Page 47 of Just a Footnote

Aiden laughs, mostly because Miles is right. “Archer lovesyou more than he’s ever loved anyone. Except for me of course, but the love is different. It’s going to be fine.”

“Alright,” Miles says, voice still sounding small.

“Let's go finish breakfast. Archer probably ate half of our pancakes by now but he’s going to pretend he didn’t because he moved the food around on the plates.”

“God, he’s the fucking worst.”

“He really is.”

They smile at one another tentatively before making their way back through the restaurant. Archer waits for them, his fingers anxiously tapping against the table. Miles takes his seat next to Archer as Aiden sits across from them. He dives back into his breakfast, pretending to ignore Archer’s hand curling protectively around the nape of Miles' neck.

Graduation happenson a cloudless spring day in Georgia. The sky is a bright blue, the sun hits Aiden on the cheeks as he walks into the arena. Miles and Archer wear their suits they usually reserve for after games even though Aiden explicitly forbade them. For some reason they are proud of him. He likes it but he won’t admit it. If they want to dress up and look stupid then that’s their decision.

What he doesn’t expect is to see Liam Walsh standing outside the arena with his father beside him.

“What’s he doing here?” Aiden asks Miles from the corner of his mouth.

“Huh? Liam asked for my spare tickets. Who else was going to use them?”

Aiden flushes bright red. Of course, Liam would find a way to be at his graduation ceremony. Further proof this has gone on far too long.

“Big day,” Simon says with a warm grin. The same grin Liam so often aims at Aiden.

“I still have four more years of medical school,” Aiden points out.

Simon lifts one eyebrow. “That doesn’t negate this accomplishment, son.”

Aiden shifts his gaze from Simon over to Liam. Looking at Liam was a huge mistake. Pride shines from Liam, the emotion is etched on his gorgeous face, and Aiden doesn’t know if he hates it or likes it. He shifts uncomfortably, letting Archer carry the conversation for a few moments as he gathers himself. Because Archer can somehow always tell when Aiden needs to be quiet.

He disappears into the arena to line up for graduation. He tugs on the Summa Cum Laude silver cords around his neck. Back when he was a kid, he never thought he’d make it to this day. There were times as a kid he thought he’d die before he even had the chance to make it to college. Now he’s graduating at the top of his class with medical school looming out in front of him.

He doesn’t know if he did it for himself or as a final fuck you to his mom. The words she said still echo in his head sometimes.Worthless.Stupid. Panic seizes up inside him but he pushes it down, deep down where it can’t hurt him, like he always does. He won’t let her cloud this moment. She’s clouded too many others. Aiden worked hard for this, he’s going to appreciate it.

The seats in the arena aren’t comfortable and he’s seated too closely between his classmates. A loud whistle sounds through the air, dragging everyone's attention in that direction. Aiden groans because he knows it’s Archer. He’s proven correct when he looks to his right to see Archer grinning, standing on a chair, his arms in the air.

Aiden smiles despite himself. Miles scoffs and reaches up totug Archer down. Miles mouthsI’m sorrytowards Aiden, but Aiden just smiles back at him to let him know it’s okay. It takes everything inside Aiden to not shift his gaze to Liam beside them. He can’t have Liam in this memory because he knows it’ll break his heart when he looks back on it in a few years.

The graduation ceremony moves on. It’s boring like all graduation ceremonies are. Aiden has to fight to stay awake through the entire thing. Finally, the actual graduation ceremony starts.

His row slowly stands to make their way towards the stage. Stomach full of knots, but feeling oddly light, his feet carry him across. Loud cheers fill the arena when the president says his name and shakes his hand, making Aiden blush what he knows has to be a shade of red resembling that of a tomato.

He sits through the rest of the ceremony, feeling a little anxious and kind of like he’s out of his body. He did it. He made it. Archerandhim made it. They have a life of their own to do with whatever they want. The possibilities are endless.

The crowd is thick as he makes his way out of the arena. He raises a hand above his eyes to shade out the bright sun. It takes him too long to spot them. Liam is who he spots first with his hands tucked into his dress pants, dark hair tumbling across his forehead, still looking too good for words. Their eyes meet, making that familiarrushof something fill his chest.

“Do we call you Dr. Clark now?” Miles teases once Aiden is standing in front of them.

Aiden wrinkles his nose in displeasure. “Not until I finish medical school.”

“Damn.” Miles rolls his eyes. “That’s no fun at all.”

“I didn’t know you were Summa Cum Laude,” Liam says, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Aiden glowers at him. “Now you know.”

Archer laughs as he slings an arm around him. “You can have your day, baby brother. Tomorrow is my day. I want abigcelebration. It’s a miracle I passed all my classes the past four years.”

Aiden fondly rolls his eyes. “I forgot to organize your parade, my apologies.”

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