Aaron's POV

It's four in the evening when I start wrapping around work and get ready to leave the office. By now, Diana wouldn't be on the front desk. I've often wondered why did she work only half day but so far, I've reached to no conclusion. A smile is their on my face as I take subway. Well, they're awful at this time but sometimes I just don't feel like driving in the traffic.

After forty five minutes of hassle, I reach my home. Just as I'm about to open the door, I hear a very familiar voice calling my name, "Aaron?"

I turn around to find Lizzy standing before me in her shorts and favourite pink t shirt. She looks pretty as always.

"Hey," I say and immediately move to hug her.

She chuckles lightly in my arms and I step away, still not letting go of her shoulders. I haven't seen her whole week and my life has turned upside down since then. I missed her a lot more than I think I would.

"How are you?" I ask.

"Just been doing a lot of thinking, so you can say pretty good, and you?"

I give out a small smile, I never lie to her but I don't have it in me to talk about my adoption right now. Hell, my parents refuse to give me the full details of what really happened. How am I supposed to be living with half information?

"Do you want to come inside?" I ask, ignoring her question.

Maybe, if we sit together, it'll feel better to talk rather than discussing it on the doorstep.

"Oh, I don't think that would be possible. I'm on my way to somewhere. But, I can surely drop by afterwards?" She says, looking at her watch.

"Yes, sure. Although, I'm not sure if I'll be home. We'll meet tomorrow, then?"

I really want her to agree, this is the first time after our break up four years ago when we've gone so long without talking to each other.

"Okay." She nods and I take a breath of relief.

I should've told her that I'm going to meet Diana tonight, but she took a week to make up her mind to contact me again. I don't want to mess it up. She's my best friend and the thought of losing her is terrifying.

Without overthinking anything, I step inside the house to only discover my mother and father sitting in the living room. It's fair enough to say that I haven't been talking to them ever since I found out things and they just refused to tell me the details afterwards.

I have every fucking right to know about it.

"Son," my father calls out in his polite yet hoarse voice.

I roll my eyes as I resist myself from going directly upstairs, "Yes, dad?"

He doesn't misses the way I say it, because he narrows his eyes at me and my mother's face falls down a little.

"Why don't you sit down with us for a while, I think we need to talk." He says and a little hope ignites in me.

I step forwards and ask, "Does it involve discussing who my biological parents are or anything related to me being adopted?"

"No!"

It's the first time my mother has spoken and I look at her. Don't get me wrong, I owe both of my parents a lot and I love them to death but right now, I really just need to know things and they refuse to give it away.

"Well then, we'll talk when you decide to tell me everything." I say, and before they could respond, I make my way to my room upstairs.

I shut the door behind myself and sigh as I run a hand through my hair. I undo the first few buttons of my shirt and take a seat on my bed. My eyes fall on the frame on my bedside table. It's probably from when I was seven and Derek was standing right beside me there. We don't look alike, I'm well aware of that but he doesn't look like he hates me there. But, right now, I'm certain he does. We may not be biologically related and my parents aren't really being cooperative right now, but when I look at Derek, no matter how damaged our bond is, all I see is a brother whom I respect despite every deed he has done.

I wonder what would he think about my growing friendship with Diana. My mind goes back to that girl and I lie down in my bed, staring up at the ceiling. What am I even doing with her? I cannot name what I feel for her, apart from being attracted but every time she shows me that there's this different side to her, I cannot resist myself. When she explained to me why we cannot be friends, I actually understood but now? I don't think I even want to get in my head any of that.

While thinking about her, my eyelids feel heavy and I close them for a while.

But, my phone starts ringing and I jolt awake. I frown when I realize the lack of light in my room and peek outside of the window, it's almost dark outside. My eyes fix on the phone and I see Lizzy's number there. I pick up, greeting her with a hoarse voice.

"Are you home?" She asks and I sit up straight in my bed.

"Err.. yeah, why?"

I rub my eyes and yawn a little, "Oh, I'm coming over then, but hey, didn't you have to be somewhere?" She asks.

"Fuck!" I curse out loudly and look at the time. It's quarter to seven and without even thinking, I just mumble in the speaker, "Don't come over, I'll see you tomorrow," before hanging up.

How can I forget about the dinner with Diana? Fuck!

While cursing out loud the entire time, I take out a jeans from my closet and a black button down before rushing down the hallway for a quick shower. I could've avoided it but it's kinda mandatory to have one after the tiresome day I've had. I wouldn't want to look sleepy during the entire date.

Alright, it's not a date. Well, at least for Diana it isn't. But, I could never ask her out directly and being the friendly person I am, this is the only shot I had for taking her out. She doesn't date, I remember her telling me that on the first day we ever met.

After taking a quick shower, I put on my clothes and run a hand through my dripping hair. I take a look in the mirror twice before rushing down the stairs and collecting my keys from the kitchen. I have no idea why I keep my keys there, it's just a habit, I suppose.

Just as I'm about to leave, my mother calls for me and I turn around to face her.

"Where are you going?" She asks.

"Out." I give a curt reply.

They should be aware of the fact that they're hurting me by keeping the truth, and have always caused me a lot of emotional drama by not telling the truth until now. She takes a look at my clothes and smiles a little.

"Is it a date?"

I know she's trying to break the ice between us, but it will require a lot more than this conversation to do so. But, just to give her a response, I nod my head and her smile grows.

"Who is it, is it Lizzy?"

The way her voice sounds exciting, I can never miss that. Lizzy has been the ideal child, a lot like me in her parents eyes. And, given that our parents are such close friends, I know how my mom feels about my friendship with her. She has often dropped hints for me to ask her out, but that's just my choice to make.

"No, it's Diana." I say without thinking, and regret almost immediately as I see her expressions changing.

Her lips part with surprise as she stares at me, "Derek's Diana?"

What? She's not anyone's Diana.

I can't help but despise the way it sounded like they somehow belong together.

"Yes, Derek's friend Diana!" I say, emphasizing the word friend.

She takes ahold of my wrist and makes me drag to the living room and I just sigh, mentally preparing myself for a huge lecture on how she's a bad influence. But, is she really? What she does with her life are her choices, and she shouldn't be judged for that. Although, I would be lying if I say that even thinking those words doesn't makes me a hypocrite.

"What's going on in that mind of yours, young man? Out of all people, you're going out with Diana, the whore?" She spits and I scowl.

I don't appreciate the way I feel a wave of anger rushing through me at her words. Who is she to say that?

"Her name is Diana Rose, mother! I would like it if you could respect that much." I fire back, my tone harsher than I've ever used.

"Oh my! Is this your way of rebelling to your father and I because we refuse to tell you everything? We're not hiding anything Aaron, there's nothing for you to know. Just quit this drama already, go back upstairs."

I give out a humorless laugh at her words, "I'm not sixteen! For god's sake, I'm twenty one and I know how to take my own decisions. You cannot control my life."

"Aaron!" She yells out my name as I pass her and make my way to the door.

Without even turning around, I slam the front door behind myself before getting to the car and driving off to Diana's place. Throughout the whole drive, my mind is clouded with the argument I just had with my mother. I've never talked to her in that way, ever.

I'm well aware of the fact that my mother dislikes Diana, but she cannot define who I become friends with. Although, in her view, even being friends with Dee is having sex. I brush away those thoughts when I park my car in her apartment building.

It takes me just few minutes to walk up to her door, and though I cannot just turn my mood for better, I try to place a smile on my face when I ring the bell. She takes her time to open the door, but when she does, I cannot help the way I stare at her.

She looks breathtakingly beautiful.

"Hey," She greets with a surprised look.

Did she forget that we were going to meet? But, why is she dressed up otherwise? I don't miss the way her red dress clings on to every curve of her body and her red lipstick just compliments the whole look.

"I'm sorry for being so late," I immediately apologise, realising how late it is.

She open the door wider for me to enter and I do. Her living room is cleaner than it has been, for whatever two or three times she has let me enter her apartment.

"It's alright, although I was pretty sure you were not going show up after the clock struck seven thirty." She gives a small smile and motions for me to take a seat.

Well, that explains why she looked surprised. But, I continue, "Yeah, I kinda dozed off."

"It's alright. What's up though? You don't look so good." She points out when she takes a seat beside me on the couch.

I don't like how much distance she leaves between us. But, I don't try to scoot closer either and just look at her face while she waits for me to speak.

After running a hand through my hair, I sigh a little, "Got in a quarrel with my mother." I tell her and she nods, almost like she understands what that's like.

The memory of her telling me about her parent's death is still clear in my mind. She doesn't have that look often on her face, the one where it seems that it pains her to even utter certain words.

"What happened?" She asks, scooting closer and taking ahold of my hand in a caressing manner.

I notice that she does that a lot when she's trying to comfort. Her eyes meets mine, but her hands are just fumbling with my own. My skin feels warm under her cold hands, and with the single touch, I feel a bit relaxed. I have no idea how she has such an effect on me, but she does.

"Well, for starters I still don't know anything about my adoption. And then, it slipped that I was coming to see you."

She gives a sad smile at the latter part, "Oh, she would have been furious."

"Yeah, you have no idea." I scoff.

Her smile drops as she speaks, "I hope it didn't mess up with your life so much just to be friends with me." She says, sounding so sincere that I give her hands a little squeeze.

"It's worth it, I think." I tell her and she beams, a genuine smile that's so hard to get from her.

"Where do you want to go tonight?" She asks, looking at the time.

Her question makes me curse loudly and she frowns at me with a questioning look at her face.

"I made reservations, I'm not sure if we'll be able to reach by eight now. Let me just make a call."

She gives me a slight nod and I dial up. All I get in response is that I should reach by eight otherwise the table will be given to someone else. I hang up with a scowl on my face.

"Chinese or mexican?" She asks before picking up her cell and I frown.

"What?"

"I'll just order," she explains and I shake my head.

"No, I promised you a nice dinner and the way you look, I can't let that go to waste." I tell her.

"We can have nice dinner here! It's friday night and at this time, wherever we go, we'll have to wait a little and I'm starving. So, let's just order in."

I sigh when she makes a valid point, "Alright, mexican it is."

She nods before ordering dinner for both of us and we talk for a while. I look around and my eyes fall on the dining table. When she's busy typing in her phone, I take it to myself to roam around a little.

"Aaron?" She calls out when I reach the kitchen.

"Yes?"

She looks up from the couch and I arch an eyebrow at her, "What are you doing?" She asks with a scowl on her face.

It doesn't take her more than five seconds to stand and reach the kitchen. She's just few steps away from me and as hard as I'm trying, her dress is drawing all my attention to her curve.

She looks incredibly sexy.

And that would be the first time I've ever said that about any woman. Yes, girls are pretty and all but Diana? Her beautiful features attract every bone in your body to just hold and kiss her.

Fuck! Why am I thinking about kissing her?

"You got some candles?" I finally ask and she nods.

She moves past me, almost brushing against me and opens a drawer. While she's looking just for a second, the door bell rings.

"Will you please look in this one? It's just here. I'll go get the food." She says before making a move but I stop her.

"Nope, you find the candles and I'll go."

She passes a thankful smile and I get the food while she places the candles on the kitchen counter and pulls out the dishes to eat. While she's grabbing stuff, I take the match stick from the same drawer and candles and light them up on the table. After that, I move to the switch board and dim the lights a bit.

"Oh, doesn't it smell ama-" she stops halfway when her eyes fall on the dining table and she takes in the candle set up.

"I'm trying my best to make it a nice dinner," I say, nervously.

She doesn't date, but it sure as hell seems like one now that I've lit on candles and shit. Why did I have to do this? She's just standing there stunned, not speaking anything and if this makes her mad, I'll probably never forgive myself for ruining the night.

"Diana?" I call out, making her eyes fall on me.

"Err.. yes, let's eat." She says with a feeble voice and I gulp.

She's definitely mad. I want to even draw back the chair for her but she does it herself and I take a seat in front of her.

"It looks good." I say, even though my eyes are fixed on her.

"Mmm." She replies.

I run a hand through my hair, "I over did it, didn't I? Damn! I'm so sorry, I just -"

She cuts me off as she places her hand on mine and looks at me, "You didn't do anything wrong, I'm not just used to this." She says.

Her words leave me surprised as I try to wrap my head around it. I don't miss the hint of sadness in her voice, it was almost like she didn't expect such things from anyone. Are people not nice these days anymore?

"Has no ever taken you to a proper date?" I ask, even though knowing her, she'll hate me for giving this dinner a tag.

"Nope, only to their bed." She gives a humourless laughter and I flinch. "Although, this is a friendly dinner, I don't date, remember?"

She just shakes her head lightly after that, giving me a small smile before she draws her attention to food. We both start eating together, but she refuses to meet my eye. I cannot help but glance at her every few seconds.

"Wine?" She asks and I look up.

"Sure." I give her a small smile.

She disappears to the kitchen,opening and closing several cupboards and appears back with two wine glasses and a red wine.

"Uncle Marcel gifts the best wines ever." She tells me with a smile.

"Can I ask you something?" I question and she nods, even though she's pouring the wine.

"From the tone of your voice, it isn't going to be a pleasant question, but you get one question to ask tonight." She tells me.

Well, one question for the night?

"When did your parents pass away and do you still miss them?" I ask, without giving it much thought.

I notice how her hands halt their movement at my question and she puts away the wine bottle, clearing her throat as she looks at me.

"Those are two questions, but to answer one of them, it happened almost four years ago." She tells me, her voice distant.

I take ahold of her hand over the table and interlink our fingers together. My eyes gaze down at her hands and I smile at how little they are. But, then my eyes fall down on something on her finger. Frowning, I take ahold of that finger, letting loose the others and see ink there. It takes me a moment to realise that it's a permanent tattoo.

Love, E.

It on the side of her fingers, almost hidden in between. I notice how it isn't a font that's used to ink that, it's almost a rough handwriting. To my surprise, it's carved on her engagement finger. Just as I'm about to bring her hand closer to me, she pulls away.

I look up at her with a frown, a strange feeling in my chest as I notice how her face is clouded with nervousness. She looks away, refusing to meet my eye.

"Was it from someone you loved?" I hear myself asking.

She doesn't utters a word but just stares at me for a while. But, then she looks down at her hand, brushing her thumb across the ink and meets my eyes before giving a small nod as she mumbles, "Yes."