Chapter 11: Forever and a Few More Years

"When she laughed
she was beautiful
when she cried
she was beautiful
but, when she was
determined
she was sexy as Hell."
- Matt Baker

He paused for a second before continuing what he was saying. I looked right in his eyes while preparing myself from the upcoming storm that could shatter me.

"Yeah, so as I was saying, she asked me if I would like to...you know...meet her girlfriend since the two of us are very much alike and I could bring someone too."

Yeah, go on a date with her. Who's stopping you? Why don't you guys just marry each other and live happily every after?

Wait, what?

My eyes were almost out of their sockets and my ears on full alert mode. Did I hear him right or was I hallucinating? Were my ears making up shit on their own? I looked so dumbfounded at the moment, that I didn't even notice he had paused for a minute.

"What happened Aur? Should I continue?"

Am I staring at him? Have I lost the ability to speak?

"Wait, she has a girlfriend?" Finally some words tumbled out of this stupid mouth.

"Yeah, no wonder she didn't hit on me or any other guy as far as I know. It came as a bummer though, I was actually liking talking to her," he said with a wink.

Not funny. I just gave him a I-don't-care look and he chuckled lightly.

"Don't worry Aur, I was never interested in her in that way."

Why should I worry anyways huh? Okay, at least he doesn't know that.

"Continue."

"Okay, so after that we danced around a little, she told me about her girlfriend moving in with her and her roommate in a few days, and well that's when..."

I looked at him waiting for him to continue. His jaw clenched suddenly and there was fire in his eyes.

"I heard somebody yell about the hot chick that was swaying her body on the table and I was way bored out of my life by that time so I thought we could all leave the party then and I happened to search for you and that's when I saw you dancing on that fucking table in just your bloody bra and shorts. I asked you this that night and I will ask you today as well, what the hell was that Aur?"

I looked down in embarrassment and knew what was coming.

"You know what happened next. The only reason I told you all this was because when I took you with me, you started talking about how you are no longer important to me and how I was flirting my ass off with Thea and well then you just ran away."

Oh so she has got a name. Nice.

"Sorry, I was too drunk to have had functioned properly."

"Still Aur, what was all that about?"

The answer to that question is something I have no clue about.

I saw him patiently waiting for me to tell him something from the corner of my eye and I made it my mission to look everywhere else but him. I seriously had no freaking idea as to what I was going to tell him.

Should I tell him the truth? How will he react? What if he just decides to never talk to me again and ignores me his entire life? Or what if...he decides to kill me? Okay Aur, you are clearly hyperventilating. Stop it.

"Like I said Chris, I was stoned , so I don't really know the reason for half of the things I did that night." 

"Aur, both of us know that you aren't the I-forget-the-reason-for-everything-I-did-while-I-was-drunk-the-next-day person." His face held a stern look as he challenged me to say otherwise.

Dang it. Why does he know me so well? This is not fair. On top of that, my brain cells have decided its the best time to take some rest and not function. Wow.

"Aur, mom and dad are calling you guys for dinner. Get your asses here right now," Tyler shouted from downstairs and I felt like kissing his feet for the perfect timing.

I got up at lightning speed and damn if I couldn't be more obvious. Chris gave me a look that said this conversation is not over and I just replied with a tight smile and we headed downstairs.

I greeted mom and dad and asked them about their trip. We sat on the dining table and by we, I mean, our mom, dad, Ty, Chris, Saph, Jake and dear me. Dinner wasn't awkward at all as Saph was constantly blushing and gasping out of nowhere, Chris and Jake made sure to kill each other with their eyes and well Chris also kept throwing me sideways glances which I made sure to dodge the best I could.

Mom and dad were telling us about the Westwood Enterprise that they are working on collaborating with and apparently its a big business as well. They might head to New York again after a while for the same.

"Yeah, I know them too. Mr. Westwood's son Blaze is my good friend. We have met a few times at business parties." Jake piped in.

"Yes I know. Adam is also a part of this deal. Its between the Stephens, Matthews and Westwood. So we are hoping it would bring our businesses on top."

"Uhm I need to use the washroom, excuse me," Saph said more like whispered as her face was flushed red and she made her way to the washroom. I saw Jake smirking at her and I was almost about to gag.

"Jake, no funny business on the dinner table." I narrowed my eyes at him and his smirk just got wider. Jackass.

Mom and dad were looking at us weirdly when I decided to enlighten them about the situation.

"Jake, you better take good care of our Saph. And if you want somebody's help regarding girl problems and stuff, you know whom to come to," my mom whispered the last part with an added wink.

Jake just laughed and replied with a hearty yes.

"Jake, meet me in the living room after dinner. We need to have a man to man talk about this." Dad said the last part so seriously that I almost choked on my water. Saph had always been a daughter to them so him saying this wasn't much of a shock. But looking at Jake's pale face said another story.

I whispered to him, "All the best Jake. Don't piss him off otherwise you wouldn't want to know what will happen." I saw Jake gulp and sat back in my chair with a smirk on my face this time.

Ty was talking to dad about some stuff and I noticed Chris staring at me from the corner of my eye. Now it was my turn to freeze. I still haven't decided what I was suppose to tell him and let's just pray my mouth doesn't decide to ramble stuff on its own when its not needed. Especially not now.

I finished my dinner quickly and excused myself to go to my room. I saw Saph coming out of the washroom looking a little less restless and I just smiled at her and headed upstairs. I closed the door and started pacing across my room while forcing my brain to come up with something, anything, but it went all in vain.

The only possible thing that my brain could process was how much I was craving a tub of ice cream at the moment. Just what I needed.

There was a soft knock on the door and I completely froze over. I was actually contemplating on the fact of jumping off my window and running away for my life. I have watched too much Netflix, I know.

I slowly lifted up the two very special parts of my life and my body, my feet. I made my way to the door taking baby steps and held on to the door handle for 30 seconds. Wait Aur, ask first! Like you don't know who it is. I rolled my eyes at myself but nevertheless asked who was on the other side of this wooden plank which was carved to perfection by some carpenter whom I don't seem to know and trust me if it was meant for me to admire the never ending carvings on this door to not talk to Chris, yes he was on the other side, I would do that in a heartbeat.

But unfortunately, that never happened. I unwillingly twisted the knob and opened the door to let him in. He arched his brow upwards knowing very well that he was about to take things out of my ever so humble mouth and also that I have been avoiding him all dinner.

"Guess the dinner's over."

"Chris, can we not do this right now?"

"No, this conversation is long overdue."

"I am really tired and don't even think I have forgiven you yet! Yes, that's it! I gave you a chance to speak and we are done here for now. I am still angry with you so we'll talk some other time. Yeah." Seriously Aur? You sound pathetic.

"Don't you think I know you well enough Aur to see what you are doing here? In fact, we are going to talk right now, and I am not going anywhere. Saph and Jake have gone home and I have taken Ed's permission to spend the night here. So you aren't getting rid of me tonight."

"You did not do that! You cannot stay here! I don't want you here!"

In two long strides he came to where I was standing and looked straight in my grey eyes. His deep grey ones unveiling some mystery or secret hidden behind mine. He lifted his hand and placed it on my right​ cheek slowly caressing the rough skin underneath. I knew I should have applied some lotion. Damn Aur, not the right time to think this.

"When did it get so bad Aur? So bad that you don't seem to want me in the same room as yours?"

How could I tell this handsome being standing in front of me that it was far from it? I wanted him to hold me forever, to be with me forever and to have the 'us' I have started dreaming of. But forever is a strong word. As much as I was dying to open my mouth and speak something, I stood there speechless not uttering a word or showing any sign of emotion on my blank face.

His eyes held so much of care and softness that I couldn't help but drown in their beauty. I slowly realized we have been staring at each other for too long and that his other hand was now at my waist which was slowly moving up and down in a soothing manner. This feels so good. It cannot feel this good.

Before I could lose the little self control and sanity that was left, I carefully stepped backwards and turned my back towards him. I cannot be this weak. This is not me. But then why do I want to relieve the moment we shared a few seconds ago? Why am I craving it all over again?

Have my feelings taken over me too much now? Am I letting them rule me? Why am I feeling this? I don't want to feel this and yet at the same time, every cell in my body is screaming to step right in his arms and never let him go.

This is too hard. Not telling him anything is killing me and yet if I do tell him, it can do anything to our friendship. Our friendship might blossom or it may just get ruptured. What if he thinks of me as his sister and then me telling him would just make me look disgusting. But then again, some risks are worth to be taken. Is this worth? Are we worth? Should I do this?

Everything feels so wrong. This feels so wrong. Why did I have develop feelings for him? Why couldn't it just be the way it was supposed to? Why did I have to mess all this up? Why?

"Aurora, please look at me. Tell me. You know I am here for you right. Please?"

The way he said my full name was all it needed to break any sort of defenses I had on myself. The pleading in his voice was everything it took for the little walls that I had set up in a matter of seconds to tumble down. And I knew whatever happens after this night, I will have to deal with it whether I like it or not. But I have to do this, I cannot keep him in the dark anymore. I cannot do this to him. I just cannot.

I turned my face slighlty towards him and gave him a reassuring look and asked him to follow me towards the bed. We sat opposite to each other and he quickly interwined our fingers giving me enough courage to open up to him. But he wasn't aware of how right our hands mingled together felt to me. He wasn't aware of so much going on in my mind. I guess it was about time I completely opened up to him. It was about time I gave us a chance. A new beginning, wherever that takes us.

"I am going to tell you everything Chris. But please promise me whatever it is going to be, it will not affect our friendship in any way. No matter what, we will still remain best friends."

"Nothing and no one can break our friendship apart Aur, and if someone ever tries to, they will have to deal with me. I am going to be there for you forever and a few more years." He managed to crack his heartwarming smile assuring me he had meant every word he said.

Forever. And a few more years. Are you ready to risk all this Aur? I guess it's too late to think about this anyways now. Or is it?

I just gave him a smile and continued further.

"Chris, I want you to listen to me till I am done, alright? Please, don't say anything in between."

"Okay Aur, I will try."

"Thank you."

And here I begin. The thumping of my heart could be heard miles away and I was wondering how it didn't already scare Chris to flee from here. I gave his hand a slight squeeze and wished for whatever came next out of my dear mouth would not scar this friendship.

Hey people! *tries to hide behind a curtain from all the stares* I know you guys are dying to know what is going to happen but don't worry, all you have to do is comment and vote and share this book with your friends and maybe I would be nice enough to update in the following week rather than taking long breaks as usual? Also, tell me what you think is going to happen next! What is Aurora going to tell him? Will she tell him? How will he react? Will they get interrupted again? Tell me what you want and I will try my best to adhere to your requests. Suggestions are always welcomed, you know that.

The above cover is made by quackika20. Thank you so much.

Also, I would like to say a special thanks to N-infamous for this amazing cover of my book and the below aesthetic. Its beautiful. Thank you so very much! If you guys want one too, do check her work out. She's amazing.

Keep voting and commenting and please share this story with your friends! Until next time.