Aaron POV
Lyrics by Avril Lavigne
I turned to look at her and she seemed shocked, she then reached over to take my hand and replied "Wow. So….why do you call him Uncle Simon?"
"Because he didn't want me and my mom and dad adopted me"
"So that's why you are always angry around him, huh?"
"I try not to be. I am incredibly lucky to have my parents but Bree, I was miserable the past seven years. I was so desperate to get out of Glen Oaks that I asked to live with my grandfather in Florida. So that's when my mom decided she would go on tour and the whole family went and that helped me. I was out of Simon's shadow and I didn't have to see him being a great father to Lisa and Larissa and basically ignoring my existence. I was so excited to come back home and when we did, we found out about his cancer and the fact that he is dying"
"That's horrible"
"Oh it gets worse. Not only is Simon dying he apparently wants to acknowledge me now. How ironic is that? I mean what a bunch of crap, you know?"
Bree nodded her head as I went on "So I'm thinking I don't really need him as a father because I have one, but this man is my biological father, perhaps he can tell me about Sandy or why he slept with Sandy so I decided to give it a shot but there are some days that I get so upset I just want to scream. I started visiting him and then I met you"
"So that's why you never said anything to me?" Bree asked as I smiled a bit sheepishly before saying "Well no. I mean when I first saw you I was too stunned. You're absolutely gorgeous and you seemed nice and then you smiled at me and took my breath away"
"Okay you smooth talker, what do you want me to do?" I laughed slightly before asking "Could you visit him a couple of times next week?"
"Sure" she responded as I smiled at her annd then yawned "thanks"
"No problem" she stated. She then waited a few minutes and asked "Aaron? Why did you tell me this now?"
"Because you are my friend and I want you to know everything about me. You deserve to know the truth. Plus you told me when you broke your hand, and why your dad doesn't want you living here. It was my turn to share."
"Thanks for trusting me enough to tell me this"
"Your welcome. I want you to know that I will always be here for you, no matter what. I promise."
"Even when I return home and you start dating someone like Candy?'
"Even then" I said as she playfully slapped my arm and whispered "Good night"
Brianna POV
During the week that Aaron was gone I was pretty miserable.
I spent every night at his house, eating dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Brewer and babysitting Amanda, Lisa and Larissa and even playing catch with Mr. Brewer and sleeping in his bed.
Which didn't really helped but it smelled like him so I felt as though he was still there with me. It helped that his parents never questioned why I was living there and not going home.
In fact Mrs. Brewer seemed delighted that there was a girl in the house that she could go shopping with and get our nails done. During the week I was happier than I had ever been because Mrs. Brewer was the mother I had never known and I knew that whatever girl Aaron chose to be his wife would be lucky to have Mrs. Brewer for a mother-in-law.
When I walked into Mr. Camden's room that afternoon at the hospital I could see that Candy was taking his meal order.
"Bree what a wonderful surprise! How are you today?" he greeted me as Candy looked over at me and then behind me as she asked "Brianna? Is Aaron with you?"
"No he's in Florida" I replied as I took a seat near Mr. Camden's bed and waited for her to finish up.
When she was finally done she asked "When are you going back home?"
"Two days before school starts" I said as she smiled at me gleefully before saying "Well I guess I will have to comfort Aaron when you leave huh?"
"Yes I guess so" I dryly replied as Mr. Camden hid a smile and Candy walked out.
"So what's new?' I asked him as he shrugged and said "Nothing much. I just want to tell you how I glad I am that you are in Aaron's life."
"I didn't do anything" I said as he shook his head and said "You did do something. I see it in his eyes. He has mellowed out a bit"
"I think that is Mr. Brewer's doing not mine"
"Well you made it possible by giving him what he needed"
"And what is that?" I asked him as he looked at me seriously before saying "unconditional love"
"I…." I began as Mr. Camden smiled at me and said "Don't deny it. You were a gift sent from heaven for him and for the family and I just want to thank you. My girls are so much happier now and it's because of you."
"Well they are so adorable….they look like mini-versions of you"
"They do, don't they?" he asked as he coughed slightly before saying "Brianna, I need you to promise me something"
"What?" I asked him slightly fearful of what he was going to request.
"When I die…if I die…would you tell Aaron I love him? I always loved him but I wasn't proud of what I did when I found out that his mother was pregnant. I did love her, in my own way, but I was selfish and scared and I never took the opportunity that was given to me. In some ways I always felt that I was better than Sandy. She was seen as the a screw up and when she and Martin ahd slept together and everyone thought he was the father...I figured it was for the best"
"Um..Mr. Camden" I began as he went on "No I need to say this. I was just so angry. Sandy had waited until I was married to someone else to let me know that I was a father! She made me miss out on nine years of his life. Aaron was a confused little boy and I had just married another woman to find out that I had fathered a child...It was a nightmare...speaking of which...you and Aaron are not sexually active are you?"
"No" I replied a bit horrified as Mr. Camden visibly relaxed and contiuned "Well I suggest you wait until marriage...although you and Aaron are going to have beautiful children when you do become pregnant"
"Mr. Camden..." I gently began "Aaron and I are not dating"
"And why the hell not?" he asked and then said "is it because of your dad? Does he think Aaron is not good enough?"
"No it's because Aaron and I are only friends"
"Only friends? What is Martin doing to my son? Everyone knows you two are in love..."
"Mr. Camden" I began as he interuppted me "call me Simon"
"Um...okay Mr...Simon, perhaps you need to relax. When Aaron comes home you can share this information about his mom with him" I suggested as he shook his head and said "He won't let me. He refuses to talk about it and I want him to know that. Will you promise me that you will tell him?"
I nodded my head before saying "Yes I promise"
"Thanks. I am feeling a bit tired. I think I would like a nap"
"Okay, I will see you later" I said smiling as I kissed his cheek and walked out. I went through the conversation in my mind and then I called teh elder Mrs. Camden, she would know what to do.
That Friday morning after we had breakfast Mrs. Brewer said "how would you like to come to the recording studio with me?"
"Sure. Are you recording new material?" I asked her excited as she smiled and said "Nope. I heard you singing to Amanda and I thought you might like to record it. You have a gorgeous voice" I blushed slightly and then replied "Okay. That would be wonderful" as I followed her to the car.
We walked into the studio and Mrs. Brewer led me to a booth and said "why don't you try the one you have been humming all week?'
"Okay" I agreed smiling nervously. I loved singing but I never thought I was good at it. I didn't want to disappoint Mrs. Brewer who was so loving towards me and whom I already looked at as a mom.
On top of that, Mrs. Brewer was a professional I couldn't believe that she would even offer me the time to record since she had only heard me humming.
I took a deep breath, put the headphones on, and started singing when Mrs. Brewer gave me the thumbs up.
I always needed time on my own When you walk away I count the steps that you take When you're gone
I never thought I'd need you there when I cry
And the days feel like years when I'm alone
And the bed where you lie is made up on your side
Do you see how much I need you right now
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it ok
I miss you
Aaron's POV
My dad was waiting for me as I walked to the baggage claim "Dad!" I said as I gave him a hug and kissed Amanda on her cheek.
"How was the trip?"
"Great. Grandpa sends his love. He said he will come up for my first game"
"Well you look nice and tanned"
"It was awesome. Grandpa took me to some games, and dirt bike racing and we practice..."
"Well I'm glad you had such a great time, considering you didn't want to go"
"Well I was leaving Bree behind. How did things go this week at home? Did you see Bree at all?"
"We did. She's been at the house since you left and your mom was so excited about it. They went on countless shopping sprees and subjected me to movie night every night, spa trips….it has been an exhausting week as the only male in the house"
"Really?" I asked surprised. I knew that Brianna loved my parents but to spend the whole week there? "Wow "and my dad continued on happily as he added "and to top it off she even went to the batting cages with me"
"No way! I have been trying to convince her to go the whole summer and you ask her once and she goes? So not fair"
"Well I didn't yell at her when she was asking questions and I did allow guys to speak to her…to a certain point." My dad replied as he smirked at me and we walked towards the car.
"So where is my little traitor right now?"
"She's with your mom at the studio"
"Do you mind stopping there?"
"No. It's time for Amanda's feeding anyway"
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"Are you happy? I mean really happy? Do you regret giving up professional ball for me?"
My dad looked at me in surprise before saying "Of course not! I love being home and watching you grow up and now we have Amanda. We have a wonderful family and we are blessed"
I nodded my head smiling as we made our way downtown. We got to the studio where my mom greeted me enthusiastically giving me a hug and then saying "Bree's recording. You can go listen if you want" I walked in quietly to see Brianna singing, her silky black hair held up in a messy bun, with a yellow sundress that complimented her beautiful chocolate skin, and her heart shaped lips set in a pout as she waited for a second and then continued, her hazel green eyes shining fiercely with sadness, confusion, and love as she sang
I've never felt this way before
Everything that I do reminds me of you
And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor
And they smell just like you, I love the things that you do
When you walk away I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it ok
I miss you
I watched as the emotions played over her expressive face. The song was hauntingly beautiful and it was at that moment that I made a decision. I walked out and looked over at my parents who were currently making out with one another.
"Do you need a room?" I asked as my mom pulled away slightly and my dad gave me a glare before I asked "Can I borrow the car? I need to see someone"
"Sure honey, just be careful" was my mom's reply before she launched herself back in my dad's arms and they resumed kissing one another.
We were made for each other
Out here forever
I know we were, yeah
All I ever wanted was for you to know
Everything I'd do, I'd give my heart and soul
I can hardly breathe I need to feel you here with me, yeah
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it ok
I miss you