Theatre Geek - (R.B.) - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

JULIA STARED at her reflection in the mirror as she ran her hands through her unkempt hair in quick succession. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this nervous, or perhaps it was the cold climate of the Rockies that was having a toll on her emotions. Either way, she couldn't help but feel like there was something missing from her appearance - something she wasn't sure of.
Nini pursed her lips reproachfully as she attempted to focus on the script in her hands, but the awkward state her best friend was in was making it difficult to do so. She put her hands on her hips with a firm gaze, pushing aside the script for now. "You know, you can't avoid him forever, Julia."
Julia groaned loudly, throwing her hairbrush on the dresser and flopping down onto the bed on her stomach. "Thanks for reminding me, but I think agreeing to meet up with him at the ice rink is already enough."
She had been invited by Aaron earlier that morning, so he could teach her a little bit about skating. It being the last night before their departure back for the city, she had to agree. Of course, Julia felt a little too nervous about the event so she couldn't help but complain to her roommate.
"You're going to have to face him sooner or later."
"Ugh, I'd prefer later."
"I still don't get why you're making such a big deal out of this," the brunette mused thoughtfully, taking a seat next to Julia on her side of the room. "I mean, the way I see it, he really likes you---"
Julia sighed, running yet another hand through her hair in distress. "I can't let that happen!"
"Why?"
"Because..." she trailed off, grabbing a pillow and burying her face in it, feeling incredibly embarrassed. "I've got homework..."
Nini shook her head distastefully at the half-assed excuse. "As if I haven't heard that one before."
When there was no response, she gushed, "I don't know, this whole situation honestly doesn't seem that bad. I think it's kind of cute." She laid down flat on her back to stare up at the ceiling, her eyes sparkling. "I mean, clearly this proves that I and Kourtney were right all along--"
Julia suddenly looked up from the pillow, her eyes leering suspiciously. "Proves what?"
"Oh, you know. Just the fact that you may have feelings for someone."
"I do not!"
Nini rolled her eyes. "Is it who I think it is, or is there someone else I don't know about?"
"Trust me, there's no one."
Nini grinned slyly, taking hold of the script yet again to hopefully study the words this time. She glanced up at the blonde inquisitively for a moment before sighing. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"Alright, so." Aaron sat on one of the closest benches leading to the change rooms and propped a foot on the seat. "It's good to remember that the main secret to any good snowboarding is staying balanced," he advised, tying the laces of his skates while glancing up at his friends briefly as he did so.
"And where'd you hear those wise words from?" Fabian asked sarcastically as he pushed up his gloves. Beside him, Alec scoffed, earning a glare from the former.
"It was my dad, but go off you bastards." Aaron rolled his eyes, and just when it looked like his friends were guilty, a hint of a smile lingered his lips which meant to indicate that he wasn't all that serious. "I'm kidding, I kind of just came up with that on the spot."
"As expected, dude."
Once he had finished tying his laces, he playfully pushed his friends in the opposite direction, but the fact that he was the captain of the soccer team made the push slightly harder. "Okay, go now! She's on her way."
"Alright, chill!" Fabian muttered, throwing his hands in the air in mock surrender. "Have fun with your little girlfriend."
Aaron stammered, at a loss of words briefly. "We're not dating!"
Fabian muttered something incoherent and winked at the boy as he sauntered out the exit with his snowboard in hand. Alec too had left after murmuring a quick farewell, following after his friend for taking some rounds at the snowboarding hills. This had left Aaron all by himself, but not for very long because Julia had walked in the arena soon after, already dressed up for a night on the ice.
"I think I'm ready," she said as soon as she entered the place, a determined yet slightly anxious smile on her lips. "You?"
He smirked but erased it for a meaningful smile when he saw the way she frowned. He knew she didn't like it when he 'smirked' at her like that, courtesy to her drunken state a few weeks ago. "Definitely."
And so, the two made their way to the ice, him quickly stepping on as if it was a normal occurrence, and her silently waiting on the sidelines watching the clear ice as if it were some sort of enemy.
"You okay?"
"Uh, yeah," she nodded, though it seemed to be more of a comfort to herself than him. Mustering up all of her courage, she carefully got onto the ice. Unfortunately for her, due to her lack of experience with the activity, she found herself slipping. She closed her eyes, preparing for an impact that never came. Looking up, she was surprised and partly relieved that it was Aaron who had caught her before she fell, holding her gently by the waist.
"I see you've already failed the lesson," he teased light-heartedly, grinning at her panicked face.
Rolling her eyes, Julia lightly smacked him on the head, earning a yelp. "Geez, Lia!" He groaned, rubbing the top of his head in a way to induce the stinging sensation.
"There's a first for everything," she scolded.
"True. The falling is also a first," he ducked his head slightly at the possibility of being hit again. "Ok, ok. I probably deserved that."
"Exactly," she concluded and casually stepped away from his grasp around her and neared the center of the rink herself. Realizing that she wasn't slipping - quite the opposite, really - she mused in excitement as she whirled around and freely skated on the cold ice. "Are you seeing this? I'm actually doing it!"
"Yeah, that's fantastic--" Aaron encouraged, but was cut off when he somehow tripped on the ice himself, harshly hitting his head and lying on his back, dizzy.
"Ron, you okay!?" Julia rushed to him instantly and crouched down on her knees to examine him with a concerned gaze. He shook his head, squinting his eyes at the sheer amount of pain he felt by the action.
"God, no! I think I've hit something," he whined, shutting his eyes. As if her extremely protective side had been switched on, she rested his head on her lap, running her fingers through his hair. "My head -- it hurts..."
"Hold on a second, let me go call someone--" she began to stand up after carefully placing his head back on the ground, but he had caught her wrist. "Wait!"
She looked at him impatiently, waiting for an explanation. "I'm the captain of the senior boys' soccer team, I think it's safe to say that I'm pretty accident-prone." He gave her a carefree smile as if to back up his explanation.
"What do you mean? You literally just hit your head."
"I was just -- I kind of wanted some attention, I guess?" He smiled apologetically, sitting up when he noticed the slightly angered expression that she was harboring, the previous concern having had completely vanished.
Scowling at him, she got up from the ice and immediately skated over to the ledges, him muttering out constant apologies as he followed after her.
"I'm sorry!" He exclaimed, choosing to ignore that she had taken off one of her skates by then.
Julia stopped in her tracks, facing him with a scornful look. Sensing her rising anger, it bewildered her to see that despite the situation, he still had the nerve to smile at her. Pursing her lips, she studied him as if she was arguing with herself to see if it would be okay to forgive him. At least right now. Gosh, that boy was so unnerving sometimes, she wondered why she still even bothered. "You dummy, why would you scare me like that?"
Aaron smirked, leaning towards her a little. "I really had you worried, didn't I?"
"Nope, not at all."
He had on a look of consideration before his smirk widened. "Let me be an exception?"
At that, she couldn't help but laugh and reached out to playfully shove him, but startled when he caught her outstretched hand for a moment, before dropping it abruptly. Pulling her hand back to her side, she simply watched him for a moment.
"Um..."
His approach was slow as if he was giving her time to back away. Before she could contest his action, he leaned in and kissed her cheek, dangerously close to her mouth, but landed on the corners. The skate that she was still holding almost slipped out of her grasp, but she gripped it tight in her hands. Quite when her eyes had closed she didn't know, but the moment he pulled away, she found herself opening her eyes, staring up into his own.
"Say what you want, Lia, but I know--" He trailed off, straightening up only to let out a groan seconds later, briefly shutting his eyes and then opening them again. His eyes drifted past her, as he murmured a quiet, "teacher."
Stiffening at the single word, she looked to the doorway where the P.E teacher was standing, looking majorly shocked. The shock fled from her features, as she flushed and cleared her throat, not so discreetly looking another direction.
"Teacher," Julia protested quietly, shifting away from Aaron who she was tempted to smack again, this time so he could actually feel it. Gosh, if she wasn't so flushed right now, she would've very much not hesitated to do it now.
"Miss. Baker, Mr. MacLeod," the teacher began, walking into the room. "From what I understand, you two are aware of the school's behavioral conduct? Just because we aren't necessarily in the building, doesn't mean you can go fondling around whenever you wish. For now, I suggest you head down to the cafeteria because the buffet has started."
She dismissed the students without so much as a second glance, and Aaron was the first to react, brushing past Ms. Crawford. Julia stared after him for a few seconds before regaining her senses and hurrying after him.
As soon as he knew that he was out of her sight, Aaron rubbed the back of his head cautiously, wincing at the small stun of pain. He didn't tell her because he was worried to see her reaction but in reality...
He really did hit his head against the ice earlier.