Enid's POV
Aiden tightened his grip around me like he was not letting me go anywhere. I suppressed my laugh. After all these years, he was afraid of letting me go? That's really funny, 'cause I was not planning on leaving him at all. Everyone left and Aiden and I were standing there still. He was staring intently at the floor, so I snapped fingers in front of him.
"Hello, Earth to Aiden." He looked at me, hurt in his eyes. He suddenly hugged me so tightly that I was unable to breathe properly for a moment there. "What was that for?"
"Nothing." He smiled and walked towards the parking lot. Automatically, I followed him. There was no practice that day. Coach gave us a day off as we had a friendly match on Friday against St. Peter's High. They were the champs of last year's inter school competition.
"Wanna hang out at my place?" He asked, getting into car. I hesitated, remembering the awkward situation of this morning. The dream about him kissing me which did not happen and would not happen. At all.
"Okay." I agreed to go to his house, but refuse to face his parents. He said he did not want to too. He was sure that his parents had already left the house. They had a dinner plan tonight, alone. We drove to his house. Mrs. O'hara greeted us as usual, gave us food and then we were left alone. We played video games for awhile and only I had my Literature paper which was due tomorrow. I completed it trying to ignore Aiden's stare as much as I could. After nine o'clock I finished my homework and looked at Aiden, he smiled.
"You know, you're building muscles. Great physique, by the way." He said and I blushed. No, wait. I did not blush, I just smiled at him.
"You are saying?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do you know that Sky's at your house?" Aiden said and I was quite shocked.
"What? Why?"
"He is with Ethan. He didn't want to left him alone. He is quite shaken according to your twin. He just texted me."
"Hmm, I guess, that's really generous of him. But, don't think Emmett'd appreciate it, though."
"Yeah, you're probably right. Do you have a plan for Friday's game?" He asked.
"Plan? For game? I thought the coach does that."
"Obviously." He made a 'duh' face. I chuckled. "But, since it's first game, I want you to be prepared fully. Have a lot of sleep tomorrow. Drink healthy, a lot of fluids." He paused to study my face. "You already do that. Anyway, the coach'll announce the plan tomorrow, but I want you to take extra precautions. Being a little aggressive will help you,you know. Don't say sorry every time you push someone to the ground. You're a big guy now." He ruffled my hair.
"But, it's the quality you like the best. You told me, you remember?" I protested.
"Of course, I remember. But, it's a football match, not a playground, E." He tried to convince me.
"Fine." I pouted.
"You look cute when you pout." He chuckled. I blushed, but it faded quickly. It was not the first time when he said something like that, although that did not mean my heart beat did not pick up. Again. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, go to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night." He started to walk past me, but I grabbed his hand.
"You can sleep on your own bed, you know."
"Then, where'll you sleep?" He frowned. Why was he trying to keep distance? I've been noticing this a couple of days now.
"We can sleep together." I released his hand as soon as realisation hit me. I shook my head. "Not together, together. You know, I mean, well, we can sleep in the same bed." He smiled at me. Then stripped to his boxers and went to bed. I did the same. We laid there for a long time without saying anything. Awkward! Never thought we would have nothing to talk about. But, he started one, only one conversation that turned the situation more uncomfortable. Girls - girlfriends!
"So, have you ever thought about making any girlfriends? You never dated and we're leaving high school in less than one year."
"No. Not interested. They're loud. My sensitive ears can't handle them." Aiden laughed. "What 'bout you? Girls drool over you."
"So?"
"Anyone you like?"
"Yes, maybe."
"What?!" I could not stand that. I got up on my elbows, staring at Aiden.
"What?" He asked innocently."
"So,... are you gonna tell me her name?
"Nope." That was it? One nope?
"Why? Is she your secret?"
"Yes, I can't even tell you. 'Cause I don't know if the person I like, likes me back or not."
"Likes you back or not?" What type of question was that? "Every girl drools over you, I just told you. Don't you believe me!" I all but shouted. He only stared at me.
"I trust you more than myself." He said so quietly that even I barely heard. My heart jumps the way he spoke those words.
"Then?" My voice had also quietened down.
"Nothing."
"Does she have a boyfriend or something?"
"Nah, she's totally available..."
I cut him. "But, you doubt that she'd say no to you?" He didn't reply. It hurt really. To see Aiden loved someone so much other than me. Well, that was my best friend and I'll be happy for him no matter what, always. Even if it meant that the left side of my chest hurt like a bitch. I settled down again. Aiden clapped and the light went out. I did not want to get jealous, his happiness meant the world to me. I could see in his eyes that he would be happy with that girl. I repeated again and again in my head until I fell asleep.
As soon as the clock hit half past six, the windows' blinds open automatically. The morning light played hide and seek with my sleep. That's why I hated Aiden's room. I groaned. Wanted to get up when I felt Aiden's hand on my stomach, warm and strong. I liked it being in his arms, felt secured. He groaned a little when I tried to remove his hand to get up. After lying there about fifteen minutes, looking at his face, my whole childhood and teen years flashed in front of my eyes. I couldn't help but smile.
"Aiden..." I called for him, but he only tightened his arm around me. "Aiden!" I screamed into his ear. He was startled awake and pressed his palms against his ears.
"What the f?" He yelled.
"Don't swear in the morning."
"You never need to scream into my ears, ever." I chuckled.
"Okay, now get up. We've school and coach's gonna have my ass for his dinner if we were late." Though I said it jokingly, but I seriously doubt myself if that was a joke or not.
"No! Don't say that. That's not his." He fake-pouted. We got up from the bed and he went to his bathroom, only to come back with his necessities.
"You stay here. Have a fresh bath, I'll have the guest bathroom." He left me some clothes that I left in his house for times like this before he left for his shower.
As soon as the warm water hit me, the tension from yesterday was gone. I always did that, 'cause people could not take so much tension, so I washed away all of yesterdays only to replace it with today's. It was nice to relax even if it was for half an hour.
I turned off the shower, dried myself and left the bathroom after getting dressed. Aiden was not there in his room, so I guessed that he already left for breakfast. I left for kitchen when my stomach growled.
"...no, mom!" It was Aiden who whisper yelled.
"I'm just saying, Aiden." His mom said.
"No, don't. Please, no! Stop it right now!" Aiden protested.
"You're protesting too much." Mrs. O'hara, his mom and dad laughed quietly, when his dad said that. I felt like I was invading their privacy.
"I'm just saying that you two looked really cuddly last night." His mom said.
"Don't start again now. Let me eat. Enid's coming at any second now." Aiden said with a warning in his voice.
"So, why do you not have girlfriend, again?" Mrs. Thompson is something! Aiden made an annoying sound and silently went back to eating. I entered the kitchen, greeting everyone and forcing a smile and pretending I heard nothing. I sat beside Aiden who was having serial for breakfast. Mrs. O'hara handed me one too. The breakfast went well, at least for me.
Aiden fetched our bags from upstairs and we headed for the garage. For more than fifteen years of knowing them, I never went to their garage and it came to me as a shock when I saw my favourite bike there. I loved it so much. When I got from the hospital, after almost colliding with a bus, I saw the bike was gone. I was so angry that was I could not said a word, even to Aiden I was minimal.
"What is it doing here?" I asked, still shocked.
"Oh, that. I thought you've already forgotten about it."
"Yeah, I did, but, it-" I could not say anymore.
"Well, you loved it so much, so I kept it after your father threw it away."
"And you kept it?" I asked incredulously. I couldn't help but hug him. Maybe I hugged him a little too tight to me to keep him close. His grip loosened a little, but didn't let me go or push me away, he hugged me back.
"You're welcome, E." He whispered into my ear. His hot breath tickled my ear lobe, and I shivered a little and thankfully he did not notice that. I slowly let go of him.
"Let's go." He said, motioning his head towards the car I could only nod. Opening the garage door, we got into the car and we drove off to school.
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A/N: Hey, I like slow build relationships, so in the next few chapters, they'll definately kiss. Have a good New Year...