Built to Fall Apart

18

"Haha I beat you! " I said laughing and pointing towards Aiden.

"Only because I let you."  He said getting off of the horse and untying his riding boots.

"Yeah right, where's your bathroom? " I asked while putting Buttercup back and hurrying into the house reciting his directions.

Once I was out I walked over to the kitchen to smell the most heavenly scent. Aiden was sitting in the living room, feet propped up on the sofa, sipping on water and occasionally typing on his phone.

I crossed over to his grandmother to thank her for letting me ride their horses and for letting me eat with them.

She smiled as we made small talk and eventually lunch was ready. It was almost three. So I was starved.I helped her plate the food and went back to the bathroom to wash my hands.

I took a seat between Aiden and his grandmother and began to eat. Aiden quickly stopped me telling me how religious his grandfather was and that I would need to wait until after the prayer.

I waited a while annoyed but I tried to be understanding. I was so hungry and the food smelled so good. After a good half an hour of waiting for Aiden's grandfather, he finally walked in covered in sweat.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let me just freshen up and we can get started." He proceeded to take another 15 minute before reappearing with an apologetic smile, "there was a chicken problem."

We all nodded as he sat down and we did a short prayer. The second it was over we all digged in. Everyone obviously famished.

After lunch we all helped clean up a bit and talked. They were so nice a friendly and welcomed and treated me like I was part of the family. At about 5:30pm we said our goodbyes with me over hearing Hank (Aiden's grandfather)  whisper 'this one's a keeper' to Aiden before Marley (Aiden's grandmother)  handed me a plastic bowl covered in tin foil.

"Come back real soon!" She said while giving me a tight hug and giving me reheating instructions.
When we were finally out of earshot Aiden whispered. "They really like you. Maybe more than I do." After an awkward moment he elaborated. "Maybe more than they like me, I mean."

"Haha don't sweat it. But can we talk?  Now?" I laughed awkwardly and  asked.

"Right now?"

"If not, then when?"

"I..I guess right now is fine. When do you need to get home?"  he answered, it's not like he had much of an option

"7:30. I'm going with my mom to a fitting for my graduation gown." I said.

"Okay. We have time then.UMM where do I start?"

"Where do we stand? " I asked , I've never been patient.

"I'm honestly not sure. I want to say so badly that we are a couple because that's the way we act. I just don't know if you want to too." He confessed.

"I do too. I just, I'm scared we are moving way too fast again. But Aiden we are running out of time! Highschool is almost over."

"I know. I just- "

"Just call me your girlfriend. Can I call you my boyfriend? " I asked impulsively, we honestly don't have time for this back and forth teenage drama you read about in books.

"Of course. I thought you'd never ask." Okay well that was cliché, guess we have a little time.

"Okay great. Now that that's out of the way, can we talk about the fights?"

"Fighting is normal for couples.I think you're over thinking it."

"No we literally fight at least once every time we see each other. I like you, so I want to figure out a way to stop this constant argument. We have to make this work." I said trying to think of other things we could work on.

"Okay. I agree, it's better if we fix it."

"Great, another thing. We need to also find a way to stop knocking over every couple and person in our path."

"What? You make us sound like a tornado." He said clearly amused.

"When we are together we kind of are one."  I confessed.

"Interesting, well we have about two hours let's get to problem solving!"

And with that we spent the full two hours talking. It's nice to know you both are going to fight for each other, instead of it being one sided.

"Okay let's get you home." Aiden announced while pulling out of the 7/11 we were stopped at.

My house was only a few blocks away before he turned to me and smiled.

"What is it?" I asked smiling.

"I don't know.I'm just happy we are together again. I'm glad we took that break. And you took your time."

"And I'm glad that we finally had a mature conversation. "I said returning his smile.

~*~

"Yeah this is way too long. Mom, I know you wanted me to be 5'11 but I'm still only 5'7.  I'm sorry I just don't think I'm going to grow anymore. " I said while laughing as she laughed and then sighed.

"Okay.I'll go get the seamstress, Cindy?" My mom yelled as an old woman poked her head through the curtain.

"Yes? Do you want me to trim it?" She said looking over at me.

"Yes please." I answered as I waited patiently for her to come back with scissors.

She trimmed, and stitched away. I smiled at the final result of the gown.

It fit me perfectly, this could not be the same gown.

I spun around in it for my mom a smile on her face. "I'm so proud of you and I bet he is too." She didn't have to say anything else, we both just stood there smiling.

After changing out of my gown my Mom payed Cindy and placed the gown in the backseat.

"I miss talking to you." She said finally, "sometimes you're just so busy,and soon you'll be leaving for college."

"I know. I miss taking to you too.  Hey, we both have time now. What do you want to talk about?"

"Your new boyfriend." I was taken aback.

How did she know?

~*~

Oooo five more chapters and this book is over! Hope u enjoyed reading it.

Teaser: College may be the ice burg that sinks this ship.