Aiden Harper

Life has twists and turns

TW: mention of mental illness and suicide

Eden

Since I knew Aiden lived across the hall from me, I avoided him any chance I got. People might consider it childish, but I didn't. It was better than getting my head bitten off.

I was dodging my mom's phone calls if I wasn't avoiding Aiden. My parents indulged Mia throughout her life. Now, they lost one daughter when they accepted Mia's shitty behavior. Who the hell accepts their daughter cheating with her sister's boyfriend? Can you spell dysfunctional, boys and girls?

I arrived at the cafe on the first day. Diego showed me around and explained everything to me. It seemed simple enough. People arrived and ordered drinks and food. I didn't realize how popular the cafe was with customers, but I didn't mind. It kept me from thinking about my life.

Eventually, we slowed down, allowing me to breathe and grab a sandwich.

"How are you liking the job so far?" Diego asked me while making a sandwich.

"I like it. It's better than not having a job. So there's that."

"Marissa said you were taking college classes."

"Yeah. I'm taking art classes. My parents told me it was a pipe dream and I should focus on an actual career."

"Your parents sound like tools."

"Well, they did accept my sister sleeping with my boyfriend, if that tells you anything."

"Yep, your parents are assholes. Who the hell accepts their kid sleeping with their sibling's significant other."

"Tools do." I shrugged and smiled.

Diego chuckled.

*******
Aiden

After biting Eden's head off at the diner, she avoided me like the plague. I didn't blame her since she was offering compassion. I mistook it for pity.

Grandpa tapped on the rooftop of a car I was working on. I glanced at him from underneath it. He wiggled his finger for me to stop working and follow him into his office. I cleaned my hands and trailed him until we were inside. Grandpa closed the door and sat behind his desk before gesturing for me to sit down. I sat down across from him.

"We need to talk," he said, leaning back in his desk chair.

"About what?"

"Claire Reilly."

I looked at Grandpa and blinked.

"Before you protest, I spoke to Diego."

I opened my mouth to say something.

Grandpa held up his hand to me. "Diego didn't tell me what happened. I figured it out from the minor information he offered."

I closed my mouth and balled my hands into fists.

Grandpa sat forward and rested his forearms on the desk. "Aiden, I know you blame yourself for what happened to Claire. But it wasn't your fault. She was sick."

"What do you mean she was sick?" I raised my brow.

"Diego overheard Claire's family mention that Claire had Othello Syndrome at the funeral. It causes extreme jealousy."

"Should this make me feel better?"

Grandpa shook his head. "No, but it won't help to assuage the guilt you carry around over an incident out of your control. You didn't force Claire behind the wheel or cause the accident."