A couple days later after hours of begging, and pleading my dad agrees to let me ride down to Corpus Christi with Aiden. He made my mom confirm that we would not sleep in the same room, and that most of my time would be spent with her and not him.
He has baseball tryouts all day on Saturday so we leave Friday right after school lets out. We packed our bags this morning before school so we wouldn't have to stop after.
"I'm hungry. Let's get a burger somewhere before we hit the interstate." Aiden chimes while I go through his iPod to find some music to play. Aiden and I have the same taste in music, and I love it.
I decided to play his nineties playlist. It's full of alternative music though. No pop, or country. I could totally listen to Britney or Shania right now. "Aiden, you need to add some pop to your mix." I claim, and he just rolls his eyes at me.
"I have pop in there." and it's true.
"Today's pop. Where's all your old pop like N'sync, and Backstreet Boys?"
He snorts. "I don't do boy bands."
"Why?" I deadpan.
"It's all commercial music, sounds alike, and not to mention it's only meant for a profit." and I huff at his comments.
"All music is made for a profit." I feel a debate coming on.
"No, all music isn't made for a profit... but those bands are."
"I love those bands. Their music is filled with emotion." I say as he turns into the drive through of Conroe's burger joint.
"Yes if you are a sixteen year old girl." he says, and I just laugh at him. I think he's forgetting our ages.
"Aiden, you have an old soul."
"Thanks babe." he takes it as a compliment.
Once we get our food, we hit the road. "Does your mom really not mind that I stay there?" he asks with concern.
"She said it was fine. I promise. She's very laid back when it comes to things like that." I answer him, before taking a sip of my coke.
"Is Conner staying there too?"
"No. He has a game tomorrow."
"Oh yeah. I wasn't thinking." he admits, and I just nod.
"So while he's playing, you'll be trying out. Do you think you'll make the team?"
"I hope so. It will bruise my ego a little if I don't make it, but I know there are alot of good players out there so I'm not getting my hopes up."
"Conner says it's a lot harder than high school. Dad even told me that he's considering dropping out at the end of the season."
"What? What about his scholarship?"
"I don't know. I asked dad about that, but he didn't say much. All he told him was to do what makes him happy. He'll probably help pay like he's helping me. I applied for some scholarships, but dad already told me if he needs to help he will."
"That's awesome. So you won't have to work and go to school?" he asks.
"Oh no. I have to work. Dad made that very clear." I say, and we both laugh. "What about you?"
"Mom and Dad made me and Tristan college funds when we were babies. When he died, they transferred his funds into mine so I should be covered." he says, and I can't help but feel sorry for him. What it must feel like. Why would his parents even tell him that his college money was supposed to be for his brother.
"I'm sor..." I start to apologize, but he cuts off my words.
"It's okay. It is what it is. Hey, how long until we're there?"
"About another hour." I answer his question, knowing he wants to drop the subject. I can tell he's uncomfortable.
"Cool." he grabs my hand and we stay mostly silent the rest of the way there.
When we arrive, mom is waiting on us outside. "My baby!" she yells, and runs up to me kissing me all over the face. I know she's only trying to embarrass me. "Mom!" I try to pull away from her but she holds me tightly and I can't help but laugh with her. Finally she lets me go and gives Aiden a hug. "Hi honey, how are you doing?" she asks him.
"Good, how are you?" he's pulling our bags out from the back seat, while mom holds me around the shoulders.
"I'm great now that my kiddo is here." and she squeezes me. I give her a sarcastic smile, but she ignores it.
"Where's Ron?" I ask her as we walk into the building.
"He's on a business trip. He won't be back until next week so It's just us."
"Oh no. Aiden is stuck with us girls?" I ask, and he rolls his eyes at me.
"No! Tomorrow night Conner is coming by to hangout with us. His game is at eleven tomorrow morning, so he'll get here probably in the evening."
"Thank God." Aiden jokes, and mom huffs out while pounding his shoulder. "Hey!" she yells, and we all laugh. Usually Aiden isn't this lighthearted. He must really be taking to my mom.
Once we're inside, I set my stuff on the couch, and offer my room, or should I say Conner's room to Aiden.
"No way Mor. I'm not going to take your bed. The sofa is fine."
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"Yes." he confirms, and kisses me on the cheek. "Thank you though." he whispers in my ear. His breath tickles me.
I look up suddenly, and mom is staring at us from the kitchen. When I catch her staring she turns quickly hoping I didn't notice her. I'm pretty sure I see her lips tilt slightly up as she did.
"What do you kids want for dinner? We can go out, or I could order pizza or chinese and have it delivered?" She makes us both a glass of sweet tea as we sit down in the kitchen.
"I'm totally down for some Chinese, and staying in if Aiden is..." I answer and he agrees.
"Sounds amazing." he says.
"Awesome!" Mom chimes, and walks over to a kitchen drawer pulling out a menu to a local chinese restaurant. My mom and I go for the classic chicken fried rice, while Aiden gets the spicy shrimp meal with noodles. Ew. I hate pasta. He was shocked when I told him I don't eat pasta.
We were at his house and his mom offered to make mac and cheese, when I refused he stared at me bewildered. His exact words were "A girl who doesn't like mac and cheese... I might have to think twice about you." and we all laughed. It's his favorite comfort food.
"What time do you have to be at tryouts?" my mom asks while I'm going through the movie rentals on TV.
"At nine thirty." he answers while drinking his tea.
"Do you want me to take you, or do you know the way?" she offers, and of course he says he'll drive.
The doorbell rings a moment later and we have more food than imaginable. Mom ordered eight egg rolls, and all the sides and fixings.
"Gosh mom, you realize there's only three of us?" I ask her, but she ignores me licking the food off a spoon.
"I love it!" she sings, and starts to dance around the kitchen. She's so happy all the time. I admire that about her. I can tell that Aiden is completely at ease here. He's more tense around my father than my mother. I guess I get it. Dad is more strict with us, but for me, I've just always felt more comfortable with my dad.
Aiden is outnumbered when we find a movie. He wanted action, but mom and I won the rom com movie. During the movie Aiden gets up to use the restroom. Mom is laid out on the love-seat, but sits up when he walks away. She whispers. "Mora, I love him." she gleams, and I can't help but smile back.
"Yeah? He's pretty awesome huh?"
"You've been beaming since you got here honey. I can tell he truly cares about you." she says, and before we can say anything else he's back in the room.
"Mrs. Hens..." he starts to say and my mom interjects.
"What did I tell you Aiden?" she says, and we all laugh.
"Umm... Deb. Do you have any popcorn?" he asks.
"Sure. In the pantry. Help yourself."
"Awesome. Do you want me to make you a bag?" he asks her, and she just shakes her head.
We ended up watching two movies. The second one was Aiden's pick. His movie actually was better than our pick. It was suspenseful and mom yelled a few times. Our's ended up being corny with bad acting. It was almost painful to watch. Mom felt like she owed him another movie.
"Well kids. It's past my bedtime. Usually I wouldn't give a curfew but I'm laying down your dad's laws tonight. So one more hour, and Mora you need to go to your room." She's direct, and I just agree. I'm thankful she even let him stay here.
"Good night mom. Love you." I say, and she smiles leaving the room.
"Mora, your mom is pretty cool." Aiden rings as he sits back on the pillow my mom supplied him on the sofa. I'm sitting with my legs crossed on the other end.
"She has her good days." I answer him, and his head is held sideways looking at me like a puppy. "What!" I giggle.
"Can I say something personal?" he questions.
"Yes."
He sits up, tucking one leg under his butt, and the other hanging to the floor. He pulls me closer to him, laying his hands on my legs. "She puts in a lot of effort for you." he says and I'm confused by his comment.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"What I said is what I mean. She does everything she can to make you smile, and laugh. All night she's been trying to impress you."
"Oh no, I don't think so." This is how she always acts.
"So she doesn't act like that when I'm not around?"
"No, she does... but she's always acted like that."
"Does she act like that toward Conner?" he asks, and he has me thinking. No she really doesn't. She has a closer bond to Conner, but it is different. She's more at ease with him. Oh man, maybe he's right. I never noticed it before. I don't know how to react, so I don't answer. "So that answer is a no." he says, and I just shrug my shoulders.
"I don't know." I answer, and he brushes my hair out of my face. "Maybe so." Aiden can tell I don't want to talk about my mom anymore, so he pulls me down to lay next to him, and we put on a sitcom to fill the silence in the room.
"Do you think your mom will mind us laying here?"
"No, I just need to go to bed when she says or she won't let this happen again.
"Yes ma'am." he says, and we cuddle until I go to bed.