A Summer Fling (Aris x Reader AU)

56) When it Truly Kicks in

Light flooded in my face, warming me before I had the chance to open my eyes. I was resting against something uncomfortably hard, practically pushing against my skull. There was the sound of glass being set down and a scraping sound I didn't like.

Groaning at the inconvenience, I turned over only to find nothing else there. I didn't have time to stop myself as gravity did the rest, sending me flying to the ground. A blanket trapped my legs, making it hard to do anything but lay there.

As I was pulled awake, I found myself staring at the living room wall. I don't remember how I got to the couch or even to sleep at all. I just know I couldn't handle more than one phone call a week without crying, and that's pretty much where it ends.

Managing to kick the blanket off, I used the couch to stand up. I could hear them in the other room talking like two normal people who were capable of normal and stable conversations.

My feet decided the decision I didn't want as I walked to the kitchen. Sure enough, they were sitting at the table in their usual spots. Y/N covered her mouth mid-chew to respond before spotting me. Her eyes lit up in a way that would never happen with anyone else. It was this particular brightness that still made me nervous. The already long list of that grows around her for all the right things.

"Nice to see ya' alive."

"You too,"I agreed, sitting down where my plate was waiting. Staring down at the cliche breakfast, I picked up my fork. My stomach twisted like I was nauseous as acceptance finally happened. Because if it didn't, my world would fall apart.

"If I keep talking to my parents, I'm going to be a bad person."

The words came out unnaturally steady as what I always knew came bubbling to the surface. The truth didn't hit like a slap anymore. It was more of a dull headache that I was growing sick of.

I heard my aunt's fork clank against her plate as I said what I don't think I was supposed to. Looking down at my breakfast, I tried to figure out how I was supposed to eat without throwing it up. I never really sat down to imagine what it would be like. Two empty seats at my college graduation, two less invites for my wedding, two less hugs when something inevitably goes wrong in life.

One. One less hug. It's soft to hug your son, and softness something to be ashamed of. Like me.

"I think we're out of milk. And a few other things. We can go get it together,"I suggested.

"I . . . sure, Aris. Sure."

☆ ☆ ⁠☆

I could feel her staring at me for a reason other than being in the front seat. Choosing what was admittedly the easier option, I didn't dare look back for once. I've made things awkward again. That seems to be the only thing I'm actually good at. Tripping over my words, stumbling over my own feet, saying the wrong thing. I think I get it now. It must be so disappointing knowing your kid has none of the good traits you do.

Then again, I could never imagine treating any child like that, especially my own.

"Aris,"she whispered so quietly I could pretend I missed it.

"Yeah?"

"We can talk about it? If you want to,"she assured me, placing her hand over mine. Her touch was warm, something I desperately needed with the constant cold breeze that had been haunting me.

She'll cry probably. I don't want her to cry. I just don't want her to keep watching him do his best to make me cry.

"It's fine."

Her thumb traced over my skin, a slow and gentle caressing that made me lean back. I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do. It feels wrong to just sit in silence, to let the tense confession we already knew mellow in the air.

"I've gotta fill it up."

She squeezed the side of my palm once before letting go without objection this time. The usual gas station that Thomas apparently stole from was waiting at the same exact place. There was absolutely nothing different about it, even when my entire world was changing.

She slipped out the door when I parked. I quickly did the same, not exactly eager to sit in the car like an abandoned puppy. From what I've heard, that doesn't usually end well.

"On a scale of one to ten, how likely am I to spill a slushie in the car?"

"4.6. Something'll catch you off guard, and you'll drop it,"I answered, opening the door for her.

"Well, I'm getting it anyway,"she said firmly, walking through the door with what was absolutely an attitude. I let out a sigh as she headed straight to the slushie station. To be fair, I didn't really expect anything different.

I went up to the counter while finding a twenty in my wallet. Bubble gum girl looked at me, watching me struggle to pull it out as I approached her. It shook in my unsteady hands that could no longer be trusted. I barely managed to place it on the counter as everything around me grew unnaturally heavy.

"Which pump?"she reminded me in a flat voice. I tried to remember anything. Numbers, where I was, what I was doing here. There's more to the world than his harsh claps on the back and resentful laugh. There's more than empty seats at theater shows, more excuses that weren't fair, and more than Christmas presents that were for a version of me that didn't exist.

"I, um-"
"Five,"she answered, placing two drinks on the counter. I stepped to the side, letting her take over in the way she could always just do. It was something admirable, something confident, something I couldn't do. If I was able to, I wouldn't be in this situation at all. I wouldn't know David couldn't care less about me, and I wouldn't know my mom cares more about him than me.

"Come on, pretty boy. We've got chores,"she reminded me, gently taking my hand. Her other handed me a slushie, waiting until I actually grabbed it. I'm sure it's my favorite, because she always knows my favorite things. She knows more about me than the people who raised me. My best friends, my aunt, even people I just met this summer know more than them. Me forgetting how to use my words was genuine entertainment and not an excuse to be embarrassed.

"Aris,"she spoke, grabbing my face. Her hand titled me away from the bashing sun, making me look at her concerned expression. The world behind her was really just background graphics, something to fill the space so there wasn't emptiness. It was tingly, a visual representation of the fuzziness on my skin that was making it hard to do anything.

"You weren't kidding when you said you know how to drive, right?"