Chapter 36

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I stared at him and asked, "What?"

He anxiously tapped his finger against the table. He finally met my eyes and said, "Philadelphia."Β 

"What about Philadelphia?"

"Let's move there."

My eyes widened.Β  I knew that he was wanting for us to move out of New York, but I wasn't expecting him to already have a state in mind so soon.

He noticed my face and said, "Shit. Should I not have suggested there? I just thought that you loved it there but we could live anywhere else that you-"

I cut him off, "I did love Philadelphia, Aero. I just....I need to think about it for a while, okay? Moving out of the only place I've ever lived is something that I need to process for a while."

"I understand," he nodded. "Take all the time you need. It's just....the sooner the better. So we can look at houses, and stuff, you know?"

I reached across the table to put my hand over top of his, since he was still tapping his finger against the table and rambling his words. I told him softly, "Don't be nervous."

"I can't help it," he whispers while exhaling.Β 

My eyebrows lowered slightly, "What is making you so nervous?"

His mouth hangs open for a few moments before he speaks.

"The idea of anything bad happening to you because of me."

His worry was justified considering people have already tried to do something to me to get back at Aero. I know we have to move, but I want to make sure I'm moving somewhere that I will be happy.Β 

"Nothing is going to happen in 4 days," An idea popped into my head, "Here! I have an idea."

He stared at me with a gentle expression and smile, as if I was telling him the best news he has ever heard. I told him, "I'll give myself a deadline. By the end of the month on the 31st, I will tell you exactly where I want to move."

He stiffened when I said the 31st for a second. It's only 4 days, he'll be fine.Β 

He looked to the side for a few moments before meeting my eyes again. He smiled, "Okay. It can be anywhere, Hailey. Seriously, you could say North Korea and I'd say our flight is tomorrow."

I started laughing, leaning back in my seat. The worker walked up the stairs with our food, the smell making me so excited to eat it. They refilled our waters and put the food down before walking back down the stairs, and I instantly started eating my food.

Aero ate his too, but I ate at a much faster pace. He asked me, "Starting to feel better?"

I nodded my head and the corners of his mouth turned up. I continued to eat my food until it was all gone, my stomach feeling satisfied. As I took a sip of my water Aero asked, "What happened today?"

I sighed before speaking, "Tomas has been a dick to me lately, avoiding me, being short and rude with me. I tried to confront him about it and he was all like 'that's life' and 'don't ask questions you don't want the answers to.' Like what kind of answer is that?"

Aeros jaw tightened. He asked in a monotone voice, "Tomas made you upset?"

His eyes had a hint of anger to them so I switched to the next thing to keep Aero from wanting to kill Tomas, "And then Reid and I try to cook something and it sets on fire and he leaves me to try and put it out while he just watches."

His eyes widened slightly, "Fire?"

"Yes. And then I put it out because I'm awesome and Bruno shows up to talk to Reid and he's mad that I'm there as if Reid and I haven't been friends for years!"

He asked me, "Want me to kick his ass?"

I laughed. I shook my head, "No, I don't want you to kick anyone's ass. Including my dads, who also was a huge asshole. Hey, speaking of my dad, why did you hit him?"

He quietly said, "He was talking badly about you."

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I didn't want to have to repeat the things he said."

That didn't surprise me at all. My dad clearly loves insulting me. The worker came back with the check and despite my several attempts to try and convince Aero to let me pay, he never listened. He paid and we went outside, but he started walking in the opposite direction of his car.

I jogged to catch up to him and said, "Hey, cars the other way."

"I have something to pick up first that's this way," he shrugged.

We walked down the sidewalk until we arrived at a store with glass windows and mannequins wearing beautiful dresses in it. He entered and I followed, confused as to why he would be picking up a dress. Oh, if there's another girl she is so dead. So dead you should write it in capital letters.Β 

A girl who was working there rushed over to us as soon as we entered, "Mr. Black! We have the three dresses you requested ready for you. Is this who will be wearing them?"

Aero replied, "Yes it is."

I am?

"Perfect! Come with me dear," she said in a cheerful tone to me, grabbing onto my wrist and pulling me into a changing room.

I stood, feeling confused as hell. I told her, "I don't understand-"

"You are so lucky to have a man with such good taste. Usually, when men come in here to shop for a woman they always pick the ugliest clothes. But Mr. Black has picked out 3 of my favourite dresses," she said to me, hanging 3 black dresses up on the rack.

I still felt confused. She turned on her heels and said over her shoulder before leaving the changing room, "Just let me know if you need anything!"

She shut the door and I turned to look at the 3 dresses that were hanging. They were beautiful, looking elegant and expensive. Still unsure of why Aero brought me here, I changed into the first dress.

I took a step out of the changing room once I had the dress on. Aero sat on a chair across from the changing room, his head moving up to look at me. I walked over to him and asked, "What are we doing here?"

"Well, since I'm forcing you to go to a funeral tomorrow, I thought that the least I could do is buy you a dress for it," he says while leaning back in the chair.Β 

I smiled down at him for a second before turning to look at myself in the mirror. I scanned my body up and down, a disappointed look forming on my face. I turned to him and said, "I don't think I like this one...Maybe if I was skinner I could do it justice."Β 

He stood up quickly and grabbed my face before pressing his lips against mine, his tongue entering my mouth and allowing for me to taste the mint from the gum he had been chewing. When he pulled away I asked him, "What was that for?"

"Every time you say something negative about yourself I will put my tongue down your throat to stop you."

I felt my cheeks grow hot and I had to look away for a second. He sat back down in the chair and I entered the changing room again to try on the next dress.

This one was a little bit longer, and I felt more comfortable in it. I walked out, a smile forming on his face. He said, "Now do a spin."

I did a single spin while laughing, knowing that I like this dress more than the last. He said through a smile, "Beautiful."

I went back into the changing room, changing into the third and final dress. I stared at myself in the mirror for a few moments, actually feeling pretty in it. I adjusted it slightly before walking out, eager to get Aero's opinion.

As I walked towards him his eyebrows raised and he leaned forward in his seat, his elbows resting on his knees now. I looked down at him and asked, "What do you think?"

"That's the one," he said softly.

I turned to look at myself in the mirror. He stood up behind me and I asked him, "Are you sure?"

He moved my hair out of the way and pressed a kiss against my neck and whispered, "Positive."

The worker came back into the changing area and she gasped when she saw me. She rushed over to me and smiled, "You look gorgeous!"

"We'll take this one," Aero said to her.

She nodded her head, "Of course, brilliant choice. Follow me and I'll ring you up."

Aero walked away with the worker and I went back into the change room. I put the clothes I had been wearing back on and carried the three dresses over to the cash register, placing them down on the counter. She put the two dresses away behind the counter but scanned the one that we agreed on.

She said, "That will be $10,500 please."

My jaw dropped and I turned to look at Aero who already had his card in the machine. He said while typing in his pin, "Don't try to fight me on this, Hailey."

My mouth remained open while he removed his card and she printed his receipt. She placed the receipt and dress in a bag and pushed it towards us while saying, "Have a great day!"

Aero took the bag and grabbed my hand with his other hand, basically dragging me out of the store since I was still in shock.

Once we were outside I said, "10k on a dress for me?! Aero, I appreciate your kindness but that money could've gone to something more important."

He rolled his eyes while smiling, "Like what? Feeding the ponies at the zoo?"

"I don't think zoos have ponies...."

He shrugged, "Whatever. You're my girl so I'm going to buy you nice things."

I know Aero has a ton of money, but it still felt so mind-blowing to see. We approached his car and got in, and this time he headed in the direction of the apartment.Β 

We entered our current house and it felt so good to be home. I threw myself down on the black couch and Aero came over, sitting beside me. He asked, "Want to watch Inside Out?"

My face lit up at the fact that he remembered I wanted to watch that movie. He put it on and I laid my head down on his lap, still continuing to lay. His hands played with my hair as we watched the movie, and I started to think about his question again.

Could I live in Philadelphia?

I did really like it there. I could transfer to the University of Pennsylvania, or a different one if I didn't get accepted. I know we can't stay in New York, but we would still be close enough where I could visit Reid all the time.

I suddenly spoke, "I thinkΒ Philadelphia could be nice."

He looked down at me and I said, "Living there, I mean."

"Really?" he asked, clearly surprised by my sudden answer.

I nodded my head. I loved it there, I could still see Reid, and maybe I could meet some new friends since Tomas and Carla aren't friends with me anymore. A smile slowly formed on his face and he said, "Okay. After this month I'll start looking at some houses."

I turned my head back to look at the movie, biting my bottom lip while smiling. Maybe once Reid graduates, he could end up moving there too.Β 

I haven't forgotten about wanting to surprise Aero on the 29th. He always does such nice things for me, I want to return the favour. I have a few ideas, but I'll have to wait until after the funeral tomorrow to start planning anything.Β 

I asked Aero, "Do you know how long the funeral is tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure. But I was being serious about the people there not being good people. Nobody should bother you, but if they do, come find me and I will deal with it."

I nodded my head, going back to watching the movie.

I'm sure a funeral won't be that chaotic.Β 

Word Count: 2050


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