Aiden x Reader (but you're Ashlyn)

Episode 28

>>>><Snack time secrets><<<<

Logan continued, "Well, based on how our injuries work between dimensions, I think the bodies we use here and in the phantom realm are separate but... also somehow connected. So, if they're connected in some way... what if there's a distance limit? Like, if we go too far from one body, the other resets its position instead of returning to where it was before."

"That makes sense..." I nodded, trying to piece it together. "So, the real question is, how far is this distance limit? And if we travel too far in the phantom dimension, would our bodies in this world change locations too?"

"That could be a possibility," Logan replied thoughtfully, "but things don't move the same way in the phantom realm as they do here in the human world. I'm not really sure how we'd even test that theory..."

Our conversation came to an abrupt stop when Aiden suddenly slammed his head against the table, letting out a dramatic groan. "I get that learning about dimensions is important and all, but can we please talk about something a little more exciting?"

Tyler stood up slowly, hand raised like he was about to do something rash, but Taylor stopped him with a warning. "Don't."

Should I take over then?

Aiden immediately perked up when I spoke again. It was like flipping a switch with him.

"What do you think about asking my parents to teach us some self-defense?"

Aiden's face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Really?! That'd be awesome!"

Honestly, at this point, I wasn't even surprised by his enthusiasm anymore. The guy got excited over anything involving action.

Then, in a rare moment of actual thought, Aiden grabbed my arms and stared at me like he had an epiphany. "Wait... your hair! If we show your parents the difference in your shadow, wouldn't that prove what's happening to us?!"

I was about to shove him off—Let. Me. Go—but then paused. Wait... that was actually a decent idea. For him, anyway.

Still, I pinched his arm to make him let go while Tyler couldn't help but chime in with a snarky comment. "Took you long enough to use your brain."

**OUTSIDE ASHLYN'S HOUSE**

"Tsk, tsk. You guys really should wear helmets," Aiden commented, flashing a playful grin.

"Oh, like you would," Tyler shot back, his scowl as constant as ever.

Aiden shrugged, his usual carefree attitude on full display, while I tried to keep up with them. "Could you walk any slower?" Tyler added with a grumble.

"Yeah," Aiden replied, unbothered, almost like he enjoyed testing Tyler's patience.

As we finally reached my house, I stepped inside and called out, "Mom? Dad?"

"Kitchen!" my mom's voice echoed back. I wandered into the kitchen, where my parents stood huddled together, preparing what looked like a small mountain of food. My confusion grew. "Um... what are you doing?"

"We're, uh... making a snack platter," my mom said, sounding like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I raised an eyebrow. "I see that, but why so much? There's no way you two are going to finish all of that."

They exchanged awkward glances, before my dad spoke, "W-well, you and your friends usually go straight to the graveyard to hang out—"

"—but when you called, you said you wanted to speak with us this time," my mom chimed in, clearly trying to justify the over-the-top spread, "so we made snacks. You know... to eat while we talk."

Both of them stood there with forced smiles, looking slightly embarrassed. I couldn't help but laugh under my breath. My dad mumbled something under his breath, "Told you this was too much."

"Well, that's what the blog said to do!" my mom whispered back defensively.

I sighed, shaking my head. Parents.

Back in the living room, Aiden was inhaling food like he'd never seen a snack platter in his life. For a rich kid, you'd expect better manners, but no, he was the most obnoxious eater I'd ever encountered.
 Everyone sat there, staring at him in varying degrees of disbelief and disgust. Even Tyler, who usually found a reason to be annoyed with everything, looked particularly revolted.

I sat down next to Aiden, my concern growing with every bite he took. My dad finally cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence.

"So... what exactly did you kids want to talk about?"

705 word count