"Dude, you've been ghosting me for days! Where the heck have you been?"
Max stood in the doorway, arms laden with pizza boxes and a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
"Uh, hey Max," Aiden stammered, surprised. "Didn't expect you back so soon."
Max raised an eyebrow, setting the pizza boxes down on the desk. "What's going on with you, man? You look like you saw a ghost… or maybe you just became one?"
Aiden chuckled, the sound hollow even to his own ears. "Nah, just… tired."
He didn't mention the hospital, the doctors, the strange questions that swirled unanswered in his mind. Max, bless his oblivious heart, wouldn't understand.
"Well, you picked a heck of a time to come back," Max said, leading Aiden into the room.
Aiden flopped onto his bed, the worn mattress sighing under his weight. The pizza grease on his fingers mingled with the lingering scent of hospital disinfectant
Max was already on the phone, "double pepperoni and extra cheese, please."
Aiden chuckled "Go for the triple-decker, you know you want to. We can worry about the health consequences later."
Max grinned "Wise words, my friend. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, add extra cheese and a side of garlic knots. Thanks"
Max then dropped his phone
"Dude, you're a lifesaver," Aiden chuckled, "My stomach was starting to think it had gone out of business."
Max threw him a conspiratorial wink. "I know, I know. College food is enough to make a saint crave forbidden carbs. But tonight, we will feast like royalty… or at least like broke college students with questionable taste in pizza."
Under the surface, a heavy weight pressed on Aiden's chest. The carefree laughter, the shared planning of adventures – it all felt like a fragile bubble, ready to burst at any moment. He had to tell Max.
"Hey, Max," he began,
"There's something you should know."
Max looked up, his playful expression replaced by a furrow in his brow.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"I had a car accident days ago man"
Aiden took a deep breath, his fingers drumming nervously on the table.
"It was bad, really bad."
He described the screech of tires, the blinding flash of metal, the chilling silence that followed. He spoke of the hospital, the endless tests, the doctors who couldn't explain why he was still alive.
"The doctors… they said it was a miracle I survived. Like, a one-in-a-million, defied all odds kind of miracle."
Max stared at him, a flicker of doubt replacing his usual easygoing expression.
"Seriously, Aiden? You're messing with me, right?"
Aiden shook his head, the weight of the doctor's words pressing down on him.
"No, I'm not."
Aiden stared at Max
"I know it sounds crazy," he admitted
"But I saw my car... twisted metal, shattered glass, the smell of gasoline. It looked like a crumpled tin can. It was a miracle I even survived, let alone survive unscathed."
"dude, you know I believe you. But... demolished and obliterated? No scratch on you? That's... well, it stretches the boundaries of even my wildest imagination."
Aiden ran a hand through his hair, the memory of the accident vivid in his mind. Then, waking up in a sterile hospital room, his body inexplicably whole.
"I know," he said, his voice quieter now. "It doesn't make sense to me either."
"Look, man." he finally said, his voice low and hesitant,
"I know it's hard to believe, but sometimes… miracles happen. Maybe you just got lucky."
"Maybe you're right,"
"Maybe it was just luck."
Aiden's fingers against the table. He glanced at Max, who was hunched over his phone, his brow furrowed in concentration
Suddenly, a sharp rap on the door shattered the silence. Both Aiden and Max jumped, their startled expressions mirroring each other's. Aiden cleared his throat, forcing a smile.
"Uh, pizza delivery?" he ventured
Max chuckled, a hint of relief in his eyes.
"I'll go get it, Sherlock. Maybe some greasy goodness will help us crack this mystery."
Max opened the door, a wide smile plastered on his face.
"Come on in, buddy! We've been waiting for you."
The pizza delivery guy, a young man with a friendly smile and flour-dusted hands, stepped inside. He balanced two large pizza boxes on his arm, the aroma of melted cheese and pepperoni filling the room.
"Extra pepperoni, extra cheese, just like you ordered," the delivery guy said, his voice dripping with cheer.
Max took the boxes with a grateful nod. "Thanks, man. Lifesaver."
He exchanged a few more words with the delivery guy, paying and tipping generously before shutting the door. With a flourish, he placed the pizzas on the table, the warm cardboard sending a comforting scent through the air.
"Time for a break from the existential crisis," Max announced, grabbing a plate.
Aiden chuckled, a genuine laugh escaping him for the first time in hours. The pizza, greasy and delicious, served as a welcome distraction. As they devoured the slices, their conversation shifted from the mystery to lighter topics, filled with jokes, movie recommendations.
As the last crumbs disappeared and the boxes lay flattened on the table
"So," Aiden said, leaning back in his chair, "what's next?"
Max rose from his chair and sauntered towards the miniature refrigerator tucked under his desk. It whirred to life with a groan as he flung open the door, revealing a chaotic collection of condiments, half-forgotten energy drinks, and a single, dusty bottle of tequila.
Aiden's eyes widened. "Is that… tequila?"
Max grinned, brandishing the bottle like a trophy.
"The finest budget tequila. And it's calling our names, my friend. Tonight, we celebrate your near-death experience, all fueled by the nectar of the gods… or at least, the discount section of the supermarket."
Aiden couldn't help but laugh. Max's ability to turn any situation into an adventure was infectious. "Alright, you win,"
They spent the next few hours laughing, reminiscing, and sharing stories. The initial unease melted away, replaced by the warm glow of camaraderie and the courage born of shared experience. Aiden felt lighter, more alive than he had in weeks.
Both got drunk
"Man," Max slurred,
"you look like you could wrestle a bear and win."
Aiden felt the world tilt pleasantly on its axis. Max was sprawled on the floor, a goofy grin plastered on his face.
"Dude," Max mumbled, "you gotta throw away that pizza box. It's starting to judge us."
Aiden, his coordination resembling a drunken flamingo, wobbled towards the door, clutching the offending box like a trophy.
"Challenge accepted"
He stumbled out of the dorm room, the cool night air a welcome shock to his flushed skin. The world outside seemed to shimmer, the streetlights morphing into fuzzy halos. He navigated the path with the grace of a drunken giraffe
He launched the box into the bin, the satisfying thud echoing in the quiet night.
As he turned, his foot caught on a crack in the pavement, sending him sprawling onto the grass. He lay there for a moment, giggling at the absurdity of it all.
Then, he saw it. A figure, shimmering in the moonlight, its form shifting and swirling like smoke. It spoke, its voice a melody of whispers and chimes, yet somehow understandable.
"Whoa, is that... a disco ball?" Aiden mumbled,
"Are you selling glowsticks? Because I'm pretty sure the rave ended days ago, dude."
The figure glided closer, its voice a melodic whisper that sent shivers down his spine despite the alcohol coursing through him
"Aethel…needs…Eos"
Aiden blinked, his drunken stupor momentarily clearing. This wasn't a hallucination brought on by cheap liquor. This was… real? But talking, glowing figures asking for… what was it again, Aethel?
"Uh… sorry, mate," he mumbled, his tongue feeling like cotton wool.
"Don't speak Aethel, whatever that is."
He let out a drunken chuckle. "Wait man, Eos? Sounds like a breakfast cereal."
"What makes you think I can help you find some breakfast cereal?"
Just then, the door of the dorm creaked open, spilling a shaft of light onto the scene. Max, his hair sticking up at odd angles, emerged
"Dude, what's taking you so long? Talking to the raccoons again?"
The figure flickered, its form dissolving into the night air. Aiden scrambled to his feet, the memory of the encounter already fading at the edges.
Aiden's head spinning. "Just… talking to this disco ball."
Max raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face. "Uh-huh. Sure you are. You look like you just saw a ghost made of pizza boxes."
Aiden chuckled, the absurdity of the situation hitting him. "Oh yeah maybe I did, He said he wants his pepperoni back."
Max stirred, a groan escaping his lips
With a soft thud, Aiden slumped down beside the trash bin.
He was asleep before he even hit the ground