Aiden

The next three days seemed to fly by and before we knew it, it was time for Dylan to go back on tour.

“Is there any chance you can come out to visit?” Dylan asked.’

We were lying on the beach trying to get as much time together as we possibly could. Dylan had already surfed for a few hours and now we lay facing each other and trying to ignore hid upcoming departure.

"I wish I could but, with all this time off work because of Mark and my arm, I really don’t have any leave left. How long did you say it would be until you get back here?” I was holding back on the need to whine but there was a definitely a whiney tone in my voice.

“About 3 months, I think. I’ll be back to see mum for her birthday and then I’ll be on tour for a few more weeks. After that I’ll be home for at least 6 months.” He reached out and ran a finger down my face as if he was trying to memorise it.

There wasn’t much more we could say after that, so we returned to his house, showered together and packed all his bags into the back of an Uber. Shirvo came out to say goodbye but there was still some awkwardness between all of us. When we couldn’t put it off any longer, and after a final kiss, Dylan jumped in the front seat and was gone.

Shirvo and I stood for a while just staring down the empty road. Finally, he sighed and turned towards me. After a beat he then gestured back to the house and said “Well, we may as well have a beer.”

And so began what became one the strangest friendships I’d ever had. I spent a lot of time at Dylans house over those long lonely months and in that time Shirvo and I saw each daily. I came to realise that he was a good guy, but I also realised that he was confused about what he felt for Dylan. Responsibility had turned into something more and he was struggling with defining that ‘something more’. One day after we had been for a surf and were just chilling on the patio he suddenly stood up and did the weirdest happy dance I’ve ever seen a grown ass man do.

“What the ever loving fuck is wrong with you,dude?” I queried still watching my gyrate and twist in front of me.

“Man, I just got a message from this guy I’ve been talking to. He wants to meet up tonight at the pub. Shit! What am I going to wear?” He turned to look at me with panicked eyes. “I fucking only own surf gear. Fuck, fuck, fuck.” By now the dancing had stopped and the pacing back and forth had started.

I know it was wrong of me but, this was funny shit. Shirvo was usually the most relaxed guy, never stressed in any situation. But seeing him like this made me also realise that any romantic feelings he had for Dyl were long gone.

“Mate, I’ve got some stuff you can borrow. I’ll need to run home to get it though. You wanna come with me and pick what you want?”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s a good solid plan. Let’s do it. Can we go now?” Oh God here comes the dancing again. I’ve learnt over these last months that surfers, or at least the ones I knew, were overgrown children with an infinite amount of good humour and a reckless way of living life on the very edge. Every day really was a brand new day for them all. Dyl was no different. Our phone calls and video chats consisted of me saying “You did fucking what?”

We pulled into the parking lot of my unit building and I thought I saw Marks car driving down the street which was weird and unsettling. He shouldn’t be anywhere near here for any reason. I shook it off and we headed up the stairs to my second-floor unit. I had just unlocked the door when there was the sound of someone running up the stairs. Shirvo and I both spun round to see what was happening. Mark burst out of the stairwell and came to an abrupt stop at the sight of us.

"Mark, what the hell are you doing here?” I asked sharply.

“Who’s this?” he said instead of answering. “Another surfer fuck buddy?”

“Whoa, dude, no need for the hostility. I’m just a friend of Aidens.” Shirvo stepped forward and held out a hand to shake. Unfortunately Mark took this as a threat and pushed him hard.

“Fuck off.” Mark yelled and the turned towards me and grabbed my arm. “It’s time to come back now. I let you have your fun. All those little dates on the beach with fucking Dylan the Great. Enough is enough, though. I even gave you these last few months to make sure your arm was all healed and you had time to sook over losing Dylan back to surfing. Not sure what you’re doing with this fucking loser but it’s all over.”

Even as he spoke, he was holding my arm tighter and tighter and he knew it was hurting. He knew when he grabbed me that he was grabbing my newly healed arm.  I refused to give him the satisfaction of showing any reaction even if in my head I was howling “Mother fucker that hurts!”

Suddenly my arm was free and Mark was being pushed up against the wall. Shirvo had pinned by his throat and was whispering in his ear so I couldn’t hear what he was saying but I could clearly see the fear on Marks face.

Shirvo stepped back and Mark clutched at his throat. With one last glance at my former boyfriend Shirvo then turned his back on him and opened my front door.

“Time’s wasting, mate. I need those clothes so I can look my best tonight. I mean, I always look good but a little help never goes astray, am I right?”

The door slammed and we listened to the sound of Mark running back downstairs. As one we moved over to the window and watched as he went straight to his car. He looked up at my window and Shirvo waved at him. Mark glared and gave us the finger before speeding away.

“Thank you, Shirvo. I’m sorry you had to see all that though. He’s a prick but hopefully that will be the last I see of him.”

“Has that happened before? Like since he broke your arm?”

“A couple of times he’s been here waiting when I get home but he never usually said anything just watched me.”

“And you never thought to say something to me or Dylan?” The fact that he called him Dylan and not Skippy was not lost on me. He was angry.

“No, not really. This was my problem. I can’t expect Dylan to rescue me all the time. Or you.” I walked away from the window and in to my bedroom. “Now, lets get these clothes and make you pretty for your new man.”

“Fuck off. I’m not pretty, I’m manly and hot.”

“Sure, sure.” I agree and laugh out loud at him.

He smiles at me and then turns serious.

“Aiden, we’re family now. We look out for each other, that’s just how it goes in our family. No one is on their own. Skippy needs you so that means we all need you. Just like you need him and us. That’s just the way it is. Get used to it.” After giving me a bro hug he turns to my closet and then adds “Oh and if you think I’m not telling Skippy and all the boys about what happened with the fuckhead just then, you’re mistaken.”

Fuck. My. Life.