10 | An Ugly Side of Aaron

I have barely walked a block when it starts raining.

"Crap!"

I use my purse to cover my head and run in my boots under the flickering streetlights. There wasn't any news about downpour today in the weather report.

By the time, I'm inside the house, I am drenched. My boots are covered in mud and my sundress is dripping with water. The agony of ruining your favorite outfit is unbearable so I drop imaginary tears in regards to them and cry internally.

After changing into cozy clothes, I walk downstairs to help myself with a hot cup of coffee when it dawns on me that I haven't closed the front door behind me.

Mind what I'm about to say now.....If I ever die before old age, it's a possibility that an intruder may strangle me because of my carelessness and absent-mindedness. I am almost about to shut it close but someone blocks it.

"Open it... Rose..." The panting girlish voice on the other side of the door pleads. I peep out to find Aaron and Laurel.

Damn my luck!

Laurel is holding Aaron by his arm who has apparently passed out by alcohol consumption. He murmurs some inconspicuous words to her while she tries to drag him inside. As much as I want to leave, kindness takes over me. So, I step closer to him to help her by taking his other arm over my shoulder.

His body shows no coordination despite our efforts to put him down on his bed. His muscular frame crushes us underneath his weight.

"Tuck him in..." Laurel commands me and walks out of the room to attend whosoever is blowing her phone with calls.

I pull the blanket over him and sit for a while to watch him sleep. The peace on his face stands out against his rough manly features. His eyebrows frown and lips pucker at something he dreams, making me forgive him for the accusation. He looks harmless right now but tomorrow when he'll wake up, he'll be spitting lava at me.

I have barely taken a step further when my feet hit something which feels like a bottle, making me stumble. I hit the floor on my ass, making it squeak. I bend over to switch on the lights to get a better vision.

"Jesus..." That's all I manage to say and my mouth pops open.

The recliner in his room is loaded with empty bottles of alcohol. There are cans and more bottles sprawled across the floor. The sight makes my skin prick and the saliva in my mouth tastes like bile.

I am gasping for air, so I rush out of the door immediately. So many questions strike my mind, giving me a mental hangover.

When did Aaron start drinking?

WHY?

Does his Mom know?

What...

The clattering of utensils coming from the kitchen pulls me out of my thoughts whereas Laurel puts two coffee mugs on the marble slab and starts pouring coffee into each.

"Help yourself." She grins at me, "It's Laurel Special."

As much as I want to hate her and believe that she's faking this sweetness but her smile is not even close to malicious. The way her eyes sparkle when I put the coffee mug close to my mouth is amusing.

Just one sip and all the weariness take the back seat. I can't dislike her for being a friend... or whatever to Aaron, since she seems a nice person. Maybe all the hot chicks aren't mean. Aaron has definitely got his tongue inside the throat of many girls and I can't go on hating them. It's unreasonable even to think so.

"Mmmm... It tastes so good. I needed caffeine in my system so badly." I express my gratitude, "Thank you.."

"Duh... Don't thank me, just make me taste your cookies. Aaron often talks about your baking skills. " Just his name makes me uncomfortable. Did he really discuss me with her?

"By the way, how are things going on in school?" She falls back on the sofa and pulls out the remote tucked in the corner.

My chest feels heavy with the realization that she knows this place better than me and this implies only one thing - She visits him often! Four years... Only four years made this huge difference to us.

"Why are you so tensed up?" Laurel interrupts me, "Come over here and tell me what's up with you and Ryan?" She pats on the space next to her.

"Me and Ryan?"

"Don't tell me you guys are not a thing, because he's sulking over you." She giggles as if the line is making her tickle.

I feel tongue bound. How do I explain this to her? I'm just an average girl who's trying to survive her high school years. Guys or rather a single guy sulking over me isn't happening. Not in this lifetime at least!

"I think you misinterpreted him. I'm just a friend to him."

"Stop fooling yourself. The way he looks at you in the school sets the vultures on fire every single time."

"Vultures?"

"The mean girl squad. They kind of hate you." She says it softly to make it sound less hurtful.

Wow! It's barely a week in this town and more than the people who like me, I have got my own 'hate club', including Aaron too. Well, that's a first for me!

"He hasn't asked me out." I try to defend myself.

"He will soon Rose. Since your arrival, I am witnessing some very altered and adverse effects on boys."

Did she say, boy or boys? I open my mouth to ask her but the abrupt loud knocking at the door makes me jump.

"My ride is here." Laurel moves to the door swiftly, "I need to go."

As soon as the door opens, I see a guy with a cape. He's muscular with lots of piercing and tattoos who also smell of vodka. He pulls Laurel towards him, mauling her mouth with his sloppy kisses. I cringe internally and nausea settles in.

After Laurel is gone, I walk into Aaron's room and start picking up the bottles one by one. He may hate me for whatever lame reasons he holds against me, but I'm not going to sit back and watch him destroy himself. It's okay if he considers me nothing, but he'll always be something to me...