*DOUBLE UPDATE - READ 34 FIRST*
A surprise stop at the Grand Canyon? Has Stansley gone crazy or some shit?
I am so tensed right now.
Four-hundred kids too fucking close to the edge of this cliff. It's asking for something to go wrong.
Luckily, they're all smart enough to not go stand on the edge. My eyes linger every few seconds on Aaron, who's nodding along with the music in his earbuds and filling in the questions about the Grand canyon.
He's—surprisingly—the only one. Girls are taking pictures with each rock and guys are throwing sticks as far as they can.
I go on, seeing Seb in an argument with a guy and a girl with smeared lipstick. On the other side of Aaron is Ada, glaring at Ezra and Silas.
Aiden is rolling his eyes and scrolling on his phone.
Aaron looks up, frowning, and seems to be confused about something. I'd love to kiss that frown away right now, but I can't. Not here, not now. I hate it.
He stands up and walks over to Ada. Her shoulders ease a little as she turns to him. Aaron has always been able to turn that tight-lipped smile of hers in a relaxed one. He's got that effect on everyone who'd listen to him for ten minutes.
It won't go in my head that he doesn't get that. That he doesn't know he deserves the whole world. But he fucking does. He's so sweet, so kind, and yet there are people who can't look past something small.
Those people like Ezra or Silas, who are scrunching their nose at him right now. Luckily, my boy doesn't see it and just giggles at something Ada said. Ah man, I love that soft giggle.
They part, and Aaron is back humming to his song. I see Seb shaking his head and walking away from the couple.
Ada is back to Ezra and Silas, her eyes furious. I think I should go help. I walk over to them, but before I get by, Ezra and Silas are stalking away in a bad mood.
"What was that about?" I ask Ada, glancing once more at their backs before I turn to her. She huffs. "They want Aaron to move into their dorm, but I told them that wasn't going to happen. I mean, look at that cute face. Would you let something happen to that?" she muses.
I smile, look back to our boy. He's sitting back on his rock, watching the whole canyon. I love that he's interested in this, and actually enjoying the nature. Everyone around him is taking pictures to look at later, but he's the moment itself.
My smile drops when I see who's headed to him, fuming due to their conversation with Ada. I realize it too late.
I run towards them, but they've already yanked Aaron up. Silas pushes him backward and in that terrible moment, everything goes wrong.
I'm too late, too fucking late.
Ezra helps Silas and pulls one of Aaron's legs from under him.
Our boy lets out a horrified scream before he falls down the edge.
I scream, too, completely shocked by what happened right now. I'm running, but I'm too late.
When I open my eyes again, I see Sebastian hanging half over the edge, one arm tangled with Aaron's smaller one, and I almost faint.
Ada and Aiden have run to them too, and I see the tears streaming out of Aaron's eyes.
"Whatever you do, don't fucking let go," Seb snaps, his face slowly turning red.
Aaron holds onto Seb's one arm with two of his. "I-I can't—hold on," he gasps.
Seb leans further over the edge, making Aiden grab his ankles immediately.
Aaron is pulled up by his shoulders and finally, he's back on steady ground. Sebastian shoves him further away, then rolls onto his back and takes in deep breaths.
Our boy collapses against the ground, crying harder than I've ever seen him cry.
He's alone.
I feel the shock still buzzing in my veins, and it's too fresh to feel anything but relief.
Ada and Aiden are helping Seb up, but Aaron is completely alone, choking on his tears.
I look at the other students. No one goes to him, no one checks if he's okay.
They just put away their phones and turn, not interested anymore now the scene is over.
Not one cares enough about him to run over and at least soothe him.
And in that moment, I say fuck it.
I'm running towards him before I register it, but don't regret. His breaths are short, gasping in between his breaths.
I feel the confusion take him over when I pull him in my arms. I know he doesn't understand that I made the switch in my mind.
But I've got him tucked to my chest right now. I've got him, and fucking no one is going to hurt him ever again.
His cries are uncontrolled. He's shaking in my arms.
"W-what about—" "They're nothing," I assure him. Nothing like you. Not one is worthy of having you as a friend.
I pick him up, and he hides his face in my shirt. "Fuck, are you okay?" I mutter, shifting him onto my hip.
He shakes his head. "My stomach hurts." I stalk away from everyone, to my car.
I can't believe this happened. What the fuck. I'm not letting them out of prison ever again.
This was a fucking attempt to murder.
When I'm sure we're far enough from everyone, I lift his shirt to look.
His whole skin is covered in abrasions, most of which are bleeding too. He quickly hides them again. "I don't like it when you see them," he whispers, followed by a sob.
Sweet mother of Jesus. I cup the back of his head and pull him a bit closer.
"Baby, I'm gonna have to take care of these. And I need to take a picture for the cops. I'm sure Aiden is already calling his colleagues."
He whimpers, his whole face scrunching along with it. "I don't want that."
I get in my car, on the driver's seat, with him on my lap. He relaxes against me, blinking his tired eyes.
"Fuck that. They just pushed you off a cliff, Aaron. This isn't about making it worse. It's about locking them up. Even Stansley can't stop this." I cup his cheeks gently.
Those big blue eyes I love so much are sad, hollow and defeated. "They'll win eventually."
"No, no they won't. Hundreds of people filmed this. Four-hundred people have witnessed this. You have the marks all over your skin. Seb has the marks on his skin. They won't win. Not this time."
He cries harder, his hands tightening the grip on my shirt. "I didn't mean to hurt Sebastian. I'm sorry."
Fucking God. I hug him closer. "You didn't—" I realize a second too late that he's ashamed. He's embarrassed this happened.
"Oh, my sweet boy," I sigh. He sobs, setting his head on my chest and watching me shake my head.
"What's going on in that small head of yours?" I brush his cheek, but he just looks down.
"First of all, this is not your fault. Any of this." He gulps, "I-I must have set them off somehow--"
"No. You didn't. Don't you remember? You were solving the questions, all by yourself. On the rock?"
He sniffles and nods.
"They were talking to Ada. They wanted you to move into their house." The sad eyes from just now change into horrified ones.
He grips my arm. "No! Micah, I-I don't want that. And especially not after this."
I brush my thumb over his cheek. "I know, my boy. We're not letting you go, don't worry."
He silently nods. "So . . . What happens now?" I kiss his forehead.
"First of all, I'm taking you home. We're gonna get comfy and I'll take care of these." My fingers goes over his arm, full of wounds.
Instead of rejecting that idea again like I'd expected, he nods again. I go on. "We're gonna take pictures of them and then you can sleep. I'm sure the others will be home by then."
He nods again, eyelids slowly shutting closed. "Micah?" he whispers. I kiss the knuckles of his hand as an answer.
"Wouldn't it have been better if Seb didn't save me? Now you four have this shit again, and it's always because of me." A tortured noise leaves his mouth.
"Oh, shut up," I grumble, pulling him even closer. "You can't think this, Aaron. You don't know how fucking happy I am you're still here. Because, my God, I'd have jumped right after you."
****
I don't have an excuse. I'd just like to add two things:
-This will not be the end of Aaron's suffering
-Appreciate my title names