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Aiden leans back against the brick wall of the school as rain starts to pour. Almost everyone had already gone home, but the idea of spending another minute alone in his ginormous house is almost enough to drive him mad. Ben is spending the day with his parents and Lily an hour away.
It’s close enough that they don’t have to worry about him being alone tonight, but far enough away to get a break from everything. Aiden doesn’t blame Ben for wanting a break. His house is too much for him too sometimes. Tyler jogs past him, obviously just having gotten off of practice. He stops and backtracks.
“What are you still doing here?” he asks, holding one hand across his forehead to shield his eyes from the rain.
“Just waiting.”
“On what? Ben didn’t even come into school today.”
“Nothing in particular. I just don’t feel like going home.”
“Ok, look, I really have to get home. Mom’s going to get off of work in half an hour, and I’m going to be late, but you shouldn’t just stand alone in the rain. You’re gonna catch a cold.”
“Ok, I’ll head home in a few minutes,” Aiden replies absentmindedly.
He doesn’t really think he has to convince Tyler, and that idea cements itself as Tyler walks away. What he doesn’t see is Tyler pulling out his phone and calling someone. He ends up sitting on the pavement, just staring at the rain as he gets soaked. It’s over forty five minutes later when someone calling his name drags him out of his thoughts.
“Aiden, what are you doing?” Ashlyn asks, running over.
“Why are you here? You left for dance hours ago.”
“Yeah, I did. Then Tyler called me, and said that he thought you weren’t going home. Said that he didn’t have time to reason with you, but that someone should come check on you. I thought he was lying when he said that you were standing alone in the rain. Come on, let’s get you home.”
“I don’t wanna.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t wanna go home.”
“Well, I didn’t mean your house. I meant mine.”
“Oh, ok.”
“You’re gonna catch a cold at this rate.”
“I’m not too worried about it.”
“I know you aren’t. That’s why I am.”
Aiden smiles, even if just a little. He still hasn’t fully processed the whole conversation, and what’s happening. He follows Ashlyn to her car, and just watches as she puts towels on the back seat. Mike watches Aiden with a worried expression on his face.
“Are you alright?”
“Of course I am.”
He climbs into the back seat with Ashlyn. The drive to her house is quiet, and Emma is waiting on them when they get home.
“Do you have any spare clothes?” Ashlyn asks.
He nods.
“Ok, then you should go take a shower.”
“Why?”
“Cause otherwise, you’re going to catch something.”
“I don’t feel like it.”
“Ok, well, at least dry off and change clothes.”
“Ok.”
She follows him up the stairs, pausing at the top. Aiden walks into the bathroom while she just lingers near her bedroom door. Once he’s done, he comes back out. He looks more aware now, giving her a bright smile as he sees her.
“Whatcha doing in the hallway?”
“Honestly? Waiting on you. Do you wanna come into my room with me? We can also go downstairs if you want.”
“Yeah, we can go to your room if you’re comfortable with that.”
“It’s no problem.”
She opens her door and motions him in.
“So, what were you doing out in the rain?”
“I don’t know. I just really didn’t want to go home. It’s gonna be quiet there.”
She sits down on her bed, and he settles on the floor beneath her. She puts a hand in his hair without even thinking about it. He immediately relaxes. Once Ashlyn really realizes what she just did, she starts to pull back, but then she sees how relaxed Aiden is. She pauses, then starts playing with his hair. She tucks the curls around her fingers. He turns his head slightly, but not enough to stop or bother her. Just enough that he can rest his head against the mattress.
“You never did tell us where Ben went.”
“He’s an hour away with his family. They’re staying at a hotel together. I think they wanted to avoid the house too. It’s a little creepy when my parents are gone. Not with Ben though. Sometimes we sleep in the living room together.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, it’s a pretty good time. I’m happy to have him around. Even if it’s quiet, he’s a comforting presence. Just like you, Ash.”
Ashlyn pauses, but if Aiden notices, he doesn’t say anything.
“Do you really think that? What’s comforting about me?”
Aiden smiles, closing his eyes.
“Everything. The way you talk, the way you stand close to me. The way you just give me a little smile, your laugh, and your eyes. Everything about you feels like the home that I never had.”
“Aiden,” she whispers.
He laughs, just a breathy little sound. Ashlyn tips his head back onto her leg. He opens his eyes expectantly. She presses her lips against his, taking him completely by surprise.
“You never should have felt like you don’t have a home. I love that I can be that for you.”
He smiles, not like his normal smile. This one isn’t wide and unconcerned, it’s soft and happy.
“I love you Ashlyn. I love how you’ve changed me.”
“I love you too. You opened up my world to the people beyond me and my parents. I don’t think I ever would have had friends if it wasn’t for you. I thought you were really annoying when we first met, and I still think that. However, I don’t regret anything. I’m really happy to have met you.”
Aiden closes his eyes again with a small sigh.
“I’m really tired.”
“You should come up here.”
He climbs to his feet before joining her on the bed. She situates him so that he can lay down and she can still play with his curls.
“Get some sleep,” she whispers.
He closes his eyes again, feeling safer than he has in a long time. Sleep comes easily, and they stay like that until dinner.