Ch 9

"Surprise me," he said, sarcasm still coating his voice.

"The part where we bid our goodbyes." I said bitter-sweetly.

"At least we agree on one thing," he stated, his tone filled with resentment, and I tutted heavily before controlling my breathing. I didn't want to start bickering on the phone.

"Why did you call, Aaron?" I said, cutting straight to the point.

"I'm going to the fair with this friend," he said randomly.

"So?" I drawled. I knew we were 'dating' now, but he didn't have to call me just to give me an 'Aaron 411'. I most definitely could live without it.

He sighed, exasperatedly. I could already imagine him running his hand through his hair.

"He's a family friend, and my mom told him about you. He said it would be cool if you tagged along with us" he said cooly, showing no interest. If he was a girl, I could imagine him looking at his nails with a bored look on his face. I laughed inside myself.

I sighed over-dramatically.

"But I'm tired." I said, whining. I couldn't help it. I was really tired.

"It's too late, I'm already outside," he stated bluntly.

I groaned in frustration before muttering a few choice words and dipping towards the closet.

"Feel free to get dressed into something hot. You're dressing to impress, aren't you?" I heard a teasing 1 voice say over the phone suggestively.

Lord help me.

 

*****

 

I did my makeup lightly and opened my hair, so it cascaded down my back. I had changed into dark jeans and a burgundy blouse with vans. I waved at the mirror. There was that girl again- the one that looked nothing like I felt on the inside.

She looked ordinary, yes. Yet the thing that surprised me the most about the girl in the mirror is that she looked normal. Not tormented by the raging thoughts of tomorrow or memories of the past. She was normal, just normal.

It was too bad that normal didn't quite cut it in this society.

The girl inside, felt completely different. She was fed up, frustrated, pained.

But, most of all, she was broken- a hard china doll to fix. The damage may as well be permanent.

I shook my head deciding that a change of topic would be better, so I thought about Aaron and his friend.

I was anxious now. Aaron's friend was gonna be there and I wanted him to have a positive opinion on me. What if he didn't like me?

With Sam it wasn't that nerve wrecking. She was an adult and I, being the nerd I am, can get on pretty well with adults. I've been impressing adults my whole life, but kids my age were a different matter.

Kids my age didn't seem to like me and I was scared Aaron's friend would be no exception.

I grabbed a small side bag, said goodbye to my mum and stepped outside. I was surprised to say the least. I mean, I knew he was rich, but what I didn't know was that he would have such a sleek car. I didn't even know that he had already turned 18.

I wasn't into cars, but I could tell which ones were good and which ones were not.

I looked closer and there he was. Aaron Walker, leaning against the side of the black car, on his phone. I saw another guy sitting on the hood of the car with honey-coloured hair. He must have been the friend. I didn't recognise him from our school.

As I got closer, the sound of my shoes alerted the guys of my presence and both boys looked up.

The guy was looking at me, his gaze looking up and down at my form as he assessed me. I inhaled deeply, placing my focus solely on Aaron, ready to start my acting.

I got closer to Aaron and grinned widely, as though I was happy to see him. He smiled in return, sticking his arms out.

"Lexi." I blushed at the way he called my name so lovingly. He pulled me to his chest and hugged me tight.

Although hugging was a foreign concept to me, it felt good to be held; to be engulfed in warmth, even if it was short-lived. I was still stiff in his arms and I heard him let out a small laugh, the vibration of it passing through me.

"Loosen up. You feel like a plank of wood." He whispered teasingly and I let out a scoff.

"You wish." I teased back before withdrawing.

It was only I realised how close we were, our noses practically touching. I blinked slowly, taking in how flawless he looked from this close up. From this close, I could see the gold flecks in his blue eyes; the slope of his angled jaw and the way in which a few strands of stray hair rested against his forehead, due to the wind, slightly wavy. I settled my gaze, lastly, on his lips that were set firm but full.

His lips are perfect for kissing.