As promised for CWTHAW hitting 50k :)
-
"Did you doubt me for a second?"
"You're going to get yourself killed!"
"Cute PJ's. All angry at me. I sense a full circle here."
Marley glanced down at her attire with mortification. She grabbed the first outfit her hands made contact with, which just so happened to be the froggy pyjamas. The ones she wore when she lectured him about an Instagram post he made where he called her his.
Which, in retrospect was foreshadowing anyway...
Besides the freaking point, Marley!
She huffed, shoving her fingers through her hair before attempting to push Aiden back out of her room by his bare shoulders.
"Back on the couch you delinquent!" She hissed quietly, not wanting to wake up Bryan and Jenna sleeping down the hall.
Aiden held his position in the doorway with a growing smile, watching her grunt and heave trying to move him.
"You're dating Aiden Matthews. Do you really think I'm going to choose sleeping on an uncomfortable couch over a bed wrapped around my hot girlfriend and these sexy PJ's-"
Marley slammed a hand over his mouth with flushed cheeks, glaring at him fiercely, "You're despicable! Bryan deserves respect for allowing us to stay the night!"
She dropped her hand with huffs of air, mad that Aiden's stupidly attractively annoying smirk was still playing on his lips, "Like you didn't see this coming."
Marley exhaled loudly, burying her face in her hands, "Of course I did," her voice was muffled, "but I was hoping you'd be mature for once in your life."
"I guess today is not that day," Aiden sighed loudly, before his hands were locking around her waist.
Marley's uncovered her face, her eyes managing to focus just as he scooped her up and walked them to her bed. Her mouth dropped as he set her down under the covers, crawling up beside her. She gripped his shoulders to stop him, "Aiden Matthews! No means-mhmh."
He pressed his hand over her mouth, using his free arm to crush her tightly to his body and lay them down together while she struggled and thrashed. He pressed his front against her back, holding her still while she shoved, squirmed with a face red with fury.
He dropped his hand from her mouth, his nose dragging up the side of her neck, "You done?"
"Done?" she hissed, going stiff as a board in his embrace, crossing her arms over her chest in front of her, "Bryan could walk in at any minute! This is his house! He wants you on the couch and-" Aiden gently pressed his hand over her mouth again, her ramble muffled.
When his iron hold proved to be inescapable, she stuck her tongue out and licked his palm, expecting him to rip it away. He held it in place, lifting to brush his lips against her ear, "Did you honestly think I'd bother me to feel your tongue anywhere?"
She scowled, huffing and puffing with embarrassment as he dropped his hand again with a low chuckle, wrapping himself around her and nuzzling into her neck. Her body was beginning to relax instinctively in his comfort, but her mind was pissed as hell. She could feel Aiden's smile on her skin — he understood that she was at war with herself to accept his embrace and the jerk was enjoying it.
"We're both going to be in serious trouble in the morning."
"I don't care."
"Bryan won't trust me anymore."
"Tell him I've corrupted a...sweet, naive girl. Tell him I led her to the dark side. You tried your very best to..." Aiden trailed off, sliding a finger beneath her froggy shirt and up the sensitive skin of her bare waist, "...resist me, but all your attempts failed. You never imagined misbehaving would feel this good. You thought you were strong enough..."
Marley's breathing was embarrassingly ragged, all due to his single index finger drawing circles on her skin. His lips were pressed against the back of her neck while he spoke and it was on fire. She pressed her lips together, her body going rigid in absolution. Resist. Resist. Resis...
"...but all your attempts-"
Failed.
Marley turned in his hold and pressed her lips to his, her fingers sliding through his hair. Aiden grabbed her by the small of her back and held her against him, kissing her back in a way that, in enjoying meant he had definitely corrupted her. She didn't care anymore, pressing herself closer until he was sliding over her, her fingers dancing over his bare shoulders while they kissed — lips parted, breathing heavy.
"Marley," Aiden tsked into her throat as he kissed down her neck, "what would Bryan say if he walked in on us right now? You're breaking the rules-"
"Shut up, Matthews," she breathed out hastily, her fingers locked tightly around his hair.
He smiled into her skin, head lifting to level their gazes. He remained in his position hovering over her, his dark hair sticking up in all directions, blue eyes glowing with amusement, "I really have corrupted you, haven't I?"
She narrowed her hazel eyes, "Are you saying I'm a goody-two-shoes?"
Aiden laughed quietly, raising an eyebrow as if he thought her question was a joke, "The definition of that has your face on it, baby. Hate to be the one to break it to you."
Marley sighed, scanning over the face of her hovering boyfriend and realizing that she had practically lost it on him for sneaking into her bedroom. That he's right — Marley Hoover always does the right thing. Marley Hoover always says please and thank you, Marley Hoover never leaves her comfort zone, never crosses any lines, always apologizes...
"I am a goody-two-shoes, aren't I?" She pouted, remembering her vow to herself that she wanted to be exciting, spontaneous, interesting.
"Yes. But you're my goody-two-shoes."
Marley pulled away, sighing loudly, "Sarah said something like that, too. That she wouldn't expect me to do daring, dangerous things."
Aiden grinned, but behind it was concern at her fallen expression, "I'm here right now. That's daring and dangerous, don't you think?"
Marley released her hold on his hair to cross her arms over her chest, keeping her eyes lowered from his. She tugged her lip into her mouth, deep in thought. Aiden lifted a hand to brush his thumb along her lower lip and pry it from her teeth, capturing her attention.
"Marley-"
She shoved him off of her, scrambling upwards in the bed and sitting on her knees. Aiden sat up too, reaching for her hand that she dodged, "I want to be exciting, Aiden. I want to do daring, dangerous things."
He was sitting up on his elbows now, scanning over her face with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it like that, spitfire. I fell in love with who you are, not who you're not."
She shot him a dry look, but when she did she realized something imperative.
That right now, Marley Hoover has Aiden Matthews at her disposal — the epitome of a bad boy, a troublemaker. Someone who knows how to be dangerous, and how to wear the hell out of a leather jacket. He's the personification of exciting and daring.
Marley grabbed his hand, her eyes lit up with new purpose, "Help me," she demanded.
Aiden frowned in confusion, "Help you with what?"
"Come on, Aiden! You're the perfect mentor! Take me to do something dangerous and exciting and overall cool."
Aiden sighed, not moving even as she climbed out of bed with new energy. He watched her spin around to face him with an eager expression, his own scrutinizing carefully.
"Marley," he began gently, "I've told you about a phase I went through when I was fifteen and sixteen. My life was...this is about your father. You want to forget. You want to-"
She approached him with a skip in her step, climbing onto the bed and then onto his lap, straddling his torso and placing her hands on his shoulders. She held their stare with a fierce look, "I'm not going off to do this alone. I'm asking for your help. You'll be there, the whole time. We can do whatever you decide, on your terms. As long as it meets my condition."
He scanned over her face, pursing his lips while he wrapped his arms around her torso, "That it be reckless?"
Marley nodded in confirmation, her expression full of hope and pleading, "Please, Aiden? You're a bad boy."
"But I'm good for you." He said simply, with a soft smile.
"Boring."
Aiden pulled away and she could tell he was thinking deeply about something. She pecked his lips, "Pretty" peck, "please?"
When Marley pulled away for the final time, it was to a resigned expression. She was about to scramble off his lap to get dressed, but he held her in place stiffly. His eyes were boring into her own with a staggering intensity, "My rules."
Marley's body was thrumming with energy and excitement now.
"Bad boys and rules are mutually exclusive events."
He ignored her joke, his eyes unwavering, hands holding her steady — Aiden wouldn't let her go until he had an answer. A promise.
She brushed her hands over his jawline with a reassuring smile, "Your rules."
He let out a breath and nodded, "Then go get dressed in something warm, but bring a bathing suit. We'll both need them for where we're going."
-
Shortly after dinner, Aiden had run out to grab his car from home so they would have transportation for their stay here. Marley asked to go with, but he told her he wanted her to see his house another day.
She didn't push it, not when she saw the look on his face. Marley knew what Aiden was thinking — that she'd judge him, or her shock would offend him. She wouldn't judge, but she wouldn't be able to curb her shock either.
Their lives are similar in ways that brought them together, but different in ones that could drive a wedge between them.
Marley decided that Aiden could show her his house when he wanted to and she wouldn't mention it, not one second before. It was all up to him.
But when he led them outside of Bryan's apartment building, hand-in-hand and she got a view of his car in the dim lighting of the parking lot — it was clear he had no interest in being discreet about how rich his family is in this case.
The car was matte black, and by the sleek build — obviously a very expensive sports car. Marley's eyes were widened drifting along the flawless exterior while Aiden led her to the passenger seat. When he opened the door the inside lit up like a Christmas tree, revealing a red interior. There was a screen, multiple buttons and controls all with their own built-in LED's.
Marley hesitated before entering, "I don't want to...ruin anything. This is..."
When she met Aiden's eyes he rolled them at her dramatics, "Get in the damn car."
She smiled sheepishly, sliding into the comfortable, plush seat. She buckled her seatbelt after Aiden closed the door, rounding the front of the car to the other side. Her eyes were widely scanning over everything in front of her, while she inhaled the pleasant leather smell her own car probably had the scent of in the 1980s.
Aiden took his place in the drivers, and when he turned on the car by pressing a button, it purred beautifully. Marley turned her torso to face him, her eyebrows raised to the ceiling.
"I want to drive this."
Aiden paused with a hand on the gearshift, his focus away from the rear view mirror briefly to shoot her a flat look, "No."
She pouted, watching him reverse gracefully from the lot. Even driving slowly, the car felt incredible. As if it was floating over the road.
It was past midnight, so the streets of their hometown were emptier than normal. Aiden took her hand over her knee, lacing their fingers together as he drove them to their mystery destination.
Marley was only half occupied with trying to figure out where they were going. Most of her was taking in streets she's known since she was a kid. It was staggering to return to a place she left as a different person.
"It's...weird," she murmured absentmindedly, scanning over the stores, restaurants, coffee shops — all closed for the night, "being back here."
Aiden shifted his thumb over the back of her hand, his squeezing a little tighter, "I know. Seeing you in my car, my passenger seat is..."
Marley turned her head away from the window to focus on Aiden. He slowed the car at a red light. A handful of cars drove across the intersection in front of them. She stared at every defined feature of his face illuminated red. His blue eyes were swirling and beautiful.
The light was still red as he leaned in, closer and closer until he kissed her gently. He pulled away when his face flashed green, "A reminder that camp is real. That we're real."
Marley smiled at the side of his head as he focused on driving again. He was thinking along the same lines as she had. That being back here is a bit of a whiplash, leaving both of their minds spinning. Marley's life was so different before she met Aiden — but his was too, before he met her. Returning to their hometown was a reminder of who they were.
She kept her eyes on the side of his face as she asked a question she should have a long time ago. The answer she needs.
"What did you see in me?"
Aiden locked eyes with her briefly. Confused.
She elaborated with a smile, "That first day. And every one after that. What made you stay? What kept you close to me, day after day? I was shy, hardly welcoming. But you were determined to know me anyway."
He didn't take his eyes off the road, but his lips upturned in the softest of smiles. His expression was distant as he reminisced.
"You were always the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. Sitting next to you on the bus was to help you, but it was also because I was curious. You didn't care who I was, who Leo and I were. You reminded me of myself, too. Of my triggers. My own struggles. And the more I spoke to you, the more I saw you and spent time with you, the more I knew I enjoyed your company. What you had to say, watching your reactions to everything. Laughing with you. Teasing you," Aiden's thumb drifted over his ring on her finger, "I realized being a person who deserves your friendship and your time is the only person I want to be. Walking out of the mess hall on me that first day, repulsed by my behaviour was a hell of a wake up call. I was surrounded by people who encouraged who I was. Until you, who not only made me want to change, but never gave up on me when I struggled to."
Marley was embarrassed that she had teared up, blinking rapidly to keep them from falling.
Aiden turned from the road to look her over with soft eyes, "You are the best version of me, Marley."
"That was um..." she sniffled, wiping her under-eyes with her sleeves, her heart racing, "a great answer, Shakespeare."
He laughed, "I did say you made me into a romantic once, didn't I? But, I'm still a, quote unquote bad boy at heart. Come on, and I'll show you how it's done."
Marley was so overwhelmed with love for Aiden that it took her a few seconds too long to realize the car had stopped beneath them. When he left the drivers seat she glanced around the parking lot with surprise.
It was dark — close to one am now — but Marley grew up here. She knows this town and she knows where Aiden had taken them.
When he opened her door she was still in shock, staring at the building through the windshield. He took her bag with their bathing suits and towels in them, swinging it over his shoulder.
He rested a hand against the top of the door, watching her stare at the empty, closed building in front of them. Their car was the only one in the giant lot meant to hold hundreds.
When Marley finally tore her eyes away, it was to witness Aiden twirling his key ring around his index finger. His smile was bright and excited. They had just entered Aiden Matthews' turf.
"Call me Shakespeare all you want, spitfire, but he'd never teach you how to break into a water park, now would he?"
***
Next chapter Saturday 12:00am EST. See ya there. As always, thanks for reading, voting, and/or commenting ❤️