Always Aaron

Chapter 17

I had to play the player not let him play me. Not like that.

...

"I wish you could stay for a while longer Mom. A day was so short." I complained helping her walk down the school steps.

"I know but now with the wedding and everything it's time I start packing and planning." My mom smiled. "Plus you've got only a few more months until you leave too and come back to Waylerd." I grinned at that and hugged her.

She pulled away and then proceeded to shake hands with Aaron who smiled kindly. "I expect you at Christmas at our home." She said firmly with a smile.

"I wouldn't dare miss it." He responded to her.

"Bye sweetie. Be safe." I watched her get into the black GMC and drive away from the school gates.

"Are you alright?" Aaron asked watching me while I stared out.

I took a heavy breath in and forced a smile. "Yeah. Yeah I'm fine."

I heard him chuckle behind me. "Has anyone ever told you of how you are terrible liar."

"I am not." I scowled turning to him. "I'm just a little slow." I admitted. I could be an excellent liar. The best. Better then him as well.

He ran a hair through his dark hair and smirked. "That's a lie right there, sweetheart."

I scoffed and headed up the stairs. He followed the same action. "I'm just... home sick that's all. I don't like change."

He was silent as we went into the elevator and pressed the button to our floor level. "You miss your father?" I tensed at his words. No matter how true they were.

"Why would you think that?" I muttered walking down the hallway and into our dorm. My mother had left us a bajillion decor pieces. Including a small humidifier that made the place smell like lavender.

I sunk into the couch eyeing the corner of the coffee table. Moments later Aaron sat down too. "Because I see the way you look when Jake comes into picture or the excitement you try to force for your mother."

This made me scared for some reason. The way Aaron could read me when I've tried years to master the act of emotions. Trying to hide tears with a smile or a frown with a smirk. Even the pressure in my cheeks were at work to show my face not dull at bored.

But Aaron Mercer had cut through that.

"You don't have to speak about it if you don't want to." He murmured softly to me. I clench my jaw debating with myself. Warning myself not to say anything but then I do.

"I just miss him. A lot." I swallowed rubbing at my eyes. I hate fucking crying. "It's been hard. Only a few years and I never really got to have time with him. The 6 almost seven years that I was there and not it does not seem enough." My eyes were lined with silver and were heavy. I tried to look up at a bright light to diffuse them away.

I felt Aaron put a hand on my wrist. "I just-" I continued. "I feel like it's too fast. I love my mother but she moved on with Jake a lot faster than I imagined. I did not get the chance to move on. And Jake isn't really an easy guy to swiftly like and accept." I grunted twisting a strand of my hair. "It feels like replacing him. And I've replaced so many times already."

Aaron nudged my wrist gently so I could stare at him. "I don't think what you're feeling is wrong Bryce. It's normal and new to you. Nobody expects you to love Jake and his daughters but you still do because it makes your mother happy. But you need to cut yourself some slack too." He told me. "Because it'll be a lot harder if you pretend your whole life."

I let a dry chuckle shaking my head. "Oh I've had harder. Did you know I was adopted?" I asked so slowly that the words seemed to take a minute to form. To build up a shield in case he backlashes.

"Yes."

Of course he would. I internally laugh. Fucking Emery would leave no one without their daily does of gossip especially her beloved prince. "And what does that make you think of me?" Another dangerous question. One which has broken me multiple times. Sometimes I feel... trivial.

"Am I supposed to think of you any different? You're still Bryce. I don't judge people on stuff like that. Especially when it shows your strength."

I smiled warmly at him sighing in relief. "I was eleven." I looked up to see him understanding when I was taking this. "My parents the night before seemed tense while my sister and I were just playing around. I remember both of them coming to bed and tucking me in telling me it'll be alright. I was so confused but I was young so I thought nothing of it. The next day when they woke me up they told me they were taking me to a fair that they held in my city. I was ecstatic." I laughed at my meaningless self. My naive self. "I asked why my sister was not coming with us and my mother said Chiara would not have fun as all the rides were above her height limit and it would be best if she stayed with my neighbours. I did not think too much of it. Then when we went to the place. I remember looking at the grey walls and reading the sign. At first I thought maybe mom and dad wanted to adopt a child or something. But when they asked me to come with them I got scared as I saw the little children looking around. Some happy some gloomy but all lost in that place. I got frightened more as we walked in my stomach lurching and anxiety taking me over. I shook and shook as they took me to a room where a woman in a grey dress stood with a tray of chocolate pastries." My words became shaky and every word felt like a strain against myself. Aaron's hand intertwined with mine giving it a squeeze.

"The lady was nice but strict. She was the two faced kind. Nice around my parents but horrible to me. So when my parents said to stay with her for the night I- I screamed. So loudly that everyone was staring. The lady gripped my arms as my mother wailed and wailed while my father shakily escorted her out. I had hit the lady so hard that she'd left me as I shouted for them. I shouted and shouted and shouted-" I choked tears sleeping down my cheeks. "And when I went into the front yard towards their car they just... they drove off. They were g-gone." I wiped my cheeks aggressively causing my skin to redden and itch. The memory was like a disgusting grease on me. It would not go. Would not let me live peacefully.

Aaron brought his hand around me while I wept soundlessly in his chest as he ran a hand through my hair. Trying to make me feel comforted. But that only changed me more into asking. "Why? Why are you being so nice to me when you've been nothing but a dick?" My words weren't intended to be sharp but I wanted an answer. I wanted it now. So I pulled away from him.

His clear blue eyes stared at me softly. "I realised my faults after you pushed me in the kitchen. I know I've been a dick and a horrible one at that but... I'm sorry."

My eyes widened at him. "For what?"

He laughed shaking his head. "You really can't get me off the hook can you?" I shook my head at him. "For everything. For being rude. For being an absolute prick like you put it. For trying to advance on you just because my glass ego could not think a girl was not with me. Musing is it, Weston?" He scowled as I laughed falling on the couch. "I'm here to fucking apologise and you're laughing at me."

I wiped my tears. "I'm sorry I process emotions differently. Sometimes I would be laughing and then suddenly crying." I rambled at him. "But thank you. For it all."

He smiled. "So we let the past stay in the past?"

"Mhm. We let it be and move on to the future. As friends." I extended my arm watching Aaron's face fell just for a second before he grinned brightly and took it.

"As friends."