Operation Aidlyn // A School Bus Graveyard story

Chap 3. Opening up

Ash's POV

My eyes fluttered open to see my living room ceiling.
right. the sleepover. I looked to my right and saw Taylor and Ben basically cuddling, her arm slung over his shoulder and her head on his chest with his hand in her hair. I can't wait to see their faces in the phantom realm, good for them though.
I turned to check on Aiden but the minute I saw him i stopped thinking completely. His hair was all ruffled and his smile was gone, he had a neutral face on and his eyes looked tired. Yet he was still awake, staring at the ceiling. His hair doesn't look terrible like tha- what?

I stayed staring for a bit longer, no clue why i just.. felt like it. I assumed he hadn't seen me awake yet since he hadn't said anything or looked at me, so i tried to move my head back to its original spot, but while i was doing so,
"I saw you staring, Ash" well shit.
"no you didn't shut up and go to sleep"
"woah i thought i was hallucinating at first thanks for confirming that you're 100% awake" he said with a chuckle. I looked back over at him, his smug face had returned, only this time i saw how tired and fake it was. Do i speak? Should i say something? What would i even say.. He's probably just tired from being an idiot all day everyday. Stupid Pyscho.

I feel like i should say something. But what would I-
"what's up? Do i have something on my face?"
Oh shit I zoned out while looking at him. Uhm okay, what is wrong with me. it's fine just tell him the truth it's fine.
"No just, zoned out when i was looking at you"
"thinking about what?" his smile softened and looked, real. I don't think he knows i know. Why does he look so... weird? with a normal expression.
"how comes you aren't asleep?" I let out in a quiet tone, almost a whisper, trying my best to sound true, and quiet, so i wouldn't wake anyone else up.
"Just couldn't sleep, was thinking about stuff. Is that what you were gonna ask or was it something else"
"no, it was that. Thinking about what stuff?" Is this okay? I think i'm doing good. I hope he isn't like weirded out by me asking.
"I dunno." He's lying. I can tell.

"Aiden."

...
anything? Did I say something wrong? All i said was his name. Why did i even ask he's probably fine.
"you guys are my first friends."
oh.
"I mean you already know about how my family travels and whatever, but because of that i didn't really speak to anyone, i didn't TRY to speak to anyone because i knew we'd just move to someplace else so there wasn't really a point. And now that I have people sometimes i wonder if me having the 'weird energetic always happy and making jokes' personality is going to ruin it."
"what? why would you think that." This is new, he's speaking, ACTUALLY speaking. I don't want to push it but he's like the light of the group i don't get how he thinks it's going to ruin anything. Maybe it's the fights with Tyler? But everyone else finds it hilarious so it can't be that. right? And Tyler starts on basically everyone but Taylor. And somewhat Logan. Now that i think of it he's really nice to Lo-
"Seriously Ash? I almost got you killed cus i was being an idiot" huh?

"But you didn't, you saved me."

"Logan saved you. Not me. I caused that. You could've died I mean-" he sat up hastily, I sat up with him, keeping my eyes on his face.
"if i had just gone down the rope like a normal person it wouldn't have happened in the first place."

No ones POV

Aiden quickly stopped talking so he didn't get too loud and wake all the others up. Ash wasn't sure of what to say. She's never had someone open up to her before, I mean apart from Ben but it didn't exactly come from him, and she didnt say anything at the time either.
"If i was Paying attention more i would've realised where it actually was. It was loud, really loud, I should've realised it would be behind me and not you."Aiden looked at her, ready to protest but he barely knew what to say either.
"But- no but still if I didn't get hurt i would've been able to help and you wouldn't have gotten hurt. What if I mess up again and it's someone else, what if we don't save them in time and-"
Ashlyn wasn't sure what to do to make him change his mind so she did the first thing that came to thought.

(god i can't believe i'm doing this)
she thought with closed eyes.

As lightly as she could, she grabbed his hand and put it to her heart. "You're panicking too much. And you're rambling. Calm down."
Aiden felt her slow heartbeat and tried his best to keep track of it, managing to get his under control.
"Wow is the Ashlyn Banner really holding my hand right now? Or am i dreaming?"
"shut up aiden" (don't make me regret this)
"Yes ma'am" he said while saluting with his other hand and having a small yet genuine smile on his face. Ashlyn looked at him then looked away, allowing herself to smile but refusing to let him see it.

"Ash"
"yeah?"
"thank you."
"mhm."
"Oh and Ash"
"hm?"
"you can let go of my hand now"
She looked down at their intertwined fingers and then at Aiden, before quickly throwing his hand back at him, sitting there for a solid minute, then laying back down without a word. Aiden just smiled his infamous psycho smile and laid by her side, still looking at her, his eyes never closing. Ashlyn took a glance over at the clock near the tv, there was still an hour and a half till they moved to the phantom realm. She turned to look at Aiden.
"Try getting some sleep, there's still time before midnight." She said, pointing at the clock.
"I don't sleep before midnight anyway-"
"please."
"..okay. Goodnight Ash" He said, his smile never fading while he looked at her face.
"Goodnight Aiden." she had the smallest smirk on her face, but she let Aiden see it this time, and he truly thought that he might've accidentally fallen asleep and dreamed this whole thing. Though he was praying that he hadn't. Before they both fell asleep, Aiden put his leg over Ashlyn's, and blossomed in the small amount of physical contact between them.
Ash didn't exactly love it. But if it made him feel better then she would let it happen, for the sake of being a good friend.

Sorry for not posting yesterday!!! got a bit caught up in other things but not to worry it's all A-okay now and i will continue to try posting every night if possible. See you all tomorrow!!!