Kyla's POV
Aiden's changing.
She can't even pretend anymore that she's not proud. She watches him and watches how hard he tries and it just makes her smile.
He makes her smile.
They watch TV sometimes, her legs across his lap, his arm over her thighs. He'll be focused on the TV, but she'll be focused on him. He's managed to stay sober for a couple of weeks and she's just so damn proud of him. She tells him as much when they're watching ESPN's countdown of the greatest jersey numbers.
"I didn't do anything," he counters and she slaps his arm without warning. He flinches, but there's a grin on his face that means he knows what she's talking about. He's so content these days. It's a complete one-eighty from the guy he was before.
She likes to call this version of him the OG Aiden.
She saw Aiden before. She never really knew him when Glen was alive, but she knew he was dedicated. She knew he was a good boyfriend.
And now she knows he's an amazing friend.
He's her best friend and when she tells him that he repeats the sentiment back to her. She loves their friendship. She loves that somehow, they've hit a point of peace no matter how small it is.
She wishes Ashley could get here.
She wishes that Glen could have gotten here.
She wonders where they would be if she put the same effort into her ex-boyfriend. She loved Glen. She still loves Glen. There are still moments when she thinks about how he felt so much like home all of the time. There are still moments when she thinks of their first kiss.
"Kyla, you're running too fast." She looks back and sees him trying to juggle his camera and chase her. It makes her giggle and run faster because she knows he'll chase her. "This is a very expensive camera."
She stops when she reaches the small lake by the park. She turns expecting to find him far behind her, but he's right there with his camera. She smiles at him and the hand with the camera drops to his side.
"You're beautiful," he breathes. The words are so soft that she doesn't think they are meant for her, but Glen's been following her for two years. Glen's been watching her for two years with the same yearning on his face.
"I bet you say that to all the girls," she laughs, but he doesn't budge.
"No… never. Kyla…" He takes a moment and she can see him trying to breathe through this moment. She watches as he sets his shoulder in determination. "I only want you, Kyla. Just you."
She freezes. She freezes because she's waited two years for the boy next door to whisper beautiful words. She's waited two years for him to look at her like he's ready to do something about it.
"Prove…" The words don't fully leave her mouth before he's claimed her lips. He kisses with all the inexperience of a teenage boy. His lips are tense and his fear shines through his virgin lips so she wraps her arms around his waist. He relaxes at her touch. He relaxes knowing his advances weren't unwelcome. They stay like that until Kyla places her hands on his chest and pushes him away slightly.
His lips are still puckered when they're separated.
"Did I just blow this? Because it went so much better in my head." He states with his eyes still closed, lips relaxed now. She giggles and he opens his eyes. The fear of rejection waiting beneath a sea of blue.
"Glen Carlin, I'm going to teach you how to kiss a girl." She smirks and jabs a finger into his chest. "But once I teach you, you're only allowed to kiss me. I'm not one of those girlfriends that like to share."
She's never seen a grin so wide when he realizes what she's really saying.
"I promise. I'll be a much better boyfriend than I am at kissing," he jokes.
She loved being in Glen's arms.
She loved smelling his deodorant that he would wear too much of. She loved feeling his scruff against her face. She just loved Glen.
And seeing Aiden better just reminds her of how she failed Glen.
So, she's proud of Aiden… but she kind of hates herself.
/
Ashley is due for a spiral at any point.
She's amazed at how her sister's managed to keep from going full blown crazy. She's amazed how her sister manages to keep her heart together with band aides and string.
But she knows it has to come to a head.
She knows Ashley has let Spencer have it, but even then, Ashley's been reserved. Sometimes she just wants to hand Ashley a box of plates and watch her destroy them. She wants Ashley to let go and just let it all out at once.
She wants Ashley to get it out before they go back to school.
The school board agreed to open the school again. Parents fought to find another way, her parents fought. But schools for the arts don't survive long breaks. They gave an option for juniors to graduate with seniors due to special circumstances. She's decided to take the chance to graduate with Ashley and Aiden. She can't be at that school longer than necessary. This school started out as something she loved, but now she's only reminded of what she lost.
"What are your plans after school?" She broaches the topic while her and Aiden are playing cards in the dining room. She showed Aiden how to play Palace and it's been their thing lately.
"I don't have any," he offers honestly.
Aiden is interesting. She knows he and the other jocks at the school were recruited. She knows that because Aiden told her one day how he ended up in a school for the arts. She figures they keep guys like Aiden around to put their school on the map sports wise. She does laugh when he says that he picked acting as his focus even though he sucks at it.
She finds it cute for some strange reason.
"We're best friends, right?" He shakes his head in agreement because really that's what they are. He lives with her and as a result they spend all of their time together. She can be honest with him and he's honest with her. "I'm going to say something really selfish, okay?"
"Okay," he repeats mindlessly while placing his cards.
"I want us to stay together. I want us to choose the same school or schools no more than twenty minutes from each other because I'm scared to be alone." She rushes the words out in hopes that they don't sound as terrible when they're mushed together.
"Okay," he answers like it's the simplest thing in the world.
"You can't just say 'okay,' Aiden." She doesn't know why she argues against him, but she didn't expect it to be this easy. She expected him to get upset and call her names. She expected to cry and make a huge scene.
She didn't think it would be this easy.
"I never had a plan, Kyla" he starts. "I only chose a school because of Madison and now I don't know what to do with my life. But here's what I do know…" He places his cards face up and she tries not to admonish him because this is a serious moment. "I know we both got dealt some shitty hands. I know that I've been in a dark place and you somehow manage to light my way." He reaches across and his hands are on hers. "I know you're a good person. So, yeah, following you can never be a bad idea." He gives her the softest smile and squeezes her hand.
She has the best friend ever.
She's going to tell him as much when Ashley storms downstairs leaving a trail of fire behind her. Aiden gives her a look and they both know that whatever is happening is Spencer related.
"Should we follow?" She rolls her eyes at Aiden's question because of course they have to follow. Ashley may hate Aiden, but he's probably the only one strong enough to pull her away from Spencer.
The yelling outside makes her throw down her cards and soon she's pulling Aiden outside their front door. The first thing they see is Ashley banging on a car window in Spencer's driveway. It's the same car that's always there and there are a million scenarios going through her head of how bad this can get.
Ashley's finally reached her breaking point.