Aiden [Book Two]

26

Miss Vance rarely visited students' homes, and when she did, it was always for a bad reason.

Usually the kids were struggling with personal trauma, behavioural issues, relationship problems or other such trials. They needed the counsellor's support to help them navigate the difficulties they faced at home.

And that was the same for the orange-haired boy she came to visit.

Earlier that morning, she called Mrs Lewis to find out how her teenage son and his boyfriend were doing after their ordeal. During that conversation, the pair decided her attendance was required.

Aiden needed to hear what she had to say in person.

So at lunchtime, Miss Vance made her way to the house, which gave the youngest boy no time to deny his visitor.

He tried to protest when he found out, but Nathan convinced the younger boy that everything would be okay. She was just the kind teacher who'd been helping him for a few weeks, and not somebody there to hurt him. But that wasn't Aiden's worry.

The redhead finally traded his pyjamas for regular clothing for the first time. His reluctance burned strong, but the idea of his teacher seeing him that way was unsettling.

Aiden just wanted to stay in his room, cuddled into Nathan's side as they slept and watched movies; nothing else.

He didn't want to think about school or face the thought of going back there when he still couldn't sleep at night without waking up screaming. He wasn't ready.

The teacher could see the change in her student as he shuffled into the room, head down, eyes fixed on the carpet as he sat in the sofa's corner, making himself as small as possible.

When she first met Aiden just a few days after Nathan's eighteenth birthday, she could see that trouble plagued him. He wasn't overly confident or forthcoming, but he was polite.

Despite the initial reluctance to engage in counselling, Aiden always engaged with the adult, never ignored or was rude to her, and always displayed kindness. But now, his broken heart prevented the tiny boy from being his usual receptive self.

The orange-haired boy trembled as he sat in the chair, his fingers twisting and pulling at the skin on the back of his hand, knees pulled up to his chest as they waited.

They were waiting for his mother and boyfriend so they could share the reason the woman was visiting.

Grace smiled as she carried a tray of tea and coffee, placing them on the table as she took the furthest seat opposite Miss Vance, leaving the middle spot for the other teenager who lived in her home.

The elder knew what was coming already and wanted to take the conversation easier.

When Nathan made it to the living-room, he carried his notebook under his arm and a blanket thrown over his shoulder. He nodded to the counsellor and then to Grace as she took the notebook away, letting the brunette settle with his love.

Aiden shuffled closer when the braced arm laced around his back, burrowing under the dark blanket and dropping his head against the fragile shoulder, using the older boy to hide his face. Hide the complete terror threatening to gain control.

Apprehension raced through the redhead's body until he shook through sheer adrenaline. He clung to the hand holding him and tried to control the sharp breaths that escaped.

He didn't want to go back. He wasn't ready.

Nathan tightened the cocoon when Miss Vance began talking, asking how they both were through pleasantries, even though she could see how one of her students felt.