His eyes wandered as she rummaged, skimming across the clutter that made the already small room look even tighter. Her furniture was a mismatched ensemble of unorganized bookshelves and half-open dressers. There was a small desk in the corner, and a wardrobe next to it, but it was left open and empty, the clothes instead littered the corners of her floor and hung from the back of her desk chair and posts of her worn-out wrought iron bed. A thin pink scarf was draped over the lamp on her nightstand and Aden couldn’t tell if it was for the diluting effect on the light, or just ended up there one day and never returned to it’s proper location.

Cassie used to say that creative minds bloomed in clutter. That was her excuse when their parents were nagging her to clean up. Corey had water-color paintings and photographs pinned up on every spare bit of wall she had available, hinting that her bedroom mess was a symptom of a right-brain.

Corey stood, a shirt in hand, but her expression was disgruntled. She extended her concern in a whisper again. “I don’t think I have anything that’s gunna fit you…” As she pondered the predicament, she pulled up the collar of her oversized tee-shirt from falling down her shoulder.

Aden shook his head, starting with a muttered dismissal. “It’s alright, I really don’t mind that muc-.”

“Wait, I know. You can wear this.” As she said the words, she lifted the shirt she was wearing up over her head.

Aden instantly dropped his eyes to the floor, heat crawling up his ears. “You’re uh-... you’re not very shy are you?”

“Never seen a girl in a bra before, blondie? Should I be asking for your ID?” Her teasing made his flush even worse. She held out the shirt she had been wearing into his line of sight, and he dared bringing his gaze back up as he took it from her. She had put a black tank-top on along with a playful grin. “Can’t really afford to be shy, when you’re home-schooled and your only potential friends are out-of-towners.”

He had went to take his wet shirt off during her words, but he stopped when she didn’t extend him the same politeness of averting her eyes. He cleared his throat, and her smirk pulled wider as she turned around. “Home-schooled?” Aden pulled the shirt she had previously been wearing over his head with the question. He was never a very muscular kid, but Corey’s loose shirt was not nearly as baggy on him. Still, it at least fit, and was dry, and smelt like rosewater and sandalwood. He wasn’t complaining.

Corey nodded, flopping herself down on her bed. “I said that some of your stereotypes were right.”

“What about the other ones then?”

“What about them?”

Aden shot her a glare at her playful stubbornness. “Any particular political opinions?”

She instantly put on a serious expression. “I have as much use for political knowledge as a frog has for a television.” When Aden snorted her expression slid to humor.

“Herbivore?”

A scoff. “Anyone that’s vegan has obviously never had moose before.”

Aden hummed.“But you’re pro-gun then.”

“Most people debating gun control have never been face to face with a grizzly bear,” she replied.

“Have you?” Aden was only half skeptical.

Corey paused, her grin turning sheepish from being caught in an exaggeration. “No, but I’m sure I’d want to have a gun if it happened.”

“Country music? No line-dancing in your spare time?”

“I’d rather cut my ears off.”

“Well, caucasian dreads are out of the question I guess, considering…”

“Careful, white boy.”

“I guess that just leaves…” Aden lifted an eyebrow, smirking.

Corey sighed dramatically. “Listen, just because I know a guy with a medical marijuana card doesn’t mean I know a guy with a medical marijuana card, ok?”

He wasn’t sure when he had sat down next to her, or when their banter had brought them close enough for their shoulders to brush. When their quiet laughter subsided the closeness became all too noticeable. Aden cleared his throat, looking at floor as an awkward pause passed between them.

Corey offered a break through the discomfort. “What about you? You’re asking all the questions and avoiding talking about yourself. I like a mystery as much as the next girl, but you gotta give me something.”

Aden tried to brush her off with a smile and a shrug. “Not much to say…”

“No? I could think of a few questions.” She didn’t let him agree to answering. “I’m guessing that you’re from a beach city. You probably surf. You look like you surf.”

Aden caught his laugh in his throat. “I have the worst balance. I’ve never been able to surf.”

She grinned wickedly. “I notice you don’t deny the beach city part. Which is it? I’ve always wanted to go to Venice Beach.”

“Santa Monica. It’s not that far from Venice.” Aden answered with slight reluctance.

Corey hummed thoughtfully. “Interesting. So why are you here then? Wait wait, let me guess. You owe someone a lot of money? Drug deal gone bad?”

“Nothing so exciting.” Just a missing body. “I’ll take it as a compliment that you think I’d be such a badass.”

She bit her lip to resist a wicked grin. “Maybe I’m just projecting.” Another quiet pause after the two contained giggles, and she swayed a little next to him, grinning as she considered her next question. When it came to her, the grin slipped away a little, like she was considering treading on thin ice. “Who’s Cassie?” With the question, she turned her amber eyes down to his wrist, the one with the two bracelets, his name and hers.

The smile that had also been hanging on Aden’s mouth dissolved, and his walls went up. He didn’t reply. Just let his eyes move to the ground and folded his arms up around himself to conceal his wrists.

The silence hung between them for a moment, before Aden dismissed it somberly. “Listen… I have to go back to the city tomorrow so I should probably get some rest...”

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Corey’s body physically drop. “Yeah. I mean, I know. Uh-, you can sleep on the floor, if you want…”

Aden nodded, taking a pillow when she handed it to him, and got up from his spot next to her to circle around to the other side of the bed and kneel down onto the ground. She flicked the light off, and the thick silence engulfed them.

He didn’t get the sleep he claimed to need.