Brave (New Earth Saga)

Ch. 18

"Are you alright, Joe?" I cautiously asked as I looked up at Joe, who's mood had clearly shifted.

Joe had now rissen to his full height, and was glaring down at Aaron from quite the intimidating angle. I could feel Aaron's discomfort next to me. Right when things were going so smooth too...

"Joe, can you hear us up there?" I asked in a light hearted tone to try and alleviate the tension you could at this point cut with a knife.

Abruptly Joe dropped to a knee, so fast that even my heart skipped a beat from the surprise. "So, Andrew, does your father know you're taking my daughter to this dance?" Joe asked in a rather sharp tone. Mother Earth, cool, calm, and chill Joe was gone, and replaced with a Joe I'm certain I didn't recognize.

"It's Aaron, Joe," I corrected, for Joe had referred to Aaron as Andrew, which was not polite. Joe didn't pay my correction any attention though, he was too focused on penetrating Aaron with his intimidating gaze. Meanwhile, Aaron was clearly even more taken-back by this mood shift than I was. At least I knew Joe would never hurt me... Aaron didn't seem so confident he wasn't locking eyes with his end of days.

"Daren? Does Anthony know you're with Morgan?" Joe asked, once again screwing up Aaron's name. What had gotten into Joe! He was also looming over us in a way that I know he knows makes humans uncomfortable. It's intimidating and unsettling to be interrogated by anyone's dad, but especially by a dad who is a gazillion times bigger than you.

"Um... w-well m-my parents haven't met M-morgan um yet," Aaron answered with fear clear through his every stutter.

"Did you tell your father Morgan's name?" Joe continued to question in a booming voice to our human ears. He had blatant disregard for Aaron's clear discomfort. What the he1l! For someone who's so focused on humans and giants living equally he certainly had no problem using his size to his advantage at this moment.

"Joe, STOP!" I bursted. Joe's eyes darted to me, clearly shocked that I was yelling at him. Next, I said something that I honestly wished I could take back from the moment I said it, but of course, I can't change what I can't change.

"My whole life is not normal since you came in it, and now I don't even have one normal real parent to balance it out. No-This whole time I'm telling Aaron that you're chill and cool, and then you turn around and act like a monster!"

A silence fell amongst the three of us, after the intense hurt I'd clearly inflicted. I am not entirely sure why this level of rage came over me, but I've never used the M word before in my life... until now. Da#nit!

Joe had backed away from us and was staring at me with wide, hurt eyes.

"I-I didn't mean that! I'm sorry!"

"You're right Boss. You two have fun tonight, and I apologize for inquiring to discover this Aaron's true intentions with my daughter. At the end of the day, Morgan doesn't have to like me right now, or ever, but I won't ever stop loving or protecting her. That being said, Aaron, I'm expecting absolutely nothing physical outside of dancing tonight, understand?"

"Y-yes Sir," Aaron responded, wide-eyed and trembling.

Great, just great. I hardly wanted to go to the dance now. I'd screwed up by not warning Aaron, then I screwed up with Joe, who is probably thinking of ways to rid me from his life. Either way, Aaron looked like he was going to piss himself, and was most likely calculating what would be worse, making a run for it now, or later.

Once finally sat in Aaron's car, I broke the silence and began apologizing profusely for everything that had transpired in the last 15 minutes. Aaron stayed silent and let me word vomit to him my charole of apologies before he finally responded.

"Hey, I'm not gonna lie, sure, a heads up that your dad was the biggest bloody giant in all of New Earth would have been nice, but as I think about how our friends and even I have talked about giants around you, I understand why you've kept it on the down low. I mean if Jade saw how huge your house was, she would have tried to throw the after party that never ended there," Aaron said with his bright smile finally emerging for the first time tonight.

"Still, I'm sorry,"

"You know, It sounds like Joe knows my dad somehow," Aaron thought aloud.

"You think so?"

"Well, he was actually being chill until I'd said my last name, which is funny cuz it's not even my original last name anyways. I think we have more in common than even we knew. My biological parents passed away when I was seven, and I was taken to an adoption center. I thought no one would ever adopt me because I wasn't a newborn or a cute toddler, but finally my mom and dad chose me. My dad was actually the one who was apparently insistent on getting a child my age. I guess it was meant to be, so yeah, I went from being Aaron Long, to Aaron Trust."

"Thank you for sharing that. I was also adopted by Joe when my mom and him got married. And um... My mom... she passed away a few months ago..."

With the car now parked, and a silence in the human parking lot, Aaron placed his hand atop mine. His hand was cold, but I swear I could feel the touch warm my heart.

"I'm not going to pretend I've walked a day in your shoes, however, something tells me our shoes come from the same store," Aaron replied, letting his pearly white teeth shine through his bright smile.

______________________________________________________________________

Fall Ball was absolutely magical upon entering. We initially spent most of our time in the human section, which was being held in the human gym. My entire group of human friends looked amazing, especially the ladies. I was happy to see Jade had finally made a choice on what color dress to wear, as she looked enchanting in the fluffy light blue dress she'd chosen. Truly, everything was playing out as I'd imagined, except for Aaron.

Obviously things were uncomfy when he'd first shown up to my house, but by the time we were parking his car and entering the dance, I felt a deep connection to him. He'd been so open with me about his parents, and his family, and I was really looking forward to deepening that connection. However, less than an hour into the dance, and something had seriously shifted. Aaron and I had separated to run to the restroom, and once we reunited he was cold to me. It was as if an invisible wall had been put up between us. I couldn't get him to really come near me, let alone dance with me.

Frustrated by how my night was taking yet another negative turn, I decided to escape to be alone and breathe, even if only for a moment. To be sure that I wouldn't have to interact with anyone, I went to a place in the school that tended to bring me comfort. A place I was certain I wouldn't run into anyone... The co-ed section of the cafeteria.

Exiting the elevator, at the table I usually shared with Logan and Trent, I was surprised to find butterflies zipping through my stomach, and the sensation of tingling heat electrifying me from head to toe. Exiting, my eyes met the most handsome sight I think

I'd ever seen. My eyes met-

"Morgan?" This handsome prince-like being rumbled my name, clearly surprised to see me.

My eyes were wide still taking in the sight of him. Finally, on a whispered breath, I returned my own surprised greeting, "Trent?!"