The End Is Only the Beginning

19. Normality

I hadn't actually seen Aaron again following the brief encounter before school, although Jorge had given me a strange look during math class. Plus, Lindy seemed to be her carefree self again following English class which was also nice.

Now the four of us, and Adam, were sat around our usual table in the cafeteria. Aaron was sat a few tables across, surrounded by his football teammates – if Lindy had noticed him she didn't make it obvious.

"Incoming," Kasim announced.

Noelle and I turned around – I was sort of expecting to see Aaron, instead it was Eli. He was smiling brightly as he walked towards us, and I couldn't help but to smile back. "Hi," Eli spoke, sliding into a seat next to me. Kas waved.

"Hey."

"What are you doing this Friday?" Eli asked.

"Nothing. He's doing nothing," Noelle answered for me, resting an arm on the table as she looked around me and at Eli. I glared at her, but she just smiled back at me, "I'm just trying to be a helpful wing-woman."

"Well, if you're free I'm going to a Halloween party and was wondering if you wanted to come with?" Eli suggested, and I nodded. "You guys can come as well if you're up for it?" he offered, looking around me and to Noelle.

Noelle smirked. "Funnily enough, I'm doing nothing as well."

"I guess we'll be there," I spoke, "and I'll try to convince Kas and Adam."

"Good," Eli answered. He placed a hand on my neck as he stood up, squeezing it gently. "I'll text you tonight. See you later," he finished. He squeezed my neck again, and I knew that it was the equivalent of a peck on the cheek.

"See you."

Noelle watched Eli leave, waiting until he'd sat back down with his own group of friends, before turning back to me. "He's so good looking," she announced, and Kasim nodded in agreement – Adam shoved him in the side. "If things don't work out between you two, let him know that I'm single."

"Or me," Kasim added, only half-joking.

Adam shot him a disapproving look. "Lindy, do you want in on the Eli-stalking?" he asked, still side-eying Kasim who was trying not to laugh.

"I think I'm alright," Lindy said. "I'm focusing on getting into college at the moment, but if he's still single in a year's time you can let him know," Lindy finished, punctuating her sentence with a wink. Noelle snorted, and Kasim sipped his drink.

"You're all awful," I stated.

Kasim, Lindy and Noelle just laughed.

-

History class was after lunch, and I arrived early. The class was empty except for a handful of students who somehow always arrived to class five minutes before everyone else.

I'd grown used to having mine and Aaron's desk to myself, so it was going to be strange having him back. Still, I unpacked my necessities out of my bag and wrote the date onto the top of some lined-paper. I sat up again in time to see Aaron walk through the door.

He smiled a polite smile as he walked over.

Aaron's face had cleared up nicely. There were still the yellow-faded remains of his black eye, and a thin cut straight across his lip; other than that, he looked like his normal self.

"Hey," Aaron spoke, putting his bag on the desk as he sat down.

"Hi," I smiled. "How are you?"

Aaron nodded as he pulled a pen from his bag. "Better," he answered.

"How's the past week been?" I asked, speaking in a hushed tone so the few people in the class couldn't hear me.

"It's been ok," Aaron spoke, laughing a little, "Jorge hasn't left me alone all week, I've got my own personal bodyguard." I smiled, and Aaron grinned back. His eye looked a little more swollen squinted in the way that it was.

Miss Flaherty walked into the class. "At least you've got good friends," I said.

"A good friend," he answered.

"Have your parents been alright with everything? I'm surprised they've not got you on lockdown," I tried to make easy conversation.

Aaron picked up his pen, flipping it over in between his fingers. "My dad was pissed, so pissed that he took my car off of me for an entire day," Aaron spoke sarcastically, the corner of his lips upturned slightly. "But now he's out of town with my step-mom and sister, so it's just been me and Jorge for the last week. Dad doesn't really care, but my mom's called me every single night just to check up on me."

"Doesn't she live nearby?"

"Chicago," Aaron answered – oh yeah, that's why he'd been planning on going there.

"Oh," I said. "It's a good thing that you've got Jorge on your side then, and your mom." Aaron nodded. "And I want you to know that I'm here, if you ever feel like you can't talk to Jorge or your mom you can talk to me," I offered.

Aaron smiled a genuine smile. "Thank you, Caleb."

"You're welcome," I answered. At the same time Miss Flaherty began to introduce her class on the history of America between the late 18th Century to the 20th Century.

-

Aaron and I didn't really speak during history class, not following our initial conversation anyway.

               After school had finished I just wanted to go home. I ended up taking a short cut through a sketchy alleyway, attempting to get there quicker. Evan and Emily had some sort of catch-up class which meant that I didn't have to wait for them.

Like most afternoons my mom was already at home, baking away in the kitchen. It was a little less familiar for my dad to be home before me, but it wasn't rare.

"You're home quick," my mom called when she saw me.

She and my dad were both hanging out in the kitchen; my mom was attempting to decorate cupcakes while he ate the leftover cupcake batter with his fingers. Although my dad had begun to go grey, and slightly bald, and my mom had wrinkles around her eyes and forehead, they both looked young together.

I dropped my bag in the hallway before heading into the kitchen, "I took a short cut."

Dad stopped eating the batter, his finger still in the bowl. "A short cut through where? You better be staying safe, Caleb Jarrod," he spoke, sounding only mildly serious.

"I made it home in one piece, so I must be," I answered.

My mom smiled down at the cake that she'd been decorating, and I dipped my finger into the bowl that dad continued to eat from. "How was school anyway?" my mom asked, wiping a bit of stray icing onto her apron.

"It was fine. Aaron's back," I announced, and both my parents' heads snapped up in a sudden interest. "And I was invited to a Halloween party – it's this Friday, can I go?"

"Who's going?" my dad asked.

I sat on the stool next to him. "Noelle, Lindy and Eli for definite. Maybe Kasim and Adam, if I can tempt them." My mom was already nodding as she exchanged a glance with my dad; he was the biggest pushover going, so he'd say yes.

"Fine, as long as you keep us updated every few hours you can go," he stated.

I dipped my finger into the cake batter again. "Thank you," I smiled before leaving the kitchen.

              Once I was in my room, and lying on my bed, I decided to text Eli: 'Just to let you know, I can go to the Halloween party. Can't wait!' I wrote.

Eli text back a few seconds later: 'Me either, you can stop at mine afterwards if you'd like?'

I responded with a simple smiley face emoji, and an 'x'.

---

Author's Note:

The next chapter, guys.

-T xox