🏃Clark's POV🏃

The dinner was fantastic. Besides a couple of disagreements and a few awkward silences -on my part mostly- all of our conversations flowed pretty easily and we all had a great time.

But that sense of calm was not to last forever because Aaron's dad -Matthew- could not go without asking.

"So Aiden, Aaron mentioned something about big news earlier." Matthew inquired, his head resting on the back of his hands as he leaned in, futher intimidating the couple.

"Well actually I specifically remember Clark," Aaron shot a look at me in return earning himself an impish smile. "Calling it an announcement."

"Don't try to shove off the blame darling, there's no point." Tania told Aaron, sending him a smile to calm him down. "Just tell us what it is okay?"

Aiden and Aaron shared a look before Aiden nodded. "Well, we weren't planning on telling you now but since almost all of you guys are here." Aiden sucked in a breath and looked to Aaron for assurance and continued when he felt Aaron rubbing his back. "We're moving."

For a single moment eveyone was quiet.

Then chaos ensued.

Multiple people were almost screaming and asking questions, I heard someone crying and I was on my way to joining them.

I've known Aaron and Aiden almost my entire time in Toronto and it was heartbreaking to think of them being out of reach, no longer an hour away.

Liam pulled me to his chest muttering caring words and "are you alrights" into my ear.

When I finally realized that I was just being dramatic I nodded to him, sitting up straight and waiting to see what they had to say.

"Everyone calm down." Aaron firmly stated, somehow quieting the table without yelling. "I don't think we were clear. Yes were moving but not forever."

I could practically feel the mood lifting.

"Aaron's station is moving him to LA for at most two years and I'm going with him since I can consult my clients from anywhere and gain new ones in America." Aiden added, looking at Aaron lovingly and taking his hand. "We really won't be gone for very long and we'll visit a bunch."

"Thank goodness." Meaghan sighed, wiping her eyes. "I would've let you guys go but I would have sobbed the whole time."

Aaron rolled his eyes but still sent a smile to his sister.

"Yeah same." Mason and I said in unison, laughing and exchanging props across the table.

"You guys are all so dramatic." Aaron laughed, somehow pulling Aiden even closer. Probably closer then humanly possible.

"No," Francesca argued. "We care." Francy rarely showed affection to her younger brother so the moment was precious to everyone who understood.

And Jasmine was recording it.

"This will be great for the next time Francy acts like she doesn't love Aaron." Jasmine giggled a little too loudly causing the two oldest Tyler siblings to snap their heads over to her.

"Jasmine," Aaron started warningly, as he and Francy started to get out of their seats. "Give us the phone and no one will get hurt." Matt was rolling his eyes from where he sat while his wife just chuckled beside him, amused by her kids antics.

Jasmine looked scared but instead of handing her phone over she started to type in a flurry.

Aaron and Francy quickly ambushed her but by the frustrated growl they gave out once Francesca had the phone in her hand I knew that she had finished.

"What did you even do?" Mark asked her, earning an evil smile from his sister.

"I may or may not have sent the video to three other people and my gmail so I can save it on Google photos." Jasmine answered, getting laughs from the whole table.

Except of course Aaron and Francesca, who slumped into their chairs in defeat.

Aiden pat Aaron's shoulder, saying something along the lines of, "You'll get her next time." Getting even more laughs from the table.

Francesca tossed Jasmine back her phone and Jasmine grinned in triumph.

"Oh I forgot to mention." Aaron said suddenly. "We're going to be staying with Chris while we are in LA."

Ethan tensed up suddenly then forced himself to relax and not look troubled but Aiden caught it and sent Aaron a look.

Aaron's eyes barely widened and he tried to discreetly look at Ethan but all eyes were on him and that included Ethan.

"Uh, anyway." Aaron coughed, clearing his throat. "Chris is our friend from high school. When we were trying to figure out where to stay he messaged me one time mentioning the LA weather and...now we're here."

"That's great!" Ethan exclaimed, feigning enthusiasm. "You guys have an easy place to stay and can catch up and hangout. It's been a while since he last visited right?"

Aiden looked like he didn't want to continue the conversation but did anyway.

"Not really, he came four months ago." Aiden tried to act normal as well but was unable to hide the sympathy in his eyes. "You were there remember?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Ethan laughed. It was very close but still sounded fake to the ear. "Silly me."

Another awkward silence came but suprisingly Dana was the one to break it.

"Jesus, I can't even count the amount of times I have mixed up or forgotten events." Dana joked, turning to Aaron with a laughter in her eyes. "Do you remember when I accidentally thought that you came to my dad's wedding?"

Aaron's face light up as he recalled the memory.

"Yeah! You were so distressed because I wasn't in any of the pictures." Aaron laughed out loud his head falling back as he spoke his next words. "You almost called the photographer in a rage before your step-mom reminded you that the wedding was three years ago."

Everyone laughed at that and the heavy mood was gone.

"You think that was bad?" Everyone turned to Liam, curious to hear what story he had. "Imagine your mom planning you sisters wedding with the theme "winter wonderland" then forgetting a year later, thinking the theme was supposed to be "under the sea" and filing a suit against the wedding planner."

"No way." Mark laughed in disbelief, looking at Liam with wide eyes.

"No it's true." I added smiling at Mark. "I didn't believe it either, so Liam called his sister and she told me that their mom didn't even tell her she was suing until she asked her to be a witness."

Most of the table was laughing but a few people were just too stunned.

"Of course me and my sister talked her out of it." Liam assured the group. "She never ceases to groan everytime we bring it up. Which is every time all three of us are together."

And everything was smooth sailing after that.

Ethan and I were back at our place after the eventful day but it wasn't over just yet.

"Ethan?" Ethan turned to me, still smiling after our day. "What's wrong?"

He looked extremely confused, almost creating a unibrow with how deeply he furrowed the two.

"What do you mean?" He asked, pulling out a hanger for his jacket.

"What happened between you and Chris?" I asked bluntly surprised when Ethan dropped his jacket.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Ethan told me. He bent down to pick up his jacket but I didn't miss the shake in his hand. "Chris and I were- are good friends. We always have been, ever since high school."

Once Ethan successfully hung up his jacket he joined me in the living room and was about to turn on the TV when I said,

"Cut the bullshit." To say Ethan was startled would be a huge understatement. I rarely swore and the last time was probably when I had sprained my ankle. "I saw how tense you became when they mentioned him and how strained you were when Chris came before. But you loved him being here! You were shinning when he spoke to you." Ethan wasn't looking at me anymore. "What happened Ethan?"

He let out a long sigh.

"I- we.....I had a crush on him for a long time Clark." He was whispering, but I heard him just fine. I wasn't about to miss this. "I thought he was as straight as a rod." He chuckled. "When...when he started sending me hints and flirting with me I tried not to let it get to my head I tried, to ignore it, give it another reason. But when he asked me out I was ecstatic! I said yes like twenty times and hugged him so hard my muscled ached the next day."

Ethan didn't talk for a while and I didn't urge him to get it out faster. I just waited.

"But after a couple of weeks I started getting scared." His voice broke a little bit but he payed it no mind. "I was, so insecure and I thought he would get bored. That he would cheat or just break it off soon." He took in a shuddering breath. "I wasn't a good boyfriend and was so controlling and thought that I should break up with him before he broke my heart."

I went over to Ethan and gave him a tight hug, we didn't speak for a long time and just stayed there. Finally though I let go.

"That's all really. And now we're . . . friends." He smiled at me squeezing my shoulder. "I'm pretty much over him by now."

I laughed and soon Ethan joined me.

"Your such a liar!" I cackled shoving him. "You’re totally still into him!"

"Yeah, I am." Ethan was smiling again and I was extremely relieved. "You know, you're like the younger brother I never had."

I grinned.

"I know."