An Open Sky

Chapter Thirty-Four ~Aidan~

                The bell rang. I dazedly made my way down the crowded hallways, not caring to talk to anyone. I slid my books into the open space in my locker and walked down to the cafeteria. My eyes wandered to the clock above me as I got into line. 11:51. Only three more hours.

                 I grabbed a plate of whatever ‘food’ they were serving us today and made my way to an open table. I could care less if I sat alone. I rested my head in my hands and watched the time go by, enjoying my loneliness. But my loneliness didn’t accompany me for long.

                Dani tossed her tray down across from me, sending morsels of school food flying at me and covering the table. I flinched, wiping a piece of what I assumed to be meat off of my chin. Ignorant to the mess she’d made, she slid into the seat and crossed her arms, expecting me to talk.

                I was suddenly extremely interested in the food on my plate. I toyed with a dark brown blob of something rubbery on my plate with a fork.

                “What do you think this really is?” I stalled.

                “Don’t even think I’m going to let you put this off, Aidan. You told me we’d talk so talk.” Her hard gaze burned my cheeks. I could feel my face getting hot. “What does Jay want with Alexa?”

                “The same thing he wanted with Layla, I’m assuming.” I kept my head down.

                “Which was…?” She pressed. I didn’t want to tell her. Dani was the one who kept me here. She listened when no one else would. She’d been my best friend ever since it happened, but she couldn’t know. I couldn’t bring myself to let her know. I didn’t want Alexa to know either, but I couldn’t control myself around her. My brain said no, but my body was numb to its commands.

                “I can’t tell you.” My voice came out stronger than I thought it would.

                She sighed, “Aidan, sometimes you really are something.” There was a pause before she continued. “Look, I know Jay is bad news; how bad? I’m not sure. What’s going to happen? No clue. But if you want her to be okay, you’re going to need more than just yourself. I want to help you, Aidan, but I can’t do that unless you tell me what’s going on.”

                “Thanks for the offer, but this is between me and Jay, and I can’t risk anyone else getting hurt.” I winced as her eyebrows knitted together. She ran her fingers through her hair.

                “Look. I know Layla died. You told me that remember? The accident? Well, I’m starting to think that it was more than an accident Aidan. Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems that you and Jay have a deeper past than you’re telling me and—“

                “Dani, really. Don’t get involved. I can’t protect you and if something would happen—“

                “Can’t protect me,” she yelled, “and what makes you think you can protect her! She thinks you’re a freak, Aidan. Actually, she told me to tell you to stay out of her life. And what if something would happen to you?”

                I was drawn aback. I didn’t care what happened to me. No one had ever cared what happened to me. I’d never been asked the question before. I’d never had to think about what my answer would be. I didn’t care if I died or not. I’d thought it a million times, but it was different preparing myself to say it to someone who actually cared.

                “I don’t know,” I stuttered, “but I need to do something to stop it.”

                “Do what, Aidan? Stop what? Stop Jay? Stop Alexa? What are you talking about?” She was desperate to hear my answers.

                I stayed quiet. I filled my mouth with the foul-tasting food on my plate and watched it flop off of my fork as I scooped it up for another bite. Dani sat back in her seat, rubbing her hands together.

                “Fine. I get it, okay? Guy stuff, top secret. Look, I don’t know what you got yourself into, but if you end up dead somewhere, I’m not going to feel sorry.” She stood, tears in her eyes. The heat burned so hot within me, I wondered why I didn’t melt into the floor. I’d never seen Dani cry. She bent in toward me again, but I couldn’t meet her eyes. “If you realize how insane you are before you die, and decide to change your mind, you know where to find me. Aidan?”

                My focus flicked up at her hazel eyes. The flecks of golden hidden deep in them shone in the bright cafeteria light. “Yeah?”

                “One more thing,” she picked up her plate, “you’re a good guy, Aidan. And I just want you to know that any girl would be lucky to have you, so don’t just go and throw your life away, okay?”

                She paused, waiting for my plea for her help. When it didn’t come, when I turned back to my plate pretending to ignore her comment, she sighed. I glanced up to watch her hair flip over her shoulder as she spun on her heel and vanished into the hallway.