Part 43

Part 43
/Edward's POV/


The sound of my heart beating along with our shallow breaths was the only thing that I could hear. The silence in the room was deafening, almost scary that it made me want to say something. Aria was quiet and her silence was burning me inside. As those words left my mouth I could feel instant relief knowing that I was not caring the burden of keeping it for myself. From past these days I was trying to run away from the truth but the real reason was always in front of me. When Aiden questioned me earlier in the car I could not stop thinking.






Why was I running away? It was inevitable and I should expect considering she is the only one who made me feel.





As the silence followed I thought that I made a fool of myself by confessing even after knowing that she had a boyfriend.






I almost felt like pinching myself at the reminder. How could I forget that it would affect her relationship? I was done waiting and it was killing me, not saying anything to her. She deserved to know.





Aria opened and closed her mouth, leaning forward and clasping her hands together. Sweat trickled down my forehead and suddenly I realised that it was too hot. The fireplace crackling behind me was the reason.





"Why-why now?" She asked, her voice low and soft like she was hesitant to ask the question. My eyes couldn't move away from her face. How could I leave her alone all those years ago?





Her question twisted something inside me. That was my own doing which made her doubt. I licked my lips trying to make sense of my feelings.





"It was always there- I mean I wanted to say this all those years ago but I was scared."




"And now?" She questioned




"Now I love you enough that I couldn't care about being scared anymore."




Her eyes widened at that and a soft sigh slipped out of her lips. I noticed that her cheeks were flushed red and she was shifting her eyes towards her feet, anywhere but me. I just wanted to meet her dove eyes.





"Okay," She whispers to which I frowned. What was she agreeing to? I never felt this level of anxiety not even while giving my final exams.





I was cautious as I raised my eyebrow at her, "Okay?"




"What do you want me to say? Huh? Do you want me to break up with my boyfriend and suddenly fall in your arms because you had a realisation after five years?" She huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. The action caused her breast to push up but I quickly averted my eyes.





"No" I firmly replied. That's not why I confessed what I was feeling but because I wanted her to know and also it was high time I let myself have the privilege of falling in love again. Unlike my previous mistake, I was not going to let this one go wrong.





"That's not what I want. I just want you to know that no matter what I will always love you"




A soft sound broke from her lips and she sniffled, rubbing at her eyes. I didn't want to make her cry, that's the last thing I wanted. Rubbing her eyes she finally met my eyes when I noticed how red her nose was. Her cheeks looked rosy and lips swelled like she had been biting them.





"Then what do you want?"




"I want you to be happy. And I don't care if Ashton is the one that makes you happy"




She sniffled, shaking her head, "You can't- you shouldn't have said this, any of this"




My throat tightened as those words escaped her lips. I should have known that there was no way she would actually love me back. I did make a fool of myself.




"I'm sorry but I couldn't hold it anymore"




She sighed, "I'll see you tomorrow Edward"




Her sudden dismissal made me frown in confusion. That was it? She was sending me away instead of talking it out. I wanted to say so many things but my tongue felt frozen in my mouth.





"Aiden will wait for you in the evening and-"




"That's it?" I interrupted, cutting her off in a mid sentence. She snarled at my question.




"I'm tired. I don't want to say so- I don't want to talk right now please"




My shoulders sagged in defeat at the vulnerability in her tone. She did look tired and had been crying earlier so I didn't want to pain her more. I stood up from the couch and she did too. Her scent engulfed me as she walked along towards the door.





"I'll see you tomorrow?" I whispered, reluctant to step out of the room.




She hummed, not meeting my eyes and slammed the door in my face, "Yeah sure"


Driving back to my apartment made me numb throughout the entire ride. How will I face Aria again and act normal? It was going to be difficult now that I didn't even have any reason to pretend I was happy.





As soon as I spotted the door was unlatched my eyebrows raised in tension. I looked behind me and noticed that the other apartments were safe. Was there someone inside? Did someone trespass on my property? Then why would they use the key?





Trying not to make any sound I slowly pushed at the door and slid in. The stiletto of the women sitting on the couch made me jump and the light was immediately turned on. My hand pressed on my chest as a reflex and I let out a deep breath noticing the familiar face.





"What the fuck Sara?! You gave me a proper scare"



She had the audacity to sheepishly smile and shake her head which irked me even more. Not only she was sitting in my couch at ungodly hours but also finding the situation funny.





"I'm sorry but I have been waiting here since forever and I don't like this light" She pointed towards the switch she had her fingers on. I rolled my eyes, pulling the keys and wallet out of my pocket. My heart was still beating like crazy due to the sudden scare. I really thought that I would have to ring the police.





"I want back the spare key" I gritted my teeth turning towards her. She held the key closer towards her as if scared that I will pull away. I did want to do that because there was no reason she should possess that after we went separate ways.





"But I like it" She pouted trying to get away but I wasn't done. Why was she in my house after I made it clear that I didn't want to see her face? Was I being subtle or something?





"Okay but now you need to leave" I mumbled walking inside the kitchen. I opened the door of the fridge and pulled the water bottle from the stand. She stood up and walked towards my direction which made me tense up.





"What if I say no?" She teased, a smug smile playing on her lips




"No one says no to the law" I retorted pouring water in the glass. The soft hum was playing from the other apartment but I could hear it through the kitchen window. It felt like a familiar tune but also new then I realised that it must be that Walls song. My neighbour was a huge Louis Tomlinson fan so I should have known.





"Will you really report me?" She archer her brow, an innocent look on her face. It felt like I was betraying Aria by even talking to Sara, the person behind all our collective problems.





Taking the sip of cool water I sat down on the nearby chair and tilted my head. Sara was sharply dressed like she was going somewhere or returning from somewhere. Whatever it was.





"Only if you don't tell me the reason you are here"




She whined, licking her lips as she looked at me, "I miss you"




It did nothing to me. We were dating for quite a while but I had never for once thought about Sara like I did about Aria and it was sad. The amount of disinterest I felt for her and how much I always tried to excuse myself from her.




"Don't" I sternly said to which she opened her mouth.




"Sara I already told you it's over between us" I raised my voice, not caring that the thin walls were going to carry my voice to the neighbours.





"No amount of words you say or the actions you do is going to change my mind. I have already decided that. Please stop this behaviour"




She was stunned at that, her eyes stinging with tears. My gut clenched at that, thinking that I was being too harsh on her. After what she did it was only valid.





"This is it then?" She hoarsely whispered, wiping at her tears and blinking her eyes.




I nodded my head instead of answering her. My eyes felt heavy and I wanted to lie down and sleep off that moment in Aria's house. Also, I couldn't leave Sara alone.





My eyes clenched shut at her tone, reminiscing all the memories I had with her. It was always an attraction though that's what I felt the moment I saw her and it faded over time.





"Yes"




"I'm really sorry" She sniffled



I hummed at her response because it was not really okay.




"Can I sleep here tonight?"





My eyes widened comically at that and I blinked twice just in case she was joking. Her face was serious and she was waiting for my answer.




"I can drive you if that's what you are worried about" I cleared my throat even though driving to her house was the last thing I would do. My arms felt stiff and hurt.




"No" She swallowed and looked at the couch.




"I mean that's not the reason I want to stay back" She explained her earlier statement but I was still in dark. What did she want?




"Why do you want to stay back then?"




She sharply inhaled and brushed her fingers across the fabric of the couch, "Because it's my last time coming here. And I also because I don't want to be alone tonight"




"We are not sleeping together" I immediately clarified before she got any ideas in her head.




Her face slipped at that but she managed to force a smile, "That's alright. I'll take the couch just let me sleep here tonight"




At my silence, she softly whispered, "Please"




"Okay fine but you need to get out first thing in the morning and stop whatever is it you are doing"




She grinned, "Deal"