Aiden's POV 

He was a regular visitor of the library I had been working for a year and I had no clue about it. I felt foolish. More foolish than Philip who thought Ebola was the Spanish word for grandma. All this time I had been moping around because I didn't get chance to talk to my crush and he had always been under my nose. The universe must have had a good time playing with my fragile heart. 

But now I was one of his friends. He himself said he considers me as a friend. Even though it was better than being mere strangers like all these times, I had mixed feelings about this situation. I was puzzled. I was happy to spend time with him, I really enjoyed being with him. That was the reason I wanted him to study with me in the library in the first place. But on the other hand, I didn't want to just be his friend. I have had crush on him for what? About two years? That was a really long time probably the longest i had liked someone and I was even more desperate than earlier for him since he was close to me now. He was always under my nose but never in the palm of my hand. I wanted to confess my true feelings for him but the fear of rejection and ruining the friendship which felt sacred for some reason was frustrating. I didn't want to lose him at any cost. I had no option but to take it slow with him.

"You are spacing out again, looks like you are turning into Philip," Nick taunted. 

Right. We were in the local library, where I worked, to study. And Nick was going harsh on me again. Actually he was not being harsh, I was just lazy and somewhat crossed in love. 

"I know, I know. I'll get back to the derivation now." 

I spun the pen between my fingers trying to understand what these weird symbols were doing in my textbook. As I scanned the book in front of me, I felt Nick's gaze on me. Slowly moving my neck, I looked at him. I didn't want to move too fast and startle him. When I looked he was staring at something above me. 

Obviously! Why did I even think he was looking at me? I got my hopes high for no reason. 

"What are you looking at?" I asked gently. 

"Your hair looks soft," he replied in a low voice. 

So he was actually looking at me, it must be a very lucky day. 

"Do you want to touch it?" 

Of course I had to shoot my shot. 

"You wouldn't mind?" he slightly moved his neck towards me. 

"No," I held his hand in mine and gently placed it on my head. 

His fingers slowly went through my hair, drawing circles on my scalp. He was gentle and slow. It felt heavenly. And then his hand moved to the back, going up and down on my nape. His fingers came back to the bangs on my forehead and I was so thankful for that. It was getting a little too seductive for me and I was pretty sure Nick had no idea about it. He was just trying to feel my hair. I hated how badly I wanted this to be romantic and not just platonic. 

"Do you take good care of your hair? It feels healthy," 

I was here fighting the urge to kiss him with every single cell in my body and he was thinking about the health of my hair. How cruel can my life get? 

"Not really, I just use whatever," I shrugged. 

"Your hair looks a little too pretty to be using just whatever," he pointed still playing with my hair. 

I held his collar with my hands and pulled him closer. 

"Don't tell anyone but I use my mom's expensive shampoo which she brought from Paris," I whispered in his ear. 

He looked at me amusingly and then broke into a fit of laughter. This was my first time seeing him laugh. He looked gorgeous with teary eyes almost closed and face slightly red from laughing so much. I didn't even say something very funny but his reaction was a view worth watching. Guess I had to learn more jokes. 

"If you can, smuggle some of that shampoo for me as well," he said with a soft smile. 

"Sure. It will cost you one can of my favorite drink for a every coin sized amount," 

"Lemon iced tea?" he cocked his head. 

My crush knew my favourite drink. He paid attention to me and my likings. That was it, I could die happily knowing that. 

"How do you know my favourite drink?" I asked trying not to sound too happy. 

"I have seen you drink that quite a lot of times so I'm guessing that's your favorite one," he said nonchalantly. 

"Good enough, now explain me this equation. I want to win the bet," I said opening my book. 

"What are you going to ask for? I am definitely not doing your assignment that's for sure," 

"I'm not going to ask you to do my assignment. I can ask anyone to do assignment for me," 

"I forgot for a moment that you're the bad boy of the school," Nick smirked as his hand slowly moved to touch my hair again. 

"Do I really look like a bad boy?" I said with puppy eyes. He chuckled at me.

"It's difficult to look at your face and believe that you can fight," his fingers which were playing with my hair slowly brushed my ear and I felt an electric wave run through my body. I tried to hide my blush as much as I could. 

"What does my face look like then?"

"Baby," 

Did...did he just call me baby? 

"Your cheeks are very soft and smooth," he continued as he hovered his fingers on my cheek. 

"...and squishy," he said pinching my cheeks. 

"Are you blushing? Your face is all red," 

"I am embarrassed," I said looking away from him. It was at times likes this when I didn't like my pale skin. I turned red easily and I was sure I looked like an ugly tomato now. 

Nick touched my chin with his thumb and moved it slowly so I would face him. I was so not prepared for this situation. I was thinking of taking it slow with him and here he was being flirty with me. 

"Your face is so small but your eyes are big," he was now carefully observing my face. 

"And your lips are also very plum. You're just like baby. You remind me of my younger brother," 

What? 

"You two would be good friends," he continued still observing my face.

Did I just get bro zoned by my crush? 

Fuck my life!

"I can't let this happen. Quick, think of something. Change the topic," I yelled in my mind. 

"Nick?" I called out. 

"Hmm?" 

"Have you dated before?" I looked at him, not wanting to miss any expression on his face. 

"No," he replied like it was very obvious. 

Now that I thought about it, it was very obvious that he had not dated anyone before. The only person I saw him talking to was Philip and they were platonic, anyone could tell that. 

"Then do you like someone," I pried. 

"Not really, I do sometimes find people beautiful even hot but I don't think I have romantically liked someone," he looked deep in thoughts. 

"People? Does that mean you find guys attractive?" I asked, mentally praying for him to say yes. 

"Beauty, attractiveness, romantic feelings and things like that, for me they are not gender restricted. So you can say that I can find anyone attractive not just guys or girls," he looked me in the eye as if trying to read my mind. 

"I believe the same," 

He gave me a soft smile. 

"You are more understanding than I thought you would be, you are now one of my favorite brothers," he smiled happily. 

One of his favorite brothers? 

BROTHERS? AGAIN?