FALL

Part II: Chapter II

Chapter II

Aaron

"So I met this girl last night and she was the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen in my life."

Head tilted to the side, I watched Red through narrowed eyes as he practically bounced and puked rainbows in the seat opposite me.

"And we made plans to meet up again tonight."

"What makes you think that I care what you do with your life, Jasper?" I grumbled, voice devoid of emotion.

His eyes widened, mouth partially open as he rested his previously animated hands atop the coffee table in what was once my apartment.

I couldn't help it when a sly grin spread across my face as I watched him try to brush aside his moment of shock. Oh, how he'd grown so used to me calling him Red. Moments passed before he began to speak again.

"Ummm....We're friends?" he asked more than said, the gray of his eyes searching mine.

"Friends don't come barging into other friends' old apartments at night trying to drag them back to the place they so stealthily managed to escape...with minor difficulty, might I add."

"We aren't allowed to leave the Hub," he deadpanned.

Leaning back in the wooden chair, I rocked it on two of its legs as I crossed my arms over the vest of my uniform. "Then why are you here?"

Once again his eyes widened, his ears becoming slightly red as though trying to accentuate his hair.

"It's okay, buddy." Averting my gaze to my fingers, I pretended to study them as though fascinated, but I didn't miss the way his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. "No need to apologize."

"Why would I apologize?" he asked, folding his pale fingers on the table. I almost laughed at his response.

Almost.

"For that whole fiasco last night with you being a bad friend." I saw him unclench his jaw to speak but I waved him off before continuing. "But it's okay because I'm being a bad friend right now, so we're even."

"I am confused."

"And cute."

He didn't expect it when my hand snaked across the table, my finger jabbing him in the squishiness of his left cheek. Chuckling, I retracted it before he had the chance to smack it away. 

"Sometimes I forget how gay you can be," he mumbled, massaging his cheek.

"Hence, I must remind you."

"So," I began while pinching off piece of his scone and flicking it into his open mouth. "Who is this girl?" 

Almost immediately, his eyes filled with life and his face seemed to brighten as his ears once again tried their best at resembling tomatoes.

"Her name is Nyxeira."

"Nigeria?"

"Aaron," he said, eyes briefly going cold. I threw my hands up in surrender.

"Sorry, I wouldn't expect something so out of the ordinary for a girl - frankly anyone - from around here."

Though small and practically invisible, I saw his shoulders tense and the slight bob of his Adam's apple as his eyes focused on the wall behind me rather than my face.

I chose to briefly ignore it and instead find out more about this girl, "What does she look like?"

Obviously happy, he continued to immerse himself in the recollection of his being, most likely thinking his body language had gone unnoticed. "She's so short and cute. And her eyes are the most remarkable shade of green."