Another City Of Lights.

Chapter 38.

December, Karachi.

Aaron's POV:-

I swung my leg over the green painted wooden chair, and took a seat next to Dash. I was overworked, overwhelmed, and definitely far beyond tired for this right now. We had had a pretty intense week, juggling last minute assignments and preparing for the semester finals that were upon us. End of the year always was the worst time in more ways than one. And even more so for me, because although I could handle all things school related, I didn't like all of this extra pressure.

Dash looked far worse than me, and I had to stifle my laughter when I saw him. He had three of his books spread out in front of him, a pack of cigarettes; which I'm sure were mine; and a cup of tea next to it. His eyes were bloodshot, and I knew he had been staying up all night just like I was. Although our reasons might have been different.

We didn't have any classes this week, and I had been at home trying to get some shuteye, when he had texted me, saying he needed help studying. And that Hailey wanted to talk.

I didn't mind meeting up with him, we mostly always ended up studying together anyway, but I had no intention to put up with Hailey's bullshit. Recently she had been hyperactive, and annoyingly happy, and genuinely pissed at me. She had tried to convince me multiple times to answer Sam, to think about it, to "at least try to sound happy", but none of those things I could do.

I was very well aware that Sam was coming back, and that time was running out, and that if I didn't want to see her, I needed to act now. But I was trying to focus my energy elsewhere and not on her. Because I really didn't know how or what to think, or what to do, or how to act. Especially after knowing that she was bringing back that boyfriend of hers.

That thought still made me cringe. When Dash had initially told me about him, about who he was, I had literally lost my mind. I couldn't believe that back during my time in New York, I had actually found that bastard's house and left thinking that this couldn't be where Sam lived. Because I hadn't even considered the possibility that Sam was the girlfriend that girl had been talking about. I had been so close, so damn close to finding her, and I had come back empty handed and disappointed. That was mainly because Sam hadn't contacted me back at that time, and even when she did, she never let this secret of hers slip by.

I liked to think that I had made my peace with that bit of news now. That it didn't effect me anymore, and definitely didn't concern me at all. Because she must be real serious about him if she's coming back here with him. I can't even imagine what her parents will think, or say. Maybe she's doing this so that they do throw her out, that does sound reasonable, and just like her.

I had made my peace with it, but I still didn't know if I was ready to see her again. Especially after avoiding her for three straight months.

Hailey came in barging through the already falling apart doors of the cafe when we were halfway through with our work, and on our fourth cup of tea. She was a whirlwind, and Dash looked like he was finally awake now. She threw her bag on the table, sat down across from us, and frowned when she saw me.

"You both look like shit. And why do you always pick this place? I hate it", She blurted out, scrutinizing us with her glare.

I was getting ready to zone her out as soon as she started babbling, but she threw one of Dash's books at me that flew past my head and landed on the ground. Not surprising, she had really bad aim.

"You listen to me, Aaron", She pointed a finger in my face, "You are going to behave and let me speak to you today".

I resisted the urge to say something back to her, and not smack Dash on the head for laughing at me. But I didn't want to mess up things with them again, and even though I hated Hailey at this very minute, I honestly couldn't really hate her all my life. So I just nodded, and motioned for her to continue.

"So, since Sam is coming back at New Years, and we won't be able to see her until she's done with her parents issue, so I was thinking we could throw her a party!", She exclaimed, overly excited, and apparently over planned.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Dash busying himself with his drink. Coward.

"We're uh, busy during New Year's thing", I manage to cough out, and Dash kicked my leg under the table.

"Unbusy yourself", Hailey narrowed her eyes at me, "I'm doing this with or without you. But I will make sure you're there, Aaron".

"He won't miss it, trust me", Dash said, smirking all the way.

I wanted to call him a traitor for always siding with her. But I knew he was right. I won't let her go back without seeing her again. I couldn't.

"What about the boyfriend?", I look at them while I say this. Surely they must feel uncomfortable too.

"We'll deal with it, and you will too", Hailey says, smiling reassuringly as if she knows how it will play out.

I don't disappoint them by refusing, but I'm not sure how this is going to end. I know they're right. That I should behave, and be civilized. It's just one damn night. I can do one night. I can behave, and pretend that I'm not disgusted at all by thinking of Sam and that guy. But it's just one night that I get to see her after all this time. After waiting for so long, one night is all I get. And I don't even get that, because she has a boyfriend, and she will be there with him. And I cannot do anything about that.

I don't have a choice about that, because she made her choice long before I did. And now all I have to do is wait for the next ten days to fly past quickly, or tortuously slowly, until I get to see her again.