Outcasts

This Will Be Home -Part Two-

So far I've been able to tell my story in the safety of our walls. Aiden wanted to break free from that. So here we are, down at the beach. And I can't complain about that either.

I piff a stone along the surface of the waves, watching it go as the tide crashes against my legs, retreating seconds later. My feet sink further into the sand, like the earth is swallowing me whole. Slowly, but it'll get there.

'You need any more layers?' I smirk, leaning back and releasing another pebble with a grunt. I glance over my shoulder at Aiden, wrapped up as he is in a jumper, hoodie, coat and scarf. His black hair peeks out from beneath his beanie. It's a pretty chilly evening, yet here I am, jeans pulled up and letting the freezing seawater break against me.

'I still don't understand you,' he mutters, but it's hard to hear him with his face so wrapped up. He's practically eating his scarf.

'Sorry, didn't catch that.'

'I said...' Aiden takes a few steps closer. The tide returns and he runs back; I can feel his terror from here. I can't help but laugh. Aiden spins around, glowering. Honestly, he just looks plain cute with his arms puffed out to the sides. Too many layers do that to you. 'Can we move away from the water?'

'It was your idea to come out here,' I say. I face the horizon and angle my last pebble. I watch it fly and ripple across the surface, then place my hands on my hips, just taking it all in. It was a good idea coming out here. I definitely feel a lot lighter. You know, I'm actually really damn proud and impressed Aiden suggested this. I know we just moved in, but our apartment was already becoming stifling. Like it was reduced to just that one room, and everything outside was a stage. Fake. Only our bedroom, and our secrets. My secrets.

Let the ocean and the twilight sky have them now.

Sliding my feet through the squelchy sand, feeling it tickling the inside of my toes, I move further inland and Aiden follows. I slip my hand into his and we walk for a little while, keeping the sea to our left. It's dark and gloomy out, and the winds far too sharp and biting, but there are a few people about.

'Walks on the beach,' Aiden announces, looking over at me. 'with your boyfriend. Have you ever had that before?'

'Nope. Josemy... We didn't have that kind of relationship.'

'What kind of relationship was it?'

'Thankfully one built on friendship. Not the strongest, otherwise we'd already have gone out to the pub like once by now, right?'

'I haven't gone to the pub.'

'It's not your thing.'

'But it's yours. And I'm getting in the way of that.'

'No. It's just the pub. It's not anything... special. It's just a thing people do. When they get older.' I quickly correct myself. 'Not everyone. Just, it's common.'

'And we're not common.'

'Do you want to be?'

Aiden rolls his head from shoulder to shoulder, and then finally sighs.

'I want to hold your hand. And I want walks on the beach. Maybe not in this weather.'

'It's always this weather.'

'When the sun's at least out.'

I nod, assenting. 'What else do you want, Aiden Griffin?'

'I want to know I can always fall into your arms.' I pull him towards me, wrapping my arms around him, kissing him on the side of his head. Aiden giggles, and I let him go, finding his hand again. 'I want to know you'll always be there for me.'