It had been about two months' time since Aiden stopped interacting with Gregory. The only interaction they had was when he walked her home from school. And there were incredibly awkward moments when Aiden looked after Tony on the weekends, knowing full well Gregory was living in the basement but had no intentions to talk to her. So after she tucked Tony to bed and wished him good night, she would slip quietly into the kitchen downstairs with only the lamp and her books to accompany her. And although Aiden found herself retaining more information easier, she couldn't help but to feel like a piece of her was missing. And she couldn't help but to wish that Gregory would sneak up from the basement to surprise her with a tale about werewolves and witches, and she would riddle him with stories of wookies and warlords.

Just another week until the big test.. Just another week until she could freely talk to Gregory again. And they couldn't wait.

The weather was getting chillier in the country, and as Aiden packed on the layers, Gregory seemed to have been fine in just his dusty rags.

"Don't you ever get cold?" She frowned at the ripped cloth at his elbows.

"I don't," He smirked proudly, "I'll have you know, Aiden Mills, I have skin tough as a rhino's- ow!"

He was interrupted by a sharp pain in his upper arm and flinched. Aiden had pinched him.

"Skin tough as a newborn rhino," Aiden laughed and spun on around on the heel of her wellingtons. Gregory mumbled in annoyance under his breath, but Aiden knew better than to take offense to that. He looked at her, unamused, as she tried to stifle an evil cackle, but couldn't help but to grin at how happy she looked.

They continued to walk in the dark, laughing so cheerfully they didn't realize there had been little drops of rain hitting their smiles.

"Oh, oh dear," Aiden exclaimed, and hurriedly rummaged through her knapsack. She pulled out a small, clear umbrella and pushed it opened.

Of course she would be so prepared, Gregory thought to himself, pleased and proud to be able to expect that from her. He felt like he knew her so well.

"Here, let me," He said quietly, leaning over to reach for the umbrella.

"Ah! I'm sorry it's so small," Aiden stuttered, already seeing the events fold in front of her.

Gregory shrugged, letting her know it wasn't a problem, but avoided looking in her direction. Aiden felt her cheeks redden as she nodded and walked under the children's sized umbrella with Gregory. Her face grew hotter when she looked up and realized how close she was to his neck. She stiffened, and looked away hoping and praying he didn't catch her staring at him in his peripherals.

He was just, so tall. and warm.

Gregory breathed slowly from his nose, nervous. He noticed how close she was too, and quietly thanked the mechanisms of the universe for creating small umbrellas- Physics, he decided to address his thanks to physics. Every now and then, she would arch her neck to look up at him and quickly glance somewhere else. Then his stomach would lurch every time her cheek brushed his arm.

She was just so small. and soft.

They walked in the rain, letting the soft pitter-patter of the rain fill in the gaps of silence for them. As they got closer to Aiden's house, Gregory noticed her slowly inching further and further away from him- her arm wandering too far from under the umbrella and getting wet in the rain.

And without even thinking, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back in under the umbrella. He felt her jolt, and he himself also jolted at the realization of what he just did. What they were both doing.

And without even breathing, they both held onto each other's hands with no intention of letting go.

"I didn't want you to get wet," Gregory said under his breath, his voice shaking shyly. He looked down at her, his mind racing wildly at how close she was.

"Thank you," She smiled, looking up at him with the same shaky voice.

They laughed awkwardly, and cleared their throats. The rain, again, filled in their silence for them.

"So.. I heard from Tony the other day that Anna got a fork stuck in her hair," Aiden said, her voice layering softly above the sound of rain.

"You won't believe what she got herself into," He grumbled, trying to hide the smile growing on his face- failing miserably as he did.

Gregory gripped the umbrella tighter as they walked, and he gently squeezed Aiden's hand in the other. They walked on, chatting on excitedly like little children, and wishing it would rain every day.

I'm so sorry for being away for so long.

The first chapter I wrote was when I was in my second year of high school.
I'm now in my second year of college. Time never fails to blow me away.

I had been going through my old emails when I came across notifications
of reviews left by people who loved this story and I couldn't help but to feel sentimental
and a little bit sad. And so, I decided that I have loved writing this story too much,
and it deserves the ending I've been meaning to write for years.

Thank you so, so much for sticking with Aiden.
Thank you so, so much for all the love and support you've given me.
A Prescription for Smiles will come to a close soon.