Violet

"Wasn't the doctor going to stay?" Aaron stood in front of me, his soft gray eyes looking me up and down. I followed his vision, looking at my plain pink dress, it was nothing special, just a rose-colored dress that reached just above my knees.

If anything, Aaron was the one to look at. He was in a hoodie and jeans, something he rarely wore when we were in high school. I wondered why he suddenly decided to change his attire.

I hate to admit that I liked the attention, but I blushed, pulling the small silky strap back over my shoulder, memories of Tony's kisses in his car flashing in my mind. I was smiling since he dropped me off; smiling up until the point when I walked into my apartment and found Aaron standing by the door, patiently waiting. My smile had instantly faded as I furrowed my brows. It was freezing, I hoped he hadn't waited too long. I waved at Tony as I saw him pull out of the driveway. I was worried that he would see Aaron and I together, especially after Tony noticed me openly-gazing at Aaron during his proposal.

I couldn't help it. I wasn't expecting him to be there. It was a shock.

"No," I said, crossing my legs as I sat on my couch. Aaron's eyes tracked every movement as he stood with his arms crossed by the window. "He's never stayed the night, it's one of our boundaries." Our boundaries were in place for the sake of preventing any mix-ups before we were married, regardless of how far back I had pushed the wedding now. I was too tired to even think about it.

"Can't control yourselves? Kinky," Aaron chuckled as I narrowed my eyes at him, my jaw dropping as he walked around my living room and resumed the conversation like normal "congrats on the engagement, by the way." He said, I could see a painful expression pain flash in his eyes, but said nothing, maybe I'd imagined it. I couldn't read him as easily as I used to.

He had certainly changed more than that though. He'd clearly been working out, more muscular than before. His features were more defined, and his jawline looked like it could slice through a stone. I shut my eyes, trying to stop looking at him. He'd gotten more handsome. Or perhaps, I just hadn't seen many good-looking men recently, at least, not ones I'm familiar with because believe me, Tony was his own type of attractive. But it's not all about outer appearances, I wasn't superficial enough to fall for a guy because he was cute.

"You know that's not what happened." I glanced at him, his gray eyes were full of depth. Desire, perhaps. He kept his mouth shut as he looked at my dress, admiring its contour on my body as I felt myself blush.

No. That's not allowed. I should've changed out of this dress, I can't even sit comfortably. Aaron, get your mind out of the gutter.

"Care to replay, but with me?" He approached me, sitting on my coffee table as he leaned forward, inches from my face as his eyes searched mine. I glared at him, he obviously would've seen that I kissed my boyfriend before coming up here.

"No." I said, quickly standing up and walking towards my bedroom, "I'll be right back." I announced, rushing to my room and changing out of my dress and into a sweater and sweatpants. There, more comfortable.

"You okay in there?" Aaron asked after a while, "I didn't realize lingerie took that long to change into." He joked, still sitting on my coffee table and eating the chocolates that Tony had dropped off before our date tonight.

"I have a boyfriend, Aaron. And you happen to be eating the chocolate he gave me." I hid my smile as I walked over to him, I missed our bickering. It had been so long since I've met someone I could simultaneously like and dislike all at once.

"You're not married, so technically, you're single. Let him know they were delicious." He smirked, taking another one out of the heart-shaped container and crossing his arms as I walked past him.

"That's not how it works, Aaron." I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile. He was annoying. But, it was hard to be mad at somebody you missed. There was no denying that I missed Aaron. A lot, actually. I couldn't help, but say his name after each sentence, I missed the sound of it. It had literally been five years since I'd last seen him. Yet, he wasn't acting like himself. He seemed to be making lots of inappropriate jokes for whatever reason. I couldn't figure it out. Perhaps he was anxious about something, maybe upset about something?

I went into my kitchen, which was technically just a kitchen island that was separated from the living room via the different floor tiling. "You want something to drink, Aaron?"

"No." He said, turning to face me as he dropped the remote on the floor. "So, how's everything been since medical school and stuff?" He asked, reaching for the remote and turning on the television.

For some reason, he made my apartment feel bigger, more spacious, than it actually was. I couldn't understand it. More free, perhaps.

"Good." I muttered, pouring him a glass of water and handing it to him as he swallowed it all in an instant.

Not thirsty, huh? I thought as he gave me a sheepish smile.

"Why are you here anyway?" I asked, "how did you even know where I was?"

Aaron sighed, things certainly felt different than the last time I'd seen him. He felt different.

He reached inside his jeans pocket and pulled out a badge. Detective.

"Am I under investigation then, detective?" I muttered as laughter flashed in his eyes. He stood up and approached me, his eyes boring into mine with each step.

"I'd love a chance to investigate you." He whispered, standing too close as I laughed nervously, frozen in place, trying to comprehend why I was suddenly feeling my heart hammering in my chest and the shivers running down my spine. No.

Stop it. But he obviously couldn't hear that while looking at me.

"Same old, Aaron." I rolled my eyes, trying my best to seem unfazed as I patted his chest and walked toward the couch. He stood in his spot, turning to face me and crossed his arms.

"Were you expecting somebody else?"

"No," I smiled, taking a seat, "I've missed you. It's been so long, you didn't even text."

He walked toward me and sat beside me on my couch, "I've missed you too, Vy." He sighed, wrapping his arms around me in a warm hug. He still smelled like himself, despite the years that had gone by. His cologne still smelled the same, bringing back the warm memories that came with the smell. I tightened my arms around his torso, my head resting against his rapidly beating heart. "None of my texts ever went through, I assumed you'd changed your number." He shrugged as I smiled. I had changed my number come to think of it, I got a new phone once I started university across the country so I would have an area code that matched the people around me. And then I moved a town away from him for residency where I met Tony and we hit it off two years ago.

I leaned into his hug, it was so cozy, so comfortable. I almost forgot that I shouldn't be this happy to see him.

"Why not?" He asked, leaning his cheek against my hair.

"What?" I muttered against his chest.

"Why shouldn't you be this happy to see me?" He grinned as I rolled my eyes. Oh, I forgot he could do that; read my mind.

"Just let me enjoy the moment." I muttered as I felt his chest move up and down when he laughed. If I shut my eyes, I knew I would fall asleep immediately, especially after the long day(s) I've had. I yawned loudly, snuggling closer as I felt my eyelids grow heavy.

Aaron was a perfect temperature, his gray cotton sweater seemed to match his eyes. It was soft, cozy, I didn't want to let go.

"Is lover boy going to be mad when he finds you asleep beside me?" Aaron muttered, his words hardly registered as I felt myself dozing off.

"Beside... you." I whispered against his chest. I felt like I was back at home, comfortable in my bed and waiting for mom to call me down for dinner.

I was so tired, unable to process anything and knowing I had another shift tomorrow. I was looking forward to the weekend, I'd get to visit mom and sleep in my childhood bed.

I didn't realize I had shut my eyes as glimpses of light faded in and out around me. I felt strong arms under my knees and my back and then, the comfort of my bed.

"Where's her room?" I heard a voice say as a quiet clicking opened a door. Then, the covers magically wrapped themselves around me as I felt the door swing, whoever was there was leaving my room. I opened my eyes to see a tall figure standing by the door, about to shut it and the light that came from the hallway was seconds from disappearing and yet, I wanted the comfort that I had felt seconds ago to come back.

"Stay." I heard myself mutter as I faded in and out of consciousness. The warmth was gone and I wondered if it was Tony who was here. Nothing was registering; I was so tired from a long thirty-two-hour shift at work and then a four-hour date.

"I can't, Violet." Somebody said. I had been awake for almost forty-hours now. Nothing was processing and I reached for the blanket, pulling the cotton fabric down. It seemed to resist as I tugged harder, wanting the warmth to surround me, to wrap it further against myself until I disappeared completely. My blanket covered me as it suddenly shifted. I leaned into the warmth as a steady rhythm drummed in my ears.

"Night, Violet," my blanket seemed to sigh, shuffling slightly as the world faded into a cozy black. Peaceful and silent, I slipped into the most restful sleep I had had in a long time.

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