Aesthetic - Jaden Hossler

32.

They got the call on the next morning. Insanely early as well.

They had results for Bryce. He could either face up to 180 days in county jail or he had to pay a fine up to 2.000$.

For Alice that was a huge number, but Blake just paid it like that knowing that Bryce would pay him back, with no problem either.

A while later Bryce himself walked out of the station with an officer at his side who then parted ways. He was smiling, seeing his brothers and someone that was like a sister to him waiting.

The boys hugged each other, like real hugs, not a bro hug. And Alice could swear that Bryce was crying a little.

He now embraced Alice as well, covering her whole body.

"Thank you for being here."

"Of course. You're my friend Bryce, I wouldn't just let that happen to you."

"I know. I love you."

"Do you want cake? It's a little old but it should still be good. And you should drink something."

Bryce chuckled he knew that it wasn't that she didn't love him, it was her way of showing love. She cared deeply for him and she is better at showing it with actions than actually saying it. He honestly thought that it was quite cute.

They got another phone call that informed them about Jaden.

He apparently was charged with a second-degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in state prison or a fine of up to $10,000.

By the second word of that call, Alice was near tears.

She didn't want him to go, but where would she get 10.000 dollars? Quinton laid an arm around her shoulders trying to calm her down and he thought it worked but unbeknownst to him, Alice was biting the skin of her fingers till they bled.

Even with the burning heat of Texas, she was freezing in a cold sweat. She wore a simple checkered skirt and a wool pullover with Jaden's flannel bound around her waist. Maybe he would like it when he got out.

It seemed like the boys had already figured the money out and Josh and Quinton walked inside, leaving Alice with Bryce and Blake.

Bryce was eating her cake and held a fork with it out to her. Alice looked at him like a deer caught in headlights.

"Eat Alice, please."

Alice turned her head away and stepped aside. She felt like a five-year-old, refusing its broccoli.

"I haven't seen you in a little over a week. That's not a long time, and I can see that you lost weight, a lot of it. Please."

Alice was standing still, fidgeting with her fingers, trying to look anywhere but him. Blake, only knowing her from Jaden's and the others stories was at a loss.

Sure Alice was thin but how could a person lose so much in a week that Bryce would notice it so he tried something very vague:" For Jaden?"

Alice rolled with her eyes, that was a mean move, reluctant she held out her hand for the fork.

Bryce beamed, proud that she wanted to eat.

She chewed for a long time, trying to get used to it. It's not like she never ate but the fact that she can't enjoy it. It felt strange the texture was okay, it was a little soggy but the cake was three days old, what did she expect.

Alice had finally swallowed when Bryce took the fork from her. Alice turned around for a second and when she looked back he sat there, with another fork filled with even more cake, holding it out to her.

She took it from him and it was easier and faster than the first time. Bryce now had stopped forcing her to eat cake, when Josh and Quinton came back to them.

Blake handed her a water bottle, making sure she actually drank out of it and didn't just hold it.

It was apparent to everybody that she wasn't in the state of mind to care for her health.

It was another painful thirty minutes until Jaden walked out. Bryce ran to him, embracing him, both of them a little traumatized.

Traumatized may be a big word and is used loosely but they were definitely scared, to say the least.

When Jaden saw Alice standing beside Quin, smiling, wearing his flannel, he couldn't help himself and ran to her. Holding her close while crying.

He was so close to going to prison and now holding somebody who didn't only care about his reputation felt good. Sure Bryce was his Brother, but he wasn't Alice.

He cried in her shoulder, his whole body shook.

"I'm sorry."

"For what Jaden?"

His voice was course like he didn't drink or talk for hours.

"I broke my promise."

"It's okay. You're okay and that is was matters."

"I don't wanna do drugs anymore."

"That is a big step Jaden. If you want help, you can come to me. We can also meet somebody who knows what he is doing. There is nothing wrong with that." 

He nodded, still teary-eyed, and pressed her to him once again, giving her a kiss on the head.

Jaden now hugged his other Brothers and friends as well. Alice got the cake and water, giving it to him. He understood and ate the rest of the cake insanely fast.

"This cake was bomb, Alice."

"It's really not Jaden, but thank you. Maybe we should get some food somewhere. You two need some real food in your stomach."

"Please, the food in there is horrible."

Jaden went with Alice to her car, getting in her passenger seat.

They decided to go to a little restaurant in the area where they barely fit on a table.

Alice sat beside Jaden and Bryce with Josh between Quinnie and Blake on the other side. When the waiter came they had already decided what they wanted to drink.

He looked at Alicein a strange way. It would surely look funny. A petite woman like her with five tall and some buff dudes.

When the waiter sat down her coke he touched her hand. Alice moved her hand immediately and Jaden grabbed her other under the table.

She was the last to order her food and had the menu in front of her, with her pointer finger on her choice.

"And what can I get you, beautiful."

That was all that was necessary to throw her off. She had planned what to say but she wasn't ready for that.

Bryce looked where she had her finger while Jaden stared the waiter down who smirked at the Asian.

"She'll have the "Grilled Lemon Herb Mediterrian Chicken Salad" please."

When he left Alice felt like she could breathe again and nuzzled her head in Jaden's side. "Thank you, Bryce."

"Always Allie."