Chapter 3: A Kiss

November 13th. 5:00 AM

Arriving at the usual time, Aaron looked through the bars, wondering if Charlotte would come greet him like she usually did. He set up his things and tuned his violin and she still didn't come out. Aaron was starting to worry after an hour passed by. He waited, unnerved. His playing was off. He stopped and put his things away.

The clock near by struck nine o'clock. A carriage rolled up and out stepped two men. They seemed to be related in some way, despite one having blonde hair and blue eyes that were quite similar to Charlotte.

"Excuse me," he said to them. They stopped and turned to him. "I could be wrong, but do you know Charlotte de Chagny?"

"We're her brothers," the older of the two answered. "Who are you?"

"A friend," Aaron answered, deciding not to tell them that he was an intended suitor. "I have to ask her something, would you mind if I accompanied you?"

The younger brother snarled and the older placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm afraid we can't allow you to see our sister," he said coolly.

Aaron's brow furrowed. "Why not? I insist on seeing her!"

"Absolutely out of the question."

"Now get lost," the younger brother growled as they entered the gates and headed up to the building.

Aaron ground his teeth and grabbed his things, deciding to go home.

"Aaron!" Ms. Newfield shouted, running out. Aaron stopped and turned to her. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Aaron took a deep breath to try to calm himself down. "I need to speak with Miss de Chagny," he stated. Ms. Newfield nodded and opened the gate for him.

"Her brothers are here, so be careful with your tongue."

"I know, I asked them to accompany me so I could speak with her and they refused."

"Well, I dare say they would. Charlotte is the family's treasure, or so I'm told," the headmistress said, opening the gates and letting him inside. She led him to the Opal dormitory and told him to wait.

Aaron yawned, rubbing his eyes. He sat down and waited with growing impatience. Just as he was about to go and look for her himself, the door opened and Charlotte entered. Her eyes, when they met his, widened in fear.

"Why are you here?" she whispered.

"You didn't come greet me like usual," Aaron said sadly. "I need to talk to you."

"You shouldn't be here," she hissed, her eyes gazing at the door on occasion.

"And why the hell not?" he snarled. "Because I confessed how much you mean to me? Because I kissed you?"

"No, none of that," Charlotte said, holding up her hands. "My brothers are here. They're a bit overprotective. More protective than even my father. It's a miracle that they waited this long to check on me."

"I don't see why I should fear a couple of fops."

"Aaron, please," Charlotte begged, rushing over to him and grabbing his hands and kneeling by his feet. Aaron blinked in surprise. "Just tell me why you came here? What did you want to talk about?"

"Why didn't you come?"

Charlotte blushed. "I was embarrassed," she said.

"What is there to be embarrassed by?" Aaron growled, startling her. She took a breath and continued in a more composed manner:

"I couldn't get your kiss off my mind enough to concentrate let alone get out of bed. Each time I thought about it, I accepted it more. I knew I would have liked to be kissed sometime but it was too sudden yesterday."

Aaron got out of the chair and knelt on the floor in front of her, caressing her cheek. Charlotte took it in both of hers, intertwining her fingers in his.

"I have to go now," she whispered. When she said those words, Aaron wrapped his other arm around her waist. "Aaron, not now."

"If your brothers are overprotective, than I should be allowed the right to be possessive," he muttered, closing the distance between them.

"Aaron," she began when they broke apart.

"Shut up," he muttered, closing the distance again for another brief moment.

"I have to go."

"What are you scared of?"

Another kiss.

"They could hurt you—" A kiss.

"I'd like to see them—" A kiss. "Try." A kiss.

"Aaron—" A kiss.

Someone pounded at the door and Aaron, growling, hesitant to let her go, released her and Charlotte hid him in her room. The door to the dormitory burst open and Armand ran in, followed by Philip.

"What's going on in here that you'd refuse to open the doors?" Armand shouted.

Charlotte kept her cool, standing. "I was talking to Natalie, she just left and I realized that I left my bracelet in here," as proof, she raised her hand were a bracelet now resided.

Armand took a breath, trying comically to stave his anger. Philip just raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. Charlotte gave them an annoyingly sweet smile and walked out of the room. Her brothers followed.

Once they were gone, Aaron snuck out of the school and headed home.

sorry it took so long. Not sure why, the whole thing should be up by now...anyway, hope this chapter is as uncomforting as the last one (remember, the dates are there to show time length). Yes: Aaron is more daring now. He's as hopeless as his father. ^^