Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones

Chapter Fourteen: Thursday

'"I'm scared of becoming old because its so easy to be self destructive. Driving, drinking, drugs, etc." Aaron said. We were sitting at lunch, because my teacher had left us busy work for my Independent Study. I finished early and subsequently, Aaron and I had decided to grab something to eat as friends. It was only a day later than him saying it wasn't going to work, so I was being really nice to him. To be honest, I'd always imagined nice stories like this. But, I'm cynical and realistic. Things don't happen like this. Aaron may have some secret motive, but I can deal with the pain if it means knowing an intelligent person who happens to be a male.

Since freshman year, I had been placed in classes meant for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. I expected to know my older friends and brother's friends. However, none were there. I dwelled in my studies and didn't make an effort to hang out with previous friends, except for parties and my best friend. Aaron was a strange person, compared to my past years. He wanted to be with me.

"I can attest to that." I replied.

"Have you ever done that before?"

"No. I have a lot of moral values of not turning into people I know have been. I couldn't imagine speeding down the highway and injuring an innocent person, or drinking at a party and getting raped, or splurging hard earned money on drugs. Have you?" My answer was honest and real.

"I've tasted champagne every now and then. But I think we're all self destructive."

"A little, yeah. I mean, everyone has times when they feel glass floors beneath them shattering."

"Yeah. When people throw stones into a glass house." He smiled.

"Even worse is when glass houses throw their own stones to break themselves." I grinned. We were speaking of horrible things, but it seemed perfectly alright with him. It's so cliche, but Aaron seemed normal. He was self conscious, obviously.

Aaron's phone blared. He received a few looks, but ignored it. The song was really familiar.

"What song is that?" I inquired.

"Are you sitting on your phone?" He asked. I shook my head.

"Check for it." He stated. I looked in my bag and pockets, but it was no where to be found.

"What song is that?" I asked again, it being obvious someone from my phone called him.

"Everybody Knows Your Boyfriend Is A Douchebag." He stated.

"Ouch. I'm going to find my phone. Give me yours?" I used the Find IPhone app. It traced a signal in the school. My phone must have been beeping, alerting the theif that I was coming for it. Maybe I just dropped it somewhere. Aaron cautiously stood, seeming nervous and on edge. I squeezed his wrist before walking towards where the app was notifying me it was.

"Ror. Isn't it in your locker?"

"I've never used my locker."

"Hello?" I walked in on Sara making out with some boy. The first lunch period I'd had in 189 school days and I ended up losing my phone.

"Sara, do you have my cell phone or see it in the closet?" I played calm and collected.

"Oh this?" She pulled it from her back pocket. "Aaron asked me to see if you texted anyone about him."

She turned to my whatever-he-is. "Besides Kylie and telling Achilles you were hanging out with him, not a trace." I snatched my phone, muttered a "Thank you" and left. I had never been one to take trash from anyone. No one ever said anything to me. They knew I'd be ruling the world or something close to it one day. Sara knew better. She was nothing next to what I could do if I was angry enough.

"Ror." Aaron placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I don't want to argue or make a scene at school. I'll see you tomorrow. I don't think we have classes together after right now." I replied calmly and trailed off into my next AP course.

"Aurora." He called, but I was too busy searching my phone. Thank God I wasn't a person who kept scandalous pictures or personal info on here. I don't know how Sara got past my password, but she did.

The day seemed very wrong. The clouds were an off shade of grey and things were gloomy. In my last class, Aaron sat besides Kylie. I felt really really bad when I saw that. I never said anything mean. I just wanted to discuss it later. Kylie was a very white blonde with blue eyes. She wasn't insanely pretty. She had thin lips, an Italian nose, and pale eyelashes. Her eyebrows were thin as was her hair.

I silently took my seat beside Penny and allowed my teacher educate us. She passed out an assignment on not using social media for a month. I could do just fine without it. A month earlier, I found myself checking Instagram twice a day to look at things. Deciding it was useless, I wanted to just temporarily delete it. No such lucky, though. Partners to monitor usage would be determined soon.

The bell rang and I picked myself out of my slump of hatred. I walked to Aaron's desk where he was flexing for Kylie. She laughed.

Kylie was just as intelligent as me. She was cruel and not too likable. Her ego was inflated too.

"Aaron? Still want a ride?" I asked in a sad, tiny voice. My throat was sore from bitter thoughts. I watched his body retreat from land and set sail as his eyes changed. He seemed worried now.

"Yeah, let's go." He brushed past Kylie and sauntered towards my car. We both slid in and our hands met at the air conditioning.

"Uh sorry." I mumbled it, but I felt electricity in my fingers. "Where to?"

"Anywhere Ror." He seemed upset.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked.

"At you? I'm the one who had Sara steal your phone!" He was obviously angry with himself.

"I didn't want to argue. I kinda figured you had a superior reason." My mind had an answer about losing him, though.

"Aurora. Did you think I meant it? I was just upset and frustrated with you. I did mean that guys hate this crap. But don't be passive aggressive."

"We really aren't hard to get. Not me at least." Women really aren't.

"I was curious about if you liked me. That's why I asked Sara to take it."

"That's it?" I interrogated. He nodded.

"Why did you flirt with Kylie?" I asked at his house.

"Are you jealous Ms.Killingsworth?"

"N-no! But aren't we...?" I asked.

"Yeah." He climbed out and reached in. "We're dating." He kissed my cheek and ran inside