Tales of the Underground: Crestfallen - 9. The Meetings

As I approached the front door I felt my heart roar inside my chest. I’m a bratty rich kid who’s never faced any sort of downfall or tragedy. What the fuck am I doing here? The closest I have to an issue, is dear old mom and dad not talking to me, and sometimes I think that only helps!

I took in a breathe as I knocked on the big door in front of me. I heard some rumbling, followed by some mumbled chatter before the door finally creaked open. There he stood my so called hero. His dirty blonde hair hanging low towards his eyes, the once beautiful almost white hair seemed to be a metaphor for his soul, as his cold eyes stared me down. “I was beginning to think you weren’t gonna show” he grumbled

“Sorry I usually don’t get out of practice until late” I nervously let out. He welcomed me in and my nose was immediately filled with a stench that smelt like death. I looked around and saw what seemed to be the shape of a person passed out on the couch. “Oh sorry, I didn’t see her there” I whispered lowering my voice significantly

“It’s fine she can’t hear shit in that state” He replied speaking at full volume. In that state? I tried to get a closer look at the person lying there, but it was clear Eli had put a blanket over her to hide her. My eyes darted from the figure to the large picture on the mantle. I immediately recognized the young kid with a golden smile, and those lively eyes I remembered. He was proudly holding a trophy along with another boy. This boy seemed to be the exactly opposite, while Eli’s smile was light and happy this boy’s was cocky and arrogant. His face looked to say “Of course we beat you, what else were you expecting?”. The more I stared at him the more I recognized him as Eli’s old boyfriend, just like in person his dark gaze rattled me. “Follow me” Eli growled realizing what I was staring at. I uncomfortably made my way through the grimy kitchen and down into a basement, that seemed well…lived in. Blankets and pillowed covered the floor, and were joined by empty bottles of alcohol. “This isn’t a museum” he spit getting tired of my stares

“Sorry…My parents don’t really let me go over anyone else’s house unless I have to”

Eli looked over and shot me a dumb look “What?”

“My parents don’t let me over other people’s houses” I repeated

His look only intensified “What the fuck kinda parent’s do you have?”

“Not sure” I shrugged

Eli rolled his eyes and lightly shook his head “Alright, I don’t care anymore. Get the varsity papers out so we can get this over with”

I felt his eyes staring me down as I dug into my bag and took out the sheets we had to fill out. “Did I do something?”

“No” he answered snatching his copy out of my hands.

“You sure?” I prodded, trying to disperse the tension in the room

“Do you think you did anything wrong?” Eli mocked

“No” I let out in a deep sigh

He leaned in slightly “Then why are you asking stupid questions you already have the answer too?”

I took a seat on the worn old couch and tried to get comfortable “You just seem angry”

“Life will do that to ya” he coldly answered. I shifted my mouth at his cynical words “That’s not a cue for you to give me your opinion.”

“I wasn’t going to” I replied slightly raising my shoulders

“Alright why do you fight?” he suddenly started

My face started to turn red and looked at him “What?” I nervously asked

Eli threw me a pen and rolled his eyes “It’s question one lover boy, look competent for 5 freaking minutes and we can get you out of here”

“Why do I fight?” I echoed thinking it over

“Jesus Christ rookie, this isn’t a hard question” he lashed out in frustration “Why…Do…You…Fight?”

“It’s just something I have a knack for, it helps me feel…alive. I’m not a violent person yet there’s something about those minutes where anything goes. Where you put me across from someone else and it’s just full on survival of the fittest. Me against him, no help, no guarantees, just all-out war.” Eli sighed and jotted down some of the stuff I said “So why do you play hockey?”

“Because I like to” he smugly answered

“Eli, come on” I sighed

“Because I like to” he repeated slower

“You know they’re gonna be monitoring our shit to make sure we don’t slack. You want to be benched your first week that’s fine with me” I said putting down the pen.

He looked over at me, and fell silent thinking it all over in his head. He combed the hair out of his face and swooped it to the right. I saw the gears in his mind turn as he slowly thought things over “It’s the only place left my minds at ease. I just exist and react.” he answered breaking the silence. I quickly picked the pen back up and quoted him word for word.

“What was the first match you can remember? What was it like?” he read off

I couldn’t help but giggle in nostalgia “Yeah, I ate punches all night long. I almost got knocked out, finally I snapped into it and unleashed a kick to his head that sent him to sleep” I smiled remembering the moment, and my first taste of victory “You?” I asked as he worked on writing down my answer

I looked into his eyes, and it slowly seemed like the torment inside of him was building “Yeah, I scored the game winner” he quietly answered. I wrote it down, and worried that it wasn’t enough but knew better than to press him. “Why are you a varsity athlete?”

“I like the Jackets” I joked, Eli just rolled his eyes and ignored me “It seems cool, and fun. I think I’m gonna learn a lot. I need to get better at wrestling that’s for damn sure.”

“For me just write, because I got the chance and it’ll get me to play in a Canadian league instead of going to college” he quickly snipped

“Skipping college? That’s pretty cool” I said trying to make conversation

His cold gaze froze me, as he stared at me unamused “Alright last question of the freaking starter sheet until they start giving us more. What’s the proudest moment you can remember so far as an athlete?”

I looked back upon all I had accomplished over my tenure of fighting “Hmm…Maybe like my 5^th or 6^th fight when I actually started getting the knack for the sport. When I actually got comfortable and started stringing together some real combinations. I knocked out the guy within the first 2 minutes, I rang his head like a friggin bell. He kept trying to stand up after but couldn’t keep his balance. That was the night I earned the name Static.” He looked over at me, and for the first time all night I could tell he actually was listening “It seems gimmicky and cheap” I laughed “But it just means something to me. It was the first time I had earned some form of title for myself…some type of identity. It told me who I am ya know? And it gave me so much confidence in what I could do.” His gaze quickly went down to his paper as he wrote down the answer “What about you?”

“Winning the championship back in 6^th grade” I looked over as a smile actually crossed his face “With my best friend, I’ll never forget that moment…it was just so surreal” suddenly a sadness so strong even I caught it spread across his eyes “Forget that, just say getting named to varsity as a freshman. That other thing is just a memory”

“It’s a nice memory” I offered “I’ll write it, it’s genuine”

“Whatever you want” he grunted, but I could tell it meant something to him

“I’m sorry” I blurted out

He looked up and shrunk his mouth “For?”

“Everything that’s happened to you” I committed “I can’t imagine what…”

“Save it” he interrupted “I don’t want your pity. I’m not some…”

“Someone to be saved” I said finishing his sentence for him “I got it, I’m not trying to save you. I’m just trying to be your friend.”

“I don’t need any of those” he responded “I only need myself.”

“We all need friends Eli. Whether we like it or not…we do and I’m not accepting no” I smiled warmly towards him

“I’m not getting rid of you am I?” he coldly shrugged

“Nope” I replied trying to combat it with warmth “You heard coach, you’re stuck with me all year long. Think how close we’ll become.” I teased

“You’re already making me want to stop playing hockey” he joked

I smiled and stared at him “Look at you cracking jokes, maybe there’s life in there yet”

“There’s not” he shut down returning to his normal self. I looked at him and started thinking things over in my mind “What?”

“What What?” I repeated to annoy him

Once more he rolled his eyes “What annoying question are you going to ask me?”

“Does the name Jayden Sanders mean anything to you? That kid that knows you told me to stay away from him, and Jayden mentioned some type of like accident or incident.”

My question only seemed to feed Eli’s sadness as his eyes turned cold once more “No, but I knew his brother back before he hung himself. The bastard left someone important to me, when he needed him most. For all I care he could rot in hell. You wanna be friends with that kid its fine, but just know that his brother was a fucking snake.” He looked over and saw how taken back I was by his cruelty “Why don’t you text your ride that you’re ready to go”

I took out my phone and followed the directions “You’re really that mad?”

“Yup” he nodded

“Then the incident…it had to do with racing?” I nervously pushed hoping Eli wouldn’t murder me

He grew more sad than angry “It was nothing to do with the actual racing, and everything to do with stupid politics and looking to get free money off of someone else’s hard work.” He looked over and saw my curious eyes “Look if you care about your friend you won’t bring up Matty or the racing…no one involved in that situation wants anything to do with it anymore. Fuck even people who didn’t know about it got caught up in that shit storm. Just wait for the checks at school.”

“The checks?” I repeated

“Yeah, f’n cops come through the school and search through the lockers and bags to make sure no one has anything dangerous. Guess they feel guilty about last year’s free for all”

I was shocked at his open confessions, but saw that speaking about it was taking its toll on him “Alright, I understand. You don’t have to say anymore.”

He shot me over a dirty look “Who said I’m speaking about it to help you?”

“You don’t have to do this” I sighed sick of his tough guy act “You didn’t have to tell me all of that, you didn’t have to tell me any of that actually, but you did.” He opened his mouth to speak but I shook my head “its fine, this all stays between us. I don’t care how you carry yourself at school, just be real with me.”

Eli let my words hit him, and we sat there for a few minutes just letting the silence speak for us. “Okay” he quietly whispered as my phone buzzed to let me know Perry was there. I nodded and stood up, and he followed along. We both went to the front door without speaking a word, as I began to walk down the small path I turned to take a final look at him “I’ll catch you at school tomorrow” he somberly let out.

I took a breath, and watched the battle born figure in the doorway “See you tomorrow” I agreed climbing into the backseat of my car.

“You boys accomplish all your work?” Perry politely asked

“I think we’re just getting started” I smiled as he pulled away. The rest of the ride was silent, every now and then Perry would glance back to check if I was still awake, I guess it was odd for him to see me so quiet and not listening to music, but tonight I just felt like thinking things over for a while. When we pulled into the garage I went right to bed without saying anything to anyone. I went about the school day just as calmly, I wasn’t upset or anything, I just needed to reflect on things for a while. If anything I was the happiest I’ve been in days, I just have a lot to think about I guess. Jayden didn’t bother joining us for lunch; I guess I had embarrassed him too much at his locker yesterday. As I walked into my last class I saw him quickly hide his face and look out the window.

I slowly took the seat next to him “Enjoying the view?” He kept staring off without speaking, I slid a paper with my address on his desk “Remember, you’re coming over tonight.”

“About that…” he began

“Nope, no backing out, you ditched us today at lunch. You’re not ditching us again” I said with a smile “We even came up with a plan for Ivy to sneak over, you guys can talk without the interruption of school” I said a little less exciting.

He shook his head and looked down “I don’t like her okay?”

“Like I said it’s cool” I said doing my best to hide my disappointment

“I don’t” he insisted getting a little frustrated “I just don’t do well if there aren’t a lot of people okay? I’m not you, I can’t just talk one on one with people, I need a group to…to… just to feel comfortable.”

“You mean to hide?” I teased. He quietly grunted to himself and turned red “Relax man, I’m not trying to make fun of you. It’s cool whether you like her or not she’ll be there, and the group can justchill. You’re one of us now, don’t let us down.”

He quietly nodded and switched his attention to his notes. The end of school and training, went by faster than I could’ve hoped, I even got the stitches taken out! I looked at the now scarred area that slightly grew into my eyebrow and laughed. Another scar that told a story of my fights, I didn’t bother getting changed or showered. What’s the point? I’m just gonna train when I get home anyway. Perry teased me the whole way about my terrible smell, and how I wasn’t being very much of a gentleman. As we pulled up I saw Henry waiting outside the garage, with Ivy quietly peeking around the corner of the house.

“That’s not Ms. Belpoit I see, correct?” he teased, knowing my parent’s rules were more stupid then effective.

“Nope” I smiled back, as he turned a blind eye

As he disappeared into the house Ivy finally fully showed herself “What are you gonna do the day he finally leaves?”

“Move in with him” I shrugged, leading them into my safe space. I slouched down on the couch and immediately started taping up my fists.

I heard the upstairs door open and Ivy quickly ducked behind the couch “There’s a Mr. Sanders here to see you Aidan”

“Yeah let him in” I called out. My heart started to flutter with excitement and my hand began to shake so much so that I had trouble properly lining up the tap.

Suddenly I heard Perry’s normal footsteps making their way down the stairs, followed by smaller much lighter ones I didn’t recognize “Are you sure you want to get involved with this group Mr. Sanders?” Perry teased.

Jayden quietly shrugged his shoulders and nervously entered the room. He was wearing normal humble clothes which consisted of jeans and a blank t-shirt. His hair was neatly pushed to the side, but struggled to stay in its place.

“Well I’ll be damned new kid actually showed up.” Henry said excitedly “Come join us”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you” Perry joked going back up the stairs.

Jayden nervously took a step before stopping himself “It’s cool, you can come sit down” I offered finally getting my left fist taped.

He calmly took a few more steps before stopping near me “What are you doing?” he asked with curious eyes

“Oh I’m protecting my fists for when I punch the bag” I stuck out my right hand to show him the blisters and scars that covered it “punching does a lot of damage”

“I never noticed that” he spoke so quietly I could barely hear him

“Louder!” Henry screamed “You’re not in a library!”

“Sorry” he nervously apologized growing a little closer

“Don’t apologize” Ivy spit in an attempt to defend him “Do whatever makes you comfortable”

“Oh sorry, I’ll try…”

“You apologized again” I jumped in, finally working on my right fist

“I…ugh…I” he stuttered

“Annnnnd we broke him” Henry said jumping back onto his case

“Why are you being such a dick?” Ivy reprimanded

Henry looked over, as a cocky grin spread across his face “Aidan was just like him before he started fighting ya know? It wasn’t until he learned to take it that he became who he was. Jayden has the same potential”

“No, I don’t” he sighed

“You don’t know until you try” I smiled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jayden take another step closer, and quickly jumped up out of nerves “here take my seat” I offered stepping toward the nearby speed bag

He looked me up and down and wandered toward the couch “Oh okay”

Henry popped up and gave me a big shove to the back “Come on Taylor, let’s see what you’ve got!” I turned and gave him an equally hard shove

He stumbled back a bit but caught himself “Oh you wanna go there?” he joked

“I do, but I don’t think you do” I answered

Henry picked up two of the training mitts, and quickly put them on his hands. He swiped high and I quickly ducked it “Let’s go kid” he echoed as I popped up and quickly laid into his other hand “Again!” he instructed

“Is this normal?” I heard Jayden ask from the couch

“Ohhh yeah” Ivy sighed “This is all they do. I don’t think Aidan ever does anything other than train.”

“I have to” I let out going through the motions

“No he doesn’t” Ivy whispered over to Jayden “He’s got a perfect record, I don’t know what he’s trying to prove”

“If I want it to stay perfect I have to push myself harder. Competition is only getting better from here!” I forced out doing my best to keep up with Henry’s increased speed.

“How often do you fight?” I heard him shyly let out

I turned to catch a glimpse of him but was met with a hard punch from Henry’s mitt which sent me to my ass “Damn it Henry!” I shouted “You’re supposed to go at my speed! I just got my stitches out; I can’t take punches well right now!”

“You move too slow!” he mocked dancing around

“Sorry” Jayden awkwardly sighed

“What are you sorry for now?” I asked getting back to my feet

“I distracted you”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his innocence “No you didn’t. I’m a trained fighter; I can talk and fight at the same time. Asshole over here just went too fast”

“You deserved it” Henry smiled taking another jab at me. I caught the mitt and forced it back at him

“Come over here Jayden” I offered waving him over

“No, that’s okay” he ushered trying to stay hidden

“Yes” I insisted, he made a face but followed directions “Give him the mitts” I commanded

“No, come on” Henry fought “I’m done goofing around”

“Fuck you, you popped me in the head” I reached out and gave him a shove “Give him the mitts”

“No come on, I’m not comfortable with this” Jayden protested, as Henry handed him the padded mitts

“Good, that’s how you grow” Henry lectured “You’re gonna swipe towards his head as if you’re gonna hit him, the hold up your other hand for him to punch”

“Is this gonna hurt?” I could tell he was starting to get even more nervous than he already was

“No” me and Henry comforted in unison

“Don’t lie to him!” Ivy reprimanded

“Alright just a little” Henry laughed “You’ll survive kid”

“Alright let’s go J” I encouraged. He sent his hand towards my head slowly, and I dodged making sure he was keeping up. As I went to punch his spare head I slowed my fist to brace him. He nodded understanding what he was getting himself into. We ran threw it a few more times, the more comfortable he got the more I increased my power.

“Shoudlers low” Henry screamed

I shook my head and continued my exercise “Faster” I demanded. Jayden picked up speed lightly “I said faster Jayden, come on bring it!” The faster he started moving, the more out of control I could see he was getting. I saw his hand start to fade in fatigue, but pushed him anyway “Don’t be a pussy, come on” He swung his hand in an attempt to give it all he had and caught me across the front of the face, I fell right back to my butt like I did with henry but this time I felt a warm liquid start to coat my face

“Son of a bitch” Ivy sighed “I’ll go get Perry”

Henry rushed over and threw me a rag, I immediately forced it to my eyebrow to stop the bleeding.

“I…I’m so sorry” Jayden began to shake of fear “I didn’t mean to…I’m so so so sorry”

“Alright alright” Henry pushed out “Don’t cry about it, he’s fine”

“No, he’s bleeding” Jayden ushered starting to freak out “I cut him, I’m so so sorry”

“Stop” I said finally speaking “You’re fine. I pushed you to do this. This is what training’s all about.” I comforted “The skin was weak, I shouldn’t have even been doing any sort of potential contact. You only reopened it, I’ll be fine”

Perry and Ivy made their way down the stairs with a stitching kit “So Master Jayden got sick of this group faster than I thought he would’ve” he teased “He may be my new favorite” Perry held up my chin to take a closer look but I pulled away “Master Aidan, now is not the time.” I sighed and let him do what he needed to “Never in my life did I think this job would involve learning to stitch someone up, but I’m glad I did” he got together the necessary equipment and began working.

As I squirmed I heard Henry sigh “Aidan stop being such a big baby!”

“He is getting a needle through his face” Jayden defended with a still shaky voice

“That’s not why he’s being a baby” Ivy butted in “It’s because he hates being touched” I stuck my tongue out at Ivy’s words “Oh yeah tough guy? How about I come give you a hug”

“No” I pouted as Perry cut the excess of the stitching

“Alright sir, you’re fine” he reassured “Just no more contact for the rest of the night, the stitching can come off Friday”

I nodded and wiped the blood off my face. As I finally looked over at Jayden, I noticed that he wouldn’t make eye contact with me. I walked over to his still shaking body “It’s okay, I’m not mad or anything” he looked up but quickly turned away “I get cut here so in the cage I won’t get knocked out. It’s okay I swear it is.”

He finally looked into my eyes “But aren’t your parents going to be mad?”

“Ha no!” I let out “If anything, they’re going to love you for it”

He took a step back out of confusion “What?”

“Yeah, Aidan’s parents are totally psycho” Henry began “They only let him hang around people that’ll make him tougher. His dad’s gonna freak out at Aidan for getting hit, but say that he needs to have you over more” Ivy rolled her eye and slouched back into the couch at the reality of his words.

Jayden suddenly started to freak out more than he had been “Oh what now?” I pleaded finally sitting

“I just really hope I didn’t get you into any trouble with your parents” he forced out looking down “It’s totally my fault”

I stood back up and my heart instantly began racing, I gasped in a breath of air, and reached out to grab onto his shoulders “Hey look at me” he bit onto his lip and kept his head down “Look at me!” I demanded “IT…IS…FINE” I looked deeply into his eyes “For the last time you did absolutely nothing wrong. Now shake it off, and man up” As I took my hands off of him I looked down at the now blood stained tape that covered my hands and let out a sigh. I walked over to the punching bag and waved Henry over.

“No” Jayden grunted “I got this”

Henry smirked and let out an involuntary laugh “You sure about that? It’s not as easy…”

“I know how to do it” he insisted

“How’s that?” I asked as he braced the bag

“I used to do it with my brother” for a second I saw some life dance into his eyes before fading back out

“Oh yeah?” I gently pushed hoping to get a little more detail

“Yeah” Jayden responded not daring to let out anymore

I moved my head from one side to the other and got back to work. Every now and then I would look back at Henry in hopes that he would take over. Almost every time we locked eyes he would sarcastically smile and make a face as if to say, you’re the one who wanted this. I mean Jayden wasn’t bad at holding the bag or anything. Sure every now and then he would flinch or give in, but not anymore then Henry does. It was just…with him behind the bag it was harder to focus. Every now and then our eyes would meet and force us to both quickly look away. As the workout wound down I got lost in thought and forgot who was holding the bag. I jumped back and unloaded a full power kick right into the side of it, the force behind the bag was too strong for the scrawny figure holding it, and he was knocked right onto his back.

“Ohhh” I let out snapping back into attention “I’m sorry man, I forgot where I was”

I walked over to help him up but he scurried back to his feet before I could get there “It’s cool, you were just getting revenge from before” he teased trying to shake it off

“Is that right?” I asked starting to laugh

“Yup” he joked pushing the bag towards me

I caught it and swung it right back at him “So you wanna throw down right now is that it?”

I saw some indecision cross his face before he finally gave into his will “yeah that’s right” he uttered taking a weak swing

I grabbed onto the loose thin arm and gave him a good shake “I dare ya!” I teased

“A friend once told me not to let anyone pick on me, no matter what” he said with an evil grin crossing his face. Suddenly he charged me with all his weight. I tried my best to push him away, but he was determined to take me to the ground. As I protected high, he went low, wrapped my legs, and lightly took me to the floor. The second my back hit the ground he let me go.

“Oh shit” Henry let out impressed by what he had just seen “I mean shit Aidan, I know you’re tired but Jayden’s like barely 100 pounds”

Jayden got back to his feet and let out a tired laugh “Sorry” he reached out his hand to pull me back up “I know you have that whole thing about touching, but I couldn’t pass that up”

“It’s cool” I answered grabbing his hand and giving it a good yank “I didn’t think you had it in you” As he pulled me up I swear I caught something in his eyes…something I had never seen from another person before, I can’t put it into words…it was just a feeling.

“Big things come in small packages” he smiled

Henry started to giggle to himself before falling back onto the couch in laughter “That’s what she said!” he yelped between laughs and I couldn’t help but join him in laughter.

Jayden’s face immediately turned a bright red “No! I didn’t mean it like that!” Henry and I only began to laugh harder, causing his face to turn even redder. He looked to Ivy but she just shrugged her shoulders.

“I can’t help you” she spit “You’re a guy just like those two, you’re all jerks”

“You can’t honestly believe that?” he nervously asked

“Of course I do” she said starting to walk towards the sliding doors “You may be the nice little innocent one, but you’re just as bad as those two”

“Am not!” he whined

“Tell yourself whatever you need to to sleep at night” she teased “Anyway my mom’s here, so I’m out.”

“Wait!” Henry shouted jumping to his feet “Take me with you!”

“I took you here! How am I going to get stuck being your ride back?” She lectured

“Because we’ve been friends since preschool and you love me!” He smiled

“Come on ya big dope” she sighed .

As he got up he tapped my head, and gave Jayden a good shove “Catch ya later fags” I saw Jayden cringe a little at the word, but pretended not to notice.

“Fuck you!” I yelled, and just like that they were gone

Jayden uncomfortably sat down next to me “Sorry I’ll text my ride”

I got a little more comfortable and looked over at him “Don’t bother, I’ll just have my butler drive you”

I could feel the tension begin to fill the air again “No, it’s okay. My mom or dad can come get me”

I popped up to my feet “PERRY!” I shouted at the top of my lungs “Jayden needs a ride home!”

“Yes sir” he called down the stairs

I walked back over and sat down at the foot rest in front of him “It’s cool. I could use a car ride anyway.”

“Oh okay” he let out only growing more awkward

“Everything okay?” I offered looking into his big brown eyes

“Just fine” he sighed

I reached out but quickly stopped myself “You can talk to me, you know that right?”

A faint smile crossed his face and he nodded his head “thanks Aidan” I saw his eyes dart from me over to the mma gloves over in the glass case “What’s that?”

I nodded my head accepting that he wasn’t yet comfortable around me yet “My first pair of gloves, I put up my first 3 wins and practiced countless times with them.” I looked over at them “They’re the first pieced to what built Static. Well to my parents at least”

He looked over and gave me a curious stare “You don’t agree?”

“I think I was always capable of making people hear static” I confidently smiled “It didn’t take a pair of gloves for it to happen, just people who believe in me”

“Making people hear static?” he poked “I though that’s just like the word you used for knocking people out”

“It kinda is” I began “but it’s more to explain how I punch. I don’t know why, but when I get a clean shot to someone’s head I shake it like a soda, causing their brain to rattle a little too much, thus making them hear ringing which sounds like static. My coach says I cause more concussions then football”

“Do you like hurting people?” he honestly asked awaiting a serious answer

I let out a short laugh, and as I opened my mouth to answer Perry came down the stairs “Okay Sirs let go shall we?”

We both nodded, and I led Jayden out to the car. As we approached the silver Porsche I saw his eyes light up. He went to say something but quickly stopped himself. I climbed into the passenger’s seat and hooked up my phone to the AUX. Jayden sat directly behind me, strapped himself in and bit his tongue. Perry got the address from a once again stuttery Jayden and took off. I gave the car ride a few minutes, before making the decision to put on music. I mean it’s better than awkward silence right?

As the first two songs passed I looked back to see Jayden quietly tapping along with the music, As a new song began to play Jayden picked up his head and started to get a little more invested into the rhythm “My anxiety’s crawling out from deep within me” I heard him quietly sing along “It burns within as my throat begins to cauterize”

I turned with a smile, and he stopped singing. I stared him down as the next few verses passed “I found the strife won’t make the bleeding stop” I shouted back at him.

He eagerly picked his head back up, picking up on what I was doing “Nor will it take the pain away” we sung in unison. The rest of the song was polluted by our childish screaming and laughter. As the song wound down I couldn’t stop myself from smiling “You like Trivium!” I excitedly yelped

He let out a nervous laugh “Yeah, strife is like my favorite song. I’ve never met anyone else who likes them”

“Alright, let me test you” I quickly scanned through my phone and put on another one of their most popular songs

“Pfff In Waves” he spit “That’s so easy, it’s like their biggest song”

I could help but laugh at how thrilled he was “What else you got on there?”

The rest of the car ride was spent, comparing music and singing along to random songs by our favorite bands. For the first time since meeting him, I felt us really start to click. All the tension that had randomly appeared between us seemed to finally fade for good. As we pulled up to his house I even felt some sadness come from him. I quickly jumped out of the passenger’s seat and opened his door for him. He smiled and climbed out

“Come on, I’ll walk you to the door” I offered letting him lead the way. We approached a nice but modest house. It wasn’t anything big, yet it wasn’t small either.

As we walked up to the porch he stopped to get his keys out “Hey I’m sorry again about the whole stitches thing”

“It’s okay” I shrugged

“It can’t possibly be that small of a thing.” He said trying to get a good look at them “Why are you downplaying it so hard?”

“Because I’ll survive” I said with a laugh “It’s really not a problem”

He finally pulled out his keys and began sorting through them “Oh because they make you look tough” he provoked, dissatisfied with the way I avoided his question

I let out a deep sigh and he pushed harder in the form of a curious stare “I guess I just like what they represent” he tilted his head to the side “It’s like no matter how far 2 things get pulled apart they can always be brought back together. I guess it just helps me know that no matter how bad things get, they can be fixed.” Jayden shrugged his shoulders and shook off the answer “I’m serious” I felt my heart jump to my throat “You’re not alone anymore J. You’re with me”

“Who are you?” he asked in disbelief

I met his doubt with a smile “Aidan Taylor”

“Well Aidan, life doesn’t always get its storybook ending” he spit finally unlocking his front door

“Then let’s make it” I said not daring to waver in the face of doubt

“Let’s” he agreed starting to catch the attitude. He quietly leaned in before catching himself, and jumping into the now open doorway “I’ll see you at school” he quickly spit starting to shut the door

“Catch you tomorrow” I said getting one last good look at his soft face.

Between Eli and Jayden I’ve got a lot of work cut out for me. Yet, I’m not worried at all. I can figure this out, what’s the worst that can happen?