Basic Instinct [stranger things]

75. Questions

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
QUESTIONS

A week had passed and Aaron hadn't allowed himself to slip up. He was going to ignore Steve until he felt the boy had learned his lesson, Aaron felt that two weeks with Steve not hearing from the blond was nothing compared to the years Steve had previously ignored or blanked his younger brother.

His parents had left two days prior, and Aaron couldn't stop the heavy feeling of jealousy that tugged on the depths of his stomach at the goodbye Steve had received in contrast to the one Aaron had.

His parents had literally told him bye as they were leaving the house, meanwhile Steve had not been left alone practically the entire day.

It hadn't necessarily been in front of Aaron, he had been up in his room, but he knew the three were all spending the two adults last day home together.

Aaron wasn't going to go downstairs and make the day awkward. It would have been nice to have his parents at least be civil with him on their last day, but he wasn't going to force it.

The blond had somehow managed to convince himself that he was at fault in regard to the situation, he was the one who had began ignoring Steve when the older boy finally began speaking to him again.

Deep down Aaron knew that the way his parents treated him wasn't his fault. But for some twisted reason, it made him feel a little better to force himself to believe that there was a reason for their seemingly strong distaste towards him.

If Aaron could convince himself that at some point years ago he had done something unforgivable that had caused the rift between himself and the two adults, then it meant he could convince himself that their wasn't something wrong with him.

Something wrong with him that could possibly explain why his parents would view him in such a negative light.

However it was a little difficult for even Aaron to believe seeing as it wasn't a sudden thing. It wasn't like his parents had loved him so much until a certain moment, it wasn't like there was a turning point that made them change their minds. They had been cold to him as long as he could remember, even when he was little he could remember feeling a strong sense of displaced guilt wash over him.

It was obvious he wasn't wanted, it wasn't exactly a well kept secret. And as Aaron grew older he quickly realised that he probably wasn't ever wanted and that it wasn't something he had control over.

Aaron truly believed that his parents had only ever wanted one kid, that Aaron had literally been an accident - it would definitely explain a lot. Although he'd never asked or brought this up to any of his family, already knowing the answer but not wanting to hear it come from their lips. Aaron had the idea that if he never heard his parents say it, then he could brush it off as him overthinking things.

He would never ever bring it up to anyone other than his parents anyway, it was embarrassing. The fact that his parents didn't like him, that he had never even been wanted? It was embarrassing. It embarrassed him.

His friends wouldn't get it anyway. They wouldn't understand it. They'd maybe get how it was shitty of them and sympathise with him and the situation, but they wouldn't get it. They wouldn't get the depths of it, or how big of an issue it actually was or how much it actually bothered him.

So, in order to not make his parents or older brother uncomfortable on their last time seeing each other for a couple months, he stayed in his room until they left.

Only rushing down the stairs to say goodbye as they left. That was it, one word exchanged from each of them. No hug, no mumbling of love you's - nothing.