Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

53) Promises and Truths

Jacket. I was definitely taking a jacket this time. I do not need a repeat of the last bonfire. Don't get me wrong. The love confession was the best thing that's ever happened to me. I just didn't enjoy the stupid questions.

Nothing else can go wrong tonight. Everything has to work out this time. If it doesn't, I am never attending anything like this again.

“I’ll stay with you the entire night,”Aris insisted.

“It's fine. I’ll be okay if I’m on my own for a little bit,”I assured him.

“I want to though. Promise.”

“Alright. If ya’ say so,”I sighed, looking at it from a distance. The fire was already blazing, burning in the night sky. Friends were gathered together, either sitting down or standing, chatting amongst themselves and inviting someone else into the conversation every now and then.

This is simple. It will be simple. Not like last time.

Still, just in case, I took his hand as we walked over to it. It’s almost embarrassing that things like this psych me out, but there's not much I can do about it at this point.

Not daring to look at anyone, I pulled my hand out of his as I sat down, sort of regretting this. I did my best not to let it show as I at least didn't slouch.

He sat beside me, finding my hand again. Locking our fingers together, he looked at the fire, something I reluctantly did as well.

The flames danced in the moonlight, speckles of orange illuminating everything, giving an almost yellow tint to things. It was pretty though, crackling and popping confidently but not harshly.

Looking around, I spotted sort of familiar faces that I had never spoken to. A boy whose face I had bandaged, a girl who I always passed in the gardens, someone I always spotted early in the morning.

As my eyes scanned the area, they landed on Sonya and Harriet, their hands linked together as Sonya let her head rest on Harriet's shoulder.

“I was supposed to talk to Sonya earlier,”He seemed to remember.

“Then, you should go talk to her,”I shrugged.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I’ll be right here,”I promised.

“Okay. I’ll just be gone for a second,”He assured me, quickly kissing my cheek before walking over.

Alright. Just me for now. It won't be for long though. He did promise, and I highly doubt he’d break it. Or at the very least, not tell me if he was going to.

× ~ × ~ × ~ ×

It got dark eventually. Really, really dark. It didn't help that basically everyone was some type of drunk, whether it was black out or tipsy.

And I was still sitting there, now staring at my half empty water, by myself.

He could have had the decency to invite me if he would be gone this long. Or came back and told me. Anything but this.

This is humiliating. Yet another bonfire was a fucking disappointment. Of course. Why would I expect anything else?

Throwing my cup on the ground, I stormed off, hating this stupid tradition more and more. I think they just get worse actually. Questions from a rude stranger? Fine. I have no connection to them. Being lied to and forgotten by my lover? Why not just punch me in the face and stab me in the back?

I despise everything about this.

As I made my way out of the crowd, I saw yet another familiar face. One that I wasn't exactly the greatest towards.

She was sitting on the ground, empty cups around her. Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared at nothing. Her long blonde hair hung in front of her face. She reminded me of a kicked puppy. Sad, scared, and vulnerable.

“Abby?”I asked quietly.

“Y/N,”She said in a slurred voice, followed by a hiccup.

“Come on. Let's go,”I sighed, kneeling beside her. She didn't object as I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her to her feet. She stumbled before leaning on me, the scent of moonshine all over her.

“You don't like me,”She mumbled, almost tripping as I decided to just take her to my place, seeing as I have no idea where hers is.

“That's not true,”I promised.

“Yes. Aris said you're complicated, but no. You just don't like me. Don't even talk to me.”

“That has nothing to do with you,”I assured her.

“Has to,”She insisted.

“Abby, you probably won't remember this, but I’ll tell you anyway. I am fucked in the head. My trauma turned me violent and jumpy. It also made me afraid of violence. I’m not trusting or nice. I’m a screw up in every way possible.”

“No. I like you. Wish you liked me.”

“You're kind, Abby. You're kind despite everything you went through. I do like you. I don't like how much I wish I was like you,”I confessed.

“Wish I was like you. Strong.”

“Thanks,”I mumbled, still carefully tugging her along. Finding my place, I led her inside. She didn't question the new destination. Or maybe she just didn't notice.

“Right here,”I said softly, gently laying her in the bed on her side. Finding the covers, I pulled them over her, tucking her in. She stared at me as I brushed her hair out of her face, keeping it over her shoulders.

“Thank you,”She whispered.

“Anytime, Abby.”

I mean it.

As she closed her eyes, I grabbed the two sleeping bags from under the bed. Without hesitation, I dragged one to the other side of the room, setting it down before going back to mine.

Unzipping it, I crawled inside, staring at the roof as I thought about this entire mess of a night.

× ~ × ~ × ~ ×

It was at least an hour later before a frantic Aris finally blessed me with his presence. How kind of him.

“Poet, I-”
“Be quiet. Abby’s asleep,”I snapped, turning my back to him.

“I’m sorry. I lost track of time,”He tried to excuse.

“Go to bed. Your sleeping bag is over there. Far away from me.”

“Y/N-”
“Go to sleep. You're probably tired from all your socializing.”

“Poet-”
“Don't touch me,”I snapped, slapping his hand off my shoulder. As I faced him against my will, I saw the hurt in his eyes, his lips downturned in a sad frown.

“Your bag is over there. Go,”I demanded in a cold voice.

He clearly wanted to say more but thankfully just shut his damn mouth and went where he was supposed to. Turning back on my side, I glared at the stack of books under my bed, so many from him, and just tried to ignore his existence. Exactly the way he ignored mine.