Nicole swallowed as the air between them changed, she noticed the change so fast but she couldn't seem to pull out of whatever date she was in, the hand in her hair got even bolder stroking her hair and he was leaning closer too, she wanted to pull off and at the same time remain where she was, this was it, this was her finally moving on, this was her finally accepting that she might belong to someone else, someone, not Rafael and Aron was more in her class and they were more compatible, it was better to give someone like him a chance, it was clear from the beginning that Aron wants to be more than friends with her, but she was ready for that.
"So what else is there to do?"
She asked breaking the moment and moving away from Aron, she avoided his gaze.
"Nothing more, we wait for everything to dry and pack them up,"
Aron replied walking closer to her again, she moved further away from him.
"Stop running away Nicole,"
Aron said pulling her to a stop in front of him, she kept her head down.
"Hey, Nicole,"
"I am sorry Aron, I can't do this,"
"Too bad, but I will wait, I am good at waiting Nicole, don't worry, I won't rush you,"
Aron said patting her on the back, he was such a sweetheart that she felt bad for turning down his advances, maybe when she was ready, which she didn't know when, maybe then she would give Aron a chance, for now, her heart still only beats for one man and that's Rafael.
"I don't think that's ever going to happen, Aron, I don't want to lead you on,"
"Don't say that, you never know what can happen in the next few days or weeks, people change and so do hearts too, I will wait, no matter how long it takes, we just met, let's get to know each other more, I am not going to rush you, as I said before,"
Nicole nodded, it was true that she didn't know what will happen in the next couple of minutes not to talk of weeks, spending time with Rafael had brought about her love for him, maybe if she gives Aron just as much time, she can do that too even though right now it seemed impossible.
"I need to hear it from you, Nicole, tell me it's okay to wait for you,"
Aron persuaded.
"I can't do that Aron, I can't promise you a thing, I don't even know if I am ever going to get out from this,"
"You will Nicole,"
"Still, I can't promise you a thing, let's just wait and see how it all plays out,"
"I will take that as a promise,"
"No, don't, please,"
"Calm down girl, let's get these babies dried out properly,"
He replied and walked out of the studio carrying one of the artwork, she followed after him, helping out as much as she could, it took a while for it to dry enough to be packed up, and she waited to have little talks with him, he bought her lunch and then dinner, she left the studio at after five
Nicole entered the house feeling tired from working so much today, she painted a total of ten works which was the highest she has ever done in one day, but she enjoyed every moment.
"Including the moment when you guys almost kissed right?"
The tiny voice in her head inquired.
"No, not that, that was a mistake, I am not going to let that happen again,"
"Good, because we belong to one man and that's not him,"
"I don't belong to anyone,"
She answered, she hadn't belonged to anyone for over two months now and she was getting used to it.
"Whatever you say,"
"Who are you talking to?"
Her mom asked coming out of the room she shared with her dad, she didn't know her parents were back.
"No one, I was just thinking out loud,"
"Oh, okay, I was scared that you see ghosts,"
Her mom responded, she walked up to her and hugged her.
"There is no such thing as ghost mom, I didn't know you guys were coming back today, how was your trip mom?"
"Fine, that's going to be our last trip in a while, we plan on not boarding a plane again for a long time,
"Wow, mom, that's good to know, where is dad?"
"He is out meeting up with his friends, your sister is coming back home tomorrow,"
Her mother revealed Nicole nodded, she hasn't seen much of Natalie since she left.
"Oh, that's good to know,"
"I wish you guys can fix things, you guys use to be so close and inseparable but now, you don't talk to each other, it's so sad,"
Her mom voiced, it wasn't her fault they weren't talking, Natalie didn't want them to talk, when she is in the house, she always avoids Nicole.
"Mom, I don't know if that's going to be possible, Natalie doesn't want to talk to me, I think she hates me,"
"She doesn't, I am sure of that, she just feels guilty for what happened,"
"That's wasn't her fault though, no one saw it coming, it happened, I wish she could just talk to me, I messed up too, if she is feeling guilty, then how does she want me to feel?"
"I hope you guy can talk it out when she gets back,"
"I hope so too mum, I need to rest, I had a busy day,"
"Okay dear, I can see you looked stressed, don't overwork yourself,"
"I won't mom, thanks,"
She said and went up to her room, she laid on the bed for a moment before going over to take a bath, then she decided to upload the photos she took of the works they did, of course, she took permission to post them, after that time that wannabe artist had accused her of stealing his work which had lead to all these bad things happening to her, she had become conscious of the things she shared and made sure they carried her name, she never heard of the artist again after she woke up, not as she checked him out.