Page 15 of Just a Footnote

“I’m your boyfriend!” Miles tells him petulantly. “You can’t pour that on me.”

Archer flicks Miles on the ear then in a hurry of movementthey start wrestling on the ground. The distinct feeling that maybe Aiden should make himself scarce for a little bit overwhelms him.

A little fountain sits in the courtyard of their dorm building. It’s turned off because it’s Christmas break and also since it might freeze this weekend. Aiden sits on the edge, looks down into the water, and laughs when he sees a few pennies. It’s bad luck, but that doesn’t mean anything to him, so he reaches down to take a penny out. He twists it between his fingers a few times. Does a wish count if the penny was stolen off someone else's wish? He throws it up in the air, watches it tumble down, wishing that every wish Archer ever makes comes true.

He lays down on the curved concrete of the fountain to stare up at the sky. He pulls his phone out of his pocket, thumbing through his hookup app for a while. Nothing really appeals to him although a few people messaged him. Lately he just hasn’t been in the mood to hook up. Maybe it’s the stress of senior year or the knowledge that next year will be totally different. Medical school doesn’t really scare him. Mostly just the vastness of the unknown. There’s no safety in the unknown.

The previous day flashes through his mind. The comfort he felt in the safety of Liam’s arms if only for a moment. If he’s honest with himself, Liam has always kind of intrigued him. He’s been around for the past few years, in and out of Aiden’s life, always on the periphery. He likes the way Liam is with Archer. Steady. Constant. Their friendship is something that annoyed Aiden at first because he’s always been protective of Archer’s time. But Liam hasn’t done anything to make him wary in the past few years.

It’s weird being in the same circle as someone but not really knowing them. Sure, he knowsofLiam Walsh, star center on the hockey team, and best friend to his brother. But he doesn’t really know him. Except for the past few times they’ve hung out.

After an hour staring up at the night sky, he heads back up to an almost silent dorm feeling even lonelier than earlier. Except now he finds Miles standing still in the kitchen. It’s not unusual. They pass by each other at night sometimes when they head for the bathroom or grab a glass of water. Miles isn’tunusualto Aiden anymore. He’s been a permanent fixture in his life for almost seven years.

“You wouldn’t have pissed yourself, you know. It’s an old wives tale.”

“Would’ve been funny if I had,” Aiden tells him. He leans against the kitchen counter beside Miles. “It’s fine. We’re all fine. We’re free.”

“I think Liam has a crush on you.”

Aiden barks out a laugh. “You’ve had too many concussions. You’re finally losing it.”

Miles hums, finishes his drink, then pauses right beside Aiden. “Merry Christmas, Aiden. Don’t break Liam’s heart.”

“I haven’t done anything!” Aiden shouts, laughing, but also a little annoyed at the implication.

“Yes, but you’re just like Archer.”

Aiden narrows his eyes at Miles' dismissive tone. “And?”

“You don’t always know when you’re hurting someone that loves you.”

“You don’t know me,” Aiden argues testily.

Miles sighs, runs an agitated hand through his messy curls, then flees the kitchen before Aiden can even try to argue further.

It takes him a while to fall asleep. There’s no way on earth that Liam Walsh has a crush on him. Miles is just being a little shit trying to stir up drama like always. Even if Liam did have a crush…would it be because he actually liked Aiden? He finds it hard to believe anyone could ever actually like him.

Liamand his father Simon live twenty minutes away from campus in the suburbs near the university. White twinkle lights line the roof, glowing despite it being mid-day, on the large white colonial house behind the deep driveway lined by magnolia trees. Liam had picked them up with a sweet smile so that they didn’t have to take the bus or pay an exorbitant fee for the ride from campus. The memory of the one Christmas he spent apart from Archer, their thirteenth Christmas, threatens to rise up inside him but he pushes it away.

He’s with Archer now.

They’re together.

They might be around others, but it’s still just them against the world.

He’s fine.

He’s not fine.

“Give us a minute,” Archer orders Liam and Miles after they climb out of the car.

Aiden stands outside the car, feeling like he might hyperventilate. His chest is tight, so he tightens his fists to steady himself. Liam casts a look over his shoulder at them, something clouding his eyes, but Miles turns Liam’s attention back to the house as they head inside.

“It’s just us plus Liam and Coach. At the end of the day we will leave here, go back to our dorm, and we can watch Die Hard. Do you understand?”

Aiden snorts, annoyed at Archer’s protectiveness. “I’m not a baby.”

Archer closes his eyes, letting out a long breath through his nose. “I’m older by six minutes. It’s on our birth certificates. So you are in fact the baby to me.”

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