Page 31 of Eight Weeks
If he wants to know whether or not I could picture a life with him, the answer would be yes, because I can. I always have.
There are differences though. Dreams and reality, they don’t always align. Ours don’t.
If he wants to know whether or not we end up together, the answer is no. We won’t because our lives are too different.
We both want different things in life. Whereas he wants to become successful and chase his dream to become a pro hockey player, I want to stay as far away from here as possible. I want to write books and create new worlds to escape my reality because reality sucks. And it sucks that I can’t write myownlife in the way I want it to play out. If I could, I would’ve written myself to be with Aaron a long time ago.
He dreams big, has huge goals, and does everything to get there, and I write it. I write about people just like him. Single-minded people that chase the high and end up reaching their goals after struggling for a little while. When in reality, I am a coward hiding behind my stories.
“Please, let me kiss you. Just once. Just one taste, Sofia. I need to know.”
Instead of answering Aaron, I move my face closer to his until he gets the hint and gently connects his lips with mine.
My heart begins to beat so rapidly, it might as well be jumping right out of my chest. I try to play it cool, act like the soft lips pressed to mine have no effect on me whatsoever, but the flush creeping up on my cheeks is betraying me more than someone getting the last piece of pizza when I’ve been the one it was promised to.
My chest presses flush to his torso, his hands sliding down my body to hold me by my waist, pulling me further into him. Bolts of electricity shooting right through my body, making the hairs on my arms stand from the intensity of butterflies running wild in my stomach.
My arms loop around his neck, needing him to be even closer although that seems to be almost impossible at this point. We’re already standing as close as it gets.
I knew I shouldn’t be kissing him. I knew it would be wrong, but c’mon, you can’t blame me for doing so anyway. Being kissed by Aaron has been on top of my list for years, and I know this is going to be the first and only time this will ever happen. Of course I would jump at the opportunity, no matter how wrong I know this is.
Our tongues mingle, and I can’t help but crave more of him. His kiss is perfection, the best I’ve had in my entire life. I’m not evenjusttrying to convince myself of it. It’s the truth, and I hate it more than anything.
His forehead leans against mine as soon as our lips part, my eyes still closed to stay in my little bubble, far away from reality, even when he lets out a soft sigh.
Aaron brings one hand to my chest, pressing his palm flat over my heart. “Did you feel that, Sofia?” he asks in a soft tone, seemingly still being in the same bubble as me, afraid to step out of it.
I did feel it. All of it.
I felt the sparks, the butterflies, the warmth when he forced himself in my heart all over again. Yet despite feeling all of this, I shake my head for his own good. “I didn’t feel anything. It was a kiss like any other.” Just that it wasn’t.
As the words settle into his head, Aaron’s forehead leaves mine, his hands on my body following suit. The loss is felt instantly. His heat no longer warming me but instead everything is so cold. The air around us less dense than ever before, freezing.
“You’re breaking my heart, Icicle.”
I’m breaking my own heart.
19
Sofia
“if you’re gonna let me down, let me down gently”—Water Under the Bridge by Adele
Aaron has been awfully quietsince the kiss, not that I can blame him for it. Lucky for me, he still helps me with my new room. There’s not much to do, but when I told him I’d have to somehow manage to build up a shelf all by myself, he offered to do it for me.
Since my handiness skill is at about minus ten, I let him.
So while Aaron is in my room, I try to make an effort in getting to know my roommate, if she’d let me. Lily has told me Winter is a bit challenging but she’s nice. I’m just praying she isn’t anything like the arrogant wannabe Ariana Grandes back in the small village I live in.
Though if she is, I at least know how to handle her.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me staying here?” I ask. There is no need for me to introduce myself as Winter knows me already thanks to Lily.
“It’s not like I have a choice anyway. I’d get a new roommate either way,” she says, setting down the glass she’s holding. “So, how do you know Aaron?”
Winter’s awfully blue eyes don’t meet mine, her gaze lingers on my body, searching for flaws, I’d assume. At least that’s what the scowl on her face tells me.
“We used to be friends when we were younger.” Thanks to my best friend I know Winter has no idea that Aaron and Lily are twins, so I won’t let it slip out either. Not sure how anyonecan’tknow they’re related because if one took a look at them, you’d know.
