CHAPTER 02

"Aedion!" I call. "I'm going to find my sweater!' I don't get an answer so I walk into his room, where he's hunched

over on his bed, shoulders shaking gently. I hesitate at the doorway, then go in and sit down beside him. It's not often that I see Aedion like this, so when I do, I know it's something major. "Aedion? What is it?" I ask. No reply, he just buries his face deeper into his hands. Great. I sigh softly, then start rubbing circles on his back, making soothing noises. It feels a bit weird being the older sibling, but at the same time, strangely nice, like I can finally pay Aedion back for all the times he's been there for me.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

I wake up, slightly disoriented. I can't feel my leg. I frantically reach down to make sure it wasn't amputated overnight. Fortunately, it's still there, but the reason I can't feel it is because Aedion's lying on it, fast asleep. Yesterday comes rushing back to me. My sweater, Rowan, Aedion walking in, me finding him crying, us laying together. I sit up suddenly, and Aedion falls off my leg and half onto the floor. He doesn't even wake up, just rolls over (and ends up on the floor). I poke him and he groans quietly. I realise that he's in a deep sleep, so I quietly run out and grab a sharpie. He's in the same position as before when I return, which is good. I start my masterpiece, giggling. Aedion never looks in the mirror, so I should be okay.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

20 minutes later, my masterpiece is complete, which is good, because Aedion's waking up. I dash out of his room to put the sharpie back. As I come back in, he yawns and stretches. "Why does it smell like you in here?" Aedion asks.

"Well. I came in to get my sweater and you were.. crying.. on the bed, so I comforted you, and we fell asleep. I just came back from the bathroom." He accepts this with a nod of his head.

"How about I go get breakfast started?" I say brightly.

"Started? Aelin, we're having cereal. I don't get what needs to be 'started' about it."

"Well I could get everything out." I pout.

"Fine. Go. Do whatever." He shoos me out of the room, probably so he can get dressed. I go downstairs, where my parents are having their breakfast. "Morning Mum and Dad!" I say. "When Aedion comes down, I don't want you to say a word about what's on his face. It's a secret." I make a shhh sound for emphasis. "Got it?" Fortunately both my parents have a streak of humour, so they nod. Just in time too, because just then, Aedion walks into the kitchen. I have to hold back a giggle, which isn't easy, so I disguise it with a coughing fit. Clearly my parents are struggling too, because Rhoe chokes on his coffee and Evalin is suppressing a smirk.

"Good morning son." Rhoe manages to force out.

"Morning? It's still morning?" Aedion looks confused. "Aelin, weren't you getting the cereal out?"

"Well, dearest brother, I was going to, but then I got distracted by conversing with the people who birthed us." I say politely, being careful to overdo it. He looks confused, but dismisses it as me just being over-enthusiastic. I grab the cereal out so he doesn't get suspicious. He snatches it off me and I smirk. There's none left. "How about we go to McDonalds, seeing as there's NO CEREAL LEFT PARENTS" I glare at them, and they look back guiltily. Perfect. My plan for Aedion to be out in public is working. I go outside to the car and make to get in the driver's seat, but Aedion shoves me out of the way. "I do NOT want to die today thank you very much Aelin." He got in, closing the argument. I pout and move to the passenger side. "Let's go to the one by the mall, I wanna go shopping too."

"But why? Didn't you go the other day?" Aedion looks exasperated.

"No it was 3 WEEKS ago Aedion jeez get it right" I moan. "I don't care what you say, we're gonna go shopping." He sighs in defeat.

"Fine. But you owe me one."

"What do you mean, I owe you one?!" I shriek. "I'm buying you breakfast!"

He smirks, triumphantly. "Yeah, but who's driving you?"

"I was gonna drive!" I give up and sulk, glaring out the window.

We're walking around the mall, drinks in hand, when Aedion suddenly pulls me to the side. "What was that for?" I ask irritably, rubbing my arm where he yanked it.

"I just thought you'd like to know that I invited Rowan and we're gonna meet him here." He states. I glare at him. "This was supposed to be a sibling mall trip! Not best friends and one of them's little sister tagging along!" I glare again to make my point. He ignores me, instead waving down Rowan, who is heading towards us. He smirks as he swaggers over, then stops as he sees Adeion's face. Rowan recovers, and he and Aedion do this complicated handshake thing. I glare at him, and he speaks. "I didn't know the brat was coming along."

"The brat was the one that organised it, brute." I hiss, and, using all my Fae strength, punch him in the groin. He doubles over, a look of pain etched onto his face. I smirk, but when he doesn't get up I start to worry. Shit, he isn't really hurt, is he? I drop to my knees and try (and fail) to roll him over. Rowan grins at me evilly. "I didn't realise it would be that easy to get you on your knees for me." All sympathy for him disappears as he stands up, wincing slightly. I glare up at him and surge up and slap him in the face. Hard. Rowan rocks back, and I hear Aedion breathe in sharply. I'd forgotten he was there, to be honest. Rowan glares at me and I smile sweetly. "Don't. Mess with me. I will win." He snarls, and for a moment I think we're actually going to get into a brawl here and now. "We can either do this now, or later at home where people won't see me beat your ass." I grin ferally. He glares back, but admits temporary defeat. I smirk. He is going down later.

*time skip*

We finish up at the mall, and I grab the keys and run to the car. "I'm DRIVING!" Aedion flinches. "Right, then I'm in the backseat because I'm less likely to die in there." Rowan's eyes widen.

"You're joking, right?" His normally tan face pales.

"Yes I am. Well, sorta. Aelin's a bit… unpredictable.. Sometimes."

I grin toothily. Rowan bares his teeth at me and I smirk. "Get your asses into the car so I can get home, I'm tired." Aedion and Rowan reluctantly get in, and I swing myself into the driver's seat and scoot the chair forwards so that I can reach the pedals. Rowan sees this and opens his mouth but I stop him. "If you say something about my height, you'll be crawling home."

"Crawling home?" Rowan says, confused.

"You'll have no legs." I snarl. He shuts up after that.

The drive home is spent in pleasant silence, but then Aedion opens his big fat mouth. "So, Rowan, how are you and Lyria?" I freeze. He has a girlfriend? Shit. He gulps, whether out of nervousness or something else, I can't tell.

"Well, um, actually, she uhh-"

"Spit it out dude!" I can't help it. I snicker at that. They both look at me weirdly, then Rowan finishes his sentence. "She dumped me. I don't know why, but I think she's moving and she doesn't want to lose me as a boyfriend because she knows that the girls love me." I elbow him for Aedion, and we both glare at him. "Don't objectify girls, Rowan." I sneer. He apologises, and continues. "So, she decided to lose me as a boyfriend now, and keep me as a friend. I'm a free man!"

"You're lucky I'm driving right now and can't kick you in the nuts, because that definitely deserves a kicking. Oh wait, I can." I reach over and punch him. He moans. "Was that really necessary?"

"Yes. YOu just compared dating a girl to being in shackles, or something similar." Rowan flushes guiltily.

"Sorry."

"Yeah, you better be sorry. Rowan, you know this means I'll beat your ass harder, right?" I smirk and pull into the driveway. Aedion jumps out and runs into the house, presumably to get away from the car and my driving. I catch a glimpse of his face. I completely forgot to take photos of him! No wonder people were staring at us.