Lost in the minute of it all

Part 6

The sun went down and the winter sky was dark, yet the mall ice rink was more alive than ever. It seemed like the holiday vibes were in the air, fairy lights decorating the place entirely, and music was heard in every corner of the mall.

Emerald and Aiden had been skating all night to the point were they couldn't feel their feet, but that didn't stop them from taking a stroll under the stars.

"And while I'm out to my family...I'm not out to the team, let alone anyone at Rainbow High", Emerald exhaled deeply, "how 'bout you?".

Aiden feels himself go stiff. "What do you mean?? I'm not-"

"Look dude, it takes one to know one. Also I think I have a super power of spotting people who are in the closet and I know my powers don't lie!"

Easier said than done, Aiden felt the urge to to bend the truth, even worse - straight up lie. He had never been friends with someone like Emerald, the last thing he wanted was to feel like the odd man out - even though he was familiar with the feeling for as long as he can remember.

"Well your powers clearly don't work because I'm indeed out and proud", Aiden reassured.

"Could've fooled me", Emerald shrugged, "So how'd you do it? I love listening to other's stories...what's yours?"

"I uh...I came out during an instagram live at the age of fourteen. I didn't care if my family would disown me...I wanted to live my truth", Aiden wished what he was saying was true.

"Mine did", Emerald sighed.

"Sorry to hear that"

"It's cool, I had other family too, and all of this...It just made me tougher on the outside".

He was the kind of guy Aiden aspired to be, it made Aiden fall in love with him even more...But He wanted to be brave.
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Emerald was kind enough to offer Aiden a ride home. Getting to see Aiden arrive home safely reminded him of the days before his family threw him out, but he shoved those thoughts back into the darkest depths of his mind.

It was another late night drive for Emerald, only this time he was alone with his thoughts. One of which happened to be the realisation that he hadn't gone to visit Maddie at her place in a while, perhaps it was never too late.

He pulled up by her door, ready to collapse into her couch the minute he stepped in, but there was a problem.

"Maddie?", Emerald's heart shattered into a million pieces at the sight of Maddie sucking some random guy's face.

"Babe! I-I thought you weren't coming over today!", she pushed the guy away, leaving an awkward tension between them.

"I wanted to surprise you", said Emerald blinking back tears, "but you know what, screw it!", he stormed out with all the anger in his now hollow heart.