Close Behind || Aaron Minyard

32

Naomi runs for hours. She comes back hours later when the sun is already rising and she realizes she hasn't slept, that they have practice in a few hours and Naomi has just stopped running.

She walks into the Tower and doesn't go to her room, she goes to the cousins. When she knocks its Nicky who answers and she's never been more glad.

He nods at her, a little unsure why she's there, and when Naomi asks he says that Andrew is on the roof. That he's been waiting there for a few minutes.

She nods and turns to leave the dorm before Aaron can wake up and see her there.

Naomi takes the steps to the roof access two at a time and pushes the door open easily, the door was propped against a brick and left like that for her. She puts it back how it should be.

Andrew is sitting on the edge and smoking. He doesn't turn but he knows she's there. It's early enough that he hasn't taken his meds yet or they haven't kicked in yet.

It'll make this conversation easier.

"Andrew," she says. Not coming more than a few steps from the door. "You don't want an apology and I won't give you one."

"It would be a waste," Andrew agrees. He doesn't look back at her but that's fine. He takes another drag before speaking again. "I told you he was a coward."

"You asked if I thought he'd chose me," Naomi tells him quietly. She takes a few steps across the roof now. "I didn't think he would, I don't think he will. I told you he cares and he does."

"He doesn't," Andrew says dismissively. He flicks away ashes over the edge. "You want me to go to him and end the deal. You think it'll be magical. You'll be with him and I'll..."

"I shouldn't have said that in front of everyone," Naomi tells him lowly, it's as close to an apology as she'll get. "But I'm not wrong."

"Maybe not," Andrew agrees. It sounds like he's getting his teeth pulled out.

"He doesn't believe that you'll stay around with him if the deals over. He's afraid, he was sad when he said it but he doesn't realize it," Naomi explains. "I think- I think he might want me but...he wants you too. I won't let him until he's ready."

"Courteous of you," Andrew muses a little.

"He'll realize it eventually but he needs help and I...don't know how," Naomi admits.

"That part isn't my problem."

"Sure," Naomi agrees. They're both lying. "They're idiots, our brothers. It'll take something big for them to realize it all. Maybe it won't break things, maybe it will."

"Maybe it will," Andrew agrees. He tosses his cigarette over the edge and hefts himself up. He walks up to her and wrinkles his noise at her disheveled after running for hours. "He'll apologize by Columbia. You'll go to the banquet together. You'll keep your feelings to yourself until he comes to me and ends the deal."

"You'll let him," Naomi says. They're laying a ground between them so she has to take what she needs. "You won't let him go but you'll end the deal. You won't let him think it's over. You'll spell things out for Neil."

"Yes," Andrew says.

"Yes," Naomi agrees.

And once again, they have an understanding. Someday they'll be the worst sort of siblings in law and their brothers will hate it.

Naomi grins at him and Andrew bats a hand at her face. They leave the roof and head for practice.

Only problem with practice was Naomi actually was learning to play goalie and that was miserable. At one point Andrew managed to score on her from the entire other end of the court.

She gave up on practice entirely at that point and, regretfully, chucked Renee's goalie racquet to the floor in front of her. She left to the sound of Andrews drugged up ass laughing at her.

When she got in the locker room she furiously started throwing her gloves and bandana and her neck guard onto the ground. Barely refraining from kicking them or stomping on them.

The door opened behind her and she groaned. "Coach, I really don't want to hear it. Yes, I know I volunteered and, yes, I know I can stop at any point. Save it..."

"At this point you should take a week being a back liner, collect all the positions."

She whips around and looks up to find Aaron leaning against the door looking mildly amused. Naomi gapes at him for a second before scowling. "I know I'm being ridiculous. You don't have to remind me."

"But you should remind me," Aaron says easily. She frowns and tilts her head. He sighs and waves his hand. "That I'm being ridiculous."

"I already tried to," Naomi tells him. She crosses her arms over her chest, which is harder in goalie gear.

"I came to say sorry," Aaron says desperately. "Or, officially I'm here to check on you. On Coach's orders."

"I've been checked on," Naomi says. She glares pointedly at the door. "You can tell Coach I'm changing into my normal gear."

"Or," Aaron says slowly, he starts grinning and pushes off the wall. "I can say I'm sorry and ask if we can ditch this place and go get coffee before your freshman poetry class?"

Naomi glares at him for a while, thinking it over, before she tears off her jersey and chest guards. He stares at her, shocked, but doesn't move instantly. Naomi huffs at him. "Hurry up or we won't miss the morning rush."

Aaron grins and tears off in the direction of in the direction of the boys locker room.

A while later after they've changed they start walking. Neither of them text Andrew, which is probably one of the dumbest things either of them have ever done but it's fine.

Naomi is sort of glad they're at least talking again. The problem is, though, she's still mad at him. Aaron Minyard isn't the type to apologize for being so himself, and she knows that, but she has to have some self respect.

So she waits until after he buys her coffee, until after they're sitting together on the grass.

"So, let's hear that apology," Naomi prompts him.

Aaron blanches a little, like she'd thought he would, but then he sighs and sets down his cup. "I'm sorry, you're sort of right."

"Only sort of?"

"Give me some credit for admitting it at all," Aaron mutters. Naomi chuckles at him and just sips her coffee. "I don't believe you about Andrew caring but...I care about him and you're right. Our deal isn't over. Not until graduation."

Naomi hums but doesn't acknowledge that point, it's not lying if she ignores it. "We're allowed to be friends, you know that."

"And I told you I think I want more," Aaron says. He looks over at her but Naomi refuses to look back. "You never told me how you feel."

"I feel," Naomi says slowly. She looks down at her hands and remembers the phantom feeling of the phone pressed to her ear. Maybe one day. "I feel like what I want doesn't matter if you're in the deal. It won't until it's over."

"Will you wait?" Aaron asks her.

"Will you?" Naomi fires back.

He stares at her for a few seconds and Naomi finally, finally, looks back at him. Aaron's eyes are open and honest. "As long as I have to."

"I'll wait," Naomi admits quietly. She finds she isn't lying. She knows she can wait, she knows the deal has an expiration date.

She's never had the chance to wait for anything before but Aaron told her to become Naomi Josten and she's the kind of girl that would wait. So she will.