Summer Romance

Chapter 19

I was fighting against it, I held my breath and tried not to blink, I would not let a single tear build in my eyes.

Aaron looked at me with sad puppy eyes, the dark circles around his eyes were the first thing that caught my attention. He really didn't look like he got a lot of sleep those last few days and I also got the feeling he didn't mind crying. "Scar, I-"

"We gotta talk.", I interrupted him, I knew I couldn't fight the tears any longer when I heard the sorrow in his voice.

He obviously didn't expect my reaction, but he eventually nodded. "Do you wanna go for a walk?"

I nodded in agreement as we started strolling.

"So...", I started after a few minutes of silence. "A summer romance?"

Aaron sighed loudly. "Yes, a summer romance.", he said making the words sound like an insult. "George thought I'd need a distraction from work. And because he kept bothering me, I finally caved in, and he booked this trip. It's stupid."

"Yeah, it really is.", I agreed and looked at him. I saw a weak smile for around his lips. I didn't say anything else, waiting for him to continue.

"Then you came. The first time I saw you enter the bus..." Again, he sighed. "You were so cute, first starring, then smiling. I should've realized you knew who I was right away, but I was too distracted by, well, you."

I cleared my throat, trying not to give in and smile or giggle or blush. The latter I unfortunately couldn't control that easily and my cheeks turned pink. Gladly, Aaron didn't look at me.

"George said that you could be the girl, but I couldn't help but feel like there was more. And when I gave you the pill and saw your cute smile again. I just knew that I couldn't be with you for just a week. I could feel you were special."

I looked at him and he looked at me and we stopped our strolling. Then he hesitatingly took my hands in his.

"Scar, you know how I feel. Even if you don't believe it, you know." Aaron looked down at our hands, then back into my eyes. "And let's be honest, do you really think I would try to fight this hard for a quickie?"

I pulled my hands out of his and looked at him with anger in my eyes.

He shook his head and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, that was stupid. But you get what I meant to say, right?"

"I guess.", I just mumbled.

"Scarlett..." He took my hands again and pulled me closer. I reluctantly stumbled towards him, not looking at him. I could hear a quiet chuckle from him, then he lifted my chin with one hand, so I was forced to look into his eyes.

"I love you, Scarlett Lincoln.", he whispered while staring right into my soul – at least that's what it felt like.

I didn't know how long we were staring at each other like that, seconds, or minutes, and how many people around us must've thought we were crazy.

But eventually I caved. I shifted my weight on my tiptoes, so I got closer to his face and laid my lips gently on his.

And then I just turned on the waterworks. I felt his cheeks slightly brush against mine and felt him crying as well, our tears now mixing. Aaron wrapped his arms tightly around my body as I laid mine around his neck and buried my hands in his hair. None of us wanted to let go but we eventually had to catch our breaths. He wiped the tears off my cheeks first, then off his and smiled at me.

"Hurt me again and I can't promise a bitchslap is all you'll get.", I warned him not an ounce of joke in my voice.

But Aaron couldn't help but smile.

"I promise, never again.", he replied smiling. "I love you, Scarlett."

I smiled slightly and wiped a strand of his hair out of his face. "And I love you, Aaron."