New Beginnings

Aidan's POV:

I was laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting for mom to finish making dinner. I tried convincing her not to bother, but she brushed me off like she always does when she sets her mind on something. My thoughts were running wild until I heard the front door creak open finally, Jay was home. Relief washed over me.

"Finally! You're home! I swear I was losing my mind waiting. What happened? Tell me everything. Every single detail," I blurted out the moment I saw him, not even giving him a second to catch his breath.

My curiosity was eating me alive, and judging by his smirk, he was about to joke, but I couldn't care less I needed answers.

"Relax, little man," he chuckled. "It wasn't that big of a deal anyway."

Not a big deal? This idiot spent the night somewhere else because it was too dangerous to come back home, and now he's acting like it's nothing? Unbelievable. Before I could explode, he spoke again, "The real question is, what's your mom doing here?"

"Tell me what happened first, and then I'll explain why mom's here," I shot back, crossing my arms. There's no way I'm letting him dodge this.

"Fine. Two guys were following me. Surprise, surprise my dad sent them. I talked to them and sent a message back with them. That's it," he shrugged.

I blinked. His father sent men after him. This man is absolutely insane. "Why the hell would he do that?" I asked, trying to stay calm, though my blood was boiling.

Jay's eyes darkened for a second. "He wants me back, Aidan. I... I can't really explain why."

That was the same thing he always said, every single time. Parents wanting their kids back is normal, but there's something off here his dad's obsession crosses the line of normal parenting. But I knew better than to push him. If Jay wanted to talk, he would. He's just not ready. Not yet. So, I let it slide.

Jay's POV:

I know how crazy it sounds when I just say, "My dad wants me back" without explaining. But how could I explain the real reason? That my dad is not just some big CEO, but a gang leader?

It's a truth I've buried so deep it physically hurts to think about. It's not my fault my parents chose that path, but still... admitting it feels like betrayal, even though I owe my father nothing. But it's not just about him it's about my safety, Aidan's, Sissel's... everyone I care about. So for now, silence is the safest choice. Maybe forever.

I noticed Aidan zoning out, overthinking as usual. So, I decided to shift the topic. "Alright, tell me... why is your mom here cooking like we're back in high school or something?"

That snapped him right back. He grinned, telling me about how she showed up unexpectedly, apologized, and how they cleared the air. I could see how much it meant to him and honestly, it made me happy. He deserved that closure.

Before we knew it, his mom's voice rang out, calling us to dinner. We ate together, laughing like old times. It felt... warm. Familiar. And somewhere deep inside, I missed that feeling. I missed my family before everything went south.

The Next Morning:

I woke up to Aidan dancing like a maniac around my room. Typical. Mrs. Jonson must've gone home, or he wouldn't dare act like this in front of her. I stayed quiet, just watching him be... him. Happy.

"Aidan," I called out, "There's something I need to talk to you about."

He stopped mid-spin and sat down, surprisingly focused. "What? Is it about Sissel? Please tell me it's about her. You two are driving me insane."

Ouch. That stung a little. But he wasn't wrong. I like her. More than I care to admit. And I knew it was time to stop hiding it.

"I like her, dude."

Aidan's POV:

Did I hear that right? He finally said it. If I knew all it took was getting him chased by two men, I'd have set it up ages ago. I couldn't help but grin this was my moment.

"About damn time. The entire world knew except you!" I teased, enjoying every second of this victory.

"Shut up," he groaned, rubbing his face. "I had to be sure, okay? But... I want to get closer to her. I need to figure out what I really feel. And I need your help."

That caught me off guard. I expected him to chicken out, but here he was ready to face it head-on.

A wide grin spread across my face. "Say less. I'm in. Operation 'Get Sissel' starts now."

For the first time in a while, things felt... exciting. This is going to be fun.