Song for chapter twenty one: Dusk till Dawn by Zayn and Sia

|Skyler|

After Aden got over my revolting surprise on his shoes, he placed his hands on my shoulder and guided me to the passenger seat.

"Ouch," I grumbled as the side of my head smacked against the top of his car.

"Jesus, did that hurt?" Aden bent over to look at me, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. I gave him a flat look. My stomach and throat burned again as if I had just poured more vodka in my mouth. Let me just say, it didn't taste any better coming back up. "I'll take that as a no," he said nonchalantly as he shut the door.

He went around his car to his own seat, shutting the door behind him. He switched his dirty shoes where I had my accident into a pair of runners in the back of his car.

"Where do you live again?" he asked me, sticking his keys in to ignite the engine. I recited my address and he started the car.

"Aden tell me a joke," I slurred, staring at the roof of the car that was now spinning wilder than a merry go round. I needed something to get my mind off of that.

"Um.. okay," Aden said after a moment as his focus was on the road. To my relief, he seemed to take extra care to drive at the speed limit this time. "Why did the man throw the butter out the window?"

I raked my clouded brain for an answer, but it ended up blank. "Why?" I turned to look at Aden, instantly regretting that decision when my head was hit with a throbbing pain.

He looked over at me, a mischievous grin playing on his lips, "To see the butterfly."

I bursted out laughing until I was clutching my stomach in pain. The silent car echoed from my obnoxious laughter. I was bound to get abs after that one.

"That's a good one," I wiped tears from my eyes as I giggled. Aden only shook his head, a small smile spreading over his lips as he drove. When I finally cooled down, I sighed, sinking deep into his leather seats. "You tell funny jokes," I slurred. A moment of silence passed between us.

"Aden I want a hug," I turned to stare at him, my lips pouting. The car spun from the sudden movement I made.

He eyed me from where he sat, a crooked smile plastered on his face, "You'll get one when we get to your place."

I beamed, "Okay, I'm gonna play a song," I stated, sitting back up again and plugging my phone into the AUX chord that was laying between Aden and I. I blinked away the dizziness that once again assaulted me as I sat up and giggled when I found the perfect song.

As soon as it began playing from his speakers Aden groaned at my song choice.

"THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs. "WHO RUN THE WORLD? GIRLS. WHO RUN THE WORLD? GIRLS. WHO RUN THIS MOTHA? GIRLS."

Aden chuckled along with me but still cringed whenever I hit a note that sounded more like a hyena than human. He pulled into a parking spot on the side of the road in front of my building and shut off the engine, along with the music. Surprisingly, he'd let me sing at the top of my lungs that whole time.

"WHO RUN THE—awwww," I pouted when the music turned off. By the time I'd realized it was switched off, Aden was already out of the car.

"Come on Clumsy, we're here," Aden said as he opened the passenger's door.

"But I didn't get to finish the song," I whined.

"How bout this, I'll let you finish it when we get back to your apartment yeah?" Aden asked and a large Cheshire grin spread over my face as I nodded. "Come on," he said again, leaning over me to click off my seatbelt.

His hands grazed over my thigh and I looked up at him, sucking in a breath, the familiar tingles spreading over my whole body. His eyes met mine, a shade darker than usual.

He helped me out of the car, a hand over the top of my head to prevent me from smacking it again. I leaned against him as we made it to my apartment. Luckily for Aden, no one was in the elevator with us. I handed Aden the keys, dangling them above my head giggling like a maniac when we got to the door.

He took them from my hands with an amused eye roll and unlocked the door, guiding me inside before shutting it behind him.

It was pitch black and I knew that Aunt Claire still hadn't gotten back from her emergency work call yet. Who even worked this late anyways? It was waaaaay past ten o' clock at night.

Aden switched on the light as I kicked off my heels, chucking them across the living room as I did so. "That feels soooo much better."

Aden looked around as he helped me take off my purse, setting it aside, "Is there anyone home right now?"

I shook my head, collapsing onto a chair at the kitchen table. "Aunt Claire is... somewhere," I said as I felt my eyes droop.

"Where's your parents?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"Hopefully somewhere beautiful," I mumbled to myself. With my exhaustion I couldn't find it in myself to mourn at the moment. Aden didn't say anything back, only scrutinizing me with his dark eyes, and I laid my head onto the table and shut my eyes. Sleep began to hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Hey hey hey, don't fall asleep yet, we gotta get you somewhat sobered up so you don't feel like absolute shit tomorrow," Aden tapped my cheek lightly and I opened my eyes again, almost jumping out of my bones at how close he was to me.

I could clearly see the freckles that dotted over his nose and some on his cheeks, and the green specks over his dark brown eyes. The proximity between us sent butterflies surging in my stomach.

Satisfied that I was still awake, he headed to the fridge and pulled out a large bottle of water.

He set it on the table. "Drink some of this. At least three quarters," he demanded.

"So bossy," I grumbled under my breath as I opened the lid and brought it to my lips.

I tipped the bottle a little too much and water spilt all over my dress, the cold dripping down my chest and to my stomach.

"Oh shoot. I'm all wet," I glanced down at myself before dissolving into giggles again. "That's what she said."

My giggles were accompanied by Aden's amused chuckles. I looked up at him to find him watching me with a soft expression, his eyes clouded over.

"What?" I blurted out, taking another gulp of water. I think I like the vodka better.

"Nothing, it's just that..." he trailed off. "It's just that I like it when you laugh, you should do it more. You have a beautiful smile."

I flashed him a dazed grin and giggled, "Well, I think you're beautiful."

"Really?"

"No," I deadpanned. "Okay, maybe just a little... or a lot." I chuckled.

"Don't you think I'm hot?" he smirked and I snorted.

"Nope, not even close," I hiccuped, setting the water down onto the table and I giggled at the scowl that he shot me. Now that was a lie. The sober part of my brain echoed.

"I think you know that that's not true," his eyes glistened.

"No, I think I do," I shot him a drunken smirk, that probably turned out to be more of a grimace. "You should tell me more jokes so I can laugh more."

"Sure Clumsy, I'll remember that."

It must've been the liquor in my system, but I didn't feel one bit embarrassed or shocked at how blunt I was. Aden watched me for a few moments with a soft smile, eyes staring into mine and for once my gaze didn't waver. Drunk Skyler was a confident one, god bless.

I pushed the water bottle to the centre of the table, "I think I'm done."

Yawning, I laid my head onto the kitchen table and shut my eyes. I was ready for bed now, and no one could stop me from getting my sleep. Aden gave my shoulder a light shake, and I popped opened my eyes again, groaning in irritation.

"Come on, lets get you to bed," Aden coaxed and I glowered at him.

"I don't want to walk," I whined, turning my head away from Aden. Maybe if I shut my eyes he'd go away.

I heard Aden sigh, "Alright then, you won't walk."

I gasped when I felt Aden's arm slip underneath my legs, and one behind my back as he lifted me off the chair. Without hesitation, I nuzzled my face into his neck and I felt Aden's body tense from the surprise before I felt a small shiver run through him from the contact. I never wanted to leave this position.

"Which one is your bedroom?" he asked.

"First one on the left," I murmured against his neck, my eyes drooping.

Aden pushed open the door with his hip and walked into my room, switching my light on with his shoulder. He set me down gently onto the bed and I rolled over onto my side, facing Aden. He pulled the duvet over me.

"Goodnight Clumsy," he started to turn away.

"Wait!" I called out before my brain could even stop myself. Aden turned around, an expectant eyebrow raised. "I... I don't want to be alone tonight." I sat up again frowning at my lap.

My brain was feeling way less hazy and it was taken over by my exhaustion. I knew that if I was left alone I would not be able to fall asleep regardless of how tired I was. I'd just spent the whole night trying to forget about all my problems and I didn't want it to all come rushing back to me the moment I was alone. The therapy session I had today would no doubt come rushing back to my mind.

"Can you stay?" I asked, looking up at him. His eyes darkened slightly, darker than I'd ever seen and his face sported a conflicted expression as he watched my own weary one. He swiped his tongue over his lips. "Please?"

He sighed and nodded, moving to switch off the lights and to shut the door. I moved over to give Aden plenty of space as he laid down next to me, his face just inches from mine.

With the curtains still open, the New York City lights illuminated my room into a dim glow, casting shadows onto Aden's face. I stared at him, my worn out brain still wanting to memorize every single part of his angelic face along with the familiar scent of his cologne.

From the freckles that dotted over the bridge of his nose to the dimples on his cheeks as he watched me with a small smile, all the way to his sharp jawline that I ached to run my fingers over.

Impetuously, I wrapped my arms around Aden's waist, burying my cheek into his chest.

"Clumsy, what are you doing?" I felt Aden shift in my hold.

"It's my hug," I murmured as my eyelids fluttered and I struggled to keep them open. His body relaxed as he rubbed soothing circles on my back with a finger. At last, I gave in to the exhaustion and shut my eyes.

My thoughts began to fade away as I drifted off and I melted into the pressure of Aden's lips on my temple. His voice was muffled as he whispered, "Goodnight Clumsy."

_______________________

When I came around the next morning, I was immediately assaulted with a pulsing pain that throbbed throughout my whole head. I groaned, rolling over to my side. The bright sunlight drifting in through the window added to my pain.

"Oh shit!" I sprung up, almost toppling off my bed when I realized that I wasn't alone on it. Aden grumbled something incoherent, running a hand through his dishevelled hair as he sat up on my bed.

I glanced down, breathing a sigh of relief to see that I was still wearing the dress I had put on when I left my house, and Aden was also fully dressed, in his t-shirt and dark jeans.

At that moment, last night came crashing back to me. How I'd been reckless enough to get drunk and how Aden had taken me home to sober up. All the way to when I asked him to stay the night with me. My cheeks boiled at the thought of Aden being so close to me the whole night, and my idiot ass hadn't even realized.

Thank god I'd put my dirty underwear away.

"Morning," he gave me a lazy smile. His tousled hair and flushed cheeks had him looking ten times more attractive, it that was even possible.

"Good morning," I said quietly, adverting my gaze anywhere but to him. The last thing I needed was for him to see my scarlet cheeks. I breathed in deep through my nose to try and dull my headache, but I only cringed at the putrid smell of alcohol that wafted from my dress and hair. "I think I'm gonna take a shower." I grimaced, looking at Aden.

Aden smirked, "Good idea, the smell of the vodka on you is bad enough that I could get alcohol poisoning from it."

I rolled my eyes, "I don't smell that bad. It's not like I poured it all over myself," I said as I got up from my bed.

"Well... I would've never been able to tell," he snickered and I threw a pillow at him, muffling his laughter.

I grabbed a pair of leggings and a oversized t-shirt from my closet. "You can help yourself to anything in the kitchen," I turned around to look at him with a sheepish smile. "Thanks for last night."

"Of course, Clumsy," he gave me a crooked smile as I headed to the bathroom. On the bright side, Aunt Claire wasn't home, but from the dishes drying in the rack I knew that she had been home before heading off to work again. Even though it was a Saturday. As it turned out, we didn't have our conversation she so sternly wanted to have with me.

The  shower did not help my pounding headache, and neither did it help to ease the embarrassment of getting shit faced drunk.

I couldn't believe that I'd brought Aden to Aunt Claire's apartment. He was going to ask where my parents were, and I didn't want to lie to him anymore. I just wasn't sure I could explain to him without dissolving into hysterics like I had with Doctor Miranda. I didn't want him seeing me like that.

I got out of the shower, quickly drying myself and my hair off before throwing on my clothes. Glancing in the mirror, I shrugged at my own reflection. I looked presentable enough, even with my frizzy, wet hair.

When I left the bathroom, I was surprised to see the kitchen and the living room empty. I headed back into my room and stopped short at the door.

I knocked on the door with my knuckles. "Aden, are you dressed?" I asked. Not that I would be complaining if he wasn't. My cheeks grew warm again when I remembered the encounter in his room and how the water droplets glistened on his toned chest, or how his damp hair fell over his face. "Okay, times up." I shouted through the door when he didn't respond right away.

I pushed it open and glanced around. My gaze landed on Aden, knelt over on the floor next to the bottle of Zoloft pills that I'd thrown across the room last night. But that wasn't what alarmed me the most, and neither was the old bra peeping from under my bed.

My stomach dropped when saw what he held in his hands.

"Aden..."

In his hands he clutched the newspaper clipping of my mom's death.

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Hope you all liked this chapter! Please do vote, comment and share if you did!

And oh gosh, did Aden find out?

This chapter is dedicated to lunar_cats

~SweetnessInTheSalt