Invisible

ALREADY GONE

AIDEN WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY, working on his truck. I pulled up to the house, sighed, tears trying to fight their way down, Jeremy’s stains and smears trying to reveal themselves.

I sucked it in as I opened the door, slammed it back as I made my way toward the house. Aiden didn’t really notice me.

Tell me you don’t love him anymore.

I froze, closed my eyes. Then tears really did start falling. I wiped them away, started walking again. Aiden pulled out from under the hood of the truck, smiled at me as I approached him.

“Hey!” he exclaimed as he wiped his hands on an old rag, wrapped his arms around me. When he pulled away slightly, he kissed me, his hands shifting from my waist to my lower back. I thought I could kiss him back, but there was no feeling. It was sour, poisonous, Jeremy's voice still running through my head.

Tell me you don't love him anymore.

Aiden pulled away, eyes filled with concern.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“N-no,” I stuttered, “I… I can’t do this anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

He backed away from me, eyes flaring and staring straight into mine. “What?”

I didn’t really have an idea before I went, but a new one came to mind.

“Aiden, think about it. You’re in college already, and I haven’t graduated yet. I don’t think it’s going to work.”

“Emma, it’s worked for the past year, so what are you talking about? It’s not like I go to a university that’s out-of-state. I go to Tech, about half an hour away from here.”

I frowned. “Senior year’s going to be hectic for me, you know? I just… Please understand.”

Anger grew in his eyes. “Yeah, I understand…” he hesitated, “What’s his name?”

My eyes widened, “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

My throat burst, tears turning to fists. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Yes. It makes sense. You’re not even wearing the bracelet I gave you.”

I pursed my lips.

You want to know his name?

It’s Jeremy.

Ask me where he lives.

“There’s no one else, Aiden. God, you can’t make this fucking simple, can you?!”

“No, you’re just not making any sense. Like I said, it worked last year, so why the hell wouldn’t it—”

“Aiden, I just don’t want to be with you anymore, okay?!”

He stared at me, the anger in his eyes turning to pain. Then I was really upset. Desperately, I wanted to wrap my arms around him, apologize, tell him what was really going on, who was behind it.

But my body defied me again, my legs stomping toward my car, into the driver’s seat. My eyes watched him for a moment before my hand turned the key, the ignition running, my car backing out of the driveway.

Then I was down the street, turning the corner, tears that refused to fall before now falling rapidly.

“Come on, Aid,” I said to myself, praying that maybe he’d follow me, ask me what’s really going on, “Follow me home. Ask me what’s wrong. Please don’t act like you don’t give a damn.”

I pulled into my driveway, Jeremy’s silhouette behind the curtains in my bedroom. Aiden’s truck wasn’t anywhere in sight, only Jeremy’s parked in the driveway next to me. I guess Jeremy was right.

There’s no chance for him, and there was definitely no chance for me. I guess there’s really no one you can trust other than yourself.

And it’s sad because I can’t even do that anymore.