Bad Boys Aren't Romantic

29: His Leather Jacket and Messy Hair

I can't help but think about him. Aaron that is. My heart aches as I remember last night when I ran away after he kissed me. He must be more hurt than me; he probably thinks I hate him. But at this moment, I hate myself more. Mostly because I am a coward, in fact the biggest coward of all cowards.

All day long I can't help but look at my phone, somehow hoping he would message me. But I know he won't do that, and I am so unsure as to why I would even expect that, especially after last night. I also don't fail to notice that Sage hasn't been out of his room all day. My dad sends me a questioning look as we eat brunch but I merely shrug, unsure of what happened with him either. After I am done eating I wash the dishes and then make my way to Sages room. I knock on the door once, then twice, and when no answer comes I turn the doorknob until I realize he locked it.

"Sage," I say, loud and clear, "are you okay?"

When no answer comes I repeat his name, this time louder than before.

"Go away," he finally yells back.

"Are you-"

"Go away Lux," he shouts and I am startled by the anger in his voice. I let out a sigh and go back to my room. For the rest of the day I continue looking at my phone and I try my best to distract myself by turning on the TV or playing games on my computer, but nothing stops me from staring at it every five minutes. Around eight, I had enough, the guilt and gut wrenching feeling in my stomach causes me to grab my phone and without thinking I call Aaron.

Not even seconds pass before the call goes into voicemail and my heart drops. I call again, hoping maybe he'll answer this time, but again the call goes to voicemail. After the third call I give up, getting the point. He doesn't want to answer.

And I know I shouldn't, I know that this pain in my heart is because of me, but even so I can't help but let the tears roll down my face. And just like that, I regret it. I regret being afraid, but I realize it is much too late for regrets.

Days pass and by the morning of the eighth of January I find myself in front of the school building. Winter break is now over and the second semester of the school year begins along with the dread I've been feeling the moment I realized that I'd probably bump into Aaron.

I make my way to the cafeteria in slow steps, cautiously trying to avoid Aaron but luckily when I reach Nat at the tables, I don't see him.

"Hey," they say and I greet them back.

"Where's Sage?" Nat asks.

"Sick," I respond, "Or so he says. Ever since the party he's been in such a bad mood and just the other day he got a really bad cough and fever."

"Oh," replies Nat, "Have you talked to Maru?"

Truth to be told I have not talked to her since the incident with Bianca. Despite her drunken state what she did was wrong but of course knowing her she would think otherwise.