1K!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

A PAUSE IN THE STORY FOR A 1K SPECIAL ONE SHOT.

LONG.

HOPE YOU ENJOY.

(This is a story back in the Aru shah universe, not part of the fan fiction )



(After NOI but before the epilogue)

Aiden's imagined what love's looked like, sure.

Staring deep into someone's eyes and feeling so much emotion that it could hold a wave back.

Movie nights, cuddled up in blankets.

Feeling nothing but happiness.

They were all crushed when his parents divorced.

Love was a waste of time.

-Was what he kept repeating to himself when he starting feeling things for Aru.

"I'm telling you, ammamma, it's not going to work!" Brynne yelled at him for the 100th time. "It's not! You're not over her! And she's-" She stopped herself.

"She's what Brynne?" Aiden asked.

"It's-well" Brynne looked at the ground and mumbled. "She's not over you yet, but when she is it won't be hard to find someone new. She's gotten way prettier and you've gotta stop glaring at anyone who ogles at her because you have no right! And anyway, I was this close to confessing your feelings to her"

"You wouldn't!" Aiden yelled. If Brynne really did that...

"I wouldn't! But look, you kissed her in front of all of us, went all 'Aru, I lied I don't regret kissing you the first time' Blah, blah, blah and now you turn your back on her! You're so infuriating! She was so heartbroken yesterday when you ignored her presence in the movie night. She tried to talk to you and you ignored her!"

She stood up and grabbed Aiden by his shoulders and shook him. "You've done enough of squeezing your eyes shut to pretend everything is okay! It's not okay! Wake up and make up with her! Otherwise she will get over you and she will find someone who makes her happy and then when you come crying to me heartbroken I can't help you! You lovesick goose, get your life together and confess properly because she can and will get over you!"

Aiden was stunned and shocked.

"Is she-"

"She doesn't hate you, she isn't over you, she's single as of right now and you know what else she is? She's the best thing that's ever happened to you. Tomorrow at school, you will confess to her and that's that! If you don't do it tomorrow, I'll tell her myself. And after I tell her that, I'll tell her to get over you because you aren't worth it!"

"I'll tell her tomorrow"

"You better" Brynne mumbled, sitting back down.

Aiden looked outside to her window. She was sitting at her desk, hands behind her head and was talking. She had her hair tied up in a ponytail and a hoodie that was two sizes too big for her. There was Mini sitting on her bed and texting someone. It looked pretty similar to Aiden's situation, and Brynne was texting someone too.

He would confess.

(The next day)

It was hard getting Aru alone. He still didn't manage to.

Aru got a group a friends when she started high school, and when I'd go up to her, she'd turn away and pretend like he wasn't there.

It was now lunch and Aiden was trying to find her. He had to get this done.

She was talking with her friends, holding a tray. She was walking pretty fast, as if she sensed his presence there. Aiden took a deep breath and walked forward. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Aru. Could we talk?"

Her friends turned into a giggling mess. Aru glared, and wriggled out of his grasp.

"No, thanks, Acharya." She turned, but before she could leave Aiden grabbed her wrist.

"Please. Once, and I'll leave you alone" Aiden begged.

She paused. "When do I meet you?"

Aiden felt a wave of relief crash down on him. "Park after school work fine?"

"Park after school." Aru agreed, before snatching her hand away and walked off, not waiting for her friends.

"You better do this right, Acharya" one of her friends threatened. "She's already pretty heartbroken by you. One misstep, and she's over you. Remember that"

With that, they left.

Later-

He was currently waiting at the park for Aru. He opened his phone and texted Brynne.

Brynne

I'm scared

No duh. You're about to confess to the love of your life.

A bit dramatic.

And? Do not, and I mean, do not start with I'm sorry. She'll turn and walk away and leave you in her dust.

Noted.

And please start with I like you. And I guess list stuff on why you like her. And why ignoring her was the biggest mistake you've done cuz it is.

Okay.



He put his phone away and thought about what his mom said. Maintain direct eye contact. Don't make any moves. Moves depend on what she replies.

His mom was pretty salty toward Aru because of the prophecy and stuff but after learning that he sacrificed himself instead, she became their number one shipper. Whatever that means.

Aru walked into the park, hands in her hoodie pockets. She made eye contact with Aiden and walked over.

"What'll it be this time? I'm sorry, but it's true, I think you're repulsive' or 'I tripped and accidentally kissed you' or 'let's be friends, I'm in love with my camera instead'? Because if so, you did not need to call me here to tell me you don't like-"

"I like you"

Her eyes went wide and she looked at him.

"I like how you don't care what people think of you. I like how you know exactly what to do and you think of a plan quickly. I like how people have betrayed you so many times but you've picked up the pieces of the trust they shattered and wove them into buds of hope, blooming as you grow. I like how you try not to betray the trust of others."

"You understand everyone and, what do you know? I like that about you too. You hear everyone's stories because you know they were once good. I put my trust in you before I fulfilled the prophecy and you did not disappoint. In fact, you went above and beyond. It was the ideal solution. I like everything about you."

"If you're over me, it's fine. I just don't know if I'll ever get over you and that's okay. You can move on and find someone who makes you happy. If you end up happy, I'll be able to live happy. Ignoring you was the biggest mistake I've done, and my heart broke again and again when you got hurt because of me. I'm sorry for that."

Silence. She looked at Aiden with wide eyes.

"Say something. Anything!" Aiden begged.

Then, slowly, a grin broke out onto her face. A beautiful smile, the setting sun was shining on her face.

"Thanks for that. Really. And what do you say, Wifey? Wanna give us a try?" Aru asked, her cold voice returning to her normal one. There was a glint of happiness in her voice and in her eyes. And instead of being mad at the use of the old nickname, Aiden felt giddy at it.

"Are you kidding? A chance with the Aru Shah?" Aiden shook his head, walking toward her. "Wouldn't miss it for the world"

And Aiden kissed her for the third time.

It was something about her that was so magical, so addicting and so awesome that Aiden would never get enough of. She brought a light, brighter than Kara's trident. Because Kara was pretty, sure, but she wasn't Aru. That's why Aiden rejected her that day. And also, confessing to your sister's crush on said sister's birthday? Cruel.

Aru pulled back first and hugged him. He hugged her back. He smelt the jasmine perfume that belonged to Krithika Shah and he buried his head into her hair. Everything came rushing back. Hope. Hope for the future that he had a chance to have with Aru. Hope that maybe love wasn't so bad after all. Hope to love.

Hope. Aiden had loads of it.





So.

Did you enjoy? I hope you did because that was hard to write.

Thanks once again for 1k! I seriously don't know how anyone reads this trash story.

And also, my single heart seriously ached while writing this cuz I know I'll never have this love 😔.

Okay. Bye!

-Loife