Chapter Text
Ashlyn couldn’t stay awake in school. Her head kept dropping to her desk like she was made of metal and the table was a magnet.
These past few months of dealing with this bullshit nightmare world, she had never been so exhausted.
During lunch, she sat with the others. They didn’t look much better. Well, except Aiden, of course. She wondered if he chugged energy drinks or if he was just always like this. She really hoped it was the former, because the idea of him always managing to be like this pissed her off.
“Ok, so..” Tyler said, pinching his brow. “We need to get more ammo.. Ashlyn, your dad got that covered?”
She simply nodded in response before she sighed and rubbed her head and stood up. “I’m gonna go get another bottle of water..” she mumbled.
Aiden also got up. “I will too!” He said happily.
She scowled at him, but she was too tired to say anything. Things had been a little.. strange between the two of them after Aiden had saved her from that phantom on the rooftop. He had been so much softer and.. touchy (well, he was already very touchy, but he seemed to have amped it up to 11). And with the whole ‘Tyler on the hospital’ thing, they hadn’t really had anytime to fully process that night, except for that one time they talked and Aiden had reached out to touch her face, which was very weird to her. She didn’t really know how to act around him now.
She wanted to still hate him, but she knew that he had a soft spot, and that made him more.. endearing. Ugh.. she did not want to think of Aiden like that..
She grabbed a bottled water from the school concession stand. Aiden did not.
“Aren’t you going to get a water?” She asked him hoarsely.
“Hmmm.. I’m not thirsty!” He said cheerfully.
She stared at him, wanting to thump his forehead. But she decided he wasn’t worth the effort.
“Then why did you follow me here?” She grumbled.
He glanced at her and then looked around and then back at her. “Come with me.”
She was about to object, but she didn’t get the chance as he walked ahead of her.
Part of her was just wanting to ignore him and walk back to the table. But she found herself following him. They entered a cleared out hallway, no students around.
“What is it?” She asked.
He opened a locker, his locker, and pulled out a can of coffee.
“I snuck out during 3rd period to get you this!” He said with a jovial smile.
She was caught off guard. She took the coffee, happy it wasn’t an energy drink (she hates those things).
It was a black coffee too. Aiden must know she hates all that sweetener.
“But.. why?”
He laughed and scratched his head. “Because you’ve looked absolutely dead. Well, more dead than you usually do, haha!”
She nearly crushed the can in her hands.
He laughed and quickly shook his head. “Sorry, sorry! Nooooot funny.”
The two stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say.
“Hey, um..” he started. “I just want you to know.. you’re doing great..”
She’s surprised by his sudden soft attitude. He used to rarely ever be like this.. so genuine. Then again, she rarely is ever, so maybe she’s a tad jealous that it’s been getting easier for him..
She opened the coffee can and hesitated to respond. She was unsure of what to say. “Thank you”? “Well, I try”? “I know I am”?
She bit her lip, thinking, before blurting out “It’s just my job as the leader..”
He seems surprised and she silently cursed to herself for just speaking without thinking.
He shook his head. “I didn’t mean in the dream world. I think you already know you’re amazing there. I mean.. in our day to day lives..”
“Hm..?”
He hesitated before slapping on that normal smile of his. Fake and creepy.
“Forget about it! Cmon, the others are probably wondering what’s taking us so long!”
He walked ahead of her. She didn’t follow immediately. She stared at the coffee and clutched it in her hands.
Why is this so hard for me? It seems easier for him..
But.. little did Ashlyn know that Aiden was just as clueless about friendship as she was.
————————————————————
Aiden walked back to the lunch table, quietly scolding himself.
Why can’t you just say what you’re thinking?! All these words I want to say are so much easier to say in my head!
He reached the table and everyone looked at him curiously.
“Where’s Ashlyn?” Taylor asked.
“She’s coming,” he said, resting his chin on his hand.
And sure enough, Ashlyn arrived, taking her spot again.
“What took you guys so long?” Tyler asked.
“Just bestie things!” Aiden said happily. He was glad he was so good at concealing his feelings and that no one knew how absolutely embarrassed he was about the interaction he just had with his crush.
Ashlyn stared at him with mild contempt before turning away from the others to drink her coffee.
He really wished he could eloquently say what he thought.
He wanted to tell her he liked that way her red hair fell into her face when she turned away during an awkward situation. He wanted to tell her he thought her super hearing was super rad, but how he also was willing to take her to a quiet place if it got too overwhelming. He wanted to tell her he thought it was badass how she could smash things with a single kick.
But most of all..
He wanted to tell her she wasn’t alone.
And after the Tyler incident, she’s seemed even more closed off and guilt ridden than usual.
He sighed. His friends turned to him, wondering what’s got him so daydreamy. He just smiled at them and they decided to forget it.
Well..
Maybe one day he could find the words.
But it certainly won’t be anytime soon.
Ashlyn’s got her own problems to worry about.
So, he’ll just stand next to her and support her throughout everything. Even if she wants to do it all alone.
After all… he can’t let his best friend carry so much on her shoulders!