-
When we got back to the house I became a little nervous. I almost didn't go in, but Aaron just kept on going, leaving me behind, and I definitely didn't want him being alone with them after today.
Okay, how am I going to defuse the situation without interfering at the same time...
Chance gave Aaron a look as soon as he walked into the living room. "Aaron-" he started with an irritated voice then stopped when he noticed me standing beside him.
He sighed, a little hesitant to bring the topic up with me around.
Aaron just glared at him, and I gently elbowed his side. He looked at me in confusion, and I subtly shook my head.
He stared me down for a few moments before giving in and sighing, staying silent.
Good.
"I think you have something to discuss with me, Chance?" I smiled slightly and he made a face.
"Ah, right. I'm sorry Riley, I didn't find the right time to bring it up, given current circumstances."
"What exactly have you been told?"
"The school aren't accepting you back next term, they 'aplogized' for the unfortunate circumstances but say they can't afford to keep you onboard and other bullshit like that." He sighed sharply. "I tried my best to argue against it, but unfortunately they have legal rights to make that decision based on your attendance and grades."
"I see..."
I don't really have anything to say to that. That's just life isn't it, typical.
Ugh.
"We'll apply to other highschools in the area, but the nearest one is Caleb's private school which has a low acceptance rate. The nearest public school is three hours away by car."
"I cant afford to travel that much every day, also don't have a car." I chuckled.
"It's not really my area of expertise, but perhaps there's options for online school?"
"Yeah, probably..." I sighed. "Or maybe I could just, not."
"Not finish school?"
"Sure, I wasn't going to pass many subjects anyways."
"Riley..." Aaron looked at me in concern.
"It's best if we discuss this later. With fresh minds." Chance excused, before giving Aaron a look again.
Mature.
I looked up at Aaron to see his reaction, but he was just watching me and ignoring him.
I smiled at him before turning and leaving the room.
Caleb was sitting in the kitchen by himself and I walked up to him and sat on the barstool beside him.
"Hey." He smiled at me and I smiled back before glancing behind me to check on Aaron. Thankfully he'd followed behind me and was currently staring at the cupboards like he was contemplating making something.
"What are you sitting in here for?" I wondered and Caleb shrugged.
"Helps to change location sometimes, I'm just revising." He looked down at the papers in front of him. "Also means I don't have far to go to get a snack."
Ugh, revising...
I really fail as a human being.
"How about I make you some dinner so you don't have to worry about that?" Aaron suggested and Caleb smiled, his eyes lighting up.
"Yes please!"
"The usual?" Aaron asked as he turned and opened a cupboard.
"Yes please..." Caleb started to act shy and I realised it was because he noticed me watching him.
"Sorry, you just lit up when he suggested that." I chuckled.
"Who doesn't like food being made for them?" He chuckled and I nodded in agreement.
"Good point."
"You can eat this too Riley, it's vegan." Aaron added and I made a face.
"Uh..."
He sighed at me when I seemed unsure. "I hope one day you won't see food as just an annoying chore." He complained and I smiled sheepishly.
"I'll eat some, thanks." I forced myself to say and he shook his head at me. "What? I said I'd have some!"
"Your mouth did maybe." He sighed and I narrowed my eyes.
I need to find out what he means by that, do I have a visual tell or something??
"I promise I'll eat it." I stated.
"I'll give you a smaller plate."
"Yay, compromise." Caleb chuckled.
"Um, what is it?"
"Creamy mushroom Carbonara." Caleb chirped and I blinked.
Okay, won't lie, that does sound nice.
"Ooh!" A shout from behind me made me jump. "Can we have some???" Alex practically yelled as he ran in with an empty snack bowl.
"Yes, but you can't have more snacks if you do." Aaron stated and Alex pouted.
"Fineeee." He huffed and left the bowl on the counter before running out when his controller buzzed.
"What are you smiling at?" Aaron asked when I turned back around.
"Hm? Nothing."
I'm glad he still has a good relationship with his younger brothers, despite seeming irritated by them in secret. I guess that's just a very typical older brother thing to do.
And he's definitely not referring to Caleb when he says that, which is good, because Caleb clearly likes him a lot.
Which makes his suggestion to move out even more worrying.
My phone vibrating distracted me from my thoughts, and I looked to see that I had a message from Erin.
Ugh, Erin, I still hadn't gone to see him. The longer I leave it the more tense it will be when I finally do it.
Typical, a text asking if I'm coming back to school soon.
I guess I should break the news...
What do I even say...
Maybe I should wait until tomorrow...
"You alright Sunshine?" Aaron's voice distracted me and I looked up.
"Hm? Yeah..."
"Are you talking to Erin?"
"Yeah..."
"About school?"
"...Yeah. I haven't told him yet."
"You should probably tell him sooner rather than later."
"Yeah..."
"What's up?" Caleb looked up from his work with a frown.
"Got kicked out of school." I answered and he looked at Aaron for confirmation.
"Seriously?" He seemed shocked, glancing between us like he was expecting me to start laughing.
"Yes." Aaron answered and Caleb made a face.
"No!"
"Wow you're reacting more than I did."
"Are you coming to my school??" He wondered and I chuckled.
"No, I'm a bit too dense to go to your school."
"Riley."
"Aw man, that would have been cool."
"Nah I would have just made your friends think you're weird because you have a bizarre home life." I commented and he snickered.
"No way! My friends are all like me so they're pretty open minded." He chuckled. "Although it is a very odd situation."
"Like you? In what way?" I wondered curiously but he immediately froze, like he realised he'd made a serious mistake.
Um.
He looked to Aaron unsurely and he just smiled at him and hinted to me with his eyes.
What am I missing.
They continued to have a strange eye conversation for a few moments.
"He's fine." Aaron eventually said out loud before turning back around and Caleb looked at me.
Okay?
"Um my friends are transgender." He answered awkwardly.
Right, unsure why that would make him nervous to say?
Oh.
Ohhh.
Wait, I can't be sure that's what he's implying.
He looked at Aaron for reassurance again. "...Me too." He smiled awkwardly.
Well I wasn't expecting the conversation to go in this direction.
"Oh, okay."
Um, I had no idea.
I should say something else.
"Well that's cool you've found people you can be comfortable with to call friends." I added and he smiled.
"Yeah, it is. We met in the LGBT society." He bit his lip. "Are you okay with that?"
"Hm, what? Oh, yeah of course. Sorry I was just intrigued by the strange eye contact conversation I just witnessed." I admitted and Aaron chuckled.
"Eye contact language is an art we've perfected." Caleb smirked.
"Thanks for telling me." I smiled at him and he nodded before getting on with his work.
I looked up at Aaron to see he was smiling at me. He looked down at the counter quickly and I raised a brow
"Uh, do you mind chopping these vegetables?" He asked and I stood up.
"Sure."
I walked around the counter and noticed Caleb was laughing.
"What?"
"If Aaron asked any of my brother's to do that they'd have a hissy fit."
"Why?" I wondered and he paused.
"Uh..."
"Don't be putting ideas in his head now, your brothers are just lazy." Aaron gave Caleb a warning look and I frowned.
"I'm confused."
"They're lazy and don't like doing chores." He answered.
"It's hardly a chore..."
"Exactly!" Aaron exclaimed, pointing the knife at me and I put my hands up. "Sorry."
"I don't see you chopping any veggies." I commented as Caleb seemed to find something very amusing.
"I'm revising!" He defended.
"Hmm, convenient. Especially considering I am not a textbook and your eyes have been on me for the past few minutes." I stated and he pulled his tongue out.
I moved back slightly, jumping a little when I bumped into someone and realised Aaron was standing directly behind me.
Uhh.
He quirked a brow at me with an amused grin and I narrowed my eyes at him. "Don't do that when I am holding a knife." I warned and he chuckled.
"You wouldn't."
"Who knows what my reflex would do."
"You're more of a flight rather than fight animal." He teased and I gave him a look. "Actually, freeze is most likely."
"Unfortunately true..." I complained and he looked a little concerned. Oh right, he probably thinks I'm referencing... "You're no fighter either." I changed the focus quickly. "At least not until recently."
"I would and have held my own in a life or death situation." He raised a brow and I frowned.
Have...oh! Right, of course. Duh. Finn.
"Right, okay, I'll give you that."
"How are you so casual about that..." Caleb commented, looking a little uncomfortable.
"What's being uptight about it going to do?" I asked, concentrating on what I was doing as Aaron moved away.
"I guess..." He sighed.
"Everyone responds differently to trauma, if it makes you uncomfortable I won't bring it up again, don't worry." I reassured.
"What? I wasn't even there I don't have the right to tell you not to talk about it." He chuckled awkwardly.
"You were, and you experienced your own trauma. You have every right to be open about how it makes you feel." I explained and he just blinked at me.
He eventually smiled. "Thanks. I can see why you and Aaron work so well together." He commented and I almost chopped my finger off.
What??
I looked back at Aaron unsurely and he blinked at me.
"I didn't say anything." He insisted and I looked to see Caleb smiling.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, deciding to roll with it calmly.
"Well you're both really good at working through other people's feelings and giving them wise advice but you're awful at your own feelings." He commented and I scoffed.
"Who says I'm bad at that?"
"Literally everything says you're bad at that." Aaron added and I gave him a look.
"Well apparently you're also bad!"
"That's true. Well, I am at least open about my feelings unlike you." He admitted and I huffed.
"Fine. Maybe I am."
"You've just got to work through it, it'll help if someone points out when you're doing it."
"Okay, deal. But you're going to have to work through your defensiveness with your older brothers." I stated and he made a face.
"Not really the same thing."
"Well I feel like it's important. See, I'm working through it already." I said and he looked a little confused before chuckling.
"You're so funny." He teased with a slight eye roll.
I just quirked an eyebrow at him before putting the knife down. "I think I'm done?" I wondered and he walked over a little too close, or maybe I'm just being hyper aware.
"They're a little big."
"They're chopped. You should have said if you wanted diced or sliced." I defended and he raised a brow at me while giving this deep chuckle that made me shiver slightly.
Eek, moving away.
"Oh so now you're a cooking expert? Sit down, I'll finish this off. Would be dangerous if you tried to go smaller with your vision."
"I can see the knife and my fingers, good enough." I defended as I circled around the counter to the barstool.
"Lord, please don't chop your fingers off." Caleb made a face and I rolled my eyes.
"I wouldn't have!"
"Better safe than sorry." Aaron smiled and I pouted.
"Are you sad about not being able to cut vegetables?" Caleb raised a brow and I chuckled.
"Good point."
-
I've got to say, that meal actually was very nice, so it wasn't that hard to eat it.
As usual being confined in a room with the younger brothers for a length of time was an interesting experience. But considering how bad it could have been, it went quite well.
Alex was quieter than normal so that was what probably kept things less.. dramatic.
Aaron was very insistent that I ate as much as everyone else which was borderline traumatic. I just get full quickly I can't help it!
Eventually I told him to stop mothering me and he didn't seem very impressed with that. Although it did stop him from pestering me so no regrets there.
I knew he would get awkward when it came to going to bed so I made sure to stubbornly stay in his room and not give him a chance to wonder if I was going to do otherwise.
To be honest it felt the same as it always has, I got ready for bed like I usually do, I got an offhanded comment from Hunter about how I'm trying to steal Aarons room like I usually do. Then I simply went to bed, both of us staying to our side like we usually do.
Technically they're both his side though, do feel bad about that. Not enough to actually move out though screw that.
Aaron talked about random shit a lot like he usually did. Well not exactly random, you can always count on it being about animals, or the environment.
And it being when you're just about to fall asleep.
"Riley..." He brought me out of a light doze again and I chuckled.
"Mhm."
"Thanks for not commenting on how long it'd have been for Caleb to tell you today."
"What? Oh, I didn't really think about it to be honest. He didn't have to tell me."
"Well, usually you'd feel a little off that he didn't trust you or something."
"Hm, I didn't really see it like that. I'm assuming it simply didn't come up until now... A year since I met him." I chuckled. "He's not the most talkative, and it's not like he owed it to me."
"If you leave it a long time it just gets a little awkward to bring up."
"Yeah probably." I mumbled half asleep.
"... Riley?" He asked and I chuckled.
"Yes?"
"Are you really not wanting to continue school?" He questioned and I sighed.
"I don't know... I'll sleep on it."
It then went quiet again but I could tell he wasn't going to settle down any time soon.
"What's up?" I questioned without opening my eyes.
"What? What do you mean?"
"You're anxious."
"Am I?..." He trailed off and I turned and looked at him.
"It better not be for or about me." I tssked and he smiled at me.
"I'm always anxious about you."
"That's not healthy!" I shook my head. "How about we both be anxious about ourselves instead?"
"Oh well I'm that too." He snickered. "Are you saying you worry about me?" He quirked a brow.
"Obviously." I answered and he frowned.
"Obviously?"
"Well I obviously don't like it when something is bothering you?"
"Oh, right, but you're not worried like there's someone wrong with me?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.
"No Aaron, there's nothing wrong with you." I sighed. "Majorly."
"What?"
I chuckled at his concerned face, sitting up more. I noticed he angled himself away from me slightly. Definitely self-conscious...
Don't tell me he's gone back to how we were before...
"Aaron." I called and he looked at me for a few seconds before looking at the sheets.
"Yeah?"
Typical.
What am I going to do with you...
He frowned at me when he noticed me chuckling. "What?"
"Nothing... you're adorable."
"What?? What did I do?" He frowned at me, looking almost offended.
"There's nothing wrong with being adorable!"
"I don't want to be adorable! YOU'RE adorable."
"Wow, you went there."
"See? You don't like it either!" He grumbled and I started laughing and shaking my head.
"I'm messing with you...but really, what's wrong with me saying you're adorable?"
"I don't want you to think I'm adorable, I'm not a rabbit!"
"Literally an hour ago you were calling me that! Do you think I'M a rabbit?!?"
"That's DIFFERENT!"
"HOW??"
"It's you."
"What's that supposed to mean??"
"It's you! You're adorable and gorgeous and beautiful and that's what suits you but that's not what I am supposed to be!"
"You know what I think you're supposed to be?" I raised a brow, ignoring the massive blush his last sentence caused.
"What?"
"Not someone with toxic masculinity!"
"That's not what this is!" He complained and I snorted before chuckling. "Stop messing with me and go to sleep." He grumbled with a frown and I bit my lip.
"I'm sorry! It's just so easy." I apologised and he shook his head at me, thankfully with a badly hidden smile so I knew he wasn't actually angry.
I smiled before leaning my head on his shoulder, slightly amused at how much he visibly tensed up. "If it makes you feel better, I only think you're adorable on top of other things." I said and he turned his head slightly and narrowed his eyes at me.
"I somehow suspect whatever you're about to say won't make me feel better."
"I also think you're extremely handsome, and gorgeous, and captivating and dependable-" I cut myself off with laughter as he practically squirmed.
"Stop! Don't say things like that."
"What?? A compliment?"
"I don't like it."
"Wooowww. Can't take a compliment huh? Would you rather I use super manly words like strong and masculine" I teased, putting on a deep voice and he rolled his eyes at me.
"It's not like that."
"Then what? Are you too shy? Too adorable?" I smirked.
"You're relentless."
"You're pretty."
"I'm not taking you seriously now so it's not going to work."
"You're beautiful!"
"Riley."
"Stunning..." He pretended to be reading on his phone and I started chuckling. "Alurring.. enchanting ... mesmerising..." I frowned trying to think of words. "Tantalising." I immediately snorted and he gave me a look.
"It's late and you're not funny."
"...Tempting.."
"Tempting? What? What does that mean?" He frowned and I snickered. "...I will gag you."
"Ooh, kinky."
"Look I've learned my lesson okay! I'm sorry for keeping you awake, now go to bed and release me from this hell." He snapped and I had a small moment of confusion before breaking into full on laughter.
"What is so funny now??"
"Normally people don't consider being complimented hell!"
"I don't like it."
"You're so adorable..." I couldn't help but tease one last time and he turned himself towards me with a flat expression. I blinked at him, almost intimidated, but instead just leaned forwards and kissed him on the cheek, chuckling at his surprised
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