Living Closeted

Saviour.

It's been 2 weeks since I got home. My first instinct when I actually got home was to strip naked in front of the mirror and check my body. I was really anxious. I was worried sick about the real damage of the burns on my skin. But I breathed with relief when I saw that apart from a couple of marks on my back I still kept my fairly good looks. I smiled. Someday I will look at my scars and nod in pride. 

At that moment it would've been 5 weeks since the incident. Since my birthday. It still sent me shivers down my body just to think of it.  I managed to catch up with mostly everyone that cared and wanted to know how am I. But there was still one more I had to contact. You see, I've kept searching for my saviour. The person who pulled me out of the flames. But if I think at this again he or she must have needed medical care as well. No one apart from firefighters could have saved me and live without any burns or bruises. So if none of the people whom I have already spoken to saved me. Could it be that Adrian saved me again? It can't be. It just can't. Because if he did... well that would only spawn more questions that I'd have to find answers to. 

Whatever. Imma text him.

'Oy. What's up!'
'Hi!'

Just 'hi'? I almost die and when I text him after 5 weeks of what I assume he thought I was in a coma or on the brink of death at least he just says 'hi'. He's unbelievable.  

'I just wanted you to know I got home. I'm fully healed and uhm... Yeah. I guess just this. Thought you might want to know.'
'I'm glad. But I have to ask. Who saved you?'

Why is he asking me this? I thought he did. He implies he didn't. Then who saved me? He's playing with me. He's looking for some attention.

'Underwood! If you saved me just say it. Stop letting the patriarchy dictate you what emotions to show, how to behave and think. Toxic masculinity just doesn't suit you. It wouldn't be the first time you pulled me out of a fire.'

I bet he won't know what patriarchy and toxic masculinity mean.

'Ok. Fine. I saved you. But I just wanted you to guess!' he texted back with a pouty face emoji and a monkey covering its face.

Amazing. Now I think he's adorable because I'm picturing him making a silly face and big doggy eyes.

'In that case, I want to thank you. I owe it double to you.'
'Just flexing around. What can I say? You do love getting yourself in near-death situations.'
'And you sure do to linger around to save the day. Well, my day. And now that I come to think of this... why are you always there to save me? I mean, once is a coincidence, twice it's getting weird but if there's going to be a thrice imma label you a stalker Underwood.'
'Easy! I don't know either. Believe it or not, you caught my eyesight after the second blow because it made me turn my head towards it. I wanted to see what's happening and where's the commotion coming from. Then I saw you. Almost engulfed in flames. I couldn't let you die. You're my friend.'

'Friend'. He thinks of me as a friend. And I've been so mean to him. My eyes got all watery and I didn't know how to respond. He was so brave to jump into the fire and save me and here I am. Being passive-aggressive about it.

'Well, it means the world to me to have such a friend. Careful, Adrian, you might end up making me fall in love with you. And if I'm annoying now wait to see 'till I can't stop giving you love.'

When I say love him. I mean as a friend. It's weird and unusual. Or so I think of it at the least. Whatever friends I make, let's just say if you're my friend you're going to also get yourself a protector, a bodyguard. If someone picks on you I will pick on your aggressor. If someone hurts you I will hurt that someone back. If you're hurting I'm there. Ready to brighten your day. Hence, the 'giving love' thing from before. Even so, and truth be told, I do wish that I could give him the sort of love I actually am ready to give. I am so ready for a relationship yet so not to do what I have to even start dating and you know, putting myself out there. I'm not ready yet to come out of the closet and assume who I am. Put that together and you get a really frustrated Diaz.

'How about we went out for a drink. I'll invite the girls too so it's not a date.' i sent followed by a wink emoji.
'Sure.'

I want to give him this chance at being a better self. He ain't perfect. But he ain't a bad person either. I mean he does do a lot of crazy hurtful stuff towards people and he doesn't get it that it's not right. But people change. People do change. And that? That gives me hope.

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As promised. Here is the new content. Now I know I didn't have too many intentions to cover any story from Aiden's Summer holidays and I kinda did and didn't. Timeline being considered, though it's hazy even to me I'd say there are about 2 weeks until the new term. Truth be told, I also had other intentions that were way less threatening at our protagonist. 
Next chapter will be the last before I start writing about the new term/new high-school year - 10th grade. 

Thanks for reading my poorly written story guys! Until then, I await your feedback and I'm sending you lots of love.