ELECTRIFY ME• aaron warner

29|TRUST

Aaron has fallen asleep, and I can hear his steady breathing in my ear. I feel his chest rise up and down, strands of my hair covering parts of him. I'm so comfy in his arms that I'm hesitant to move.

Another night, Aaron.

He looks so peaceful and innocent, and I like to believe that he is. I carefully remove his hands from me, hoping that it won't wake him up.

I slide off the bed, carefully tip-toeing across the room. Everytime I look back and see Aaron sleeping there, I feel more and more guilty.

I open the door and begin to quietly race down the stairs. This is an impossible task. I don't even know where I'm supposed to go.

I step into the darkness. It's dark outside, and I don't know who could be lurking around me. Even if this is a safe house, the neighborhood is not nessicarly safe from the Reestablishment. This is especially true if Anderson does want me.

"What do you think you're doing, Lia?!"

Aaron is on the front porch, and I feel my body stiffen. "Aaron..."

Then I realize that Kenji is next to him. Are they both in on this? Kenji stares me down like I'm in trouble. "Get your ass inside, princess."

"I can't explain it... but I can't stay here tonight."

Aaron furrows his brows, his emerald eyes studying me. I can't tell if he's concerned for my safety or for his plan to deliver me to Anderson. I don't know.

"Why not?" he asks.

"Aaron, please. I'll explain tomorrow."

Kenji and Aaron exchange glances. "We're going to have to haul her inside then," Kenji decides.

These two never ever get along. Somehow the one time they manage to agree is when it comes to teaming up against me. I have to admit that it is extremely inconvenient.

"Come on, love. You know it's not safe out there."

"No."

Aaron looks over at Kenji again. "Ok, fine."

Before I can run, Aaron grabs one of my arms and Kenji grabs the other. "Will you stop?!"

I hate that they are physically stronger than me. It's not like I'm going to use my powers on Kenji and risk hurting him and I can't use them on Aaron.

I struggle against them, and Aaron has to take me from Kenji to carry me back to our room. "You two are actually insane-"

I'm sitting on the bed in a chaotic panic. Aaron and Kenji look at me like I'm the insane one. Kenji crosses his arms. "So are you going to tell us why you were planning your grand escape, princess?"

"I- I can't."

"Emilia..."

"Fine, fine. I thought you were going to give me to Anderson, Aaron."

Aaron is frozen in time. I know he's going to be so infuriated with me, especially because I was likely just paranoid. "You really think that low of me?" he says quietly.

"I had a feeling it was a lie... but Ian told me."

Kenji groans, clapping his hands together. "Of course that asshole lied to you. He just wants you against Warner as much as the rest of them want you against him."

I can see that Aaron is hurt. I stand up slowly from the bead and my hands find their way to Aaron's chest. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," I whisper.

Kenji stares at us. "Believe it or not, I'm still not a huge fan of you, Warner. So I'm going to go back to bed."

He leaves us alone, just like I wanted. I should have known all along that Ian was lying. I mean, I had a feeling but I had to be sure that I was safe.

"Lia... I would never do that." His thumbs brush against my cheeks. "Not to you. Not ever."

"I know. I should have known better."

"What can I do to make you trust me?"

"I trust you... I was just tricked."

Aaron caresses my hair. "You don't. Just let me show you that I love you."

I feel his hands massage my shoulders, gently moving my body towards the wall. He kisses my forehead and then moves to my lips. Caught by surprise, I kiss him back and melt into his taste.

Aaron is so incredibly beautiful that it is often hard to believe that he's real. An angel.

He kisses my cheek and then my neck, and then my stomach. He's everywhere.

And with every touch he is so gentle like I'm a feather. His skin is so soft and his voice is so deeply sweet.

Am I a fool for believing that his love was false? I can feel his passion. Aaron clearly had no intention of bringing me to Anderson tonight.

"Aaron?" I whisper.

"Yes, love?"

"Why were you ever with them? With the Reestablishment? You're not evil, but they all think you are."

"Lia, I am evil. A monster. Just not with you."

I hold his face in my hands and I can see the pain in his eyes. "Don't say that. You're not a monster."

"I am. I'd be a monster for you too. I'd kill anyone to protect you or even if you asked me to."

"That's because you love me. Not because you're a monster."

Aaron grins, his eyes sparkling as he looks at me. "I do love you with every part of me."

I smile, thinking back to when Aaron and I first realized our feelings for each other. "You know, you were right when you said you'd be my best friend in the entire world."

Aaron's holding me as we shift onto the bed. "And my friendship has many more benefits than Kenji's," he whispers, kissing my lips.

I laugh softly, feeling such pure joy as our skin makes contact. When I first met him, I never thought he would turn out to be like this.

"I'm never going to leave you again, Aaron."

He takes my hands in his. "I won't let you, my love."