(A/n so this episode, 18, started off back in real time. I am going to add a little bit of Aiden and Y/n alone time in this chapter first, but this stuff didn't happen in the original comic. It's just the next few days, with some info of what happens during that time from later chapters.)
>>>< Repetition ><<<
The class had left Savannah and we got back midday on Saturday. The group sat together and discussed everything that had happened last night.
Aiden invited me to their place after we got off. Of course, I agreed, and joined him and Ben.
Ben was quiet, as usual, and Aiden and I were talking casually until he brought up last night again.
"So Y/n, are you feeling better after your injury from last night?" Ben looked at me as Aiden spoke, surprised. He glared daggers at me, probably for not getting it addressed.
"It's fi-"
"I don't want another lie, Y/n. Please tell me the truth." He was smiling softly, but his eyes held sadness.
"It's about the same. It still burns like hell but that's been no different, and it isn't visible here." I mumbled. Ben pulled out his phone and pulled up a note app. 'Where?'
I ran my hand across the length of the burning sensation, from just below my neck all the way across my collar bone. Ben wrote some more, then erased some, then wrote more.
'You ARE letting me treat that tonight, if we go back.' I just reluctantly nodded, feeling intimidated by his glare. Aiden seemed happy Ben had been able to scare me into accepting the help. When we made it to their house, I greeted Aiden's parents and Ben went to his room to work on a project for school.
I followed Aiden to his room, where I'd only been one time before, and once again was met with surprise. I shook it off and sat on the floor, and he sat across from me.
We sat there in comfortable silence before I spoke up.
"Hey Aiden. Do you think we're going to be pulled into the other dimension thing again, or do you think it was a one time thing?" He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I'm not quite sure."
We sat there in silence for a another few minutes. "Hey Y/n, have you ever been to a skatepark?" I shook my head no. I knew how to skateboard. No tricks, but I could get around town with it. "Wanna head over there? I could teach you some tricks." He smiled.
"I don't have my skateboard with me." He chuckled. "I have multiple. C'mon." I smiled, following him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We had arrived at the skatepark, and it was surprisingly empty. He started showing off a bit, and I laughed as he nearly fell. He slid back over beside me, offering a hand out. I took it, and he dragged me over to a flat area of ground to teach me the basic tricks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We had fun at the skatepark, and I had learned how to do a few new things. Aiden was really happy, and as we skated back to his house he stopped us both to watch the sun set. It was really pretty, and after that we went inside.
We put the skateboards back and met back up with Ben in the living area. I gave a small nod as a greeting, and he smiled in return. Aiden spoke to his parents quickly, then came over to me.
"Hey Y/n, you should stay the night, we have an extra room!" Aiden smiled.
Him and Ben already knew my living condition. My mother was out of the picture, and my father might as well be. He also worked a long night shift, so we never really saw each other, and took care of ourselves. I would often spend the night at Ashlyn's because the silent house of my apartment made me paranoid. I didn't have the safest neighbors. It had been like this for years.
I thought Aiden's offer over a bit. I had another change of clothes in my bag, like I always did for whatever may come up.
"Sure, thank you guys!" They seemed happy that the boys had someone to consider their best friend, and seemed happy to provide another safe place for me to stay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dinner was great, and Aiden's parents asked me more about my life and my family. They put the offer out there for me to stay whenever I wanted to. Aiden seemed really interested in my past, and I was humored by his horrible eating manners. I was then shown to a room next to Ben's where I could stay the night.
We each cleaned ourselves up, then met in Aiden's room to hang out. We all played some board games for a bit, listening to some music in the background. We had fun.
Aiden's parents headed to bed early, and the three of us sat on the floor silently. We weren't sure what to expect the night, but Ben was still very adamant about fixing up my injury. At around 11:50, we all went to our separate rooms.
I opened my eyes to the same room I had gone to sleep in, but it the strange world. I left the room and was met with the boys, who also seemed confused. My shoulder somehow felt worse, and my entire body was burning up, but I brushed that aside.
We went to Ben's room, covering the window and barricading the door once Ben got inside. Of course, he hadn't forgotten to grab one of the med-kits. The creatures were surely out there, but there really was no way to contact the others, so we agreed on waiting until we were back in the real world to come up with a group plan.
Ben motioned for us all to sit down, and I complied silently. He pulled out a paper and wrote quickly. 'Uh I'm going to need to look at your injury, but your shirt will become a problem. Do you need something to change into that would be easier for me to look at and clean the injury in, or just take the shirt off and put it back on after. I don't know what quite makes you uncomfortable, sorry.'
Aiden also read the note over my shoulder. I didn't want to be a pain, so I just slipped the loose shirt off over my head with no answer. I used my arms to cover myself up some more, not that it made any difference. They both made sure to only focus on the injury the best they could, and I mentally thanked them for it.
I looked at the injury myself and winced. It was definitely infected, probably why I felt so bad right now. Ben made quick work of putting antibiotics and such on the injury, which stung.
Aiden silently offered a hand for me to squeeze to help with the pain, and I gladly took it, and unspoken 'thank you' known to all.
Aiden wasn't smiling. He was worried, I could tell. It was strange, seeing him without a smile. "I'll be okay, Aiden. Don't worry about me." He gave me a small smile as Ben wrapped up the injury. When he was done, I put my shirt back on. "Thank you guys." I smiled a bit. They both seemed happy that I had done something with the injury.
Apparently it was worse then I thought.
There was a silent agreement not to tell the others, my pride had already been damaged enough.
This wouldn't be so hard, as long as I had my closest friends by my side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PRESENT TIME
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tyler spoke up again. "I still think we should go back to Savannah." Ashlyn was fed up with the whole thing. "...Alright, let's take some time to think on it again and have a group vote later tonight."
"Why not after school?"
"Because I have ballet class today."
"So what? Skip it."
Taylor spoke up to her brother again. "Uh, Ty... We have stuff to do after school too. You have baseball practice and I have a mechanics meeting."
Logan spoke too. "I um, I have to help with the flower shop today."
"See? Logan's busy too. Even with what's happening, we can't neglect school and our future. You need baseball. Let's just wait till tonight-"
Tyler blew up again. "We aren't going to have a 'future' if we're dead!"
Ashlyn also lashed out. "It's not just our future. If we drop everything to focus on fantasy-like events we can't prove, we're going to end up in a psyche ward. Do you think that's going to make it easier or harder for all of us to have meetings during the day?"
Aiden jumped in too. "She's got a point, y'know. Generally we're what people would call 'crazy'."
I elbowed him in the rib an whispered. "Are you trying to start another fight?"
Tyler stood up. "Whatever." He stomped away and brought a slightly scared-looking Taylor with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the bus, when Ashlyn and I got out to head over to the Banners', Aiden and Ben did as well.
"What are you doing?" Ashlyn was also confused.
"Coming over. I figured it'd just be faster to get off here."
"You know I have to leave in an hour, right?"
"I thought I'd tag along this time. If there's an emergency, I'll know how to get there, right?"
Ben and I both stayed silent. Ashlyn walked inside, gritting her teeth. "I'm home."
Her parents gave me a smile as well. "How was school? Aiden and Ben are over? I thought you had ballet today?"
"Yeah, about that; Aiden and Ben want to know where the studio is located. Do you mind if they come along?"
"Come along?"
"Yeah."
"Give us a second." They dragged Ashlyn over the couch, so I stood there with Aiden and Ben in silence.
I had to hold Aiden back from walking over after a few moments. Then he decided he didn't care and grabbed my arm, dragging me over with them. He was to strong for me to protest.
Ben followed along. He crouched down next to them. "What are we talking about?... Sorry, got bored waiting."
Ashlyn's parents eyed the four of us.
We probably looked suspicious. We all had matching eyebags and attitude changes from what happened.
Oh well.
word count: 1699
(A/n: Damn this chapter took longer than I thought it would.)