Dirty Little Secret

eight

"Is it really already midnight?" I yawn, pulling my phone away from my ear to check the time once more.

"Yeah, I guess it is. I can let you go if you're tired."

Around 9PM I was surprised to see that I was getting a call from Aiden. When I answered the call, however, I was even more surprised to hear that he was calling to ask a question about homework. I asked why he didn't just text me and was relived that no one was around to see my face turn bright red when he replied with, "because I wanted to hear your voice." My heart was doing summersaults and I was almost positive I was on the verge of fainting. His compliments are always so much deeper than something as simple as telling me I look nice, and that's one of the reasons I've fallen so hard for him in such a short amount of time.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," I giggle, a faint smile playing at my lips.

"Well then I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow," he grins.

"Okay..." I nearly whisper.

The line is silent and for a moment I think he's already hung up, but then I hear him speak, "Perhaps okay will be our always."

I let out a loud, roaring laugh, sitting up from my previous laying position on my bed. I have to cover my mouth with my hand to muffle the sound so I don't wake up mom or Nana. "I can't believe you just said that. You are so corny!" I admit, both of us still trying to catch our breath.

"But it made you laugh, right? That's why I said it."

Another blush creeps up on my cheeks. I'm at a loss for words, so I remain quiet.

"Goodnight, Charlotte," he mummbles, his voice groggy and deep.

"Goodnight, Aiden."
****

At 6:45 the next morning I wake up to the sound of my alarm going off in my ear. Even after hitting the snooze button the ringing continues in my head, not allowing me to fall back asleep before the alarm goes off again, so I get out of bed instead.

A cold shower is all it takes to get me going. I throw on a pair of leggings and the first shirt I see before grabbing a banana and walking out the door. It's Friday so I make no effort to put on makeup or do my hair.

I'm still a little bit tired as I walk through the crowded halls. Everyone seems to be in the same dull mood today, even the teachers, so the day drags on terribly slow.

The only time I perk up even the slightest bit is when Aiden walks into chemistry. He, too, looks like he made no effort to look good today, though he looks good without even trying. He has on a pair of baggy gray sweatpants and a black hoodie with the hood up, his bed head peaking out in all directions.

He takes a seat beside me and mumbles a quiet, "hey."

"Hi," I smile, still a little bit giddy from all of his cheesy comments last night on the phone. "Did you finish the homework?"

"No," he chuckles. "Did you actually expect me to?"

I shake my head, "No, not really."

Mr. Fisher begins talking about the lesson and scribbling notes onto the board. I jot a few important points down but mostly just sit and listen, trying not to doze off.

To the right of me, Aiden is keeping himself occupied by doodling mustaches and devil horns on the people in the textbook.

This continues on for the remainder of the class, him pushing the book closer to me every so often to show me something funny he's drawn and me staring blankly around the room.

When the bell finally rings we all stand up and shove our way out of the room. Aiden follows me from the classroom to my locker and from my locker to my car as he tells me a wild story about Miles that has me almost in tears from laughing.

I toss my stuff in the back seat and close the door before standing with my back against the dusty white car.

"So I have a question," he says in a softer tone of voice. His left hand lands on the window beside my head and he takes a step closer, his body nearly hovering over mine.

"And what would that be?" My breath hitches in my throat when I notice his free hand begins messing with the loose thread hanging from the hem of my shirt.

He looks up at me, hand still twirling the string around his fingers. "Do you maybe wanna go out tonight?"

"Like, a date?" I ask, which makes Aiden let out a deep chuckle.

"Yeah, if you that's what you want it to be." His eyes are boring deep into mine and I can't help but move my face closer to his.

I smile and give a small nod. "I'd like that."

He smirks and releases the thread of my shirt from his hand. "So I'll pick you around 7?" I simply give him another nod, knowing my voice is probably too shaky to speak. My legs feel like jello and my heart is beating out of my chest. "Sweet... I'll see you then."

With that he pushes himself up off his leaning position on the car and turns to walk away, a cocky grin still glued to his handsome features.
***

When I first told mom after getting home from school that I was going out with Aiden, she was ecstatic. Possibly more excited than I am, even.

On Monday when she and Nana walked in to see us sitting in the couch, our faces just a few centimeters apart, I thought she'd be upset. Instead she introduced herself with a smile and began spewing out a million questions, only to have me step in and tell her it was time for him to leave. She even thinks it's "cool" that he rides a motorcycle. She says she's alright with me riding on it as long as I wear a helmet, which was the last thing I was expecting her to say. I have a feeling she just wants me to get a boyfriend, because in Arizona she always used to nag me about hanging out with the same two people.

We laughed about it and he swore that he didn't mind, but even now just thinking about it I'm still embarrassed.

The doorbell rings at exactly 7:00 on the dot and Nana insists on answering it, since I'm still in my room getting ready.

"Hi, Aiden! It's so nice to see you again!" I hear my mom call.

I roll my eyes and quickly slip my shoes on to make sure mom has as little time alone with him as possible. When I walk down the stairs I see Nana already has him sitting on the couch beside her, most likely telling him a story about people he doesn't know. I think sometimes she forgets who she's talking to. She's always talking to me about people I've never even heard of.

Aiden looks up at me from his seat and laughs as he nods along to what Nana is telling him. He looks much nicer than he did at school. His sweats have been replaced with a pair of jeans and a white v-neck and his hair looks a bit more tamed, though still a little messy.

"Nana, as much as I'm sure he'd love to finish hearing your story, we should probably get going."

"So soon?" mom perks up, her head peaking around from the kitchen.

"Yes, mom. I'll be back... whenever."

"Alright, well you kids have fun. Be safe, don't get into any trouble," she warns, giving me a kiss on the cheek. I'm surprised that's all she has to say. I was expecting a whole five minute rant.

When we make it out to the driveway Aiden hands me a helmet, the same one he always gives me.

"So where are we going?" I ask, situating myself on the small leather seat. My arms are quick to find their way around his torso, both my hands laying flat on his firm stomach.

"We are going to the fair."
***

A/N: AHHH. So cliche and I don't even care 😂😻