ONCE UPON A TIME

Chapter 9

Xander's POV:

I would be lying if I said I didn't find our little stare down wasn't hot and intense.

But then what I said replayed in my head.

I'm such a dickwad.

"Aria, I didn't mean it in a controlling way. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Xander, I can take care of myself. I know you didn't mean that, but I'm still not budging."

"Aria "

"NO!"

"Please"

Aria's POV:

I admit I did feel a slight tug on my heart string at his gentle please but I would not fall for his puppy dog eyes.

"Xander, don't say it like that"

"What, am I tempting you to say yes?" He stepped closer.

"N-no"

"Then, why are you stuttering, Aria?"

"I'm not stuttering and you're not tempting me."

"It seemed you were nervous. Are you lying to me, kitten?"

I felt repulsed anytime I saw the couples at school, acting all lovey-dovey and the sickening nicknames always pushed me over the edge, but with Xander, it didn't, but instead, my body temperature increased like I was standing too close to the fireplace. I had a thirst that water couldn't quench. Xander took a few steps closer, the other, daring more than the last as if he expected me to step back, but when our chests touched, that prediction went out the window.

The cotton of his shirt brushed against my top and it dawned on me that I wasn't wearing a bra and I went red. I was so excited to see him, I forgot as I was using the blanket to cover my chest during the call. I blushed at the contact and averted my eyes, suddenly finding the button on his shirt rather interesting too. In the future, most things will be Velcro.

My curiosity was cut short when I felt a hand slide under my chin and around my waist, then I was met by a pair of soft lips. It was like being electrocuted but in a good way, it was a good kinda shock, mind-blowing, world-defying. I didn't obey the laws of physics because I'm gonna stop rambling now because my train of thought is a mess.

I closed my eyes, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as close as physically possible. He stepped forward and I took a step back as he led us over to the table. I broke the kiss to catch my breath.

"The bedrooms are that way," I said breathlessly.

He changed directions and if the universe chose to be such a c**k block, I slammed my freaking ankle into the table.

"Aw"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine"

"Do you need me to get you some ice?" His hands left my body and I instantly missed his touch.

"I'm fine really"

He turned to scan the space for the kitchen, probably to get me some ice.

"Sit on the chair, I'll get some ice," he said while walking to the kitchen.

"I don't wanna sit on the f*****g chair, I wanna sit on your -" I quickly caught myself.

Guess the horny teenage hormones finally kicked in.

He stopped and turned.

"My face or my d**k, you can pick your seat later, but for now we need to take care of your ankle, okay Kitten?" He motioned his brow to the chair.

I was red, redder than a tomato.

I just simply glued my butt to the chair behind me and looked down at my lap as I heard him chuckle.

Dumb Hormones.

He came back with some ice wrapped in a kitchen towel and placed it against my ankle. It looked a lot worse than a thought, really red and kinda swollen. I hissed when the cold came in contact with my skin and the pain from the pressure.

"Sorry, it'll be over soon." He apologized.

He looked down at my ankle with a guilty look in his eyes.

Did he feel bad about my ankle?

It wasn't his fault though, but it's cute.

"It's not your fault. I was always a clutz."

"But it could have been avoided if I just picked you up and wasn't in such a rush."

"We were both in a rush."

"But I should have been careful so you didn't get hurt!" He looked up at me so frustrated with himself as if he was trying to hold back his emotions.

"Xander"

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have raised my voice like that, it's just....."

"Hey, it's okay, I know."

" It's just my entire life. I've always felt alone like there was no one in that world that understood me or there was no one in the world made for me. Then you came and got it was like the world wasn't greyscaled anymore, everything had colour, sure it was just bright red but then yellow and then blue and then all the colours started seeping and for the first time I felt like, I was....."

"Complete, Whole, that you found what you were looking for"

"Exactly..........and I don't wanna mess this up because i don't think I'll ever find someone that understands me as much as you do and I feel if I do mess them up and you end up leaving because I hurt you, then everything will return the same and I don't think I could go back to how things were before."

"You didn't and if we should place the blame it's this dumb table for not moving out the way."

"I guess that's fair" he chuckled.

"I'm not going anywhere, Xander, I'll always be here."

He released a sigh of relief at my words.

What traumas did history omit from his story?

"I like you, Aria."

"I like you too, Xander."

We locked lips again, except this time, instead of passion-filled with urgency, it was slow, but our emotions poured out in the same waves nonetheless. It was like time stopped and we were the only ones still moving forward.