The following morning, Aiden woke up at his usual time: 10:30 on the dot. He threw the blanket off himself, then wandered over to his kitchen area, switching on the kettle. He proceeded in making himself a cup of coffee. Just as he sat down and took a sip, he heard Shaundi groaning from the room upstairs. He then remembered why he was sleeping on the couch. Oh yes, he thought, Shaundi came over last night.

He found himself back in the kitchen area. He placed his cup of coffee on the counter, then grabbed a bottle of water for Shaundi from the fridge. He reached into one of his many cupboards and pulled out a packet of Rich Tea biscuits. He pulled four buscuits out, then placed them neatly back in the cupboard. He remembered at his 17th birthday party, his grandfather (who was divorced from his grandmother) got so drunk, that he actually invited Aiden to stay. This was unusual, as he never really displayed a liking to Aiden. He wanted the free booze, Aiden presumed. Anyway, he tried to make his grandfather eggs and bacon in the morning (he was trying to be nice), but his grandfather shook his head, pushed the plate onto the floor and puked in the bucket beside his bed. He asked for some water, and sent Aiden down to the local shop where he lived in Sommerset. He had a small, one bedroom apartment ever since his much younger than him ex-wife Wendy took their villa in Santa Ponsa.

Basically, Aiden's grandmother, Sylvia caught her husband, Aka Aiden's grandfather Rolf, in bed with Wendy. Wendy, a tall, slender 30 year old business woman, used Aiden's grandfather for his money. Sylvia moved to a small bungalo in Sunnyvale Gardens after their split, and took an 8 year old Aiden with her. Aiden's grandfather had worked very hard his whole life running his own housing business. So he got a lot of money out of it, and earned a hefty pension. Of course, he met Wendy at his best friend's birthday party a year before Aiden's grandmother found out. Because she was a tall, fit and slender woman who could have been a model, she attracted Rolf almost immediately. She had him wrapped around her finger, and before she knew it, they were planning on running away to Spain together. Their relationship was hidden for a year, while Rolf tried to figure out how to break off his 39 year marriage. After a long day out shopping, Aiden and Sylvia returned home only to find Rolf in bed with Wendy. Needless to say, Sylvia told a 9 year old Aiden to retreat to his room. That didn't stop him from hearing the yelling and swearing, and Rolf trying to keep Slyia off Wendy. Aiden's grandparents didn't speak until Aiden's 17th birthday party, where Sylvia and Aiden learned that he was back living in Stillwater, without Wendy. When asked why, he explained that she had used him for his money, and had convinced him to place her name down on the house first. Therefore, when their year long marriage ended, she got their villa in Santa Ponsa, and he was left peniless. He returned home to Stillwater, slept on the street for three weeks before receiving his apartment, and was severely unhappy. Rolf died three months after Sylvia.

As far as Aiden was concerned, his whole life had been a catastrophe. He was an only child to a man who was shot dead right before his eyes, and a woman who abandoned him to run away from her shitty life without a husband. He often wondered had his mother ever moved on..and where the hell she had went. Of course, his father's mother was the one who raised him. His mother's parents were back in Spain, probably dead, he wasn't sure.

The 23 year old Hispanic made his way upstairs after his little 17th birthday flashback. There Shaundi lay, with her spaghetti strapped crop top sprawled out on the floor and just a black lace bra in view. Aiden paused at the top of the stairs, and for a moment he thought he would fall backwards at the sight. Shaundi flushed a bright red, covering herself with the covers. Aiden pretended to cough (his cold was gone) and placed the water on the vanity beside her, as well as the biscuits. He went to walk back downstairs, but heard "Boss". He slowly turned around. Shaundi was beaming at him, her eyes shining a little. "Stay" she giggled, patting the spot beside her. Aiden approached her cautiously, sitting down beside her.

They talked for a moment, Shaundi asking him about what he was doing that day. He shrugged and said he would probably hunt Shogo Akuji. Shaundi punched his arm lightly, before asking him he would like to take a break and go to the arcade with her. He agreed. "Great!" she giggled, standing up from the bed. Aiden looked away immediately. Though when she bent over to pick up her jeans, he found his eyes trailing back to her. She was wearing a thong. Shaundi was wearing a thong in his bed. He shook the thought from his head, though something made him aroused. He had never been aroused in his whole life, why did she make it happen?

As soon as they were dressed, washed and ready to go, Shaundi cursed. He raised an eyebrow at her. She explained that she had forgot her make-up back at her place. He laughed, and without being fully aware said "I didn't notice, you look great, come on". He unlocked his front door, and said "ladies first". He caught a glimpse of her as she exited his apartment. She had the biggest grin he had ever seen.

They stepped out into the cold afternoon, and Shaundi took a deep breath of fresh air. Aiden smiled a little, unlocking his car which was parked right outside the steps, and they both hopped in. She instantly began rooting through his CD'S. It was pretty much all 80's music, apart from his My Chemical Romance album. "You like them!?" she laughed, showing him the CD case. He nodded, concentrating on reversing without crashing. She eventually found a Reggae song she liked a lot on the radio, and they drove to the arcade. Aiden found parking across the road. As they crossed, she took his hand and pulled him excitedly towards the arcade. Aiden felt a spark of electricity wonder up his arm as she touched it. He was unsure what that meant, but it felt good. She pushed open the glass double doors and instantly arcade music filled his ears. She led him over to the Skeeball machine (naturally) and they took turns playing that for an hour, before moving on to a car racing game. Aiden had had so much fun with her that day. He honestly did. He found himself laughing, smiling, telling joke and listening to jokes for the first time since he was 5.

Before he knew it, it was closing time. He drove Shaundi home, on the way listening to some more Reggae songs. He enjoyed her company, a little more than he should have in his opinion. He reached her home, and she twisted her body to look at him. "I had fun, I'll see you soon". He nodded "Me too, bye Shaundi". She giggled, and he felt like she was debating on whether or not to kiss him, but she didn't. She jumped out, and headed towards her porch. She lived in a small, two bedroom bungalow near where Aisha lived, just across the town. It looked comfortable enough, he guessed. He waited to see if she would get in, which he found quite unusual. When he dropped Gat or Pierce home, he would drive off immediately. He watched as she dropped her keys, then picked them up. He found his eyes trailing along her body when she stood back up. She was quite unusual, he thought. He looked out the windscreen at the orange sky. It was about half 6 in the evening, and the sky was the most beautiful he had ever seen it. He looked at Shaundi, who was now standing in the doorway waving. He waved, then drove off.

As he drove off back home, back to loneliness, he realized something. He liked her.