your body is a weapon → brad simpson | ✓

fifty five

Aiden had left me three missed calls since I ended the conversation with him. I just hit the end call button and made my way to the bus stop, knowing exactly where I'm going.

When I arrive at Den's Diner, I've gotten loads more missed calls and unread messages off of Aiden and I decide to turn my phone off. I open the door and I see Luna standing behind the cash register, serving a customer.

I sit down at a barstool not far from her and she shoots me a smile and I know she's going to come over after she's finished serving the customers.

"Dad, can you serve the orders out for table four?" Luna asks her dad who nods, taking ahold of some plates and glasses. She smiles and walks over to me. "Hey, Jamie. You good?"

"Just needed to talk to you," I say. "When do you finish your shift?"

"Not for a while," she frowns. "Talk to me whilst I work, hun. I'll just have to keep bouncing back and forth between you and the customers."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

I tell Luna everything—well, almost; I leave out the parts where Brad and Aiden are both in a gang—about how I was forced to make a decision and what the outcomes were. I told her about how upset Brad and I are and I just vent about everything that's happened.

Luna lets me take a sip of my coffee when I've finished before speaking. "It sounds like you've had a pretty rough couple of weeks."

"Yeah, pretty much," I say. She excuses herself to serve another customer before returning back to me. "I just feel like I'm stuck in a loop of feeling like shit."

"Either way, you were gonna end up in a shitty situation," Luna reasons. "But you made the most ethical one, I suppose. Besides, now you've got a rich fiancé who can pay for everything. You don't need to worry financially anymore."

"That's not the point, Lu."

"I know, I know," she smiles. "You love Brad, I get that. But if it's truly love, then you'll both find a way to sort this out. Plus, in the meanwhile, you've got Aiden to keep you company—even you've got to admit he's not a bad guy."

I shrug absentmindedly. I know how nice and funny and charming he can be, I grew up with him almost all of my life. But in three years, someone can definitely change.

"Aiden will make a great husband," Luna says with confidence. "Trust me, I'd know."

I take a double glance at her. "What?"

Her cheeks flush red as she realises what she just said. She quickly goes to serve another customer, and I purse my lips. When she returns, I raise my eyebrows at her.

"Aiden and I had a. . . a fling when you guys were still best friends," Luna explains. "It started with casual flirting and then we kissed at a party one time. We just hooked up sometimes; no strings attached."

"Oh my god!" I gasp. "That's why we always got free drinks from you when we came in, isn't it?"

"Not entirely," she mumbles before shaking her head slightly, getting rid of some random thoughts.  "Whatever, it was like four years ago. But he treated me great and he'll do the same for you. You don't need to worry."

I let out a small sigh. "I guess. But I'm not worried about getting married to him, or how he'll treat me. I'm worried about Brad, like I always am. I'm worried that he's gonna hate me forever and I'm not gonna be able to explain to him why I did it."

"He'll come around," Luna assures me. "Brad loves you, everyone knew that, and that's why he's so heartbroken and angry—and rightfully so. I'd be the exact same. You've just got to give him time to cool and it'll work out."

I nod, praying that she's right because I don't want to lose Brad forever.

+

When I got home, I showered and changed into my pyjamas. No matter what I do, I always feel gross and incomplete, probably because I put no effort in to how I look.

After an hour of sitting at home alone, I hear a knock on my front door. I sigh, knowing that it's neither my dad, who is still at work, or Brad. That means it's probably Aiden.

My assumption is correct as I open the door, sighing again. "What do you want?"

"I thought we should talk," Aiden says. "If that's okay with you, of course."

"Sure," I say after a moment of hesitation. I let him into the house and soon enough, we're sat in my front room, facing each other. "Do you want a drink or something?"

"No," he shakes his head. "I just wanted to apologise for earlier, I was stressed and I'm not used to people telling me what they think like that. I realise I shouldn't have invaded your privacy."

"I appreciate the apology," I say honestly. I have limited friends as it is, I don't want to push away my fiancé. "Just don't do it again."

"Of course not," he nods, leaning forward. "I was also wondering when we're going to tell your dad."

I inhale sharply. "Afraid I don't know the answer to that one. My dad's at work most of the time and barely gets a chance to rest. I assume you want to be there, too?"

"Of course," Aiden nods. "How about you ask him when he's free next and I'll invite you both over to my house? We can tell him over a dinner."

I hold back a smile. "Only if you make some of your lasagna."

When I was fourteen and I used to stay over at Aiden's sometimes, he would always make a lasagna—at least one, for me. It amazed me that it would taste perfect every time, always melting on my tongue.

"Of course," Aiden grins. "I'll make it myself. Just give me a date and a time."

He ends up staying over for a little bit longer, and we watch a film together. It was actually alright and kind of funny and it makes me nostalgic to when I was younger and we would have movie marathons together.

It's nice having Aiden back, despite how everything's unfolded to get to here. We have similar humour and lots of history together, but it was different between us than when we were at our prime.

We've both changed in the three years that we've been apart from each other. Aiden has had to mature so much faster than I have since he's controlling a huge gang.

When he gets a phone call off of one of the people in his inner circle, he excuses himself and steps outside the room. I pause the film and purse my lips, waiting for him to come back in.

I wonder if, now that we're engaged, I get to know the inside scoop on what's happening with the gang or if he's just going to keep me out it entirely. I only want to know so that I am aware if Brad is okay or not.

When Aiden comes back in, he shoots me an apologetic smile. "I've got to go, I'm really sorry."

"It's cool, I get it," I smile at him. Brad always had to leave unexpectedly because of the gang, I'm not surprised Aiden has to as well. "I'll message you when I found out a date and time, yeah?"

"Of course," Aiden nods. I show him to the door and wait for him to put his shoes and jacket on. He stands on the other side of the door now, his eyes looking into mine.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he brushes some hair behind my ear before his palm rests on my cheek. It didn't give me the same electric feeling that Brad's touch did.

I notice Aiden's face moving in close and I fought awkwardly, stepping away. His hand drops. "Sorry, I—it's just that—yeah."

"Sorry," Aiden shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I should go before I do something stupid."

"Yeah," I whisper out. I feel awful for rejecting him but I'm not going to be over Brad for a while. It wouldn't be fair on him to be kissing a girl that is head over heels for another man. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah. See you later."

edited.

brad step up ur fuckin game I hate aiden - Abby