Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

A Few More Seconds (Part 2)

I wish I knew what was happening with him, but he wouldn't really talk to me. While it's true that he never did seem to stay long and would sometimes trip over his words in the most adorable way, he just wouldn't say a word now. He wouldn't say hi when we passed by each other or converse with me by the gardens. He wouldn't even look at me. He used to sometimes stare at me and look away when I smiled, but he currently refused to make any sort of eye contact. The longer this went on the more I was convinced that I did something to upset him. I did everything to find out what, but whenever I was less than three feet from him he was off. If by chance I did get the opportunity to speak he nodded his head to whatever I said before giving a one word response and an excuse to just run off.

Staring at him from across the fire, I kept hoping he would turn his head just a little bit. Still, whatever he was talking to Harriet about must be incredible because he was talking at a thousand miles a minute, though I couldn't hear what he was saying.

As I was completely immersed in him I felt someone drape something over my shoulders. Looking over, I saw my little brother making a show of being a gentleman. He kept trying to get this girl to notice his “pure soul” but wouldn't talk to her. Not in the way I hadn't really talked to Aris. He wouldn't even find an excuse to say hi.

“You’re a little special, aren't you?”I sighed.

“She’s not even looking,”He groaned, ignoring my statement as he sat beside me.

“You have to show that you want her. The more you show off how good you could be the more it looks like you don't like her,”I pointed out.

“But it's obvious,”He complained.

“It's obvious to you. People see different things as different signs so the best thing you can do is be upfront,”I advised.

“I can't,”He mumbled, putting his hands on his knees.

“You can do whatever you put your mind to. I think you should go for it before you never can,”I recommended.

“The way you go for Aris?”

“That's different,”I defended.

“How?”

“It just is, okay? I don't have to explain myself to you.”

“Explain yourself to him.”

“See? This is exactly why I don't give you advice,”I sighed, looking over at Aris only to see that he had left. Handing his jacket back without actually looking at him, I stood up and made my way past people. Mumbling a few, “excuse me’s,” I was past everyone before they could even blink. Going to Harriet by the very edge of the group, I asked her where Aris was.

“It's probably not a good idea to tell you,”She shrugged.

“I just need a minute. It’ll be quick,”I promised.

“It's still not a good idea,”She repeated.

“Please? I really need to talk to him,”I pleaded.

She sighed as she thought it over. Still, I refused to leave until she said something, anything.

“He's by the ocean,”She finally answered.

“Thank you, Harriet. I’ll see you tomorrow,”I told her, already making my way there. Moving through the darkness, I got further from the blazing fire and closer to the chilly sea. Stepping onto the sand, when it tried to sink I threw my sandals off before looking left and right. Then, I stared at my feet to see footprints going to the right so I guess that’s where I’m going.

Speed walking, I kept switching between looking at the ground and ahead of me. All I ever got was more footsteps and more darkness. I couldn't give up though. I don't know why I chose tonight, but it was the right one. I just know it.

Walking faster, as I glanced up again to see a figure staring at the sea I knew that I was correct to trust my instincts.

“Aris?”I asked, approaching him. He turned his head but just as he met my gaze tried to leave. Before he had the chance I grabbed his sleeve.

“Aris? Did I do something?”I finally asked, not letting go. He just stared at the ground before shaking his head. “Then, why won't you talk to me?”

“I can't,”He mumbled.

“I’ve been trying to though. I want to talk to you,”I pleaded, holding on tighter.

“I’m sorry, Y/N,”He whispered.

“Please, Aris. I miss you,”I begged.

“I can't be around you. Not now.”

“Tell me what I did,”I repeated.

“You didn't do anything wrong. That's the problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I can't be around you right now. Not for a while. Now until . . .”He trailed off.

“Not until what?”I asked, stepping closer.

“Not until I know how to get over you.”

“Over me? As in romantically?”I hoped.

“Yeah. Romantically,”He confirmed.

Now I didn't know what to think. He feels what I feel, but why doesn't he want to? Am I that awful? Is there something else that I’m not getting?

“Why do you need to get over me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you need to get over me?”I asked again.

“Because you're with someone, and that someone isn't me?”

“I am?”

“Yeah.”

“Who am I with?”

“That guy that always gives his hoodie.”

“People think I’m dating him?”I asked after processing his words.

“I mean not really, but I do,”He mumbled.

“I don't know whether to cry, laugh, or throw up,”I said half to him and half to myself.

“Are you not?”He asked slowly.

“No. I am not dating my brother.”

“Your brother?”

“Yeah. That's my brother,”I repeated.

“Oh,”He mumbled. “Now I feel kind of stupid,”He admitted.

“I don't think you're any kind of stupid. Maybe you're not the best at seeing signs when people like each other, but you're definitely not stupid,”I shrugged.

“I just thought since you always had his hoodie that you were, you know?”He defended.

“That's his lame attempt at trying to get the girl he likes to notice him. So far, it's not going that well,”I explained.

“So you aren't with anyone then?”

“Not unless someone wants to tell me something,”I said, grabbing his hand.

“I do,”He muttered, his face turning red as he looked at me. “I like you. I really like you, probably more than I should. I think about you more than I should too, even if you're nowhere near me. I like that you're kind, I like that you're smart, I like that you're funny, I like that you're accepting, I like that you know how to make people feel better without trying, I like how easy you are to talk to once you figure out how to get the words out, and I like the way you look in the moonlight.”

“That's really sweet, Aris. You're really sweet,”I whispered, as close to him as possible.

“I am?”

“Yes. You are,”I nodded. “That's one of the reasons that I really like you,”I admitted.

“You do?”

“I do. I have for a while now. I just never knew how to tell you, but when you stopped talking to me I knew I had to be able to. I knew I had to figure everything out before I couldn't.”

“Have you?”

I didn't answer as I put my arms around his shoulders. Standing on my toes, I pressed my lips to his cheek before pulling away.

“Yeah. I have.”