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Everyone says that communication is important to have a healthy relationship with someone. What they don’t say is that communication is damn near impossible. Especially when your name is Aaron Minyard and you’re trying to communicate with Andrew Minyard.
Aaron isn’t, and never has been the best when it comes to communication. But his already less than impressive communication skills reduce down to almost zero when it comes to his brother.
He’s determined to strengthen their relationship but determination isn’t all it takes when it comes to voicing your feelings that you’re already very out of touch with.
Either way, despite his concerns Aaron walks right up to Andrew. He speaks simply, like he’s telling him they’re out of paper towels.
“I’m having a bad day.” Aaron says.
Aaron waits for a few moments in case Andrew has something to say. As Aaron predicted Andrew says nothing so Aaron turns on his heel and walks away.
Aaron would have forgotten he told Andrew he was struggling if it wasn’t for the clear adjustments he makes.
Whenever Aaron snaps at him or someone else he doesn’t say anything back. He simply continues like Aaron hadn’t been unusually harsh.
Whenever someone says something about Aaron’s attitude Andrew simply tells them to leave it alone or that they can’t tell Aaron something he isn’t already aware of.
Andrew deliberately telegraphs his movements, never moving too quickly in front of Aaron. And when they drive back from practice he drives slowly with both hands on the wheel.
Aaron knows that Andrew’s aware of what things upset Aaron, especially on his bad days. That doesn’t mean Aaron expected Andrew to adjust around those things so Aaron didn’t have to experience them.
When they walk to class Andrew takes the quieter way with Aaron, despite it being more out of the way. He knows Aaron is specifically sensitive to loud noises like yelling and banging and Andrew is more than okay with doing what may be inconvenient for him but is borderline necessary for Aaron.
Aaron’s studying as he usually is at this time of night. Aaron tends to block everything out when he studies. He could go for hours on end not even noticing his hunger, fatigue, need to use the bathroom or stretch, especially on his bad days. As expected Aaron hardly notices anything that’s going on around him, including a firm knock on the door his brain mostly filters it out.
It’s only when Matt drops a plastic bag in front of him that he comes back to himself enough to realize that there truly was a knock and that ment someone was there, even if they’re not now.
“It has your name on it.” Matt explains before walking away.
Aaron looks in the bag which, sure enough, has his name on it.
He pulls out a bottle of vanilla ginger ale which is undeniably his favorite beverage. There’s a takeout box which has pasta from his favorite restaurant in it and a sticky note stuck to the top.
‘Don’t forget to take breaks’
Aaron doesn’t mind that the note isn’t signed. It’s definitely Andrew’s handwriting and Andrew’s the only one who would know what drink, food, and snacks which are also in the bag, are Aaron’s favorite.
Aaron suddenly becomes very aware of his exhaustion, his right eye which is twitching, and the painful hunger that’s pulling at his gut.
Aaron takes his glasses off and sets them to the side before picking up the takeout box. Before he starts to eat Aaron takes the sticky note and sticks it on his notebook as a reminder, not only for tonight but for future Aaron as well.
It’s about midnight once Aaron’s ready to go to sleep. He’s been going back and forth on saying something to Andrew but eventually decides to take a piece of paper and scribbles a few words out on it before heading down to Andrew’s door and sliding it under.
Andrew looks down at the note blankly before he folds it carefully and slides it in his left arm band.
‘Thank you. You’re a good brother.’