Arranged Marriage to My Ex-Best Friend...This Marriage Is So Screwed {Chapter 29}

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*Aiden's POV*

Life hurts. Trusting people hurts. Getting hurt by someone you love hurts the most. It makes you rethink everything. Are you the one that's wrong, or is it the other person? Was it inevitable? All your tears? All those fighting words? Was the friendship just doomed from the beginning? People suck in that way. You'll never know the answer unless you talk to the person who hurt you. But that's easier said than done.

*Lian's POV*

“I just don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore. Everything just goes back to this. Always back to two years ago. Why can't the past just leave me alone?" I say to Hales, Em and Jen. They all came over to my house after Braden and the girls left.

"Lian the past will always be there. There's nothing you or anyone else can do about it. No matter how much you want otherwise," Hales says.

"Yeah, besides you're the person you are today because of whom you were yesterday," Em adds.

"I know that. I really do. It's just that really, I just want the past to stay in the past," I mummble.

"I heard that, Lian, but it's okay. I agree with you, the past should stay in the past. That is, when we've learned what we've had to already. As you know, if you don’t learn from your past you’re bound to repeat it," Jen states.

"What am I supposed to learn? That people I care for will all leave me at some point in time?" I question. There is a hint of sorrow in my voice.

"I think you should talk to Aiden. This is the only way that things will be solved. There has to be a reason for why this keeps coming up," Hales speaks soothingly.

"Yeah, I totally agree. Also, you can't avoid him forever. You are engaged,” Em bluntly points out.

"I could never forget. Besides I don't want to avoid him. I just want to make sure that I can't get hurt anymore," the last part comes out as a whisper.

"Remember what I told you the last time we had this discussion? That nothing can get worse. I still believe that. So please talk to him. I really think it will help" Hales gives me a sheepish smile.

"I guess...," I let the sentence drift not knowing what else to say.

"But if you do choose to talk to him; make sure it's for yourself," Em says.

"I know. I really do want to talk to him. But is it worth it? He always seems to just hurt me," I reinstate.

"Lian you always over think situations. Don't think. Just do," Jen preaches.

*Aiden's POV*

I've been sitting in my room questioning what to do for what seems like hours. I know I need to talk to Lian but it's just not that simple. Talking to someone you really care about is a hard thing. The more you tell someone the more they can hurt you. I know that Lian would never hurt me, but I don't want to get attached. Not again. I've always had a problem with being close to friends. Lian was always there. I know it's my fault that things got out of control. I just don't want any more hurt, for both Lian and me. That's what my problem is. I don't know if talking to Lian will help her or not and I don't want to take chances. Lian is too important.

*Lian's POV*

I've been waiting for Aiden to call or text or something but he's done nothing. After Em, Jen, and Hales left I just wanted to talk to Aiden. I now know that we need to say everything to each other. Not just from two years ago but from even when we were younger. The past does haunt me and I want it to stop. I don't want the past to control my life. I should be controlling my own life.

Since Aiden still hasn't called I guess I'll have to. Now what to say? I don't know. As I'm about to text Aiden, I receive a text. The text says:

Sorry for what happened at the hospital. I kinda overreacted. Can we talk?

So Aiden finally talked. I answer:

Yeah. Wanna talk at your house so you don't have to walk. Your still in your cast right?

In a few minutes I get a text back from Aiden:

Yup. It's really annoying, but I'll talk to you tomorrow. Come any time. Bye.

I'm happy that we're going to talk. We really have to. I'm also happy that Aiden was the first one to talk. Now I see that he does care too.

I have to tell Em, Jen, and Hales, so I call them all. I love the invention of conference calls.

"Hey! Guess what Aiden texted me! I wasn't the one that had to tell him that I wanted to talk," I say this happily.

"That's good. You'll finally get everything solved," Em says.

"I'm happy for you. Remember don't think just do," Jen reminds me.

"So where are you guys going to meet and what time are you meeting?" Hales asks. She's the only one that knows that I've already told Aiden some things. It's been so hectic lately I've never had the time to tell Jen and Em.

"We're meeting at his house so he doesn't have to leave. He told me to just come any time I want to. So I'm not really sure what time I'm going to go," I answer.

"Okay, you two be safe tomorrow. We don't want another accident to happen," Hales sounds like a worried mother.

"You're worse than my mom, Hales. I'll talk to you guys tomorrow. I'm kind of tired from all the running around I've done all day," I say. A yawn is added for emphasis.

"Bye. Have fun tomorrow," all three of them say.

*Aiden's POV*

It's nine in the morning now. I wonder what time Lian is planning on coming. I've been awake for a while. I'd like to say I'm not nervous, but I am. I wonder if Lian felt this way when she had to tell me what she went through. My story is different though. I have more to lose than with what she told me. But I know that if I don't tell her, nothing I say will make sense. It's time she finds out everything. I just hope she takes it nicely.

*Lian's POV*

It's 9:30 and I'm outside of Aiden's house. I was calm on the way here, but now I'm very nervous. "Nothing bad can happen," I repeat to myself before I finally knock on the door.

"Hey you're early," Aiden starts to say before I cut him off.

"Oh, sorry, you said come any time so I just kind of assumed you meant early," I say embarrassed and all together so I didn’t think he would understand me.

"You didn't let me finish. I was going to say. You're early and I'm glad you are. I didn't know how much longer I would have been able to wait around. It was kind of driving crazy."

"Well your welcome then." I enter the house with Aiden. "Is it okay for you to be walking around like that?"

"I'm okay with this much walking. I'd go crazy if I was just in my room all the time."

"So that means you should be sitting right? Are you even allowed to go down the stairs? You do have a lot of stairs you know."

"Yes I know I have a lot of stairs. Also, the doctor said I should rest my leg. He never said that I'm not allowed to walk around my house."

"Well okay then. Can you please at least sit down then?"

"Only because you said please." Aiden beams a smile towards me, while he goes and sits down.

*Aiden's POV*

How to start this conversation. The only reason I'm going to say any of this at all is because I know by not saying anything things will never get better.

"So...you wanted to talk to me about something?" Hearing Lian speak reminds me that's she's still here and that I've zoned out.

"Oh yeah, sorry I just had a moment there." I smile in her direction.

"It's okay. So what were you thinking about?"

Now is the moment where I can either lie to Lian or for once tell her the truth about my past. "I was actually thinking of when you left two years ago." I decide not to lie. It's now or never and I pick now.

Lian's face sorrows, "Oh, do you want to tell me?"

"Actually that's why I had you come here. I wanted to talk about the things that happened to both of us."

"I think that's a good idea."

"I don't know where to start exactly so I'll just start from Chloe." Lian nods. "I have to say sorry for everything about that. I am being 100% honest right now. I treated you like dirt while I was going out with her. I know it's not an excuse, but I didn't realize at the time what I was doing."

*Lian's POV*

It’s nice hearing Aiden say sorry. I’ve waited a long time for this. Sorry does make a big difference to situations. "Aiden you don't have to feel sorry. I'm over it already."

"No I did have to. I know I really hurt you. You can't tell me that hearing me say sorry didn't make you feel better."

"It did make me feel better. I won't lie."

"Okay so I'll continue. Chloe made me feel different. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it felt good at the time. Things were so good, until they got so bad. I didn't realize how little we were speaking until your dad died. I felt really bad, but I didn't know what to do anymore. I felt you were better off without me. So I went to comfort you, but I was distant enough to not hurt you. I honestly felt as if I was the reason so many bad things were happening to you." Aiden can't honestly think that everything is his fault. I know I was mad at him, but I never said it was all his fault.

"Don't blame yourself for what happened to me. You couldn't have changed anything. You didn't make my dad die. You weren't the reason why I got into the car accident." I put my entire right palm Aiden's cheek to console him.

"Lian I did always think you were too good for me. I still think that now. Every time I do something wrong you're always there to help me. I never deserve the help." Aiden tries to put his head down, but I still have my hand on his cheek so that stops him. Aiden won't look me in the eye.

"Aiden what happened when I left?" I whisper.

*Aiden's POV*

'When you left my life fell apart. My family wasn't the same. Dria and I weren't speaking to each other. Braden was barely at home. My parents tried to act like everything was normal but it wasn't." My voice is starting to give away. I don't think I can continue, but I have to. I mumble, "I hated you for that. I hated how you left without saying goodbye. I hated how my life died when you left. I know though, now, that you did call. I still can't believe Chloe would not tell me about you leaving. You getting in that car accident. I'm sorry. I should have known better."

"Aiden don't blame yourself for the things Chloe did. You didn't know better. You're feeling guilty for nothing." Lian puts both her hands on my face so I'm looking directly at her. This doesn't make anything easier for me.

*Lian's POV*

I'm looking directly into Aiden's eyes. His eyes are so sad. I want to make him feel better. I just don't know how. Then I remember something.

"When did you start cutting? I don't remember you cutting before."

"I started when you left..."

"I'm sorry. I feel like it's my fault."

"No, it's not your fault. Don't think that it is. I cut because it made me feel less pain. I felt like I lost everything. At least everything important."

"But you still had Chloe."

"Chloe and I just started dating. I didn't know her well yet. She didn't know anything. It's mostly because I didn't say anything, but when I did try telling her she would change the subject. It just made me miss you more."

"Well I'm here now and I don't plan on leaving. Let your guard down Aiden. I won't hurt you again. I'm sorry."

"I'm trying, I really am. Things will be different. I promise. I'm sorry too."

*Aiden's POV*

Lian hugs me. We just stay like that for a while. Neither of us wanting to let go. Both of us knowing that when we do things will be different. We’re not sure if it’s a good different but different has to be better than this.

After a few more moments we finally let go. Neither of us goes away from each other. Both of us facing one another. Our heads only inches away. Closer and closer, our heads seem to have a mind of its own. We keep the eye contact, until our eyes close. Then we share the sweetest of kisses. I notice after a while that Lian isn’t doing anything so I stop. I look at her and say, “Sorry, I didn’t know what took over me.”

“Don’t be sorry. I liked it. I was just too shocked to be able to do anything,” Lian says before she kisses me. I wish things could be like this forever.