CHAPTER 4: Understanding Family
"I will show that jerk of a brother," said Pelia as she giggled maniacally to herself. Pelia gathered some items and packed them in her overnight bag that she used when she stayed the weekend with her parents. She quickly looked at her phone to see what time it was.
"9:00 PM, parents probably won't be home for another hour from their dinner party, meaning I am going to be stuck in here till then," she said out loud to herself, as she mentally went over all the things she would need to go back to the dorms early, for that was her plan. She wasn't just going to let her brother boss her around, and she felt safest for some reason while at the dorms. Pelia sighed, content with her decision as she placed the bag over her shoulder and made her way to her bedroom window. Of course her window was on the second floor but thankfully her mother had decided the house looked like more of an estate if it had a trellis with holly and other such vegetation growing on it. Pelia shimmied down the trellis and landed on the ground with no incident, and confidently made her way to the car. As she started the engine she hoped her brother wouldn't be too mad, and would realize that he had gone too far this time. She wasn't some princess to be locked away in some ivory tower, she was his sister, and he needed to realize that and let her in. Pelia hoped the Parry temper wouldn't rear its ugly head this time around. Pelia knew though that it would be inevitable. Parry's never changed their mind. Ever.
As Pelia unlocked her door to the dorm she thanked her lucky stars that she didn't have a roommate, there were some things that using daddy's money wasn't such a bad thing. She threw her bag on her double bed, another perk to having your own dorm, and pulled out her phone hitting play on her half moon run album. As Call Me In the Afternoon rang throughout her dorm room she unpacked her small amount of items from her bag. The last item from her bag was her math textbook, so she took it out, flopped herself on her bed, and started to do the homework that was due tomorrow morning. She didn't think that getting attacked twice in the weekend would be a viable excuse.
As time went on she realized that it would be in her best interest to eat something, and made her way down to the canteen. Sadly it wasn't open at 10 PM but there were vending machines with cups of ramen that would do in a pinch. As she pulled out her wrinkled $1 bill, she heard the door open signaling she was no longer alone.
"What are you doing here?" asked a male voice from behind her. Pelia whipped her head around to come face to face with Aaron. Oh perfect. He looked beyond angry. And she knew some of that would be directed at her this time. "Are you kidding me right now? Pogue better be hiding under a table here or else I will be super pissed," he said, crossing his arms over his ample chest. Pelia had the decency to look slightly sheepish.
"Um, well, not exactly. Pogue locked me in my room, so I snuck out and came here," she said in one breath, now realizing at it was said out loud how stupid and childish she was really being. Aaron looked down at her as he stepped closer to her.
"Pelia, do you have rocks in your head? There is a sociopath who is out there trying to kill you, don't you know the old adage of safety in numbers might be of some use here," he said, pulling out his phone. Pelia's eyes became wide as she saw the phone.
"What are you doing, Aaron?" she asked, placing her arms out in front of her as if to ward off an attack. Which would be coming fast and furious if Aaron was calling who she thought he was calling. Aaron continued to dial, as he looked to her incredulously.
"Your dumbass of a sibling, he should know where you are," he said, as he put the phone up to his ear. Pelia reacted so fast it even caught Aaron off guard as she pounced on him, grabbing the phone from his hand. As they crashed to the ground, Pelia on top of him, she quickly hit the end button terminating the call before it could connect. She sighed in relief, opening her eyes to stare straight in to Aaron's, as they were closer than they should have been. Pelia then realized the precarious position she was in, as her cleavage was pushed flush against his chest, and his arm was holding dangerously close to her derriere.
"Parry, it may be in your best interest to give me back my phone," Aaron said, not impressed as he placed his weight on his elbows so he was leaning closer. In turn Pelia squeaked at the increased contact, now that she was straddling his hips.
"N-no," came her shaky reply. Aaron raised an eyebrow at her response.
"That wasn't the answer I was looking for," he said, as he went to take the phone from her by force. Pelia quickly jumped up placing the phone in her cleavage, knowing Aaron wouldn't go try to fish it out of there. Aaron rolled his eyes.
"Really? You don't think I won't go in there? I am Aaron Abbott, you know. The playboy of Spencer, it isn't unchartered territory," he said, smirking at Pelia who returned his smirk with a glare.
"It's different with me, Aaron, we used to be friends when we were little, that would be weird. Also can't you just hear me out? Please?" she pleaded, knowing she couldn't tell him everything, but she would tell him as much as she could. Aaron nodded to signify she could go ahead.
"Make it quick, as I am not in the mood, I am still pissed about earlier," he said, tapping his foot impatiently. Pelia nodded quickly and started to tell him of the fight she had gotten in with her brother, careful to leave out the parts about the Covenant, that wasn't her secret to tell.
"So, he felt it was best to lock you away while he and his bitches could figure out how to respond to these attacks?" asked Aaron for clarification. Pelia nodded yes. "So you thought the best way to respond to one immature act is to answer it with another by sneaking out?" said Aaron in a sarcastic voice. Pelia pursed her lips together.
"Screw you Aaron, you have no idea what it's like to have an overbearing brother, it's infuriating!" she said, crossing her arms over her chest. Aaron's eyes went dark, as if he was remembering something he wished he didn't.
"Pelia he loves you, that's all, he is doing this because he loves you. You are his family. Just be happy he is still with you to treat you like a little child. Don't you get that, Pel?" he said, a pained expression on his face. Pelia opened her mouth to reply, but didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry, I know that, I do, I just, sometimes I need to get away, and I just can't deal with him tonight Aaron. He will come here, yelling, screaming and being his overbearing self. But today has just been a ball of shit and I just can't deal." Pelia said, looking down at her hands.
"Well, I can't leave you alone, can't you call Reid to come and stay with you then? You guys seem pretty cozy," he suggested, with a slight edge to his voice. Pelia looked at him weirdly.
"That wouldn't work, Reid would have to tell Pogue and Caleb what he was doing," she said, before thinking how weird that would sound to someone outside the Covenant of silence.
"That's stupid; does he have to report to them when he makes a poopoo in the potty too?" Aaron said, laughing at his own joke.
"Ha ha, hilarious," said Pelia dryly, "No, it's just how their friendship works, I can't call any of them."
"Well don't you have any other friends?" he asked as if she should have way more people to call on then those four. Pelia shrugged.
"Not really, the only person I had ever been friends outside of those guys was you, and we know how well that ended. So excuse me for not trying again," she said, looking away from Aaron, not wanting him to see how much that still pained her to this day. Aaron sighed audibly.
"We are not going there, not right now. Fine. I will stay with you," Aaron said, a point of finality in his voice. Pelia looked to him, her eyes wide.
"Uh, no," was her response, "that just, no, that wouldn't work. You can't stand me, and if my brother found out he would kill you," she said, shaking her head. In response Aaron grabbed her arm, pulling her behind him.
"You know I am really getting tired of people pulling and pushing me around, stupid, arrogant assholes," she said, as she tried to pull her arm away. Aaron just held on tighter. When they stopped in front of her dorm, Pelia looked to Aaron in surprise.
"How did you know where I was staying?" she asked. Aaron looked at her through his peripherals.
"I notice things, Parry, now get inside," he said, pushing her forward slightly with his shoulder against hers.
"Fine, fine," she said, opening the door.
"You seriously didn't lock it? There is some guy trying to kill you, you know that right?" he said as he followed her inside. Pelia nodded.
"More then you know," she said, falling on to her back on her bed, placing her arm over her eyes, suddenly overly tired. Aaron stood in the middle of the room after closing the door, feeling uncomfortable. As much bravado he had displayed in the canteen, he still felt awkward being alone with Pelia in her room. A beeping noise filled the room, breaking the silence.
"Shit, I bet that's Po, he's probably figured out I escaped," she said, as she reached for her phone which she had left on her bedside table. She looked at her phone, and saw 5 missed calls and 3 text messages. She sighed as she unlocked her Samsung, seeing the missed calls were all from Reid. A wave of relief flowed over her, maybe she wouldn't have to face the wrath of Po tonight after all. She then looked at the text messages, seeing that Reid had covered for her with Pogue saying she wasn't ready to talk, after Reid has realized she had left through her window and not being abducted. Pelia smiled and called her best friend.
"Pel, dude, this is stupid, where are you? I need to come get you or at least stay with you, it isn't safe out there," he said before she could even say hello.
"Reid, take a breath man, I am fine. I am back at the dorms. And hey thanks for covering with me with Po. What about the rentals?" she asked, worried about her parents response to this new development.
"Yah, like we were going to tell them, not at that point yet. We cleaned up everything before they got home, used to fix the glass and all that. Told them you were asleep already in your room, so don't worry about it." He said.
"Thanks Reid, you are the best," Pelia smiled. Looking up she saw Aaron making a puking motion and she threw her pillow at him.
"Ok, well I am coming over then, I can't leave you alone by yourself," he said, "I won't let on to Pogie so don't worry." Pelia looked worried.
"Reid, I can't ask you to lie anymore for me. I know how hard it is to do that sort of thing with you guys, and don't worry I'm not alone," she said, smiling up at Aaron. Aaron looked taken aback by her comment to Reid.
"What? Who else do you know but us?" Reid asked, confused.
"Hey I am not that big of a loner!" she said. Reid remained silent. "Fine, I am, but it's Aaron, and he has saved my ass twice, so I think he can handle bodyguard duty for the night." She said smiling.
"The whole night?" Reid asked, his voice squeaking slightly.
"Well, duh, look, Reid, I am tired, I will see you in class in the morning, kay? Bye!" she said, not letting him respond as she disconnected the call. Pelia looked to Aaron, feeling sheepish, now what?
"That seemed to go well," he said, as he rocked back and forth on his feet in obvious discomfort.
"Aaron, let's not make this weird. Just come to bed and let's go to sleep," she said, as she pulled back the covers. Aaron looked taken back by her forwardness, but came to the side of the bed anyways, taking off his shirt. He continued to fold it nicely and place it on the chair, then unbuckled his pants.
"Whoa, dude, you don't sleep in the nude do you?" Pelia asked, staring at his pants without meaning to. Aaron laughed.
"Would you rather I did?" he asked, amused. Pelia shook her head vehemently. He went to pull down his pants, making Pelia quickly turn away from him. She went to her drawer to pull out her normal sleep wear; an oversized shirt of Pogue's, this one had a faded Ducati logo on it. She looked behind her to see Aaron had turned the other way, folding his pants. Pelia took this moment to pull his cell out of her bra, and place it on the dresser, then proceeded to pull off her shirt, and take off her bra. As she did this she heard an intake of breath from behind her, making her peek over her shoulder to look at Aaron.
"Don't worry, I don't sleep in the nude either," she said, dangling the shirt from one finger to prove it. Aaron merely cleared his throat in response. Pelia smiled to herself, at least being a girl was fun in some ways, who doesn't love teasing boys? Pelia slipped the shirt over her head, and slipped off her sweatpants, leaving them on the ground where they fell, obviously not a neat freak like Aaron. As she crawled in to her bed, Aaron did the same. The two of them lay on their backs staring up at the ceiling, Pelia holding the covers up to her neck.
"Aaron," she said.
"Hmm?"
"This is awkward," she said, receiving a laugh from Aaron. "Yeah just a bit. We have barely spoken to each other, now we are in the same bed. It's going to be awkward, but I am here for one thing only, and that is to make sure you are still alive in the morning." Aaron sounded so serious that Pelia turned over on to her side to stare at him.
"I do appreciate it Aaron, all of it," she said, smiling softly. Aaron turned to face her as well.
"Whether or not we are friends, we have a history, and I owe it to our old friendship to make sure you are safe." He said, his eyes shining. Pelia smiled at his response. It wasn't a complete answer to all that had happened, but it showed that no matter what she could always count on Aaron. Without thinking about it Pelia reached her hand across the invisible line between the two, and pushed a piece of his hair behind his ear. Pelia's hand rested on his cheek for a moment as the two stared at each other. After a moment, Pelia realized what she was doing and took her hand away.
"I'm sorry Aaron, I didn't meant to do that, it just seemed to come naturally," she said, turning away from him to rest on her back once again.
"Don't mention it," he said, his voice thick. Pelia hoped that he was affected by her as she was by him or else this just wouldn't be fair. Every nerve in her body was reacting to the nearness of Aaron's body. Pelia wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them, press her body against his, and let go of all the pent up frustration and kiss him with all she was feeling, without thought. Pelia breathed deeply trying to make her mind think of anything else but the body sleeping just a few metres from hers. She moved her foot slightly and came in contact with Aaron's, making a flame of desire go up her leg making her twitch.
"Sorry," she mumbled, knowing her face was going red with embarrassment.
"It's not that big of a bed, Parry, so don't worry about it, just relax and get some sleep," he said. Pelia sighed, knowing that obviously Aaron wasn't in the same agony as her, or he wouldn't be able to sleep either. Pelia hadn't let herself realize it, but she liked Aaron, and that was part of why she couldn't let him go. She had forced those feelings deep down, hoping they would just disappear. That of course never happened, so she was deciding to be honest with herself, perhaps it would help her get over him quicker.
As Pelia lay there for hours, unable to sleep for obvious reasons, she had too much time to think. Too much time to think of Aaron, and what she means to him, what she wants him to mean to her, and what she wishes she would mean to him. She sighed as she yet again turned over for what felt like the millionth time.
"Parry, seriously, can you pick a spot and stick with it?" asked Aaron, his voice thick with sleep. "Well I'm sorry, I just can't seem to get comfortable," she said, sliding to be on her side to face Aaron, who was already facing her. She looked at him sheepishly.
"Plus I have never shared my bed with a man before, so this is weird," she said, her face blushing. Aaron chuckled.
"Not even Garwin?" he asked, smirking. Pelia looked at him incredulously.
"Seriously? You are still on that whole me and Reid thing? Nope, never even with Reid, he is my best friend and that would be gross," she said. Aaron shrugged.
"Well, I think maybe you should tell Reid that cause I am pretty sure he is in love with you," Aaron said, completely serious. Pelia was shocked.
"I really don't think so Aaron, he's like my brother, nothing more, nothing less," she countered, wondering where on earth he would get that idea from. "Look call it man's intuition or whatever, but try not to be so oblivious when a man shows interest in you, you could end up breaking his heart or leading him on without knowing it," he said, staring anywhere but in her eyes. Pelia wanted to counter that blanket statement, and opened her mouth to do so, but the timid look he had on his face made her rethink.
"Well, I really don't think I do, but I will try and be more conscious of it?" she stated, more of a question, wondering if that was what Aaron wanted her say. Aaron nodded slightly and turned back over to his back, placing his right arm behind his head. Pelia sighed, their conversation had taken an odd turn, giving her even more to ponder. Just great.
At some point in the night Pelia had managed to actually get to sleep, she couldn't remember when as her head was still fuzzy with sleep. All she knew at this point was that she was absolutely cozy and had no intention of moving, as she snuggled closer to the body next to hers, feeling completely at ease. The arm around her middle held her tighter, as she lazily ran her hand up and down his side. Pelia then realized what she was doing, and who was in her bed, and froze. Aaron was in her bed, she was currently in his arms. Oh boy. Was it bad that she didn't want to move and hoped he didn't wake up for awhile so she could just lay there? Pelia decided to be greedy and pretend she was still sleeping as she laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. She sighed contentedly, this is what she needed and also wished she didn't need. This was making her infatuation with Aaron all the harder to ignore and all the harder to get over. Pelia placed her hand gently on his chest, reveling in how fit he was.
Pelia felt Aaron start to stir, and tried her best to seem like she was still asleep. As Aaron opened his eyes, he knew that Pelia was awake, and had been for the past 30 minutes. He smiled as he looked upon her face, a small smile forming on her lips. He had enjoyed having her in his arms, as much as it seemed she enjoyed being there. Aaron knew this was dangerous territory but he had fought against his innate attraction to Pelia for years and having her this close made all his hard work go out the window. Aaron pulled her tighter to him, forcing her to open her eyes in surprise, he loved surprising her.
"Aaron?" she stated, her voice legitimately full of sleep as she had yet to use it. "Morning sleepy, did you know you snore?" he asked sweetly, smirking. Pelia gasped, embarrassed. She hit him on the chest where her hand was currently resting.
"I do not!" she protested, her face flush. Aaron sat up against the head board, pulling her with him. He heard her intake of breath as his hand dipped lower to pull her with him.
"A little handsy in the morning, are we?" she asked, her voice breathless. Aaron smirked again.
"It sure is fun to tease you, Parry, especially in the morning," he said, his arm still wrapped around her, and her head now resting on his shoulder. "But I figured it was time we got up, school starts in a little over an hour," he said, looking at his watch. Pelia sighed seemingly sadly.
"Do we have to?" she asked, akin to a child. Aaron found her current expression adorable and tried to suppress that. He was giving himself too much freedom with his thoughts of Pelia, and that needed to be in check if he was to maintain his promise to his family. They could never know how much he was getting mixed up in Covenant business.
"Aaron, what's wrong? You looked upset about something," she said, her face peering up at his. Aaron smiled down at her.
"It's nothing, just thinking about some family stuff, no big," he said, ending that line of questioning before it could begin. Pelia smiled.
"Okay, cool," she said, as she started to disentangle herself from him to get out of bed. Aaron felt immediately a sense of loss when she was no longer next to him, and grabbed her arm, pulling her back against him.
"Aaron! What are you doing?" she asked, her face inches from his. Aaron looked in to her eyes, searching for any sign that what he was doing was wrong or against her wishes so he could stop himself. But all he found was a want mirroring his own, as he touched his nose with hers.
"Pelia, I am going to kiss you if you don't stop me," he said, his voice thick, his eyes closed as he breathed her in, waiting her reply. Pelia stayed silent for a moment, then did something that completely surprised Aaron. Pelia placed her lips upon his, kissing him before he could follow through with his threat. Aaron immediately wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her to fit the front of him, every part of them touching as they explored each other for the first time.
Pelia had no idea what had come over her, but when he said he was going to kiss her, she couldn't wait for him to finish the war within himself; she needed to feel his lips against hers at that moment. So she did it. She kissed him. She placed her lips on his, before he could, and she had caught him off guard. That thought made her smile slightly, to think she could catch Aaron off guard was something in itself. Pelia let herself become immersed in the kiss, as her hands trailed up his back and rested in his hair. Aaron's hands went the other direction, as one ended up holding her side, and one cupping her bottom tightly. Pelia gasped slightly, the sensation overwhelming; she had never experienced these kinds of feelings with any other man before. They scared her and excited her at the same time. As Pelia let her hand explore the muscles of Aaron's back, he deepened the kiss eliciting an involuntary moan from her. Pelia could feel Aaron smile against her lips, reveling in the fact that he could have that effect on her. Pelia wanted to slap him for being so smug, but she merely bit his lip instead. She could feel his reaction to her against her leg, and knew in that moment she would let him have all of her. She wanted him to be her first, and that thought scared her as she had never felt that before.
Aaron changed positions, placing Pelia on her back and laying himself over top of her, covering every inch. He wanted nothing more than to bury himself with in her, wanting her more than he has wanted anyone before, and he felt that she would let him, which both excited him and scared him. He tried not to think as he continued to kiss her, letting his hands explore her body like they have wanted to do for years.
"Pelia Parry, you open this door right now, or I will break it down," came an angry Pogue from the other side of her dorm room, breaking the moment between the two almost lovers. Aaron stared at Pelia, her eyes flush with want, which he assumed only mirrored his own. Pelia attempted to apologize with her eyes, looking as disappointed as he felt that they were interrupted.
"PELIA!" Pogue yelled, signaling his loss of patience.
"P-" she started, her voice coming out as a squeak," Pogue, just wait a sec would ya?" she yelled, her voice a little too husky for her own liking. Damn Pogue, she would pay him back for this one day.
"Well hurry up, you have a lot of explaining to do!" he yelled, impatiently. Pelia rolled her eyes, as she grabbed some scrub clothes to quickly throw on to look presentable before her brother. Pelia looked to Aaron but he hadn't moved.
"Uh, Aaron," she whispered, "don't you think you should, oh I don't know, put a shirt on?" she asked, laughing at his lost expression. Aaron nodded, grabbing for his shirt beside her bed. Pelia stared openly as he placed it over his head, then stood to grab his pants. Pelia looked away sheepishly, as he was still pretty happy, reminding her what could have happened between the two if Pogue hadn't shown up.
"Did you want me to go?" he asked, pointing to the window. Pelia shook her head no.
"My brother needs to see that you are here to protect me, and that is all you were doing last night, we just won't mention this morning," she said, winking at him. Aaron smirked in reply. Pelia smiled as she went to open the door to her overbearing brother.
"Pogue, so nice to see you this morning, lock anyone else away lately?" she asked sweetly. Pogue glared at her, his eyes filled with anger.
"Pelia, what were you thinking? I locked you in your room for your own protection, you were being unreasonable, and I needed to talk things over with the guys," he said, then pushed his way in to her room. He stopped dead as soon as he saw Aaron sitting on his sister's bed. Aaron smirked and waved at him, making his anger sky rocket. Pogue stomped his way over to Aaron, and hauled him up by the ruff of his shirt.
"Abbott, you have no need to be here, what do you think you're doing in my sister's bed?" he said, his words dripping with disdain and veiled threat. Aaron looked unfazed.
"I was merely doing what you and your band of idiots haven't seemed to be able to do lately. I was protecting Pelia," he said simply. This did not seem to dissuade Pogue's anger, as he merely pulled the shirt tighter. Aaron still did not make a sound.
"Abbott, you will stay away from my sister, or you will answer to me," Pogue said, his knuckles going white from how hard he was holding Aaron up.
"I do not answer to you Parry, or anyone, and Pelia is old enough to make her own decisions, and you are not letting her. She answered your immature act with one of her own," he said, anger dripping in to his tone, "and I actually care about her, seemingly more than you do, and as I have proved before I can take care of her, so just leave her be," Aaron said, as he pushed Pogue away from him. Pogue looked startled that Aaron could exhibit so much power as Pogue stumbled backwards.
"She isn't yours to take care of, Abbott, just stay out of her life," Pogue said, advancing forward again.
"Just stop! Both of you!" yelled Pelia, having both Aaron and Pogue look her way. "Aaron is right, Po, I am a big girl now and can make my own decisions. I choose, and want, Aaron back in my life. And as long as he wants to be there, I will let him. That is my decision." She said with a point of finality. Aaron looked at her surprised that she would be so open and honest about it. Pogue looked to his sister, all anger dissipated, a worried expression on his face.
"Pel, I am just worried he will hurt you again, like before. You were so depressed. I hate seeing you like that, I don't know how to get you out of it," Pogue said, really sounding like he was at a loss, "I just think you should leave it to us, your brothers, to take care of you. We all need to talk, just the five of us, I don't want to keep shutting you out, I really don't, I just don't know how else to protect you from this threat expect by keeping you as far away from it as possible,". Pelia's eyes glistened with unshed tears. Her brother had never been so honest with her about how he was feeling, or his take on the situation before. She went to him.
"Po, I understand, you're my big brother, you want to keep my away from anything that could hurt me, but he's coming after me, that makes me apart of it, and you have to accept that. And you have to accept that, for however long, Aaron is back in my life, can you do that?" she asked, wrapping her brother in a tight hug. Pogue wrapped his arms around his little sister.
"For now I can," he said, then looked to Aaron, "but if you hurt her again, I will hurt you more,"
"Understood," Aaron said, smiling.
"And Pelia, we will talk about this more after class, I will come get you after English, kay?" he asked, pulling away from her. Pelia nodded.
"Sounds like a plan," she said, a genuine smile on her face. Pogue nodded, then left the dorm room, closing the door behind him. That was a big step for Pogue, Pelia knew, as he had left Aaron to take care of her. Pelia smiled, finally her brother was starting to come around.
"Pelia?" said Aaron from behind her. She turned to face him, smile falling from her face as she saw his expression.
"Aaron?" she questioned.
"Did I really hurt you that much?" he asked, looking straight in to her eyes. Pelia let a tear fall down her cheek unchecked, answer enough for Aaron. "I am really sorry I did that, you seriously meant everything to me, it was the last thing I wanted to do, but there was so much that happened at that time in my life. I can't tell you about it, not right now, but maybe one day I will be able to." He said, as Pelia stood motionless before him. "Just know that I do not want to hurt you again, I don't care what anyone says, I want to be back in your life, okay?" he said, smiling at her. Pelia laughed as she jumped in to his arms, holding him tightly.
"That works for me, Abbott."
a/n Thanks so much everyone for reading ! I am loving writing this story. Let me know what you think of my version of Abbott :D Rainy.