The Not-So-Bad Boy Next Door

Chapter 57

Aiden's POV

"Oh come on lighten up. There's only like a week left before break." Claire says while I'm driving us to school. I frown, "That's easy for you to say. You're birthday is in two days and I can't top your present. I don't think anything can top that."
"I'm still not up for celebrating my birthday, Aiden. It's not a great reminder. I still think of them every day, but it just seems harder around this time. So I just skip it and focus on Christmas. I think I'm glad I had to move and all though. I got to live with Aunty Stella and Uncle Travis and little Tommy who's getting huge. I just don't feel like celebrating it. Can we just drop it? That's what I want for a present, just for everyone to drop it and let me cope the way I always have."
"How is it that you cope then?" I ask. It hurts to see her like this. I know she just keeps her feeling bottled up and just pushes it to the side.
"Act like it's a normal day..." You know what? I'm going to change whatever her coping method is. We'll go on a date to keep her mind of off things. I mean maybe I can get her sidetracked.
"We're going on another date on Wednesday, you know, since it's a normal day... It's starting after school so were something comfortable." I'm going to start planning this when I get home. We could go have a picnic or go to the bowling alley or just drive for a while. It doesn't matter as long as I can do something to make it somewhat better.
I pull onto the schools grounds and park at my official unofficial parking spot. We both get out of the car and I pull Claire to my side and wrap my arm around her shoulder. Everyone is looking at us with questioning looks. I just ignore them and walk over to our friends. They're all sitting on the wall, talking.
"Hey guys!" Claire says with a smile. They all look our way and Trev wraps his arm around Ella and says, "Well about time dude. It's taken you long enough. Wait this will be really awkward if things didn't go out as planned..." He drifts off and looks in the opposite direction of us. Ella smacks his thigh and hisses, "Of course it did you idiot! That is why we don't let you guys plan anything. If we let you, you'd screw it up. Our plans are always fool proof."
Claire giggles and it's music to my ears. I kiss her temple and move my arm and wrap it around her waist. I wrap my other arm around her arms and hold her in place, in front of me. She leans back onto my chest and we all just walk until the bell rings and we head off to our classes. Coincidentally, I have all the same classes as her again.

"Come on..." I pull on Claire's hand and drag her to the field. She laughs and runs a little of to the side. I abruptly stop in the middle and pull her into my chest.
"What are we doing?" She exclaims while looking up at the sky. She looks back at me and says, "Aiden what are we doing? It's going to pour soon. Can you not see the clouds?"
It starts to rain and Claire tries to pull away and turn back towards the building, but I hold her close and whisper, "I've always wanted to do this." I dip her down and kiss her lips. The rain pelts us, soaking us, while it beams down onto the field surrounding us. I feel the pellets bolting down on my back, but I don't even care. All I care about is Claire and I, in this moment.
I pull back and smile down at her. We're dripping wet and I guess it was a good thing I brought some extra clothes for us today. I didn't know I'd end up doing this, but I guess I'll be keeping some spare clothes in my truck from now on. I lift her back upright and she just laughs and leans her head back. I grab onto her hands and pull back and start twisting the both of us.
She laughs and pulls me back towards her, bringing my lips down on hers. Yup definitely having two pairs of extra clothes in my truck.

"So genius what are we supposed to do now that we're soaked? We still have a few more classes." She looks at me with a pointed look. I wrap my arms around her from behind and give her options, "Well you could stay in your wet clothes or you could change into the extra pair of clothes I have in my truck. I have to warn you, you'll be wearing sweats and a big tee shirt."
"Well I don't really have a choice. I can't go to class like this. I hope you have a towel in your truck too." She grumbles while walking over to my truck. She unlocks the doors and pulls open the duffel I always keep in here. I throw the bag across the seat when I realize that my boxers were at the top of the bag. Claire's already in hysterics and I just roll my eyes and hop into the seat. I grab out a shirt and sweats and toss it at her. I zip the bag up and hop back out. Claire's still has that smug look on her face and I just scowl.
"I still love you even if you're making fun of me," I whisper. I pull her into my side and kiss her cheek, her temple, and then her lips. She smiles and shakes her head.
"We better hurry, if not we're going to be late to English."
I scoff and roll my eyes, "I have that teacher wrapped around my finger. She's always making googly eyes at me and checking me out when she thinks I'm not looking. I swear she gives me the creeps." I shudder to emphasize my point.
"Oh yeah cause if it wasn't noticeable you're totally adored and admired, by everyone, because of your personality." She snorts. I roll my eyes, "Yeah me and my modesty. Now hurry up before we have to play kiss up."