different.
“Do you like Italian?”
“Who doesn't?”
“This place is the best.” He starts to reach out his hand like he wants me to hold it but at the last second he drops it back down to his side and I'm relieved that I'm not left with that decision. It’s such a seemingly innocent gesture, but one that can sometimes mean something more than just friendship. I'm not ready to decide whether I want to cross the line into that territory of something more with anyone just yet.
But for the first time in over a year, that innate human desire to be close to another person rears its head and I find myself considering the possibilities.
Sean's face flashes before my eyes and the guilt constricts my heart. How can I even consider moving on from him?
Holden pauses. Somehow he must have sensed my hesitation. I'm struck again by how perceptive he is considering I'm not the most open person. He places a finger under my chin and raises my head so I'm forced to look him in the eyes. He looks at me for a moment, curiosity plain on his face before he offers me a sad smile.
“Aria, listen. I know that something is going on in that head of yours that keeps you from wanting to get to know me but I swear, my intentions are not of the shady variety. I just want to get to know you. Okay, so that sounds a little creepy.” I notice his cheeks beginning to take on a pink tinge. I could tell that this confession was making him nervous.
Something about the way Holden is looking at me, with such vulnerability, ignites that faint flame that exists in the very back of my broken heart. It feels like we're on the verge of something. Something that could change everything. I'm not ready to dive right in just yet, but I think I can at least sit on the edge of the pool and consider getting my feet wet.
“Friends?” I ask.
“Just friends.”
“Okay then.” We enter the Bistro side by side.
During dinner we talk about normal, everyday stuff—school, our friends, our favorite movies. Gone with the Wind is mine, Braveheart is his—go figure. We talk about the places we’ve visited. I’ve been absolutely nowhere but he has ventured to Europe with his grandparents who apparently have a lot of money. He never says as much but after listening to the stories he tells about them, I assume.
After being with Sean for so long, we already knew everything about each other. Sometimes we had nothing new to talk about so we would just eat in comfortable silence, which was nice, but eating with Holden is completely different. As hard as it is to admit it to myself, it is refreshing to talk to someone that I don’t know every little quirk, every life detail about.
“Thank you,” I tell him sincerely after he walks me back up to my apartment. I had a surprisingly nice time.
“We should do this again.”
“Yeah, I mean, I still need help with Bio.”
Something about his expression darkens and I wonder if a study date is not what he was talking about. I turn to unlock the door before I ruin our nice evening by saying something stupid.
“Aria?”
“Yeah?” I turn around.
He looks at me with an expression that I'm not familiar with. He leans toward me, pausing only a few inches away from my face. He reaches out and strokes his finger down the side of my face and across my jawline sending shivers down my spine. For a moment I think he might actually kiss me which sends my heart into a panicked
“Do you like Italian?”
“Who doesn't?”
“This place is the best.” He starts to reach out his hand like he wants me to hold it but at the last second he drops it back down to his side and I'm relieved that I'm not left with that decision. It’s such a seemingly innocent gesture, but one that can sometimes mean something more than just friendship. I'm not ready to decide whether I want to cross the line into that territory of something more with anyone just yet.
But for the first time in over a year, that innate human desire to be close to another person rears its head and I find myself considering the possibilities.
Sean's face flashes before my eyes and the guilt constricts my heart. How can I even consider moving on from him?
Holden pauses. Somehow he must have sensed my hesitation. I'm struck again by how perceptive he is considering I'm not the most open person. He places a finger under my chin and raises my head so I'm forced to look him in the eyes. He looks at me for a moment, curiosity plain on his face before he offers me a sad smile.
“Aria, listen. I know that something is going on in that head of yours that keeps you from wanting to get to know me but I swear, my intentions are not of the shady variety. I just want to get to know you. Okay, so that sounds a little creepy.” I notice his cheeks beginning to take on a pink tinge. I could tell that this confession was making him nervous.
Something about the way Holden is looking at me, with such vulnerability, ignites that faint flame that exists in the very back of my broken heart. It feels like we're on the verge of something. Something that could change everything. I'm not ready to dive right in just yet, but I think I can at least sit on the edge of the pool and consider getting my feet wet.
“Friends?” I ask.
“Just friends.”
“Okay then.” We enter the Bistro side by side.
During dinner we talk about normal, everyday stuff—school, our friends, our favorite movies. Gone with the Wind is mine, Braveheart is his—go figure. We talk about the places we’ve visited. I’ve been absolutely nowhere but he has ventured to Europe with his grandparents who apparently have a lot of money. He never says as much but after listening to the stories he tells about them, I assume.
After being with Sean for so long, we already knew everything about each other. Sometimes we had nothing new to talk about so we would just eat in comfortable silence, which was nice, but eating with Holden is completely different. As hard as it is to admit it to myself, it is refreshing to talk to someone that I don’t know every little quirk, every life detail about.
“Thank you,” I tell him sincerely after he walks me back up to my apartment. I had a surprisingly nice time.
“We should do this again.”
“Yeah, I mean, I still need help with Bio.”
Something about his expression darkens and I wonder if a study date is not what he was talking about. I turn to unlock the door before I ruin our nice evening by saying something stupid.
“Aria?”
“Yeah?” I turn around.
He looks at me with an expression that I'm not familiar with. He leans toward me, pausing only a few inches away from my face. He reaches out and strokes his finger down the side of my face and across my jawline sending shivers down my spine. For a moment I think he might actually kiss me which sends my heart into a panicked
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