My Mister Right

Chapter 6: Ayden

(Monday, Early Morning)

I woke up before the sun had come up. I sat up, yawned and stretched. "You got this. Remember the very first time you really had to apologize to her?" I smiled at the memory.

(15 Years Ago)

"Brooklyn!! Don't be mad at me!" I said, running after her. I had told the boy she liked, that she had a crush on him.

"GO AWAY YOU BIG MEANIE!" Brooklyn yelled, running way faster than me. "YOU'RE MEAN! I TRUSTED YOU AYDEN."

"I'm sorry Brooklyn!! I thought you wanted him to know!!" I replied, being sarcastic. I had to stop to take a breath, so I dramatically fell onto the ground, hoping that she would come make sure I was okay. Sure enough, she ran over to me. Before she could say anything, I grabbed her leg, making her shriek and fall onto the ground.

"NO NO, STOP IT, STOP IT AYDEN!" She yelled, wiggling around and kicking at my arm trying to get me to let go. "I'm mad at you. Let me go so I can go and not talk to you anymore." She told me, still kicking her legs. I might be a big meanie, but I never wanted her to stop talking to me. She is my best friend. "Okay, I'll let go. I really am sorry Brooky. I didn't know you would get mad, honest. Please don't go and not talk to me anymore! I'll just have to die if you do!" I tell her, letting go of her leg.

Brooklyn sat up, putting her finger up to her chin, as if she was deep in thought. "Hmm....." She said, staring off into space. "What?" I asked, not sure why it was taking her so long to accept my apology. "Okay! It's fine!" She said, before jumping up, slapping my arm, and yelling: "TAG YOU'RE IT!" as she ran away from me.

(Current)

Wouldn't life be so much easier if you could apologize, and go back to playing tag? I fell back down onto my pillow. "Let's do this!" I told myself, trying to give myself a pep talk. I got out of bed, put on some descent clothes, grabbed breakfast, and headed out the door. I wanted to get out to our spot early, just in case Brooklyn happened to be there.

When I got there, nobody was around. I kicked a rock and sighed, upset that she wasn't there. I plopped down onto the ground, thinking that maybe she would show up at some point. But she never did, so I had to head out to work.

I got to the coffee shop, and got straight to work. I took peoples orders and made lots of drinks.

I spun around to hand someone their drink, and Chase ran right into me, spilling the hot drink all over me, and somehow, completely missing him. "Duuude I'm so sorry!" Chase told me, grabbing napkins and handing them to me. "I'll remake that drink, you go change or something!" Chase pushed me towards the bathroom and went back to making drinks.

As I was walking to the bathroom, I slipped and fell, hitting my head on the corner of the counter on my way down. I don't really know what happened right after, I think I blacked out for a moment. The next thing I remember is Chase helping me off the ground, and someone saying: "He's bleeding!"

"Man, are you alright today?" Chase asked, handing me some ice. I wasn't sure what to do with the ice, because I didn't feel any pain. I just felt dizzy.

"Chase, take Ayden home, and come back here. I called his mother and she will take care of him from there." I heard my manager say. "Alright, come on Ayden!" Chase said, guiding me out to his car. "You should put that ice on your ear." On our way out, I collapsed onto the sidewalk, passing out completely.

Brooklyn (Current)

I got to work that morning, and noticed a crowd gathering across the street, and an ambulance parked nearby. I walked over to see what was going on, but they had already gotten whoever was hurt into the ambulance.

"Oh that poor boy, he's such a sweet boy." I overheard an older lady say. "Yeah he is. My husband and I ran into him the other day. Hopefully he will be okay!" The other lady replied.

I walked back over to my office building and opened the door. "CONGRATS!" I jumped as a bunch of people popped out and screamed at me. "What? What's happening?" I asked. "You didn't see? Your design made the cover!" Sasha, my co-worker told me, pulling me towards a cake that had the cover printed on top of it. "WHAT? For real!?" I screeched.

"Yeah Brooklyn, for really real!" Sasha said.

Later the same Day

I got home after work, and changed into some sweats. I walked over to my couch to sit down, when my phone rang.

"Hello?"
"Hey sweetie!!" It was my mom. I moved out when I turned 18 and got my job with the home design company. My parents live down the street from me in a new housing development. "Would you like to come over for dinner?" She asked.

"Of course mom!" I replied, excited. I loved going over to their house, especially because both my parents were such great cooks.
"You are welcome to bring Jaxson with you, if you'd like." Dad told me, taking the phone from mom.
"Oh, uh, that's okay. I don't think he would want to come if he knew I am going to be there." I replied with a sad voice.
"Oh honey, I'm sorry. I never really liked that boy though." My dad said, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll be right over!" I told them, before quickly hanging up the phone and heading out to my car. I didn't bother to change, my parents had seen me look way worse than I did now.

I pulled into their driveway, and they were waiting outside for me. As soon as I got out of the car, they ran over and hugged me. "We missed you so much Brooklyn!!" They exclaimed.

"You guys do realize we don't live that far away from each other. You can come visit me any time you want." I told them.
"Sweety, Ayden's mom called after we got off the phone with you. He is in the hospital. She said he hit his head multiple times and passed out." I let go of my parents. "That's why the ambulance was there today." I thought to myself.

"I know you two don't talk anymore, but I'm sure it'd cheer him up to see your face." Mom told me.
"Mom.." I said, giving her a look.
"Don't look at me like that. You would want to see your friends too if you were in the hospital." She replied, rubbing my arm. "His mom said they are keeping him there for the next few nights, just to make sure he will be okay. Let's go eat and you can think about it, okay?" Dad said, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside.

Ayden (current)

I rolled onto my side, cringing at the pain I felt on the right side of my head as I put pressure on my ear. "Are you okay Ayden?" My mom asked me. I opened my eyes, blinded at first by how bright the room was. "Where am I?" I asked her, after my eyes focused.

"We are at the hospital. You hit your head twice, and passed out." She replied. "You're going to stay here for the next few nights, just to make sure you'll be okay."

"Oh..." I said, slowly sitting up, trying to avoid giving myself a massive headache.

"Hey buddy!" Chase said as he walked into the room. My head pounded as he spoke. "Sorry..." He whispered, noticing the pain in my face. "How's his ear Mrs. Ayden's mom?"

"It's alright, they had to stitch it up though." She told Chase. "Awe man. I probably look like Frankenstein's monster." I told myself. "Do I look like Frankenstein's monster Chase?" I asked him.

"Yes you do. Exactly like him. You're even the right color." Chase replied, gently pushing my shoulder. "Anyway, I've gotta head out, and you need rest Ayden. You have to come back to work soon. I can't go on without you!" He told me, holding his hand out for a fist bump.

"I'll try my best, but I'm sure you are better off without me making messes." I bumped his fist back.

"Bye Mrs. Ayden's mom!" He said, walking out the door.

"Get some rest Ayden. I'll be in the waiting room. The nurse said you can buzz if you need anything." Mom said, gently kissing my head and leaving the room.

"Thanks mom, night." I told her, as she disappeared through the door.