"You were supposed to ask me more. We're dating after all." I say, extending an olive branch despite his uncaring response.
Why, you may ask?
Because I'm tired of having an enemy. To having to argue with him for days on end. I just want rest. I don't even know why I hate him in the first place.
"Psh. Why would I? We're only dating cuz you got me into this." Aiden states, his face lacking sentiment, "Brandon cornered you, but I got dragged into this mess."
That asshole.
I am taking back everything I said about him. Even though he has a point.
Nonetheless, he should have said it in a better, kinder way!
"You—! I hate you." I fume, My face heating up in anger, "I thought that, for once, you would think about anyone but yourself, but I'm proved wrong— yet again! Thats it. I'm calling off this truce." A shadow flickers across Aiden's face, but goes away as quickly as it comes, replaced by silent fury.
"Suit yourself. But remember, sweetheart," He says, his voice reaching an unfamiliar coldness, "I won't be there to save you a second time."
My blood boils in anger, and also something else, something resembling fear— but I force on a smile.
"I don't think I'll be needing you anyway. Goodbye." Saying this, I stomp off the opposite direction towards my house. I dare not look behind, or someone would get murdered today.
-----
I slump on my bed, tired, my mind playing today's events like a carousel.
The invitation to the party, the library, the realisation of where I met Brandon for the first time; and my actual, real fight with Aiden. The cold anger on his face. It had scared me, though I'll never admit it to anyone. We never fought like this, I was used to a few teases and bickerings. But this...
Aiden's words play in my mind.
"I won't be there to save you a second time."
He had saved me from Brandon, whether I liked it or not. I just... don't get Aiden. Sometimes he wants to help me, and sometimes he hates me. It is infuriating.
I call Katelyn, the second person I go to whenever I want to vent. The first is my mom, but she's busy, so...
Lyn answers on the fourth ring, her voice cheerful.
"Hey babe!" She greets.
"Hi..." I reply, not meeting her enthusiasm, and I guess she notices because her tone softens.
"You don't seem fine, what happened?"
"Can we meet?"
---
"Spill." Lyn says, as soon as she bursts into my room a few minutes after our call. She takes a seat on the beanbag next to my bed. My home is like Lyn's second home, away from her parents— whom she despises. It might not seem like it due to Lyn's cheerful façade, but she has been through a lot. Her parents—
"Hello, Ash? Answer me." Lyn interrupts my train of thoughts, and I startle.
"What— oh. Right. Yeah. So what happened was..."
I tell Lyn about my fight with Aiden. That it was not like the fights we usually had, this one was... different somehow. It was more a fight than any other we ever had.
"I just feel like... it was my fault, you know? That I got him into this 'mess'. Or something like that." I finish. Lyn's eyes were widened the whole time, like she was processing it— even though there really wasn't much to process. She waits for a beat, thinking.
"I think... you should apologise." She says slowly and in a hesitent tone.
Me? Apologise to Aiden?
A few days ago, that would have been a hilarious joke, but now— with all these events— the idea almost seems... plausible.
"I mean, don't get me wrong, it was his fault too. But... I—I think you lashed out at him." She continues, her voice getting tinier word by word. "Do this for the sake of the fake dating, atleast."
I sigh for the hundredth time today.
"Okay. I guess an apology won't hurt." I mutter, with what was left of my dignity.
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