"Zander, the place looks amazing." I mumble softly, leaning my head against his shoulder, the light faintly lit by the flickering fire trying hard to remain going.

The house was eerily silent, everyone else had gone to bed a while ago, leaving only Zander and I awake.

And, finally, alone for a moment.

Belladonna had been trailing around Zander all day, laughing like an idiot with every word that came out of his mouth. I think it was partially because she thought he was attractive, but mainly it was because she's Belladonna.

She likes making things difficult for me.

Not to mention that Cato was practically glued to my side from the moment we got here.

He really liked making things difficult for me.

I think he honestly got enjoyment from making me struggle.

…

Idiot.

"I'm glad you like it. I was worried you'd be upset about it." Zander said, laughing a bit as he glanced around the freshly painted walls again. While I was gone he took the liberty of painting the house, giving it a bit more life.

He also put a picture of himself on the wall, something that made me laugh. " The only thing I'm upset about is that your face is on my wall."

Zander stuck his tongue out at me in a childish manner, lightly poking my arm, making me laugh. "You love it and you know it." He said, nodding his head a few times.

"Whatever." I said with a laugh, lifting my head from his shoulder, stretching my arms over my head as a light yawn slipped from my lips. "Tired?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No." I lied through my teeth, something that was probably obvious to him. I was tired beyond belief; I just didn't want him to leave.

Not yet, anyway.

The small clock above the fireplace softly chimed, signaling it was well past midnight.

"Oh man, I should go." He said, hopping up and stretching, before fiddling around with his shaggy hair a bit.

I couldn't help but notice the slight chill on my side the moment he moved, my body not wanting him to leave. I stood, nodding none the less, saying "I'll walk you to the door."

"How nice of you." Zander teased, making me roll my eyes and walk ahead of him. We made our way to the door after he slipped his jacket back on, him turning to me in the doorway with a lopsided smile.

"What?" I said, shifting slightly under his intent gaze, that smile never leaving his lips.

"Nothing. I just-" He trailed off, leaning against the frame of the door for a moment, the cool night air blowing a slight breeze past him and into my home.

"You just?" I say, my stomach twisting a bit in anticipation for the words to leave his mouth.

"I just really missed you." He finally said, his voice soft and gentle, making a small smile break out on my lips.

"I missed you too, Zander." I say back, lightly patting his shoulder, letting my hand drag down his arm to his hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'll see you tomorrow." I say, moving to shut the door.

"Aria! Wait!" Zander suddenly said, jamming his foot in the crack of the door, forcing it open again. I raised my eyebrows at him, opening it up completely again. "What?" I asked, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

"I-I- I um." He stuttered out, looking down intently at his feet. He was acting odd. He was never nervous. Well, I've never seen him nervous before, anyway.

"Spit it out Z. What's a matter?" I say, gently reaching a hand out and clasping his in mine again. His head shot up at the gesture, his green eyes staring into mine, as if he was looking for something.

I shifted uncomfortably again, his grip on my hand tightening as his eyes flickered behind me for a moment, before once again resting on my face.

"Zander?" I said softly, starting to get nervous myself. I felt like something bad was about to happen. I hated waiting.

Zander moved closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine as his free hand rose up to my cheek, cupping it tenderly. My heart sped up in my chest, my emotions on overdrive as his face neared mine.

"Za-"

"Just don't freak out, okay?" He whispered softly, cutting me off, his tone sounding almost desperate to let him do this. I nodded a short nod, his breath hitting my face while his eyelids dropped closed.

Then his nose brushed mine.

Then his forehead pressed against mine.

Then he kissed me.

I wasn't sure what I was feeling, when Zander kissed me, his hand still holding my face gently. Sure, Zander was amazing. Any other girl in the world would die to have him kiss them.

But what about Cato?

My mind was screaming at me, as much as I tried to silence it as Zander pulled away, smiling wide.

I did my best to put a smile on too. "I'll see you tomorrow, Ar." He said finally, smiling as he pecked my forehead and walked down my stairs, down the path and out of sight.

"Bye." I mumbled softly, slowly shutting the door, before turning around and pressing my back against it, my head turned towards the floor.

What the hell just happened?

What does that mean?

Does Zander like me?

Do I like Zander?

But what about Cato?

Cato.

Almost as if on queue, the creaking of a stair rippled throughout the room, my thoughts all coming to a stop. I snapped my head up, my eyes locking onto those piercing blue eyes that seemed to plaque my thoughts.

Cato.

"Cato. What are you –" I began to say, Cato clambering down the rest of the stairs as if he didn't have a care in the world.

As if he hadn't just seen me kiss Zander.

Maybe he didn't.

"Having fun down here?"

Or maybe he did.

I winced slightly at the edge to his voice, his demeanor cool as he folded his arms across his broad chest, staring me down from a few feet away. I shuffled a bit further into the room, the cool breeze from outside still leaving me with a lingering chill.

Although, maybe the chill was just because Cato looked like he was about to kill someone.

"Cato." I said, trailing off slightly, my voice cracking as it came out, much to both of our surprise. I didn't realize until now that my eyes were watering ever so slightly.

"Aria." Cato said softly, his face softening when he realized I was upset. "Aria, I didn't mean to-"

"I'm fine." I said quickly, reaching up and wiping my eyes feverishly, feeling stupid for crying in the first place.

Why were you crying in the first place, anyway?

Because Cato was mad at you?

That's a stupid reason to cry.

"You are not." He said, stepping closer to me and wrapping his arms tightly around my frame, burying his head into my hair. I slinked my arms around his body, my head resting in the crook of his neck as I tried to calm my hammering heart down.

"I don't know what's wrong with me." I stutter out, my lips brushing the bare skin of his neck as I speak, squeezing my eyes shut as a few more tears fall down my cheeks.

"Nothing's wrong with you." Cato said, sounding so sure of it that for a brief moment, I actually believed it myself.

"I'm crying for no reason." I say, as if it was the most obvious reason in the world for me to be labeled as a screw up.

It is a good reason, as a matter of fact.

Cato remained silent for a moment, running his hand up and down my back a few times, trying to relax me. "Sometimes you just need to cry. You hold things in, Aria. I know you do. I know you."

I didn't respond, simply keeping my eyes shut and my head on his shoulder, feeling his heart beat against my chest, soothing me. I could smell his faint cologne, mixing with this lingering scent of peppermint he always seemed to have.

I could hear his breathing faintly, the both of us simply standing there, in my living room, holding each other so close it was as if we were one person. Neither of us said anything.

We just stayed there together.

And that's when it hit me, the reason why I was crying.

Because kissing Zander and liking it would mean all of this was ending.

I wouldn't wake up in the morning knowing I'd get to see Cato's perfectly sculpted face in a few short minutes.

I wouldn't get to be the one too calm him down when he was angry or upset.

I wouldn't ever be able to smell his cologne and peppermint wafting in my nose when he walked by.

I wouldn't ever be the reason he cracked one of his rare smiles ever again.

I wouldn't ever be the reason he was happy again.

I wouldn't be his.

And he wouldn't be mine anymore.

It would all be over.

"I don't want it to be over." I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut tighter as a few silent tears dripped down my cheeks, my arms holding Cato more tightly as if he would disappear any moment.

Weather he heard me or not, I wasn't sure, but as he felt my grip tightening on him, his did the same, pulling my body flush into his, his face burying further into my hair, taking deep breaths.

You love him Aria.

As much as you deny it, you know it's true.

You still love Cato.

[-]

DUN DUN DUNNN.

This chapter was such an emotional roller coaster for Aria :P

So you Zaria and Caria lovers both have something to satisfy you! Which team is everyone on? Personally, I think I'm always gonna be a Caria girl, no matter how much I love Zander XD

Anyway, sorry for the bit of a wait. Break starts in about 3 weeks, so hang in there!

Thanks everyone!

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

-Becca3