Page 62 of Firestorm
My head snapped to the right, feeling like I’d been splashed with a cold bucket of water as I took in Aiden at the edge of the small clearing, looking like a hot mess.
His shirt was wrinkled, he had some dirt on his jeans. His hair stuck up in odd angles, like he’d run his hands through it a million times. Even at a distance, I could see how bloodshot his eyes were.
“What do you want?” I asked coldly.
Aiden grinned, but it was lopsided.
“I invited you, remember?” he said, his voice a little breathless.
He was fucking trashed. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“I remember. Do you?” I almost snapped.
Aiden furrowed his brows. “What d’you mean? Duh, I remember.”
“You ghosted me,” I said slowly. “I texted you twice, then I showed up and you were with that mean girl you told me was just an ex. Remember?”
“Oh shit,” Aiden slurred. “Listen, Skye. This is all a misunderst-…yeah. You got it wrong.”
“Do I?” I raised my voice slightly. The shadow tensed beside me.
“Skye,” Aiden dropped to his knees next to me, and I clutched the iris in my fist so he didn’t see it. “I’m sorry. I pre-gamed too hard, I…I don’t know. I’m sorry. I only wanna see you, I p-promise.”
He dropped his head to my lap and I went rigid. Aiden’s armswrapped around my middle, and he shook slightly, almost like…he was crying.
That…was unexpected.
“Aiden?” I whispered.
“I’m sorry, Skye. I’m s-sorry. My m-mom…I f-fuck everything up.”
I sighed.
“We can talk when you’re sober.”
“I h-hate b-being sober,” he mumbled. “Hate feelings.”
“Well that sucks,” I replied. “I thought maybe you had feelings forme.”
“I did–do! I d-do!” Aiden leaned back on his haunches, his glassy, red-rimmed eyes full of tears. “Let me apologize,” he mumbled, running his hand up my thigh, going under the hem of my dress. For a second, I considered letting him. But then I remembered he was drunk and had ditched me for a huge bitch, and anger spiked down my spine.
“Aiden, no,” I pushed his hand away, standing up quickly and dropping my flower. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Oh, come on, S-Skye.” Aiden groaned as he staggered to stand. “She wasn’t even wrong. You’re frigid as fuck. We’ve k-kissed like f-four times and you won’t let me t-touch you?”
My jaw dropped.
“Fuck you, Aiden.” I hissed, pushing him hard as I stepped back away from him.
Aiden groaned as he rocked into the dirt, but then he snapped as he stood on trembling legs, “You c-can’t get mad I talk to other g-girls when you’re n-not putting out. There’s plenty of other options.”
Pain curled through my gut and I doubled-over at the same moment regret crossed Aiden’s face.
“What the fuck,” I whispered, rearing back, anger and pain washing through me like a tsunami.
“Wait. I didn’t, I d-don’t, Skye, wait–”
Aiden took a step toward me and I stumbled back. I was confused. So, so confused. What the fuck was going on? This wasn’t like the Aiden I’d gotten to know at all.
