Stay With Me. [[Sequel to The Last Year (Once-ler x OC)]]

Denying the Truth.

I waited quietly outside of Aaron's building.  It would only be a few minutes until he got here.  I paced around anxiously.   What was I going to say to him?  What would he say to me?  The only thing I knew is that I didn't want to be near Aaron when this happened.  My phone buzzed with a text from Aaron.

Hey, everything okay?

Yeah, Once wants to talk so I will wait out here for him.

Want me to come down?

No.   I didn't want to interrupt your party.

I really don't mind.

It's okay I don't think this will take too long.  But if I'm gone for more than an hour call a search party.

That's not funny.   Remember that time you disappeared for three days or so…?

Yeah.  It's okay it's just Once.  He says he has something to show me.  I promise it will be alright.  Stop worrying and enjoy your party.

Alright.  Be safe.

I tucked the phone into my pocket and leaned against the cool brick building.  My eyes scanned the area for Once-ler.  It would most likely be a little longer until he got here.   I sighed deeply.  More than anything I wanted to believe this wasn't real.   That Once-ler wouldn't do something like that.   But he had spent so little time with me it felt like he might have.  Footsteps echoed down the alley next to the building.   My skin began to crawl.  It was late and not many people were out.  I peered around the corner.  No one was there.  I turned back staring at the quiet town in front of me.   The street lamps flickered on and off in an automated fashion.  It was late.   

I had been here before the party got started.   I sat on Aaron's couch sobbing about what I had just seen.  After a few promises to beat up Once-ler for hurting me, in which he was trying to make me feel better, I decided to push this aside.  We had started setting up for the party.  Tear drops checkered his apartment as I walked around silently crying.

“Alright.   That's enough!  I have a party starting come on,” he nudged me.

“I know.  I am sorry.”

He was only trying to get me to smile.  But it backfired.   I started to wipe the tears with my sleeve.  But more fell in their place.  I cried harder as I collapsed by the table with my head buried into my arms.

“Fleur..?”

“I am trying to clean them.  I'm s-s,” the momentary pause before the grand finale, “soorriiee-heee-heee.”

My voice choked on the end of the word adding syllables that didn't quite belong.  Aaron sat down next to me and pulled my body into him.  God his cologne smells good.  He stroked my hair as he sat silently allowing me to cry until there was only whimpers left.

“I really will kick his ass if you want,” he reiterated.

“I know.   But it's fine.  I… I'm okay,” I sighed while wiping my eyes.

“You're not. Stop that.  I may not,  unfortunately,  be your boyfriend,  but I care.  And I know you're hurting.  Do you want me to cancel the party I could grab us some ice cream.  You can pick the movie.  Hit me with your best rom com choice.”

He was dead serious. Through the remaining tears I started to laugh.  I just imagined him horking down ice cream while we watched a bad movie.  He smiled and wiped the trail of tears from my eyes.