C'est la vie!

Chapter 5🥀

Today should've been going so perfectly well as I had imagined. But it wasn't so.

The joy I held towards the barbecue at Perry's house was drained shortly after we arrived. First, Max and Perry were now figuring out how they were going to work with the barbecue. Second, Petra was not here.

And for the most important and frustrating reason- I had not seen Aiden anywhere. He had been the reason behind me wanting to come in the first place, but bro made a no appearance.

"Get a drink okay? Max is going to get us some charcoal," Perry was one of the most observant people I had ever met.

"Where is Petra?"

"She's under punishment. The video of her drinking at the wedding got her into it," he explained and I only groaned. "Aiden is upstairs, you can get him a drink."

My face lightened up.

With directions from Perry, I located Aiden's room. Knocked a few times before allowing myself in.

The first thing that caught my eye were his legs that had been spread across the bed whiles his he concentrated on the screen before him, restlessly pressing buttons on the game console.

His head whipped in my direction, and his face lit up as soon as he took my presence in. His lips twitched in a smile and it made me elated to know that he was happy seeing me.

"Do- uhm- do you want something to drink?"

"Hi Raine," his voice hugged me, echoing in my head till he spoke up again. "Any drink, please."

"Sure," I tried to be the most charming person I could be before turning to leave, but without warning, my head crashed into the hard wall.

I groaned in pain as I felt hands – one that didn't belong to me- stroke the fore of my head. "Are you okay?"

"I'm perfect," I lied even though I wouldn't mind dying this moment just to escape the cringe. I rushed out of the room, half smiling and half squirming.

I could still feel the warmth of his hand on my forehead, it made me slightly jittery.

I decided on an alcoholic beverage for him. And for me, I took nothing. I was good.

"Good choice", Perry remarked as I was heading back to Aiden's room. "Did he talk to you?"

"He did!" I semi-squealed.

"Don't tense him up by acting surprised or asking too many questions, the pressure would refrain him from opening up."

"Got it. But, what exactly is the problem?" I questioned. My fingers were getting numb from the chilled drink.

"That's for him to talk about. I only know a snippet of it," he revealed and I only nodded.

I returned to Aiden's room and he seemed to have been anticipating my return. His eyes darted at the drink in my hand. "Alcohol?"

I nodded. "Why, is it okay? I can go and change it-"

He waved me off and stood up to meet me. "Thank you," he handed me the console and directed me to the game instructions on the screen now, taking the alcohol from my hand.

I sat on his bed, trying hard to look away from him and focus on the game instructions. But even the thought that he wanted to hang out with me, gave me butterflies.

Watching him with a side glance, I caught him open the drink and take a sip from it. He returned to the bed, sitting beside me as I grew only more conscious of everything happening.