“We have to talk.”
Nothing good has ever come from those words, and this situation certainly didn't change that fact as I went from reading a text outside my door to sitting at my kitchen table, crossing my arms as I looked between my parents.
“The lock on your window,”Mom started slowly.
“I know. I don't need it anymore,”I said simply.
“That's not for you to decide,”Dad said firmly.
“But I don't. I'm not running away again. I would be gone by now if I could,”I promised.
They looked between each other, then back at me. Staying stiff in my seat, I looked back. Every day, I watch them grow more and more into strangers. Even though I think about it all the time, I can never figure out how we got here.
“If you could?”She quietly pointed out.
“Yeah. I don't remember the way home so I’m stuck here.”
“This is your home,”He insisted.
“Not a good one.”
“We have worked very hard for this life,”He said firmly, clasping his hands together as he leaned forward.
“Thanks. That doesn't change anything.”
“Aris-”
“It's true. I still don't fit in, this place still sucks, everything sucks. No amount of hard work will fix that.”
“It sucks, because you aren't trying.”
“Excuse me?”I asked in disbelief.
“He meant-”
“Oh, I know what he meant. I’m a straight A student. I’ve never gotten in trouble once in school. I never hang out with the wrong crowd, but that's not enough, right? Because you're stupid freak son still has no friends when you were all popular in high school. With your stupid prom photos on the mantel and big jobs and fancy things. Right?”I listed, getting up from my seat, grabbing my bag and throwing it over my shoulder.
“We have never said anything like that,”She tried, standing up with me.
“Yeah. Because you don't have to,”I snapped, storming up the stairs.
“Aris-”
“No. Don't Aris me. You only suggest every hobby but what I want and that I talk to anyone that isn't like me for the fun of it. Right? Because that shows that I’m good enough for you.”
“Aris-”
“Leave me alone,”I demanded, reaching the top stair.
“We can't solve anything if you keep running off like a child,”He scolded.
“Yeah? Well, maybe if I had someone to run to I wouldn't have to run from you instead,”I shot back, slamming my bedroom door behind me.
“Maybe if you bothered to write, you’d still have someone to talk to!”He yelled, following.
“Don't talk about my friends! You have no right!”
“I’ll talk about whoever I please in my house-”
“I hate you! I hate this house!”
“Can we all please calm-”
“Can you just leave already?!”I shouted, throwing my bag on the floor.
“Don't yell at your mom!”
“Then, don't yell at me!”
“You are-”
“I know, I know, I know! I’m your pathetic loser child! Now get out!”
“Aris Jones-”
“Out! Just get out!”I repeated, pointing at my doorway.
“Don't raise your voice at me!”
“You did it first!”
“I don't care-”
“I know! I know you don't!”
“Can everyone stop screaming for five seconds?!”
Already knowing I was red in the face, I slumped down on my bed, bouncing my leg as I scratched the back of my hand. Staring down at the ground, I avoided their pleading and angry gazes as tears threatened to spill.
“When you're ready, you can come down. We need to settle this.”
There's nothing to settle. We all know that. In another life, in another universe, I’m their perfect son who they connect with. In another life, in universe, they're my parents I know understand anything about who I am.
Just as the tears fell I opened my eyes, squinting as I adjusted to the dark. Breathing heavily, I sat up, taking in my surroundings. The yellow walls, the nightlight in the corner, the art on the floor, the window behind me.
Right. They sent me off in hopes I would be better when I came back.
Looking over, I realized Y/N wasn't beside me. Scanning the room, I spotted the open door. Sighing, I got out of bed, shivering at the cold hardwood floor. Wrapping my arms around myself, I headed from the hall to the living room, where I spotted a figure standing in the kitchen, a glass in her hand.
As she looked up, she gave me a tired smile. I didn't even try to return it.
“Sorry. Got thirsty,”She explained in a groggy voice.
“My parents don't like me,”I breathed out, walking closer. Standing there, I stared at her as I tried to come up with what was supposed to follow that. Reassurance that it didn't matter? Something to break the tense atmosphere?
Thankfully, I didn't have to think of anything as she walked over and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. Nuzzling my face into her neck, I tried to disappear into her, hiding from everything bad that exists.
“I like you. I’m always going to pick you,”She whispered, rubbing my back.
“I’m sorry.”
“It's okay, Aris. It's okay.”
“I’m going to move out one day. I’m going to leave, and that'll be all it takes. We all know it. There's-there’ll just be nothing,”I whispered, shutting my eyes as my throat closed up. Biting my lip, I tried not to break down right now.
“You're going to be okay no matter what happens. You're strong. You’ve always been strong.”
“I-I don't-I don't feel,”I sputtered out, only for tears to fall. The more I tried to stop them, the worse my shoulders shook as I gripped her shirt so tightly I couldn't feel my knuckles. Breathing heavily, I sobbed as my legs trembled, my body threatening to give out on me.
“It’s going to be okay in the end,”She coaxed, pulling away and wiping my face. Feeling myself drain, I opened my eyes as I hiccuped, a mix of shutting down and comfort flowing through me.
“Come back to bed,”She urged, taking my hand, already leading me there. Closing my eyes, I just followed her footsteps, letting my brain turn off already. Seeming to understand, she walked slowly, placing her hand on my upper back as we walked back to our room. Falling on the bed, I laid there on my stomach. As she crawled beside me, I curled up to her. Wrapping her arms around me, she kept holding me, running her hands through my hair.
It hurts. After all this time, it still hurts.
I have her though. That doesn't make it hurt any less, but at least I have someone to lean on when it does.
YOU ARE READING
A Summer Fling (Aris x Reader AU)
FanfictionIn order to avoid another summer at home of being interegated about his future and non-existent love life, Aris agrees to spend the months away from his friends and back with his aunt in Texas. While he expects nothing extraordinary about his time t...
