The Life Of Aaron Prescott

[31] You're Beautiful

The life of Aaron Prescott
Journal Entry Thirty-one; July 10th

My body trembles as he steps towards me.

He's bigger than me, taller than me. Stronger than me. He could kill me if he wanted to and I don't think I would have the willpower to stop him.

I'm small in my dream. I'm eight again, that same scared child that had blamed themselves for their own father slapping them.

I had grown since then, I wanted to yell. I'm stronger than him, I wanted to shout.

But if I was really stronger than him, why did this still happen?

TW: Talk of old toxic relationships/eating disorders after the [***]

A A R O N

It has been three days since I went stargazing with Lindsey. Three days since I had kissed her, and she had kissed me back.

Lindsey had gone to New York with her mother for a fashion show, leaving me to explain ten times over what happened all by myself to Ryan, Mason and Jordan. I'm sure Rose already knew, best friends normally know what you're going to tell them before you even do. It's like a form of twin telepathy.

She will be coming back today though, she has already sent me five texts of the approximate time.

Lindsey <3: Be at my house after school gets out

Lindsey <3: Actually, I want to kiss you and mom's home so an hour after school.

Lindsey <3: Unless you want my mom to know, I don't care then you can come over after school.

Lindsey <3: Second thought, I do care so come over an hour after.

Lindsey <3: 4 o'clock sharp!!!

If this was anyone except her, I would've thrown my phone out the window now and drove to New York just to say shut up but Lindsey's annoyance made my history class a lot better today.

I had a free period last class that I would spend my time in the library reading the final chapter of Unravel Me as I simultaneously texted Lindsey.

With a soft groan, I reached up towards my face and touched the new shiner forming underneath my eye. It reminds me that I still have my problems at home, Walter is still my father and my mother is still dead no matter how much time I spend with Lindsey it'll always be like this until I move out.

It reminded me how Lindsey knew what happened on a weekly basis for me and how she hadn't judged me for it, she hadn't run away that day I stumbled into her house hurt and without an answer. It reminded me that Lindsey would always be here for me, no matter the circumstance.

I hear the smack of shoes in front of me and I raise my head from my page, keeping my finger on the word I was reading. I notice Rose's fiery hair first, then see her stern posture that tells me enough that I put my books down.

"Yes?" I say with a raised eyebrow.

Rose sighs. "I'm going to sound like some deeply in love, overprotected best friend but I don't care. I want to know from your perspective, what is going on between you and Lindsey?"

My face sags with confusion. "She didn't tell you?-"

"Not my point." Rose holds up her hand. "What happened three days ago, really what's been happening for six months now. What does it mean to you Aaron?"

That someone has managed to like me enough like that to stick around.

"It's not just some fling to me, if that's what you mean," I reply instead. "I like Lindsey a lot, like a lot and I probably have for a while now. If you haven't noticed already, I tend to pretend my emotions don't exist."