Pine Creek, Colorado

Aden hadn’t really been thinking clearly. He was still fogged with memories of the glassy lake and her amber eyes. He wasn’t considering the storm, or what would happen if he couldn’t stop it. He wasn’t taking into account how much harder it would be to leave again, after coming back, with a totally inappropriate gift in hand. 

He’d have to leave too. That was the only inevitable. Aden realized this while he sat in the passenger seat with the case of paints in his lap, moving twenty miles further away from his next planned destination again. He couldn’t control the rain and it had caught up with him again. He couldn’t stay.

“This was a bad idea,” he groaned.

“Why?”

“Because… this just gives the wrong impression. Showing up with a gift, after leaving.”

“What impression is that?”

Aden paused, his neck growing hot. “The “romantic” impression.”

“Are you trying to suggest to me that you aren’t into her?” Mannie grinned cheekily.

Aden stayed quiet for a long moment, trying to fend off his embarrassment before replying, “No comment.”

Mannie gave a knowing look, his eyes teasing. “So what’s the issue?”

“The issue is... I can’t stay.”

“And?”

“And…?” Aden paused, glancing at Mannie to catch his expectant expression. “Isn’t it like, misleading or something? Coming back with a gift, just to leave again?”

“Why don’t you let her decide that? She might surprise you. Corey… she has her own special way of seeing things.”

Mannie’s comebacks were logical and solid, but Aden’s anxiety was still shooting concerns at him. “I just… I don’t want to hurt anyone. It feels like the easiest way to do that is to just not get too involved, you know?” He was aware at how contradictory that was, considering the expensive gift in his lap.

Mannie hummed in his throat, but left the silence to linger between them for a moment before answering again. “Sounds more like you’re trying to keep yourself from getting hurt.”

Aden opened his mouth to answer, but his voice failed him. His fingers fiddled with his bracelets instead, and he directed his eyes out the window.

When he didn’t reply, Mannie gave a cocky smirk, knowing the silence meant he had read Aden well. He let the mood in the car somber a little before speaking again, careful and serious this time. “Listen. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, man. We just met and I don’t know you or why you’re where you are, but it doesn’t take any mystical powers to see that you’re running on empty. My advice: Stay in Pine Creek. Slow down for a few days and find your footing again. I think you’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel. And then if you decide you really have to go, I’ll bring you back to the city myself next time I’m up. Hell, I’ll even pay for your bus.”

Aden sighed, overwhelmed with Mannie’s kindness and generosity. “You really don’t have to do that.”

The driver shrugged the words away. “Consider it reimbursement, for humoring me. And for keeping Corey company for a while since I can’t be around.” He tried to keep his serious expression, but he couldn’t help delivering a wink with those words, laughing boisterously when Aden rolled his eyes.

“What the fuck,” were Corey’s exact words when she came out to meet Mannie and Aden was getting out of the passenger side.

After closing the door, Aden offered an awkward wave before putting his hand in his hair.

Mannie spoke for him instead. “Couldn’t keep the kid away from you, Deelee.”

He sent a pointed look over the roof of the truck, receiving a grin in return.

“I thought you’d be in Narnia by now.” She had bounced down the porch steps over to Aden, not even minding the drizzle.

“Had trouble finding the wardrobe.” He grinned when she scoffed at his bad joke. “No, I uh… I wanted to come back to give you this.” He omitted that it had taken a decent amount of coercion to actually get him there. Instead, he held out the silver case of paints in front of him, trying to keep himself still despite his jittery nerves.

She frowned a bit with curiosity, reaching out as she glanced down between them, realizing what the gift was just before wrapping her fingers around it. “Fuck off,” she said, bewildered as she flipped around the case in her hands to inspect it. Aden had come to understand that swearing was good when it came to Corey. “How did you…?”

Aden shook his head a little, brushing off some of her amazement. “It’s not a big deal. Mannie helped. It’s from both-.”

She interrupted him with a hug, throwing herself forward into him firmly, the force of it knocking him back a step. He laughed, out of pure shock and awkwardness, but when she didn’t let go of him, instead tightening her arms around his neck, Aden returned the hug around her waist politely.

As quickly as she had started the hug, Corey ripped herself away, leaving Aden feeling bare for a brief moment. He watched her as she circled the from the the truck and dove at Mannie to give him a similar hug.

“Fucking losers,” she accused, a grin stuck on her face.

“That’s all the thanks we’re gunna get,” Mannie translated.