I adjusted my body closer and, with our hands still connected, I leaned in. His mouth almost enveloped mine in a fiery kiss.

Keyword being almost.

Before our lips could make contact, Aaron's finger did. He raised his index finger to my lips, stopping me in my movements.

"Please." He strained out, his voice laced with exhaustion.

My eyes snapped open at this and I stared at him, hoping he would offer me a reasonable explanation- But one never came.

I recoiled away from him, nodding numbly.

"Sorry." I mumbled. Tears formed in my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall. Aaron's eyes didn't meet mine as he spoke, his voice quiet.

"No. I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't mean to start anything. I'm sorry." He said, his eyes looking everywhere but at me.

I turned to Aaron who eyed our connected hands with a mixture of disgust and despair.

I waited. I don't know what for, but I didn't feel like moving right now. Aaron clenched and unclenched his jaw, eyeing our hands. His palm pressed against mine with a little force before he hesitantly parted his hand from mine, moving it back slowly to his side.

____________________________

It was a cold day, was Aaron's first thought as he walked across the pavement. He had just been at Mason's house for a small get together just 10 minutes prior and he cursed internally as another strong breeze blew. He thought briefly to his car right outside Mason's house and how he would have driven home had it not been for a drunk Danny accidentally pocketing his keys and taking it home when he caught a ride with Justin after vomiting.

His second thought pertained less to something but someone: a certain doe-eyed girl.

How could his thoughts not deviate to her when, in the midst of the dark night, her familiar scent suddenly hit him. He could only wonder for a miniscule of a second before he bumped into warmth before looking down.

And, there she was, in all her glory- Lexi.

When his eyes fixed on her, he couldn't seem to avert his gaze. It was all but easy to drown in her eyes and it seemed she couldn't look away either. Her mouth was slightly agape as though she was shocked to see her and he would quickly admit that he felt the same. It was odd to see Lexi out here, in the middle of nowhere, so far from home.

"What are you doing out so late?" He broke the silence and he realised he was slightly curious about her life outside school. Specifically when he looked around at the dark road.

"Alone?" He finished his sentence, feeling slightly relieved that Danny had taken his keys. The streets were dangerous after sunset and, although they weren't close, he worried for her wellbeing.

At his question, he noticed how Lexi let out a small stuttered sound. It was clear, even for him, that she was wracking her brain for an answer and he raised an eyebrow at this. Usually, he would commend himself for being able to read those around him. He had long since gotten used to the way people acted around him and, much to his chagrin, it had slowly sucked the life out of him. Each interaction and conversation had become an orchestrated show to display he was okay. He had thought he had predicted Lexi as well- an uptight, silent beauty who keeps to herself and values rules above all. Yet, now, when she looked around as though she had been caught doing something taboo, he couldn't help but wonder about the Lexi he didn't know; the side of her that she had so expertly hidden. She fidgeted under his stare as though she was uncomfortable with the questioned and it only made his curiosity deepen. He wanted to interrogate her then; to finally delve into something that didn't fall into his predictions, bit he knew it wasn't best to pry. He, of course, had secrets also that were best hidden.

So, instead, he ignored the urge to question her again and smirked, looking down to his watch.

"You know it's been a total of 3 minutes and 52 seconds that you haven't answered" He gestured slightly to his watch, noting how her shoulders visibly relaxed.

"Were you thinking of me?" He added just so she'd drop her tense guard and that she did, as she let out a small scoff at his ego before shaking her head.

"Actually, I just came out for a walk because I wanted some fresh air."

A lie.

He had lied too many times to count, but enough to know that she wasn't telling the truth. Again, he couldn't help but assess her again with his scrutinising gaze. A part of him knew she wouldn't disclose the truth to him. Of course, they didn't know each other enough for that to happen. However, a part of him- the rebellious side- couldn't help but feel like challenging her lie. He wanted to see how far she'd go to lie to him and so he furrowed his eyebrows in mock-confusion.

"So you walked around 52 minutes away from your home?" Was all he said and she faltered yet again before smiling sheepishly. He only watched intently.

"I needed a lot of fresh air?" Was her response, the sheepish smile still on her face and it wasn't hard to tell she was lying. The curiosity was killing him at this point as he stared at her as though the truth would be written on her forehead. It made him realise how little he knew her and it irked him that he couldn't read her as he usually could with others. She was hiding something and he found that it unsettled him slightly in ways he couldn't explain.

"So..." Lexi's voice broke him out his thoughts as she rocked on her heels and he raised an eyebrow, awaiting her words.

"I should get going. I need to get home. I'll see you at school." She finally said and, before he could respond, she was walking away.

He watched her go for a while in a stunned silence. It was only a mere hour ago that he hadn't thought anything of the girl. Sure, she was beautiful and he enjoyed looking at her, but he thought that was all there was to it. Yet, now, it was different and he couldn't help it as he jogged to catch up with her.

"Wait, Lexi!" He called out to her and she turned to look at him in confusion. Again, he smiled in his typical nature.

"Hey, since you're already out, maybe I could treat you to something." He suggested, brushing his hair back slighty yet she merely shook her head, gesturing backwards with her hand.

"No, it's okay. I should just get going. It's a school night" She responded without hesitation and the fact that she wasn't jumping to hang out with him only increased his intrigue. He simply smiled at her words, moving closer, letting her scent consume him.

"Come on, Lexi. Just say yes. I mean.

"It's the least I could do in return for what you're doing for me." He honestly relented, smiling genuinely. She had helped him and he was grateful for it.

Again, without hesitation, she shrugged unsurely.

"I don't know. I really should get going." She protested and he relented then, nodding. He couldn't force her despite his curiosity. So, instead, he made way to turn. Yet, before he could, she stood in front of him, stopping him.

He would never forget the way her lips quirked up into a soft smile, the tip of her nose cutely tinted rid from the cold.

"Fine. Let's go."

***************************

"Walker, just give up! You're never going to get a strike." He smiled at her voice as he picked up a bowling ball. Never once had any girl he hung out with chose to insult him when they went to bowl. It made excitement fill him and he turned to her with a smirk, his typical competitiveness filling him.

"Trust me, Lexi. These hands have been trained. I'm not gonna lose" He responded, knowing just what would annoy her. He had found that, if it was a battle of wits, Lexi would always win against him. The only way in which to win was to resort to his trump card: either to flirt with her or to mention taboo topics. Both of those things always allowed hin to win. Well, allowed him to win or confused her entirely. Just like right now when her eyebrows furrowed softly at his words.

"You train your hands?" She questioned innocently in a way that only made the excitement grow. He liked that she didn't know what he was talking about; he liked that it was him that flustered her. He didn't know why but he just did and he could only smile as he spoke.

"Yes, I train my hands." Was all he said, carefully gauging her reaction. Her eyebrows furrowed all the more, making him smile as he shrugged.

"But I can't take all the credit. I mean, if there were no ladies, I would have no-one to train my hands on. I've got to thank them." He watched her intently as her face shifted from confused to disgust, making him laugh.

"You're insufferable." She grumbled out and he laughed at her reaction before turning and letting go of the bowling ball, watching it hit all the pins down in a strike. He remembered her trash talk from earlier and turned to smugly.

"What can I say? Practice makes perfect." He boasted just to mess with her and she scowled at him, making him beam. It was very refreshing to be scowled at, he had come to find.

"I don't like this game." Lexi complained, folding her arms and he laughed at how competitive she was. It seemed they both had that in common. He sat down beside her and she turned away to look at the side as though she was moody with him. It made him laugh again and he leaned towards her slightly.

"Are you gonna cry?" He teased, wanting to see her reaction to his words. He liked seeing how she responded, even with the smallest of facial expressions, he found it captivating.

She huffed, but still chose to say nothing and this only amused him more. He shuffled closer until his legs touched against hers, knowing that it would annoy her and he smiled as he tensed. She still, however, didn't turn to look at him.

"Lexi." He murmured, still laughing internally. When she didn't answer again, he grabbed her chin abruptly, turning her to face him and he tensed as he met her striking eyes as though it was the first time. He hadn't ever seen her from this close up and he stilled as he scanned her face with thorough eyes.

It must be a sin to be this beautiful, was the thought that ran through his head, but he ignored it, focusing on what he had set out to do: to tease her yet again.

"Don't be a sore loser, Lexi." He whispered half-distracted by her doe eyes and full lips. So, he decided to continue focusing on teasing her, smiling as he met her eyes again.

"It's not your fault that I'm better in every single way." He stated cockily and with that he got up, smirking as he saw the realisation hit her. She scowled after a moment in her typical manner.

"Ha Ha, so funny." She said monotonously and he smiled at her annoyance, tugging a hand through his hair playfully.

"Don't whine, Lexi. Why don't we just go to dinner. I'm sure there's nothing for you to lose there." He finished, choosing to continue pushing her buttons. He watched as her eyes narrowed slightly before she stood up, moving closer to him until she was within touching distance.

He opened his mouth to tease her yet again, but her small hand against his touch made him stop abruptly in his tracks. His eyes seared through hers, wanting to know what she was doing, but he couldn't mistake the way in which his whole body stiffened under her touch; the way in which his hands clenched tightly by his side. She ignored his stare, tiptoeing until they were nearly face level and his breath hitched at the close proximity.

She was so near and he couldn't help but want to question her actions, but he didn't speak in the fear that she'd move. So, he watched as her eyebrows furrowed softly, her bottom lip between her lips in a way that made his body feel like it'd snap with how stiff it was.

If that wasn't enough then she was moving her hands up his chest at a painfully slow pace. He had though she was knew to interacting with a man, but it didn't seem like it and he didn't know how felt about that.

Finally, her hands looped and tightened around his neck. He involuntarily shuddered at the skin contact, feeling his body go into autopilot. His hands instinctively raised to rest against her hips, squeezing them slightly. Her body was so foreign yet enticing to him.

He waited in anticipating as she moved closer to his ear, her breathing tickling his neck.

"Good, because I am so starving." Her voice was casual as she spoke, catching him off guard. She pulled out of his hold then, moving away and he watched in dazed confusion. Was it not a moment ago when her hands had caressed his chest in a way that made him want to be somewhere private.

Yet now she was looking at him casually and his eyebrows furrowed as she smirked at him.

"You coming or what?" She questioned, and he

tilted his head curiously at the laughter bubbling in her voice, not understanding the sudden change. It took a few moments for realisation to dawn on him but, when it did, he couldn't help the smile that graced his face.

He couldn't say anything then, but regard her in a way he never had; see her in a way he never had. He had been entirely wrong about her; about how he thought she would be. He had written her off as just another girl and assumed she'd play to the same scripted role. This, however, was unplanned and unscripted. He couldn't help but feel the excitement fill him, especially when she giggled before turning to walk away.

He felt excitement but also competitive. He wanted to rise to the challenge; to prove he wasn't someone she could write off. Strangely, he wanted to keep her attention and he couldn't help but want to laugh at how the roles had reversed.

So, that's why called her name then, smikin as she turned to him, arms folded smugly.

"Yeah?" She spoke cockily and he had to admit it suited her, but he wouldn't let it last. He wouldn't lose, no matter how much she distracted him. He would conquer.

"Game on."

**************************

"Are we there yet?!" Lexi shouted yet again like a petulanr child and he couldn't help but find it cute. Still, he turned around with feigned annoyance.

"You just asked me that two seconds ago." He drawled monotonously and she only groaned in response, unwinding her ankle. It made the concern fill him as he looked at her. How had he not realised how frail she was?

"You okay? Do your feet hurt?" He questioned in concern but she merely waved him off with a hand.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." She answered, but he could tell she was lying. He fought the smile as he raised an eyebrow.

"You know you have the physical fitness of a really fat panda?" He joked and she scowled at him in the way he enjoyed.

"Hey, I do not! Just compared to you because you're so-"

"Fit?" He interrupted just to annoy her yet again and she sighed dryly at his words.

"Yes, Aaron, that's the word I was looking for." She droned sarcastically, eyeing him flatly and he couldn't help but laugh again at her humour. He knew she'd never concede with admitting she felt pain in her feet, so he resorted to just grabbing her arm.

"What are you doing?" She tried to pull away from him harshly and he felt himself falter at the distaste in her eyes. She knew she wasn't fond of him nor his reputation, but he didn't know she felt so unsafe in his presence.

Despite how it made him feel, he smiled reassuringly.

"Relax. I'm not touching you, in that way. You don't have to worry about that" He hoped it would console her, but she still tugged her arm harshly.

"But still, what are you doing? Let go." Her voice was clipped, so he let go of her hand then, gesturing towards his back.

"Hop on to my back. You're tired." He explained and her shoulders relaxed then, making him tense.

"No, it's okay, Aaron." She responded, but she eyed his back tepidly in a way that showed him she wanted to be carried.

"Just get on." He said and she shook her head, looking unsurely at his back.

"You'll drop me." She protested weakly and he jokingly pointed to his biceps.

"How could this drop you?" He teased, making her eye him flatly.

"Yeah, flattering yourself is not going to persuade me." She responded before wincing as she circled her ankle yet again. It made him groan in frustration before he stuck his hand out for her to take.

"Do you trust me?" He asked, seeking her eyes for some semblance of positivity. He knew she wasn't too fond of him, but surely there was something she could tolerate or else she wouldn't have agreed to his favour.

She looked to be in thought for a moment and he felt anxious as the time passed. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, she put her petite hand in his bigger one, nodding her head in a way that relieved him.

"Yes."

It was one word, but it was enough to console the anxiety and he found himself smiling before pulling her body flat into his, without thought.

"Then trust me when I tell you this. I would never drop you." He murmured the truth to her: to let her know that he wasn't who she thought him to be. She could trust him.

She nodded gently, staring into his eyes like he did with her.

"I'll hold you to that." Her voice was a soft whisper that shrouded them from the world and he couldn't help but sink into the comfortable silence between them. A silence in which he couldn't find any words. It was atypical, but he reveled in the tranquillity of silence between them. Then, after a moment, it was over and he moved away from her.

"Hop on my back then." He changed subjects swiftly to save them the awkwardness of having to address it and Lexi nodded, making him smile. He ducked so she could move on. It was only a second before her warmth fell into his arms and he held her with ease. Again, her arms went around his neck, making him shudder as she leaned her head against the top of his.

She was like a small doll in his hold and he tightened his hold, loving the feel of her against him. He only broke out of his reverie when he heard her sniff and he let out a laugh.

"Hey, Dawson, this is not an opportunity for you to wipe your snot on my hair, understand?" He teased, looking up at her and she scrunched up her nose in a way that made him waver.

"Oops too late" She spoke in an innocent tone before rubbing her nose vigorously across his hair, making him let out a mock-groan as he smiled up at her. Had he known she was this playful, he would have spoken to her sooner.

It was quiet for a moment as they walked and Aaron gazed up curiously.

"Lexi? You awake?" He asked and she let out a small noise, cuddling deeper into his back in a way that made his jaw clench.

"Yeah. I'm awake." She answered and he cleared his throat to distract from her feel.

"We're here." He smiled as he saw the McDonald's sign in the distance.

"I wish I knew where here was." Lexi muttered as she got off his back and he couldn't help but feel his lips quirk up as he felt the need to tease her again.

He turned to her then, his mischievous smile shifting to a more sad one.