The Game of Hearts

15. Closer

: Question time! Are you liking my story so far? Is it missing anything? Is it boring/exciting/interesting? What's something you'd like to see throughout the story? :

: ALSO I've posted another part to the story. Like I've added one waaaay before this one. Check out "9: Close" before reading this one if you'd like. The chapter itself is just a bit of relationship development between Rowan and Aria. Have at it and I hope you enjoy! :

The morning light showed on my face as I walked down the steps into the bar area. Rodney and Mike, a red-headed male, sat at the bar. Their conversation ceased when I walked into the room in just a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. Rodney shared a nervous glance with Mike, leaving me concerned.

As I approached, it seemed as though Rodney was trying to find words. "Spit it out," I commanded.

He rushed to explain. "Aria... she visited last night..." my eyes widened, relief washing over me.

She came to see me? Why would she even think about that when she had... well it didn't matter. She wanted to talk to me. "And?"

Rodney cleared his throat. "She went upstairs to confront you."

At first I was puzzled why that would be important. That was until I heard steps making their way down. A blonde beauty - forgot her name - was making her escape. I twisted my body to see her clearly. That relief was quickly replaced by realization. "Shit," was all I muttered.

"I'm just going to go now, it was fun but don't count on me coming back!" She exclaimed as she made her exit through the front, heels in one hand and purse in the other.

"Are you kidding me? So she... saw?"

Rodney replied with a shrug. "I'd assume so. She came back down- crying."

"Oh god, crying?!" Guilt, a feeling I wasn't used to, fed on me. The girl I had come to admire in such a short time saw me with someone else and actually cared about it? It was just... surprising. Our deal made it clear that there were no feelings. Yet there we were... making them. It wasn't like Aria wasn't innocent either. "I've gotta go talk to her," I went to my room, slipped on the rest of my clothes, then left. The streets were busy, the sky dim with winter clouds. The cool air didn't have an effect on my skin which was why I just wore a shirt on my torso.

When I arrived at Aria's loft, I kind of felt nervous and bothered. She was upset, so I needed to go about it calmly. When I knocked on the door, I could hear her walk to it. Then a pause, a long pause as she glanced through the peep hole. "Didn't Rodney tell you? I don't want to see you..." She murmured.

I scoffed and shook my head. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do what I did..." I said softly, looking up into the hole on the door.

"I don't really care anyway... you can do what you'd like. I just don't want to be apart of it anymore..." she said. Then I heard footsteps again, and she was gone. Deep inside her home. My brows furrowed before I knocked again. "Go away!" She yelled through the loft.

"Aria! I said I'm sorry... please just give me a few minutes to explain!" I started feeling hectic and jumpy.

----

He was persistent, I'll give him that. He waited for hours, beckoning me to show my face. "Ugh!" I groaned, becoming sick of his consistency. Walking to the door, my eyes followed the lining on the wood floors. Once I opened the door, my eyes never left the floor. From Rowan's gasp, however, it told me he was surprised.

"Aria, I didn't mean-" I cut him off quickly with a scoff.

"It's not like we were in a relationship. It was a give and take, okay?" I said, my features calm when I finally met his concerned gaze. Something about his expression made me warm. But that feeling soon vanished when I told myself it wasn't worth it. "I understand, you can do whoever-"

"I saw you and Liam," he suddenly blurted, making me feel slightly small. My face went pale, my heart accelerating in speed and clumped in my throat.

"Liam?" I murmured and shook my head. I felt bad for some reason. It wasn't like Liam and I were doing anything unconventional. I was simply comforting him, why couldn't Rowan see that to begin with? Some kind of realization shot me in the head. "You were jealous..." I stated slowly, backing into my home while he followed me inside. "So you wanted to get back at me... or you just needed to let off steam and never planned on telling me..." I put the pieces together. The look on Rowan's face told me I wasn't wrong. "Why didn't you just talk to me?" I demanded.

"Because it was a give and take, Aria. If I told you I was jealous," he began, taking a few steps closer to me. My chest very suddenly felt claustrophobic. "You would've left."

"Well that happened anyway..." I murmured. He kept getting closer, not stopping. The way he looked at me... well I wasn't sure that I liked it. Why did I even care in the first place that he slept with another woman? It was a goddamn deal we set in place, feelings aside. I became frustrated with myself and started stepping back from him. Once I did, he stopped, too. Oh, no. A pain quickly found his face. However, as quickly as it became an expression on his features it dissipated into nothing. Stone replaced the pain, and he was gone. I was left alone. He thought I had rejected him. Was that my intention?

"Fuck!" I cursed out into the oblivion known as my apartment. Liam was kind and sweet, but I didn't know him as well as Rowan despite it only being a month of being around him. I literally met Liam that day and something just drew me to him more than it did Rowan. What was wrong with me?!

After having my tantrum I rushed to the still open door to close it. As I did, suddenly pressure pushed against me on the other side of the door. So I opened it to check if it was Rowan, my heart suddenly beating erratically. No, there was no Rowan. There was no one. A sigh escaped me and I closed the door, the two locks clicking silently as I locked the door.

When I turned around... my heart jumped. A figure stood right behind me, face shaded over by a hoodie on his head. He had lifted his hand and immediately everything became black. I was out.

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