Chapter 49 Aslan
Aslan
Wednesday went worse than I expected it to.
I should’ve known better. I kissed him. Again. After everything... I was clearly delusional.
After the “don’t.” After his hundredth warning.
And what did I get?
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
Yeah. No kidding.
I already knew I shouldn’t before I even did it, but now I had no doubt at all.
If he wanted to make things clear, they were clear now. He was back with her. Walking her to class. Sitting next to her.
And I could be stubborn, blind, and absolutely self-destructive—but I wasn’t a couple breaker. I wasn’t going to wedge myself between two people just because I couldn’t control my own feelings.
So yeah. Whatever sick fantasy I’d been entertaining in my head? That ended it.
If he wanted her, then that was enough for me.
Enough to stay away.
Rehearsal was a mess.
I missed notes I never missed. Came in half a beat late more than once. My voice cracked on a part I’d nailed perfectly three days ago. Even the violin sounded soulless in my ears for the first time.
Aitor noticed right away.
He let it slide the first time. The second. By the third, he stopped playing altogether.
“Okay,” he said calmly. “We’re not singing right now.”
I looked up. “I’m fine.”
He raised a brow. “You’re flat.”
“Emotionally or musically?”
“Both.”
I huffed a quiet laugh despite myself.
He walked over and sat beside me on the couch.
That couch…
Not too close. Just enough.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Just distracted. Probably working too hard.”
He studied me for a second, like he didn’t buy it—but he didn’t push.
“Maybe we take a break,” he said instead. “Clear your head.”
I nodded, grateful.
There was a pause before he added casually, “You have plans for the Halloween party tomorrow?”
I blinked. “Not really. I don’t even know if I’m going.”
“Oh, you’re going,” he said immediately.
I laughed. “Am I?”
“Yeah. Because I’m not going with anyone either. And if you don’t have plans and I don’t have plans, then we have no plans together.”
I stared at him.
“Together…?”
He smirked. “Relax. It’s not a date. It’s two people with no costumes and no expectations showing up to eat candy and judge everyone else.”
“That actually sounds tempting.”
“I can pick you up,” he added. “We’ll go in, stay as long as we want, leave whenever it gets stupid.”
I considered it for about three seconds.
Why not?
Garrett had made his choice. I wasn’t going to sit in my room pretending I didn’t care.
I smiled. “Okay. Yeah. Let’s do that.”
Aitor grinned back. “Zero expectations. Just fun.”
And for the first time that day, something in my chest loosened.
Maybe I couldn’t fix what was broken with Garrett.
But I could stop letting it break me.
James froze mid-step when I told him I was going with Aitor to the party.
Then his face lit up.
“Hell, yeah!” he shouted, clapping once. “O.M.G. We are gonna have so much fun! Finally!”
“Of course you’re coming with us,” I said automatically.
He stopped me with a look. “Darling. I am your best friend. I adore you. I would absolutely die for you. But I am not a cock blocker.”
I burst out laughing. “Dude, relax. We’re going as friends with no dates.”
“A-ha,” he said slowly, crossing his arms. “Sure you are.”
“We are.”
“Well,” he shrugged, “I do have a date.”
I blinked. “You what?”
“Two, actually.” He grinned. “Friends. Girls. Very cool ones. I refuse to third-wheel your emotional mess.”
“Oh, my God.”
“So,” he continued brightly, “costumes.”
“Oh, no. We agreed on no costumes.”
James stared at me like I’d just insulted his entire bloodline. “The hell you did.”
“Yes, we did.”
“Nope. You are absolutely wearing my costume from two years ago. It’s destiny.”
He disappeared into his closet and came back with a bundle of red and gold fabric.
I stared at it.
“James.”
He held it up proudly. “Roman soldier.”
It was… tight. Structured. Revealing. The leather chest piece would definitely hug my shoulders more than necessary. The skirt situation was questionable.
“This is basically lingerie with a helmet.”
“It is art,” James corrected. “And on you? Criminal.”
“It’s tight.”
“That’s the point.”
I rolled my eyes, but I was already smiling. “You’re insane.”
“And you are going to look obscene in this. In a dignified, imperial way.”
Later that night, I texted Aitor.
James insists I wear a costume. Apparently I’m going as a Roman soldier. 🙄
A few seconds later.
Aitor: 😏 You’re going to turn heads.
Then another message.
Aitor: I’ll try to match your theme.
I shook my head, smiling despite myself.
Maybe this party wouldn’t be so bad.
Maybe it would just be loud music, bad decisions, and too much candy.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt at all.
Aitor picked me up right after classes.
I opened the door expecting to find another soldier—and froze.
He was wearing a long white robe that draped over his shoulders, tied at the waist with a golden rope. Sandals. Hair loose. Calm expression.
“Wait,” I blinked. “I thought you—oh my God… Are you—”
He laughed. “Jesus. I told you I’d match the theme.”
I stared at him.
The robe clung just enough to show his frame. His dark hair fell around his face in soft waves. The lighting from the hall made him look almost… holy.
Next to him, I probably looked like the villain in a low-budget Bible remake. Bare-chested, with a leather shoulder piece that made me look buffer, the short Roman skirt showing more thigh than I had planned for, a whip hanging at my side, and a laurel crown on my head.
He looked divine.
I looked like I was about to invade a small country.
He grinned. “You look ridiculously good.”
“So do you.”
We both laughed and headed out.
Molly’s was already packed.
Music thumped through the walls, colored lights flashing across bodies in every possible version of “sexy horror.” Fake blood. Glitter. Leather. Too much skin. Not enough shame.
James appeared out of nowhere.
“THERE HE IS!” he shouted, grabbing my shoulders dramatically.
He was dressed as a cat. Tight black suit. Tail. Painted whiskers. He even had ears.
Behind him were two girls in matching animal costumes—fox and bunny—both laughing at something he’d just said.
“Aslan,” James declared grandly, “welcome to our town’s best Halloween party.”
“Awww, you’re a kitty.”
“I’m a feline—there’s a difference.”
I scanned the room, smiling—
And then I saw him.
Skin-tight red latex. Devil horns.
Garrett.
Every muscle outlined under the red material. The costume was predictable and unfairly effective. His chest looked carved out of sin. His jaw sharp. His expression already irritated. He looked dangerous, yet his bright blonde hair framed his face in clear contrast. Light and darkness at once.
My chest tightened.
Then I saw the angel. White dress. Halo. Soft makeup—Trisha.
Of course. Quite the cliché.
My pulse kicked up before I could stop it. And just like that, Garrett’s head turned. Across the room and through the crowd. Straight to me. Like he felt it.
Aitor leaned closer. “You okay?”
I dragged my eyes away, suddenly aware that I was standing next to the literal Son of God while staring at the devil. Metaphorical and all, I felt like shit for doing that.
“I understand, Aslan. You don’t need to pretend with me.” Aitor’s gaze shifted from Garrett to another corner of the room, where the beautiful girl from the library—Linnea—stood surrounded by a few friends, smiling and stealing glances in our direction.
She turned in her princess dress, the golden highlights in her long dark hair glowing under the lights, and started talking to a guy I recognized from Aitor’s recital. The pianist.
My chest tightened for him, and without thinking, I squeezed his hand.
He gently pulled his hand away, and I was already opening my mouth to apologize for crossing a line when he stepped closer instead. One arm wrapped around my waist. The other cupped my face.
My heart skipped. I held my breath, confused, unsure of what was happening.
Then he leaned down, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, “It’s okay to feel, Aslan. But sometimes… we need to let go.”
He released me with a small smile.
And in that moment—under his calm watch and Garrett’s murderous glare—I had no idea what I was feeling at all.