Until....
A cat showed up. More specifically, my cat, Mr. Snow.
He was in the sink as he played with the droplets of water from the faucet with spoons and forks on the tiled floor.
(Remember this cute little hairball from Prologue? If you do comment below. Let's see who still remembers Mister Snow.)
I quickly let go off Cam's shirt and went to get Mr. Snow. I carried him with both arms making him lean to my touch.
"You made me nervous there, Mister, don't you ever do that to me again, okay?" I said to him as I continue to pet him.
"How did he get out of your house?" Cam asked. "And got in here?"
"I guess mom forgot to check him if he's in his room or not. But at least he found me." I said as I carry Mr. Snow back to the living room with Cam behind me.
"Can you stay here with me, Aria, even just for a while?" Cam asked as we walk towards the living room. With him still guiding the way.
"Why? Are you afraid of the dark now?" I asked and he turned to look at me. I gave him a smirk but he just chuckled.
He scratched his head. "Well, not really. I just want you to accompany me for a while."
"Oh? Why, did you miss me?" I jokingly asked.
He stopped scratching his head and rubbed his temple instead while looking at me.
As how I remember it, he only do that stuff when he is nervous.
I wonder why he's nervous.
"Yeah, I did. I did miss you."
I froze, that's so unusual of him to say.
Cameron Perez just admitted the he missed me.
Is this really happening?
Because he would usually say "You wish," or like "Maybe you're the one who missed me."
This is so not you, Cameron.
I pinched myself, and it stings.
This means only one thing.... this is all real.
"Is that really you, Cameron Everett Perez?" I asked in a serious tone while giving him a raised eyebrow.
He looked directly into my eyes. "I did miss you, Aria."
Well, that was really unexpected.
I mean he was the flirtatious guy I have known two years ago because of my old best friend, Nina which also became his girlfriend.
If this was all real, I know this is wrong. I must not fall again and definitely not to my best friend's ex-boyfriend. That's just so... not me.
"Let's have some star gazing?" I suggested instead. Just to get out of the thick tension I was in.
Because seriously, I don't know what the heck is happening.
Don't you dare blame me guys. I just really don't want to get hurt again.
Because this world is sometimes...shitty.
I went up to the terrace with him guiding the way.
"It's amazing isn't it?" he asked, but I was too focused on petting Mr. Snow that I forgot what we're here for.
Shame on me.
"Hey, Aria, you okay?" he asked.
I quickly snapped my head towards his direction to see him smiling at me.
Did I forgot to say that he has dimples on both cheeks?
Yeah, he has those. And it looks so adorable.
Not him but the dimples.
"Y-Yeah. What was it again?"
He slowly shook his head at me. "Same old Aria. I was just telling you that the stars look amazing, like someone I know."
"Oh, okay. That's good, I guess." I said with a shrug.
Mood swings?
Maybe.
"Let's take a sit somewhere."
He nodded and quickly took a sit on the floor making me look at him like he was crazy.
"What?" he asked while looking up at me.
"Uh, there's a thing called chair?" I said in a duh tone. "It's created for a reason, you know."
He rolled his eyes. "I know that, Aria. I'm not that dumb. I just want to sit here, you know, just to relax." He answered, then he pat the floor beside him. "Come on, sit."
I didn't object to his demand and took a sit beside him with Mr. Snow still in my arms.
"So, when will Aunt Carrie be home?"
He shrugged. "Don't know, maybe later."
I just nod.
"How about Aunt Lei? Is she home already?" He asked and I nod.
"Yeah, just a couple of hours ago. But she told me to stay here for a while." I answered. "You're a one lucky guy, Evey."
"Thanks, I guess." He said with a sheepish smile.
Then, I looked at the sky.
Cam was right, it looks amazing... breathtakingly beautiful.
I don't even remember the last time I was able to glance at the stars at night and just relax.
"You know what, I can't remember the last time we talked like this. No shouting, no humiliation... just a simple talk." He said.
I glanced at him and he was still looking up at the sky.
"Me too." I said as I sighed heavily.
Then, he turned to look at me. "Why did you avoid me after what happened between me and Nina?"
I turned to look at him and shrugged.
"Because back then, Nina was my best friend and you know that. And when she felt broke because you two broke up, it was normal for me to hate you. Best friend goals." I answered nonchalantly. "Why did you two broke up anyway?"
"Oh, she didn't tell you? I thought you guys were best of friends?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. An amused look, I might add.
"It was the day she flew to Ireland right? So basically, we didn't have time to talk and after that, we didn't have any communication anymore. I guess she forgot everything about you guys... and she also forgot me as well."
"Okay, I'll tell you why we broke up." He said with a heavy sigh. "First things first, she's a control freak. I don't even know why you're friends with her in the first place. Second, that girl is made of plastic. She backstabs every girl I flirt with. And lastly..." he trailed off as he looked at me.
"A-And lastly what?"
"I like someone else." He said as he raised his eyes to look at me.
Uh, alert!!! Red alert!!!
Too cheesy!!!!
"Uh, okay...?" I said, more likely asked.
I can feel my cheeks getting hotter. But it's a good thing that it is dim here outside, he won't notice my tomato-red face.
Because if he do, I am dead. Or Better yet, I'll let the ground to swallow me.
"So, why did you hate me?" he asked.
"I already answered that question, didn't I?"
"Not really."
I sighed. "Fine."
"Can I hold Mister Snow? I missed him so much!" he said with a pout.
"Sure." I said as I handed him Mr. Snow.
"Hey buddy, missed me like how I missed you and your owner?" he asked Mr. Snow as he patted his head gently.
Even though it's not directly stated to me, I can feel my cheeks getting redder and hotter.
Damn you, Azaria. Stop acting like this.
"So?" he asked, snapping me out of my unconsciousness.
"So what?" I asked with a confused look.
He gave me an amused look. "Uh... why did you hate me?"
"Oh, right." I said with a nervous laugh. What the heck? "Uh... I hate you for one reason only. You broke my friend's heart and that's enough reason for me to hate you."
He pouted. "You really hate me that much for being true to your friend? Are you serious?"
"The bottom line was: You broke Nina's heart. And that's the reason why I hate you."
Instead of getting angry, he just laughed.
"What's so funny?" I asked, already getting pissed for some reason.
"I just realized that you avoided me for 2 freaking years because I broke up with your bestfriend?"
"Y-Yeah, so what?"
He just chuckled while slowly shaking his head. "You changed a lot since the day I first saw you walk down the neighborhood." He said.
Then, he looked at me straight in the eye with all the seriousness evident in his eyes.
Then, he looked at me straight in the eye with all the seriousness evident in his eyes
"And I like that change."
And everything around went slow.
And by that I mean really slow.
It's like everything around us was invisible and the only thing I can see right now is him. And those red kissable lips of his.
No, this is all wrong.
But I want to touch those lips.
But you must not do it.
Yeah, you're right, I shouldn't.
"Uhm... It's getting cold out here. I think we better get inside."
I told him as I made the first move to remove the eye contact and took Mr. Snow back to my arms.
"Come on, I think the lights will be back soon." Then, I stood up and walked away from him.
What is happening?
What's wrong with me wanting him?
What's wrong with him?
What the heck is wrong with me?