Wish You'd Met Me First (boyxboy)

Chapter 24: Keeping It All In

A/N: Aiden is totally friend zoned, ugh.. the pain of unrequited love..anyway, above is a cute pic of Brett and Blaine..please don't hate me..:(

As Brett pulls up to my house, the streetlights cast long shadows across the quiet neighborhood. The car idles softly, the engine a low hum in the background. For a moment, neither of us speaks, the weight of the evening hanging in the air between us.

"Thanks for tonight," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

"Anytime," he replies, his eyes searching mine. 

"I had a great time."

I force a smile, nodding. 

"Me too."

He hesitates, his hand lingering on the steering wheel. 

"You sure you're okay? You seem... off."

I swallow hard, trying to find the right words. 

"Yeah, just tired, I guess."

Brett doesn't look convinced, but he lets it go. 

"Alright, well, get some rest. See you at practice tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you," I say, opening the car door and stepping out. The cool night air hits me, a stark contrast to the warmth of Brett's car. I close the door behind me and turn to wave as he drives off, his taillights disappearing into the distance.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself before heading up the driveway. The house is dark except for the porch light, which casts a warm glow over the front steps. I slip my key into the lock and quietly open the door, stepping inside.

To my surprise, the living room light is on, and I hear the faint murmur of voices coming from the kitchen. I thought my parents would be out at another one of their dinner parties with important clients or colleagues, but it seems they're home tonight.

As I close the door behind me, my mom appears in the hallway, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern. 

"Aiden? Where have you been? It's late."

"Just out with a friend. We went to the diner," I say, trying to muster a casual tone, but the weight of the evening is pressing down on me.

She steps closer, her eyes searching mine. 

"Is everything okay? You look upset."

"I'm fine, Mom. Just tired," I force a smile, but it feels hollow.

She's still worried but knows I won't say much.

"Alright. Well, if you want to talk about it, you know I'm here."

"Thanks," I say, my voice barely audible. 

"I think I'll just head to bed."

"Goodnight, honey," she says softly, watching me as I head toward the stairs.

I make my way to my room, each step feeling heavier than the last. As I close the door behind me, the silence envelops me, amplifying the ache in my chest. I change into my pajamas and sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall as the events of the night replay in my mind.

The hope I'd been holding onto, the fragile possibility that Brett might see me as more than a friend, feels shattered. His words, his laughter, the casual dismissal, everything echoes in my mind, a painful reminder of the unspoken boundary between us.

And then there's Blaine. Brett and Blaine are dating. How could I forget that? The thought makes my chest tighten even more, a vise squeezing around my heart. What do I even want? It feels so selfish and greedy to hope for something more when Brett is already with someone. I should be happy for them, for Brett. He deserves to be happy, and Blaine makes him happy.