Chapter Sixteen - Aaron
When Aaron was young, he was told that a surprise should always be worth the wait. His foster parents liked to surprise him every now and then - they were the ones who gave him his first guitar - but he was a stubborn little kid, always impatiently demanding to know what was in store for him. Even today, he was still a stubborn little kid when it came to surprises, but that was just the kid inside him.
In a way, he hoped Cat wasn't the same. She seemed to be quite similar in the sense of music. For instance, they both played guitar and were quite good at English Literature. For her to be as impatient would have made what he had planned completely worthless.
"I hope this suffices you," Joseph complained, staring at the pile of junk in front of him. His complaint amused Aaron, since Joseph was the one who even suggested to get one anyway. "Costs a lot."
Of course, Aaron knew it costed a lot - he was there, after all. He did choose it, customise it and make it his. The last thing he needed was his own foster dad complaining over the cost. They were rich enough to afford it, so he might as well have made the most of it.
"You guys were the one saying I needed one," he retorted, slamming the door to admire the beast. Black as night, it's painted metal shimmered in the sunlight, with his reflection staring straight back at him.
"You know we didn't mean this, Aaron," Joseph sighed.
Considering the vehicle was almost like a van, Aaron understood why his foster father seemed a bit concerned. Aaron had used the wealth to his advantage because he wanted to be able to take Cat places. It did seem ridiculous, to buy a huge van but at the same time, he was able to get the instruments to the contest without paying for a massive taxi there and back. It just seemed like the right thing to do.
"I know, J-dad." It seemed foreign from his mouth and he wanted to take it back. To think the number of years he had lived with them, he would be used to it, except he wasn't. Joseph and Laura weren't his family, only the financial support he needed until he turned eighteen.
That wasn't until August.
Silence grew between the two of them, lights flashing as Aaron locked the vehicle close. The only sounds were the silent footsteps from Joseph, who was going inside the house.
Although Aaron had come to dislike his foster family, he had realised that he was grateful for them in a way. Without them, he wouldn't have picked up his first guitar, met Henry or even met Cat. Sure, they were meat eaters but he didn't mind that anymore. Everything else made it easier to cope.
"Oh, Aaron!" Joseph called, snapping the boy out of thoughts, "I need to talk to you about something your mother told me."
It took everything for Aaron to not correct Joseph.
"You're dating the Evans girl?"
Of course, Laura had to tell Joseph about his relationship with Cat. However, that wasn't what seemed to bother him.
"It's Evangeline." For some reason, Cat's name was different and Aaron had a feeling it had something to do with the accident. She was too closed off when it came to that topic that he couldn't even get anything of her. Maybe he shouldn't have been trying to but all he wanted was for her to be happy, not living in constant fear from something getting in her way.
"Yes, her," he corrected, shrugging it off. Joseph was always one to dismiss the minor details.
Aaron nodded, not even trying to hide the smirk that grew on his face. Cat Evangeline was his Cathy, a girl too good for him; there wasn't any need to hide his relationship. However, the inward biting of his foster father's lip worried him slightly.
