A/N: Hello again! Welcome to chapter 13 of Turning Pages. If you have been reading this long then I just want to say thanks you and please continue to follow my stories. I really appreciate all of your support. *magically grows wings and flies off stage*
On my way to the library I think of all the things he could be nervous about. I hope he hasn't done anything stupid. I stop and then think Its Aaron, which means it's probably something stupid. I walk into the library to see a still pacing Aaron. He looks up and smiles as I enter but it's a tense smile.
"So, what is it that you have to tell me?" I ask bluntly.
"You really like to cut to the chase don't you?" he asks and I nod. I never have been one for formalities and small talk. I like to jump into things. "Let me ask you a question first," he says and I nod again then he continues. "Did you have fun last night?" he asks. Today is off to an odd start.
"Yeah it was okay. I don't really like dances but I had to attend this one, so I did."
"So, not even dancing with me was enjoyable for you?" he asks looking hurt by my answer.
"I just said I'm not much of a dancer. I know that isn't what you called me here for, Aaron and I would like it if you would just cut to the chase," I say curious about his odd behavior and questions.
"I'm getting to that. So, the whole night you weren't having any fun even though I was there and we were talking and…"
"Oh my gosh, I swear if you don't make your point now I will throw something at you!" I say growing agitated that he keeps beating around the bush.
"I was with Melissa last night," he blurts out. I feel my eyes go wide. I didn't tell her to go that far. "I didn't mean to. I mean…it just happened. I'm sorry," he says staring at the ground and looking very ashamed of himself.
I laugh and say "Is that all?"
His head shoots up as he says, "Yeah that's it. Are you actually laughing right now? I thought you would be mad at me."
I shake my head and say "Why would I be? I have no reason to be upset with you if you decide to hang out with another girl. You're my friend Aaron, remember?"
He just stares at me for a moment his mouth hanging open. "So…you really don't care?" he says slowly. "I was with another girl last night, Page. You honestly don't care?"
I just shake my head and smile. "It's no business of mine who you spend your time with. I'm glad you had fun last night though."
His expression changed then. I couldn't quite figure out what it was. His bright blue eyes darkened and there was no smile on his face but there wasn't a frown either nor his usual pout. I know something's wrong so I walk over to him and ask "Is everything okay, Aaron?"
He doesn't even seem to acknowledge me for a moment before he says "Yes. Everything is fine Princess. I…I'll see you later okay?" He then quickly starts to make his exit as he slams the door behind him. I flinch at the sound. Did I do something wrong?
A little while later I grow bored and decide I want to see Vincent but to see Vincent I must first go find Aaron which wasn't an easy task. I search all around the castle and couldn't find him. In my searching I bump into Melissa.
"Oh, hello Princess," she says offering a smile.
"Hi, Melissa. I wanted to talk to you for a second."
"Sure. What do you need?" she says and I see her smile fall slightly.
"It's about Aaron," I say. I need to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"I did as you asked, didn't I?" she asks nervously.
"Yes, you did a wonderful job. But I was wondering if you by any chance had done a little more than I asked of you," I say choosing my words carefully.
She blushes and says "Um…I don't know, maybe I did. He's actually I great guy and…he really likes you but he realizes that you don't like him the same way he likes you."
"Dammit!" I curse. "Does he really still look at me that way?" I ask and she nods in confirmation. I sigh realizing that my plan didn't work. No wonder he was so upset when he left. He wanted me to be jealous. I smile and shake my head at the thoughts ridiculousness. I have to find him. Then a thought hits me "Melissa, do you like Aaron? I mean like like him."
She just stares at me for a moment and then slowly nods her head as she looks away from me. "He's not going to see me that way though, not like he sees you."
I place my hands on her shoulders and say "Oh, don't worry. He may in due time. You have done your job well. Do you know where he is? I need to speak with him right now."
"That's why I'm here. He's in his room. I just wanted to see him again. We talked for a little while but he seems to be in a bad mood."
"Yeah, I think that's partly my fault. Just…don't give up on him just yet. He has a lot of love to give. I just wish he would give it to someone who actually wants it."
I say goodbye to her and make my way to see Aaron. I knock on his door and I get no answer.
"I know you're in there. Just let me in. We need to talk," I try to say with an air of authority. He still doesn't answer me. "Oh, don't be such a baby. I know why you're mad at me too." After a few moments long I say "Please I just need to talk to you. You can't ignore me all day."
"Yes I can!" he yells from the other side of the door.
"Aaron, stop messing around and let me in!" I say banging on his door.
"Stop your racket. I don't want to talk right now, Princess."
"You used to call me Page," I say. After a few moments of waiting in silence I start to leave but then his door suddenly opens. He ushers me in and then leans against the door. "Aaron, I'm so sorry."
"Is that all you can say?" he says a hurt look still lingering in his eyes.
"I don't know what else to say. Aaron, I can't love you the way you want me to. It's as simple as that."
"You didn't even try, Page!" he says anger growing in his voice.
"You should have known that! From the very beginning, I told you that I couldn't love you. All you heard was 'she wants me to try harder'," I say frustrated.
"You could love me. You just don't want to." I swear I see tears glistening in his eyes.
"No, I can't, Aaron. I've given all my love away. You, on the other hand, still have much love to give. She likes you, Aaron," I say looking him in the eyes. "She likes you a lot."
"I know. She's fantastic but…she isn't you," he says sadly.
I am on the verge of giving up at this point. I don't know how else to get him to see that I am a lost cause. I need him to give up or else someone is going to end up getting hurt at the end of this.
I sigh and ask "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to give me a chance," he says walking closer to me. "We've been getting along so well lately. You introduced me to books and I enjoy sitting around your library and reading to you. I like having you explain to me things I don't understand and you're always so patient with me when I stutter over words and it's just wonderful being around you. Page, I really like you."
I try to tell him he's lying again but I can't. This time he actually knows things about me and we've spent time together. I knew I was better off ignoring him. "I told you I just wanted to be your friend, Aaron. Friends do everything that we've been doing. We hung out and read books together. That's all. There is nothing romantic about that."
"What do you do when you're with Vincent?" he says raising an eyebrow at me.
"Well yeah we read to each other but we do other things too. Things I can't do with you. Reading just happens to be the way to my heart."
"I know that, Page," he scoffs. I start to make another point when a thought suddenly comes to my mind.
"Wait, is that why you were reading that day? Did you just do that to get to me?" I ask already knowing it's true.
"Page, I wanted to be closer to you like I said and that was the only way I could think to do that." In anger I pick up the nearest object and throw it at his head. "Ow, that hurt."
"You used me! You lied to me!" I say feeling betrayed.
"I didn't use you. I used your books. I didn't lie I simply told a half truth," he says rubbing his head.
"Same thing! I thought you were being real with me for once. Aaron, I was starting to trust you. Gosh, you suck!" I say storming out.
He grabs my arm before I can leave. "Let me go, Aaron!" I seethed.
"Page, I only faked it that day. After that I read for enjoyment. I actually do like it," he says his eyes pleading.
"I don't care! I can't believe anything you say!" I say releasing myself from his grasp. I get out of there as fast as possible.
For the next few days Aaron and I don't speak. Due to this I only see Vincent in my dreams and have to spend the day in the library because that is the only enjoyable thing to do around the castle. Ash and I have a Glamour lesson there.
"Are you really going to ignore him until the wedding?" Ash asks.
"I fully intend to. I don't have anything to say to him," I say trying to concentrate on the task at hand. I can do Glamour the only problem is that I can't control when I do it. We start at the beginning again with the rose. I stare at it as I put all my energy into freezing it. Suddenly I see ice climbing up the step and before I know it the rose is completely crystalized. I smile and yell "I DID IT!"
He smiles and we high five. "Yeah. Now that you've accomplished one thing today do another and go talk to him," Ash says setting the flower down.
"Why are you suddenly on his side?" I ask shooting daggers at him.
"I'm not. I just think you should. The point is to get him on our side right? If Page doesn't make nice we can't do that now can we."
I think for a moment then say, "It won't make a difference. He's upset with me as well. Besides we have tons of time until the wedding. I can ignore him for days." It was then that Sage strode in. "Hey, do you have any news for me?"
"Bad news actually," he says simply. Ash and I exchange a look of confusion and worry then turn back to Sage as he says "They've moved the date of the wedding. It's not a few weeks from now. It's in four days."
"Still think you have nothing but time?" Ash asks.
A/N: Well I know this was an unbelievably short chapter but I just needed it to end here. But look you got another chapter the very next day! That never happens with this story. Anywho, I hope you guys enjoyed it. Omg! Will she have to marry Aaron? We shall have the answer to that question in the chapters to come. Please read and review. Thanks from Maria and Page.