In the shadows, under the bleachers

Chapter 20

Four weeks, one entire month. That's how long it's been since I've seen Will. Sure we've texted and talked on the phone but I wanted to see him, I also missed his touch. I know it was a stupid thing to think but I had just gotten so used to and comfortable to his touch, I missed it. Mom and Dad had left again, no surprise there. They're divorced now, although it should've happened ages ago I was sketching when there was a knock on my door.

"Come in," I shouted busy shading a random sketch that I came up with. It was of a blue whale.

Mark looked hesitant, "Hey Aiden, can we talk?" He stood in the door frame awkwardly.

"Sure come in," I said flatly placing down my pencil and paused my music and turned to him still in my chair, "What is it, Mark?" He crossed the threshold and moved to the bed and just sat there for a while, "What is it, Mark?" I repeated he didn't say anything just stared at me blankly. After around thirty minutes of trying to get an answer out of him I was fed up and annoyed. "Dammit Mark would you answer me?" He was in my room, in my space and I didn't like it.

He blinked and scowled, "Don't you dare fucking yell at me Aiden." I flinched slightly, he never raised his voice. "God Aiden," He scoffed and rolled his eyes, "You stupid fucking brat!" He yelled, I was taken aback.

"Are you drunk?" I asked. I mean that would explain his sudden change in mood.

He scoffed again, stood up and got up in my face. I could smell the alcohol, "What are you-"All of a sudden I felt a jolt pain explode all over my cheek before he stormed out slamming the door behind him. I stared door in shock.

What the fuck was that?

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A few hours later I walked out of my room into the living room and found Mark passed out on the couch surrounded by beer cans and bottles of liquor. It wasn't unusual that we had all of that alcohol, it's unusual that he would drink it all. The bottles were there for display, nothing more nothing less. I suddenly smelled something that smelled like shit.

"Jesus." I covered my nose and felt my eyes start to water, "What the-" I moved over to him and smelled shit. He had shit himself. I coughed, trying my best to pick up the bottles and cans without vomiting. Thankfully I managed not to and even somehow managed to drag him to his room. I walked back out in the living room and just when I had found a show to watch there was a knock on the door.

I got on my tiptoes to peek through the peephole. It was a small girl with wavy warm brown hair that was in clips she had glasses and was wearing a sundress waiting patiently.

I opened the door, "Yes?" I asked the girl.

She looked taken aback and a little spooked, "Does someone named Mark Clark live here?" She asked, I never liked it that our parents named Mark, Mark the last name threw me off. Although the name Mark Andrew Clark didn't sound so bad but Mark Clark just sounded weird.

"Yes," I glanced at her then back inside then back to her.

"I'm sorry but who are you exactly?" She voice was soft and quiet.

"Aiden Clark," I held out my hand, "Mark's brother, and you are?"

She smiled and shook my hand, "Naomi, Naomi Stevenson." She was a pretty girl but not my type. My type was pretty blondes with blues eyes. I could tell the two of us would be good friends if given the chance.

"Well Naomi do you want to come in? Mark's asleep so I can wake him up if you want me to."

She hesitated and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "I don't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be," I looked up her up and down as she shuffled awkwardly, "You don't have to answer but how do you know Mark exactly?"

Her eyes went wide and stumbled over her words, "It's complicated." She bit the inside of her cheek and pushed her glasses up. All of a sudden the door got pushed open.

"Naomi." Mark smiled and looked down at what she was wearing looking surprised, "You're wearing a dress."

She smiled, "Thought I would try something a little different," She played with the hem of her dress, "Do you like it?"

Mark nodded, "I do, come in."

So there the three of us were sitting all around our dining table. Mark and Naomi, or more like Mark was being all handsy with her which made her all flustered. It was cute and I like seeing Mark happy.

"Mark!" She squealed "Your brother is here." She gave me a sympathetic look, "I'm so sorry" I smiled and shook my head, I busy looking at my phone.

Mark shrugged cauaslly, "So?"

All of a sudden I sighed and slumped against my chair. Mark and Will hadn't talked ever since that day and Mark hadn't let up yet no matter how much I pleaded.

When Naomi finally managed to pry Mark off of her she was grinning and so was Mark, "So Aiden," She cleared her throat, "Is there anything I should know about your brother?"

I smiled, "Just that he is the best brother and that it's been a while since I've seen him this happy so thank you for that."

They stared at me, Naomi looked like she was on the verge of tears and Mark smiled to himself.

"That is so sweet." She squealed embracing me into a hug, "You two are the best brothers I've ever scene." I hugged her back and pushed her glasses up.

After she was done hugging me Mark cleared her throat. "So Naomi," The two of us looked at him.

"Yes?" She asked, all smiley. She somewhat reminded me of Will and his personality. A lump formed in my throat.

"So the reason I asked you to come over was because I wanted to ask you something."

Naomi cocked her head to the side like a confused puppy. So cute. "Well? What is it?"

He stumbled over his words, "I wanted to ask you to officially be my girlfriend." He rubbed the back of his neck waiting there for an answer.

It looked like she was on the verge of tears before jumping into his arms, "Yes, of course I'll be your girlfriend." She then turned to me, "You and I will be the best of friends." She was smiling.

I nodded feeling a bit sad. Why couldn't Will and I be like that?