all it took was one night.

The first night ever that we spent together.

And probably the last.

But that was all it took to have me hooked. The way she hogged the blankets and murmured in her sleep.

The way she tangled her legs with mine and allowed me to hold her all night long.

Those little things I observed about her, those little things that she shared with me, was all I needed to start falling for her all over again.

And I didn't even know until it was too late.

Until I had heard her crying after I accepted to go out with Brenda.

Until I couldn't stop talking about her and thinking about her.

And to think I only accepted to go out with Brenda just so Ava would stop overreacting over breakfast.

But she was right in the end.

That night changed everything.

Everything.

'You have feelings for her.'

Brenda's words from our phone call this morning still echoes in my head.

When she said those words, I wanted to ask her what she meant, I wanted to ask her who she was talking about. But all I said was,

'How do you know?'

'I'm pretty sure when a man mistakenly addresses a bunch of flowers to a lady he can't stop talking about, in which case the flowers happen to be her favourite, points to one answer.'

'I'm sorry Brenda.'

'Don't be. You were more honest with me than you think.'

How I made that mistake still remains a mystery to me, same way I forgot to cancel for prom with Madeline.

All because of Ava Jeanne Simmons.

And now, I know what I feel.

I know what I want.

And I'm not going to allow her attempts of pushing me away to stop me.

Instantly, I hear her footsteps approaching the door and I stand, prepared.

No more running Ava.

No more pushing, no more hiding.

Not tonight.

I hear the door open and I wait patiently in the kitchen, imagining her reaction.

Ava's POV

Through out my entire uber ride, I was unable to focus. The pink roses in my hand still felt unreal, like a dream.

But then I would look at the card and my name would stare back at me.

'Ava.'

What is going to happen now?

Does he know Brenda gave me the flowers?

Does he even know he made the mistake?

And the most painful question; what difference will this make? After a week I'll be catching my flight back to California....away from Aaron.

Away from home.

My thoughts are still in a jumbled mess as I get to the door of the condo.

I'll just give the flowers back to him.

Yes. Yes, that's what I'll do.

And then I'll explain that it can't change any---

I'm suddenly lost for words and my thoughts vanish into nothing as I open the door.

There is a trail of pink, red and white roses leading into the hallway. And a few miniature envelopes following the trail.

The first envelop has the words, 'Me first.' on it and I pick it up, opening it slowly as my heart beat paces.

'Your eyes smile when you do,

Your hair shrinks when it's wet,

You avoid eye contact when you're scared,

And hog the blankets in bed.'

A giggle escapes my lip at the last part and I look up, but still no sign of Aaron.

Slowly, I walk forward and pick up the second envelope.

'You wouldn't think I'd notice,

But I can't help but stare,

It's amazing how you affect me,

When you're far and when you're near.'

Holding my breath, I follow the trail and pick up the next card in the hallway.

'I know this must seem strange,

And you're scared to know what's next,

But I don't care if things change,

I'll risk it all for another chance.'

I hold the card close and walk forward a little to pick the last one.

'Ava, I want to take you on a date,

I want to give you something better,

I'll blame it all on fate,

That I never took you out to dinner.'

I read the last card twice, and I can feel my doubt raising a thousand questions and a thousand reasons why this is a bad idea.

But I clutch the cards close with the flowers as I follow the trail to the kitchen where I see Aaron, standing with his ever charming smile and dressed completely in a navy blue suit.

"Well?" He asks and I remain quiet, staring at him with my mind racing.

Yes!

No!

Yes!

No!

"Ava...." he says as he walks closer to me,

"Talk to me."

"How... how did you know I love pink roses?" I manage to ask and he observes the flowers in my hand.

"Well, you told me. On the night we went to prom." He says quietly and that's all it takes to send tears to my eyes.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this." I say and try to turn away, but Aaron holds me back.

"Ava, wait." He says as he gently turns me to face him.

"Communicate with me. Tell me how you feel. Tell me what's holding you back." He asks softly and I keep my gaze down.

"Please." He adds and I look up at him.

"Something is going to go wrong. I know it will--"

"No, it's not."

"It will, Aaron. It will--"

"It won't. Nothing is going to go wrong."

"And how do you know?" I ask and he pulls me closer.

"Because that's exactly what I'm trying to prove." He says and I stare at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I ask and he takes a deep breath.

"Ava, I started this. I ruined the picture of a perfect night and a perfect date to you. And I want to change that. I don't want you having the idea that something is always going to go wrong when you have the chance to experience an amazing time. All I want is for you to give me the chance to change that. If I could take you out once, then please allow me to do it again. Only, this time, it's going to be better." He says convincingly and as my heart flutters at his words, my brain fights against it.

This is just like prom.

All those words he said...

"You can't guarantee a perfect night. So please, don't make this harder for me." I say but he doesn't let go.

"I know I'm not in charge of the forces of the universe. I know I can't control if the world ends right now. I know I can't change what God has put in motion. But I can do everything within my power to make this right. To make this night amazing. If you would just let me, Ava." He says and even though my doubt begins to clear, I cling to one last excuse.

"I've never even been on a date before, Aaron." I say and he blinks in surprise.

"Never?" He asks and I shake my head.

"Never. I always cancel." I say and he surprises me by smiling.

"Then let me be the first. Please Ava. Just for tonight." He says.

"But it won't change anything. I still have to go back to California."

At those words, Aaron sighs deeply.

"I know. That's why I want to do this before you go. And if it doesn't change anything still, atleast I'll know that I got to do this for you. Just answer one thing for me."

"What?" I ask, our gazes locked.

"Ava, do you want to go to dinner with me?" He asks and I realise I can't fight it anymore.

"Yes. Yes, Aaron, I do." I say and he lets out a sigh of relief.

"So how about I wait here and you get dressed. If I recall correctly, we were supposed to have dinner at Roberto's and a surprise after." He says and I can't help but laugh.

"You still made a reservation at Roberto's?" I ask and he smiles back.

"And still one of the best."

****

Several minutes later, I observe my reflection in the mirror.

I have to remember to thank Peyton for convincing me to carry a dinner dress.

The beautiful, golden yellow, silky dress clings to my body seductively, stopping a few inches above my knee and exposing my legs and black heels.

I'm finally going on a date with Aaron!

I may as well go all the way.

It still sounds like a dream and feels like a fantasy, but it's happening and I almost feel ashamed of myself for how giddy I feel.

But I don't care.

If one night is all I will get with Aaron Knight, I may as well enjoy it.

As I apply lipgloss, I observe my nude makeup and packed hair, the curls bouncing like a pom-pom at the back of my head.

I feel like I'm a teenager again, going on my first date and the fact that I'm going with Aaron sends heat to my cheeks.

This is it.

Then I grab my purse and step out of the room, and he is waiting there, holding a cute, red box in his hands.

He stares at me with surprise, his eyebrows shooting up and his eyes filled with an adoring look.

"Wow," he says, his eyes scanning me admiringly, "you look perfect."

"Stop being so cliche." I tease as he walks closer to me.

"Too late. I already got you this." He says and hands me the box, eyes never leaving mine.

"Chocolates?" I can't help but open the box and sure enough, atleast a dozen mini chocolate bars in different shapes occupy the box.

It's the cheesiest thing ever, yet it makes me feel so special.

So warm.

So happy.

"First flowers, now chocolates? What next, a teddy bear?" I tease and he chuckles, holding my gaze.

"You'll be surprised." He mutters and winks at me, and a million butterflies dance in my stomach.

"Thank you." I admit in a shy voice and Aaron leans in and takes my lips in his, kissing me softly and gently as his hands slowly wrap around my waist.

I don't realise how much I've missed kissing him until I taste his addictive taste and feel his addictive touch. Then I wrap my arms around him and pull him closer.

"I've really missed doing that." He murmurs when the kiss is over, his deep voice sending tremors through my body and I can't help but giggle.

"Me too."

"We should probably get going before we lose our reservation." He says as he moves away a bit and takes my hand in his.

"Okay."

For most of the entire car ride to Roberto's, my fingers play with one another on my thighs as nervousness takes it's toll on me.

Until Aaron gently grasps my left hand in his right and squeezes it softly, saying nothing as his eyes remain on the road.

At that moment, I feel my shoulders ease a ton of weight and I open my hand, allowing our fingers to intertwine.

When we get to the restaurant, I'm filled with nostalgia at the beautiful and familiar scenery, despite the renovations that have been made.

Aaron says his reservation and we're led to a table, lit by a soft candle glow from a beautiful lamp.

Then a waiter serves us water and white wine before handing us the menus.

"Your starters?" He asks, elegantly.

"Can I order for you?" Aaron asks with a smirk and I giggle.

"Only if I order for you." I say and he shrugs.

"Deal."

And then he orders the Amalfi-style fish soup for me, while I order the Prawn and monkfish soup for him.

After we hand in our menus, he turns to me.

"I can't believe I finally got to take Ava Jeane on a date after all these years." He teases and I bite my lip, blushing.

"Careful. If you talk too much you might jinx it again." I say and he chuckles.

"Don't worry. No Madeline is going to ruin tonight. It's our night."  He says as he holds my hand and I can't help but laugh.

"I've always wanted to know,..." I begin and nods encouragingly.

"Yes?"

"What happened that night at prom after I left? Did you end up dancing with Maddie?" I ask and he looks a bit embarrassed as he chuckles briefly.

"Well, no. She hit me a couple more times with her purse, which I'm pretty sure was filled with bricks for that sole purpose, and then she left." He says and I can't help laughing.

"So you went home?"

"Not exactly. I came over to your house first and--"

"Wait, you came to my house that night?" I ask, my smile wiping off my face as I stare into his hazel eyes which are observing me.

"Yeah, I did. But your dad wouldn't let me come in, or even come close to the driveway. I tried to call you but your phone was off and so I decided to wait." Aaron is saying, still massaging my fingers over the table as the memory of that night comes to me.

And all I did that night was cry.

"I didn't know any of this." I hear myself say and he shrugs.

"I'm pretty sure that was what your dad was trying to achieve. And who can blame him? I wouldn't let my daughter see a guy who made her cry on prom night." He says with a sigh and I blink at him.

"How long did you wait that night?"

"A few hours. It was around midnight when your dad asked me to leave for my own safety." He says and for a few seconds, we're both quiet.

He came that night.

It didn't change anything, but the effort makes me feel bad for holding on to my anger for so long.

"Well, that's in the past. We're here now and I want to enjoy every moment of tonight." Aaron says, bringing my knuckles to his lips and softly planting a kiss on them, earning a smile from me.

In a few minutes, our starters are served and then we order our main courses and desserts.

The impending fear of something going wrong gradually leaves my mind and I surrender all of my feelings to the warmth of Aaron's company.

The conversation flows easily as we talk about work, ourselves and even the most unnecessary things like embarrassing moments.

We talk about college life, catch up on our hobbies, challenges and vacation trips.

"If I could go anywhere again, it would probably be Hawaii." He says, taking a fork full of thick, lasagna slice into his mouth.

"Hawaii?" I ask and sip my wine.

Aaron nods.

"Oh, it was amazing. The culture, the volcanoes, the beaches. The whole environment was so calming and the food! It was an amazing experience." He says and I chuckle.

"Well, you've certainly had your fair share of travels. I never go anywhere during my vacation leaves. I just stay home and binge watch TV shows until Peyton drags me out." I say and Aaron laughs.

"Maybe one day I'll show you what it feels like to go on a vacation. Perhaps, Santorini?" He says and when I look up at him, his hazel eyes are filled with mischief but also dead serious.

He's making plans for us.

Except...there is no us.

Not after Peyton's wedding.

Aaron's POV

"Maybe one day I'll show you what it feels like to go on a vacation. Perhaps, Santorini?" I ask and she looks up at me, her beautiful, blue eyes filled with surprise.

I suddenly wish I could take the words back, or atleast rephrase it, because she suddenly quiets down.

I watch as she bites her lip thoughtfully and looks back down at her food and I feel a sudden panic.

Please don't withdraw from me again.

Please, Ava.

Please.

"Well, atleast I got to spend a month out of my vacation leave with you. So thank you." She says, smiling at me again and I smile back, enveloped with relief.

"It's not over yet." I say as I drop my fork, done with the main course.

After a while, our table is cleared and the waiters bring our desserts.

Chocolate lava cake for myself and red velvet cake with a scoop of vanilla icecream for Ava.

"Listen, there's something I have to tell you and I think it's best if I tell you now." She says, twirling her dessert spoon in her hand thoughtfully.

"What is it?" I ask and she sighs, then looks up at me.

"I'm not staying in your place after tonight. The wedding is a week away and Peyton wants to stay in a hotel with me for this last week, so we can go through final plans together and prepare accurately. Plus she doesn't want to be in the same room with Nick until after the wedding." She says swiftly, almost like a rehearsed line and I stare in shock.

It is almost as if I couldn't hear anything after the first sentence.

"You're leaving? Tomorrow?" I force myself to ask and she nods, keeping her gaze on me and my thoughts spiral out of control.

Tomorrow.

So I won't see her until the wedding?

Where did the time go?

This wasn't part of my plan.

How do I fix this?

How do I ask her?

"I'm so sorry." Ava's words snap me back to reality, her eyes filled with so much sadness, it's almost shocking.

"I would have told you earlier but I was so convinced that--"

"Hey, it's okay." I say and reach across the table, gently grasping her soft, slender hand.

"It's okay. It's no big deal. We still have tonight." I say reassuringly and I watch her smile.

Yet, I feel like I'm telling those words more to myself than to her.

"Plus we still have the surprise." I murmur and her cheeks heat up.

"Is it the same surprise from 10 years ago?" She asks, looking a bit shy.

"With certain adjustments, yes." I say and she smiles.

"I can't wait to see it."

Author's Note

Okay, so next chapter is an extension of this chapter it's just really special and kind of long, so I'm separating it.❤