Tainted Feelings
1305 Words
Grant chuckles. "Sorry, I heard my name."
I speak up immediately. "I was just telling V you and the twins are here."
Vanessa looks like she's seen a ghost. "Yeah, what a coincidence right?"
Grant looks back and forth between us. "You guys are acting weird tonight."
"No, we're not!" V and I say simultaneously, not proving our point.
"Hey, what are you ladies doing here?" When I hear his voice, my heart starts to pound so intensely I fear it's going to escape from my chest.
I dare to move my eyes in his direction. "Aiden, hey! We could ask you the same thing."
Aiden moves up to the bar, right next to me. "You know us, we came here looking for some chaos."
I get hit by the smell of his cologne, minty and woodsy. It's a strange combination, but it pairs so well together.
Vanessa grabs Grant's hand and puts it around herself, which he lets her do with no protest. "Please, just go with it."
Grant smirks. "I already was Nessa." Nessa was Grant's nickname for Vanessa, which I found adorable.
She relaxed in his arms. "So, are we supposed to leave you guys alone for your guys night?"
Grant answers her. "Oh no, you guys aren't getting away from us that easily."
Aiden chimes in. "Yeah, I'll even buy you girls a drink."
Vanessa gives me a look that tells me she clearly doesn't want me to have another drink, but I pretend I don't see it.
Aiden turns to me. "I was actually hoping I could talk to you."
I do my best to keep my cool, but inside I'm freaking out. "Am I in trouble?"
He smiles, setting my heart aflame. He had such a warm smile. "Do you want to confess to something?"
I bite my lip, knowing I did but I wasn't about to incriminate myself. "Lead the way."
Alec, Aiden's twin brother, runs up to us just as we're about to leave. "I got the girl over there in the black tube top's number."
Grant and Aiden erupt into cheers for him, making V and I laugh. Aiden directs his attention back to me, a rare gem. "Okay, I'm actually moving this time."
I follow closely behind him, using breathing techniques to calm myself. He randomly stops, causing me to crash into his chest. He grips my arms, helping me steady myself. "Woah, I'm sorry!"
I admire his large dark green eyes. "No worries, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"I wanted to thank you for setting me up on that blind date, she was amazing!"
I suck in a breath, feeling like I was just stabbed in the heart. "Don't thank me, we were all sick of hearing you whine about being single. It was really a favor for myself." I was lying. I did it to test him. I was hoping he'd tell me he didn't want to go on the date because he had feelings for someone else. That didn't happen though, he seized the opportunity with open arms.
He shifts, letting me know that wasn't the end of the conversation. "Yeah, about that. I kind of don't want to date her."
I resisted the urge to smile. "What do you mean? You said you liked her."
He looks down, guiltily. "I did, at the time. Liked, as in past tense. I just don't know how to tell her that."
The hair sprawled across my shoulder suddenly bothers me. I swipe it off. "Just be honest, I'm sure she'll understand. You guys have only know each other for like a day, it can't be that deep."
"Well...." He looks away.
"Well, what?" I persist.
Now it's his turn to mess with his hair. His rich brown locks fall splendidly into place. "We sort of slept together."
I face my entire body away from him, crushed. "You slept with her?! You just met her!"
"I know, it wasn't my finest moment. It just kind of happened and then I realized I didn't want to see her again. I was hoping you could break the news to her since you guys are friends."
I smack his shoulder. "You want me to tell her? That's a coward move Aiden."
"Zephyrine, I'm really sorry. I really think it'd be better coming from you. You guys can fully trash me, I deserve it."
I get mad at myself for falling into his trap the way I always do. "You're luckily we're friends. I'll tell her but maybe next time don't sleep with someone you don't want to date."
He pulls me into a hug. "I won't, I promise!" He kisses my forehead and suddenly I can't remember why I was upset.
I swallow down my shame. "We should head back, unless there's anything else you want to talk about."
"There is one other thing I wanted to say to you."
I let myself hope again, a dangerous game for a girl like me. "What's that?"
He looks me up and down. "That outift looks really good on you."
"Thank you." I can barely speak. The way he was looking at me, talking to me, made me think he may actually like me too. It makes me brave. "I have something I want to ask you."
His eyes never leave mine. "Ask away."
"Why don't you like her anymore?" I brace myself for his answer, knowing it had the potential to do more damage to my heart.
Aiden didn't expect my question. He's silent for a moment. "Somebody else made me feel more than she did."
"Then why aren't you with that person?" My interest was piqued.
He looks as though he's afraid of what he's about to say. "She's a virgin."
My heart sank. I was a virgin. Then I froze, was he talking about me? Being 23 years old and a virgin wasn't the most common thing. "What's wrong with that?"
"Come closer to me." He motioned me in. "There's nothing wrong with being a virgin. I just can't be with a virgin, it's too complicated."
I blow my cover just a little. "Don't you think it's special to be the first for someone who waited for you?"
He tucked my hair behind my ear. "It's sweet, but it's never been something I wanted to do. It's too much pressure. I don't need someone with a high body count, just more than zero."
The words come out before I can stop them. "So, one?"
He leans down, centimeters from my face and nods. "One."
Aiden stupefies me. The thoughts that go through my mind stun me. I consider losing my virginity sooner than I expected to and not to who I expected to loose it to. Maybe then he'd want me. "I think that's a dumb reason to not be with someone but that's your choice."
He keeps his voice low. "You know I'm talking about you, don't you?"
I can't believe what I'm hearing. I decide to keep playing it cool. "Now I do. Look Aiden, I am not going to sleep with someone just so you might possibly consider me."
"Of course not." He agrees. "I wish I could get past it, but I just can't."
I roll my eyes. "You're assuming I care if you get past it."
Aiden runs his hands at the corners of my lips. "You're right. I have no idea who you're into, so I'm going to stop talking and head back to the bar."
"Hold up, mister!" I yell after him. "How do you know I'm a virgin?"
He gives me a look that appears to be fear mixed with amusement. "I overheard you and Vanessa talking about it one day."
"You weirdo!" I laugh.
As painful as it was, I let him walk away.
- Writer
