"Casey, I know I promised that we'd spend some time together today, but they called in and said that they really need me so-"
"Go ahead, Dad," Casey assured him, shooing him towards the door. "I'll be fine." She was getting used to the idea of being alone a lot. As long as she had something to fill the silence, she was fine. Besides, she hadn't wanted her dad to notice how unsocial able Casey was. Once he'd left, the house fell silent. Eager to create sound, Casey took a shower. Upon exiting the bathroom, she let out a scream. On her couch sat Aaron, watching TV like he lived in the apartment.
"What are you doing here?" Casey shouted, clinging to the only thing covering her body, a towel. Aaron took little notice of her figure, as though he'd seen it all before.
"Watching TV, what does it look like?" His sarcasm was heavy, waiting to pick a fight with her. Casey made her way to her room only to stop dead at her need words.
"Doesn't this remind you of something?" Her body tensed.
"No," she replied calmly, a chilling sound coming from her mouth. "No, it doesn't." She was about to go into her room when Aaron continued.
"Oh, come on, Casey. I've got better fish in the sea, and I don't even have to force them." Casey immediately slammed the door in retaliation. "It's not like I really did force her," he muttered to himself, turning his attention back to the TV.
Within her room, Casey was shaking, trying to force herself to block it out, but she couldn't. Aaron had opened up the wounds and now she had to watch the blood flow.
That night, when they'd went to the park, they'd sat on the grass gazing at the stars. The typical thing that would seem so romantic if it hadn't been Aaron and Casey. They teased back and forth, occasionally Casey slapped him. It was as it usually was. They were friends who were constantly on each others nerves.
"Casey," he'd said. "We're almost thirteen now and-"
"Oh! I know!" Casey interrupted, as was her style. "Can you believe that we're gonna be teenagers?" Aaron shook his head at her childish reply.
"Yeah, but there are some things we're gonna need to know when we get there." Aaron played Casey like a fiddle. She took the bate.
"What kind of things?" she asked innocently. He took her hand in his, gently stroking the top of it with his thumb. Casey noticed it, but Aaron could tell that she didn't mind. She didn't pull away.
"You're gonna need to know what I look like under clothes, and I'm gonna need to know what you look like. It's part of becoming a teenager." She nodded her head in understanding.
"But I don't think my mom would agree," she protested. Aaron put his mouth to her ear.
"Your mom and mine don't know about this stuff because they're old. It's just part of the secret new teen code." Casey was unsure of herself, but wanted to be accepted. Aaron had always told her what she needed to do to achieve that. If she didn't have Aaron, all she had was Lizzie and her friend, Amy. But even Amy could get a little annoying. Aaron was the one she trusted, the one she didn't think would ever turn on her.
"Ok," Casey agreed. Aaron had his lead in, removing her shirt, finding her bra.
As he went to remove it, Casey flinched. "Wait." He stopped her hand where it was. On the hook, about to undo it. "I can't do this."
"Casey, your half is almost done. I promise." Aaron was persuasive, and as he said these words, he unhooked it. It fell on her lap as she let out a gasp, reaching her hands to cover up her breasts. He took her hands in his, and moved them towards him. For a moment his eyes didn't leave her chest. Casey was uncomfortable, wriggling herself away. His hands wouldn't loosen.
"Let go!" she shouted, trying to pull away, but instead, he moved closer. To Casey's distress, he was on top of her, pressing his lips against hers. She pushed him, but his body couldn't budge. "Get off, please!" Her begging only made him more attracted to her. Like a beast preying on those weaker than it. He moved his lips farther down, from her throat until he reached the bridge between her breasts. Fear and natural instinct took over Casey and she was able to push him off, kneeing him in the groin. She quickly put on her shirt, stuffing her bra in her jacket, and began running. Aaron didn't follow after her. That night, she'd snuck back into the house, tears streaming down her face. After that night, Aaron refused to speak to her. "You should've let me," he stated, as though it justified itself.