The G(r)ay Area

Part Twenty-Three

Part Twenty-Three.

"We'll just go to the store and back. I promise. It'll be painless." Mom said, brushing her hair into a ponytail.

I shook my head. "Mom, I'm a mess. I can't go anywhere."

She looked at me through the mirror. "Just comb your hair and put some clean clothes on and you'll be fine."

"I can't function."

"You're doing just fine to me."

I rolled my eyes.

"You can't mope around forever."

"I haven't moped in a few hours. I think it's well overdue."

"Aiden, you're coming with me."

"Then you have to buy me ice cream."

"Fine."

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"Put that back." Mom said, giving me a look. "I swear, Aiden. It's like taking a child out in public."

I rolled my eyes. "I told you I didn't want to be here."

"You can't stay locked inside the house forever."

If it were up to me, that's where I would have been. I wanted to stay where no one could see me. Where I could cry whenever I wanted.

I felt safe at home, regardless of the memories I'd picked up.

I followed mom down the rest of the aisle as she got a few boxes of spaghetti noodles. She rounded the next aisle and I wandered to where the ice cream was, knowing I was going to pick quite a few flavors. I had a lot of pigging out to do.

I opened the door and shivered, not anticipating the freezing cold air that blew out. I grabbed a pint of mint chocolate chip then let the door shut.

I took a step back and movement caught my eye. I looked over and there was a girl take a bag of popsicles from the freezer. Her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and her winged eyeliner was perfectly winged. She was pretty, the kind of pretty that made most guys drool.

I couldn't help but stare. Not because I liked her but because I wanted to know why other guys would. Why Lucas would want to be with girls.

She was pretty but not super attractive. I didn't now her and I didn't know if she was nice or mean or caring. Maybe I wasn't superficial enough.

But I wasn't a pig and I didn't like guys who were. It was disgusting.

The girl turned her head and her eyes met mine. She looked from me to the ice cream then turned and left.

I closed my eyes for a second and grabbed two pints of caramel brownie before I went to find mom.