Ryan's eyes were wide, his brows furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. He was still staring at Aurelia who was still giving him the what-brings-you-here look. He stood there awkwardly, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Do you mind if I join you?" he asked, gesturing to the empty chair across from her. Aurelia looked at him for a moment, her thoughts racing. "Sure," she said finally, her voice a bit shaky. "Please, take a seat." Ryan exhaled, relieved. He pulled out the chair and sat down facing her.
His eyes darted around the cafe, as if looking for an explanation. He turned back to her again, and asked the question that was weighing on his mind. "What are you doing here?" his voice low and a bit serious but his tone wasn't accusatory, just genuinely curious.
Aurelia's mind was racing, trying to come up with something - anything - to say. But she couldn't think of a single lie that would make sense. She felt trapped, like a deer in headlights. "I needed some time away," she tells him, her voice quiet but steady. "I didn't expect to see you here also." She looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers together nervously. Ryan was silent for a moment, processing what she had said.
He reached for her hand, but she flinched, pulling it away from his grasp. He froze, his hand hovering in the air for a moment before he pulled it back to his side. "I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice apologetic. "I didn't mean to startle you." Aurelia took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "It's okay," she assured him, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm just a bit on edge." She tried to smile, but it felt forced.
"Bel..-Aurelia" she cuts him.
What's up with the nickname? She mumbled to herself.
"Is everything okay?" He asks ignoring her interjection. But before Aurelia could answer, the barista called out his name. He turned around and collected his coffee, and Aurelia took a moment to collect herself. She took a sip of her own coffee, hoping the caffeine would help clear her head. Ryan turned back to her, waiting for an answer.
"Everything's fine," she lied, her voice was a little steadier. "It's just been a stressful few weeks." She took another sip of coffee, avoiding his gaze.
Their eyes locked again for a moment, and a spark of recognition passed between them. It was a fleeting moment, but it left a lingering sense of familiarity, like they had known each other for longer than they actually had. It was a strange and unexpected feeling, but neither of them spoke of it. Instead, they both looked away, their faces flushed with the unspoken connection they had just shared.
"What's next on your agenda?" Ryan asked, breaking the awkward silence that had settled between them. Aurelia hesitated for a moment, not sure how much she wanted to share. "I need to go to the grocery store," she said finally. "I'm all out of stuffs." Ryan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I can give you a ride, if you want," he offered. Aurelia wasn't taken aback by the offer -she had expected it. "That would be really nice, actually," she said, returning his smile.
Just at that, the barista brought over their bills, Ryan quickly reached for his wallet and handed over his credit card. "My treat," he said, as the barista handed him the receipt to sign. Aurelia started to protest, but he shook his head. "It's no problem," he insisted. "Consider it a welcome back gift." She smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest that she couldn't quite explain. Maybe it was just the feeling of being cared for, of being thought of.
As they walked to the car, Aurelia noticed that Ryan seemed to be leading them towards an old pickup truck parked in the corner of the parking lot. It was covered in mud and looked like it hadn't been washed in months. But there was something about it that seemed strangely familiar, -very strangely familiar. She followed him over to the truck and he opened the passenger door for her. she climbed in, she noticed the interior of the truck was spotless. No mud, no dirt, not even a speck of dust.
"I know it looks a bit strange," Ryan said, as he started the engine. "But I'm in construction, so my truck gets pretty dirty on the job. I keep the inside clean though, so I have a comfortable place to relax after a long day." Aurelia nodded, her curiosity satisfied. It made sense, -it wasn't anything big or suspicious.
"It's actually my dad's truck," he continued. "I just borrow it from time to time. It's a classic, so he's pretty protective of it. But he's pretty cool about letting me use it when I need to. He always says that this truck has a lot of character and that it's more than just a vehicle." Aurelia couldn't help but feel relieved that this truck wasn't actually his. It felt like a weight of disappointment had been lifted off her chest.
She couldn't even quite figure out why it mattered so much to her whether or not the truck was his. But then it hit her - it wasn't about the truck at all. It was about her own preconceived notions about him. She had made assumptions about him based on his personality, his clothes, his appearance, and even his car. But now that she was getting to know him, she realized that she was quite wrong about him.
It was clear that he's a man who seems not to care about what other people thought of him or the things he did. He did what he liked and said what he thought, without worrying about what others might say. It was a refreshing change from the people she usually met, who were always trying to impress others or fit in. He was different.
YOU ARE READING
Passion's Pitfalls
Fanfiction"I know this is probably not making any sense," He stated, his voice full of emotion. "I'm afraid of letting someone in, of letting someone see who I actually am. I'm afraid of being hurt, of being rejected. I know it's not rational, but it's what I...
