"You've never been super mad like that before," mused Donna as she stirred the straw in her milk tea.
Aaron had taken her shopping the next day after confronting Robert and he told his niece about how wretched the other man was, calling Georgina as only a fling and even saying he wasn't worth anyone's time. Well, he didn't say that but… the implications were there and it made Aaron growl just thinking about it.
He hummed and looked down at the coffee cup in his hand.
"Yes that's true," he acquiesced. She had a point. He almost always had his emotions in check and usually thought about things before reacting. He has never had his temper tested until yesterday and it was interesting to note how it took so little effort to make him furious.
"Uncle," whined Donna. Aaron turned to her in slight alarm, wondering if there was a problem. "You like-like G, don't cha?"
He laughed out of habit and shook his head.
"This is getting old, Donna. How many times do I have to stress out to you we are friends?"
"You're getting old too," returned Donna snarkily. "And I'll keep on bugging till forever."
"I'm only in my twenties; give me a break."
Donna rolled her eyes. "Yeah you're friends but haven't you wondered what it was like to really date Georgina? She's an awesome gal."
"Yes she is," Aaron agreed almost immediately. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I will tell you my feelings for George are platonic so don't expect any romance anytime soon."
Donna clutched the milk tea to herself and pouted. Then she laughed lightly and remarked, "Man you're boring, Uncle."
"Ask George; I'm sure she'd say otherwise."
They both laughed and Donna adjusted her straw and said, "All right I'll stop for now." She sobered and said, "But on a serious note, you really do care for G a lot since this one guy didn't treat her right."
Aaron's face darkened for a moment at the thought of Robert and he was unable to stop the scowl of displeasure form on his lips.
"He doesn't see her how I do," he said seriously, voice tinged with resentment. His tone lightened when he continued, "George is smart and witty and everything else. I've always associated her with fire, you see—always moving and fierce and relentless. Robert is…"he struggled to find an appropriate word to call him and settled with, "a bumbling dunce who couldn't see that."
Donna hummed thoughtfully.
"Then Georgina must've been a positive impact on you to voice out your thoughts," she said mirthfully, eyes twinkling when she stared at his uncle. "You've always kept your mouth shut before that's why people find it hard to talk to you."
Aaron's footsteps faltered at her realization, Donna humming and turning back to look at him.
"What's the matter, Uncle?"
He turned incredulous eyes at Donna, who stared back in confusion.
"You really think I've spoken my mind?"
She smiled and nodded assuredly. "Yeah! And your life has more dynamic and you interact with others more. You're more open to socialization and your library isn't spotless and clean anymore." Before he could interject she continued, "But I don't mean it as a bad thing; I mean G has impacted your life it shows in daily life. What's more is you're also expressive, and that's a good thing."
Aaron took a moment to take in all these things, walking once more around the mall until it was time to send his niece back home.
Has he really opened up to others more? Well, considering he has a few more friends since meeting Georgina, it was possible.
In retrospect, Georgina has taught him more than books and readings couldn't. She was obviously street-smart, having lived most of her life out wandering and scheming for survival and future stealing (which made him wonder briefly if he was being a positive impact on her in some way). He's learned to get out of his comfort zone and express his true feelings at the time, like what Donna had pointed out.
He was busy focusing on what he could show her he failed to realize Georgina was also a teacherto him.
Aaron stopped and waved goodbye to his niece, who grinned hugely at him.
"Thanks for the date today, Uncle."
"Yes but I can't help but notice I've paid for all your purchases," he said with slight amusement. "How do you plan to pay me back?"
Donna blinked and opened her mouth to say something but shut it and giggled sheepishly.
"Maybe with something else other than money?"
He laughed and nodded. "Repay me by reading a few books, okay?"
The tension dissipated from her shoulders as she laughed and nodded. "'Kay that's reasonable, Uncle. Well, you get back home safe!"
Then they bid each other farewell, Aaron walking back home in a leisurely pace.
When he reached his library he froze in his tracks at seeing an unknown silhouette by the locked wooden doors, peeking through the glass windows. Aaron frowned; that person won't be able to see anything because the whole place was dark. What were they trying to do, anyway?
By the corner of his eye he caught sight of a broom and so grabbed it, approaching with little to no sound and readying himself to hit the person on the head when he heard the person curse loudly and step back, scratching a mane of curly locks. He blinked, fingers slackening around the broom.
"Dammit where'd the idiot go?"
"George?"
The person whipped toward him then and under a flash of moonlight, his question was answered when he saw large round spectacles before the woman's eyes and recognizable hair. He relaxed, panic receding. He also lowered the broom and set it by his side in a non-threatening manner.
Georgina smiled sheepishly. He raised a brow at her.
"Knocking is common courtesy, George," he reminded and she bounded up by his side in no time flat.
"Sorry Lance. But I wanted to be positively sure no one was home before leaving for good." Then her eyes drifted downward toward the broom he still held and smirked as he met his eye. "You were about to clock me on the head, eh?"
He blushed in embarrassment.
"Well you can't blame me for being wary of strangers," he said, mentally smacking himself because it was the only retort he could come up with.
She nodded slowly, conceding.
"Right right. I get what you mean. And I don't blame ya."
She stepped into the light now, her hair noticeably frizzier and glasses foggy. Aaron had gotten a good look at her attire. Because the days were becoming colder due to the winter season almost arriving, she was bundled up in a pink coat with her hands encased in gray mittens. All that came into his mind was: cute.
But he pushed the thought aside to unlock the library, beckoning her inside with a wave of the hand. Chip came barking and running when he caught sight of his master, Aaron laughing and bending down to scratch at his ears and rub his belly in greeting.
"Oh I've missed you too, boy. Have you been good while I was gone?"
Chip barked and yipped, tail wagging excitedly. He heard Georgina laugh and remark, "Man you know I'm only fond of your dog. But I get hateful glares at home from my Oscar; he probably sensed I touched another animal and he gets insanely jealous."
"And what do you do to get back to his good graces?"
Georgina smiled mischievously and said, "His favorite cat food and cat nip. Then he purrs like mad and he forgives me."
"Well that's good to hear." He made his way toward his mini-kitchen and said as an afterthought, "Any requests for the late-night snack?"
When he heard no answer he turned back in curiosity to Georgina only to see her staring blankly ahead and standing there. Her eyes appeared vacant and Aaron was slightly worried, approaching her slowly so as to not startle her.
What could possibly have happened to make her this quiet? It wasn't like her at all.
He wanted to reach out but he didn't think touching her when she was in a blank state of mind was wise so he stood there.
The seconds ticked by and he wanted to help so he lightly touched her shoulder. She blinked, found his face, and smiled.
"You blanked out there I grew concerned," he said, brows knitting. "Do you want any late-night snacks?"
She shook her head with a thin smile.
"This'll take a li'l while and I'll be heading on home now," she said, voice serious. Then she looked him dead in the eye and stated, "I saw you yesterday."
He blinked in confusion and suddenly it clicked. She was there when he reprimanded Robert. She saw the anger etched on his face and she most possibly heard what he said. There was no use denying; she had outright confessed and so the only thing he could do was admit and take it with grace.
"I see."
Georgina pouted in thought and said rather timidly, "I uh… haven't seen you so mad before."
He blinked and rested his hip on the nearest table. He looked away from her, unable to read her gaze.
"The way he spoke about you as if you were just another girl," he said lowly, shaking his head in disapproval, "it angered me in a way even I couldn't understand. All I could see was red, and it scared me too because I've never felt such intense emotion before."
Both of them stood rooted to their spots, not wanting to move. The air was silent but electrically charged with something he couldn't name. He didn't want to push because he had a feeling the next words, the next actions, might mean something different and weigh more heavily than past conversations or actions.
"I came by to tell you I appreciate what you did," she said, Aaron looking to her and seeing sincerity displayed on her face as much as it was apparent in her tone. "You were able to stop me from investing in something and well… I ain't never been good with matters of the heart but you saw right through Robert and came to my defense."
"But of course!" he said. "We're friends, aren't we?"
She blinked owlishly and nodded vigorously. "Yeah. Friends."
They shared a laugh and conversed through the night through stale biscuits and tea.