Some Things You Can't Control

Chapter 26: Him

Chapter 26

Him

- EDEN GARCIA -

Life is kind of surreal, sometimes. Everything happens so fast that, too often, you can forget to just take a step back and absorb what is happening. To enjoy it.

It was lunch, and as I look around at my table of friends — comprising the entire football team, Mickie and Em — I can't help but feel light. Like all the stresses and worries I'd carried with me constantly for the past week have finally faded into the background.

I was surprised, to say the least, that the guys had invited Dylan over to sit with us as well. Word had quickly spread about how much he'd helped me out this week. It was pretty obvious we were on good terms again — and we'd also managed to make up with Cassidy in the process, as well.

They'd usually left Dylan to his own devices to sit with a smaller portion of the football team and a few of his other friends, but it would seem they'd finally accepted him to sit here, if he wanted, too.

He might be on good terms with me now, but I wasn't sure about him and Aiden. It was well-known that they hadn't gotten along for a while now. Had anything changed?

Aiden. I glance over at him again.

I know exactly where he's sitting, who he's sitting beside, and who he's been talking to since Em and I had trailed into the cafeteria later than everybody else. We'd been left to take up the only two seats left at the end of the table — saved for us courtesy of Mickie.

So I'd found myself seated between Lewis and Emilia this lunch time, Dylan opposite me. And now that I'd gotten my grade back, I was counting down the minutes until the school day was over and I could get home.

I'm sure everybody was.

Aiden laughs with Brandon, his best friend, at the other end of the table. I didn't know what it was about, but I could tell Aiden's smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

I could tell it was an act.

Since he'd gotten back less than an hour ago, I'd felt so aware of Aiden. The thought of him made me tingle inside, and all I wanted to do was go over there and join his conversation.

I just wanted to talk to him.

He hadn't even acknowledged me yet. I hadn't seen him glance once in my direction, or attempt to talk to me, or mention my name.

I did, however, catch him glimpsing at Dylan a few times.

Maybe Em was right. Maybe I really had upset Aiden when I'd hugged Dylan, even if it had been with no other intention than as friends.

The thought makes my stomach turn.

And it's as I sit here, my friends' conversations flowing freely around me, and my thoughts still fixated on a certain blue-eyed boy seated across the room, that I come to a certain realisation.

I like Aiden.

The thought shocks me at first, but then I start to smile slightly.

Because, maybe, he likes me too.

I mean, we'd kissed for crying out loud. There surely had to be some feelings there — right?

Aiden had kissed me. And not just once.

He maybe hadn't told me he'd liked me, but aren't actions meant to speak louder than words, anyway?

After the sour end with Dylan, and the failed romance with Lewis, I hadn't even considered Aiden as a possibility. I didn't think I'd have a chance.