35.
It has been two weeks since our senior high school graduation. Obviously, Aiden was valedictorian; I mean who else would be? Dahlia Pickett almost burst out in tears, she wanted to be Valedictorian, but lost the title to her 'ex boyfriend'. Even Claude was in the honor roll, we're all so proud.
Of course everyone was happy and celebratory that time but it was during our graduation dinner celebration that Claude decided to spill the whole truth. The look on our parents' faces told me they didn't find their roast beef appealing anymore.
Oh God, I just wanted to disappear from the table as I watched Claude explain everything to mom, dad, London, her fiancé, Cade, and some of our distant relatives. Aunt Elvira included. They were so mad at Claude I felt so sorry for him, and they didn't even want to talk to him then.
"You deceived us all!" Aunt Elvira's voice echoed across the room. I just want to smack my chicken leg at her face. She's not even a close relative. She wasn't even remotely affected by the situation. We really shouldn't have invited her. Although I could understand mom and dad's reactions, I mean Claude really did deceive them. He made everyone believe that it was all Aiden's fault.
I parked my car right outside the park where my brother was waiting for me. I had some take- out burger with me just in case he needed a snack. I haven't seen him since graduation dinner because I had to stop by Emerald's little graduation celebration, and Claude didn't want to come, and then I heard from London when I got back that Claude didn't come home to our parents' place. I panicked a little, had some paranoid thoughts about him hurting himself or something.
Good thing Cade was there, m ever sensible friend. He succeeded in convincing me to text my brother. Thank God he was staying at Glen's. I thought he ran away to some far off place and changed his name to Bob, or worse.
I saw my brother waving from afar. I couldn't help but notice that he looked more tired. Was he still beating himself up for what happened? Everyone already forgave him. Everything is technically in the past already.
"Hey A," he said the moment I sat beside him on one of the stone benches.
"Hey, how are you?" I asked, I couldn't help but worry, what if he's all depressed now?, "Have a burger, I drove by Burger King."
He took the burger from my hand and chuckled, "you thought I was starving myself?" He asked, still laughing-still hiding the pain. I bet.
"I just miss you so much." I replied as I leaned in for a hug.
"I miss you too and I hope you're doing well. Is Aiden alright?" He rambled on.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, "I'm fine Claude. I think Aiden's fine, I haven't seen him since graduation. But you, Mr.Cassidy, how are you? What have you been doing? I miss you, and mom and dad miss you too."
He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled, "hold on, one question at a time please," he said, "I miss everyone too, but I just want some time away. I know I'm already forgiven. Mom and dad are sending me texts and are calling non-stop asking me to come home."
"So why don't you?"
"Another question, I'm not yet done with the others." My brother unwrapped his burger and took a bite.
I punched his side lightly, "that's because you haven't spoken to your twin since like two weeks ago!"
"Sorry, I was really busy."
"Busy? Why on earth are you so busy, it's summer for heaven's sakes."
"Uhm, what was your first question again?"
I rolled my eyes, "so are you even going to talk to me Claude?"
"Alright, uhm I have been very busy these past weeks A, because I'm working on some college stuff. I don't want to come home because I don't want mom and dad to know what I'm doing because I know they'll never let me. So please do me a favor and do not tell anyone."
"Sure I'm not telling," I replied pursing my lips, "but what exactly am I not telling anyone Claude?"
"Promise to keep it a secret," he said but shook his head, "oh who the heck am I kidding."
"Hey, I'm trying to change you know. I haven't told anyone that London is expecting a baby girl." I held my hand up to my mouth once I've realized my mistake. Damn it Asia why can't you keep a freakin' secret?
"Yeah, I shouldn't tell you," Claude replied, looking at me disapprovingly.
"Oh please Claude, please tell me. I told you a secret...soo that basically means you owe me one."
"Gee A, I wonder how long you were able to keep London's secret."
I shrugged my shoulder. "You have to admit though, I deserve to know, after you ran away from us like that. I at least deserve to know what's keeping you away."
Claude sighed in surrender and gave me a quick smile, "I got an acceptance letter from the Bartlett School of Architecture."
"What? I thought you were going to Harvard? I didn't know you applied...Wait, isn't Bartlett in-"
"UK, yeah. I'm planning to go to UK Asia, so I've been doing a lot of research and working on some requirements and then there's my Visa to worry about."
"When are you planning to tell us?" I replied. I actually don't understand what I was feeling at the moment. I was super proud and happy for Claude. I mean, wow. That's Bartlett School of Architecture, one of the best Architecture schools in the world, but he'll be so far away from us. I already miss him and he was just staying at Glen's, how much more when he's in London?
"I already told you A, I just want to make sure that everything is smooth, before I tell everyone else. Mom's probably going to cry about me being so far away from home. I, I just thought that maybe I really want to do this and I don't want anyone to stop me from doing so."
I looked at my brother and saw real passion in his eyes. I never saw him so driven, well maybe outside of track that is. If this is his dream, then who am I to stop him right? But one question still lingers in my mind.
"Does this sudden change of mind have something to do with the, you-know-what?"
Claude chuckled and reached out to squeeze my hand, "maybe it played a part in my decision making. Maybe I thought this is the best way to somehow, change, move on, and be better and maybe help me forget about what I've done to you."
"But we're good now, everyone's good, everyone's well acquainted with the truth and it's not entirely your fault anyway."
"Yeah, I know. I just... I just owe this to myself, maybe to try and be better. So promise not to tell anyone."
"Yeah, I promise, and this time I mean it," I said as I raised my pinky for a pinky swear. "I love you Claude, and I'm so proud of you. Thank you for telling me this even when I know I don't deserve to keep anymore secrets."
Claude pulled me in for a hug and as he patted my back, he said, "yeah I love you too sis, but you know who else loves you more?"
"Mom?"
"Aiden, I think you should call him or something, ask how he is," Claude said as he slowly backed away from me, "and please tell him I said hi."
"Uh, yeah, maybe I should do that." 'Or not'
So Claude and I continued to talk some more about London, and not our sister London, but the actual London. I can't help but be excited for him, and even though I still dread the day he'll leave for such a faraway place, I still can't help but be happy for him. Whatever his real reasons are for deciding to pursue his dreams thousands of miles away from his family, we still can't deny the fact that this is a huge opportunity for him.
"So I'll see you at dinner?" Claude said, when we finally said our goodbyes for now.
"Dinner?"
"Yeah, London invited me for dinner tonight so I'll get to see you there again." Claude said with a happier looking smile.
"That would be delightful," I replied in what seemed like the worst attempt on a British accent ever.
~
I thought about what Claude said about calling Aiden. Why hadn't he contacted me since graduation day by the way? I tried to erase some thoughts from my mind as to why he hasn't talked to me such as maybe he has secretly moved to Nebraska and nobody knows why.
Overthinking is driving me crazy.
I grabbed my phone from my desk and dialed Aiden's number but he didn't answer. I tried three or five more times but unfortunately, he still hasn't answered. So on what seemed to be my tenth call I decided to leave a voicemail.
'Uh, hey Aid, I don't know when you'll be able to get this message but I hope you call me the moment you can, okay?'
I could feel the coldness of my hands wrapped around my phone and my intense heartbeat from beneath my shirt. What would Aiden think about my voicemail? Will he think I'm clingy? Oh God, I hope not. I glanced at my phone one last time before throwing it back at my desk.
I probably should have said something like, 'hey Aid, how are you doin'?'
I looked back at my phone and sighed, 'okay, A, what is done is done, there's nothing you can do about it but wait for his reply.' That is if he'll ever reply.
My bedroom door flew open and I flinched at the sound of it hitting the wall. I turned my neck so suddenly I thought I heard it crack. "London?"
"Oops, sorry to barge in like this was I interrupting something?" She said as she clutched her belly.
"No, I was just thinking about stuff," I replied, "are you alright? You look like you're in pain."
I watched my sister as she groaned and rubbed her belly. Her other hand was shaking as it tried to reach for the door.
"London, what's wrong?" I asked in panic as I walked towards my sister. She looked really pale and she was groaning a lot.
"Asia," was all London could say before her water broke.
||AN
OMG SUPER DUPER LATE UPDATE. I'M SO SORRY GUYS. I SWEAR UNIVERSITY IS KILLING ME AND I'M JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BREAK TO WRITE. GOD I MISS WRITING. I MISS MY CHARACTERS. IF ANYONE IS STILL READING THIS, I THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING THIS FAR.