His Girl #Wattys2016

22. New beginnings.

I pulled away my hand from his grip and looked at him incredulously. "Are you out of your freaking mind?" I shouted.

Aaron looked like he was hit. Sensing the heat rise between us, both Adrian and Drake excused themselves and abandoned us. Once they were out of hearing distance, I continued.

"What do you mean by your, 'give me a chance' shit? Don't you know?" I demanded.

"I'm so sorry. Do you like someone-"

"Jeez, Aaron! For someone so attractive, you're seriously too dumb!" I snapped. "Of course I want to give you a chance. I'll give you all the chances in the entire fucking world, Aaron! I've been waiting for you to like me, hell, to at least notice me, all my life. And here you are, telling me that you like me and you finish it with a request to consider you? Come on!"

"Wow." He shook his head at me, like I was unbelievable. "Sarah, I don't... I mean, I thought, you being an independent girl and all, would appreciate my straightforwardness but goodness, you scared the hell out of me!"

"Aaron, I'm sorry. You do understand that this is like a dream moment for me, right? I've been daydreaming about it since I've known you, and convincing myself that it'll never happen. And here is this moment, as if right out of one of my dreams. Gosh, it's surreal!"

A tiny laugh escaped from his mouth as he leaned over, as if to kiss me. Only, he didn't.

"It's not just you, Sarah. I've been waiting for you for so long, too. Even before I met you. Does that sound weird? I think it does. Eek!"

I laughed. Like a maniac. "Eek? You say, 'eek?' Gosh, you're so cute!"

"Right, so, um, you still haven't answered my question." His eyes fell back onto mine, and he held my gaze.

I leaned in closer, and without chickening out, kissed him on his lips. "I like you, too, Aaron Nate Mason. I like you as much as the stars like the sun. As much as the earth likes the moon. As much as... Sarah likes Aaron," I grinned.

The shock on his face was hard to ignore, and I knew he was still thinking about the kiss. I reached out to touch his face, feel his skin against mine and make sure we're both real. But a knock on my window broke me out of my trance and with my hand hanging in mid air, I turned to see a smirking Adrian.

He was speaking something, but all I could hear was his muffled voice. I rolled down the window and narrowed my eyes at him, demanding a valid response.

"Congratulations!" He squealed like an excited five year old. "I can't believe you both scaredy-cats confessed to each other. I'm so excited!"

"Adrian," I said drily. "You just ruined a good moment, so run away before I can lay my hands on you."

At that, Aaron laughed. A roaring laughter, clenching his stomach. I got out of the car, and excused myself to find Drake.

"Drake, didn't you have an appointment for your hair today?" I asked, as soon as I reached his side.

"What are you, his personal assistant?" Adrian joked.

"It's a Wednesday," I said. "He gets his hair treated professionally every Wednesday."

"Dude! Really?" Adrian shrieked like a little girl. "That's so... girly!"

"Adrian!" Aaron said, in a chiding tone.

"But now that you've said it, I notice how good his hair is. It goes so well with your brown eyes," Adrian said, admiringly. "And now is the right time for you to remind me to shut up."

I put my arm around Drake and grinned. "The most handsome guy I've ever laid my eyes on. Aren't you, Drakey-boy?"

That earned me a glare, a snicker and a hurt look. I'll let you do the math.

"But it's only half past twelve. We would still be in school..." Adrian thought aloud.

"He skips lunch hour to get his special hair treatment. Drake never disappoints his fans," I said, smugly.

"Drake, come on over, lad. Let's get you acquainted with these people," someone shouted from behind me.

I turned and I felt my eyeballs crawl out of my sockets. In front of me, stood Henry Stoll. And he was talking to Drake as if they were elementary school buddies! I looked at Drake, expecting to see even a trace of bewilderment that was in mine but found none. He walked up to Henry and they vanished behind the greenroom with Henry's hand on Drake's shoulder.

"I didn't know Drake had friends other than me," I said, almost begrudgingly.

"He's very friendly. Everyone loves him. My dad was like-"

"He's met your dad?" I close my mouth, trying too hard not to shout out my lungs.

"Yeah, yesterday. For two people who're that close, you both sure keep things from each other," Aaron teased.

It's him, I wanted to say. He's the one who doesn't open up. Jerk. But I simply shrugged.

"So, come on over. I'll introduce you to my friends. Um, band mates."

Aaron took a step ahead and held out his hand for me to take. For a moment, I forgot that he had confessed about his feelings to me a few minutes ago. I felt faint.

"Sarah? You went pale." He sounded so worried, I wanted to cry.

"Uh, I forgot that I could take your hand. I mean, it's so overwhelming. I can't believe it, you... and me. Good God!"

I couldn't stop rambling. And now I had an audience. People - technicians, other band members - were all looking over at us. At me. I willed myself to shut up and put on a smile. I took his hand lightly, and walked a step to reach him.

"Sarah?" Aaron whispered. "Stop smiling so much. It's scary."

I nudged him playfully and we walked together, hand in hand, until we reached the stage, the mock stage. It already looked so beautiful, it left me wondering what the next day's set up would look like. I couldn't wait already.

"It's beautiful," I said, taking it all in at once. "I can't wait to see you play tomorrow!"