The Unexpected

Chapter 22

Sorry for the wait! I'll try to update sooner from now on. I didn't edit this because I'm about to leave for church and I'm trying to rush to post.

I didn't like writing the last part, it was freaky...

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Chapter 22

“I'm sorry for the other day and I know I was being a jerk and overreacting but in my defense I was really stressed out and actually I still am, I mean I'm like freaking out and I don't know why it's kinda weird and-” I was forced to stop rambling when I ran out of breath. I stopped pacing to stand face-to-face with my reflection. “Oh gosh,” I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “This is impossible.” I had been practicing all morning and I still wasn't near ready to talk to Aaden today.

“Nothing is impossible.”

I jumped at least five feet in the air at Rose's voice. “Oh my-” I put a hand to my heart, which was going a hundred miles an hour. “Am I still alive? I think I might be dead.”

“I'm sorry.” Rose cracked a grin, looking more amused than sorry, then looked around my room. “Who were you talking to?”

“Nobody,” I blurted quickly, embarrassed she caught me talking to myself.

Rose looked at me strangely and shook her head. “Anyways, there's someone here to see you.”

“Who?” I asked before she stepped aside and opened the door fully, revealing Aaden. Rose looked between and cleared her throat.

“I guess I'll leave you two to it. And don't you dare be late for school.” She left, leaving me and Aaden to stand there awkwardly.

He removed his hands from where they were shoved in his pockets to run a hand through his unruly hair. “I heard.”

“Huh?”

“I heard you talking to yourself.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “That's embarrassing.”

He chuckled quietly. “A little, but I think it's kind of cute.”

I bent down to slip on my silver flats in an attempt to hide the rosy blush creeping up my neck. When he didn't say anything more I straitened. “And?”

“We've both been stressed out lately. I mean, your best friend is in a hospital, and I find you running through the woods like you thought something was threatening your life. What was that about anyway?”

I'm not the only one who's received a threat. I studied my bed, remembering what I couldn't tell Aaden. “What about you?” I asked quietly, ignoring his question.

He followed my gaze and a stab of fear ran through me, wondering if he would somehow sense the warning left with the remains of his shredded sweatshirt just by looking. If X found out he knew, fore-seeing abilities or not, the consequences could easily become a reality.

“What about me? I couldn't choose my path, or where it would take me. The past can be an unforgiving thing, Ricki. Remember that.”

That's certainly a mood killer. “Aaden?” I asked. “Why are you here?”

“I came to ask if you needed a ride. Seeing as we're all good...” he stopped. “We are all good, right?”

I pretended to think about it. “I don't know, you never did get me that ice cream you promised.”

Disappointment flashed across his features and I laughed. “I'm joking.” I pointed a finger at him accusingly. “But I still want that ice cream.”