aurelia dent | excerpts #5 | DC OC

aurelia yawns as she continues reading. pink highlighter gripped in her hand. her eyes wander away from the words and towards her lingering hand: her chipped yellow nail polish, the freckles across her skin, the beaded bracelets she'd made. she was so bored. and tired.

she'd been trying to get through this assigned reading for... what felt like hours. in reality, it'd been maybe two. she glances towards the library windows. it's already dark... she'd probably have to walk home alone. she always carried pepper spray, but it didn't really feel like enough.

she hadn't seen jason in the library in a few days. though, maybe he was checking out different books. she only really sat near the classic literature section, the general same area almost every day. she was a creature of habit.

she shakes her head, as if to shake off the sleepiness, she returns her attention to the reading packet. i really hope i get to keep this at the end of the semester, she muses silently, i paid $30 for this. and i annotated it.

she yawns again. man, i should've brought tea with me. i feel worn to the bone. and i just know i won't be able to sleep when i get home. because that was always how it went, didn't it? you'd be exhausted during the day, and the second you got into bed, you'd be wide awake.

she suddenly felt wide awake the second she felt a hand on her shoulder. she nearly shot out of her chair. with wide eyes, she turns around to see him: jason. he holds his hands up in mock surrender.

"didn't mean to startle you," he says, and the tension in her body eases.

"you scared the shit outta me," she replies, letting out a little huff. "little warning next time?"

"duly noted," he answers lightheartedly, circling the table to take a seat across from her. "...what're you reading?"

"honestly?" she prompts. "no idea. i cannot focus. i think i've read this same sentence, like, six times and got nothin'.

"i'm so tired, man," she complains, leaning on the table. "i just want to go home."

jason watches her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "yeah? when do you need this read by?"

"tomorrow morning."

he sucks in a breath through his teeth.

"yeah, i know," she remarks, sighing. "i need to get my ass in gear or somethin'."

"how 'bout this?" jason offers. "you finish up your reading, and i'll keep you company. then i can take you home."

aurelia raises her eyebrows curiously. "oh? do i finally get to ride the bike?"

"unless you'd prefer not to?"

she shakes her head. "no, i'd like to. color me excited."

eventually, aurelia gets on top of her reading. she was reading slave narratives for her american literature class. she occasionally pauses to explains parts to jason, more ranting than anything. he watches her with fond interest as she continues reading between discussions, highlighting and annotating, his chin resting in his palm. she chews on her lip as she reads.

when she finally finishes. she tucks her reading packet into her backpack and returns her stationery to her pencil box. "all done," she announces. "i survived."

"you survived, huh?" he echoes, amused. "must've been perilous."

"most certainly," she agrees lightheartedly. 

the ride to her apartment is short. it wasn't a long walk to begin with, so driving felt like a flash. she slips off of his bike, pulling the helmet off. her dark hair is disheveled. she gives him a smile.

"thanks for the ride."

"anytime," he answers, voice muffled as he pulls his helmet off. "safer than walking."

"definitely," she agrees, nodding.

there's a moment of silence between them, aurelia rocking on her heels and jason leaning on his bike. they both open their mouths to speak, but immediately back down, allowing the other to speak.

"well-" 'i-"

"no, you can-" "you first-"

aurelia laughs and shakes her head. "seriously. you're a mess, todd," she jokes.

"you're one to talk, dent."

"so... do you want to come up for tea?" she prompts. "or do you have somewhere else to be?"

"oh... i've got stuff to do," he answers, eyes averting for a moment. "but i appreciate it."

"oh- um- for sure," she answers, smiling despite the disappointment in her gut.

jason's voice cuts through the silence again before it can linger. "night, lia," he says, offering her a small wave.

"goodnight, jay," she answers.

though, he lingers for a moment. "...aren't you gonna go inside?" he nods towards the building.

"oh- um- i didn't realize you were waiting for me to," her eyebrows raise. she adds teasingly: "what a gentleman."

"yeah, yeah," he rolls his eyes. "god forbid i want to make sure you get home safe."

aurelia rolls her eyes back at him. she leans forward to kiss his cheek (a common gesture of appreciation between the two of them) when jason's hand raises, cupping her chin and guding her face slightly leftward. her eyes widen as their lips meet before quickly closing. when he pulls away, she feels a little breathless. their eyes meet for what feels like a few minutes, but in reality, is only a few seconds.  

"so- um-" aurelia starts, and jason smiles and shakes his head at her, his hand still holding her jaw.

"you're ridiculous, lia," he remarks fondly, his thumb brushing against her bottom lip. her face reddens. "absolutely, utterly ridiculous."