“You know what?” Katie said, unlocking the door to her apartment and going inside. “I had a really amazing time today. It was…honestly…the most fun I’ve had in a while. You wouldn’t believe this, but I rarely leave the apartment except to go to class.”

Aaron grinned at her as he closed the door. “I do believe you’re softening up, Miss Harper.”

Katie threw a pillow at him and collapsed onto her bed. “You can’t be soft and live in New York. It doesn’t work.”

Aaron laid down beside her. “I know you’re soft though, deep inside. Even when your exterior is that of an angry New York bitch.”

“Hey!” Katie yelled, laughing. “You gotta take care of yourself in this world.”

He turned on his side so he could face her. “I can take care of you.”

Katie shook her head. “If I let my guard down, even with you, I’m in for a lifetime of tears.”

“That’s not true, Katie.”

“Yes, it is---” she stopped when she saw how sincere he looked. “You’ve changed.”

“That was random,” Aaron replied, sitting up and turning on the television.

Katie sat up beside him. “What’s up with you? I haven’t seen you for, what, two months, and you’ve gone all Dr. Phil on me?”

Aaron groaned and stuffed a pillow against his face. “I am not Dr. Phil. I have way better hair.”

“Most people do,” Katie remarked lightly. “So, are you going to tell me? There must be something going on that I don’t know about. We used to talk on the phone AT LEAST once a week, but we haven’t been lately. And you’re acting all weird and suddenly wanting to spend all this time with me. Are you trying to tell me something?”

“No,” Aaron muttered crossly.

“Am I right in saying that I know you better than anyone?”

Aaron clicked the television off; he knew he wouldn’t get off the hook very easily considering the two of them were incredibly similar and didn’t let up until they’d gotten what they wanted. “I guess.”

“So? Tell me.”

“I just missed you,” he said, shrugging. “Am I not allowed to miss you and want to see you?”

Katie smiled warmly at him. “I always miss you.”

Aaron turned to her. “Yeah?”

“Of course.”

He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, then turned back over and flipped the television on.

“What was that for?” Katie asked after a minute, laughing nervously.

“I figured you’d know.”

She sat up, cross legged in front of him. “You can’t talk all vaguely at this hour.”

Aaron craned his neck to look at the cat clock. “It’s 10pm.”

“Yeah, but still. You have to speak slowly and with lots of details.”

He laughed. “I forgot about your inability to function after 9.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Now you know how I felt earlier.”

“Aaaaaaaaron,” she whined, hitting him lightly on the shoulder.

Aaron sat up so he was at her eyelevel. “I’ve been in love with you for years.” His voice suggested he was commenting on the weather, rather than saying something huge and earth-shattering.

“What?” There was a trace of nervousness in her voice, as well as something that could be defined as utter shock and disbelief.

“I’m in love with you,” he answered simply. He almost sounded apologetic or sad about it.

Katie stood up off the bed, staring at him like she’d never seen him before. “I think you should go.”

He frowned. “Katie---”

“I need some sleep. I have an early class.” She walked over to the door and pulled it open. “I’ll see you later.”

After pushing Aaron out the door (and ignoring his pleading) she leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor, her face in her hands.