Chapter Ten
882 Words
Aria and Noah had a history of on-again, off-again moments, but their final breakup happened for a solid reason.
Although they tried to maintain their long-distance relationship, the emotional connection started fading. Noah was in another city, building his career, while Aria was in a different phase of life—struggling to secure a stable job, moving in with Olivia, and eventually working at Paramount Financial Group. Their communication became inconsistent.
Some days, Noah would be too caught up with work to check in. Other days, Aria would be too exhausted to hold long conversations. They started feeling like strangers.
There were lingering frustrations. Noah had always been sweet, but he wasn’t the best at reassurance. When they had fights, he would sometimes pull away instead of fixing things immediately. Aria started questioning if he was truly invested.
Meanwhile, Noah felt like Aria was never satisfied with their relationship. She wanted stability, consistency, and deep emotional effort—something that became harder with the distance.
They had broken up and gotten back together multiple times, but every time, something felt missing.
One day, after a particularly heated argument over a missed video call (which Noah had forgotten because of work), Aria snapped. She told him:
"I don’t think we’re working anymore, Noah. Maybe we should stop forcing this.”
Noah, hurt but knowing she had a point, agreed.
"Maybe you’re right.”
And just like that, they ended it.
By the time Aria started working at Paramount Financial Group, she and Noah had already been broken up for months. They had stopped talking regularly, and although Noah would occasionally check in, they were no longer together.
But now… he’s back.
The rooftop was quieter than the rest of the party, offering a serene escape from the loud music and laughter below. The city lights stretched endlessly, casting a warm glow over Aria and Noah as they stood by the railing, each holding a drink.
Noah took a slow sip before turning to her. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Aria smiled softly. “Yeah, it has.”
For a moment, neither spoke. Instead, they let the comfortable silence settle between them, the weight of old memories pressing in.
“I missed this,” Noah admitted, swirling the drink in his glass. “Just… being around you.”
Aria raised an eyebrow, amused. “You mean arguing over who gets the last slice of pizza or the long talks about nothing?”
He chuckled. “Both.”
Dancing Under the Stars
Noah placed his drink down and extended a hand toward her. “Dance with me?”
Aria hesitated. “Here? Now?”
“Why not?” he shrugged. “It’s been years, Aria. Let’s make a memory.”
She sighed but took his hand, and just like that, they fell into a slow rhythm. The distant music from the party below gave them a soft background tune.
Aria wasn’t sure if it was the wine, the nostalgia, or just Noah’s familiar presence, but she felt at ease for the first time in a long time. His arms were steady, his eyes focused on her, and she could feel the warmth of his hand against her waist.
“You still dance the same,” he teased.
“Oh? And what does that mean?” she challenged, raising an eyebrow.
“It means you still try to lead when you should just follow,” he smirked.
She playfully nudged him, and they both laughed.
The Invitation
After the dance, they leaned against the railing, staring at the city skyline.
“So, now that I’m back in town,” Noah started, “maybe I could drop by sometime? We could catch up properly. You know, without all the noise.”
Aria hesitated for a second before nodding. “Yeah… that would be nice.”
Noah grinned. “Then, let me have your address.”
She gave it to him, though a part of her wondered if this was a good idea. It had been so long since they were in the same city, and now he was back—what did that mean for them?
Turning Down the Ride
As the party winded down, Victor came to pick up Jenna for the weekend. Aria watched as they left together, feeling a sudden sense of loneliness settle in her chest.
Noah walked up beside her. “Let me take you home.”
Aria shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll grab a cab.”
Noah frowned. “Are you sure? You’ve been drinking.”
“I’ll manage,” she insisted.
He studied her for a moment, then sighed. “Alright. Text me when you get home.”
She nodded, then turned and walked away.
Home, Alone, and Exhausted
By the time she got home, exhaustion weighed heavily on her. She was tipsy but not entirely drunk, her mind still buzzing with the night’s events.
She dropped her purse on the couch and kicked off her heels before collapsing onto her bed.
Noah was back.
And for the first time in a long time… she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
As sleep pulled her under, she couldn’t help but wonder—was this a second chance or just an old wound reopening?
- Writer
