Chapter 12-More troubles

Aaron awoke with a shock, this was the third consecutive night he had had that dream where Carrie had been eaten by a polar bear before the polar bear disappeared into a puff of black smoke. He wandered downstairs and poured himself a glass of milk and walked into the Dining Room. Slouched over the table was Claire who's shoulders where shaking as she sobbed quietly. Aaron sat down on the chair next to her, "Mum? Are you ok?" he asked, touching her shoulder. Aaron felt Claire jump nervously, as she looked at Aaron blankly with bloodshot eyes. "Yeah, are you?" Claire said slowly, smelling strongly of alcohol.

"Mum, have you been drinking?" Aaron asked, startled at his Mum's current state

"No" Claire slurred, making no attempt to hide the half empty bottle of whisky

"What's the matter Mum?" Aaron asked sympathetically "Is there anything I can do?"

"Not unless you know the cure to kidney failure" Claire replied miserably, before clapping her hand to her mouth as if she just realized what she had just said.

"What? You? Your kidney's failing?" Aaron stuttered, not wanting to believe it.

"Me?" Claire laughed dejectedly, "No sweetie, not me, Look sweetie, I'm sorry, I should have told you before but it's your Uncle John, he-he's dying" She said, tears falling from her eyes

"Oh." Aaron replied, tears glazing his own eyes. "How-how long have you known?"

"This afternoon, after your tracking adventure, you know when John and I talked?" Claire replied

Aaron nodded as teardrops ran down his cheeks, feeling slightly ashamed that he was crying, "If only Carrie could see me now" he thought wryly.

"I'm sorry sweetheart" Claire stammered, pulling Aaron into a tight embrace, as the two cried in the dark over the sad news.

The next day, Claire stayed in bed all day with a terrible hangover with Charlie at her beck and call. Once Claire had sobered up a little, she told Charlie about Locke's illness, Aaron meanwhile was out with Carrie. The two where sat on the town's beach, staring out at the ocean, or rather Aaron was watching the waves and Carrie was watching him with a worried expression on his face.

"Aaron? Are you sure you're ok?" She asked "Have I done something wrong?"

"No, it's not you" Aaron replied quietly, "It's just other stuff, how's your mum?"

"My mum's fine, remember I told you before, or weren't you listening to me?" Carrie asked, making the question louder.

"Of course I was listening to you, look I'm sorry, maybe it's just best if I go home, for now anyway" Aaron said, just about to get up

"No" Carrie said "Please don't go, at least not until I know what's troubling you"

"Carrie I'm sorry but you won't be able to sort it out, no one can" Aaron replied

"Maybe I can't sort it out, but I can still help you get through whatever it is" Carrie replied, taking hold of Aaron's hands

"It's my uncle, his kidneys are failing and he-he doesn't have very long left to live " Aaron said, feeling slightly better

"Is he an uncle that's related properly or is he one of the crash survivors?" Carrie asked, looking concerned

"Crash survivors" Aaron replied "But he was there for me a lot more than most of my blood relations" he added bitterly

Carrie nodded "Why didn't you tell me before?" she asked

"I only found out yesterday, besides I don't want to burden you with my problems, especially with how ridiculous they are" Aaron answered

"Well aren't you the hero?" Carrie replied sarcastically "Why do you have to be so stubborn Aaron? The idea of us being together is so we can share our problems" She said, her voice getting louder

"Carrie! What's the matter with you?" Aaron replied hotly "I finally tell you what's wrong with me and you just start yelling at me, and then if I didn't tell you, you would yell at me anyway, I mean for Christ's sake just how do I win?"

"The way you would 'win' is by telling me in the first place, we need to trust each other, and if you can't even do that, then I think we should call it a day" Carrie screamed, as she got up to leave, Aaron grabbed her arm

"Carrie, please, I'm- I'm sorry, I love you" he said, grabbing hold of her arm and finding himself lost in her turquoise coloured eyes

"Aaron, I'm sorry, but I really need to be alone now" Carrie replied, walking away

"I love you too Aaron" Aaron said miserably to himself, and walked home sadly.

"Hi sweetie, what's wrong baby?" Claire asked as Aaron walked in low spiritedly

"Nothing, I'm fine" Aaron replied flatly "Leave me alone" he added, walking up to his room and lying on his bed alone.

Aaron heard a knock at the door "Aaron? Mate you alright in there?" a voice said

"I'm fine, just go away" Aaron replied moodily, instead the door opened and Charlie walked in

"I thought I told you not to come in" Aaron replied, slightly angrily

"Yeah I know you did, but what's wrong mate?" Charlie asked

"It's Carrie, she got all touchy with me before just because I didn't want to tell her about Uncle John's condition, I mean since when is it her business?" Aaron replied

"Since the minute you hooked up with her, Aaron as much as I know you hate it, she's only worried about you and the fact you didn't tell her what was troubling you, made her reconsider your relationship, you see to trust somebody, you also have to confide your trust to them"

"But I don't understand Dad, just because I didn't want to tell her, she got all huffy" Aaron replied, feeling confused

"Relationships are a weird thing mate, just keep your girl pleased. What's this Carrie like anyway?" Charlie said

"Carrie? She's great, one of the prettiest girls I've ever met and yet she's so caring and kind, yet funny and clever, do you wanna see a portrait I drew of her?" Aaron asked

Charlie nodded, as Aaron gave him a sketchbook. As Charlie flicked through the pages, he realised that every page was covered with sketches and paintings of the same beautiful blonde haired girl. "You really like her don't you?" Charlie asked, reminiscing about the first time he met Claire

"Yeah Dad, but those are only paintings, I mean in real life she is perfect, everything about her is just so-… But you know what, none of that matters anymore, she hates me now" Aaron said miserably

"You know what I used to do for a girl who meant a lot to me?" Charlie asked, Aaron shook his head slowly, "I used to write a song for them, we could do that if you like?"

"Would you really help me?" Aaron asked

"Of course I would son, come on let's go and get my guitar" Charlie said

"Ok" Aaron replied excitedly as the two left the room in search of Charlie's guitar.