Always Aaron

Chapter 52

I looked at him as he looked at the floor. All this time he had been in love with her. But then... "But you love Sersha?"

He let out a shaky laugh. "I do. I love her. It's messed up I know. But every time I kiss Sersha I think I'm not the right guy for her. I don't want her to doubt me because I had fallen in love with her friend. It would break her fucking heart. And- and I don't want to hurt her. I never want to hurt her." My chest started breathing again after he used the word fallen. It was past tense which meant he was no longer in love with Bryce. "Look I'm sorry, okay? It just happened and I try to avoid it. She loves you and you love her. It's infinitely better then anything I could have given her. You deserve her after everything you've been through."

"I get it." I murmured. "It's just my automatics that make me so defensive and possessive of her."

"It's okay. I messed up with Sersha. Every time I take a step towards her I fall behind two more steps. It's stupid. We're halfway done with our school year and I can't admit that I'm madly in love with her." He gripped his hair.

Fuck that was pretty steep.

"Tell her. Tonight you tell her." I ordered him. "Go up to her and tell her everything you told me. She'll take you wholeheartedly. She's just as in love with you as you her. You guys are perfect for each other." I smile sincerely at him. I want Reuben to be happy. The same way Bryce makes me happy.

Loving Bryce was a whole rollercoaster that I never wanted to jump off of. I was permanently strapped in and ready to be with her all the time. I love how she makes me smile when I'm feeling shitty, gives me butterflies every time she speaks and nears me, makes me laugh as if the sky is littered with stars... she gives soo much.

And most importantly she doesn't hate me for my past. For killing and selling and doing shit. She loves me just the way I am. Sharp and imperfect.

"Back to the topic in hand. Should we talk to Liam?" Reuben asked. I bit my lip in thought.

"He would lie at any cost to get Bryce back. Getting him involved isn't that reliable."

"I agree plus he's in the gang which means he's plotter. Asking him would mean he'd alert the boys at bay." Reuben checked his watch and sighed. "Owen should be back by now."

He should. He had been gone for almost an hour and Madison was not that far away. I was about to speak when my phone rang.

"Bryce." I answered Reuben's unasked question. I quickly accepted the call to hear shouting coming through.

"Aaron?"

My chest fluttered every time she called my name. The only reason I listened to her when we hated each other was because my name sounded so good coming from her.

"Yeah? What's up-"

"It's Owen." She breathed. Her voice sounded strained like she was trying to hold herself from crying. "He- he got stabbed Aaron. Really badly. I can't- I don't know what to do-"

"I'm on my way right now." I declined the immediately. My feet felt unsteady as I shot up my head spinning.

"What's wrong?" Reuben asked alerted.

I looked at him with sorrow. "Owen's been stabbed. Come on." We both ran all the way down the hall and onto the school platform. Our feet's crushed against the land as we sprinted to the girls building and up the stairs towards Maddie's room.