Cabin Fever | ✓

(5) Less Talking. More Petting.

Aiden grunted from beside her, putting his arm back over her shoulders and tucking her into his side.

Ethan smiled politely, looking between them with no resentment whatsoever, "I respect you're looking out for your friend. But I..." he looked away, and Marley almost 'aw'd' at the blush on his cheeks, "have no intentions to hurt Gabby."

Gabby's cheeks turned dark red immediately, as she stared down at her shoes and shuffled her feet. Marley's smile was so wide it ached; Gabby deserves to find someone, too.

Aiden leaned in to whisper in Marley's ear, "When's he gonna grow some balls and ask her out?"

Marley elbowed him in the ribs, "When it's the right time. You're so insensitive."

"How was that insensitive? He's gotta go for it sometime. I did."

Marley shrugged in submission to his argument. He was the one who initiated their confessions the night of Dalton's party. She grabbed his cup from his hand and took a gulp.

"You can't even get your girl a drink?" Ryan tsked while Marley lowered the cup from her lips with a knowing smile.

"No," Aiden replied curtly, "I'll drink what she wants to drink, and when she isn't drinking it I have it in my hands and there's no chance anyone can slip anything in it. Foolproof."

"You're so fucking extra, it blows my mind. All the time, man," Ryan shook his head disapprovingly, "I mean aren't you two gonna be across the country anyway? In like, 6 months?"

Aiden's arm tensed from over Marley's shoulders, and she too felt the sudden darkness that surrounded the both of them whenever their future was involved.

She lifted her lips into a shaky smile, "For university, yes. But we'll figure it out."

"Always will," Aiden replied quietly, as if he didn't mean for her to hear it.

She exhaled loudly, knowing that Aiden hated this topic of conversation as much as she did.

"Marley, your turn," Bree nudged Marley's arm, and when they locked eyes she saw that her interruption wasn't purely coincidence.

She smiled gratefully at her friend, breaking away from Aiden's stiff hold.

Right now, it felt dozens of degrees colder to be away from him, but she brushed it off, "Ready to lose?" She grinned at Bree and Jason cockily, but her facade was rippling.

Aiden was still quiet.

This wasn't the time for this though, they were at a party surrounded by dozens of people, their friends included. Marley had to set an example for Aiden to move on from this, and let go of those dark thoughts right now.

"Okay, twent-"

"EVERYBODY GET DOWN!"

Gun shots.

One.

Two.

T h r e e.

Screams echoed around the room as everybody dropped like flies onto the dark hardwood. Marley's ears were ringing in fear and panic as she dropped on instinct, being shoved on her back while her eyes were squeezed shut and her body was trembling in fear. Aiden's warmth surrounded her.

"Aiden! Aiden! wh-what-what was that?" She curled her fingers around his shirt as the ringing slowed, hiding in his muscled chest, her heart racing a mile a minute.

The voices around them were still hushed and shaky with fear. She was so grateful it was dizzying, to feel his steady breathing and his body still very much intact and okay.