Dead Girl Walking ― Aaron Minyard

57. the blue

you came out of the blue like that
i never could've seen you comin'
i think you're everythin' i've wanted
― gracie abrams

♦

LUCKILY FOR MARA, Renee and Allison had taken the initiative to pack Mara a bag—a blessing, since Dan didn't come out of their bedroom until they were ready to leave. 

Once everyone had pulled themselves together, they headed downstairs in a scattered line. Everyone tossed their bags into the bed of Matt's truck, and he secured a net cover over it before they split off to their respective cars. 

As Allison unlocked her car with her fob, Nicky asked incredulously, "You're taking a convertible to the mountains?" 

"It's a rental cabin, not the middle of nowhere," Allison scoffed. "C'mon, Mara, you're riding with Renee and me. And your boyfriend's not invited." 

At Aaron's near-offended look, Mara gave him a consolation kiss. "It's two hours—we'll survive." 

♦

Allison, Renee, and Mara reached the main office first, collecting all of the keys and leading the way to the cabin itself with Matt's truck right behind them. 

The massive cabin looked rustic on the outside and refined on the inside, with smooth log walls and polished wooden floors. The main room had heavy rugs strewn everywhere and decorative bones and art on the wall. The kitchen was stocked with all-new appliances, and an oversized magnet on the fridge advertised what time buffet meals were served at the main office. The back room had both a Foosball table and a billiards table. There was also a TV mounted on the wall. 

By the time Andrew's lot pulled into the dirt drive, Mara and the upperclassmen had already divvied up the bedrooms. One was downstairs, the other four on the second floor. Allison immediately claimed the master bedroom upstairs for her and Renee to share. Mara picked the one across from it, with a queen bed and an ensuite. 

Aaron found her there, sorting through the clothes Allison and Renee had packed for and thanking Renee's god that the woman was there to curb Allison's fashion impulses and include more comfortable clothes than impractical ones.

"Hey," Aaron said softly, standing in the doorway. "Are we sharing?" 

"If that's okay," Mara said. "If... we're okay."

Aaron stepped into the room, coming to sit next to her on the bed. "I think we are." 

"Even after... everything?" Mara asked. "I was cruel, Aaron." 

"To protect me," Aaron said. "To protect the team. It sucked, and I never want to go through it again."

"So why try again?" she whispered. "Why risk it?" 

"Because I love you," Aaron said, like it was really that simple. "Because you chose me, and I chose you—and I'll keep choosing you, as long as you keep choosing me."

"I do," Mara said without hesitation. "Choose you."

"Then we're okay," Aaron said, and that was that. 

Mara laid her head on his shoulder and reveled quietly in the relief. 

The sound of someone clearing their throat in the doorway brought the two out of their moment, and Mara looked up to see Allison looking unimpressed. 

"We're getting in the hot tub, come on," she said pointedly. "You two can make-up fuck later." 

Mara groaned. "Jesus, Allison."