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Aresius' POV

I stared at my phone, glaring at the message on the screen.

I met Oscar when I was younger, and over the years, he had become like an older brother figure to me.

He respected how difficult it was for me to let people in, so he kept his space, while still being a nosy little shit and making sure I was okay.

He had married the girl he had pined over his whole life, almost 6 years ago, and they had a 5-year-old son, and a baby on the way. I wasn't good with kids in any way, scared to even hold their first son, Rowan, when he was born. But just like his father, he had managed to worm his way into my life.

I missed his 5th birthday party last month because I was away on an assignment, but I promised him I'd make up for it. And I had full intention of doing so, until about three days ago.

God that woman had infiltrated every atom of my mind and body.

And I didn't want it to stop.

Three days ago, she asked me on a date.

Me. On a date.

And then she turned red, redder than I had ever seen her, and she said, "I didn't mean that, that was an accident please ignore me, let's go." And she got into the car, and was the quiet the entire ride to her house. She didn't even hold my hand. When she left to go inside the house, she mumbled a quick goodbye and scurried away without ever looking at me.

All the while, I still was trying to comprehend what had happened.

That was three days ago. I hadn't seen or heard from her since then. I had waited outside of the bakery, seeing if she had come in or out, I had waited to see if Tai mentioned her in any conversation, I had waited to see if she would message, but nothing.

What the hell was I supposed to do?

And why in hell did my heart beat so fast when I thought about what she had said?

I gritted my teeth, my jaw clenched, trying not to let my thoughts go there.

She was an angel. She was the epitome of perfection. She was kind, she was caring, she was smart, she was talented, she was brave, she was resilient. She was powerful.

Her magical eyes and her soft hair, the pads of her fingers whenever she touched me, softly, as though I was fragile. Her smile, the blush on her cheeks when she was flustered, her nose that she scrunched unknowingly.

She was a fairy tale, one that I wanted to write, read, and repeat.

Surely I was allowed to have one good thing in my life?

I shook my head, getting up and walking to my kitchen. I poured a glass of water and took a sip. I put the glass down, with more force than necessary, causing Grasso to hiss at me. Fat bastard.

I gripped the counter, my knuckles turning white. I couldn't even understand what I was feeling.

The ringing of my doorbell brought me out of my pensive state.

My brows slightly furrowed in confusion, I wasn't expecting anyone.

I walked to the door, cracking my knuckles and setting my jaw, not bothering to check the security camera first as I usually did.

I wished well for anyone who even tried to mess with me at this moment, I felt unhinged.

I swung the door open, ready for some kind of confrontation.

And I would've preferred bullets, fists and chaos to what stood in front of me. At least with those things I would have felt more in my element, less on edge, and competent.

What was in front of me, I could never be prepared for.

Her.

She stood in front of me wearing a light pink pair of overalls and a white long-sleeved shirt. She was holding a tiny box, the size of her palm, with a blue bow on top...and a bouquet of flowers?

She was breath-taking.

And she was here, in front of me.

She looked up at me, her eyes shining like the pots of gold they were, a small timid smile on her lips.

"H-hi," she mumbled, stumbling over her words. She cleared her throat, taking a breath.

"Hi, I'm uh, I'm here and I have something for you," she said, still stuttering slightly.

My throat felt dry, as if I hadn't just chugged a glass of water ten seconds before. This girl was unreal.

Alette," I said, my voice audibly breathless. I exhaled out of my nose to compose myself, which didn't work, and moved aside, "Come in."

She nodded her head, and walked past me; she smelled like lavender, but there was a slight hint of freshly baked goods combined with it. It felt like a punch to my stomach. I quickly looked outside, seeing no cars on my driveway, or anyone else in sight. I shut the door and turned to her, she was standing there staring at me, her shoes off and placed neatly by the door; she was wearing green socks with dogs on them.

"Did you come yourself?"

She bit her rosy lip and shook her head, "Uncle Syl dropped me off, he was going somewhere," she paused, and gulped, looking down at her feet, "I'm sorry for coming unannounced, I know you're bu-"

I moved forwards in a single step, "Look at me."

Her eyes hesitantly looked up.

"Don't apologize."

She brightened slightly and opened her mouth to say something when Grasso bounded out of the kitchen and into sight. She squealed, and hurriedly handed me the box and the bunch of flowers. She bounded towards him, and picked him up, kissing his head and cuddling him close to her chest. Fat bastard.

Lucky, fat bastard.

"Hi fluffy boy, I missed you so much!" she murmured at him, and he soaked up all the attention, whilst I stood there, not knowing what to do.

She finally put him down, patting him on the head one last time, and finally turned to me. She must have seen my dumbfounded state because she giggled at me, covering her mouth with her hand. Adorable.

"Um so I got you some flowers that I picked from my garden because you didn't really...have any in your house and I have a lot, so you can put those anywhere you want. Or you can just put them in the compost if you don't like flowers, I'm sorry I should've asked, I don't even know if you're allergic to them so I'm...sorry," she trailed off.

She brought me flowers.

I felt like I was on the edge of the cliff, and she was the wind that pushed me over, and now I was falling. I felt a ringing in my ears, I couldn't even begin to describe how I felt.

I swallowed again.

"Thank you."

Her look of uncertainty turned into happiness, "You're welcome! Do you have a vase? We can put them in some water?" she said eagerly.

We.

I liked that.

I shook my head slowly, "I don't have a vase." Why the hell don't I have a vase, where am I supposed to put her flowers?

"Oh no worries! We can put it in like a tall glass? Hm...or maybe a jug?" she suggested beaming, looking more comfortable than she had when she first walked in. Good.

"I have a jug," I told her, she nodded vigorously, her whole body moving along with her. So damn cute.

We both walked side by side to the kitchen, and I placed both things on the counter, opening a cupboard to take out the only jug I had. I handed her the transparent item, and she quickly walked to the sink, filling it up halfway with water. She set it down on the island, and grabbed the flowers, slowly arranging them in there, her tongue poking out in concentration. Once she had very meticulously placed every flower exactly where she wanted, she looked at me, "All done!"

I nodded again, looking at the mix of green, purple, blue and white that was in the jug, "Thank you," I said softly.

"You're welcome," she said, staring intently at me. Her eyes were mesmerizing, and I couldn't look away.

Finally, her eyes fell onto the small box she had brought and they widened. She rushed over and grabbed the box, and turned around to me, biting her lip.

"I also got you this so um you can open it," she mumbled, still holding the box close to herself.

"Are you going to hand it to me Alette?" I asked, raising my brow.

She bit her lip, and nodded, looking at me from under her lashes. She slowly inched the box towards me and I grabbed it from her hands, choosing to ignore the feeling I got when our fingers brushed.

I tried to keep my face passive to hide my thundering heart and shaking hands. I untied the ribbon that made the bow on top of the box, and placed it on the counter. Taking the top off the box, I saw white tissue paper, and in the middle, a grey and pink woven bracelet. The pink and grey thread wove around one another, and there was a heart in the middle.

In my shocked state, I couldn't think of what to say. She seemingly took my silence for the worst when she hurriedly began explaining herself.

"Its nothing big! O-or anything special I just made you a friendship bracelet um, you don't have to wear it," she whispered, fiddling with something on her wrist. An identical bracelet to mine.

"Put it on me."

She looked at me, her mouth opening slightly, and she nodded moving forwards. Grabbing the bracelet, she reached for my left hand. I held it out for her, and she tied the bracelet onto my wrist, tightening it to make sure it wouldn't fall off. Once she was satisfied, she looked up at me, "We match now," she said happily, in a quiet voice.

I nodded, to hell with friendship, but if this is what she wanted.

"Do you like it?" she mumbled shyly, her ears turning red and her tone uncertain.

I couldn't help myself when I reached forwards and cupped her face, my thumb brushing her cheekbone.

"Yes," I said simply, because I didn't trust myself to say anything else.

The text message tone of my phone interrupted us, and I reluctantly withdrew my hand from her face, not failing to notice her slight pout at the loss of touch.

I unlocked my phone to see who had messaged me and my brain felt conflicted all over again.

I took a breath, feeling uncertain and out of control. I hated feeling this way. I clenched my jaw, lost in my thoughts.

A hand on my arm brought me back to reality and I was faced with her concerned eyes. She grabbed my hand and looked up at me endearingly, God she was perfect.

"What's wrong Reece?" she asked her voice full of concern for me.

For me.

I shook my head not knowing how to phrase the way that I was feeling.

Without even hesitating, she pulled me to her, her small frame having more physical strength than I expected, and wrapped her arms around me. This time, I only felt the shock for a brief few seconds before, very naturally, wrapping my arms around her, and resting my head on top of hers, seeking the comfort that her warm and soft self provided.

The greatest feeling I had ever experienced.

She held me for a few moments, before she finally pushed away a little, her arms still wrapped around my middle.

She looked up at me, "Do you wanna talk about it?" she asked kindly.

Sorting through the web of words in my head, I came up with the best response I could:

"Do you want to come to a birthday party with me?"

I blurted the words out in one breath.

The feeling of powerlessness I felt around her was indescribable. I had gotten so used to being in control and in charge, that this was foreign to me.

She made me feel confident and uncertain at the same time.

Her eyes widened and I could practically hear her heart in her chest.

You've really done it now haven't you? Suggesting she go to a party with you, when you know she barely knows you and is afraid of new people, I mentally chastised myself.

"A party?"

"It's for Oscar's son, he turned 5 and I missed his birthday, so I was going to go tonight. It'll just be the two of us, and Oscar, his wife, and Rowan, their son," I explained quickly, trying to sound sure of myself, and also trying not to pay too much attention to the phrase 'the two of us.'

Because it sounded too damn good.

She nodded slowly, "Okay I-I think I can do t-that, you won't leave me right?"

My lips tilted upwards slightly, smiling like the fool I am, and I held out my pinkie finger.

She immediately wrapped hers around mine, "I promise."

Feeling more convinced she bobbed her head up and down, and then she stopped suddenly.

"Wait Reece! I can't go like this! I'm not even dressed for a party, my hair is poofy and I don't look right," she remarked, fussing over her clothes and patting down her hair.

I grabbed her chin, causing her eyes to look at mine, and her jaw to go slack. My eyes darted all over her face, and I finally looked at her eyes again.

She was pure magic.

"You're so beautiful, Alette," I rasped out.

"The most beautiful angel."

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unedited