Bad Habits 3 |D.T

The Lonley Boat

School was now over and I was the last person to leave. Again. And so was he.
As I walked out of the building, I heard a whistle.

I turned around and I saw Aidan sitting on the stair railing outside.
"What?" I crossed my arms and smiled.
"You following me now?" I asked him and he shrugged.

"In My defence, we do go to the same school so it could just be a coincidence that we're here at the same time." He said.
"Is it?"

Aidan didn't answer back but grin at me. He always thought that grin could get him out of any trouble he got himself into.

"I need to go home before my mom starts to worry again." I started walking but this time he actually followed me.
"Why?"

"Because She's my mom and she always worries about me." I carried on walking.
"Why don't we hang out?" He quickly said and I snapped my head to him and raised my eyebrow.

"Not after last time." I chuckled.
"Why not? It's not like you're with a complete stranger." He laughed and then ran to his car with excitement.
That's exactly what's happening.

I followed him to his car and I got in, buckling my seat belt right after.
I shouldn't be trusting him but part of me was telling me to trust him.

Aidan didn't say a word the whole car ride and he stopped again in the middle of nowhere.

"Where are we now?" I sighed at him.
He smiled and signalled me to follow him.

We were at a lakeside.
As we walked closer, I saw a boat. A small boat that looked very old and it was on the side, tied up next to the deck.

Aidan stood in front of me and looked at the view. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes as he exhaled.

"This is where my Dad used to take me when I was little." Aidan said and he looked at the wood that was holding the rope to keep the boat.
On the wood was something carved on it. It said Aidan and George Dawson.

Aidan walked up the wood and he touched the carving with the pad of his thumb and smiled softly.

"We would come here every weekend for a boat ride and then have a picnic in that shed. Dad always used to call the shed our safe house." His voice cracked at the end.

I took a look at the outside of the shed and it wasn't any small shed. It was actually a really big place.

Aidan sat down on the deck and he just stared at the view.
"And now?" I asked him.

"And now....it's just me." He shrugged.

That's so sad.

I had never seen him so upset. He sounded truly broken.

"Where is your Dad Aidan?" I sat down next to him.
He shrugged at me and shook his head "I-I don't know. He used to visit me when he left our family but now? I hardly ever see him."

I put my arm around him and gave him a little hug.

What else was I supposed to say? Oh I've been through this before? Like I said, I'm not the same person my mom is. I'm thankful to say that I'm blessed with a happy family. A mom, Dad and a brother.
But I didn't know what else to say to Aidan because I didn't experience such things. That's why I wanted to help him.

There was a silence for a few minutes until my phone ringing broke the silence.
I checked to see who it was and it was my mom calling.

Shit!

I answered the call and put the phone next to my ear.
"Hey mom." I said.

"Don't you "hey mom" me Malia. Where are you? You were supposed to be home 15 minutes ago." She yelled into the phone.
"Sorry I just got held up at school but I'll be home in 10 minutes."

"You best be." She said and then hung up the call before I could.

I looked at Aidan and I could see the sadness in his eyes.
I sighed.

"I'll take you home." He said as he got up up.
I followed him "But I can't leave you like this, not in this state."

He scoffed "It's fine Mal, so many people have done it before so I'm kinda used to it."
Aidan opened the passenger door for me and he shut the door the second I got into the car.

I couldn't help but feel bad as he drove me home.
The whole car ride was just awkward because I didn't know what else to say. Again.

~

We finally reached to my house and he stopped outside the driveway.
Aidan didn't say a word to me when he stopped the car.

I slowly took my seat belt off and got out of the car.
I kept the door still open and I looked at him for a few seconds.

"See you at school?" I broke the silence.
He looked at me with a serious look and at that moment I gave up.

I shut the car door and before I knew it, he drove off.
I turned around and I walked up to the house, opening the front door with my keys.

"Malia where were you?" Was the first thing I heard. My mom was standing right by the door waiting for me.
I sighed "Nowhere special mama."

She crossed her arms and smiled "You were with that boy weren't you?"

"So what if I was?" I went to the living room and sat down on the couch.
I was going to turn the TV on but mom stood in front of the TV so I would get her attention.

"What's his name?" She asked me.
I sighed "Aidan."

"And is anything going on between-"
"What? No! It's just-nothing." I stopped myself.

"Well I wanna meet this boy. Invite him for dinner tomorrow."
I sat on the edge of the couch and my eyes widened "Really?"

I heard loud footsteps upstairs and I heard someone sprint downstairs.
It was my Dad.

"Really?" He looked at mom out of breath.

"There is no way I'm letting this boy in MY house." Ethan put his foot forward and looked at me.
"Your house?" Mom crossed her arms and glared at him.

Dads eyes widened and he looked a little scared.
"On second thought, maybe it's not a bad idea." He quickly said and he left the room as quick as possible.

I shook my head and looked at mom.

"I'll talk to Aidan about it." I told her and I headed upstairs.