Aris Jones X Reader One Shots

Early Mornings (Part 2)

My night was spent tossing and turning. My mind was racing with restlessness and guilt, and it was making sure I knew why as the moment of his hands on my face replayed over and over. The gentleness he held me with, the softness in his eyes, was stuck to me, haunting me.

I really can't do this right now. It's driving me crazy.

Without a word I got up, slipping my shoes on before sprinting to my front door, where two jackets were hung up.

Despite the entire reason I was going for a walk, I couldn't help but slip his coat over my arms, pulling it close for a moment and breathing in his scent. When I realized I was acting like a lovesick teenager I shook my head as I opened and shut my door, my feet already knowing the path I had to take.

The chances of him being there right now are slim, and I don't know what exactly I’ll do if I see him. Just that I won't even be able to shut my eyes until I do.

Walking by the ocean, I kept his jacket close to me, burying myself in the fabric. Even then, I still shivered at the night air, my breath visible as always during this time of the year. The sand combined with ice crunched beneath my tennis shoes, but I paid it no mind as I kept walking to the place that always made everything better.

I know the path by heart. I could take it with my eyes closed, but for the sake of not falling into freezing cold water, I won't test it. And since my eyes weren't closed, I was able to spot his figure in this distance as he tossed rocks into the ocean, skipping them across the waves.

“Aris.”

My tone was urgent as I approached him despite me having no clue what to say next. ‘Did you mean to almost kiss me this morning? Were we about to kiss? Are we more than friends now? Should we be?’

“Y/N.”

His voice was mostly calm as he turned to look at me, though I could still tell there was a heavy tension in the air. One I had never felt before.

Standing in front of him, I fell completely silent as I stared at him, making out his soft features and even some of the harsher ones. Like the scar on his cheek from his time at WCKD. My heart was racing, practically beating out of my chest.

Finding myself breathless, I slowly reached my hand up, lightly tracing it with my fingers. He took a breath at the action but didn't pull back or push my hand away, somehow giving me the courage to cup his cheek in my hand.

Hesitantly, he placed his hand over mine. My entire body warmed, but I didn't speak, didn't pull away either. Like him, I stayed still, processing the seemingly small action that spoke a thousand words.

Or maybe just three.

“Aris, I'm-”
“Hey, what are you two sticks doing out here?”

As if we were committing crimes, we quickly pulled away, looking at Sonya. I clasped my hands behind my back as I held in a frustrated groan.

“I was returning his jacket,”I came up with, only to regret it. I like wearing it, knowing it belongs to him. Knowing it smells exactly like him. Like a hint of the coffee he always needs, the medicine he works with, and the beach. Or maybe that's just what my mind tells me it smells like since I associate all of those with him.

She gave a shrug before continuing her walk in the grass, most likely clearing her head. As she left I turned to Aris, beginning to slip it off my shoulders.

“You should keep it,”He said simply.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It looks better on you.”

A blush spread across my face. One that seemed to travel to my toes as he reached over, adjusting it over my shoulders. My breath hitched in my throat.

There's always tomorrow morning. I know that, and even though the tension is still practically unbearable the moment appeared to have past. 

Giving him a small nod, I turned around, heading back to bed to pretend to sleep, while he stayed out here, skipping rocks.

Maybe while thinking of me?

Hopefully while thinking of me.