chapter 12

My body froze while the blood in my veins froze, and my heart leapt to my throat while my stomach fell to my ass. Oh God did he just hear the whole thing I had just said? Turning to face the man that kept me up the past few nights, he stood watching me his hands in his jean pockets, his shirt was wrinkled, he almost looked like he had slept in his cloths. He had on a wrinkled blue shirt, that said 'nope not today' on it, and his jeans were ripped and torn around the knees and towards the bottom about his ankles, almost like he had been dragging them on the floor. My eyes scanned over his body, and I could feel my heart restart but it was till in my throat. Looking up from his cloths I was surprised by how unkept he looked, his hair had grown a few inches longer, no longer had he kept his face shaven, a 10 o'clock shadow was there. His normal tan complexion was gone and replaced by an almost sickly grey, and when my eyes met his, I gasped with surprise. His eyes, they were so bright and fixated on me It had taken me by surprise. Everything else about him had changed, but his bright green eyes were still the same as ever.

"Aries! Oh God, you ok?" Grace finally spoke behind me, breaking me out of my trans as I shook my head.

"Hey Grace, glad someone cares." He chuckled but the small laugh didn't reach his face. Turning from her he looked back to me. "Mind if we talk?"

Did I mind, yes! Could I really say no to him?....My head was saying he looked like a crazy person right now, but my heart wanted to hear him out, wanted to know why he never called or texted me. How he could leave me on a cliff hanger, it seemed like he was about to say he liked me but then again.... I ran away, and I wanted to apologize for that. I had acted like a child when I knew better, I just wasn't ready for those words yet.

But all I could do was nod my head, the words stuck in my throat as my tongue began to stick to the roof of my mouth. Cotton mouth, god is this what people ment when they were nervous.

He motioned with his chin across the street to our "track field", honestly it was 1/3 of the size of an actual track, but that was besides the point. I hesitate for a second, before he motion with his hand for me to head out first. Quickly I walked across the street, only to look back and see Grace with a frown on her face, her eyes were focused on Aries back, as he followed just a few steps behind me.

In my haste to get across the street and my lack of focus for myself, my foot caught the curb and my world fell in slow motion as the floor came rushing to greet my face. I closed my eyes ready for the impact but just before the floor could high five my face and arm was around my waist and pulling me back.

The warmth from his body pressed against my back had me sagging slightly in his hold. My heart was racing with stupid adrenaline of me almost eating dirt, and the face that Aries was now holding me close in his arms. But panic started to grip my body as flash back of Darin grappled in my mind with my reality. Aries Body was now being replaced with Darin's, his breath on my neck making me uncomfortable as my body broke out in a cold sweat, my breathing picking up and it felt like someone had placed a bag over my head making gasp for air.

"Hey, whoa Alex calm down." Aries voice was now replaced with Darin's making my breathing quicken even more.

Oh God this couldn't be happening, he wasn't really here I knew that but my body and mind were playing tricks on me, making me believe that Darin really was here, holding me against his chest. No, no, no, not again, this isn't happening. I wanted to curl into my self, air wasn't making it into my lungs and his presence was starting to suffocate me. But then...there it was.

Sparks...a tingling feeling almost like a vibration or hum against my skin, softly on my cheek, and then another on the other side of my face. I gasped for air my eyes closed, I couldn't make out the voices around me but I knew someone or multiple people were talking. It all sounded jumbled as the ringing in my ears sounded, his voices filling my head. "Be a good girl, do what I say." Sweat beaded on my forehead, no, no, no no! Out of my head, stay out, you aren't here, your not real.

Heat flooded my cheeks as the humming on my skin drew my attention away from the memories, making me open my eyes only to meet a pair of bright green worries ones.

Aries....He was gripping my face in his hands, the humming on my skin seemed to be coming from the contact or our skin, his warm breath fanned my face as I blinked confused and catching my breath. The ringing in my ears slowly started to fade as his voice replaced Darin's.

"Alexandria!" He was practically shouting my name, as I blinked multiple times. "Can you hear me now?"

All I could do was nod my head in recognition at his words as I continued to catch my breath, the tightening in my chest lesioning with each inhale.

His eyes almost seemed frightened by my reaction, as he pulled away from me letting go of my face, taking the warmth with him that I was now craving to get back. His touch was so reassuring that it was comforting in a way that I hadn't had in a while. But I couldn't use him as a safety blanket.

Grace's voice could be heard from across the street as she shouted at the both of use, her whole demeanor looked like she was ready to run across the street. "Alex are you ok?" Her eyes were almost paniced and....did her eyes just shift color?

I blinked confused but no they were their normal color again. "Yea, ugh...I'm fine." Get a grip Alex, clearing my throat I rub my face with a hand of the cold sweat and took a step back placing a fake smile on my face. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking, and the fall made me panic." If he really knew what I was mentally going through he would run away. Grace moved towards sher car not being my life either but never once said a word as we both watched her get in and drive away. Turning back to Aries I found his eyes locked on me.

His face never faltered but his eyes told me he knew I was lying. "It happens to us all, once in a while." He put his hands back in his pockets still watching me closely.

"So...you wanted to talk?" I tried to change the subject as I took a few steps towards the bleachers only a few feet from me. Aries followed next to me still at arms length, not once moving to touch me again.

"Yea," his words sounded almost unsure. "About last time, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

That caught me by surprise, he was sorry...but what for? my confusion must have been clearly written on my face, because he didn't skip a beat.

"I know you kept ignoring my advances on you, and I didn't take that into consideration. I just want to let you know that, as of today you won't be dealing with any of that anymore, I promise I won't be acting like that anymore with you."

WHAT! I was completely taken off guard here I thought he was about to confess to me about his feeling, I mean he sort of did, but now he was saying that's it!

"Wait what?" I blinked shaking my head. "Wait a minute." but he cut me off.

"Look what I did was wrong and I'm sorry, that's all I wanted to talk to you about, you don't have to worry about me bothering you. I mean I'm still here when you need me but most of the time talk to Grace if you need a ride home or something." He started to take a few steps away from me.

"Hey wait!" I put a hand out to stop him from putting anymore room between us but he moved just out of my grasp.

"No Alex, I meant what I said, I'm sorry."

I jumped off the bleacher furious with the situation, first I was gearing up for his confession now it felt like a rejection, granted I didn't know what I would do if he did confess he liked me but I for sure wasn't ready for this. "No!"

His face twitch and his eye brow lifted. "No?" he repeated but this time as a question.

"No," I repeated, taking a step towards him and he took one back trying to keep distance between us. "You can't just say that after everything I put up with. Your annoying, and confusing but you can't decide that on your own. Least of all you can't just stop texting me for months then pop back up and tell me that." I pointed at him frustrated with myself and him.

He lifted his hands but didn't meet my eyes. "Look Alex-"

"Don't treat me like a child! I may be younger then you but I'm not a child Aries." That got his attention because he twisted his head to look at me almost like I had slapped him.

"Really your not a child? Then why is it everytime I have to talk to you, you run away?"

"I'm here now aren't I?" I snapped back taking another step in his direction. I knew another step or two and his back would hit the chain fence that circled the field, he wouldn't be able to get away from me then. His body seemed to buzz with frustration, but I didn't care. I was done with him playing with my emotions and I was done trying to fight whatever this thing between us was.

"God you make me so angry I want to punch you in the throat." I growled out in frustration, as I pointed my finger at him again. "You are annoying, a flirt, irritating, and and...." I was getting lost with my words and I contemplated what else to call him.

"You're repeating yourself again." A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips making me even more frustrated with him.

"So what if I am?" I threw my hands up and he chuckled. Actually chuckle like this whole scenario was funny. "What?" I asked frustrated with how this conversation was turning out.

"Your cute when you're angry." I froze at his words, he serious just called me cute... Aries closed the distance between us never once breaking eye contact.

"I'm not cute." The words clipping out between my teeth.

"Yes you are, like a cute angry Chihuahua." His face softened as he stopped just infront of me the smirk still played on his lips.

"Did you just called me a dog!" I pushed his chest but he grabbed a hold of my wrist, that humming buzz feeling I had felt earlier was back where our skin touched.

"I like dogs," he said with a laugh that seemed to touch his eyes this time.

I rolled mine annoyed once again and pulled my arm lightly to get it back. "It's because you act like a dog." My words for a second made him freeze as he looked at me completely serious now.

"And if I was one?" The question seemed odd, and confusing coming from him.

"If you were what?"

"If I was a dog, wolf to be more exact would you still like me?"

That's a weird question to ask, I chuckled finding it funny he would ask such a thing. "Who ever said I liked you in the first place? For your information I happen to love dogs."

He tugged on my arm making me stumble into him as he wrapped his arms around my body. I had to completely focus on him and his body heat, so the memories didn't come back once again. He tilted his head down so he could whisper in my ear, his breath tickled as he spoke. "I happen to like you too."

I turned my head to look at him but his lips crashed against mine.

His lips were velvet soft, and slightly larger then mine, as he tasted like mint and something sweet. My whole body hummed this excitement at this small action but the kiss was only a few seconds before he pulled away and placed his forehead on my own.

"Let me take you home?" His voice was a whisper and all I could do was nod my head.

But my mind was buzzing, thinking about the words he had said that didn't seem right...."I happen to like you...Too?"