A/N I feel like this is such a cheesy chapter, but hopefully you guys like it anyway? Also I just realized that Aruden is really the epitome of idiots to lovers, and I just think that's very fitting.
Anyway...enjoy!
ARU
Aiden's voice followed Aru as she marched up the staircase leading to the balcony. "Aru! Wait!"
"What?" she snapped, spinning around and glaring at him.
He opened his mouth and closed it again, as if unsure what to say. "You were eavesdropping on that conversation?" he said.
Aru bristled defensively. "Not all of it, but...then I heard my name." And then words that cut deep into her heart.
We're just friends and it's better that we stay that way. I'm not interested in her romantically and never will be.
Mini was right. This fake dating scheme had been a terrible idea. Because for a little while, it had given her hope that this relationship could become real.
"Never mind." Aru turned around, eyes stinging, and walked to the shadowed part of the balcony. "It doesn't matter."
He caught up to her. "Shah, I can explain–"
"You have nothing to explain," Aru said dully. "I know you don't like me that way. Otherwise you wouldn't have asked me to fake date you. It's fine."
"It's not fine," Aiden persisted. "What's wrong, Aru?"
Four years, and I thought I was okay. I thought I was over it. But I can't help that...
"That you what, Shah?" Aiden asked.
Aru resisted the urge to cringe. Apparently, her inside voice had become her outside again. Well, she couldn't go back now. And to be honest, she didn't want to. It felt satisfying to admit her true feelings. She didn't want to pretend anymore.
"That I like you!" she burst out, whirling around to face him. "I have for a really long time. And I know you don't. I'm fine with that, but now I'm going to make things completely awkward between us, and our friend group won't be the same, and–"
Aiden put his hands on her shoulders. His touch sent an involuntary shudder through her. "Shah. Relax."
"How can I relax?" Aru demanded. "Everything has changed. Nothing can be normal again."
Aiden's hands slid from her shoulders. His eyes fluttered shut momentarily. When he spoke again, his voice was so quiet, she could barely make out the words. "That's the thing, Aru. I...I don't want things to be 'normal' between us. Not anymore."
She frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
"I do like you, Aru. I like you a lot." He met her eyes, his voice growing more confident as he continued. "What you heard with Mr. Shah was completely out of context. He tricked me into saying that. The truth is, Aru...I want to be with you."
Aru's thoughts scattered. Had she actually heard him right? He liked her back? She discreetly pinched herself. Yup, this was real.
"But...I thought you didn't like me that way," she said. "When we first met, you made it clear that you only wanted to be friends."
"That's because at the time, I did. We didn't have a strong enough connection yet. But...you've come to mean much more than a friend to me, Aru. I was scared to admit it. I still am." He looked at her pleadingly. "Can you understand?"
Aru thought she knew what he was referring to: the failed romance between his mother and father. She also suspected that Mr. Acharya had convinced his son that he wasn't worthy of love. Indignance on Aiden's behalf burned in her chest.
"Yes," she said quietly, laying her hand on top of his. "I can."
Aiden smiled. It was a beautiful sight. "Thank you."
"So...now what?" Aru asked.
"Well, I was thinking..." Aiden linked their fingers together. "I owe you a dance."
Now it was her turn to smile. "Okay. But I can't waltz, remember?"
"I'll teach you." Aiden put his other hand at her waist. "It's not that hard. And you're a dancer, so you should already have a good sense of rhythm. I'm the lead and you're the follower, so when I do a movement, you do the opposite. When I step forward–" he demonstrated, "–you step back."
"This is easy," Aru quipped.
Aiden raised his eyebrows. "Oh, sure, the pattern is easy enough, but what about your poise and grace? What about the chemistry between the dancers?"
"I'll have you know I can be very graceful," Aru sniffed as he began to guide her in the dance.
"What about that time you faceplanted after trying out a 'new move' at the Urvashi's dance studio?"
"How do you remember that? It happened three years ago!" Aru protested.
Aiden laughed. "I have a long memory and a good camera. Don't mess with me."
"Oh, how clever." Aru pretended to roll her eyes. "Put that on a T-shirt, why don't you. My gracefulness is fine, thanks."
"I know," Aiden said, his voice softer. "I've seen you dance. I don't know how you do it–look so effortless. Like you're defying gravity, every single time. When you perform, you own the stage, and I swear, everyone else pales in comparison to you."
Aru looked up at him, and was acutely aware of how little distance remained between them now. Her heartbeat sped up at every turn of the dance. She could sense that they were shifting toward a new dynamic, one that terrified her and thrilled her all at once.
"Have I ever told you that I love the way you see the world?" Aru said. She'd meant to say it in a teasing tone, but it came out more softly, genuinely. "You notice everything, even things that aren't physical. I feel like you're one of the few people who actually sees me. You accept me for who I am, even though I can be weird and embarrassing and–"
"Beautiful?" Aiden finished.
Aru nearly tripped, but Aiden quickly steadied her quickly.
"Hey," she complained good-naturedly. "I was being serious."
"So was I." A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I mean it," he added in a softer tone. "You look beautiful tonight."
"So do you," Aru said. She lifted her hand from his shoulder to brush his curls from his forehead.
Aiden drew in a surprised breath as her fingers lingered on his face. The waltz slowly came to a stop, until it was just the two of them standing still, together, in this moment.
"Aru," Aiden said at last, breaking the charged silence.
"Hmm?"
"Can I kiss you? For real this time."
Aru stifled a cringe, remembering their first fake kiss. "I'm still sorry about that. I thought you didn't like me at that point, so I acted weird, and I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too, but only because we both thought that kiss didn't mean something." He leaned closer. "But I want this one, if you do too."
Aru lifted her chin. "I do."
This kiss had none of the uncertainty or panic of their first kiss, but it was just as breathless. Aru tugged Aiden closer to her, running her hands through his hair as she'd always wanted to do. Warmth blossomed in her chest like sunlight and distantly, she wondered if it was even possible for a person to feel so happy.
Finally, they pulled apart. Aiden's cheeks were flushed, his hair was mussed, and the flecks of blue in his dark eyes looked more like stars than ever. Aru felt a little pride at knowing that she was the one who'd affected him like that.
"Aiden?" Aru said.
"Yeah?"
"Are we dating now?"
Aiden raised his eyebrows. "We just confessed to each other and kissed, and you want to know if we're dating?"
"I just want to be sure!"
He laughed, his breath warming her face. "How about this: if you'll have me, Aru, then I'll have you."
"In that case..." Aru twined her hand in his. "I'm yours."
He smiled at her again, and she was glad for the sight. "And I'm yours."
A/N Okay yeah this was definitely cheesy, but I think it's one of the best love confessions that I've written :)