Chapter 8:The night after the fight

Two classes passed, and Aiden's seat remained empty. The classroom was heavy with a stifling silence, though hushed whispers rippled through every corner like distant waves.

"He's definitely getting expelled, right?"

"After a fight like that, the cops should've been called."

"Ryan's family isn't the type to let things slide. But honestly, he had it coming."

Keller rested his head on his desk, eyes fixed on the scratched wooden surface, his pen gripped tightly between his fingers. He could hear the voices, but he couldn't bring himself to respond. His mind kept replaying the same image: Aiden's blazing, furious eyes, his trembling fists, and the blood-streaked knuckles.

The dismissal bell rang. Keller was the first to pack up, slipping out the back door and heading straight for the security office.

The stairwell was dimly lit, echoing with the chaotic noise of students flooding out of the building. As Keller descended, his mind raced with worst-case scenarios. If Aiden really was expelled, what should he do? Talk to the principal? Go straight to Aiden's house?

Lost in thought, Keller's steps faltered.

At the bottom of the stairs, leaning casually against the wall, was Aiden. His hands were stuffed in the pockets of his school blazer, head hung low in quiet contemplation. Faint streaks of dried blood still clung to his face, and his collar was stained with rusty smudges.

"Aiden…" Keller's voice came out barely above a whisper.

Aiden lifted his head slowly, his gray-blue eyes looking even deeper in the dim light. He gave a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"What are you doing here? Came to see me off for the last time?"

Keller hurried down the last few steps, stopping right in front of him. His voice trembled slightly with urgency. "You… you're not expelled? They didn't kick you out?"

Aiden shook his head lightly. "The school decided to keep it quiet. And Ryan's family… they're not pressing charges."

Keller froze. "Why not?"

Aiden shrugged, a hollow smile tugging at his lips. "Who knows? Maybe it's because of my dad. Or maybe they just didn't want to deal with the mess."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence felt heavy, charged with unspoken words. Keller stared at the faint bruises on Aiden's face, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out.

"Are you… worried about me?" Aiden asked, his voice teasing, but his eyes were serious.

Keller didn't answer. He just nodded, slowly.

Aiden let out a soft, complicated sigh and clapped Keller lightly on the shoulder. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. But… are we just gonna stand here all day? Come on, let's go."

The night had fully settled in by the time they stepped outside. Neon signs flickered to life one by one, casting colored lights onto the wet pavement. A chilly breeze crept through the alleyways, sharp and biting. They walked side by side in silence, their footsteps echoing faintly on the empty sidewalk.

"Where are we going?" Keller finally asked.

Aiden glanced ahead and smiled faintly. "No idea. Just walking."

Eventually, they stopped at a small Chinese diner downtown. Smoke rose from the grills, carrying the rich, charred scent of barbecue into the cool night air.

"Two beers," Aiden said casually to the owner before grabbing two plastic stools and gesturing for Keller to sit.

Keller sat down hesitantly, glancing at Aiden with concern. "You… you're really okay?"

Aiden popped open a beer, handed one to Keller, and took a long swig from his own bottle. He exhaled with a satisfied sigh.

"I'm fine, Keller. Really. Right now, I feel… okay."

Plates of sizzling skewers arrived at their table. The grease dripped onto the grill below, sizzling loudly. Keller picked up a skewer and took a hesitant bite.

"Aiden… thank you. For today."

Aiden froze mid-bite, his gray-blue eyes catching the soft glow of the flickering candle on their table. His smile returned, faint and tinged with bitterness.

"Don't thank me, Keller. I just… couldn't stand hearing them talk about you like that."

Keller lowered his head, gripping the skewer tightly. His voice came out soft. "But you almost ruined yourself."

Aiden sighed, reaching out to ruffle Keller's hair lightly. "I know. But there are some things I just can't let slide. And if I had to do it again, I'd still make the same choice."

Silence settled over them again, broken only by the occasional crackle of the grill and distant street noise.

They finished their beers in silence. Aiden leaned back in his chair, his face flushed from the alcohol, his eyes half-closed.

"Keller…" he said suddenly, his voice soft and almost wistful. "You know… you're… special."

Keller looked up, his brows knitting together slightly in confusion.

But Aiden didn't elaborate. He just smiled again, pushed himself up from the chair, and stretched. "Alright, it's late. Let me walk you home."

They walked back through the quiet streets, their shadows stretching long under the streetlights.

When they reached Keller's house, the neighborhood was silent, wrapped in a heavy blanket of night.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Keller asked, his voice so quiet it nearly got lost in the wind.

Aiden nodded. "Yeah. Tomorrow."

Back in his room, Keller sat on the edge of his bed, still wearing his jacket. His mind replayed Aiden's words on a loop:

"There are some things I just can't let slide. And if I had to do it again, I'd still make the same choice."

The night wrapped around the small room. The curtain swayed lightly with the breeze, carrying away the last bit of the day's tension.

Keller closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh.