Reminisce With Me

Chapter 17: Not Relationship Material

Hues of green.

We flew over acres and acres of land, patchworks of different shades and textures of green. I had started the plane ride admiring the scenery below for about an hour. But now, the colour was beginning to sicken me and I couldn't wait to land.

Noel was fast asleep next to me, his mouth hanging open. Micah and Kim sat all the way at the back, away from the rest of the group.

Aiden had disappeared a half hour ago and I suddenly missed him. As though my thoughts were heard, Aiden walked out from the back room – shirtless. I sucked in a handful of air, trying my best to not stare. He was turned away from me as he spoke to the pilot, exposing the tattoo on his back. It was beautiful, some sort of tribal print that covered most of his back. It started off near his shoulder and made its way down his spine.

Aiden laughed with the pilot, finally turning back around to face Noel and I. "Guess who I found asleep in the back room?" he asked me and I shrugged.

"I probably know about 5 people from Black Onyx, one of them being you," I said sheepishly.

Aiden took a seat in front of me. "Skyler. I thought someone was missing."

Noel began to snore, which made me laugh. "So Aiden," I started, narrowing my eyes at him. "When did you get the tattoo on your back?"

Aiden grinned. "When I was fourteen."

I raised both eyebrows and mouthed, wow. I remembered Gran wouldn't even let me get highlights, let alone a tattoo, at that age.

"It was stupid," he continued, grabbing a shirt from his bag and putting in on.

"What made you want to get it?" I loved hearing his voice.

He watched me for a moment, most likely contemplating whether to tell me or not. "I got it when I was told about having my first kill soon."

My heart dropped. "When you were fourteen? That's so young."

He sighed. "Tell me about it. I was confused, I was struggling between right and wrong. But, it was part of Black Onyx's tradition to have the boys have their first kill when they turned fourteen."

Aiden brushed his scars along his knuckles, his hair sweeping his forehead.

"So, this tattoo was prove..." His story was cut off.

The jet suddenly began to shake and I could feel it descending. I glanced outside, realizing we were landing. When I looked back at Aiden, I noticed he was standing up and waiting in front of the exit.

"We have arrived at your destination," the pilot announced through the speakers. "Elkland Terrain."

Noel stretched his arms in front of him, looking over at me. "That was a nice nap."

I smiled, still lost in Aiden's world. All of our conversations were constantly interrupted and I wondered if it occurred to him as well.

"Are you coming?" Noel asked, standing up.

I nodded, forcing myself up. Aiden turned to look at me, our eyes locking for a brief second, before he led the way out.

Noel took hold of my hand, helping me down the stairs. The propellers were back at it – the wind aggressively fighting with the strands of hair that entangled behind me.

"I can't see," he yelled, his voice intertwining with the wind.

"Watch your step Aubrey," Micah called out as he jogged by us, smiling to himself. I clutched onto Noel's hand tighter, ignoring Micah.