Traitor

9- Just A Little Too Late

Maddison

And within minutes we were on our way. No, not there, just leaving, strolling down the street, side by side, going to our special spot.

You're probably wondering where the most obvious spot is?

Just wait.

"Aiden! I swear I'm gonna fall off!" I scream.

"Hold tight!" He says, pushing my back hard. I giggle as the wind hits my face and blows my hair around under the beanie while I fly upwards.

"Aiiiieeee!" I squeal happily.

Yeah, we'd gotten a teeeeensy bit sidetracked.

"Keep pumping!" He yells, running over to the swing beside me. I push my legs behind me as I fall back to the ground. Soon, Aiden has reaches the same height as me.

We swing, nearly carefree, back and forth for what feels like hours, though it's only a matter of minutes.

"Hey! We're double dating!" He cries. I slip a pump to knock it out of sync, but Aiden guesses and skips one too. I stare at him, jaw open as if I'm offended.

He only smiles and continues to match my height.

"What's wrong with dating me?" He whines.

"I have a list," I scoff, turning to face forward again.

"Oh really?" He says in a sing-song voice. "Let's hear it," he finishes cockily.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want your little feelings to get hurt," I joke. He only waits for me to continue.

He reaches across the swings and pokes me in the shoulder.

"You're annoying as hell, stuck up, complicated, insanely cocky, you judge people, you underestimate people, you're irritatingly attractive, you talk down to people, you always believe no matter what that you're better than everyone else at everything, and you never let things go because you brag!" I let out a gasp upon finishing. Glancing at Aiden, he has a big goofy smile on his face. Am I missing something? Did I not just insult him 10 times over?

"What was that? The 7th one, I believe?" He leans over the chain holding the chain on my swing so his swing goes towards me.

"Huh?" What's he talking about?

"I'm irritatingly... what?" He smirks.

"Shit," I mumble. Had I said that one out loud?

"Say it," he pushes.

"No," I say, turning pink.

"Say it again, come on," he pokes me again.

"Nope," I shake my head, my slightly curly hair falling in my eyes.

"Please?" He begs.

"This is what I mean when I say you don't let things go," I sing.

"Do you want to hear about what I think of you, then?" He asks. I freeze, not expecting that. He slows his swing as well.

"Do I?" I ask him, not answering his question because I don't know how to. He's about to answer when a family shows up to the park. Aiden hops off his swing and stands at the bottom of mine, arms outstretched. I fly off, right into his arms, which he then wraps around me. He leans his head down, craning it over me to brush his lips on my ear. I shiver.

"To the place?" He whispers, his warm breath hitting my neck. Unable to form words, I nod into his chest.

Merely a second later, he let's go and walks off. His hands are clenched into fists and his neck is tense. What the hell just happened? Only a moment ago he was holding me in his arms, whispering in my ear. Now he's storming off like he's mad.