Fallout and Future

Chapter 10: Back to School

Guess who's back? CWs at the bottom.

---A/N---

Kel walked further apart from Aubrey than he was used to. He noticed a spring in her step, even in the darkness, but didn't comment on it.

The pair were silent as they walked towards Kel's house. He cursed himself for letting himself slip up. He'd tried to keep the things he felt under wraps, but that wasn't exactly easy. He managed it at Gino's when he saw Aubrey gently holding Basil's hand, he managed it when Aubrey confessed her crush on Kim, but now, minutes from when he was going to actually make his move, he was starting to break.

Kel hoped Aubrey's strange behavior was because his feelings were shared rather than her just being uncomfortable.

"Uh... we're here." Kel rushed toward his house, tried to grab the door handle, missed, grabbed it again, and slammed it open. He stood aside, gesturing for Aubrey to enter. God, he was being so obvious.

Even when they were so close, Kel couldn't really make out any details on Aubrey's face, as much as he wanted to make out with it. His parents had apparently gone to bed.

"So, Hero's bed is open..." Kel rubbed the back of his neck, walking inside and silently pleading for a response from Aubrey. "Or do you want to sleep on the floor?"

"I'll take the be-" Aubrey was cut off when the lights in the kitchen suddenly turned on. Kel's mother was standing there, wearing pajamas and looking sleepy; it took him a moment to notice she was also holding a double-barreled shotgun.

"Kel? Oh, I didn't realize you left." Mrs. Darwish yawned. Her eyes widened a little as they moved to Aubrey. "Wait a minute, isn't that the delinquent girl?"

"She's fine, mom-" Kel assured her. He turned to face Aubrey and noticed her clenched fists and barely-contained anger.

"Didn't she bully one of your ex-friends? Bagel?" Mrs. Darwish said, crossing her arms.

"...Basil." Kel sighed. "We're still friends, Aubrey is also one of my friends, and we've all made up. It's alright, okay?" He put a hand on Aubrey's shoulder, hoping she wouldn't do anything too in-character.

"Hmph. Whatever you say, Kelsey. But if she breaks something, you're paying for it." Mrs. Darwish wagged a finger at him before heading back to his parents' bedroom. He supposed it was better than her wagging the shotgun again.

"I'm sorry about her." Kel told Aubrey, whose posture had relaxed a little. "She shouldn't be saying those things to you."

"To me?" Aubrey followed Kel as they began to walk up the stairs. "What about the shit she said to you? You've been outside... what, all day? And she didn't even realize you were gone!" She hissed quietly, so as to not wake up anyone else.

"It's fine, Aubs! I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't have to get used to it!"

"Just drop it, please." Kel led Aubrey into his room, gesturing at Hero's neat bed. His side of the room was far cleaner than Kel's, which had old clothes, food wrappers, basketball memorabilia, and playing cards scattered everywhere.

Aubrey curled her fingers, but seemed to heed his request after a moment. She walked over to Hero's bed and paused awkwardly. "Uh... Kel, does Hero keep pajamas here?" They'd occasionally borrow Hero and Mari's clothing as pajamas during sleepovers, so this wouldn't be out of the ordinary.

"Well, duh." Kel said. "Whenever he's at home."

"But he's not at home."

"Mhm."