New York, Queens

A Random Rooftop

22:50

"Oh my god, oh my god!!" Olivia exclaimed as she finally felt her feet touching solid ground.

"So how was it?" Aaron asked as soon as he put her down on a rooftop overlooking the beautiful city of Queens.

"How was it? I was about die!" She protested puffing her cheeks out.

"Well you didn't, so that's why I'm asking for your review." The teenager replied calmly as he walked along the wide empty space of the rooftop.

"Well if I had to say... I guess, it had its moments?" The blonde girl replied with a hint of uncertainty.

"See? I knew you'd like it! Here, catch!" Aaron picked up a plastic bag that was lying around and threw a can her way, which she caught with both hands just in time.

"What's this? Strawberry flavored soda..." Olivia immediately read the letters printed on the pink-red can.

"Yeah I thought you'd like it.... If you don't, you can have mine, though. It's lemon." He said as he opened the lid with his thumb making a "pssst" sound.

"Uhm, I think it's the right time to ask... Why all this?" The dumbfounded girl asked as she played with the cold can in her hands.

"Well back at the party I saw how you were and... I wanted to apologize. I should have realized sooner that Sarah had said something to you..." Aaron voiced as he stepped closer to her and she raised her face.

"No, don't worry. It's not your fault. Besides, you can do whatever you want. It's not like we're dating or anything. You shouldn't have left Sarah like that, now what is she gonna think of you?" Olivia stated with a melancholic smile on her face, as she returned her gaze but to her hands.

"Nah don't worry about that. I told her straight in the face." Aaron said with a little chuckle.

"What did you tell her?" Olivia finally looked up.

"That I want us to stay friends, and I'm not romantically interested in her." The young man replied simply and took a sip out of his can.

"You don't like her, then?" The teenage girl inquired, her eyes shining under the beautiful lights of the buildings.

"No, I don't. And I don't think that will change..." He stated sincerely as he turned his head to look at the view.

"Why?" Was all Olivia spelled out, but Aaron didn't reply. Instead he moved closer and pressed his can against hers.

"Cheers." He said with a softness in his eyes.

"Cheers." She replied with a genuine smile before popping the can open and taking a sip out of it.

"Will you forgive me?" He finally asked, a solemn expression on his face.

"Do I have a choice?" She asked as she moved to the railing overlooking one of the biggest boulevards of the city and leaned against it with her hands.

"You always do!" Aaron replied playfully as he positioned himself next to her, and the chilly breeze caused them to snuggle closer to each other.

I want to stay like this forever... Aaaah I really am in love with him! Should I just shoot my shot? I want to try... I want to tell him...!

"Can I... talk to you.... about something? Olivia spelled out almost too low for him to hear, but he caught on nonetheless.

"Yeah, shoot!" He replied with a grin as he took another sip from his lemon soda, not looking away from the view.

"So... uhm..." The girl turned to face him, as she started fidgeting with her palms. Aaron, realizing it was something serious turned his gaze at her at last, causing her face to burn up even more.

"I think.... I'm in love with you..." She said in a child-like tone, in such a low voice that she wouldn't be surprised if he didn't hear it.

"Huh?" He exclaimed, widening his eyes in surprise.

"I said... I'm in love... with you..." She repeated yet again, this time a tad bit louder, her face so red someone watching her would think she was burning up.

"Olivia..." Aaron whispered as he turned to her, a sad look spreading across his face. Just then, the blonde girl clenched her fist, and mastered all her courage. She couldn't let this chance slip away. She had to tell him everything that weighed down on her. It was now or never.

"I said I'm in love with you! I like you! In fact, I have been feeling this way for quite some time! When I'm alone I always think of you! I want to tell you every little thing no matter how silly! I want to go on long walks with you and I want you to hold my hand! I want us to play games and watch movies together and fall asleep in each other's arms! What if I'm so hopelessly in love with you that I can't stop thinking about these things?! Do you have a problem with that?!" She shouted with all her strength, disregarding her embarrassment, the redness of her face and the hammering of her aching heart. She wanted to lay her feelings bare in front of him. She wanted him to know how much it hurt bottling all these feelings up. But alas, she was finally free. But she couldn't let it out, yet. She couldn't let him see her like that. Not yet.

"Olivia... I..." Aaron tried to spell out something but couldn't quite do it. Instead he looked at his feet and curled his hands in fists. "I can't be with you...." He clenched his teeth in frustration, not looking back at her.

"Why...?" She said as she looked down at her feet as well, a chilly wind whipping both of their hair around. She knew it would come to this, but rejection hurt more than she imagined.

"I'm Wraith, Olivia. How can I get into a relationship, when I do all this dangerous work? What if I put you in danger because of it? What if something happens to you, because of me?" The young man narrowed his eyes as he finally lifted his gaze. "...You deserve someone far better than me... Someone who can devote all of his free time to you. Someone who won't put you in danger. Someone who's not risking his life day in day out. You deserve better than this!" He raised his voice as he felt the incompetence and frustration starting to take root inside his heart.

"I don't care about what I deserve! I only want you! If it's not you, then I don't want anyone else..." She stepped forward stomping her foot to the ground but quickly retreated back. "Just answer me this... Do you like me too?" Olivia asked her eyes almost stained with tears. But the young man didn't answer. Instead he looked away and dug his nails in his palm.

Is it really okay for me to do this? Can I be with her...? Do I really deserve this...?

"...Nevermind..." She turned around and took a few steps in defeat. But in truth she only turned around because she didn't want him to see how pathetic she looked. "...Shall we get going? It's getting kinda chilly here..." Olivia momentarily turned her face to him, and he noticed a single tear escaping her eye.

What the hell am I doing?!

Aaron shouted internally as he realized how stupid he's being all this time. The answer was right there in front of him this whole time. He was only thinking about her safety and her wellbeing. And ultimately, only about himself. He never stopped to think how she would feel... how much she must have hurt. She mustered all her courage to confess her feelings to him and he just forced his stupid logic onto her. He clenched his hand in anger. He only had himself to blame. But he knew what he had to do to make things right. He cast away all his insecurities and anxieties and ran to her. He wrapped his arms around her so tight he was afraid that for a second she'll suffocate. "Olivia!" He shouted hugging her from the back. He loosened up his grip and she turned around to face him, her face full of surprise.

"I'm in love with you, too! From the very first time I met you, I thought I wanted to be with you! I thought how lucky I'd be if I ever got such a cute, smart and sweet girl to be with me! I loved how we could just casually chat about the things we liked... I loved how you laughed at my jokes... I loved seeing you smile. And before I knew it, my crush had turned to this... Before I knew it, I only had eyes for you.." He closed his arms around her small frame once again, as she buried her face in his chest. "Olivia Marshall, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked her with a soft voice as they both separated slightly from the hug, their eyes meeting for the first time in a while.

"Mhm...." She could only nod and hum in response as the tears came streaming down her face. The dam had finally burst and there was no going back. Yet, it felt like such a sweet and tranquil release. All her pent up pain and anxiety felt like they were washed away from her body, just from the strength of that embrace.

After she regained her composure and her tears ran dry, she separated from the embrace just slightly, with a new look on her face. A more demanding and confident one. The true Olivia was finally back, Aaron thought.

"Now that you've admitted it, you belong to me you know... No more of Sarah or anyone else..." She stated with a glare but her eyes were still shining.

Man I'm so head over heels for her... Even her glare looks cute.

"Of course, I'm yours now..." Aaron replied with a small smile.

"You belong to me, but in exchange... I'll give you all of me too..." Olivia spelled out as every word made her face a rosy pink. "...I'll do this, and seal our contract." She stood on her tiptoes and in a matter of seconds, their lips pressed against each other. It was brief but the sensation lingered on as they separated and met each other's eyes. "See-" Her words were interrupted by Aaron who had leaned in and stole another kiss from her lips. He cupped her face in his hands and she gripped the back of his suit as they enjoyed this moment of intimacy. This time it lasted longer, but they pulled away in a matter of 10 seconds or so. Her eyes still dreamy from the intimate moment, both of their faces flushed red, their breathing ragged.

"Sorry, but I didn't quite catch it the first time..." Aaron whispered with a proud grin.

"You pervert..." She whispered with a pout but her eyes looked ready to melt from the happiness. All he did in response was chuckle.

"Olivia..." Aaron voiced lowly.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about before... I won't let anything happen to you, so rest easy, okay?" He stated this time hugging her more tightly than ever before.

"I know you will..." Olivia replied, relaxing against his chest. At that time the words of Steinn and his sister finally came back to him, as if they were there to congratulate him on choosing to walk the path of love.

Love is a wonderful thing...

For some reason, he only now realized what that meant. And he would continue to find new meaning in that sentence with every little step he took forward with Olivia from now on. With that new profound strength, he turned to look at the city one more time. The city he had to protect. And back at the girl in his arms.

I swear I will protect her. Not only as Wraith, but as Aaron as well. I have to keep this city safe, not only because I'm inclined to, but because the people I love will suffer if I don't. I will stop Crane and catch Brad, before anyone else gets hurt. Because I am Wraith. The hero of this city.