Shine, Aaron Tveit [1]

twenty-three.

chapter twenty-three, I want us.

IT WAS DECIDED, Aaron would talk to Rose today. He had planned it out, but he was getting nervous. So, maybe he shouldn't do it? No, he had to.

If he had to, he would talk to her during intermission....except, they just finished their show, Rose was gone and they didn't have a show tomorrow. So, Aaron chose the next best option. He showed up at her apartment.

Aaron knocked quickly, his mind running a million miles per minute. Within a minute, Rose answered the door. Her face twisted in confused as she noticed Aaron at her door.

"Aaron?"

"Can we talk?" Rose nodded her head, stepping aside for Aaron to walk in. Her heart picked up in speed, her mind swirling with every possible way this could go—good or bad.

"I'm just going to get straight to the point, or else I don't think I ever will. I'm in love with you, Rose. I'm in love with everything about you. Your hair, your voice, your personality, your smile—just, everything. And I know I haven't been the best person to you, and I can't really explain why I was other than I was jealous of how perfect you are—but I'm sorry." Aaron rambled, bringing a smile to Roses face.

"You really are in love with me?" Rose questioned softly, a hint of insecurity in her voice. Her fingers tapped against her stomach nervously, which Aaron took notice of. He quickly stepped in front of her, grabbing her hands in his own.

"Why wouldn't I be? You're perfect, Rose." Aaron said softly, looking down at the girl. Rose felt her cheeks heat up, her eyes softening as she looked up at him. Aaron couldn't help but place a hand on her cheek, brushing his thumb across her bottom lip as he did so. Rose felt her stomach swirl with butterflies, and her body fill with warmth.

No words needed to be said to let each other know how much they wanted to kiss. It had become a craving, really. Ever since the first kiss, Aaron and Rose would lay awake at night dreaming of kissing those lips once more. So, the two leaned in, sharing their second kiss. It was slow, passionate and it said everything it needed to.

The two didn't want to pull away, but due to lack of air, they had to. Once again, the two rested their foreheads together, and Rose felt a smile elope her face.

"You know I'm in love with you too, right?"

"I'd hope so," Aaron smiled, placing another slow kiss to Roses lips. His hand went to the small of her back, while his other hand stayed on her cheek. Rose felt herself relax, her hands going to the back of his hair.

Rose was in love, and she loved it.

Aaron was in love, and he loved it.

Nothing could be better than this, truly. Finally, after almost a year, they had each other. For almost two hours, Rose and Aaron stayed together, in each others arms. They never wanted to let go again.

"How long have you known?"

"What do you mean?"

"Of your feelings, how long have you known?" Rose questioned, looking up at Aaron from her position in his arms.

"I knew I liked you, but it wasn't too long ago I realized I love you." Aaron confessed, smiling down at the girl. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, causing Roses cheeks to tint with a blush once more.

"Me too," Rose smiled, and after a second, she spoke up again, "I could stay like this forever."

"I wish we could," Aaron smiled, squeezing Rose slightly. His arms felt like heaven wrapped around Rose, and she never wanted to fall. 

"Aaron?" Roses spoke up after a few moments, her heart thumping in her chest.

"Yes?"

"What does this mean...for us?" Rose asked, not daring to look at Aaron incase his face showed disgust.

"It means whatever you want."

"But what do you want?"

"I want this, I want us. If you'll have me," Aaron spoke softly, his fingers waving in and out of her hair. Her hair was like silk, and Aaron never wanted to feel anything other than it.

"I want us too," Rose smiled, looking up at him, her eyes softening as she locked eyes with him.

"God, you're gorgeous," Aaron smiled, leaning down to press a loving kiss on Roses swollen lips. Rose felt her cheeks burn and her heart swell.

As the night went on, Aaron and Rose found their comfort in each other. They knew that a realationship like this could be hard to maintain, but both made it very clear that they were willing to try as hard as they could. For each other.

"Tu es si beau, tu le sais?" Rose smiled, admiring Aaron from her spot in the kitchen. Aarons fade twisted in confusing, once again reminding Rose that he didn't know a lick of French. "You are handsome, you know that?"

"Oh," Aaron blushed, looking down with a smile on his face. He had to admit, hearing Rose speak in her native tongue made his heart speed up. Even when she wasn't speaking French and only had the slightest of an accent, Aaron couldn't help but fall in love again and again.

So, he made a decision. He could not let Rose feel uncomfortable by speaking English around him, especially since she's expressed that it is freeing when she can speak French and someone can understand. So, Aaron decided he would learn French, for Rose. He wanted to make here as comfortable as he could, and he would be more than happy to learn this language for her.

Of course, he didn't tell Rose this plan. It was to be a surprise.

Rose was truly happy, there were no signs of heartbreak, arguments, Chantelle, or leaving the Moulin Rouge—which she decided she wouldn't do. How could she? The only reason she wanted to depart was because of Aaron, so now, what better reason than to stay?

AUTHORS NOTE !
only 10 more chapters left ☹️

BUT. I will be writing yet another Aaron Tveit book, and it will be a Royalty AU and I have decided for the title to be "Utter Devotion" so stay tuned for that!!