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I adjusted my body closer and, with our hands still connected, I leaned in. The heat from his lips seemed too close to be true and I closed my eyes slowly, revelling in the moment that was to come.

I thought back to when we had kissed at the party at his house and the urge for his lips became stronger and more prominent. I wanted this, now, more than ever.

More than anything.

His mouth almost enveloped mine in a fiery kiss.

Keyword being almost.

Before our lips could make contact, Aaron's finger did. He raised his index finger to my lips, stopping me in my movements.

"Please." He strained out, his voice laced with exhaustion.

My eyes snapped open at this and I stared at him, hoping he would offer me a reasonable explanation- But one never came.

He stood still in front of me, his finger frozen on my lips and his eyes strained shut.

I don't know why I needed an explanation. It was perfectly clear we weren't actually a couple, there was no one around to put on a show for and he wasn't even attracted to me.

Given that, why would he kiss me?

But, nevertheless, I still gave in to the pathetic hope that he would offer an explanation that would extinguish the growing flames that pecked at my heart. That he would just turn around and say 'I'm sorry I stopped the kiss, but a couple of pirañas were chewing on my leg. I'll only need a moment to recompose myself and then I'll kiss you whilst riding off into the sunset."

Well, I didn't expect that.

I expected something, at the least.

I recoiled away from him, nodding numbly.

"Sorry." I mumbled. Tears formed in my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall. I was stronger than that. I wouldn't let anyone see my weaknesses, especially him.

Aaron's eyes didn't meet mine as he spoke, his voice quiet.

"No. I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't mean to start anything. I'm sorry." He said, his eyes looking everywhere but at me.

And it was that time that we both turned to look at our connected palms. I smiled at the memory of not long ago. Thinking back, it seemed like decades ago.

Decades ago when I felt something from the touch of another. Decades ago when I felt something for Aaron.

I felt so stupid now.

I turned to Aaron who eyed our connected hands with a mixture of disgust and despair.

I waited. I don't know what for, but I didn't feel like moving right now. Aaron clenched and unclenched his jaw, eyeing our hands. His palm pressed against mine with a little force before he hesitantly parted his hand from mine, moving it back slowly to his side.

It was then when he finally looked into my eyes and I could see the sadness woven into them.

At that minute, I could have cradled him. His eyes resembled that of a lost child- vulnerable.

He was vulnerable and it was an odd sight to see on what was named the face of Redwood High. He didn't seem like the same guy to me. He seemed broken- an expensive vase that couldn't be fixed, but only replaced with a cheap fake replica made to deceive.

That's what he was. He was just like me. He was playing the same game which made me think of how little I knew of the playboy.

He looked back to the area where our hands had been conjoined and shook his head before looking into my eyes.

And that's when I saw it. Even if it was for a split second- it was right there in plain view as if he placed it there deliberately, pleading for help. For anything.

For a second he was open and I saw it in his eyes.

Love.

It shone and glimmered in his eyes for that split second as if he was reminiscing whilst staring at our hands and all I could do was stare. I knew who it was and my chest burned as my head sketched out the name.

I just stared in helplessness as I watched the playboy deep in his thoughts- thinking about his love and not me.

Thinking about Avalon.

*********************

After that, I had gotten out the water- too numb to swim and too hurt to even be near him. Aaron, on the other hand, swam for a while.

The forest was quiet after that. The only thing that could be heard was the howling of the wind and the gentle splattering noises Aaron made with the water as he swam.

Aaron also left the water after that; dressed himself and came towards me, copying my position as his body fell limp on the grass beside where I lay.

So, then we both lay in silence, thinking about several ways the incident could have gone differently.

"Lexi?" Aaron said, breaking the silence.

I wanted to shout and scream at him for what had just happened, but I couldn't. If I did, I'd give him another part of me- the part that showed him that he had the ability to hurt me; the part that would show him I cared.

If I did that, I would let him win and I would have opened myself more to the hurt that was bound to come with the raging sea that was Aaron. I scoffed internally at this. I had likened him to the sea a while ago, not even knowing the truth to my words. He was dangerous and now I knew.

"Mm?" I responded, trying to play it cool, but in actual fact I was anything but.

My heart raced a little faster when he had called my name and I thought back to what happened in the lake.

To everyone else, it must have looked like a normal average day couple that were about to kiss, but didn't. It looked as simple as that.

But, it wasn't.

The way our palms touched and, in some way, connected the two of us for a second. The way that, in that time, I could feel all his sadness; dreams and vulnerability as though he opened up to me. The way that, whilst our palms were connected, Aaron consumed my every thought.

I scoffed. I thought of him that whole time and he thought of....her.

Whilst his palm was in contact with my own, he was connected with her. He could see her.

He wanted her to see him sad; to feel his sadness. He wanted to open up to her and show her his vulnerability. He wanted her to know the extent of his love. And she consumed every one of his thoughts. Her, not me.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"Yes?" I repeated when Aaron didn't respond.

It was a couple of seconds before he did say anything.

"What's your opinion on it?" He questioned, gazing up at the sky.

"What?" I asked, confused.

He turned his face to look at me.

"You know, when you said being a virgin depends on how the person looks at it. What does that mean?"

I blinked, confused by his random start in conversation and shook my head. Nevertheless, I thought of an answer.

"Well, because everyone sees it differently. Some people see a girl's virginity as symbolic of her honour and purity. It's why they first began wearing a white dress in weddings- to indicate their purity and, if it's gone, they think the girl is no longer pure." I paused, letting Aaron process my words.

Aaron looked up at the sky. He looked in deep thought. Almost as he was analysing every word of what I've said.

I continued.

"However, keeping your virginity can also be seen as a bad thing. People start to think you're too prude. Or that no one wants to sleep with you. If a girl keeps her virginity, she's already labelled by society before they even get to know her. Sometimes, she's not seen as pure, but rather as unsexy. It's amazing how society works, really." I said, but every word I was saying felt like it was all too familiar.

As if I was talking about myself.

Aaron smiled, a breathy chuckle escaping his lips.

"It's a fucked up world we live in" He said and I nodded in agreement.

Aaron turned to me slightly at my actions, before leaning over my lying body:- his elbow on the ground and his hand holding his head. He was very close to my lying form and I felt the knot in my stomach at how close he was; how easy it would be to see my imperfections. Yet, he didn't notice my turmoil and just traced my face with his eyes.

"Say something?" He asked, smiling at me.

I smiled back, looking up at him.

"What's your most favourite thing to do in the world?" I asked, randomly, obliging to his command.

Aaron bit his lip and raised a dark eyebrow.

"That's easy. Get with some girls" He said, waggling an eyebrow.

I gave him a pointed look.

"Seriously, Aaron? Seriously?" I droned sarcastically.

He put up a hand in mock surrender.

"I'm serious, Lexi! It really is." He said, laughing. He shrugged.

"It helps me take my mind off stuff, I guess."

"What kind of stuff?" I questioned, looking up at him.

He shrugged again.

"I don't know. Problems, maybe- Whenever there's something pressing in the back of my mind. It just helps." He said honestly, making me smile.

"Ever heard of chocolate therapy?" I joked, raising an eyebrow.

Aaron smirked.

"Of course I have. I always use chocolate therapy- the melted kind. It really does help." He said jokingly, his grin widened when he saw me grimace.

"Ew, yeah, no thanks. I'm good." I said, retching at the thought.

Aaron laughed and hit my arm playfully.

"You never know unless you try." He suggested flirtatiously.

I rubbed my chin in a pretence that I was thinking.

"Nope. I'll take my chances." I said, making Aaron laugh.

"What's your most favourite thing to do in the world?" Aaron questioned, looking at me.

I racked my brain for what it was, but- truth be told- I didn't know.

"No idea."

Aaron looked at me, puzzled.

"You don't know?" He questioned, looking down at me.

I shrugged.

"I've never really thought about it and, now, when I do- I don't think I have a favourite thing to do." I said honestly.

Aaron nodded slowly before he leaned down slightly, his eyes glittering with playful mirth.

"So, have you ever had a boyfriend?" He asked, his face curious.

I thought for a while before letting out a giggle.

"Depends. Does James Whitman from play-school count?" I asked, remembering the snotty scrawny blonde kid.

Aaron's grin widened.

"No." He said. His eyebrows then furrowed.

"Wasn't he too young to ask you out?" He questioned.

"He didn't technically ask me out. He gave me his crayon and that was that- Boyfriend and Girlfriend." I said, a cheesy grin on my face.I still had the green crayon.

Aaron raised an eyebrow.

"How cute?" He said, making it sound more like a question.

I poked his arm.

"How about you, Casanova? How many girls have had the blessed status of being your girlfriend? 30? 31? I could go higher?" I teased.

Aaron laughed, shaking his head.

"Believe it or not. I've only had 2 girlfriends." He said.

I gaped at him. He couldn't be serious.

"But all the girls that-"

"Most rumours and some just casual hook ups." Aaron interrupted dismissiely, but there was a hardness to his tone as though he didn't like my insinuation. It was gone before I could even question it and I watched as he then lay down, putting both his arms behind his head.

He turned to me.

"And that is why, Lexi, you should consider yourself lucky to be 'blessed with the status of being my girlfriend.'" He said, copying my words from when I was teasing him.

"I feel so lucky." I droned in a monotone voice.

Aaron laughed at this and nodded.

"As you should be." He said cockily.

He then nudged me with his side as we lay together.

"Girlfriend Number 3." He muttered under his breath, laughter bubbling in his voice.

I nudged him hard with my own hip, making him wince and rub the area I hit. He smirked at me.

"Wow. Such powerful hips. Good for birth-giving. I see a really good surrogacy career ahead of you." He muttered jokingly.

I cut his laughter off by hitting him with my hip again. He didn't dare talk after that.

A noise suddenly emerged from the air, disturbing the peace and tranquility of the forest. I looked around to find the source, but it suddenly stopped.

I waited and waited, but it didn't happen again.

"Aaron?" I called, crawling closer to him.

"Yeah?" He said, his eyes closed.

"What was that noise?" I said, my voice trembling as my eyes darted to and fro.

Aaron didn't bother opening his eyes whilst he replied.

"Oh, that was your phone. It's rung like 5 times now." He responded casually, making me jump up frantically.

"What?!" I said. Oh no, mom was going to kill me!

Worse, she was probably worried sick for my safety. I pinched the bridge of my nose. Who knows what she must be going through.

Aaron noticed my sudden mood change and moved closer to me.

"You okay?" He asked, concern evident in his voice.

I stood up, ignoring his question.

"I need to get home." I said and, with that, I began to walk away.

Aaron hurriedly; grabbed my phone and followed after me.

"Hey, wait! Let me drop you." He said, walking alongside me.

I shook my head and grabbed my phone from him.

"No, I'll be fine. You need to go home too. Bye." I smiled quickly before turning on my heel and walking away.

I heard a laugh and turned around to see Aaron folding his arms and smirking at me.

"Where are we Lexi?" He questioned, already knowing the answer to his question.

I opened my mouth and shut it again. I gave him my best dirty looking before sighing resignedly and turning around.

"Lead the way." I said bitterly as Aaron walked past, a smug look on his face.

Jerk.

************

"Voila!" Aaron said triumphantly, pointing at my house.

"Shut up." I muttered, walking past him to the doorstep.

Aaron sighed.

"The least you could do is thank me." He said, smiling widely as he walked over to where I was standing at the doorstep.

"Thank you." I said quickly, proceeding to open the door with my keys

Aaron stuck an arm in front of my way, tutting at me.

"That's no way to thank someone, Lexi." He said smirking.

I rolled my eyes.

"And how do I thank you, Oh Great One." I said sarcastically.

This only made Aaron's smirk widen as he raised a long index finger and placed it on his cheek, tapping repeatedly.

"I could use some sugar." He said jokingly, not knowing the effect he had on me.

My heart was racing so fast, I thought it would drive right out of my chest. I looked away from his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm not doing that." I said, my voice sounding unsure and trembling. He didn't seem to notice.

"Come on. It's just a peck. What do you have to lose?" He questioned, coming closer.

I sighed. Truth is, there was nothing to lose, but I just didn't want to kiss him. The way I was feeling right now scared me and it would only multiply, no doubt, when I kissed him.

Aaron noticed my hesitation and scratched the back of his neck. A thing I noticed he'd do when it was awkward or uncomfortable. I didn't know which one he was feeling right now. He turned to walk away, but I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. No doubt, gaining a confused stare from him.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and tiptoed which made my eyes in level with his mouth. Aaron responded by putting his arms around my waist. I smiled at him and ducked to the side, kissing his cheek.

Pulling back, I looked to his eyes which had widened a little from my actions and he looked to me with his assessing gaze. For a minute we were both just lost in each other and I looked to him with tepid eyes watching as he sighed slightly.

"About earlier.." He began and I felt my heart lurch to my throat at the mention. He opened his mouth to speak but the sound of a cough emanataed and we turned around abruptly to the source, my mouth opening in shock.

"What's going on?"

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