“This place is great” Lucas broke the long silence.

It had been quiet since they’d left the cabin, up through the trails until the sky was high in the sky. This was the first break that they didn’t spend just staring at the trees. Aiden followed his eyes to the landscape spread out before them. “It’s okay.”

Lucas’s lips twitched up. “Just ‘okay’?”

“It’s pretty” Aiden shrugged, “But I see the same view all summer.”

“I don’t just mean the view.” Lucas took a swig out of his water bottle and stuffed it back into his bag. “You didn’t mind, did you?” He asked quietly with his eyes fixed on the zips.

Aiden would have said yes, I do mind, back at the cabin. But here, outside, he felt okay again. Out here it felt like he was allowed to like how kissing Lucas made him feel. “I didn’t mind. I didn’t mind at all.”

Lucas eyes flicked up and he smiled softly. “Good. Because I didn’t mind either.”

Aiden’s skin flushed at his words. He didn’t realise how much he needed to hear that the kiss had been okay for Lucas too, until Lucas said it, and a large ball of anxiety in his core loosened. “Ready to keep going?”

Lucas nodded.

It was nice after that. With the anxiety gone they could talk again. It was almost like one of their adventures like when they were kids, except with a new element added in.

They were sweaty and exhausted when they finally reached the peak point of the trail. The sun was high in the sky, beaming down on them with sharp rays.

“Can we eat in the shade?” Lucas gestured tiredly to the collection of trees overlooking a steep hill.

“Please.” Aiden panted.

Lucas dug out a cloth and Aiden lay down as he took out sandwiches. Aiden recognised them as the pre-packed lunches he helped put together.

“No French toast?” Aiden asked, taking one at random.

“I’ll make it for you when we get back.” Lucas promised.

“You don’t have to.” Aiden said, but smiled anyway.

“I want to.”

“I’ll help.” Aiden promised.

“They might turn out better if you don’t.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes at him, and Lucas snickered. “I’ll find something for you to do.”

Lucas finished his sandwiches and lay out next to Aiden. They talked. About Game of Thrones since they’d both seen it and Lucas had read the books, something that impressed Aiden immensely. They talked about Lord of the Rings, and the sound track they’d play make believe to as kids. Eragon came up, Aiden knew the movie and Lucas gave out about the books.

Somewhere in the middle their hands ended up together. Somewhere in middle Aiden realised he wanted to stay there until long after the sun went down. Somewhere in the middle Aiden realised why he’d been so anxious. He cared about Lucas. Without any of the new things, underneath his annoyance at the way his old friend behaved towards him – Aiden never stopped caring about him.

Lucas had never really been a stranger. How could you think of someone you grew up with as a stranger?

*

It was dark when they got back.

“I think I need a shower before dinner.” Lucas pointed them towards their cabin.

“I think I’ll join you.”

Lucas stumbled over his feet and jerked his head around. He looked flustered by Aiden’s remark. Aiden had noticed that. Lucas didn’t seem to know how to respond to Aiden being forward with him.

“I’m kidding” Aiden chuckled.

“Between this and the cuddling…” Lucas rubbed the back of head, “You should be careful. I’ll start taking your teasing seriously, and then what will you do?”

“Join you in the shower?”

Lucas shot him a look, and Aiden grinned.

Inside Kal and Hugh were playing cards. They paused the game when they came in. Lucas gave them a cheerful ‘hi’ and went straight to the bathroom.

Aiden got his clothes, the nicest ones he had, which wasn’t much since he didn’t pack for anything but trekking through trees and picked up a towel. He turned to find Hugh striding towards him with a glower.

Aiden straightened sharply, and Hugh shoved him into the wall.

“What the –“

“Shut up.” Hugh caught hold of his shirt and pushed him back, “I told you to stay away from him.”

“I’m a guide and we live together. Even if it wasn’t impossible, I don’t have to listen to you anyway.” Aiden couldn’t pry his hands off his clothes, but he could put an arm between them and keep him at a distance. Hugh was bigger than him. He was bigger than Lucas. He was athletic and judging by everything Aiden had seen – he was mean.

“Back. Off.” Hugh hissed through gritted teeth, “Or I’ll-“

“What?” Aiden cut him off this time, “This isn’t school. Hit me and you’ll be sent packing.”

“You can’t hide up here forever. I can make the rest of your school life a living hell.” Hugh threatened.

“Grow up.”

Hugh punched him. His fist collided with his stomach and knocked the air of out Aiden. It was the first time he’d ever been hit. He’d by lying if he said it didn’t hurt. Hugh straightened him. “You get the message, Aiden?”

“Fuck off.” Aiden coughed.

Hugh went to hit him again. Aiden expected that might happen. He tried to block it. He did a bad job, because his hand hurt a whole lot more than his stomach had.

Hugh cussed him out with a dozen different names and cupped his arm to his body. He raced out of the room, and Aiden curled down and sucked in sharp breaths. Pain shot up and down his arm, racing from his wrist to his elbow, and somehow getting all the way into his shoulder.

His first thought was it was broken.

Next, when he was able to breathe again, was that it was sprained.

When his finger tips went numb he convinced himself he was losing his hand.

He went to Tom for first aid.

It was sprained.

*

Aiden ran into Connor as he dragged his feet back to the cabin. He’d hidden in Tom’s place for a few hours. Avoiding having to go back. Avoiding having to see Hugh. Avoiding Lucas.

Lucas was the one he didn’t want to see. It was like first year. The choice was flashing in front of him again. Did he tell Lucas that his friends were horrible to him when he wasn’t around, or did he let it go?

Last time he’d moped, hoping for Lucas to realise something was wrong. He never had. But Aiden wasn’t like that anymore. He wasn’t reverting to the kid. He was a guide. He’d been struck. He didn’t have to put up with any of this.

“What happened?” Connor asked.

Aiden had his hand tucked into his hoodie, hiding the bandages – but he hadn’t been responding properly to Connor. He knew something was wrong.

“Nothing.” The word left him automatically. He turned away from Connor. “Actually, something.”

“Okay.” Connor waited for him to go on.

But they were going up the porch steps, so he didn’t. Inside Kal and Lucas were leaning over Hugh’s arm. There was a bag of frozen peas on top of his wrist. Hugh looked like he was in pain.

“Hugh.” Aiden said, his heart racing harder in his chest than when he’d kissed Lucas. “Tom’s bringing the jeep around and he’ll drive you into town.”

Lucas frowned and flicked his eyes to the injury. “I don’t think it’s that bad, just a sprain.”

Hugh glowered at Aiden. Aiden felt he knew exactly what that look was saying. Talk and you’re dead. Aiden stared back at him. “Mandy’s kicking you out. Pack up, they’ll be here in fifteen minutes.” He avoided Lucas’s confused look and continued to his room.

He heard Hugh snapping at Lucas to leave it as he shut his door.

Aiden lay back on his bed.

Tears stung at his eyes. He didn’t know why.

He felt petty. Despite being threatened and hit by Hugh, going to the authorities felt like an overreaction. He knew this would haunt him in school. Snitch. Nark. Tattletale.

But this was work.

Aiden stared at the bandage on his arm and repeated to himself over and over that Hugh had brought this on himself. School wouldn’t be that bad. Lucas wouldn’t call him those names either.

He couldn’t convince himself on any of it.

What would he do if …

Aiden looked at his violin. College. It didn’t matter if things fell apart here. He’d be gone. He could figure out what his feelings meant after he escaped. Until then, he’d just have to survive.

*

Aiden listened to them leave. He didn’t say goodbye. That would be too much. Hugh might kill him. The cabin had only been still a little while when there was a knock at his door.

It was Lucas.

He knew it was.

Aiden slowly opened it with his good hand.

Lucas gaze was sharp. Confrontive. Unhappy. “What was that about?”

“What was what about?”

“Aiden.” Lucas growled, “Don’t.”

Aiden swallowed hard. “Hugh broke the rules, and Mandy sent him back.”

“What rules?”

Aiden checked over Lucas. Hugh hadn’t told him. He didn’t know if he should. For some reason, he didn’t want to. He didn’t want Lucas to call him those names.

“I’m not meant to talk about it.” Aiden glanced away.

“It’s me, you can tell me.” Lucas entreated him.

“It’s my job.” Aiden said, “I’m not allowed.”

He could see the anger brimming in Lucas, beginning to tip over. He leaned across Aiden’s vision, so he had no choice but to look at him. “Did you do this because I complained a bit? Aiden that was not cool, I just wanted some peace and quiet not to ruin my friends summer.”

“It’s my job. I wouldn’t kick someone out just to suit myself.” Aiden’s chest started to ache as his heart beat faster and faster. “I’m sorry you’re upset, but it wasn’t about you.”

Lucas glared at him.

Aiden stared back, with no idea what kind of expression he had on. Maybe he looked like a puppy that had been kicked. Maybe he looked like Ms Morris, the principal Lucas hated.

“Thanks, a fucking lot.” Lucas stormed out the front door. Aiden watched it slam closed.

Connor leaned out of the kitchen. “You okay?”

“Fine.” Aiden went into his room.

He wanted to crawl under the covers.

Instead he took out the violin and practiced the audition songs. He didn’t care if anyone listened. He just wanted to do this. He needed this.