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Chapter 15.

I cannot believe someone else put their lips on you.

~~~

She leaned back, the cold floor conflicting her warm body. "I am going on a date with Aahan Miller." She whispered into the dark yet vibrant air.

Aahan was lying on his bed, staring at his plain white ceiling. He smiled, his left dimple very prominent. "I am going on a date with Rylee Brooks." He whispered into the lavender perfumed air.

The next morning Aahan woke up earlier than usual, mostly because he couldn't sleep from the anxiety and the biggest question he faced – where to take Rylee Brooks for a date?

He had never invested much time in dating and going to a fancy restaurant seemed too common. This could be his first and his last date and he definitely didn't want to go to some cliché restaurant which would not be very memorable.

He had Googled for options and it had been utterly useless. Lighting up his balcony was too personal and intimate, visit a museum – he would probably end up boring her, go skating – he had no intentions to fall and break his teeth while also being a laughing stock of everyone there.

Her two hobbies were dancing and shopping. Maybe he could take her somewhere to dance or to shop – but where?

Groaning to himself he got off the bed and freshened up. He had messaged her to meet before lunch that meant he still had 4 hours to figure out what to do for the date.

He walked downstairs and into the kitchen to get himself a drink. He blinked in at the empty carton of Apple juice. He was sure there was some left yesterday.

"Mom, where's my juice?" he shouted.

"Oh I had it."

He almost jumped at the manly voice right behind him. He slowly turned to see the same guy who didn't know how to paint.

"You drank my juice?"

The stranger shrugged. "I didn't know it was yours."

Aahan picked up the carton and pointed at the bold black marker written words – Aahan. "Can you not read?"

"Oops." His tone was not apologetic and his face was smug.

Aahan sighed, throwing away the empty carton. He grabbed the orange juice he didn't really like. "Why are you here so early?"

"Oh I live here now."

Aahan spat out the drink, choking on it. He coughed a little and furrowed his eyebrows. "What? Why?"

The guy grinned. "Because your mother said so."

His mother was too kind for her own good. Letting a stranger young guy stay in the house. What was she thinking?

"Get out!" Aahan demanded.

"Why?"

"Because I said so. This is my house."

The guy grabbed a freshly baked croissant from the plate, biting into it and moaning in pleasure. Aahan could feel that this young man was trying to annoy him and surprisingly enough it was working. What the hell had Rylee done to him? He could feel emotions now.

The stranger ate the entire croissant and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Actually this house belongs to your mother. She pays the bills and it's on her name. So if she says I can stay here then I can."

Aahan glared at him. "And I am her son. So indirectly I own the house."

"But directly you don't."

Aahan scoffed, taking an instant dislike to this guy. "What's your name?"

"Call me Urban."

"That's clearly a pen name."

The stranger smiled. "Yes. I don't think we are that close to exchange real names."

"You live in my house." Aahan retorted. "And you know my name."

Urban didn't respond to that. He grabbed another croissant. "You should eat these, they are delicious."

"I know. They are made for me."

Urban cleared his throat and smirked at Aahan. "So you have a date today?"

Once again Aahan choked on his juice and he patted his chest to stop from coughing. "What?" he couldn't understand how he would know that.

"You talk to yourself and you are loud." Urban replied.

Aahan frowned. "Were your ears glued to my door?"

Urban scoffed. "Like I have no other work to do. I was going to the washroom and I heard you."

Aahan did not believe him at all.

"So have you finally decided where to take her?"

Aahan looked at the guy, he was definitely older than him and he didn't look like he was in school. With dirty brown hair and a flirty smile he seemed like the guy who had done his fair share of dating. He was probably dating three at a time. Maybe he could be of some help. "No, I haven't decided."

Urban hummed in thought. "So do you know what she likes?"

"Dancing and shopping."

Urban mentally smirked. That seemed like most of the women he knew. And somehow 80% of the women who claimed they liked dancing and shopping – they surely disliked other physical activities such as cycling and hiking. They hated getting scratches and bruises on their first date.

"Take her cycling."

Aahan actually liked that idea. He loved to cycle and he hoped Rylee did too. Yes, he could take her to a small café for lunch and they could cycle around, do some shopping and then some ice cream. The cycling paths were definitely beautiful. "That's actually helpful."

Urban fake smiled. "I am glad."

Aahan grabbed the entire croissant plate and walked away.

"Hey! They are for everyone."

"You already had enough. Watch your weight." Aahan responded back without glancing back.

Urban narrowed his eyes at Aahan's back. "You'll have a sucky date today." He whispered in a wicked tone.

Aahan kept the plate on his bed table and typed a message to Rylee. 'Meet me at the Aruba entrance at 11.00 am. Wear something comfortable.'

Rylee stared at the message and felt her heart fluttering a little. She grinned joyfully. 'Okay where are we going?'

Rylee felt like it was her first Christmas – the happiness, the excitement, the waiting were all so similar.

Aahan replied. 'Cycling around the city?'

Rylee smiled as she read the word cycling. She hadn't been cycling in a while now and she just realized how much she missed it. Her elder brother Dan had even taught some cycling tricks but she was doubtful if she could still do them. And also she didn't want to try and fail, she had humiliated herself enough already, she didn't need more concepts to do it.

Rylee replied. 'Sounds wonderful.'

Aahan was ready by 10.30, his feet kept tapping on the floor and he felt jittery. He knew he was nervous but he didn't know how to stop feeling nervous. He walked downstairs and wasn't surprised to see Urban sitting on the couch.

This was the first time Aahan had taken an instant dislike for a human.

"That's my mug." Aahan identified, staring at the black coffee mug in Urban's hands.

Urban shrugged. "Is there a name written?"

Aahan narrowed his eyes at Urban's audacity. It was a magic cup he had got as a kid, the one when you pour hot liquid and an image is formed – that image was Aahan's face and his name. "Are you blind?"

"I choose to ignore things I don't want to see."

"Probably why you are so bad at painting."

Urban kept the mug on the table and stood up. He took a step closer towards Aahan. "What did you say?"

Aahan stepped back, Urban was taller and definitely stronger. "Do you also choose to ignore things you don't want to hear?"

Urban furrowed his eyebrows and straightened his lips, he constricted his face to one that screamed I am danger and I will kill you, and it always worked. He had used it plenty times to be proud of it.

Aahan blinked at Urban's face. "Do you need to go to the washroom?"

"Huh?"

Aahan pointed at Urban's face. "It feels like you have constipation."

Urban scoffed loudly in disbelief. "Constipation? Constipation?" he pointed at his face. "It means I am danger."

Aahan shrugged a shoulder in disregard. "Are you sure? It did feel like you were constipated. It was like I am in danger."

Urban pressed his lips together in annoyance. "Get out."

"This is my home. You get out."

They two men stared at each other and Urban finally looked away. "Fine." He picked up the mug with Aahan's name written on it. He took a large sip provoking Aahan. "I wonder if this mug can slip and break into pieces, by mistake of course."

Aahan breathed out in anger. He rarely felt annoyance and he wasn't sure what to do when he felt it or how to control it. "I dare you." He challenged Urban.

Urban could see the fury in Aahan's eyes and it seemed to increase with every second. He suddenly felt a little frightened. Slowly he kept the mug back on the table. "Look at that, it didn't slip and break by mistake." Urban remarked and then walked away, not glancing at Aahan's livid face.

Urban whispered to himself. "I should ask him how he did that face. That didn't look like he was constipating." Urban knew what he would be doing for the next fifteen minutes now – working on his 'I am danger' face expression.

Aahan picked up the mug and twisted his lips in disgust. "I cannot believe someone else put their lips on you." He muttered to the mug quickly washing it with extra soap and water. "Maybe I should sanitize you."

Rylee was wearing black denim shorts paired with a cute floral yellow top. She lightly clipped her hair to the back and took a few strands off the front. She patted his cheeks to give a rosy glow and applied a little lipstick and mascara.

Grabbing her yellow sling back she walked downstairs, making sure to not make a sound. She wrote a note 'Hey mom, going out, will be back in the evening. Bye. Love you.' And stuck it to the fridge. She knew if her mother saw her going out she would not allow it.

She took out her white shoes from the shoe closet and didn't wear them. She tiptoed to the door with the shoes in her hand.

"Where are you going?"

Rylee almost stumbled and fell on her face at the sudden whispering voice.

She smiled nervously at her grandmother. "Just, to meet the girls."

Granny smirked. "You would wear pajamas to meet the girls not a pretty top and makeup."

Rylee fidgeted with her bag, not wanting to lie but not wanting to tell the truth and cancel the date.

"Is it that hugger?"

Rylee coughed slowly. "Yes."

Granny smiled. "If your mom knows she'll not allow you to leave."

Rylee looked down at her bare feet. "I know." She whispered.

Her grandmother sighed. "Well, it's a good thing I didn't see you leaving the house then."

Rylee's head snapped up in surprise. "Huh?"

Granny waved her out. "Leave before she sees you. Enjoy your date."

Rylee grinned at her grandmother. "Thank you. You are the best." She opened the door and quietly shut it behind her.

She finally wore the white shoes and looked at the time, it was already 10.50 am. The Aruba center was a 20 minute walk but if she grabbed a bus she could reach in 10.

Luckily she got the bus as soon as she reached the bus stand. She sat on an empty seat and looked out of the window. It was a lovely day, there was sun but hidden behind the clouds and the weather wasn't so warm, there was even a slight breeze blowing by. She rubbed her arms and breathed in the smell of excitement and satisfaction.

She got down at the Aruba center at exactly 11.00 am. Aahan wasn't there.

It took Aahan ten more minutes to finally come. Rylee raised her eyebrows at the heavy breaths of Aahan. "Did you run?"

Aahan nodded, taking deep breaths. "I didn't want to keep you waiting."

Rylee smiled at the response, she bit her lip to stop herself from blushing like an idiot.

"I had to sanitize my mug."

"Huh?" Rylee blinked in confusion.

Aahan's breathing turned to normal and he waved his hand motioning it wasn't a big deal. "A filthy germ touched it that's why."

Rylee wasn't exactly curious about it so she dropped the subject. "So what are we doing now?"

Aahan looked around. "It's still warm so let's have something to eat?"

Rylee nodded. "Sounds good."

Aahan smiled at her and Rylee's heartbeat rose as she saw the familiar left dimple again. Oh how she loved it!

Aahan took a step closer to her and Rylee held her breath. Was he going to hug her again? Oh please let him hug her again. She froze, mentally prepping herself for the hug and hiding the excitement of feeling his touch again.

Aahan brushed past her. "That restaurant looks good. You like Pizza?"

Rylee stared at the empty space in front of her and her shoulders slumped. Was she seriously so thrilled about a hug? A hug? She shook her head, mentally scolding herself for getting hyped over nothing. 'Stupid Rylee, always having expectations.'

"You coming?" Aahan's voice was a little farther away.

Rylee sighed. "Only if you make me." she mumbled under her breath and turned around to follow Aahan. "I like Pizza." She answered his previous question.

"Okay good."

They walked into the Pizza shop and Aahan told Rylee to choose a place for them to sit. Rylee of course choose the one in a corner, away from prying eyes.

After 10 minutes they sat with one large box of Pizza and two bottles of Coke in between them.

As they ate the cheesy Pizza, Rylee finally asked the question that had been haunting her since a while. "Is this your first date?"

Aahan stopped chewing, he blinked and stared at the straightforward question by Rylee. He gulped the food barely chewing any further and wiped his mouth with a tissue. "Umm. Well, technically yes."

Rylee tried her best to not grin like a mad woman. "Technically?"

Aahan sighed. "I guess a park date at the age of 6, doesn't count?"

Rylee shook her head.

Aahan took a sip from his Coke. "Well then this is my first date."

Rylee kept a palm over her face to hide the huge victory grin. From the outside she pretended to be fine but mentally she had done a huge fist pump, danced to disco songs and screamed her lungs out.

"Are you smiling?" Aahan pointed at the hand covering her face.

Rylee shook her head, smiling.

Aahan chuckled softly. "Don't hide your smile. I love to see you smile."

And just like that, within the first 20 minutes of her date with Aahan, Rylee knew – although it was not her first date but it would definitely be the best date ever.

~~~

Ugh. They are too cute.

Makes me want a boyfriend for myself!