I have had many conversations with Aiden. The word 'many' being used as an overstatement - if you consider them conversations at all. Some of these exchanges have included me conversing back... this was not one of those times.
I usually tend to have a reason behind my actions, however this one, I was not fully aware of the extent.
I squeezed my phone and turned it face down on my lap, glancing at everyone around me. They all seemed too busy talking about Arthur missing to notice the sudden heat on my face.
I thought I would shut my phone off and rejoin Kate and Elijah, but I got a phone call. The same number Aiden texted me from.
I declined it.
He called again.
I declined.
He then sent another message.
I didn't read it.
I didn't know why I was ignoring him. It just felt like I needed more time... more time to think... to accept the fact that eventually, Aiden would yell at me and tell me that I, just like everyone else around, was not worth his time.
I felt my phone vibrate in my hands a few more times while everyone else went to look for Arthur. I felt tempted to check them, to read his words, and maybe prepare myself for the uncouth things he'd say the next time he saw me.
The phone lit up again and I caved. I read only the last message.
'I'll give you space if that's what you need.'
I sighed, my chest caving with my exhale.
"If you intend to ignore someone, Emma, don't look at their messages."
"Arthur!" I jumped from my seat. "Everyone is looking for you."
"Don't look at the messages, sweetheart." He repeated himself, watching me tuck the phone in my back pocket, and then nodded.
I cleared my throat, desperate to change the topic. "Where have you been?"
"I can't have five minutes to myself without someone worrying about me." He grunted. "I'm old, not a bloody cripple."
"Don't lie to yourself, Arthur, by the look on your face I can tell you are loving the attention." I chuckled.
Arthur's wrinkles smoothened as he heard my words, then returned to create a large grin.
"You asked where I was." He clasped his hands together. "I was looking at a playboy magazine." He raised his brows, "I wanted to finish... reading it."
I closed my eyes in disgust and I opened them to hear Arthur's deep, hearty laughs.
"You asked..." He shrugged.
I couldn't help myself but smile.
"Should I tell the others I found you?" I asked him.
"No," he waved his hand dismissively and a smile took over his face. "Let them worry a little. I feel special knowing someone is looking for me. I almost feel like a criminal... how exciting."
***
I had no idea how fast two days could go by. I managed to catch Will up on the things he missed while managing to stay ahead, myself. All my assignments were submitted before their deadlines and I even found time left over to watch a movie of Will's choosing.
This morning was just as hectic as the last two. Beginning with the traffic and continuing through the crowds of people. By the looks on everyone's faces, it was painfully obvious it was a Friday.
I met with Will at the entrance of the old English building where we usually sat for our class together. He wore the same expression as just about everyone else in the auditorium.
We took the only two seats left, located next to the stairs at the back of the room. I sat down beside a guy with his earbuds in.
Will and I took out our things and set up for the moment the professor would walk through those double doors. When she did, someone else walked in behind her.
His eyes, grey as ever, looked to be searching for someone. I quickly noticed that he wasn't in his normal attire. He was still dressed in black, however, not in leather and jeans, I was used to.
He tapped the shoulder of the man sitting next to me who sat unbothered and waiting just like everyone else. He took his earbuds out, irritated that his song had been interrupted.
"What?" He sneered.
"You're in my seat," Aiden said, looking at him with total contempt.
"I was sitting here first." The other challenged.
"Does it look like I fucking care, cupcake?" He furrowed his brows. "Move."
"Aiden, leave him alone," I warned him.
He didn't look at me. He huffed, shook his head, and forcefully shut the guy's laptop, shoving it in his bag along with his books. He dropped his things on top of a seat, purposefully making it so it was on the other side of the stairs.
When Aiden returned, he was the type of angry I knew too well. Annoyed and mad, yet not completely livid to the point of yelling. This was his temper to set authority, something I didn't care to put up with.
The guy next to me didn't say another word. He followed his bag to the seat, gave Aiden a nasty glare, and sat down.
Aiden exhaled loudly and took the seat for himself.
"Why are you here?" I asked plainly.
"You haven't left me much of a choice, Emma." He swallowed hard, still not looking at me. "You won't return any of my calls or texts and you continue to avoid me." He slanted his head so that he could finally look at me clearly. Both his hands were on his knees, squeezing them until his veins became visible.
"I thought you said you were giving me space," I stated, referring to the last text he sent me.
"It's been two days." He adjusted his jaw. "Forty-eight hours is a damn long time. And it sure as hell feels longer."
"I can't do this right now, Aiden. I need you to leave. I have a class that's about to start."
"No." He leaned back on the chair, proving his point.
I turned to face Will, who had been watching Aiden carefully.
"Can we please switch seats?"
"Everywhere else is full..." He said, searching the room.
"Then swap seats with me, please."
Aiden interjected, "Emma, you can swap seats over and over again all you want, but I will tell every person sitting next to you the same thing I told that idiot before. I will continue to do this until we talk."
I ran a hand through my hair, getting frustrated by the knots that pulled on my head. I always cursed my parents for my thick tangled hair.
"We are not doing this right now."
"We are." He said and grabbed me by the wrist, pulling us out of the classroom.
I didn't bother to fight him. I knew this was going to happen eventually, not to mention it would be futile to even try.
"I have been trying to reach you for three days." He stopped abruptly, letting me go. "I have tried to be patient with you. I have tried to put into consideration the time you need for yourself. I know you have the time to talk to me, so why won't you?"
"Because I already know what you're going to say, Aiden. I can just about sum it all up because you've already said it to me before. So just... get it over with."
He furrowed his brows. "What are you talking about?"
"Tell me how useless I am! How stupid and naïve I am. Tell me just how much I disgust you - how I would be the last girl you would ever choose to spend time with. Please, do me the favour-"
Aiden's eyes swiped across my face. That was all he seemed to need. He guided us until my back met the wall, but he quickly stepped away as if he needed the space in order to tell me what he needed to say.
"I wish I could take back the things I've said... the things I've done. But believe me when I tell you that I would never say those things to you again. I never should have said them in the first place. It's not what I think of you, and it's not what I've come to say to you."
"How can I trust the things you say? How can I trust you?"
"You can't." Aiden smiled faintly, "But I want to try and show you that you can."
I held my bottom lip between my teeth and fumbled with my hands.
"Then, show me."
Without hesitating, Aiden clasped my face in his big hands "I don't know how to right now... I don't- I can't..." he rambled, frustrated until he met my eyes and the words simply tumbled out of his mouth. "I just want you to kiss my soul and bring good to my lonely life."