The Life Of Aaron Prescott

[32] Bragging Rights

The Life of Aaron Prescott
Journal Entry Thirty-Two; July 21st

Today is that day.

I'm finally fucking 16.

Today is the day that I can get my drivers license, the day I've wanted for a while. Ryan, Mason, Jordan and I all planned on going to the pizza place only ten minutes away from Jordan's for my birthday dinner before we stole some of Ryan's dad's champagne and went nuts.

I was not at Walter's at all today, never had to see his face or the reeking smell of alcohol from him. But I can't help but still wish he cared enough about me to be worried about where I was, and that I had just turned six-fucking-teen.

Wasn't this when I got my new car with some shiny red bow on the front, when Walter was supposed to start preparing me for my drivers test or even just be here in general?

NO, he isn't ruining today.

Today would not be like all the others, I knew it.

A A R O N

Music rings through my right ear, the wire to my headphones following into Lindsey's left ear. My hand is threaded through hers as we walk through the mall, the opposite hand holding Lindsey's bags of clothes and other small things she had bought.

'A Little Death' by The Neighbourhood blasted through our ears before ending and Chase Atlantic's 'Swim' started to play instead.

Today was Ryan's eighteenth birthday, the one day in our whole friendship where I will allow Ryan to be more of an asshole than he already is because he is older than me, even if it is just by five months.

I was helping Lindsey pick out a last minute gift for Ryan today and since I had just bought him a new guitar he has been wanting forever, Lindsey settled on some expensive picks for it.

The guitar might have cut into the bills, but it didn't matter right now because I knew how happy Ryan would be to get this.

Lindsey -my girlfriend- tugged on my hand, making me look up and follow her gaze until I saw the words Barnes & Nobles.

I put on a lazy smile before looking down at Lindsey who looks like someone told her she just won the lottery. "Did you already finish the ones from the library, querida? We were there five days ago."

Lindsey scoffs, waving me off. "So? It was only like three." Lindsey tugs on my sleeve, pouting like a toddler. "Pretty please, Mr. Serial Killer, can I go spend a shit ton of money on books I definitely don't need but want anyway?"

I laugh quietly but for the dramatics feign a sigh, running a hand over my face. "I guess so."

Lindsey makes a sound, almost sounding like a squeal before she laces her fingers through mine and runs into the store with me lagging behind her.

***

I'm seated at a small table in the store now with a half drunken cup of tea and a pile of books in front of my face.

Lindsey has been running back and forth, swearing that this'll be the last one before she remembers a good book she has on her TBR before running back into the aisles.

I ordered some tea from the Starbucks next door and continued listening to music on my phone. It's not like we didn't have the time, Ryan's 'party' was at 7 meaning we had roughly around three hours until then. I wouldn't be changing and if Lindsey was we weren't that far away from Ryan's house anyways.

I glance at the purples bruise running up my arm that starts at my wrist, I have no idea where it ends. I try not to dwell on the random bruises or white scars across my skin simply because what is there to dwell on other then my childhood was fucked up and I grew up too fast.