Chapter 6: Morning Warmth

The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting gentle golden streaks across the small bedroom. The faint scent of bread and eggs drifted through the air, pulling Aiden from a restless sleep.

His head pounded with a dull ache, and his throat felt painfully dry. Blinking against the morning light, it took him a few seconds to realize he wasn't in his own room. A worn but warm blanket was draped over him.

The room was small but tidy. A desk sat in the corner, cluttered with open textbooks and scattered notes. A tiny potted plant perched on the windowsill, its leaves glowing faintly in the sunlight. There was something… comforting about it all.

A soft noise came from the doorway. Aiden turned his head slightly and saw Keller standing there with a glass of water in his hand.

"You're awake," Keller said. His voice was quiet, slightly stiff, like he was trying to cover up some kind of awkwardness.

Aiden pushed himself up on one elbow and reached out to take the water. "Thanks," he said, his voice hoarse.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the faint clink of the glass as Aiden drank.

Keller scratched the back of his neck, his gaze skittering away. "Uh… those are my clothes you're wearing. You were pretty out of it last night."

Aiden nodded slightly, his voice still raspy. "Sorry… for the trouble."

Keller shook his head quickly. "Don't worry about it."

The silence settled between them again. Neither of them brought up the words Aiden had whispered the night before, as if they had been locked away somewhere neither of them dared to revisit.

A warm voice suddenly called up from downstairs: "Keller! Breakfast is ready! Bring your friend down, too!"

Keller straightened up, jerking his chin toward the door. "Come on, my mom made breakfast."

Aiden hesitated for a second before pushing back the blanket and following Keller downstairs.

The kitchen was filled with the comforting scent of buttered toast, scrambled eggs, and sizzling bacon. The soft light from the window made the space feel warm and welcoming.

Keller's mom—Julie—was setting down a plate of bacon on the table. She wore a floral apron and had a smile that instantly put people at ease. When she saw Aiden, her smile grew even softer.

"You must be Aiden. Keller mentioned you had a bit too much to drink last night, so he let you crash here. Feeling better?"

Aiden lowered his gaze slightly, shifting awkwardly. "Yeah… much better. Thank you, ma'am."

Julie chuckled lightly and gave his arm a gentle pat. "Just call me Julie. No need for all that formality. Now sit, eat something—you two have school soon!"

Aiden slid into a chair, his gaze following Julie as she moved around the kitchen. There was something so effortless about her warmth, her care. It felt… foreign to him.

The breakfast was simple but inviting :golden scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, warm toast, and glasses of milk set neatly in front of each plate.

"You two, hurry up and eat!" Julie said, glancing at the clock. "Especially you, Keller. You were already late once last week, don't make it a habit."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Keller replied with a mock sigh, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward in a small smile.

Aiden dropped his gaze to his plate, quietly taking a bite of bacon. He wasn't used to this—a warm kitchen, a thoughtfully prepared breakfast, a mother's gentle scolding. It was a fragile kind of warmth, one he wasn't sure how to hold onto.

Julie must have noticed his quietness because she walked over and gave his shoulder a light squeeze.

"Eat up, sweetheart. You've got a long day ahead."

Aiden looked up and met her eyes. They were warm and kind, with no pretense or hidden agenda. He swallowed hard and muttered softly, "Thank you, Julie."

Keller stood by the front door, slinging his backpack over one shoulder while Aiden adjusted his borrowed jacket.

"Alright, you two!" Julie called from the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. "Get going, or you'll be late!"

Keller pulled the door open, and a sharp gust of cold air blew in. He turned back briefly, his eyes meeting his mom's. "See you later, Mom."

Julie waved with a bright smile. "Take care, both of you!"

Aiden followed Keller out into the crisp morning air. The door clicked shut behind them, and the warmth of the house was replaced by the biting chill of the street.

They walked side by side in silence. The awkwardness from earlier had thinned out, replaced by something quieter, something almost… peaceful.

At an intersection, Aiden suddenly slowed to a stop. His voice was low, almost hesitant.

"Your mom… she's really nice."

Keller turned his head slightly, his expression softening as a faint smile played on his lips. "Yeah… she's like that."

Aiden nodded, his gaze fixed on the school gates in the distance. A small, almost imperceptible smile curved the corner of his mouth.