I'd like to clarify that this has been edited and parts have been cut out from the previous version. I felt like I couldn't carry on with the way I had ended it but I also gave away a major spoiler so I'm working on changing it now.
- M.C.
Chapter Seventeen - Cat
Her hands fumbled against the phone as Thinking Out Loud played across the room. She knew it was him, for it was his set ringtone, yet she wasn't sure if she even wanted to speak to him. How could he accuse her like that?
Regardless, she still picked up.
"Aaron?" She whispered, mentally cursing herself for giving in so easily. There was no specific reason for it - she was so used to accepting his calls that the voice in her head told her that maybe he wanted to apologise.
"Can I come up?" He asked, causing Cat to let out a breath she hadn't known shed been holding. She should have known he just wanted to talk, not to apologise. Why she would even agree to letting him come up to her room astonished her, especially after their argument.
Regardless, she still allowed him.
As she attempted to open the balcony doors, Cat knew that the minute he apologised - if he apologised - he would forgive him. Somehow, she was able to ignore a grudge, putting it past her and building a new relationship, and it annoyed her. Even if their argument was minor, it hurt and there was still a part of her which wanted to keep Aaron far from her.
Cat heard the mumbled grunts, the curses that whispered from his lips as he climbed up. Slowly, she became more aware of his presence, feeling the air change direction and as a result, become slightly warmer. It seemed to be hotter than usual, making Cat wonder if he was really just as angry and confused as she was. After all, anger and confusion caused a warmer environment, right?
He was close now. Cat could feel his breath tickling her face, even though he was probably more than a few footsteps away from her.
All it took was one word before she could feel was anger taking over her body, her heart pumping faster. How could he expect things to be normal after what happened? Her fists clenched by her side, struggling to deal with the new emotion. She turned away from him, praying she wouldn't need to talk. She refused to speak to him without an apology.
"Cat, I -" His words seemed faltered, failing him as Cat turned her back on him. She wasn't even sure what she was feeling. It was like being in the air - sometimes floating, then falling. "Can we talk?"
His accusation had stung her hard. She hadn't even seen it coming - their relationship had been perfect so far, with the miniature dates and endless hand-holding - an argument surprised her, which was why she had burst out like that. What she had said were complete and utter lies. Aaron had been perfect to her, until his outburst. However, she wouldn't admit it, for he had begun the argument.
"Cat, please -" He begged when she didn't reply. Slowly, she made out the sobs falling from his lips and in that moment, she swore her heart cried with him. "I didn't mean anything I said. I shouldn't have accused you - I'm so, so, stupid."
Aaron rambled on, crouching upon reaching her bedside. Even his hands were shaking, grabbing onto Cat's like his life depended on it. It had only been a few hours and he was already in such a bad shape.
"I know," she whispered, stroking the top of his hand with the one she had free, "I'm sorry too."
There was so much that she had to say: a part of her wanted to tell him everything she loved about him but there was a part that wanted to enjoy the silence. As his hand left hers, she panicked a little, then hearing the sound of the bed squish beneath, as well as feeling his body press against her side, Cat knew he was closer.
