Valentine's was one of the biggest events in NYC.

Love is in the air wasn't a figurative statement. It was a literal one when it came to NYC.

The air had a sweet smell and a hint of romance. People were celebrating love in every way.

And seeing all these people so happy and in love, made my feelings for a specific man go out of control. Nicolas Arnold, curse that man, he was making it more difficult. He'd been avoiding me a lot for the last two days and that was really irritating me but again I didn't confront him.

I loved him, he had feelings for me but damn us, we both were scared to confess. The longer we avoided the truth, the more restlessness my mind and heart felt.

I looked at Evans and Tara, the couple of the house, their smile and happiness made my heart sing. Evans was beaming, apparently, he had asked Tara for her hand in marriage in the morning and she said yes.

I was genuinely happy for them. The way Evans looked at Tara was enough to make it clear how much he loved her.

"Dear God, Finally!", Mama clamoured."Why are all my kids so f*cking slow? I thought it'd take another decade for you to ask her. Goodness! I'm tired of playing the cupid for you all." She looked at me as if those last words were for me too.

"What are you guys doing here?", Nicolas entered the living room and raised an eyebrow at his friends. He was wearing a silk raven shirt with the first two buttons undone, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. I liked how his shirt didn't cling to his body, it was not too loose but it would keep his arms in shape. Lastly, he wore a pair of nice light grey formal pants and his shoes.

I quickly averted my gaze and covered my cheeks discreetly with my hair. The hell is with this blush, my God!

"Evans proposed Sienna and she said yes," Mama exclaimed with a broad grin. I looked at him who gave a warm hug to his friend." At least someone has the guts.", she added taking a sip from her glass. He frowned at his mother's disappointment.

"Excuse me.", he sighed and went to his room throwing a glance my way.

"Come on, Ari. Just once." Tara requested me, pushing the alcohol containing glass my way."I'm getting married." Her voice held an excitement. Evans and Aiden looked slightly drunk and so did Mama.

"I'm sorry Tara but I really don't." She frowned and lowered her head with a dramatic sigh.

What a bunch of dramatic people I've got!

I rolled my eyes as I took the glass from her hands. As I took a sip I got surprised by how sweet it was. I guess, they must have taken extra care in making it because honestly, I expected it to taste bitter or sour but it tasted great.

I blinked my eyes and grinned at Tara who giggled back like a schoolgirl. She poured some more in my glass, Mama joining us. Three of us cheered as the alcohol started to warm my insides. It felt like I'd swallowed a warm fire but I didn't mind. I felt good and cosy... and light.

My eyes caught the sight of Aiden who had passed out. Evans was requesting Tara to stop drinking and sleep but she didn't seem to agree with him.

In the end, he carried her in his arms to the guest room. Mama did the same but it happened all of a sudden. The three of them left the room together.

I wonder if it's just a coincidence.

My eyes were searching for a pair of grey ones and when I couldn't find him, my mood drained. What was he doing being cooped up in his room?

I sulked and picked the bottle to pour some more but before I could, a warm hand clasped around mine and I saw his eyes staring at me. "Easy there." He smirked pulling the bottle away from my hands."You've already drunk enough, Arielle." He nodded looking at the bottle.

I arched my eyebrow at him."Why are you talking to me, now?" I grabbed the bottle back."Go on, avoid me more."

"You thought I was avoiding you?", he asked me. His eyes were fixed on me as I turned to face him."Yes, you know how bad I felt, when..when a certain pair of grey-eyes didn't call me amore."I mumbled turning my face to the wall.

I heard Nicolas' footsteps as he came closer to me. I felt him grab my shoulder and his hand run through my hair. "I'm sorry, amore. I didn't mean it. I'm just afraid."

I froze at his words."Scared of?"

"Myself.", he whispered."I don't want to do anything stupid."

"How can someone be afraid of himself? Right Spongebob?", I peered over his shoulder to glance at the yellow sea sponge who nodded with me in agreement."See, he agrees with me."

I looked back at him who looked confused out of his wits. The confusion in his eyes made me laugh as I tilted my head at him. "What the hell are you saying?"

"Look over there." I gestured to him to the left of his side."You can even ask, Doraemon." I took a step towards the blue cat robot but I don't why my feet continued having a mind of their own and before I knew it, I was being pulled backwards by him.

"Jesus Christ!", he muttered as he wrapped his arms around me securely."Careful."

I shook my head as I freed myself from his grip."Okay.." I laughed."I'm okay. Doraemon, come on help me get home. Get your anywhere door out." The blue cat robot scowled at me, how dare he?

"Spongebob.", I yelled for my best friend."No one loves me, take me with you to the ocean. I'll even sew you a new pair of pants. Promise." I requested the sponge whose large blue eyes brightened in delight."Is it a yes?" I exclaimed taking a step towards the adorable blue-eyed sponge.

"No, no one is going anywhere.", Mr Arnold ordered as he looked at me with a stern face. The cat robot and yellow sponge got afraid listening to him yelling and the next second, Doraemon took out his anywhere door and both of them vanished.

Bloody traitors!

But the next moment, I got worried. What if they never return? I hope they'll come back. But what if?

I felt a surge of anger at him. Why did he scare them away? What was the point? Why did he treat my favourite people like that? "How dare you? My friends left me because you scared them away." I felt sad.

What if Doraemon refused to help me anymore? What if SpongeBob started crying and got lost? What if even Dora couldn't find him?

"Amore.", Mr Arnold- no Nicolas, no it's long... Nick, right Nick whispered touching my cheek. I turned to face him. "Listen to me. You are imagining things, I don't know what kind of beverage did they made you drink but right now you need to sleep."

"Don't talk to me. First, you avoid me then you scare away my favourite people. I'm angry at you." I glared at him threateningly."And dare you to call me, amore." His eyes squinted."It makes my anger go away."

"And how will this anger go away, amore?" My heart pounded as I tried to slow down the giddy feeling and maintain my angry posture. How dare he use the word when I clearly specified not to?

I took a step closer to him. "You better not call me amore. I'm... I'm-", he raised his eyebrows crossing his arms over his chest, clearly enjoying."- I'm mad at you."

He hummed, as he smiled at me. "What should I do to seek your apology?"

I felt a sense of victory, just like a kid does when he wins a chocolate lottery. Ah! Chocolate."Get me chocolate." I sat down on the couch crossing my legs. "I'm hungry."

He chuckled as he watched me following him to the kitchen and soon he took out a pack of chocolate from the refrigerator and gave it to me after unwrapping it.

I ate the chocolate. I felt a sense of contentment, as the intense flavour of the chocolate rolled around in my mouth. He looked at me as I continued to savour the taste."You want some?"

I saw him turning back and inhaling a sharp breath. Is he okay? Is he in pain? "Jesus Christ! Why are you testing my control so much?", he muttered looking at the ceiling.

I kept my hand on his shoulder but a gasp escaped me when he pinned me to the refrigerator. I couldn't move my body. I felt like I was being pinned by a magnet. "Why do you test me like this?"

"When did I?", I tilted my head in bewilderment.

"Christ!", he muttered."It'd have been better if I had drunk as well."

I didn't understand what he meant. I was just about to ask him but he leaned forward pressing his forehead against mine."It's getting difficult to suppress my feelings in front of you.", he hissed, his voice holding a restraint.

I couldn't reply. I didn't know what to say."Every time I see you, all I want to do is to kiss you, amore. My feelings for you are growing exponentially every single f*cking day.", his arms tightened around me like vice grips.

"W-What feelings?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I couldn't help but nod."F*ck! I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you from the moment I saw you hugging Kia and from the very day, I've been falling for you harder and faster." His words came laboured as if he were holding back a storm of emotions. "I love you, Arielle Summers."

I thought he had feelings for me but I didn't know just like how I did, he loved me and that too from the very first moment we met.

My mind felt like a spinning top "You're really in love with me."

"I'm really in love with you. I want to marry you and give myself to you until the day I die."

My words died in my throat as I felt my heart racing and before I knew I pressed my lips on the corner of his lips."I love you too." He froze completely."Yes, you scoundrel, I have fallen for you too and as much as I want to kiss you, I don't know how to."

"You love me?", his words came out in a whisper as if he couldn't believe me."Yes, you Nicolas f*cking Arnold, you've made me fall for you completely."

"Jesus Christ!", I saw tears in his eyes."Only if you were sober." He pressed a kiss on the corner of my lips."But at least I know about your feelings for me."

I felt him caress my cheeks. "What about the kiss?", I found myself blurting, not that I didn't intend to. I really wanted him to kiss me.

He smiled at me as he swiped me off the floor. His arms under my knees and around my waist."As much as I'm tempted to. I don't want to have our first kiss in your drunk state. I've got plans for it."

"Plans..", I trailed off as my eyes started drooping."Nick." He hummed as an answer as he kicked the door open of the guest room. "Do you think Dora could find Spongebob with her map?"

He sighed as he lowered me on the bed. "I'm sure. She will." My lips curled into a smile when he pressed a kiss on my temple.

***