My Boyfriend's Best Friend

Chapter Nineteen

Rylie

The next day started out like something from a cheesy teen movie. Aidan had texted me last night, saying that Aston was starting at school the next day. Needless to say, I called him straightaway and he explained the whole thing to me. Which was why, at 8:30am on the dot, I was waiting at the front of the school for my boyfriend.  Which, conveniently, also meant that the majority of my friends were waiting at the front; thus making most of the student body follow suit and join us in the small grassy section and parking lot. Ahh, the perks of popularity.

I was sitting at the bottom of the concrete stairs leading to the front office, my leg bobbing up and down nervously. Beside me, Beccy rolled her eyes. “I still don’t get why we’re sitting here. Can’t Aidan just find us like he normally does?”

I shushed her and stood up as I saw Aidan’s Audi roll up. He had gotten it fixed pretty much the day after his accident. God, that felt like years ago. He managed to snag a parking spot near the front and the whole school seemed to quieten down when the front passenger door opened. I saw a few glances towards my group and speculating whispers as to who the other person in the vehicle was. And then Aidan stepped out. Only it wasn’t Aidan. I knew that now. Plus, the only time Aidan wore aviators was when him and a few of his mates dressed up as the guys from Top Gun. Of course, Aidan was Maverick. But that’s beside the point.

The guy that stepped out of the passenger was slimmer and wearing a set of black and white high-top converse over his black skinny jeans, once again showing the difference between him and Aidan. His uniform was the proper school one yet he’d left the white dress shirt untucked like most of the guys did and his tie was hanging loose around his neck; not even having attempted to tie it. I imagine the vast majority of students thought he was Aidan with a wardrobe change, which only caused them to question who the driver was. And when Aidan stepped of the driver’s side with his usual Ray Bans covering his eyes and vans on his feet, there were more than a few gasps and murmurs rippling through the crowd. Even his friends, our friends, were wondering what the hell was going on.

I felt Beccy slapping my arm, her eyes, like everyone else’s, locked on the figures striding towards us. I’d like to say they were laughing and shoving each other but they were the epitome of cool. And I don’t mean that in a good way. They barely acknowledged each other’s presence. To most, the stony tension between them was invisible but to me and Connor who was sulking for some reason on the other side of Beccy, it couldn’t have been more obvious. The crowds parted like the Red Sea did for Moses and they made their way towards us. I ran over to Aidan, getting my fair share of curious looks along the way. I saw Aston say something to Aidan, most likely commenting on the power Aidan had over the school, and Aidan scowled. The brothers saw me approaching at the same time and in freaky synchronisation, both the Kingston boys took off their sunglasses.

I saw the tense look in Aidan’s eyes and I hugged him, giving him a quick peck on the lips. He gave me a tired smile but nonetheless looked pleased to see me. He tucked me under his arm before proceeding on his journey to our friends.

“What? Where’s my kiss?” asked Aston, pretending to look insulted.

I frowned and Aidan stiffened. “Just shut up and keep your thoughts to yourself,” I scolded, with a forced smile on my face as we walked past the student body. I noticed a lot of the girls staring openly at Aston and I could just imagine the drool sliding out of their mouths.

“Um, what the hell!” Tyler demanded once we reached our group of friends. “Dude, since when do you have a twin brother?”

Aston replied for himself. “Since almost eighteen years. Name’s Aston and as much fun as hanging out with my baby brother’s friends sounds like, I think I’ll pass. Laters.”