Aiden's holding a blanket with one hand, and my hand in the other. He's leading me to the pavilion again.
"I thought we could just hangout out here for a while if that's cool with you?" he throws the blanket down letting it catch the air.
"This is perfect." I respond.
"Good." He smiles big, and sits down patting the spot next to him. We sit for about five minutes in silence just staring at the ripples in the lake. The sun is starting to set.
"So Aiden, how many girls have you brought here?" I tease him, and he nudges me. "For your information Mora Andrews, you are the only girl." I like how he says my full name like that.
"To be honest, I thought you were a player." I admit to him.
"Oh yeah?" he squints his eyes at me.
"Yeah. You were always with a different girl like every other week in the hallways, and you don't really say much, so I sort of thought you were an ass too." I make my tone soft so he knows I feel bad for thinking that about him.
"I get it. After Tristan died I've just been in a rough place. It's hard for me to let people in."
"Who is Tristan?" I ask, and his face fills with surprise.
"My brother. I thought you knew." He says, and I had no idea and now I'm the ass.
"Oh Aiden, I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"It's okay, it's just weird. I thought everyone knew. It never registered to me that not everything revolves around my life." his mood lightens, and he laughs.
"Well I am sorry that I didn't know. Sometimes I'm in my own little world."
"Honestly Mora, it's no big deal. If anything it's refreshing. I'm so used to people looking at me like I'm wounded and feeling sorry for me. At least I know you like me for me right?"
"Right... I guess." I have a hint of confusion in my voice.
"May I ask what happened?"
"Well, two years ago he was at a party after they won a game, and he got really drunk and wrecked into a tree while driving home. By the time they finally called the ambulance and got him to the hospital it was too late." he says, and now I know what he means by people looking at him like he's wounded. I can't help but feel sorry for him.
"Oh Aiden. That's awful. I hate that your family had to go through that." I don't really know what to say. "How are you holding up nowadays with it?" I ask.
"Ahh, I'm holding. It's been awhile now, so you know... time heals."
I just nod before putting my head on his shoulder, and grab his hand squeezing it tight as we watch the final minutes of the sun setting.
"You know what's crazy?" He asks.
"Hmm?"
"It's weird. I know we never really knew each other back then, but the memory of Tristan teasing me about you back when I was a kid, and all of that, it just gives me peace being around you, and I know that's a lot for you to take in because you've only hung out with me a few times, but I just feel a comfort around you. It's something I'm not used to, so I thought you should know."
My heart warms when he tells me that. It was a lot to take in, but I'm happy to know that he can feel some kind of peace after his brother has been gone for so long. "That's not weird. I'm glad to know you have peace around me." I follow with a small smile.
After a couple hours of laying under the stars my phone buzzes.
My dad's name scrolls across the screen. "Hey Dad." I answer.
"Hey kiddo, when are you coming home?"
"Probably here soon." I answer.
"Will you pick up a pizza?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, see you in a few."
"Okay. Bye." I hang up. "Well, home calls." I say and he's up first helping me up off the ground.
"Do you mind if we stop at the pizza place before you drop me off?" I ask, and he nods. "Sure."
We're at my house in about twenty minutes, and he pulls up on the curb of my driveway.
"Thanks for hanging out with me tonight Mora." he puts his jeep in park, and he's staring at me.
"Aiden, I'm sorry for snapping on you earlier today."
"It's okay. I get it Mora. I would have done the same." he takes his hand and puts my hair behind my right hair, then sits the palm of his hand on my cheek and I just lean my head into it.
"So do you want to hangout again?" I ask with anxiety.
"Hell yes." he laughs, and I can feel my face brighten up.
"Good night Mora." and he leans in giving me a kiss on my forehead.
"Good night Aiden." and I jump out of the jeep, unable to hide my smile.
Dads watching a rerun football game again. "How many times are you going to watch this game dad?"
"Hey kid!" he gets up from the recliner to the kitchen to grab some pizza. "Did you have a good time?" he ignores my question.
"Yep. I didn't make it in time for fish, but yes it was a fun time." I don't tell him about Ross, or that I left with Aiden.
"I guess I'm going to go to bed." I give him a hug and run up to my bedroom.
I'm watching TV when I hear my phone go off. It's Conner face timing me.
"Hey." I answer it.
"Hey sis. I'm not calling you too late am I?" I can tell he's sitting at his dorm desk.
"No. I just got home a few minutes ago. How is everything?"
"It's good. I was just thinking about you and thought I would see how everything is going?"
"It's good. Same ole same ole." I say.
"How's dad?"
"He's good. Right now he's downstairs watching a rerun of the hogs from last season." we both laugh. "Of course. I hope he knows he's about to have to jump on the Islanders train here soon!" he snorts. I miss my brother so much. He's always the light in our family, without him we're dark with misery.
"We miss you bubba." I admit.
"Ahh sis. I miss you guys."
"So how's Scarlett doing?" he asks.
"She's doing good. Better than I thought, but she misses you a lot." I say.
"Oh, good." I think he wanted me to tell him she was miserable, and depressed, but she isn't. She's sad of course, but she's trying to make the best out of it. I admire her for it.
"She told me that you and Aiden have been hanging out." busted.
"Yeah, just a little." I say, not giving him anymore.
"So?"
"So nothing." I say. I don't know why I'm holding back. I guess I'm afraid of his disapproval of him.
"Come on Mor, you used to tell me everything." He gives me a pleading look.
"I don't know. We're just talking. It's nothing too serious right now." I quickly change the subject. "So Ross is dating Sophie now I guess." I wonder if he knows.
"Yeah, he told me. That's weird too." he's honest.
"Yeah, I thought so too." and he just laughs. "I bet you do think it's weird."
"What does that mean?" I snap.
"Oh Mora, come on. Don't tell me that doesn't bother you?"
"No."
"Okay." he says sarcastically.
"I'm going to bed, so I'll just talk to you later."
"Oh, I was just kidding. Don't get all upset about it."
"No, I'm not upset." I lie. "I'm just tired, so I'm going to let you go."
"Fine, but hey are you guys still coming down next weekend?" he asks.
"Yes." I answer.
After much begging, and a phone call from my mom Scarlett's parents finally agreed to letting her go down to Corpus Christi with me for the weekend.
"Okay. Cool. Well I'll see you next weekend."
"Good night." I rush to get off the phone.
"Night." and he's gone.'