I fucked up. Like MAJORLY fucked up.

I crossed her boundaries and lost every chance I could have to get to know her. I left the party after our argument in the bathroom. I didn't want to be around anybody, and sure as hell didn't want to hook up with anybody. It's been 2 days and I haven't seen her. Not at the cafe, not at yesterday's practice, not even in editing class.

I hope she's okay.

I've thought about texting her, but I don't know what to say.

A ringing sound breaks my thoughts. I grab my phone off my nightstand and see the caller ID reads . My mother was born in France but moved to the states when she was around 20. So, when she had me and my sister, she made it her goal to teach us, French. She takes us to France every summer to make sure our "French skills" stay sharp.

I press the answer button and hold the phone to my ear.

"Où étais-tu Léo?!" Ah lovely. My mom is already angry at me.

"J'ai été occupé maman," I reply with a sigh.

"Bébé, tu vas bien? Ta voix est triste," You can count on ma mère to know when something's off. I hesitate for a moment, but reply, "J'ai foiré, très mauvais."

"Qu'est-ce que tu as fait?"

"J'ai dit des choses méchantes à une fille," I can hear her sigh.

"Aimez-vous cette fille?" She asks. Do I like Aria? I don't know. Her smile though, it could light up a whole city. Her voice... it's calming. She-what the fuck is she turning me into? I sound love-sick, which I am not!

"Je ne sais pas... J'aime sortir avec elle. Elle me fait sourire," I reply. I hear my mom gasp. I've never talked to her about girls because I've never had a girlfriend. I was careful to never bring a girl home. Every girl I had been with, I didn't see it going farther than what we did. Ma mère would always ask constantly if I had a girlfriend or even a "crush". I gave her the same answer which was, "I need to focus on hockey" every time.

A moment passes, but she finally says, "Tu devrais parler à cette fille. Vous devez communiquer et vous excuser."

I hum in agreement. I want to talk to her, I want to make things right. I was overbearing but Caden really is an asshole. He toys around with girls and dumps them like their garbage. Yeah, I've had my fair share of hook-ups, but I make sure that they're okay after. I don't tell them their sluts as I walk out of the room. I don't want her to go through that. I don't want any girl to go through that.

"Merci maman. Je dois partir. Je vous aime," She says goodbye, and I hang up. I tap on my messages app and open Aria and I's texts.

I hit the send button and wait for a reply. 20 minutes had passed and the only message I got was from Matt telling me to come down for dinner. I tell him I'm not in the mood and I shut my phone off.

I plop myself back down in my bed and rest my hands behind my head, closing my eyes. I have a game tomorrow, which she HAS to go to. If she doesn't, I'm guessing she'll get in trouble for not reporting anything to her class.

Just as I drift off to sleep, my phone buzzes. I look and see she replied. OMG SHE REPLIED! I open my messages app and open the text that reads:

:

The simple message has me throwing on a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. I sprint, quite literally, down the stairs. Matt gives me a weird look once I make it down.

"I'm going to see Ar-a girl, yup a girl," I rush out. Matt tilts his head in confusion but I just smile and put my shoes on. I run out of the apartment and scramble to find my keys, which happen to be very deep in my pocket. That was irritating. I unlock my car and jump in.

I realize I have no idea where she lives so, I shoot her a text asking where she lives. She quickly replies with an address that seems to be one of the many dorm complexes on campus.

After a painfully long drive of 15 minutes, I quickly make my way to her dorm room. I check the number to see if it's right, then knock on the door. I can hear footsteps approach and I begin to grow slightly nervous.

Don't fuck this up. Don't fuck this up.

The door opens and I'm met with the curly-haired brunette that's been on my mind for the past two days. I take in her outfit which consists of an oversized hoodie, black biker shorts, and to top it off, adorable bunny fuzzy socks.

"Hey," I say awkwardly with a wave. Now, what the fuck was that?

"Hey, uh come in," She steps aside and I walk through the door, hearing it shut once I'm fully in. She walks over to a bed and sits down.

I slowly walk over to the desk next to the bed she is sitting at, and I carefully take a seat, "I really want to say I'm sorry for what happened at the party. It was immature of me and I wasn't thinking before I was speaking," I take a breath before continuing, "I was worried because...well because Caden. He may look sweet on the outside, but I've seen what he's done to girls. It's-It's fucked up and I didn't want you to be one of them. You don't deserve to go through what those other girls have gone through," Once I finish, I look up to see her head tilted and her expression is confused.

"I'm not mad at you Leo," She starts and I can feel my body relax, "I'm not used to people being...overbearing. I overreacted and I am deeply sorry for that. But please tell me, what has Caden done to other girls?"

I close my eyes for a moment and then begin, "He uses them like toys, hooking up with them and leaving them the moment he finishes. No aftercare, no words, just in and out. Some girls have said he called them a "slut" or a "whore" while they're...doing it. He manipulates them with his charm, leaving them to think they'll have a good time. But in the end, it was all an act." "Leo, I..." She trails off, looking down as if she's stuck in thought. Before I know it, she stands up and walks in front of me. I furrow my eyebrows with confusion. She then places her petite hand over mine. She moves her body so that she is on both her knees and one of her hands is over mine, which lays on my thigh, "Thank you. For explaining, for trying to protect me. I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner."

I avert my gaze from her hand to her eyes, "It's not your fault Aria, you wouldn't have known. I thought your friend would know, but I guess he didn't," I say the last part with slight anger. If her friend has been to the football house before, which he has been, then how did he not warn her? Why didn't he keep an eye on her?

"It's okay Leo, please don't get mad," She says calmly. My face softens at the sound of her voice, "I shouldn't have looked at you the way I did when I was dancing. I-I wasn't thinking straight." "It's not your fault. It's mine. I jumped to a conclusion, but I promise I won't do it again," She nods in agreement. I then whisper, "Tu es spécial Bambi. Je ne veux pas que nous terminions avant même que ça ait commencé," Her eyebrows furrow in confusion, causing her lips to pout a bit. She's so cute.

"What did you just say?" She asks. I smile at her and shake my head.

"Nothing important," She looks like she's about to say something, but nothing ever comes out, "Come with me for a second?" Her face stays confused, but she slowly nods and stands back to her feet. I get up from the desk and walk over to her door. I turn around to see her standing in the middle of the room with the most confused expression on her pretty little face, "Put on some shoes, I promise we won't be out too long."

She walks over to the shoe rack near the door and begins to put on a pair of loafers. I lean against her door and admire her for a moment. I can't help it when she looks stunning, even when she's not trying.

Once she finishes, I open her door and lead the way out, her running to my side to catch up. I hesitantly inch my hand closer to hers, wanting to feel the warmth again. I think she takes the hint because she laces her fingers through mine. I don't think I've held hands with a girl in this way since my sophomore year of high school.

After a few moments of walking, we make it to an open area of land which is a few yards from her dorm complex. I divert my gaze back to her, and I see a light smile on her face as she looks up. The sky is splattered with, what seems like thousands of stars, and the moon is shining brighter than ever. I can't seem to look away from her, even when she turns her head to look at me. Her eyes are sparkling and her smile is the biggest I've ever seen it.

"It's so beautiful," She finally says.

"Yeah, it is," I reply, my gaze locked on her. I don't think I've been this happy in a while, and I love that she is able to do that. I slowly place my free hand on her back and turn her body so we are facing each other. I remove my hand from hers and quickly place it on the other side of her back.

I'm staring at her like an idiot, I know. I can't help it.

After a moment, her arms begin lifting from her side, and they wrap around my waist, bringing us closer than before. I take a risk and pull her in for a hug. I can feel her arms tighten around me when I pull her in. I rest my head on the top her hers and take in her sweet, vanilla scent.

"Merci," I whisper.

~

i think this chapter was really cute :) hope this made up for before!!