At 15

Chapter 8

Aaron woke up the next morning sore and bruised. He didn't want to leave his bed but he wanted to see how Emily was. Getting out of his bed he got into his school uniform and completed his morning routine. After he and Sean walked to school

"Are you alright?" Aaron asked his younger brother

"Yeah shouldn't I be asking you that you're the one that got hit" Sean said

Aaron didn't reply

"Thanks for taking my hits but you should really stop." He continued

"It doesn't matter Sean. Can you see them?" The older Hotchner asked referring to the bruises from his father

"Only if you look closely." Sean replied

Aaron was about to say something when Emily yelled their names from across the street she started running towards them

"Hi!" She said as she threw her arms around Aaron's next and kissed his cheek. As she pulled away she say a bruise

"Oh my god what happened to you?"Emily asked worriedly

"Nothing, let's just say that Sean and I should really stop climbing trees" Aaron said quickly laughing it off along with Sean. Emily just gave him a weary look

"Okay if your sure" she said taking his hand

"I'm sure" her boyfriend replied and squeezed her hand

Sean yelled a 'see ya later' when he saw his friends and walked across the street towards them

"How are you today?" Aaron asked hoping she was feeling better after her panic attack yesterday

"I'm better. Dad left as soon as we got back something about an emergency at work but moms home" Emily answered as they walked through the school gates

"I'm sorry." He said

"What for?"

"Not picking up on your anxiety" he looked down at his feet

"Aaron you don't have to be sorry. I tried my best to hide it." Emily told him stopping inform of him she pulled him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her tightly which wasn't unusual but his hold was firmer than normal

"are you sure your okay" Emily asked
He didn't reply he just hugged her tighter and nodded his head from its place where it was in her hair

"Okay if your sure. You can talk to me though anytime you know that right?" She told him

"I know" Aaron answered as he broke the hug and took her hand again

"Come on let's go to class" he added as they walked into the building

3 hours later

Emily and Aaron were in home room when Emily felt her phone ring in her skirt pocket.

"Emily you know the rules. Answer the phone and put it on speaker." It was a new punishment at their school if your phone wasn't on silent. Emily looked down at her phone and saw her dad on the screen she was starting g to worry as he never called her when he was busy with important things at work looking up and Aaron next to her she started feeling her throat tighten

"Hi dad." She answered as the whole class listened

"EmGem you gotta listen to me." Richard started as he felt tears rolling down his cheeks