Chasing Summer & Stars

Four

Surprisingly when Nicole woke up this morning she didn't feel like herself. She was still upset, she thought she would have gotten over Aaron and what happened last night but it turns out she was wrong. It still pains her to remember his harsh words in her mind. That doesn't matter thought. Does she want to see him? Yes. Should she want to see him? No. Nicole heads to her bathroom and does the norm then changes into a thin, white, three-quarter length sleeve shirt and medium denim skinny jeans cuffed just above her ankle. She slips on her white converse after applying minimal make up. She keeps getting yelled at by her make up artist for putting too much on before work. She wasn't feeling the whole dress up thing today. She can dress up and she can also dress down. Nicole heads to work after straightening her hair completely because they requested that on set yesterday.
While on set Mitch and Nicole would talk when they got the chance to between scene takes but every time they started a conversation they would remember what happened to themselves last night and would roll their eyes and tell each other to not think about it. Mitch pulls her over at the end of their last scene before break and started talking about how maybe he should tell Riley about who he actually was and stop lying. Nicole agreed with him but she also told him to plan things out and for him to not have his hopes up tonight because Riley might not take it lightly? He said he was going to go clear his head and figure things out and Nicole knew he was probably headed to that darn pond. She grabs some money out of her purse and grabs her phone, putting them in her back pocket.
Before she could have a chance to turn back around she was already three steps into the café. Realization hit Nicole right then. "Shoot." She mutters under her breath turning back around as fast as she could but fails when she makes eye contact with Aaron for a split two seconds. Guilt washes over her but then she remembers what he said and feels like running away and just being upset about it. She scrambles to push open the café door.
Aaron sees Nicole walk in and they make eye contact before she tries to run back out. At this moment he forgets about his job and everything to run up and catch her. "Hey wait!" He says and grabs her elbow lightly. "Wha- what did I do?" He asks, almost in a broken manner.
Nicole feels Aaron gently grab her arm to stop her from leaving and turning her around. Her breath stops and her heart falls as soon as his almost broken words left his mouth. He looks so sorry and honest about it. She can still feel the very vivid little shocks that his hand was making as it connects to her skin, if that even sounds real. Aaron lets go seconds afterwards though. Nicole looks up at him only now realizing how closer they are and she steps back just a small step so she can be facing him completely. She keeps telling herself not to give in and remember everything he said last night. "Aaron. . .I-you- agh." She tries to explain but she can't find any right thing to say to him.
"You don't know me." She says feeling herself wanting to shrivel up and just go home but she can't. Nicole doesn't know what else to say to him and she doesn't know what he'll say next. She wishes she could find the words to make everything okay but what he said hurt. How is she supposed to explain to him why it hurt?
"Then let me know you." Aaron says urgently. Almost as if it's a need. There's just something about her that draws him in and he needs to know her but she seems to be trying so hard to prevent that.
Nicole's heart melts on the spot. At least it feels like it. She can't put these feelings into words at all. Her stomach is in knots and her heart is so weak. She can't contain herself in this moment even if it makes her feel completely stupid for being so angry at him. Still upset about the way he thinks of celebs. . .if he only knew she was one he would probably feel so bad and guilty about what he said. Which technically makes it half her fault. Should she give him another chance to prove to her that he actually does want to get to know her? "Meet me here after your shift is over. Text me when it is." Nicole says after a lot of quick contemplating. She tries not to sound out of breath still from holding in air so long because of what had happened. She turns and starts walking away quickly, looking back once more and meeting eyes with Aaron who was still watching her leave.
After she walks out the door and turns the corner Aaron smiles to himself and does a small victory dance. As she turns around though he comes face to face with Riley quirking her eyebrow with her arms crossed. "Looks like you patched everything up just fine without me." Riley says slightly irritated that there's been no progress with her own situation. She turns around and walks back to the counter as she takes a quick glimpse in the mirror to admire her reflection and outfit choice.
She picked out a grey Andy Black tee that has a greyscale rose on it and paired the short with some worn out denim shorts with holes. She decided on her high top converse with a grey forest theme on them to stick with the rose on her shirt. Accessories wise she put on her swallowtail necklace that Aaron gave her ages ago for her birthday and a brown, leather wrap around bracelet with silver beads and leaves. Her make up is light with some winged eye liner and her hair is in loose waves. She decided to re-dye it last night after having trouble sleeping. Now it has a dark blue to light blue to blonde ombré at the ends. Her black book bag holds all her important items for the day like her cell phone, ear buds, and a book or two.