Rose's POV
"If Ace asks, tell him I...had a doctor's appointment. " I tell Ava on our way to our lockers.
"Uh huh. Tell me what happens if he decides to see how you're feeling, only to realize you lied to him?"
"You make it sound so harsh…"
"Jealousy does some crazy things to people...I should know."
I put a hand on her shoulder. "The past is in the past, and I forgive you...even if you, Y'know...tried to murder me and Ace...I dont think Ace is the jealous type."
"Really? So the fact that you need to lie to Ace to talk to Aiden doesn't seem like he gets jealous?"
"He loves me. Of course he'd be a little worried."
"Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Aiden, cloaked in an obscure hoodie and sweatpants, waits for me on the football field. I can't resist the urge to tease him.
"New wardrobe?" I ask. He smirks a little and motions for me to sit.
"Unless you think you're too good to sit on the grass, nowadays." I suddenly feel more relaxed and sit on the grass.
"Still snarky as ever, I see. So...what did you want to talk to me about?"
His face becomes more solemn. He sighs.
"I've been a complete jerk to you lately and, to be honest, I haven't felt like myself in a long time."
"You still play your music, right?"
Aiden holds up his palms. They are calluses, but not as extreme as they were last time I saw...or held them.
"I had to cut down on the practicing...after I started dating Jessica. She'd always insist on going to these fancy places when all I wanted to do is stay at home."
"You feel like she's making all the decisions in your relationship."
Aiden shrugs nonchalantly. "If that's bad, her temper is worse. The truth is, I didn't lose touch with my friends because we were blaming each other. She wanted to make sure I was devoted to her and her only. That, and the fact that a lot of my friends are girls."
"Aiden, that's terrible. Why are you letting her control you like this?"
"When you left, I was in a really bad place. She showed up into my life and I felt happy again...at least I thought I did. Over time, it was less of us being happy and more making HER happy. And I guess I went along with it because I thought I was in love with her."
He laughs bitterly and brushes a strand of hair out of her face. As he's doing this, his sleeve sags down and I notice some angry red marks on his wrist. Aiden catches me staring and pulls the sleeve over it.
"Wha-"
"It was an accident," he says quickly.
"And how many 'accidents' have you had lately?"
"She can not know you saw this, alright?" He hisses. "I told you, she has a temper."
"Some temper…"
"Forget it...What I'm trying to say is...I'm sorry for the way I've treated you and Ace. I know this is a BS of an excuse, but between Jessica and seeing you had moved on rubbed me in the wrong way. I wanted to be happy for you, but all I was filled with was anger and sadness...and I took it out on you."
"It'll take some time to forgive you, but...I accept your apology. Maybe we could be friends again some time later."
He smiles a little and says, "I hope so."
He then frowns.
"What's wrong?"
"I can't. Jess would flip if she saw the two of us as friends," he says, shaking his head. "I think this was a bad idea, I should probably go-"
"Wait!" Without thinking, I grab his arm. He lets out an audible wince. "Sorry, sorry. But this just proves my point. My rivalry with her cast aside, if you can't live the way you want to live because of her, then she's just no good for you."
"I really have to go, Rose," he insists, growing impatient as he constantly looks past me. I have no choice but to let him go. He takes off. I turn around and see Jessica storming up to me. To my surprise, she brushes past me without so much of an insult. I head to my motorcycle, where Ava is waiting for me.
"How did it go?" she asks.
"My suspicions were correct. Jessica's clearly abusing him."
"How do you know for sure?"
"I saw the same signs in Ace. Withdrawal from other people, unexplained bruising, the look of absolute terror? Forgive me for jumping to conclusions, but he's hurting so much he's deluded himself into thinking she's perfect and can do no wrong, regardless of what he really sees."
"So what do you want to do about it? Aiden's clearly not going to break up with her if what you're saying is true."
"I need time to think…"
Aiden's POV
"AIDEN ZHOU WHEN I CATCH YOU THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY!" screams the raging voice of my girlfriend. I knew I should have just stayed home today. Now I'm as good as screwed. I keep running, hoping she won't catch up to me. I took the bus to get here, but I doubt there'll be a bus to save me now. Ugh, don't tell me I'm getting a cramp in my stomach now of all times! I slow down just enough to catch my breath, but Jessica catches up to me, her hands sinking into my shoulder. I whip around, and there she is, ready to explode.
"I can explain," I huff. She tanks me backwards and I end up on the ground.
"You said you were sick, Aiden," she says in an eerily calm voice. "But here you are, out of your house and probably not even sick."
"I am sick," I insist. "I just needed some fresh air."
"We open windows for that, genius. And care to tell me what you were found with Rose under the bleachers on the football field.
"I just wanted to talk to her. Clear things up."
"What could you possibly have to talk about with her that you couldn't talk with me?" She demands. "You know what, forget it. You probably don't even care about me any more."
"That's not true, I-"
"Save me the speech, Aiden. And here I thought I was doing you a favor, exposing your ex for the monster she truly is."
"How about the monster you made me believe she is," I retort before I can catch myself. "I know what I saw."
All of a sudden, I'm pinned to the ground, her knees forcing my arms down and her hands are around my throat, constricting my breathing. She's never been this forceful before...she must be really pissed with me. It's just her anger….it's just her anger...it's just-
"Care to repeat that, Aiden, sweetie?" She says in a menacing tone.
"Jess...stop...can't breathe…" I choke, hoping someone will see us. We went so off track that not even a hitchhiker will spot us.
"I'm not hearing an apology, Aiden," she says. "Time is ticking. And don't worry about me killing you. At the worst you'll just be out cold for a while...Now apologize."
"S-screw...you…" I get out before I fade away into darkness.
Rose, wherever you are, you were right. I just wish I'd seen it sooner.