Something Beautiful (An Aaron Carpenter Fanfiction)

Chapter 4

**Cali's POV**

As much as I was angry with Aaron, I didn't tell my mom, and he didn't tell his. I am many things, but a tattler isn't one of them. Therefore, we were still set to go to California today. I packed all my stuff before school, because our flight left right after school. Aaron and his mom were picking me up right after we got home.

School was long and boring, nothing really to tell. Except for the fact that Aaron didn't sit with us at lunch, and I tried to avoid him all day. I didn't even sit with him on the bus. I felt kind of bad, but he hasn't apologized yet. He really hurt my feelings, and Hayley was still angry. So were Gavin and Maia, after they found out.

When I got home, my mom helped me get my bags down the stairs.

"What's wrong hon? I would've thought that you'd be more excited. You've always wanted to go to California!" She said.

"I know, mom. I'm just tired."

"Okay." Just then, the Carpenter's pulled up. "There they are!" She gave me a hug. "Have a good time! I'll tell dad you said bye when he gets home from work!"

"Okay mom. Bye. Love you!" I told her. I put my bags in the car and we were off.

**Aaron's POV**

I don't even know what was going through my head last night. I've only kissed a couple girls before, and I had never had a steady girlfriend, so I wasn't sure what got into me last night. It wasn't like me at all. And now my best friend was angry with me, along with my other friends. I spent the entire plane ride to LA thinking of a way to apologize, but I just didn't know if I could do it.

Things were already super awkward between us. When she came over the other day, it had been...weird. That's the only word to describe it. Even if I worked up the nerve to talk to her about it, I'm not sure anything would change.

We hopped off the plane that night and dragged our bags outside and got a taxi. By now my mom was beyond confused, seeing as Cali and I hadn't talked much the entire trip. On the way to the hotel, Cali rolled down the window and stuck her head out. She smiled as her hair whipped around in the warm California air. She seemed fascinated by the city lights.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" She asked me. I was a little shocked, this being the first time she'd really said anything to me in a while.

"Yeah. It's a great sight." I knew this was probably a dream come true for her. She wanted to live here one day. She's been trying to get her parents to bring here here since she was 6.

We got to the hotel, and my mom had 2 rooms. One for Cali and I, one for her. In our room there were two twin beds. There was also a huge window that took up an entire wall and gave a great view of the city.

"I take it you want the bed by the window?" I asked.

"If you don't mind."

"Not at all. The other guys are down the hall, probably asleep. It's late. I'll introduce you to them tomorrow." I told her.

"Okay. Anything else?" She asked. There was my chance. She was giving me a wide open chance to apologize. I sat down on my bed, and she sat down across from me.

"Cal, I am so sorry. You know that's not like me at all. I'm not the type that makes out with random girls for fun. That's not my style, and you know that better than anyone. Just today alone has been torture with you and Gavin and Hayley and Maia ignoring me. I don't expect you to forgive me at all, but I want you to know I'm am so sorry. I can't live with the fact that I hurt you. It was a special night for you, and I ruined it. I don't even like Zoe and I feel horrible and-" I stopped, out of breath.

"I forgive you. I hate being mad at you...and I know last night was a mistake." She stood up and hugged me. Then she looked me in the eyes again, and here we were, in the same place as the other day. I didn't want it to be weird anymore.

A million things were running through my head right now. I thought of Cali leaning her head out the window earlier, and her laughing during chicken fights last night. Then I looked at her in front of me now. I saw something beautiful in her that I'd never noticed before. Why was I still standing here? Why wasn't I moving away? Why wasn't she? Something in my head screamed to close the space between us. So I did.

I leaned down and kissed her. I had to smile when she kissed me back. She threw her arms around my neck and ran her fingers through my hair. All I could do was wrap my arms around her waist. I lost control of my entire body. I kissed her harder and deeper. She continued to tug my hair and I moaned. I could feel her smile.

My only thought was, 'why hasn't this happened sooner?'. Did she feel the same way? Did this mean anything? It had happened really fast. I was almost upset when she pulled away.

"Aaron we can't..." She started. I shook my head, dismissing all my previous thoughts. She was right. I knew from my experience last night that sometimes things happen. This was a mistake, and we both knew it.

"Cal, I'm sorry. I started it. I just don't want this to be weird. Can we just forget it and go back to normal?" I asked.

"Yeah. Sure. Back to normal." She said, and we both laid down our beds, ready to sleep after a long day.