The Boy Who Cried Help

Chapter 14

Aiden's POV

I closed my locker at school and got ready to head to class when Scarlett popped into view. Before I could go in the other direction she saw me. Walking towards me she said "Hey, I was looking for you."

"Uh hi," I said dreading this conversation. "Sorry about the other day. My aunt is like a hurricane causing nothing but havoc."

You can say that again, I thought frowning.

"Anyways, it looks like she's staying for a while so we should get the project done ASAP so we can just be done with it." I nodded said "Sure. How about we try my house." I was hoping she would agree so I wouldn't have to see her aunt again. "Good idea but all the stuff is at my house." "Well you could get it after school and then meet me at my house," I said praying that wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience so she would agree. "True. Okay, how about I meet you after school at your house. What's your address?" So I gave her my address and walked to class.

I felt kind of nervous throughout the day. Not only because this would be the first time a girl has come over but because if my mom met Scarlett, she might try to find out where she lives to get to her aunt. Needless to say, that would not be ideal. However it was better than the alternative.

I sat with Paul at lunch and we talked a little about school stuff. Since the day I told him about my past, it seems like we have been avoiding talking about heavier subjects. I hadn't noticed any more bruises so I took that as a good sign.

Before I knew it, it was the end of the day. I had my blood test so I drove to the doctor's office first. I was in and out in less than 20 minutes and then I drove home. When I entered the house, saw that my mom made lemon bars. It looked like they had just been taken from the oven and smelled absolutely delicious.

I turned to grab one when without turning around my mom said "Be careful, they're hot." I looked at her startled and asked "How did you know---"

"Honey, you're pretty predictable. You tend to eat anything and everything in sight."

"Mom!" I said giving her a disbelieving look.

"It's the truth," she said shrugging her shoulders.

I was munching away at the lemon bar before she asked "How was school?"

"Fine, " I answered. "I have to finish a project so Scarlett is coming over."

My mom gave me a look but before she could inquire any further I heard a knock at the door. "That's probably her," I said making my way to the door. I opened it and sure enough, Scarlett was standing there with the research and other materials we had collected for our project.

"Hi, come on in," I said opening the door so she could walk through. Before I could say anything else, my mom said "Hi, I'm Aiden's mom, Samantha." "Hi, it's nice to meet you," Scarlett said with more etiquette than her mom implied she had. "I'll just be in the kitchen making dinner if you need anything," my mom said to me. I let her know that I had heard her and said to Scarlett "We can go to my room to work." She followed me to my room where I cleared the textbooks and homework from my desk so we could have space to work.

We worked for a little over an hour before Scarlett said "So it looks like we're almost done. We just need to do some editing." "Great," I replied relieved this project is finally over. Now there is no reason why I would have to go to her house and see her aunt. "I'm sorry about the other day when I asked you to come over. I'm not sure what good I thought you were going to do but I was desperate. My mom knows she's mentally unstable and yet she left me alone with her." My attention was drawn when Scarlett mentioned her aunt being "mentally unstable." "What do you mean 'mentally unstable?'" I asked.