12. Golden

It has been over two hours since Aron left. It's already dark out. He said he would be back soon. What's his definition of soon? I ate his pasta. It was delicious. Still, it wasn't half as good without him there.

I lie on the couch listlessly. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

I looked around the apartment. It's huge. The ceiling's really high and there's a big black lamp hanging from the top of it. There's a brick wall which looks kind of rustic and the rest of the walls are all white. The window is huge and the dark pane that frames it against the white wall makes the place look kind of fresh and modern. The floor's a warm wooden color. The interior is a mix of industrial and warm. It's a big open space that doesn't say much at first. There's only a few pictures on the walls. None of Aron. Just of some woman who I assume is his mom. I wonder where she is.

On the same wall hangs a big cross with a bloody Jesus on it. I don't understand why anyone would want something so gory just hanging on the wall. It kind of creeps me out, staring into his big, lifeless eyes. I shiver. So they must be Christians, then. Loren's a Christian too, though you wouldn't be able to tell from her actions.

The front door suddenly opens and I almost jump up from the couch.

Aron walks in looking relatively calm, despite the bloody scar on his jaw.

I get up.

"Aron! What the hell!" I scream.

"Shh! My dad can't know." He whispers.

I walk over to him.

"What the hell happened?!"

"I got into a minor fight."

"A minor fight? You're bleeding!"

"I'm fine." He tries to reassure me.

The wound on his jaw is short and clean. The only thing I can think of to make such a clean cut is a knife.

"What kind of fight?" I ask, worried out of my mind.

"It was nothing, I swear." Aron wipes some of the blood away with his hand.

Does he really think I'll let it go that easily?

"You have to tell me, Aron. This isn't fair. I tell you all kinds of things about myself and you don't tell me a thing about you."

Aron sighs and looks at the ground in thought.

"I'll tell you. Just.. let me freshen up for a second." Aron walks into his bedroom.

Yeah, right.

I grab my bag.

"You know what? It's late. I should go home."

Aron grabs my arm.

"Please," He pleads. "Stay. I'll tell you tomorrow. You can crash here."

I'd much rather be here than go home. And tomorrow's the weekend so I won't see him otherwise.

"Fine." I drop my bag.

***

Aron's taking a shower right behind me while I brush my teeth in his dark wood-themed bathroom. The steamed up shower cabin hides his body but I can still see an outline in the mirror. It's really hard not to look. He's the most attractive guy I've ever seen. Even that little scar on his jaw adds to his beauty. It's so unfair.

I walk back into the living room to sleep on the sofa.

"Where are you going?" Aron asks.

I turn around and leaning against the door post is a semi naked Aron. The scar on his stomach has healed a lot since last time I saw it. He's only wearing black boxers. I gulp.

"To sleep on the couch." I answer sheepishly.

"You're not sleeping on the couch, obviously."

Yeah, totally obvious.

"Come on, we're both men. We can share a bed."

Blush emerges on my face. Sleep in the same bed as him?

"And if you really don't want to, I'll sleep on the couch." Aron says.

"N-no it's fine." I answer. Trying —and failing— not to stare at his perfect abs. He's buff but still somehow slender. It's really hot.

I walk over to the bedroom and Aron is already laying in bed.

"You're not gonna wear anything?" I ask awkwardly.

"Well usually I sleep totally naked so—"

"Okay, forget I asked." I say quickly. I try to get that image out of my head. Not possible.

I quickly take off my pants and socks and slide under the covers. Aron is facing my way. Staring at me.

"Could you not?" I ask uncomfortably.

"What? I'm just looking."

I turn away from him.

"You better stay on your side." I mutter.

"I promise, I won't invade your space." Aron chuckles. He then claps his hands and the lights turn off.

What a show off.

In the dark I suddenly feel kind of alone.

I talk to hear his voice.

"So.. you live here with your dad?" I ask.

"Yeah."

"What about your mom?"

"She died a long time ago."

"Oh.. I'm sorry."

"'S not your fault. She died giving birth to my sister."

I turn around and look right into his eyes. It's dark in the room. I can only see the outline of his face.

"You have a sister?" Imagine a girl that looks just as hot as Aron or his dad. She must be the most beautiful girl in the world.

"Yeah, but don't get your hopes up. She's dead too." His voice sounds bitter.

I immediately feel terrible for even asking about this. How much sorrow can one person take?

"Shit... How old was she?" I almost feel bad for asking. But I really want to know more about him.

"It happened two years ago.. she was fourteen." I can hear the pain in his voice.

This explains his eyes. He's been through a lot.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." I say softly.

It's quiet for a while. Then I hear some rustling and see Aron's face light up as he lights a cigarette.

"Anyway, after all the shit going on with that I couldn't exactly focus on school so.. That's why I had to repeat a year."

He repeated a year?

"Wait, how old are you?" I ask.

"Eighteen."

"Damn."

He chuckles.

"What? You think I'm too old for you?"

"N-no.. It just surprised me."

He's eighteen.. Figures.

***

The smell of Aron's cigarettes wakes me up the next morning.. As well as a quiet yet radiant humming I hear beneath me. Slightly confused, I open my eyes and realize I'm laying on Aron's bare chest.

My heart pounds frantically but I can't bring myself to get away from him.

"Didn't I tell you to stay on your side?"

"You're on my side, Princess."

I look around. Shit.. he's right.

"You rolled over here, ten minutes into your sleep." Aron says as he caresses my arm with his left hand while smoking a cigarette with his right.

"Oh." I breathe.

Aron's chest is warm. Not just in temperature but also in color. He's so beautiful. Golden.

I softly stroke his chest. He doesn't seem to mind.

I trace the scar on his stomach.

"You were really cute in your sleep." Aron mumbles, his chin resting in my hair.

"You held onto me for dear life. It was adorable." He laughs.

Embarrassing. But probably true. I always like to hold something when I sleep. I don't know why but I feel so vulnerable and scared when I sleep. That's why I always keep a light on and hold onto a pillow. It makes me feel safe.

"If you tell anyone, I'll deny it." I whisper as I trace his toned stomach.

"I wouldn't tell anyone. This is our secret." He speaks quietly.

I feel tingles in my stomach and I look up into his glorious eyes.

Aron strokes my cheek with his right hand. I can't control myself and melt into his touch.

I close my eyes and enjoy his warm skin on mine.

Then the door slams open and Aron's dad barges in.

"Aron, wake—" He stops talking upon seeing us.

I get off Aron and he sighs, annoyed because of his dad.

"Well, I didn't mean to interrupt.. whatever this is." Judgement is clear in his voice.

"We were just.." I try to find a non-gay explanation for this as I assume Xavier "Catholic" Santiago won't be too cool with us being.. whatever we are.

He leaves the room, leaving the door wide open.

"I fucking hate that guy." Aron says irritated while he gets up.

"He's your dad!" I laugh. Sure, I don't particularly like my mom either but.. the way he talks about him.. it sounds like he seriously hates him.

"That wasn't his or my choice." He says casually as he walks into the bathroom.

What is that supposed to mean?

When he comes out, all freshened up, he walks over to the bed.

"I'm going to get some food. Be right back." He pulls me to him and gives me a quick peck on the lips. My heart beats out of my chest.

The front door closes behind him and I'm left on the bed. Missing him.. already.