Emily's POV
I rummaged through my closet, looking for something suitable to wear to go to the restaurant. I didn't go to work yesterday and thankfully William called and asked if everything was alright and if I was okay to which I obviously lied and said that I had a terrible headache because of which I wasn't able to come to the restaurant. He didn't push the subject any further and offered me to take a leave today as well, but I politely denied.
I found a purple crop top with white pants and decided to throw it on. I quickly took a shower and tied my hair in a messy bun before changing my clothes and flying downstairs.
I grabbed a bag of chips and exited the house, briskly walking towards the bus stop.
I arrived at the restaurant after a while and instantly ran to the kitchen, throwing my apron on and burying myself in work.
I needed to divert my mind towards something else. Something other than him.
As I was cutting tomatoes and talking to Cody, Aaron walked into the kitchen with a smile on his face. He took in my appearance and scowled.
"Hi, Aaron," I gave him a wide smile, hoping for him to buy it, to which he slightly shook his head.
"Hey Emily," he walked closer until we were an arm distance away.
"What happened?" he spoke softly, brushing his finger along my cheek.
"What happened?" I raised an eyebrow, but I knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Nothing," he shook his head and stepped back, hurt was visible in his eyes and I felt bad.
I felt bad for lying to him. He didn't deserve this. He was just trying to help but here I was, lying to him about almost everything he asked. Unlike Noah, I had my guards up around him. Noah had the thing in him that made me want to pour my heart out to him. But Aaron, Aaron sure was a nice person but I just didn't know why I never felt the spark in me whenever he was close.
I shook my head.
What was I thinking?
"Emily you're growing weak every day. Do you even eat something?" Aaron broke my chain of thoughts.
"How else do you think I'm alive?" I rolled my eyes and playfully hit his shoulder.
"It's serious Emily. Look at you," he moved closer and cupped my cheeks in his hands.
"I'm f-fine," I choked out, not looking him in the eyes.
"I know you're not but I won't press it any further. Emily whatever that is bothering you please don't let it ruin your health. You look paler than the last time I saw you," he pleaded and I felt tears forming at the back of my eyes.
No one has ever cared about me like that.
I felt different. I felt.........loved. I wasn't used to all this love. But I was tired. Tired of keeping the fake strong facade every day. I needed someone to care about me. To love me. To tell me that one day everything was just going to be okay.
Instead of replying to him I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. I felt his body tense up against mine but he quickly relaxed and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer in his chest.
"I'm tired," I whispered in his neck swallowing back the tears and he placed one hand on my head, gently stroking my hair.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here," he whispered softly in my ear.
We stood there like that for several moments before I pulled away and lazily smiled at him.
"Thanks, Aaron," I genuinely felt a lot better than I did this morning.
"Anytime, love. Just remember that I'm always here if you need me okay?" he brushed a tear away from my cheek that I didn't know had managed to escape.
I nodded my head and smiled at him.
"Emily?"
"Hm?"
"I mean no pressure but if you're okay then I was wanting to take you out tonight....." he trailed off and I remembered him telling me not to make plans on Saturday earlier this week.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I reassured him and his face lit up.
"Is that a yes?" his eyes glimmered with hope and I couldn't help but smile at his actions.
"Yes."
"Thanks," he grinned.
I nodded my head and smiled at him and he took a step back, still looking at me. His back bumped into the door and he shrugged before giving me a small wave and exiting the kitchen.
**********
I was laying on my bed debating with myself whether to go with Aaron or politely deny his offer. I had come home barely half an hour ago and I had no energy in me to go on a date now.
But then I thought about Aaron's hopeful eyes when he asked me out. No matter how much I denied it, Aaron had always been there and he seemed like the only person who cared about me besides Noah........I mean I think he did. Right?
I got up from the bed and once again dug into my closet for something to wear. I hadn't asked Aaron about where he was taking me this time but from the past experiences, I knew that I had to wear something formal, unlike my usual attire which comprised of a baggy sweatshirt with jeans.
I almost gave up looking when my eyes landed on a black dress that I hadn't worn in ages and I sighed and decided to give it a try if it still fit me.
All of my dresses were years old and thankfully I didn't grow much in height that was why some of them still fit me perfectly.
It was a velvet off the shoulder high low boat neck A-line short sleeves skate dress.
To my luck, the dress still fit me perfectly. I blow-dried my hair and let it down to cascade my bare shoulders. I only applied a red matt lipstick and voila I was ready to go.
I sighed and sat on the edge of my bed waiting for Aaron to arrive. I unlocked my phone and subconsciously opened Noah's chat again. I shook my head in annoyance before pressing the home button and opening Asphalt 8 to let my thoughts be occupied.
I heard a horn outside my house and hurried downstairs. I saw my mom sitting on the couch and groaned in annoyance but to my surprise, she didn't bombard me with questions as to where was I going wearing a fancy dress at seven in the evening. She simply looked up from her newspaper, gave me a once over, nodded her head, and went back to reading it.
I mumbled an awkward bye before running outside to see Aaron leaning on his car. I locked the door and turned around to see Aaron intently looking at me with an indecipherable emotion in his eyes.
I approached him and his hand smoothly slid into mine pulling me closer to him.
"You look beautiful," he huskily whispered and I blushed.
"Thanks," I mumbled, looking down at my feet.
He kissed my cheek and opened the door for me to sit in before closing it and jogging to the driver’s seat of his car.
He climbed in and smiled at me before turning the radio on and speeding off to wherever we were going.
His hand found mine and he intertwined our fingers together before placing it on my thigh and sighing in content. He looked over to me and smiled.
No matter how much I tried to push the thought aside, my heart was telling me that something was going to change tonight.