Darker Days

Chapter 4

Zane sat, playing with his fingers while waiting for Aarti to walk out of her bathroom. He thought to himself ~Gods..what do I say? How do I tell her...what if she hates me now?~ the lock mechanism on the door clicked.

Zane looked up to see Aarti standing in the doorway looking back at him. Slowly she walked toward him. ~Damn she is beautiful- so, so beautiful~ she sat next to him and placed her hand gently on top of his. He blushed for the first time in front of her.

"Hey listen, Aarti... I-I'm sorry. I was jus-" she listened for awhile to hear him out.
"-and I-" his eyes widened. His heart began to race and his mind went hazy. Slowly he felt Artisan's arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to her. He was frozen in time: frozen in her kiss.

She pulled away.
"Heh.. I'm sorry" she moved her hands away from him and into her lap.

~Idiot, you just sat there. You should've kissed her back.~ He contemplated his next move, every minute detail of it.
"Aarti, it's fi-"

"No, it isn't. I shouldn't have a-" she froze as he silenced her apology with a gentle kiss. Thoughts raced through her mind of what would happen next, but she was lost in this moment. She brought her hands back to his neck and kissed him back with passion. Gently, without breaking the wonderous kiss, he leaned forward laying her back on the bed.

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"...yeah I think we should check on he-" Jezreal and James stood in the doorway just as Zane and Artisa jumped away from each other, frightened and startled that they had just been exposed.

"Um..." The boys stood in the frame embarrassed and surprised.
"Sorry...guys.." Said James who tried to snap Jez out of his shock. He slapped him which brought him back.

"Yeah, we'll just be going" muttered Jezreal as he and James rushed out of the room.

The door closed behind them. Zane and Artisa sighed in relief. He began to laugh softly.

"What's so amusing?" Questioned Artisa, very red now that they were alone once again.

"Heh, nothing babe." This made her blush.
"Listen, Aarti-" he cleared his throat and looked lovingly into her light green eyes.
"I really like you. We've been friends for the longest, longer than James and Jez, and I never had the courage to say this..until now" he took her hands. "I ask you this" she blushed.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Artisa forze.

"I-I um..Zane-" she could not find the words to answer him right away.

"Take yo-" at once she silenced him with a deep and loving kiss. She pulled away with a smile.

"I think you have your answer now dear," she whispered slyly. He grinned and pulled her back into the kiss; all else -even the cockblock- was forgotten between the two.

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