Phoenix Drop University- Softmore Year

4: Gene

"Awww. Come on buddy. You can't still be mad about what happened can you?" His voice is sarcastic, a long, black leather jacket draped over his shoulders, a blood red t-shirt. And black, ripped jeans, his black hair and cold blue eyes contrasting perfectly with Aaron's steel ones. the three goons at the counter look over at their boss.

"Am, and will continue to be." Aaron retorts quickly, leaning back into the bar booth to keep up his bad boy facade.

"It was an honest mistake! Anyone could have 'accidentally' forc-I mean, allowed their friend to go into a highly guarded, kill on sight military base." Gene's smug, fake apology makes Aphmau's blood boil, Aaron had mentioned Gene once, but they had only really been friends in early middle-late high school.

"You could have gotten Laurence killed! I got shot in the back! You knew he could've died and you forced him to go in there!" Aaron suddenly stands up from the booth, his eyes wild with rage, little flecks of crimson mixing with steel.

"That was his initiation. But then you had to be the hero, and got yourself shot." Gene keeps this calm, unwavering, but demanding of power stance. But Aaron is bigger, and taller than him.

"I was in the hospital for a year! And I was there alone, because my father told everyone I was sent to a mental hospital!" Gene's goons suddenly stand from their seats, but Gene raises his hand to get them to hold.

Aphmau's heart sinks, she never knew he was in the hospital, and if she did she would have definitely went to see him.

"So? You got a scar and a year to figure out your life. Obviously, you decided that the Shadow Knights weren't your style anymore, and went to college." Aaron's eyes are crimson now, his fingers twitching and fangs bared, though Gene still seems calm, unfazed even.

"Aaron. I did not come over here to fight you." Gene says slowly, backing away from the very ticked off Aaron and terrified/also ticked off Aphmau.

"I came here to invite you back, you were my best man out there. You could pick a lock in seconds. Weasel your way through confrontation. Steal thousands of dollars right under people's noses! Come on dude. I know you need the money." He offers his hand to shake, Aaron stares at it. And then back up a Gene's face.

"No. The thieves life is not for me anymore. I am no longer a Shadow Knight." Aaron's voice becomes the definition of intimidating, his gaze unwavering from Gene's sapphire eyes.

"Once a Shadow Knight, Always a Shadow Knight Aaron, After all, that was your slogan." Gene gathers his men and walks calmly out the door without another word. Aaron sits back down, body shaking in anger.

"Aaron...? Are you okay?" Aphmau reaches out for his hand, he takes it roughly, but relaxes once he realizes what he's doing.

"Yeah, sorry. I saw his Mustang outside. I needed him to think I hadn't changed from... who I was in high school." Aphmau shakes her head, and gazes up at him with puppy eyes.

"Aaron, I've known you forever. But those few years when you hung out with Gene a lot more, you've never let me into that part of your life. I just thought you had found new friends." Aaron chuckles, shakes his head and squeezes her hand gently.

"No. I'll talk more about this later. It's not something I enjoy talking about..."

At about this time Harry comes swinging around the corner with their orders and two, very large tankards of beer.

"Your orders, and two pick me up's on the house." She grins at them when they try to pick up the massive drinks.

"Pick me up's? More like flat on the floor! There's no way! Besides, I have to drive." Aaron exclaims, but a mischievous grin on Aphmau's face tells him otherwise.

"Fine. Harry. Would you like a drinking contest with me?" Aphmau says, and Harry's freckled face bursts into a grin.

"Oh you are on sister." She chugs the entire tankard of beer down and smirks, waiting for Aphmau to finish hers.

Hours pass, each one getting louder and harder to understand, until they get to the last tankard.

Harry takes a swig, Aphmau takes a swig, then passes out on the table.

"Hahaha! I win you lightweight!" Harry shouts drunkenly. And Aaron sighs and picks Aphmau up bridal style, takes a few steps. Then Harry passes out on the table as well.

"Well..." Aaron says tiredly. "Looks like I'm taking two girls home tonight."