Love, Aristotle

chapter 23

Damon

I stared down at this messed up car with a groan, running a hand down my face in frustration.

I didn't want to be here. I wanted to be with her. I was so fucking tired. All I wanted to do was go home to her, listen to her talk about thoughts or watch her read. But no, I couldn't.

The car was dented, a tire was deflated and there were little scratches all over. It made me physically ill looking at it.

Picking up my phone from the table, I took a picture and sent it to her.

Me: stuck with this, what are you doing rn?

I wasn't expecting her to respond so quickly, thinking she was either reading or out with her friends.

Aristotle the great: shopping

My lips lifted into a smirk as I typed a reply.

Me: lingerie?

I imagined her in a blushing mess on the other side. Which made me smile.

Aristotle the great: no, you wish

Me: send me something ;)

Aristotle the great: get back to work Hayes

I chuckled under my breath. My tongue poked the inside of my cheek, trying to fight back another smile.

Me: i miss you

Things between us returned to normal, I think. Since the other night we had spent, dancing in the empty parking lot. It felt like old times again. Back when everything was easy and we didn't have to worry about everything.

Still, I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling in my chest. The secrets were there, weighing us down. She wasn't as distant anymore but there was something and I didn't like it.

Aristotle the great: i miss you too

Me: busy later?

Aristotle the great: i plan on finishing my book. you can come over if you want

I inwardly scoffed. On the other side of the screen, she was probably smirking to herself.

Me: i'll be there

Once I was done with... this. It would probably take a while but I'd finish it quicker. I wanted to spend every chance time gave me to be with her. Before things would change too fast.

We were getting older. Time was crueler. It was only a matter of time before the burdens would be too much and we'd break.

But I had a future planned out and I had every intention of giving it to her. She wanted forever, I'd make it happen. As impossible as it sounded, when it came to her, I'd do anything. I wanted all that with her too and despite everything going on, it was already ours. We just had to make it through.

I placed my phone back down and felt slightly better than I did when I walked in here. Running a hand through my hair, I reached into my toolbox and got back to work.

This definitely wasn't my ideal job, though it paid well and I needed the money. Over time, I learnt to enjoy it. I loved cars. Excluding the fucked up ones. But back then, I had big dreams. I wanted to be a Formula 1 racer. Ever since I was a boy. And the day I got my license, that was who I wanted to be.

Naturally, in life we didn't always get what we wanted. I fell into the wrong crowd and dropped out of high school. I did some things I wasn't proud of and that dream was long gone. I left it behind with the little boy I used to be.

She always encouraged me to follow my dreams. But how could I when it was way out of reach. It was up there, and I was still here.

I used to feel so lost. Until her.