Aru Shah one shots/ short stories!

Journals

Brynne wandered through Aiden's house. She was waiting for him to get back from school so he could try her new recipe, but she couldn't be bothered to wait outside and knew where the spare key was so... she went in. He wouldn't mind.
Hopefully.

She was checking the cupboards for ingredients but hadn't found anything too promising. Brynne had just seen the seventh packet of shop-bought Mac and Cheese (seven! Seriously?), when she found a small, leather bound notebook. Interesting. Maybe it was a recipe book.

Opening it eagerly, she read the first page, written in Aiden's handwriting:

If you find this diary, do not, under any circumstances read it. Thank you.

Brynne had been Aiden's best friend for years. So, obviously she read it.

To begin with, it was just boring, Ammamma complaining. Apparently, his national geographic magazine hadn't been delivered last month, Nikita had given him a dress shirt in case he had to look "actually fashionable", Rudy had pitched a movie idea to him (Rudra: the trials and triumphs of Prince Rudy of Naga-Loka) and Mini had given him a hamper of supplements because he had sneezed.

But then, this month, it got interesting. Very interesting. A smirk grew on Brynne's face. She jumped up and ran out of the kitchen... just as Aiden was walking in.

"Um.. Brynne, where are you going?" Aiden asked after she almost knocked him over.

"Oh, y'know," Brynne answered, "just going over to Aru's to show her this Notebook I found." She finished in one breath. She bolted before Aiden could process what she'd said. The front door was closed behind her by the time Aiden went to chase her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Aren't you supposed to be at Aiden's?" Aru asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Yes! But I found something you should see!" Brynne told her impatiently. Aru saw Brynne's smirk and smiled a little herself.

"Come on in."

Once the girls got to Aru's room, they sat on the bed. Aru looked at Brynne expectantly.

"So..."

Brynne pulled out the notebook and opened it to the page.

"Read this." She told Aru.

Taking the book from Brynne, Aru began reading through it. Her face was blank.

"This is just the pros and cons of ice cream flavours," Aru said, confused. Brynne quickly turned the page. Then, she got a reaction.

Aru's eyebrows got higher and higher, and her eyes got wider and wider, until...
Aru shut the book.

"This is a prank." She announced.

"No, it isn't!" Brynne argued, reopening the book, "that's Aiden's handwriting, right?"

"Duh, of course it is!" Aru replied, "his capital As are curved like these ones, and he always slants his Is in a really cute way, and he leads his letters like he is going to join them but doesn't so it doesn't get crowded, and..."

Brynne counted how many seconds it took Aru to realise she was talking aloud. After 35 seconds, she got bored and interrupted Aru from her handwriting-dreaming.

"Um... Aru?"

Aru froze mid-word and blushed crazily, suddenly noticing her words.

"Just sayin'," she mumbled, trying to cover her beet-red face.

"Anyway," Brynne said, trying to spare Aru some embarrassment, "I swear I didn't fake this. Just read it aloud, ok?"

"But I already -

"I know you didn't read more than the first 2 lines."

Aru huffed before beginning to read the page.

"Dear journal,

Aiden here! So things have been interesting recently. I don't really know how to say this, but lately I have been experiencing feelings. Like emotional feelings, for someone.
I would never tell her, but I think Brynne is right.

I... I think I have a crush on Shah.

I mean, I've been noticing things about her, I didn't used to, like the way her eyes crinkle when she laughs, or how her eyes sparkle when Vajra glows, or how her lips pinch together before she tells a joke. And I kinda want to hang out with her, like, just the 2 of us.

I'm not really sure what else to say about it. All I know is I can't tell her. What if she didn't like me back? I am not going to let my emotions ruin our friendship.

Signed, Aiden."

Brynne grinned as Aru set down the diary with shaking hands. She watched intently as Aru's face tried to decide between paling or blushing. It went to blushing.

"What?" Aru asked her voice an octave higher than normal, "he, he likes... me. He likes-likes me."

Brynne stood up and dusted off her hands. "Took you long enough. Now let's go." She grabbed Aru's hand. Aru digged her heels into the carpet.

"Nuh-uh. I am not going to talk to him." Aru told her firmly.

Brynne looked over her shoulder. "Do I have to carry you?"

They looked each other in the eye.

Brynne only put Aru down after she had rung Aidens doorbell.

When Aiden opened the door, she quickly shoved Aru in and closed it. Brynne lent against the front door, listening. A woman walking her dog gave her a weird look but oh well.

She heard a muffled Aru ask Aiden out in one continuous breath and Aiden saying yes and was pretty sure they hugged.

Once she heard that, she stepped away, satisfied.

"Aruden done," she said, "Mindy to go."

So sorry I haven't updated recently! I've just got a hectic schedule recently and haven't found time to write.

Good vibes
-BBB