Breaking the Ice

Aiden had been wrestling with himself for days, the nagging pull of his desire to finally talk to her threatening to drive him insane. Every time their eyes met, every time he saw her smile at someone else, it made something inside him snap.

He couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t stand just watching her from afar. He needed to make a move. He needed to get closer, to figure out what was going on behind those guarded eyes.

But how?

He’d seen the way she’d avoided him, the coldness in her posture, the way she shut herself off from everyone. How could someone like her be so untouchable?

He wasn’t even sure if she’d listen to him, let alone talk to him. But damn it, he wasn’t going to let her slip through his fingers without trying.

It was lunch when he made up his mind.

Aiden had been sitting alone, as usual, staring out the window. But this time, he wasn’t just lost in his thoughts. His eyes kept drifting to Aria, who was sitting at a table across the room, laughing with her friends. Her voice had that melody to it that was so soft, so pure, it made his chest tighten.

He had to do it now. No more hesitation.

He stood up from his seat, his heart pounding in his chest as he walked toward her table. But the closer he got, the more he felt like he was walking into enemy territory. Aria glanced up, and for a second, their gazes locked. Her expression was unreadable, but Aiden couldn’t look away.

This was it.

"Aria," Aiden said, his voice low but firm.

She blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting him to approach her. The tension was immediate, thickening the air between them. Aria’s eyes flickered briefly to her friends before she met his gaze again, this time guarded, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

"What do you want?" Her voice was neutral, almost cold, but Aiden could hear the slight tremor underneath it. It was enough to make his heart race.

He pushed his nervousness aside, refusing to be thrown off by her cool exterior. "Can we talk?" he asked, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him.

For a moment, Aria didn’t respond. She looked at him as if weighing her options, trying to decide whether it was worth her time. But something—something about the intensity in his eyes, the way he was standing there, waiting for her response—made her nod.

"Fine," she said, standing up from her seat. "But make it quick."

Aiden led the way out of the cafeteria, his heart pounding in his chest. They walked in silence for a few moments, Aria’s footsteps light behind him. He could feel her presence, like a ghost trailing him, always just out of reach. But today, he was determined to close that distance.

When they reached a quiet spot in the hallway, away from the noise and bustle of the school, Aiden finally turned to face her. Aria stood there, arms crossed over her chest, her expression as unreadable as ever.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. "I need to know something."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Aiden swallowed hard, his gaze locking with hers. "Why do you push everyone away? What happened to you?"

Her eyes flashed with something—a mix of pain and anger—before she quickly masked it with a sharp laugh. "You think I’m going to tell you?"

Aiden didn’t flinch. "I think you should."

For a moment, it seemed like Aria was going to say something, something that would reveal all the secrets she kept buried. But then she shut down again, the wall between them coming up higher than before. "I don’t owe you anything, Aiden."

Aiden felt the sting of her words, but it didn’t deter him. He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "I know you don’t. But I think you want to tell someone. You just don’t know how to trust anymore."

She froze. Her eyes flickered, and for a second, Aiden could see the vulnerability there—the cracks in her armor. But just as quickly, she pulled away, stepping back.

"I’m not looking for pity," she snapped, but her voice lacked conviction.

Aiden’s expression softened, and he took another step toward her, reaching out just slightly. "I’m not giving you pity, Aria. I’m just trying to understand. I want to know you."

Her eyes searched his face, as if looking for something—some hidden agenda, some reason for him to be standing here. But there was nothing in his eyes except sincerity. Aiden wasn’t sure what he was doing, but it felt like the right thing to do.

"I don’t need anyone to understand me," she said, her voice quiet now, the defensiveness in it slipping just a little. "I’m fine on my own."

"You don’t have to be," Aiden whispered.

There was a long silence as they stood there, inches apart, neither of them willing to break the tension. Aiden’s heart raced, but he wasn’t about to back down. Not now. Not when he could see the faintest crack in her armor.

Finally, Aria spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don’t get it."

"Then help me get it," Aiden said, his tone gentle.

For a long moment, it felt like Aria was going to say something, like she was on the verge of opening up. But then the sound of footsteps interrupted them, and she stepped back, her walls crashing down once more.

"I’m done here," she said, her voice hard again, that familiar coldness returning.

Aiden stood there, watching her walk away, frustration bubbling inside him. But as she disappeared around the corner, something inside him shifted. It wasn’t over. He couldn’t let it be over.

He would keep pushing. He would break through her walls. Even if it took everything he had.

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