I was finally okay.

"Evening, Ron Weasley."

"Evening, Himari."

Himari's brows go up as mine do.

Someone's serious today.

He looks rugged and tired, his form slouching and hair bushy.

"Tequila, I need to talk to you."

"How did you find me here, Aaron?"

"I was somewhere around the block, saw you both come in."

He meets my glare with a shrug because we both know he was not 'somewhere around the block'.

This parlour is hidden and the only shops around this part of town are tatoo parlours and run-down barbershops— two places Aaron will never be found.

"Let's ignore the fact that you followed me here from God knows where, and focus on the fact that I don't want to talk to you."

Even though I just wish you would hold me and tell me everything will be okay between us.

Even though I really hope these growing feelings do not break me in the end.

Even though I just want to ask you what's wrong and run my hands through your locks.

Even though I want to let you lean on my shoulders and talk about your troubles, your fears and your hopes.

"Rapunzel–"

"Tequila! It's Tequila."

"Tequila, please." I hate how pained his voice sounds.

"I'll just leave you two to it." Himari says as she squeezes my hand.

"I owe you a lot of explanations, Tequila." Aaron begins the moment she leaves the shop. "I want to explain. Everything, Tequila. I don't want to keep secrets from you anymore. I hate feeling this way, Rapunzel."

"Why didn't you tell me we were at your engagement party?! Start from there!"

"I didn't know! I went with you because I wanted to be with you that day. I wouldn't fucking do that to you, Tequila. Why would I, when I know how much it would hurt you?"

"It didn't hurt me. I was just blindsided, that's all."

He chuckles. A dark humourless chuckle.

"You're still denying it, then. I like you, Tequila. Always have, always will. And I'm not talking about as a friend either. I have been smitten with you long before I knew what a crush was. Long before I understood my feelings. You like me too. You don't have to say it. I know."

"Aaron, you can't just spring this information on me because–"

"Marry me, then."

My slap resounds in the empty shop and Aaron's jaw ticks as he glares at me.

"Don't you dare, Aaron! Don't you dare patronise me. Fine, for some reason I can't get you out of my head.

Fine, I might have had feelings for you since we were kids but you don't get to tease me like this. You don't fucking get to play around with my feelings just because you know. Don't feel so entitled, you jerk!"

"Tequila, I didn't mean–"

"What did you mean then?" I take a step forward and poke his chest.

"What? You had feelings for me since before you knew what feelings were? Laughable!

Why did you date Georgette then? Why did you date my bestfriend and rub your relationship in my face then?

What, were you laughing at me everytime we went out and you had me as the third wheel?

Everytime you introduced me as your bestfriend?

Everytime you asked me what you should get for Georgette for some stupid anniversary. Everytime you teased me about liking a guy!"

He chokes on his words and reaches for me. I take a step back and hiss.

"Don't! You want to talk about all that went wrong between us? Did it make you feel like more of a man to have two girls pine over you? Have your bestfriend act like she could be genuinely happy for you?"

I slump on my previous seat, drained.

"I hated how I couldn't mean it when I said I was happy for you. I hated how you made me feel like a bad friend who couldn't be happy for both her bestfriends!

I accepted that you would always lead me on– and don't fucking deny the little teasing and flirting you did here and there. That you would always lead me on and that I would always want you.

And I was finally okay with being your best friend, Aaron, I was finally content.

I looked forward to hearing you talk about your mum and play hooky at your house where we would just talk about silly things. I enjoyed your presence because you made it easy. I thought, 'I'd take Aaron in my life anyhow I can'.

Then you ruined it all the day you grabbed Georgette from the fight.

Call me petty, but that was the moment you made your choice. You can say I was the one who stopped talking to you.

You can claim you tried to reach out and I shut you out, Aaron, but when you grabbed Georgette and left me fuming, broken and lonely in that park, you and all our 'friends', you made your fucking choice.

So forgive me if I choose to ignore my feelings for you and cut you out of my life. I've had practice anyway, and if that's not enough, I can just learn from you, master that you are.

I won't be attending your wedding, so have a happy married life in advance."

I walk around him and leave the ice cream parlour. Himari and I make a silent agreement to head home.

I guess I won't be seeing people get hacked to pieces with a blunt rusty machete today.

Like always, Aaron has sucked away all good thoughts from me.