Love Of My Life

44

Y'ALL I'm so hyped for awards season in this book (yes I plan on writing this for a while don't worry). I was brainstorming before and it's going to be magical

...

Ben

It's early in the morning on New Year's Eve. Aria and I have a 9 hour flight, but a six hour difference so we'll make it to New York on time for the party. We were going to go in a couple days ago to avoid jet lag but something came up and Aria was unable to do that. I don't mind though, because I'll be with her and we'll be reunited with our cast family. 

It's amazing how close we all are. It's only been a little more than a week and I miss them all like crazy. 

I park outside of Aria's house. Well technically her mansion. She always downplays how big it actually is. It is her fathers after all. I open the gate and walk to her front door, knocking on it. 

Aria swings the door open, a smile wide on her face. She looks hungover, but beautiful nonetheless. Her hair is a little wild and her cheeks are flushed, but her eyes have so much joy in them. 

I outstretch my arms and Aria runs into them. My arms wrap around her tightly. I feel her hands grasping at my shoulder blades. 

"Hey," she whispers. 

"Hey," I whisper back. 

She pulls away slightly so that I can see her face. I take a hand off of her back and move a strand of hair out of her face so I can see her properly. I lean down to kiss her and I feel her smile into it. I've missed her so much. Her touch, her smile, her everything. I fell hard and fast for her, it's unbelievable. 

Aria pulls way completely and grabs my hand, leading me inside. 

"I just need to grab my suitcase," She tells me, letting go to go run up to her bedroom. 

I debate following her or not, but I opt to stay downstairs. I admire all the painting on the wall, and the decor she has up. I wonder how much of it is her own and how much was Freddie's. I think she said almost all of it is still Freddie's, but I still wonder. 

Moments later, Aria comes back down with a suitcase. It's small - definitely a carry on. I don't know why I was expecting her to have this large bag. We aren't staying that long, only a couple days. 

"That's all you need?" I ask her, reaching out to take the bag from her. She gives me a smile as she puts it into my hand. Damn it's heavy.

"I don't trust baggage claim," she tells me. She walks over to a closet next to the front door and grabs a jacket, throwing it on. "I don't need much. Just the essentials. Oh and all of my makeup which I will be doing on the plane,"

After a couple of minutes the two of us load into my car. I put her bag in the trunk alongside mine, Aria just worrying about her pocketbook. 

The ride to the airport isn't long. We spend most of it talking about our break. Aria tells me about Rufus, Jimmy and Luke and how she wants me to meet them. She said they're really started to make progress not he band, although they all got wasted last night. I knew she looked hungover. 

I then proceed to tell her how my parents drove me mad and how I spent most of vacation with Michael and my grandmother. I also tell her how Felicity showed up at my door one day. This seems to have peaked her interest. 

"What?" she asks, nearly whipping around. 

"You heard me," I tell her.

Aria huffs. "What did she want?"

The bitterness in Aria's voice makes me laugh. "To see if I would get a spot of tea with her," I answer honestly. It's true. I was going to tell Aria the minute it happened but I wanted an in person response first. 

"She irks me," Aria mutters. I can practically hear her rolling her eyes. 

"Don't worry, my love. I turned her down immediately. Michael can testify,"

"Does she not realize we're dating?" Aria asks angrily. "Is there a disconnect going on? Maybe her brain isn't wired right,"

"I made it very clear we're dating. Even clearer than when you told her,"

"I wish my shoe hit her when I threw it," Aria mumbles. 

I laugh, vaguely remembering when I had to carry Aria away so she wouldn't beat the girl. 

"Call me when you want a real girlfriend," Aria mocks. I snort, remembering Felicity saying that to me. 

Honestly she was never that bad when we went to school together. Sure she's been trying for me for ages but I think she was so snarky because of how jealous of Aria she is. 

"I told her to fuck off and leave me alone," I tell Aria. "Then I slammed the door in her face,"

I wish it wasn't true because it sounds mean, but it's completely what happened. I've had enough of this nonsense wit her so I just had to end it once and for all. 

"I love you," Aria says softly. I glance over at her and see her smiling out the window. 

We finally park at the airport. I decide to just pay the overnight parking. It's not awful, and I can afford it. 

Aria and I check in and make it through security. Finally we board and get ready for the long journey. 

I'm glad I went with first class tickets for us. They're spacious and actually quite comfortable. Aria immediately cuddles up to me once she's and I are all buckled. 

"My head is killing me," she mumbles. I sigh, knowing the plane ride won't help. I kiss the side of her head. 

"I'm sorry, love," I whisper. 

I lean my head against hers, which is on my shoulder, while we wait for the rest of the plane to board. I notice some people whispering and pointing at us as they walk by. I even think I see one person try to take a nonchalant picture of us. Or maybe just of Aria. She's more famous than me by far. 

"Aria Mercury?" an older man seating in the row across from us asks. 

Aria picks her head up and turns to the gentleman, a smile on her face.

"That's me," she says. 

The old man looks shocked, but he gives her a huge smile. 

"I'm such a big fan of yours. As well as your father's," the man says. 

"Thank you," Aria says, her cheeks turning pink. "He was a good man,"

"Very talented. One of the best singers of all time,"

"He was definitely gifted. I wish I had half of much talent as him,"

"Do you sing?" the man asks.

Yes, I think. And she's in a new band. Queen 2.0 she likes to call it. 

Aria shrugs. "I dabble. Maybe you'll hear my work some day," 

The man's smile grows. "I look forward to that day,"

Their conversation is cut off by the flight attendants doing their demonstrations and going through safety procedures. I zone out, and look out the window as we begin to move. It's only a matter of minutes before we take off. 

Here we come, New York. You are not prepared for us.