Today, my class schedule was all over the place. I was travelling from one end of campus to another looking like a manic with no sleep. So when I reached my last class of the day, I let out a short smile knowing that my literature class would cheer me up.
I waited inside of the auditorium, taking my seat at the front where it was usually empty. I took the opportunity to save Will a spot too since the entire line was free and I actually enjoyed having him next to me... even if he didn't understand what Lyn was saying half of the time.
I plugged in my ear-buds and started to organise my textbooks and laptop in front of me. I thought that bringing a laptop into class from now on would be better for taking notes rather than a notebook. After all, that was what every other student in here was doing.
I put in my heading at the very top of my Word document and waited for Professor Lyn to arrive and start today's class patiently.
Will appeared next to me, showing off the bright smile that always tugged at his dimples and brought out his white teeth.
"Is this seat taken?"
"No," I smiled back, watching as he took the seat and began unpacking his bag like I had.
"How was your weekend?" He looked up at me briefly while he took out his laptop and zipped up his bag again.
"It was good, I think...? I'm not entirely sure." I slumped down in my seat a little.
"Why do you say that?" His features twisted in curiosity. "Did something happen?"
For a moment, I entertained the idea of telling Will about my father's reappearance, but then went against it after I put more thought into it. I didn't want to busy him with my problems or get him to pity me when it was the opposite I wanted from him.
"No, just classes." I lie, ashamed and embarrassed.
I didn't want to lie but I was afraid that if I told him, he'd just somehow run away from the girl with family issues... people in my life did that, and I didn't want to give him a push in that direction.
"I've been swamped with studying too." He relaxes in his seat and types in the password to his computer. "If I didn't have you, I think I would have definitely failed this class already." He laughed and people began to enter the doors.
A few moments later, Lyn paced down the classroom stairs with a fixed stare and neat blonde hair that was pulled up into a tight ponytail. She flopped her book bag on the desk and began writing on the board immediately, not taking the time to greet her students like always.
Will looked at me with slightly worried eyes.
"She's going to give us hell today. I can sense it..." His voice strained in a whisper.
"Why do you say that?" I chuckle.
"All professors do when they're in a bad mood. They write things so quickly and I get lost halfway!" I laugh a little more and try my best to remind him that he had my help, which seemed to ease him some.
The two hours went by quicker than I had expected and by the time we were packing up, most of campus was mostly empty. I began filling my brown bag with my things. Turns out that using a laptop is definitely easier than a notebook, not to mention, neater.
"Are you still up for coffee?" Will swung his bag strap over his shoulder and waited for my response.
"Always." I grin, making him shake his head playfully. "Do you think can I pay this time, though?" I ask him as we made our way to the parking lot.
"Not a chance." He laughed out.
His smile constantly seemed like the brightest one I had ever seen on a person. No one wore a smile like William and that fact made me appreciate him even more.
We both climbed into our cars, laughing at each other for random reasons and drove to the café where our usual study session happened.
Somewhere between five or six in the afternoon, (the rush hour of this store) it was strangely empty with the exceptions of the workers and one or two customers. Will and I chimed through the doors of the awfully quiet place and went over to the counter to order our usual drink. Of course, Will paid for our drinks even after I had protested more times than I could count to pay myself.
"Please, just let me pay. I don't want you to feel like I'm using you and besides, I have money!" I pleaded with him.
"Just because you have money, doesn't mean you should spend it! And I don't feel used. On the contrary, I feel the same when you help me study. So, consider free coffee a form of payment."
He placed his things down on the table that we made customary and sat down, sliding my medium sized black coffee over to me.
"I don't need payment, Will. I help you because you're my friend." He smiled, sweetly, and brought his bag up on the table.
"In that case, we should get started because there's too much that I don't understand and not enough coffee to do it."
"Okay," I laugh and take out my own notes, bringing them to Will. "But I'm paying next time."
Will gave me a mean side-glance. "Fine, but just once!" His smile cracked through his lips in just mere seconds. Then, we began studying like every other day.
While he was getting even more confused at the notes he made and laughing at his own confusion, I was trying not to focus on the car that had just parked outside. The familiar loud purr of an engine sounded throughout the entire café and I wasn't the only one bothered by it's loud sound.
"Emma, I don't understand... how are these five lines supposed to actually mean something? They don't even describe anything!" He argued with the textbook in front him while taking a swig of coffee. "Who the hell understands this?" He complained again.
"Look at my notes and compare from the clues in the poem to provide you some kind of hint or insight to what they want you to think." I point at a certain note that I made while Lyn was talking and guide Will to use it.
"How did I even get in this class?" He muttered to himself in a defeated chuckle. Then, he begins to look over my notes again and do as I suggested. Meanwhile, I was lowering my head from the coffee shop door to avoid the face that was announced by the subtle ring. I knew that the engine of the black car I already despised enough would welcome a face I didn't want to see right now.
How small can one city be? I thought.
I observed as Aiden walked over to the main counter with his same black clothes as always. He straightened his back and took the coffee from the shy woman who had served him. She flicked her eyes away from him consistently, intimidated by his tall and overwhelming figure. Aiden threw her a few dollar bills, looking at her and scowling without another thought. Following his steps, he went over to a nearby couch and rolled his eyes at something. Thankfully, where he sat was around the corner from where we were seated. So even if he turned around, he wouldn't see me.
"Will?" I called him away from the pages his eyes were stuck on.
He raised his head along with his thick brows. "Yeah?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"If it's nothing to do with literature, go for it." He joked and closed the heavy book.
I fiddled with my hands under the table, suddenly unsure if I wanted to ask what I had in mind.
"What do you know about Aiden?"
There was a short pause between my question and his answer.
"What do you mean?" His face contorted in questions, perplexed by my sudden inquiry.
"Like, what is the deal with him?"
I squeezed my hands until they stilled. I wasn't entirely sure why I was so nervous to ask something so normal, but I was and I tried in my best efforts not to show it.
"Well... from what I've heard, no one really knows much more than his name and the fact that he attends UC along with the rest of us." He shrugged. "He's a pretty secretive guy and I'm guessing he likes it that way." He rolled his eyes, mumbling a curse to Aiden under his breath. "Why do you ask?"
"Curiosity, I guess." I said, truthfully.
"Don't get too curious." He half laughed. "We all know he's like that for a reason." Will turned back to his notes, not saying anything else for the remainder of the hour. By the time the afternoon came to a close, Will and I were stuffed with coffee and the closed books that hid at the very bottom of our bags.
We passed around the corner where I had last seen Aiden, the couch being enjoyed by a sweet couple but no black haired boy in sight. I was slightly relieved I didn't have to deal with him and his torment of comments today.
I unlocked my car door and stepped in, saying my goodbyes to Will as he did the same with his car and left.
I placed the ignition key inside the car, the same way I had done for years, and twisted it a few times, but there was only the rough cluttering, humming and vibrating of the engine making the useless effort to turn on. I tried again, checking that there was a tank-full of gas, and there was. I groaned, knowing that this was bound to happen eventually. My car was the old type; the ones that people probably neglected or shot disgusting faces at when shopping for shiny new ones. I knew it was decrepit and little to barely functional, but I never minded before. It was enough for me to get to the places I needed and besides, I didn't need some expensive, technology-based car to drive me around.
I tried the engine again, but it failed me once more with its whirring sounds. I placed my forehead against the steering wheel, trying to think of what I could do to help my situation. By this point, Will was far-gone and I doubted he knew any more about cars than I did. I scratched my brain, racking for anyone that could help me. I could call Myra? Or Lars? Or-
A knock came from my passenger window and out of all the people in the world, Aiden stood there, bending down enough so he could see inside the car. With his pointer finger he signalled me to roll down the window, and a little panicked, I did just that.
"Hi..." I mutter, a shade of pink now printed on my cheeks.
"What are you doing?" He gripped at my door where the window was rolled down.
"My car isn't working."
I could feel a soft dread overwhelm inside me. It depended on what he said next that it would either grow or dim.
"Lift up the hood." He instructed, cold as ever.
I stared at him, a blank expression on my face and it was clear to me that it annoyed him.
"W-what?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his thick, slightly curly, black hair, strands coming loose as a consequence.
"Are you deaf?" He glared. "I said lift up the hood, or are you that useless?"
I do as he says but ignore his rude remark because if I didn't, in a few seconds I would have tears in my eyes again.
"What for?" I ask him, at this point really confused as to what he was doing.
"You know, it amazes me how stupid you can be sometimes." He went away from my window, walking around the car to where the hood was opened for him.
I peered intently at him while trying to think of a single reason as to why he would want to see my car. I couldn't possibly think that he wanted to help me out of the goodness of his heart. He had been so mean to me all the other times that we saw each other that it made me seriously doubt he could have a heart at all, let alone help another human being unless it was for his own benefit.
Aiden's hands locked under the heavy metal and lifted it without endeavour. His muscles tensed under his shirt and then relaxed when he leaned over the car parts to take a look. But I didn't take much notice of it.
"What?" He bit out when he saw me staring.
"N-nothing," I stuttered. "I'm just... confused... what are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He raised his voice, irritated and mad all at once.
I watched what he was doing from my car door, nervously observing as he took something out of the car, fiddled with it, and wiped it against his shirt in an attempt to clean it.
"You're fixing my car...?"
"So you do have a brain after all." He mocked me in a sarcastic tone, not looking at me. "Who knew?"
"Why?" I asked, hesitantly. But he ignored me and continued to work on whatever it was he was working on.
After some time had passed, Aiden spoke up again, breaking through the cracks of the silence that had formed.
"Try the engine again." He crossed his arms.
I fumbled with the keys, and of course, I dropped them on the floor. My small fingers reached down for them and I could swear I heard him curse. When I looked up again, Aiden scowled at me in frustration and huffed, while his patience with me ran thin. My embarrassment only grew from there, fogging my entire body with the feeling of stupidity and I dropped the keys again.
When I was finally able to get inside the car, I turned the key as I had before. But still, that same cluttering noise filled the air. Aiden cursed under his breath and dipped his head under the hood again. I stayed as quiet as I possibly could. I didn't want to accidentally breathe too loud and get him to shout at me because it annoyed him.
"Okay try it now." He ordered, and I did. I twisted the key and listened to the same agonising choking sound of my car. Aiden groaned and pulled at the ends of his hair then met my stare. "Get out."
"What?" I sat and bit my tongue in a frozen state.
"Do I have to repeat myself every time I say something to you?" He shut the hood with a loud thud and strode over to my door, pulling it open in one swift move. "I said, get out." He huffed and impatiently gripped on to the door. If it weren't illegal, I probably would have guessed he was close to pulling me out himself.
I didn't understand why Aiden was helping me out all of a sudden. But I didn't argue. I did as he asked yet again, gathering my things.
Then, he began to walk away from my car and climbed into his behind it. That loud engine cried in the parking lot as it approached me slowly with bright headlights, blinding me probably on purpose.
He rolled down his window and gave me a defiant stare.
"Get in." He scorned.
"Why?" My voice was not a mere whisper in the air and I could tell that it was yet another thing he hated about me.
"I'm guessing that you don't have any way to get home. You either get in or I leave you here. Either way, I don't care. Just move those little legs of yours and decide so I can leave."
If I had more time to decide right now I would have weighed all my pros and cons in front of him. I would have convinced myself to not go and then convince myself to do the opposite, but right now I didn't have that time. So I opened the heavy black door and met the leather seat quickly.
The car was spacious inside with its all-black interior and thin steering wheel. The whole car was large and spacious, while wildly smelling of wood of all things.
"Why are you helping me?"
"I'm not." He drove forward and out of the parking lot.
"Then why were you trying to fix my car? And why are you driving me home now?"
"Would you have preferred me to ditch you on the side of the road?" He glanced in my direction, coldly.
"No..." I muttered.
"Then don't ask stupid questions." I rolled my eyes at him and looked out of the window.
"You know, you don't have to be such an ass all the time. Would it kill you to be nice to me for once?"
"I'm not nice?" He almost cracked a smile.
Jerk.
"No. You aren't."
"And what makes you think I care, Emma?"
I swear, every time Aiden mentioned my name it is more like a curse than anything else.
"I don't think you do. That's the point..." Now he did smile, though it was small and barely noticeable.
The rest of the drive went by in utter silence. I took in as many details I could steal away before Aiden would notice and call me out.
Arriving at the apartment again, didn't take too long since it wasn't exactly far away, but being in a car with Aiden made it seem as if it had been forever.
"Thank you for driving me home," I said and stepped out of the car. However, I didn't meet his gaze. I was afraid he'd mock me for the mere act.
"You're going to need a new spark plug for your car."
"I don't know what that is," I mumbled and he looked at me as if I was stupid for not knowing what it was.
"It's what helps the engine start. It creates a spark and lights the fuel which then runs your car. You need to get it replaced so then your car can run again. It's not expensive, you just need a mechanic to take a look at it and replace the damn thing before it happens again." He faced me in nonchalance. "Lord knows I won't be there to drive you home next time."
"Let me guess, my breathing annoyed you this time?" A small smile ran out of my lips.
He chuckled with a smile of his own. "I believe we're finding what's called 'common ground', Emma."
"Hardly," I said, quietly enough so that he wouldn't hear.
His headlights lit me up again when he left the street. I felt slightly embarrassed by the whole situation. If I had been with Will or literally anyone else I would have been fine. I would have called a mechanic, gotten my car fixed and gotten home without Aiden's help. But I wasn't and I didn't.
As soon as I reached my front door and picked out my keys, I got a phone call buzzing in the back pocket of my jeans. I took it out, reading the caller ID: Mom.
I answered her call with hope for excitement. After today I was drained and in need of a few hours of sleep.
"Emma!" She burst through the phone. "How are you?!"
I could almost see her giant grin and I couldn't take that away by telling her that my car had broken down and I needed to pay for it with the little money I had. I didn't need her worrying about me more than she already did, so I would deal with it on my own later.
"I'm good. I just got home. And you?"
"I'm doing really well! Actually, I was thinking about coming to visit you soon!"
"Really?" I smile. "That's great, when are you coming?"
I unlock my door while holding the phone between my ear and my shoulder. I went over to the heater and switched it on, as the cold had already seemed to leak into the place.
"I was thinking maybe this weekend? If you aren't too busy with school, of course."
Knowing my mother, right about now she was probably pursing her lips into a line while waiting for my answer. She always did it. Never wanting to bother me with her wants or needs. She constantly worried that if she talked to me too much it would somehow affect my future, or that I would grow some kind of hatred for her. It was a small side effect that came with the fear of abandonment and everything else. But I would always remind her otherwise.
"This weekend sounds great! I have so much to tell you about this place and so many things to show you."
My mother giggled through the phone, her excitement more than evident to me.
"I can't wait, honey! I'll tell Mark and I'll be on the road as soon as I can."
"Perfect, I'll see you soon mom. Make sure you take care of yourself okay?"
"I will! Don't worry about me so much! I'll be fine!" She urged me.
"Okay... I love you. Tell Mark I say hi."
"Will do. Love you!" Seconds later, the phone call ended and I could finally put down my phone for the rest of the night.
Tomorrow before class I would have to get a mechanic to fix that spark plug Aiden suggested, and get my car running again. I would have to spend most of the money that I would normally use on food and gas to fix my car. After that, all the money I had previously saved up from birthdays and gifts would run out and I would need to begin looking for any nearby jobs or internships that could pay enough for me to eat.
As much as Aiden was rude and more than a little unpleasant to be around, I was lucky that he was there today. If he hadn't, I would have been out all night waiting for a mechanic to show up the next morning because their service wasn't running past seven. My night would have ended very differently if it weren't for him, so for that, I could hold a little less resentment towards the boy with black hair than I first did.