heart out ; paul lahote

03

Chapter Three - (most of) The Boys 

  ✧  

     He texts Seth, asking if it's okay for him to visit today after all. Only seconds later, he receives a reply that goes along the lines of: "yes! we just finished patrolling the area so we're all a bit sweaty haha! jake just left to pick you up get here quick!!" but with a lot more exclamation points.

Aiden shakes his head with a smile. Seth's constant happiness is extremely contagious, even through a screen. Now that he thinks about it, in the short few years he's known Seth, he's never seen the young wolf upset. Not that it means that he doesn't get upset, he just seems to never express it publicly. Does he hold back and plaster on a fake smile so as to not worry everyone else? or is he just embarrassed of being seen as something other than happy? Whatever it is, Aiden wishes he could be like Seth in that way - apart from all the other reasons he's envious of the boy (other reasons being: his body, his height, his easygoingness). 

Unlike Bella, Aiden has a bit more trouble holding in his emotions. Anger, disgust and annoyance are something he can keep locked up pretty well, but sadness and frustration are two things he has no control over. He's forever cursed with being a huge crybaby, and he absolutely hates it. Anything as simple as watching a sad video, or even a happy one at that, gets the waterworks start to flow and there's no stopping them. It's worse when he's frustrated, though. He can handle his anger, he can keep it in check until it turns into frustration and he cries.

 Literally cries of frustration.

It makes him feel weak and stupid. He can't help it though, he just gets so frustrated he can't help but to cry and that only makes him even more frustrated. It's an endless cycle of embarrassment.

He continues to rant to himself, only to have his train of thought broken by a sudden deep voice above him. "Long time no see, dweeb." Jacob laughs.

Aiden springs up from the porch steps, laughing along with Jacob as he's pulled from the ground in a tight hug.

Once he's on the ground again, he looks up at Jacob, unable to keep the smile off his face. "I've missed you, loser." Jacob laughs and pulls him into another hug. He's warm and radiating with content.

"We should get going before Seth decides to run and get you himself." 

Aiden nods as he looks at the spam of text notifications he's gotten in the last second, all of them including various exclamation and question marks. "Agreed."

***

 "Get ready to be really annoyed." Jacob mutters as he steps off the car.

Aiden follows after him, making sure not to slam the door too hard. "I already am, by you." he mocks, a teasing grin on his face.

Jacob snorts and rolls his eyes playfully, "Very funny." 

They make their way to Emily's house and Aiden immediately falls in love with it. It looks so cozy and warm and inviting, only it's quite the opposite once they step inside and all of the noise ambushes his ears. 

The inside of the house, from what he can judge standing in the kitchen, is just as warm and cozy as the outside. The lighting is bright and the dark wooden tones of the furniture give off a very cozy feel. Loud conversations and laughter reaches his ears, and the scent of freshly made muffins fills the air.  Aiden soon spots the reason why. A woman he's guessing is Emily, stands with her back to them, facing the oven as she pulls out a pan of muffins. At the kitchen table sits two boys, both equally loud.

"Hey guys, this is Aiden." Jacob introduces him. The two boys quiet down and Emily puts the muffins down and makes her way to them. She's beautiful. She's all things lovely and her warm and welcoming smile makes him immediately feel at home. The long scar on the left side of her face does nothing to take away from her beauty. 

Aiden lifts his hand, expecting her to shake it, but he's suddenly pulled into a hug from Emily. He has to get used to all of the hugging he's been taking part in lately.

"It's very nice to meet you Aiden, Seth and Jacob won't shut up about you." Emily gushes, her eyes bright. "You're just as cute as they said you are." Aiden laughs awkwardly, a blush coating his cheeks as Jacob all but yells, "Emily!" 

She ignores Jacobs sputtering and motions towards the muffins, "Please help yourself to some muffins!" 

The two boys from the table soon call his attention to them, they sit shirtless and send a mischievous grin his way. "I'm Collin and this is Brady." The latter manages a short wave as he all but shoves muffin after muffin into his mouth. He's soon scolded by Emily and he pouts innocently but continues eating anyway.

From the hallway emerges the human embodiment sunshine, whom does nothing but spam Aiden's phone. "Hey, the rest of us are in the living room. C'mon!" Seth takes hold of his hand and pulls him along without waiting for an answer. Jacob and Emily follow behind the two, leaving Collin and Brady to claim the muffins.

***

"I did not!" Jared shouts in defense, an incredulous look on his face. 

Across from him, Seth is red in the face with laughter, and even Sam has to put a hand over his face to keep from laughing too hard.  

Aiden laughs quietly beside Seth, who's still doubled over laughing from Embry's joke about Jared. 

After Seth had introduced him to the rest of the pack - well, most of it since two were missing - Aiden had soon felt himself getting comfortable, and he was pleased to find that everyone else welcomed him with kindness. 

Sam was intimidating at first, he's big and the serious look on his face didn't help, but now that he's warmed up to him - and also thanks to Emily being present - Aiden can't help but to find him adorable and brotherly. He already knew Embry but Embry pretended not to know him for the first few minutes, which Embry himself thought was a hilarious joke. It wasn't. Jared was nice and easy to joke around with, although it takes him a while to understand most jokes. Leah didn't show up, and, according to Jake, she hardly steps foot into the house.

"Sam, why'd you have to send the other two on a separate mission, they're missing out." Seth whines, sliding his body dramatically off the couch. Sam rolls his eyes and prefers not to answer. 

Jacob turns to Aiden, "You already know Quil and you're not missing out on much by not meeting Paul."

Aiden smiles and lightly punches Jacob on the arm, "Don't be mean." 

All of a sudden, Seth leaps up from laying on the ground. "You guys are finally here!" he exclaims, facing the doorway and motioning for the newcomers to join them.

Aiden stilled in surprise for only a second. He hadn't heard anyone come in, but then again he doesn't have supernatural hearing abilities. Curiously, he turns and spots Quil instantly. 

Quil's face breaks into a grin as he joins them, calling after the other boy - Paul, probably - who stands rooted by the door. 

Aiden looks at him. 

Paul is tall and gorgeous, and he's staring right at Aiden like he's just had the breath stolen out of his lungs.

/***/

i hate myself for stopping it there but i had to lmao