Hi all! I have an announcement! (I promise I won't be leaving many more messages in chapters, I know they can be annoying!) BUT for a while now, I've wanted to change the title of this story. It was only supposed to be a filler for when I came up with something better - and I have! (Also includes a new cover which you can all check out in about a week) I hope you all like it just as much as I do. The new story title is: 'The Fate Of Broken Hearts'. I wanted to let you all know so that when I do change it, you all don't lose this story or get confused.
Thank you for all the support once again! Stay golden!
Myra and I shared breakfast before she excused herself and left to see Lars again. We talked briefly about our plans for the week and any new fun events that were coming up.
As much as I wanted to spend the day lounging on the couch watching cartoon movies, my unfinished classwork stared me down from the corner of the room. And as the rain poured heavily on the windows all afternoon, I sat at my desk, writing on my computer until my eyes were dry and I was yawning more frequently than I was completing phrases.
I eventually allowed myself to meet the cold, smooth pillow on my bed at nine o'clock. I accessed my phone and sat up to read the messages that had been left during the day.
I read Will's first, chuckling at his range of capital letters and misspelled words. Then, I read Aiden's.
I had one missed call from him and a few follow-up texts.
I responded to him and almost immediately I received his incoming call.
"Hi," I smiled, turning on my side and pulling the covers to my chest.
"Hi," He answered back quietly. "How was your day?"
"Unsurprisingly busy. I would have texted you back earlier but-" I yawned, sinking further into the comfort of the mattress. "I was studying all day and I only just finished a few minutes ago."
"Hardworking as ever." He chuckled softly.
"What did you get up to today?" I asked.
"I was studying in my room all day."
A muffled laugh escaped me. "You studied?"
"You don't believe me?" His tone raised slightly. "I'll prove it to you."
I listened as shuffling and background noises cut through the line until I received two photos of book notes, textbooks, and pens scattered on a dark hardwood desk. The lettering was small, but the books' titles had something to do with business and numbers and one about psychology.
"Do you believe me now?" He asked me, his voice lowering back to its restful, croaky register.
"I didn't know you were studying business and psychology."
"I've always been somewhat good with numbers and that sort of thing. And psychology is interesting."
"Do you enjoy it?"
He hummed. "Honestly, I don't know. It's boring at times, but it seems like a good way to go."
Before I could say anything else, Myra burst through my room, yelling something.
"Are you alright?" I asked her.
"He died." She said out of breath, sitting at the edge of my bed.
"Who died?"
"This is infuriating!" She groaned with frustration rather than a sentimental response.
"What are you talking about?"
"The boy in that stupid TV show you recommended me! The boy just dies in the end?" Her brows creased and her eyes became glassy, reflecting the light of my nightstand. "I did not invest a whole two weeks watching this thing to deserve this ending!"
A small, quiet laugh filled the room. However, it didn't come from either Myra or me.
Our eyes followed the noise to my phone. It was Aiden laughing.
Myra's eyes widened. "Oh, sorry, were you on a phone call?"
I nodded and took the phone in my hands.
"With who?" She mouthed her curiosity.
"Will..." I told her, sounding unsure even to myself. I thought she'd catch on and become suspicious, but when she shrugged, oblivious, and left my room, I knew I was wrong.
I crawled back under the covers and made myself comfortable once more, placing the phone to my ear and turning up the volume.
"Emma, I think we need to talk." He said faintly.
"Okay," I echoed his tone. "What about?"
I laid on my back and stared at the ceiling, waiting for him to say anything. But as the silence grew longer, my thoughts began to drift to the worst-case scenarios, as if I was trying to brace myself in some way.
I waited for his words, not knowing if it was a coping mechanism or an unhealthy habit of believing the worst.
"Aiden?"
"Are you ashamed of being with me?" He asked feebly.
"No, God, no. Why would you think that?" I replied immediately.
"I don't know, I just thought that since every time someone walks in on us we lie..." His words dragged on.
"I only lied because I wasn't sure about you and what you wanted."
It was difficult to have this conversation without seeing his face. Maybe then, I would know how he felt when his words were plain and vanilla. He was good at hiding his feelings behind his words, but less so when we were face to face.
"Do you want to tell people?" I asked him sincerely.
"I don't want other people in our business. If it were up to me, I would just want it to be you and me – even if William has to be there, too. But I wanted to be sure. That's why I asked."
"The last thing I am is ashamed." I could feel the uncertainty between us, the hesitance floating through the call. "And I need you to know that. But, it does raise the question of keeping this relationship secret."
"Is that what you want?"
"If we do keep it a secret, Aiden, there will be times where we have to lie, just like today – to Myra, to all your friends, to everyone. Are you comfortable with that?"
Am I?
"Only if it's what you want." He said. "Emma, if you're happier this way, then I don't care how many lies I have to tell to keep it that way."
I stayed quiet for a while, thinking and weighing the options.
I was aware that we weren't ready to be a public couple. Aiden was not the affectionate type, and I did not want others questioning him or our relationship simply because he didn't hold my hand. I didn't want judgment or prejudice. And to me, as long as I wasn't lying to Will, I was okay with keeping it secret.
"I think, for now at least, we should keep it to ourselves until we're ready to tell people. We're still new to this and I don't want to jump into things."
"I agree." He decided.
Aiden stayed on the phone and talked to me for hours after that, making me laugh and smile until eventually, I fell asleep to the gentle timbre of his voice.
When I woke up, I started the day in a very cold car sipping out of a red travel mug I'd filled up with tea before I left.
Walking along the campus, everyone I passed by jittered with frosted hands, trying to cover up as much as they could from the cold and harsh winds. We were all wearing scarfs and gloves and thick jumpers and jackets as if prepared for snow.
The only thing unusual from today was the fact that I didn't see Will. We didn't have any classes scheduled together or even met for a coffee in the afternoon. And even though I texted him a few times, he still hadn't replied.
The winds had quieted down as I wandered back to the parking lot from the last class of the day, and the sun peered through the grey skies.
Aiden asked about my plans for today during our conversation last night. I told him I had a full day of courses ahead of me and would need to work a shift at the library afterward. That's when he suggested that he take me instead. He made up an excuse of some sort about not wanting my car to 'screw up' or 'put too much strain on the engine,' using fancy technical words. I just smiled and accepted his offer, relieved that I wouldn't have to drive myself.
I sat at the wet bench in front of the frost-covered cars for around half an hour before Aiden showed up in his car, driving by and calling my name.
I jumped up, rubbing my hands quickly, and strode over to pull the door open.
"Hi," I smiled at the warmth inside his car, already heated and smelling of fresh ground coffee.
"Sorry, I'm late." He ran a hand through his tousled hair as he waited for the cars in front of him to leave. "I brought you some coffee, though."
I looked down at the compartment between our seats holding two takeaway cups with black lids.
I leaned my head back against the seat and smiled excitedly while Aiden took a sip of his own drink.
"Thank you," I said and greeted the soothing hot drink.
"You're welcome." He smiled, glancing at me before returning his eyes to the road.
Rain, once more, began to pour from the gloomy skies. The black roads were slippery in seconds with small puddles forming here and there.
"Should I splash that guy holding the books with water?" Aiden pointed out the guy walking under an umbrella, hugging himself while he carried books.
"Don't you dare." I warned him, eyeing his movements carefully.
"Come on," He laughed, "It'll be fun to watch him squirm."
"I will pour hot coffee on you." I threatened, holding my cup over him.
"Alright, alright." He chuckled and held up a hand, writhing away from the cup. "I won't splash him."
We drove past the petite man slowly, but he was already aware of our presence. He was aware of every car that drove past with a look of dread expressed in the furrow of his brows.
Aiden turned right at the stoplight and entered the parking lot of the library, choosing the spot closest to the entrance, for which I was thankful.
I peered at the time on my phone and gasped. "I'm late."
I unclicked my seatbelt, rushing to throw my bag over my shoulder.
"By how long?"
"Ten minutes," I answered him.
"See? If I had splashed that guy back there we would have gotten here quicker." He mocked.
"And you would have hot coffee all over yourself." I sneered, opening the door to be smothered by droplets of rain on my hand.
"Hold on." He added quickly. "Shut the door."
I did as he asked and closed the door, watching him as he twisted around and reached into the backseat, grabbing something that ruffled at his handling.
He clutched an umbrella in his hand, passing it over to me.
"What other things do you have back there?"
"Sex toys and drugs." He pressed his lips together, containing his smile.
I stared at him blankly, not fighting the genuine curiosity to check for myself. He laughed at me for doing so, kissing me with both his hands on my cheeks.
"I'm kidding, Emma." He shook his head, barely holding his amusement. "You see?" He followed my line of sight, "I'm no more interesting than that small pile of clothes."
I squinted at him. "What's under the pile of clothes?"
"I'll clean out the pile of clothes by the time I come and pick you up." He placed another simple kiss on my lips. "I'll see you later, okay?"
I smiled back at his sweet features and opened the umbrella seconds after I opened the door.
The rain hit hard against the umbrella, bouncing the droplets from the black nylon. I dashed across the lot and scattered inside, pulling the main doors open and shutting the umbrella once it was no longer needed.
My shoes were a little wet, dampened by those puddles, but luckily, my socks were dry.
I set down my bag and umbrella next to the main desk and went to find Kate and Arthur in the back offices where they usually hung out.
I only saw Arthur there, lounging in his chair with a pale brown fedora on his head, his glasses perched low on the bridge of his nose as he read some sort of book.
"Emmeline," He caught sight of me. "Where's Kate?"
"I was just wondering the same thing myself," I told him. "She hasn't come in?"
He shrugged and whispered, "Hopefully I've scared her off for good this time."
I rolled my eyes at him and went back to the main desk.
I scanned my books in a routine fashion, taking them out of the 'return' pile and placing them in an empty cart that Kate would later take. But she never showed.
It was almost closing time when a beautiful blonde girl strode up to the counter and handed me a thick textbook about anatomy. She was eerily familiar like I had seen and met her before.
"Hi, I'd like to borrow this book." She informed me, her voice soft and kind.
I asked her for her library card, which she handed over almost immediately.
That's when I recognized her.
The picture on the card, her name, her long blonde hair, the memory of her lips on his, it all rushed back to me like a bad dream.
"Aubrey,"
Just as I read her name out loud, Aiden pulled the doors of the building open and locked eyes with me.
The girl turned around and Aiden's eyes darted to her, then back to me. His smile was long gone.
"You're that girl from the party!" She realized. "The one where we played 'Never Have I Ever."
"Yes. Nice to meet you, officially."