Just Smile, Stupid

Chapter 9

You found me,

When no one else was looking.

How did you know,

Just where I would be?

Chapter 9

“Are you alright?” Aiden asked me.

Though it was raining and I was shivering all over, I still felt the warmth radiate from Aiden’s hand onto my cheek. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Before I could even open my mouth to answer his question...I sneezed.

“Damn, you’re catching a cold. Com’on, let’s go inside,” said Aiden. He dropped his hand to mine, tugged me inside a building and climbed up the stairs.

I was about to ask why he was dragging me to a random place, when he stopped before a door on the second floor and brought out a key from his trouser pocket. He unlocked the door and we stepped inside into a neat living room with a blue sofa placed in front of a television and a large window overlooking the street.

“Is this your flat?” I asked Aiden. I then mentally kicked myself. It obviously was. Why else would he have a key to it?

He nodded. “Technically, it belongs to my parents, but yeah, I live here.”

He then led me to a room down a narrow corridor. It had just enough space for a double bed, a study table and a chest of drawers. The walls were bare except for a framed family picture and a worn-out, black guitar lay in one corner.

Aiden let go of my hand and rummaged through his drawers before pulling out a pair of pants, a towel and a loose t-shirt.

“Hmm... these should fit,” he commented. He turned towards me and said, “Hope you don’t mind wearing my clothes.”

“You don’t have to do that, I’ll dry off soon,” I protested.

“And risk getting pneumonia?” he asked incredulously. “If you don’t take those clothes off, I’m taking them off for you,” he ordered.

My jaw dropped open at his words. I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. Did he even realise what his sentence implied?

Looking at my reaction, Aiden frowned. “What? Did I say – oh shit,” he cursed. “I – I didn’t mean it like that!” he added, going beet red. “I – I meant it like – screw it. I’ll just leave you to change your clothes,” he mumbled and practically ran out of his own room.  

I would’ve laughed if I still wasn’t shocked by his words. Shaking my head, I closed the door and changed. His red t-shirt reached my knees and his jeans were loose but didn’t look like they’d fall off. I wrapped the towel around my head and went down the corridor to the living room, where Aiden was sitting in front of the television. He too had changed into dry clothes and was now wearing a grey hoodie and black cargo pants.

“So...” I started awkwardly. “Um...I didn’t know you played guitar.”

He raised his head at the sound of my voice and shrugged. “I just try playing it when I have the time. I’m not any good at it,” he said. “Com’on, sit down,” he added, patting the seat beside him on the couch.

I obliged and he switched on the television. My eyes flitted from it to the boy beside me every few seconds. He looked different today. His hair, which was usually covered by a cap or a beanie, stuck out in all directions. It was slightly wet; the water dripping down his neck and onto his back. I could never tell what its colour was. At first glance, it looked black but I now noticed that it had a brown-ish hue to it. I didn’t know why but I was fascinated by his hair and my hands itched to run through it.