Echoes Of Midnight

I texted Aiden as I made my way to the parking lot, asking him where he’d parked. My phone buzzed with his reply, and I followed his directions until I spotted his car. Sliding into the passenger seat, I shut the door and leaned back, letting out a small sigh.

Aiden glanced at me, his eyes softening. “How’s James doing?”

“He’s… he’s doing fine,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. “They’re keeping him for observation, but he seems stable.”

He nodded, his gaze drifting over my face before returning to the wheel. “And you? You look… a little puffy around the eyes.” His voice was gentle, almost hesitant. “Have you been crying?”

I pressed my lips together, brushing off the comment with a simple, “Yeah,” and looked out the window.

He sighed, giving a small nod as he shifted into drive. “Alright. Just… know I’m here if you need anything, okay?”

The drive was quiet for a while, a comfortable silence settling between us as he navigated the streets toward campus. I tried to let my mind drift, but thoughts of James—and William—kept pulling me back. It felt like I was trapped in this inescapable web of worry and fear.

After a while, Aiden broke the silence. “You’re awfully quiet,” he said, his tone cautious. “Is everything… you know, alright?”

I forced a small smile. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“If you say so,” he replied, though his tone suggested he didn’t entirely believe me. “Anyway, it’s only 7 p.m. Do you want to get a head start on the project?”

I shrugged, glad for the distraction. “Sure. We need to finish it up soon, anyway. There’s enough chaos in the group as it is.”

He grinned, glancing over at me briefly.

“Right? Thankfully, the professor gave us an extra two weeks, so we’ve got three weeks left now.”

“That’s a relief,” I muttered. We’d been given a reprieve, but I knew we couldn’t take it for granted. Too many things were spiraling out of control in my life, and I wasn’t about to let this project be one of them.

“Alright then,” Aiden said, glancing over with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t exactly plan for this, and the project files are all on my computer back at my place. Hope you don’t mind, but we’re heading to my apartment.”

I just nodded, feeling too drained to care much about the location change.

A few minutes later, he parked in his apartment building. “Shall we?” he asked, hopping out of the car.

I climbed out and followed him toward the entrance, curiosity and a strange sense of unease swirling in my chest.

This would be the first time I’d been to his place, and even though I knew it was just for the project, there was something… unfamiliar about being in his space.

We walked through the lobby, and I finally asked, “So… which floor?”

“Sixth,” he replied, pressing the button for the elevator. “Don’t worry, it’s not a mess or anything… I think.”

“Comforting,” I said, letting a bit of sarcasm slip into my tone.

He chuckled, nudging my shoulder lightly. “Hey, you can’t blame me. Didn’t expect to have company this evening.”

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside, standing side by side as it ascended. I could feel his gaze flicker, and then he unlocked the door, holding it open for me with a small, welcoming smile. “Make yourself at home.”

I stepped inside, glancing around. The place was neat, simple, and surprisingly cozy, with soft lighting and a few personal touches scattered around—a couple of framed photos and a small potted plant on the windowsill.

He rubbed the back of his neck, a bit sheepishly. “It’s not much, but… yeah.”

“It’s nice,” I said softly, managing a small smile.

I followed him in, dropping my bag beside the couch and finding a comfortable spot on the floor in front of a small table. Settling down, I could already feel the tension in my shoulders easing a bit as I mentally prepared to dive into project mode.

Moments later, Aiden returned his laptop in hand. He chuckled as he noticed me sitting on the floor. “Oh, looks like you already found yourself a nice little setup there.”

I shrugged, a slight smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah. The floor works for me.”

He settled down beside me, placing his laptop between us, and we both got to work. Minutes turned into hours, and we were so focused that the silence between us felt natural, even comforting.

Suddenly, a loud grumble echoed in the room. I blinked, realizing the sound had come from my stomach. My cheeks flushed instantly. “Oh, God… I’m so sorry. That’s… really embarrassing.”

Aiden laughed, leaning back and stretching his arms. “Not at all! I should’ve offered you something to eat ages ago.” He checked his watch, eyebrows rising in surprise. “Wow, it’s already past 10 p.m.”

“Time flies, I guess,” I mumbled, still mortified.

He stood up, heading toward the kitchen. “I’ve got some ramen stashed away. Want some?”

I nodded, feeling both grateful and a bit shy. I followed him and settled on a stool at the counter, watching as he pulled out ingredients.

A small smile formed on my lips as I observed him. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

He glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “Hmm, there’s a lot you don’t know about me, but you’re figuring things out, bit by bit.”

~

Just as he said that, a pan slipped from his grip, clattering loudly onto the floor. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, you’re definitely one clumsy chef.”

He laughed along, rubbing the back of his neck. “Not really. I’ve just got a… distracting view.” His gaze flicked over to me.

I looked away, feeling my face grow warm. Did he really just say that?

Aiden turned back to the counter, rummaging through his ingredients. “Oh, by the way, I’ve got the spicy ramen, but I know you’re not a big fan of spice. I’ll add a bit of cheese to tone it down if that’s alright.”

I nodded, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. “Yeah… I don’t usually like it too spicy, but I can handle it a bit.”

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?” I offered, half-standing.

He waved me off, smirking. “Nope. You’re my guest, so just sit down and let me work my magic.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile that crept onto my face. “Alright, Chef Aiden.”

He glanced over at me, his expression softening. “It’s nice to see you smiling. You’ve been pretty down in the dumps since I picked you up.”

“Oh…” I looked down, feeling a bit self-conscious. “Sorry.”

“Nah, it’s fine. Not everyone can be smiling all the time. That’d be pretty creepy, don’t you think?”

I snorted, amused. “But you’re always smiling.”

“Yeah,” he said, pausing to look at me more seriously, “but that’s because I found a reason to smile this big.”

I tilted my head, considering his words. “Maya?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Aiden burst out laughing, shaking his head. “Raven, Maya’s my sister. Of course, I’m happy around her, but the reason for my smile is… different.”

“Oh… okay.” I scratched my head, feeling awkward. “Is it because you’re doing well at work or something?”

He laughed again, shaking his head in disbelief. “Something like that. But never mind, don’t stress yourself trying to figure it out.”

I frowned, trying to piece together his cryptic hints. **Is getting praise really what makes someone so cheerful? Maybe I need a job.**

My thoughts were interrupted as Aiden placed two steaming bowls of ramen on the counter in front of us. He slid one toward me with a mock bow. “Your meal, my lady.”

I smiled, leaning over to take a look. “Why, thank you, Chef Aiden. This actually looks pretty good.”

He smirked, crossing his arms as he watched me. “Looks are one thing, but taste is what matters. Go on, try it.”

I grabbed the bowl, scooped a few noodles, and blew on them before taking a bite. The rich, savory flavor spread through my mouth, surprising me. "Wow, this is actually… good."

Aiden raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a feigned look of offense. "Actually good? I’m not that bad, you know."

I rolled my eyes, smirking. "Just take the compliment, Aiden."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re pretty mean when you want to be."

I softened a bit, lowering my eyes. "Sorry… it is really good."

He reached out, giving my shoulder a light nudge. "Hey, I'm just joking. No need to apologize."

We fell into a comfortable rhythm, eating side by side, the silence filled only by the sounds of slurping and the occasional chuckle as our shoulders brushed. After a while, Aiden took his bowl to the sink, rolling up his sleeves as he started washing the dishes.

I leaned back, savoring the warmth from the food and the cozy atmosphere. His voice broke my thoughts. "So, Raven… It’s kinda late. Like, almost midnight." He turned around, drying his hands on a towel, a casual smile on his face. "I don’t mind if you stay, actually."

I sat up a little straighter, hesitant. "Oh, no, I don’t want to inconvenience you. The dorm building’s not far. You could just drop me off if you really want to."

He tilted his head, that playful glint reappearing in his eyes. "You make it sound like you don’t want to be near me." He smirked.

"Besides, you could stay in my room, and I’ll take the couch. I don’t mind."

I shook my head quickly. "Oh, no! I couldn’t possibly do that. It’s like… invading your space."

He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms. "Come on, I really don’t mind. Besides, it means we can get more work done on the project. At this pace, we could be finished in… three days, maybe?"

I bit my lip, weighing my options, then nodded reluctantly. "Alright… but I’m not taking your bed. Please."

Aiden chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, if it makes you feel better, you can stay on the couch. I’ll bring you some blankets."

I couldn’t help but smile, watching as he wrapped up in the kitchen. "Thanks… really."

He flashed me a grin. "Okay, I’m done here. Not only am I a professional cook, but also a professional dishwasher."

A laugh escaped my lips, surprising me. "Is that so?"

He gestured to our little workspace. in my chest. I looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "Thanks, Aiden," I murmured.

He gave a small nod, his usual playfulness absent as he backed away toward his room. “Goodnight, Raven,” he said, lingering in the doorway for a second longer than necessary.

“Goodnight, Aiden.”

As he disappeared into his room, I settled on the couch, pulling the blankets over me and letting my eyes drift shut. Everything kinda seemed a little lighter in this quiet space.

And I finally let sleep take me.

~

Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room as I groggily sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep. The smell of something warm and delicious drifted through the air, making my stomach rumble.

I pulled myself out of bed and padded toward the kitchen, following the scent. When I stepped inside, I found Aiden at the stove, focused on a skillet in front of him. He glanced over his shoulder and offered me a small smile.

“Oh, you’re up already,” he said, looking a bit surprised. “Thought you’d sleep in a bit longer. Sorry if I woke you.”

I shook my head, stifling a yawn. “No, you didn’t wake me. I smelled something good and just… followed my nose, I guess. What’re you making?”

“Just some scrambled eggs, toast, and pancakes,” he replied, flipping a pancake with ease. “Figured it’d be a decent breakfast to start the day.”

“Oh, nice,” I murmured, my stomach rumbling again at the thought.

“Thanks… for all this.”

He shrugged, turning back to the stove with a casual smile. “It’s no big deal. I actually went down to the supermarket earlier to grab a few things for you. There’s a new toothbrush and a face towel in that bag on the counter.”

"I’m not sleepy yet. What do you say we see how far we can get with this project tonight?"

"Deal." I settled back down, feeling a surprising warmth in my chest.

~

We continued working on the project, sitting side by side on the floor with the small table between us. It felt strangely comfortable, despite the mess of papers, laptops, and notes scattered around us. Time slipped by in quiet concentration, broken only by the occasional exchange about project details or a teasing remark from Aiden.

At some point, I caught him staring at me, his expression unreadable. He quickly looked away, clearing his throat. "So," he said, breaking the silence. "You’re really focused when you’re working. I mean, like… intensely focused."

I shrugged, feeling self-conscious under his gaze. "It’s just… easier to bury myself in work. Keeps my mind occupied."

Aiden’s smile softened, and for a moment, he looked as though he was about to say something, but he held back. Instead, he just nodded, offering a gentle, “Yeah, I get that.”

After a while, I glanced at the time. It was well past one in the morning, and I stifled a yawn, feeling the day’s events catch up with me. Aiden noticed and gave me a nudge. "Alright, I think that’s enough for tonight," he said. "You look like you’re about to fall asleep on the spot."

I managed a tired smile, stretching my arms. "Yeah… maybe I am."

He stood, gathering some of the scattered papers. "Let me grab you some blankets. So you’ll be more comfortable on the couch."

I followed him over to the couch, settling down as he handed me a stack of blankets and a pillow.

He hovered for a moment, as if debating something, then spoke, his voice quieter. “Hey, if you ever… need to talk, you know you can, right?”

His sincerity caught me off guard, and I felt a strange warmth bloom

I looked over to where he pointed, noticing a small bag with a few essentials in it. “Oh, thank you, Aiden. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Figured you’d need it,” he replied simply. “Bathroom’s down the hall on your left, by the way.”

I nodded, taking the bag with me as I headed toward the bathroom. Inside, I noticed some toiletries already on the counter and a small pouch labeled “Maya’s stuff.” I smiled to myself, recognizing it as his sister’s things. Borrowing a bit of her face wash, I quickly brushed my teeth and washed up, feeling more awake by the second. The towel he’d gotten was soft, and I dried my face, carefully packing everything back in the bag before heading back to the kitchen.

When I returned, I found Aiden already sitting on the floor by the small table we’d used last night, with plates set out for both of us.

“Already freshened up?” he asked, glancing up with an easy smile.

“Yep,” I replied, settling onto the floor beside him. “Thanks again… for all of this.” I glanced down at the food he’d made. “It looks amazing.”

“Hey, it’s the least I could do,” he said, brushing off the gratitude with a small wave of his hand. “Now, dig in. Let’s see if it tastes as good as it looks.”

I picked up my fork and took a bite, savoring the warmth and flavor.

“Wow, your cooking still amazes me,” I said, surprised by how perfectly fluffy the eggs were.

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I laughed softly. “I wish my cooking was as good as yours.”

“All right, all right,” he chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “You can be better than me, it just takes more practice, you know.”

I looked down. “I hope so. It really is good.”

“I’m being serious, Raven,” he said, his tone gentle. “I had a lot of lessons before I became this good, but I’m glad you like it.”

We fell into a comfortable silence, focusing on our food. After a few bites, Aiden stood up and wandered off for a moment. I continued eating, savoring the warm breakfast he’d prepared. Before long, he returned, handing me a cold bottle of water and settling back down beside me.

“Thanks,” I murmured, accepting the water.

“No problem,” he replied, giving me a quick smile before taking a sip from his bottle.

As I continued eating, my phone, which was lying closer to Aiden, started ringing. Aiden glanced at the screen and reached over, picking it up to pass it to me.

“Your phone’s ringing,” he said, extending it to me. I noticed his eyes flick briefly to the caller ID, but he didn’t say anything about the name displayed—*Elias*.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the phone and shifting a bit to the side. I pressed the answer button, holding the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Morning, princess,” Elias’s voice came through, his tone light and teasing. “Did you sleep well?”

I glanced at Aiden, hoping he couldn’t hear anything. “Morning to you, too. And yes, I did.”

“Good to hear,” he replied smoothly. “So, will we be meeting today, or are you busy?”

I thought for a moment, glancing at the time on my phone. “I have a class at eleven, so we could meet up after that.”

“All right, princess,” he said, chuckling a bit. “Just text me the address of wherever you want us to meet, and I’ll be there.”

“Okay, will do,” I replied, feeling a bit self-conscious with Aiden sitting so close. “See you soon.”

“See you soon, princess,” he echoed, and I hung up, placing my phone back down on the table.

Aiden glanced over as I returned to my food. “So… since you’ve got class at eleven, you’ll be heading out soon, right?”

I nodded, taking a sip of water. “Yeah, once I’m done here, I’ll need to get back to the dorm.”

“Well,” he began, leaning back with a casual shrug, “I brought you here, so I’ll drive you back. Besides, it’s not far.”

I tried not to smile too much at his insistence. “Oh, well… can’t force you to change your mind, I guess.”

He grinned, nodding. “Exactly. So no arguing.”

We finished our breakfast in comfortable silence, and as we wrapped up, I started to stand, gathering our dishes. “I can wash these—”

Aiden cut me off, shaking his head. “No way. You’re my guest. Just leave it. I’ve got this.”

I hesitated but eventually set the dishes back down, holding up my hands in surrender. “Fine, if you insist.”

“I do,” he replied, giving me a playful look as he started clearing the table.

I grabbed the small bag I’d packed with the toothbrush and towel and stuffed it in my bag, double-checking to make sure everything was inside. Aiden was already waiting for me by the door when I was ready, and we headed downstairs together to his car.

The morning air was cool and fresh as we stepped outside, and I followed Aiden to his car. I slipped into the passenger seat while he got in the driver’s side. He started the engine, and soon we were pulling out of the apartment building’s lot.

After a few moments of quiet, he glanced my way. “Uh, Raven… after your class, if you don’t mind, we could pick up where we left off on the project.”

I shifted in my seat, feeling a twinge of guilt. “Oh, uh… could we maybe reschedule? I have to be somewhere today.”

“Of course,” he replied easily. “Whenever you’re free.”

The rest of the drive passed in a comfortable silence, and before long, we were close to the dorms. He pulled over, and I unbuckled my seatbelt, reaching for the door.

“Thanks for the ride, Aiden,” I said, giving him a small smile.

He smiled back, warm and genuine. “It was my pleasure.”

~

With that, he drove off, and I turned, making my way toward the dorm building. A few girls passed by, chatting and laughing, but I barely registered them as I headed to my room. As I walked in, I spotted Maya at her desk, huddled over what looked like assignments. She glanced up as soon as I entered.

“Hey, Raven. You didn’t sleep here,” she observed, eyeing my outfit. “And… are you wearing yesterday’s clothes? Please don’t tell me you stayed at the hospital all night.”

I set my bag down, making my way over to my bed. “Oh, no, I left in the evening.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, now fully sitting up in her chair. “Uh-huh… So, if you didn’t stay at the hospital, then where were you? You definitely weren’t here. Spill.”

Rolling my eyes, I let out a sigh as I sat on the bed and started taking off my shoes. “Come on, Maya. Enough with the interrogation. But if you *must* know, I spent the night at your brother’s place.”

Her eyes widened, and a grin spread across her face. “Oh, *interesting*. You were at Aiden’s place, huh? So, did anything… *interesting* happen?”

I shook my head, pulled off my shoes, and set them aside. “Obviously not. We were just working on the project, I had wrecked.”

“Sure, sure,” she said, leaning back with a smirk. “I know you don’t want to spill any juicy secrets.”

I rolled my eyes again, grabbing my toiletries and towel. “Please, don’t start imagining things. Nothing weird happened. I’m going to take a shower. I’ve got class at eleven.”

She crossed her arms, giving me a teasing look. “Aiden and Raven, all alone in his apartment, huh? Sounds… *interesting*.”

I paused at the bathroom door, looking back at her. “My God, Maya. Nothing happened. Enough with the teasing already.”

She just laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender as I finally stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The sound of her laughter echoed in my mind as I turned on the water, shaking my head with a slight smile. Maya’s teasing was relentless, but I couldn’t deny… maybe it was a little nice to be thought of that way, even if there was absolutely nothing going on between me and Aiden.

After my shower, I picked out something a little nicer than usual—a fitted top, a skirt that flared just enough, and a jacket to match. I ran a brush through my hair, smoothing it down before adding a few soft curls to frame my face. A touch of makeup followed—just enough to highlight my features without feeling overdone. As I looked in the mirror, I wondered if I’d put in too much effort. Was this… obvious? It felt silly to worry, but I couldn’t shake the thought.

“Girl, it’s already past ten!” Maya’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “You’re gonna be late!”

“Right!” I rushed out of the bathroom, grabbed a few stationery items, and stuffed them into my bag. “Thanks, Maya! You’re a lifesaver!”

She waved me off, smirking. “Go get ‘em, gorgeous.”

I hurried out of the room, making my way across campus. Once I reached the main building, I glanced around, making sure I didn’t accidentally bump into Sophie or Amelia. I didn’t need that kind of distraction right now. As I approached the lecture hall, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, seeing a text from Elias.

*Still waiting, princess.*

I felt a pang of guilt, realizing I’d forgotten to send him the meeting details. I quickly texted him the name of my school and the specific spot where we could meet, then slipped my phone back into my pocket, relieved that the professor hadn’t arrived yet. A few moments later, another text came through from Elias.

*I won’t need directions. I know the place.*

I frowned, typing back a quick reply. *How?*

*A friend of mine goes there,* he responded.

I shook my head, slipping my phone away as the professor finally walked in. The lecture was a blur—I tried to focus, but my mind kept wandering, anticipation building as the clock inched closer to the end of class.

Once it finally wrapped up, I slipped out of the hall and headed to the place I’d told Elias to meet me. As I entered the café, I scanned the room, looking for him. I was just about to text him again when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned, surprised to see Tyler standing there.

“Tyler! Hi.”

“Oh, hey, Raven,” he said. “I thought it was you. Sorry, we haven’t seen each other around much.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been busy,” I replied, trying to keep things light.

He nodded. “Yeah… And, uh, I wanted to say I’m really sorry about the whole USB thing. That was… not cool.”

I shrugged, giving him a small smile. “It’s cool. Aiden and I have been working on fixing it.”

“Thanks for that,” he said, relief evident in his eyes. Just as I was about to reassure him, my phone buzzed with a text from Elias: *I’m here.*

“Glad you two are fixing it,” Tyler continued. “Aiden’s actually—”

“Hey, dude.” Aiden’s voice cut him off, and we both turned to see him approaching. “Thought you were never going to come down from the car,” Tyler said with a chuckle.

Aiden shrugged, glancing between us. “Well, you were taking your time, so I figured I’d check-in. Hey, Raven,” he added, his gaze shifting to me. “What are you doing here?”

Before I could answer, a voice chimed in from behind me. “Hey, princess.”

I turned, catching sight of Elias. He looked as composed and effortlessly stylish as always, a bit of mischief glinting in his eyes. “Hello,” I greeted, a little flustered.

Aiden raised an eyebrow, looking between us, so I cleared my throat. “Uh, well, Aiden… I’m actually here to see him. Aiden, Tyler—this is Elias. Elias, meet Aiden and Tyler.”

Elias waved, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Nice to meet you both.”

Tyler nodded back, and Aiden’s expression remained neutral as he gave a polite nod. “Same.”

“Well,” Elias said, turning back to me, “I already got us a table.” He pointed to a spot in the back, then offered me a quick grin. “I’ll be waiting.”

As he walked off, I turned to Aiden and Tyler, feeling a little awkward. Tyler gave me a friendly smile. “Good seeing you, Raven. But me and Aiden gotta get going.”

“All right,” I said, waving at them as we exchanged quick yet awkward goodbyes. Then, taking a breath, I made my way toward the table where Elias was waiting, wondering how this conversation would go.