Then Came You (Wattys2015)

Chapter 10

PAST (Junior Year)

The beginning of the junior year had been fantastic for me. My sophomore year's grades had been brilliant and people had started befriending me. For the first time in my life I had experienced so much popularity. My teachers loved my paintings and most of them were published in the school magazine. I felt so good. Everything was just as I wanted it to be. Aaron had opened up more and now we were able to share any and every stupid thing with each other. Niall had suggested me to start writing a diary. So I decided to make a diary on 11th August 2015. What could have been a better day than this? We had completed two years of being together. It is truly said that when you're happy, time flies away. 

Our relationship was not kept a secret anymore, but it was not overt too. Neither did I want it to be. I was never an extrovert even though I had started interacting a lot with others nowadays and had become socially confident. I totally disliked the idea of posting status updates or advertising one's relationship on social networking sites and making one's love life a public gallery. The few people who knew about us teased me quite often. And lately, I had started enjoying it. 

Aaron had recently befriended a sophomore girl named Sarah and often hung out with her. I had interacted with her a few times and apparently Maddy felt that she was a dimwit. Obviously I did not like Aaron hanging out with an idiot but I couldn't stop him. I did not want him to feel imprisoned like he felt at home. I wanted him to be free around me. Free from all worries, free from all tensions. If I started bugging him, he would feel suffocated. Therefore, I never reacted much. Rumors that the two were dating had been spread everywhere. Although I trusted Aaron, sometimes these rumors affected me badly. That is why yesterday, I shared all my insecurities and fears with him. I felt that it was the wrong day to do so for it was his birthday. Though I hated him for always forgetting my birthdays, I wanted to make the day special for him. I succeeded in doing so but later I had an emotional outburst. Aaron assured me in every possible way and then the matter was solved. At least I thought so.

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As soon as I entered the class, my eyes began searching for Aaron. But he was nowhere to be seen. I had not been able to spend much time with him due to the painting workshops I had to attend so I wanted to . All of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder. Instantly I felt butterflies in my gut. I turned around only to realize that it was Niall. 

"Hello my apple pie! Finally got some time for me?" Niall stuck out his tongue playfully.

"Apple pie? So girly! You have gone mad, isn't it?" I said as Niall nodded his head. "By the way, have you seen Aaron?" I asked praying silently that he might know where Aaron was. 

"Your dear husband is fooling around with a kiddo in the canteen." He said jokingly. 

"Please don't tell me he is with Sarah. Please." I frowned.

"Chill Lia. Why are you being so upset? We all know how Aaron is. He can never hurt you. Dude I have a man crush on him!" He said as he laughed.

"You are right. And I really need to inform him about the 'man crush' thing you know." I slapped his hand playfully.

"Get Lost. Just. Get. Lost." said Niall. 

"Oh my grumpy besty is about to cry now. So sad." I started tickling him.

"Hey no! Stop! Stop stop stop!!" He managed to utter between his laughter. "You know what Lia, you are better off with Aaron. So PLEASE leave me and eat his brain." 

"Bye bye."

I left the classroom and started heading towards the canteen. The fact that he was hanging out with that dimwit was pricking my heart. I wanted to reach the spot as soon as possible. I felt that something wrong was going to happen. It was my gut feeling. On my way, I noticed Jessica, Sarah's best friend, walking towards her class. A brilliant idea struck my mind. Jessica also attended the art workshops along with me and she respected me a lot. I decided to take the advantage of this.

"Hello Jessica! Remember me?" I said flashing a bright smile.

"Of course sis! How can I forget you? Your paintings are just fabulous. I love them all." She seemed quite excited.

"Thank you so much dear. Means a lot to me." I smiled.

"My pleasure! So do you have something to tell me?" She asked curiously.

"Not actually. I just need a favour from you. Can you tell me something? About Sarah?" I asked her directly without beating around the bush.

"I am afraid I may not be able to help you." She said.

"That means something is wrong. Jessica please just tell me. Whatever it is." My voice became choked.

"Sister please try to understand. She is my best friend. And Aaron-

"AARON what? Jessica you are gonna tell me everything. Firstly because I am elder than you. And secondly because even you are a girl. What if something similar happens to you? What would you do? Would you encourage the wrong? So tell me. Whatever you know." I managed to control my tears from flowing out.

"Okay. See basically it is nothing very serious. Sarah has a boyfriend who lives in Miami. And she is madly in love with him. And Aaron loves you very much. It is nothing so-

"Are they having a fling?" I asked in a neutral tone.

"No no! He hasn't even touched her. You are getting it wrong-

"Are they involved with each other in any way?" 

"Hmm. She had proposed him. Aaron had declined her thrice you know!" She said as if that was going to provide me some comfort.

"But finally he gave in. He did, right?" I asked with a blank expression on my face.

"I am sorry. But she likes Aaron very much and she didn't you both are so serious about each other."

Before she could utter another word, I immediately turned around to leave the spot. I noticed Maddy standing right behind me. Maybe she had heard everything. I heard her call my name continuously but I didn't respond. I just kept running and running till I reached the school ground. Tears had started flowing from my eyes. Niagara falls huh? I should never have believed him!  How could he do this to me? WHY did he do this? That also when everything was going alright! God please help me...

I heard Aaron screaming my name from somewhere. I really didn't have the strength to face him. I did not want him to see me broken. So I started walking in the opposite direction.

"Lia! Lia please listen to me. Let me clarify." Aaron screamed while running behind me.

"Everything is clear. Just get out of my life you cheat! Rot in hell!" I yelled as I walked faster without looking at him.

"I didn't cheat you Adelia! At least listen to me! Believe me I love you." He pleaded as he gripped my hand from behind.

"Done with your shit? Now let me go!" I managed to get rid of his grip and ran away as fast as I could. I felt as though someone had cut me over and over again. I ran until I couldn't feel anything. Until my legs felt numb. Until I felt.....numb....