Romance in the Carter Hallways

Seven

"Are you a kid?" She heard him ask with irritation laced in his tone.

How was he here? Wait! Did he bring her?

"What?" She asked, confused.

"Are you a kid running up the stairs". He elaborated, still sounding so irritated. Sometimes she can't help but wonder why he just disliked her so much.

No, he was in denial and she knew it. There was no way he disliked her or at least, that was what she'd love to believe.

"How are you here?"

"I drove, obviously". He replied. She nodded, scanning her surroundings. "Is she here?" She asked him.

Knowing exactly who she was talking about, he smirked. "Yes, in my room". Her heart fell but she said nothing more. Leaving her behind, he went down the stairs only to meet Asher.

He should have known, Ashley wouldn't be here without him. How he wished Asher could just get her off his side.

"What are you doing here?" Asher asked him, surprised he was even there at all. So much for getting away from him and his drama.

Aiden smirked. "I don't need your permission to be here now, do I?"

"Just stay away from Ashley". He warned. Aiden scoffed at him, why on Earth would he even want to spend a minute with her?

"Why should I?" Aiden said, purposely trying to get under his skin.

"Must you always be and asshole?" Asher shot at him. He shrugged!

"Tell her to stay away from me!" Afterall, it was her who always tried being in his presence. He grabbed a bottle of water, the only reason he had come downstairs in the first place and returned up the stairs.

As he got upstairs, he caught Ashley peeping into his room. He rolled his eyes at her level of insecurity. "Get the fuck off my door". He yelled at her.

Ashley quivered with fear, jumping from where she was. His voice had caught her unaware. She scurried away but stopped suddenly in her tracks, something crossing her mind.

"What did you tell her about me?" She asked him in hopes that he had said nothing. She really hoped he cared about her enough not to go telling others about her personal life.

"The truth, that your parents are always away so you cling to me hungry for attention and love. Sooo needy". He responded so coldly, she felt a pit in her stomach. Tears threatened to roll off her eyes as she listened to him.

How could he?

A punch suddenly hit Aiden's face, making him fall to the ground. He touched the corner of his lip to find it bleeding. His anger rose as he looked up at his brother.

What the fuck was his problem.

Aiden got back up punching Asher in the face, soon it turned into a full blown fight. Ashley jumped between them quickly, tearing them apart.

She rushed to Aiden, studying his face. "Are you okay?" The worry on her face was unmatched.

Aiden burst into laughter as he kicked his brother. "Even in this moment she only cares about me. Do you get that?"

Asher clenched his fist wanting to throw another punch in his face. He was nothing but a jackass. Feeling guilty, Ashley went to check on Asher as well but she was too late. He brushed of her hand, storming back downstairs.

Aiden wouldn't stop laughing, as he went downstairs as well, leaving the house for them.

Asher stood by the pool side, he couldn't calm himself. Aiden had gone too far this time, did he think Ashley doesn't have feelings? How could he keep hurting her every chance he's got?

He punched a pillar in anger, bruising his knuckles. If only he could get Aiden right now, he had stopped earlier because of Ashley.

It took a while but he finally calmed down returning into the house. Ashley who had been sitting there quietly worried about the two brothers, jumped from her seat on hearing footsteps.

She had a slightly disappointed look when she saw it was Asher but he didn't let it get to him. Her eyes widened in shock seeing his bleeding hand.

"What did you do?" She asked but he didn't respond. She got the first aid box in a hurry. Pulling him to the couch, she treated his wounds and wrapped his hand in bandage. "Don't let him get to you". She told him.

"How do you not get pissed at him?" He asked her.

She looked up at him smiling, "He never means a word he says. Aiden to too softhearted to be that mean"

"How delusional". He muttered. "Thanks for the help". He told her.

__________

"What can I make you?" Lexi asked, looking up only to find none other than Aiden standing in front of her with a smug smile and a bruised face.

Her eyes flashed with a hint of worry and anger on seeing the bruises. She wondered who did that to him and could only imagine retaliating.

No Lexi, we can have such thoughts. Aiden is no one to us.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him, pretending to be irritated by his presence. Aiden smiled, why was everyone asking him that today?

"To see you" he replied, earning himself a scoff. His light smile played on his face, he was used to her attitude already and knew she didn't mean any of it. "What time do you get off?"

Lexi tilted her head, curious as to why he was asking but still she responded. "10"

"I'd wait". She was about talking but he cut her off quickly. "You can't change my mind". She simply nodded, letting him win. He walked off and took a seat where he could have a clear view of her.

He sat there staring at her for every second in the next two hours. It didn't feel creepy though, every once in a while when she glanced at him, he smiled leaving her cheeks red.

It was finally 10pm, Lexi took off her apron ready to clock out but he was mo longer in his seat. She sighed.

"I thought he said he'd wait". She mumbled, a little disappointed.

Packing up her bag, she left the cafe only to find him outside, leaning on the wall while smoking. She stood there observing him for a moment, the white Tshirt looked nice on him but...

"Are you allowed to smoke?" She asked him in disapproval but he simply shrugged. He threw the blunt on the floor, killing it. "I can't believe you". She shook her head, turning to leave. He pulled her back quickly making her turn around.

"What?" He smiled, pulling out a bandaid from his pocket. "Fix me". He said.