by S. J. Black
“Ass-wipe!” Jackson said before punching Aaron in the bicep. Aaron snorted, raising his hands in surrender.
The bell rang, it was officially nine o’ clock and the morning seminars were well under way. Both boys sighed in despondence.
“Another day, another crippling bout of anxiety and droning lectures,” Jackson said. “But hey, you’ve got your hot date in Biomed class! I’m sure April will be fine but if you need some armor beforehand, we can check out the costume store before we go,” Jackson offered.
“I know you’re being funny and all, but I may actually take you up on that offer,” Aaron said begrudgingly. Putting their rucksacks on, they headed to class.
✽✽✽
April was very close to stabbing herself in the neck with the pens on her table. Twenty minutes had gone by in the two-hour seminar and Aaron had made it impossible for her to concentrate. He called out her name loudly two times when the teacher took the registers, shouting “she’s here and ready to learn, sir!” earning the snickers of a few freshmen at the back. She soundlessly shoved his notebook on the floor in response to that, to which he didn’t take to very well. Aaron then proceeded to ask if he could borrow her pen again. She promptly said no. Feeling as though the conversation wasn’t quite over though, April had made the mistake of eyeing him to her right to see Aaron staring back at her with a Cheshire grin on his face; he was going to embarrass her again.
“I just really need a pen, babe, come on –“ Aaron announced loudly before April dashed to cover his mouth with her hand, practically with the speed of lightning. The class had turned around in laughter at the shuffle behind them, musing at the ensuring squabble.
Mr. Sanderson cleared his throat in annoyance.
“Mr. Cole, if we can refrain from the unnecessary PDA this early in the morning or do I need to separate you two –“
“Yes!” April proclaimed.
“ – By sending you to the Dean’s office for a disciplinary warning?” he finished. April simmered down after that, removing her hand from Aaron’s mouth. Aaron dazzled Mr. Cole with his charming smile – full set of teeth and all.
“I won’t think that will be necessary, Professor. Sanderson, our apologies,” he said delightfully. Sanderson turned back to the registers, with half the class giggling away.
April couldn’t believe the nerve of him and how easily he escaped any sort of reprimanding. The moment she created a scene – the one time – she was sent to the dean’s office and given a lecture on appropriate student behavior on campus. Meanwhile, Goldilocks next to her could ooze honey from his voice and offer a small apology, and all was forgive. Heck, he didn’t even apologise and he got what he wanted. April fumed in silence at the injustice of her micro-issues. If she could just get through the next hour and a half, she would be able to survive. Barely.
Aaron sat quietly listening to the murmur of the class, tapping his pen – or rather, her pen – rhythmically on the table. He was wearing a black polo shirt, his toned, long arms flexing slightly. She always remembered Aaron to be of a toned physique owing to years of football practice, but she never realised how attractive it was to her. His skin was tan, with the hairs being of a golden shade. His biceps were defined, shaped nicely in his shirt. April shook her head profusely, what in the hell was she doing she ogling Aaron Cole?
It’s just the pheromones, thought April. It’s got to boil down to biology because he’s six foot tall, plays on the football team and has this jawline and sharp hazel eyes. Oh god, she sounded like something out of a romance novel.
April briefly heard Mr. Sanderson mention a small exercise the class had to perform with their partner. She tried to restrain a grunt of frustration.The last thing she wanted to do was talk to her partner, let alone work with him.
“Body language, assessing the person’s subtle changes in demeanour are interesting ways to gauge an understanding when a person is lying as well as how the body might react,” he droned on.
“I want each of you to turn to your partner and start with telling a series of lies and truths, without revealing to your partner what they are. Your other partner will keep their finger on your pulse, to gauge the subtle changes in heart rate whilst also checking for any body language changes,” he said. The class perked up as this was practically a game of two truths and one lie.
“Yes Janice, I secretly want you all to play a game that you would normally in a beverage infested dorm rather than learn in my class,” Mr. Sanderson sardonically replied to a student’s mutterings.
The class prattled excitedly, with April turning to Aaron hesitantly, to find his gaze on her. He was practically enjoying this, she thought, he can’t even hide his delight. He straightened up and reached out his arm towards hers expectantly.
“If you’d like to do the honours,” he motioned, waving his hand for her to bring hers out.
“You want me to go first?” she said puzzled.
“But of course, ladies first,” he hummed.
“No, you go first,” she countered. Aaron went quiet for a few seconds. He wouldn’t do it, April thought.
“Okay,” he finally said, parking his arm on the table. He watched April with an unrecognizable emotion, as he lifted his eyebrow expectantly. “Be gentle with me,” he said.
Ignoring the remark, she roughly placed her finger on his pulse. He twitched slightly.
Reading the prompt from the board, she surveyed the questions she was supposed to ask, while feeling Aaron’s heated gaze on her. How the hell was she supposed to ignore him if he kept looking at her like that?
“It says here you’re supposed to tell me some truths and some lies, and I’m going to figure out which one is which,” she read before turning back to him. She blushed slightly, his knowing smirk resting on his face; his gaze flittered on her features before resting on her lips, and then her eyes. It was as though he was looking at her naked, her soul bare before him.
“I’ve been to jail for punching a guy in the face, it knocked him cold, he survived though, which was unfortunate for him,” he stated coolly, leaving April dumbstruck. His body language didn’t even crack, his pulse remaining the same. What the actual f-
“I’m related to a famous pop star, second cousins though, and we hardly speak but I see her around the holiday season sometimes with the folks. Sometimes I get some cool merch, although her music isn’t to my taste. It’s still nice to brag about in icebreakers though, like this one,” he winked.
His pulse didn’t even change. His body language just became more cockier, more relaxed. April just felt like everything that came out of his mouth was pure and utter bullshit.
His pulse started to increase however with the next phrase. “I have feelings for this girl who I’ve known since high school, I treated her like shit because I was afraid she’d knock me back if she didn’t feel the same way. Mostly because I was an asshole with terrible communication skills,” April held her breath as he continued talking.
His gaze never faltered, testing her reaction also. “I still am an asshole I suppose, I’ve got a short temper, I still use sarcasm way too much, and I push this girl’s buttons because it’s all I know how to get her attention,” she furrowed her brows in distaste, he grimaced. “But I really like her, I don’t want to be her friend. I wanted to be more, always more and I’m pursuing her now, much to her disdain. I guess, I’m slightly masochistic; I don’t really plan on giving up,” he finished.
The rest of the class continued chattering on in the background, to which April blocked out completely. They both remained silent, her hand still resting on his arm. He slightly curled his hand to enclose her arm softly.
April snatched her hand out his grasp, causing Aaron to draw back slightly. His face faltered beneath the bravado, her actions had hurt him.
“The first one,” she proclaimed. He frowned in confusion.
Looking at him levelly, she repeated her statement. “The first one, that’s the truth. The second and third are lie
s,”
He didn’t say anything after a beat.
“What makes you say that?” he asked evenly.
“Aside from my own personal judgment and from what I know of you, you didn’t falter with the first one. Your body language was calm. I mean, it was for the second one, but you got cocky, which threw me off,” she stated.
He lifted one eyebrow, whether he was impressed or disappointed, she couldn’t tell – he seemed to be a chameleon when it came to displaying the emotions he wanted to show. The conversation was awkward, she wasn’t sure if she had pissed him off earlier when she moved away from him so coldly.
Bastard deserves it, why should I feel guilty?
“What about my pulse?” he queried.
“What about your pulse?” she said.
“Well, we’re supposed to monitor the heart rate – how was it when I was speaking? Did anything seem - I don’t know – off?”
She hesitated before answering him. Whatever answer she had, April had a feeling that he knew what it would be. From the look on his face, Aaron wasn’t going to let this one go.
“Your heartbeat was the same. There was an increase on the last statement,” she emphasized. “But that could also be your bullshit detector going off as well as mine- ”
“I didn’t even lie in any of the statements, April!” he exclaimed. April jumped slightly as his voice became louder. Sanderson looked over to the pair briefly before issuing a warning stare to the pair.
The two stared at each other, one in distrust and the other in determination. He was upset, jaw set in clear irritation at how badly the conversation was going. This was not how he had envisaged in convincing her.
“Give me your hand,” he commanded stonily. April regarded him uncertainly, wondering whether it would be a good idea now to ask for a bathroom break.
“April, give me your hand,” he repeated, this time his tone was harsher.
Maybe she had a death wish but she wanted to see how far he would go, how much he had really changed since they were teenagers.
“No,” she said.
Aaron didn’t even blink, almost as though he expected her response.
“Give me your hand or I’ll tell Sanderson over there that my girlfriend won’t let me pass this class,” he countered, without missing a beat.
“What?” she cried.
He didn’t even flinch at her incredulity. April was trying to run from him in every way possible – she blocked his every move physically and emotionally, not letting him get near her or her mind but this time, she wasn’t going to get the chance to run away. Not without being completely honest with him first.
“Are you crazy? I’m not your girlfriend. I’m not falling for your pathetic little threats,” she continued before slamming her books shut, making a move away from the table.
“Mr. Sanderson, I have something I need to share with you – “ April spun around in horror; shocked that he would stoop this low.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she whispered, in a deathly tone.
Aaron watched her shamelessly, with a glint in his eyes.
“I would,” he mouthed to her.
“Yes, Mr. Cole? I haven’t got all day,” he drawled, peering over a few tables to where the pair was seated. April slinked her way back to her seat before Sanderson could see her, not even looking at Aaron in the eye.
With his gaze never leaving her, Aaron responded back with a jovial tone. “False alarm professor, I thought I needed the bathroom,” she looked at him venomously, “but it looks like I’m all satiated,” he finished, piercing his gaze onto April, a wicked smile gracing his features.
“What is wrong with you?” she uttered.
“Give me your wrist, April,” he ignored her question, holding out his hand in anticipation.
If looks could kill, Aaron would be in the cemetery by now with the way that April glared at him in constrained rage, at the very prospect of being blackmailed into acquiescence. She held out her arm to him roughly, prompting him to take it gently, tenderly holding her wrist once before resting his fingertips there. She shivered slightly – this not going unnoticed by him.
“You haven’t changed Aaron, why would I expect anything else?” she whispered, looking down at their wrists. Aaron inhaled deeply.
“I have in the ways that mattered, April. I’m still an asshole in getting what I want but I won’t hurt you,” she snorted at that. “I don’t want to, I just, I mean – fuck!” he exhaled in frustration. Aaron shifted his eyes nervously before running his free hand through his hair.
April quietly waited for him to continue.
“I don’t know how to talk to you without wanting to force you,” he said. “It’s fucked up, I know. I just, I want you to hear me,” he grimaced.
At that, she didn’t know what to say. He continued staring at their hands, his thumb lightly stroking her wrist. To her dismay, she enjoyed it when he touched her tenderly.
“I committed a crime when I was seven,” she blurted out. Aaron’s head sprung up, awoken out of the silence they were in. “I knew I was breaking the law and I’d happily do it again. I’m training to be a full-time witch by the way, bought a crystal ball and a cauldron, and I used to live in a theater, when I was growing up,” she finished.
Aaron watched her incredulously, releasing a chuckle. She looked at him levelly before raising her brow, challenging him to figure her out.
“I’m going to terrify us both and say you’re not lying at all,” he asked, amusement dancing in his features.
April carefully removed her hand, placing both of them under the table before granting Aaron an insight into her thoughts.
“Maybe you’re not a complete tool,” she shrugged nonchalantly. He smirked in response to that.
CHAPTER FOUR
Biology was fairly manageable for the remainder of the seminar; both of them worked together quietly, although Aaron snuck a few stares when he thought April wasn’t looking. She could feel them though; her blush creeping up her skin like a slithering rash. Her body was not a helpful disguise at all. To shield herself from his penetrating gaze, she would try to push her hair out, covering half of her face. This was unchartered territory for her, to be under his microscopic gaze again; but this time, she wasn’t sure what lay behind those eyes.
The lecturer dismissed the class, detailing their next week’s assignment. As April packed her bags, she peeked at Aaron. Where would they go from here? What was there left for them; could she ever dip her toe into the waters of friendship with him? If that was he wanted in the first place.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you around,” she offered uncertainly.
“I’d like that,” Aaron replied slowly. He surveyed the room around him to see if the other students were gone. With the coast being clear, he tentatively took a step towards her, testing her reaction. She tried to resist the urge to fall back; you’re on new grounds, April - be brave.
“Listen April, I was wondering,” his hazel eyes opened hopefully into hers, coaxing her to let him in; to let her guard down. “If you wanted to go for a coffee with me, I mean nothing formal or anything, just a Starbucks, we could talk about the assignment,” he trailed on. She tilted her head slightly. “Or not, you know. We can talk about other stuff, but yeah, feel free to say no, I get that part too,” he prattled before scratching his head nervously. Oh great, he was emulating Jackson’s mannerisms around cute girls. How quick the mighty fall, he thought.
This was bizarre, April pondered. He was acting jumpy, was he scared that she would say no?
“Since when do you get anxious asking a girl out?” she pointed lightly, gracing him with a ghost of a smirk.
“Since I’m asking you out April Solomon,” he said.
“Why would that be any different from another girl?”
He moved closer to her, his mouth near her ear. She shivered, not anticipating how close he would get to her.
“Because it’s the only girl I’ve ever wanted to go out
with,” he breathed roughly. April inhaled deeply, not used to being this close to any guy, let alone Aaron. He bent his head slightly, his forehead lightly touching her shoulder. No one had prepared for being asked out by her high school bully. Although, would that label still apply to him now? They had some sort of truce among them, a ceasefire to prevent any further harm caused to one other established only forty five minutes ago. But did that mean they were friends? She didn’t really know what the label for whatever they were was.
He moved back slowly, holding her stare before making his way out.
“Think about it, Solomon,” he whistled. “I’ve got all the time in the world,” winking at her before heading out the hall.
April exhaled one deep breath, looking to see if she was truly alone. Once she was alone, she shook her arms out in exasperation.
“What the fuck is going on?” she endearingly wailed to herself.
The rest of April’s day went by extremely slowly, to the point where she felt time was reversing on her. Thankfully, five o’clock hit – it was time for a coffee.
April headed to her local coffee shop for her ritual cappuccino. All oat milk, one extra shot and whipped cream to completely throw off her lactose intolerance. As she headed to the line, she thought the universe must have been playing a game with her again. Aaron was right in front of her, wavy hair just sitting above his shoulders, his back torso highlighted under his black polo shirt.
Okay since when I am attracted to back muscles?
Hopefully he’d order his coffee and go, she thought. The last thing she needed to was to revisit her feelings for him. His words always left her blushing, what would stop him from finishing what he started in class?
It was also her feelings that she was most afraid of. If he tried to kiss her again, the frustrating thing was that she would let him. April Solomon would let Aaron Cole kiss her desperately like that again, and she’d want more.
This has to be my hormonal cycle. I’d totally have the same reaction with anyone else.