Page 52 of Kiss Me Honey Hone

She smiled, clutching her laptop tighter, then disappeared out of the lecture hall. Kenny stood there for a moment longer, letting the space settle around him, before making his way back to his office.

Once there, Kenny logged into the university system and searched for Aaron’s profile. He had no choice but to use what he had in his arsenal to pull Aaron out of himself, and he noted the missed lectures and seminars, and, sighing, drafted a formal appointment request through the system, the message curt but professional.

Subject: Attendance Concerns

Dear Aaron,

I’ve noticed your recent absences from lectures and seminars. Please schedule a meeting with me at your earliest convenience to discuss your academic progress and any support you might need.

Kind regards,

Dr Kenneth Lyons

Satisfied, he hit send, though it left a bitter taste in his mouth to handle Aaron like that. But boundaries had to exist somewhere, even if they felt impossible to enforce.

If Aaron wanted to put the walls back up, then he had to let him.

Chapter thirteen

You’re So Vain

Aaron opened his door on Saturday to find Mel standing there, wide-eyed and brimming with sympathy. Dark hair swept into a messy ponytail, the ends dyed a bright blue matching the streaks in her eyeliner, she’d spruced up her usual grunge attire. With ripped jeans paired with a cropped leather jacket, and the faint scent of her vanilla vape clinging to her clothes, she took in the disarray of Aaron’s room.

Aaron himself.

He looked like shit. He knew that. His usually immaculate hair was unkempt, hoodie rumpled, and eyes bloodshot from too many sleepless nights and endless hours scrolling through his phone. Mel stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, shutting the door behind her as Aaron slumped back onto his bed, refusing to move.

The room emulated his state of mind. A mess. Clothes strewn across the floor, empty snack wrappers piled on the desk next to his unopened textbooks, and a laptop screen still displaying half-filled application forms for other universities. His phone sat on the bed beside him, buzzing occasionally with messages he had no intention of answering. Nor the very formal and fuckingbland email from Dr Kenneth Lyons to discuss hisacademic progress.

Prick.

Mel perched on the chair at his desk, crossing her legs, and held out her vape. “Here. You look like you need this more than me.”

Aaron took it without a word, inhaling deeply and blowing out the smoke in a long exhale, not even bothering to open the window. The faint trace of vanilla filled the air. Self-destruction had become his coping mechanism of choice. If the halls kicked him out for breaking the rules, then at least he wouldn’t have to decide to leave on his own.

“How you doing?” Mel asked, tilting her neck in that almost-sibling motherly way.

“Fine.” Aaron checked out her outfit, noticing the deliberate effort she’d put into it. “You off somewhere?”

“Got a date.” She grinned.

“Lottie caved, huh?”

Mel rolled her eyes, though the corners of her mouth twitched. “She says it’s not a date, but we’re grabbing drinks, so…” She shrugged and took the vape back, inhaling a puff before continuing. “Let’s call it progress.”

“Good luck with that.”

Mel’s grin faltered. “Have you heard from Taylor?”

“No. Nor do I want to.”

“What happened? I’ve never seen you like this. You’re usually so…blasé about everything. Taylor must have really hurt you.”

Aaron snorted, bitterly. “Taylor didn’t even touch the sides.”

“Oh.” Mel frowned. “So why close yourself off in here? What’s going on? I mean, fuck, Aaron, even Dr Dishy Lyons has noticed.”

Aaron’s chest constricted at the mention of Kenny’s name, but he forced his face to stay neutral. “Has he spoken to you?”

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