In the days following the wedding, Keller thought his interaction with Aiden would be nothing more than a fleeting moment, like the rain-soaked umbrella they had briefly shared. But fate seemed to have other plans.
It was a quiet Friday evening in the school library, where the ticking of the clock was the only sound filling the space. Keller sat in a corner, hunched over his notes. He liked it here—away from the pressures of home and the noise of the outside world. But tonight, the silence was interrupted by the soft sound of approaching footsteps.
"What are you working on?" A familiar low voice spoke from behind him.
Keller froze for a moment before looking up to see Aiden standing by his desk, a thick history book in hand. Dressed in a charcoal-gray sweater, Aiden's expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Studying," Keller replied, shifting his books slightly as if to make room—not that Aiden needed an invitation.
Aiden pulled out a chair and sat down.
Keller nodded, unsure what to make of the unspoken ease with which Aiden had joined him. He went back to his notes, but his focus faltered. Out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help noticing the way Aiden's long fingers idly spun a pen, his gaze fixed somewhere on the desk as though lost in thought.
Before Keller could make sense of the moment, another voice cut through the quiet. "Keller! Hiding in the library again? You owe me fried chicken this time!"
Looking up, Keller spotted Ryan approaching with a wide grin. He wore his varsity jacket and carried a takeout bag. Ryan had been Keller's best friend since childhood, always full of energy and humor, and often his escape from life's heavier moments.
"Fried chicken?" Keller raised an eyebrow, a small smile creeping onto his face. "What, you're bribing me with food now?"
Ryan plopped down next to Keller without waiting for an invitation, setting the takeout bag on the table. Pulling out a drumstick, he declared, "Of course! I'm your only real friend, after all."
"Don't flatter yourself," Keller shot back, lightly punching Ryan's shoulder. "You just want an excuse to avoid homework."
Ryan's eyes flicked to Aiden, his curiosity evident. "And who's this?"
"Aiden," Keller said simply, nodding toward him. "He's new here."
Aiden gave a small nod in return, his expression remaining as cool as ever.
Ryan, undeterred by the lack of enthusiasm, thrust out his hand. "I'm Ryan—Keller's lifelong sidekick. If he gives you trouble, let me know."
Keller rolled his eyes.
Aiden hesitated briefly before shaking Ryan's hand. His grip was firm but brief. Then, without a word, he picked up his book and stood. "I should go."
"Oh, okay," Keller said, watching him walk away.
Once Aiden was out of sight, Ryan nudged Keller with his elbow, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "What's his deal? He's got that broody loner thing going on, but he doesn't seem half-bad."
"He's... complicated," Keller muttered, avoiding Ryan's gaze. After a pause, he added, "His aunt just married my dad."
Ryan let out a low whistle. "Yikes. That's messy." He paused, then grinned. "But hey, he seems kind of into you."
"Don't be ridiculous," Keller snapped, glaring at him. "He's just a classmate."
Ryan shrugged, unbothered. "Sure, sure. But you know my instincts are always right."
Keller ignored the comment, turning back to his notes. Yet his thoughts drifted to the brief glimpse of emotion he thought he'd seen in Aiden's gray-blue eyes before he left—something he couldn't quite decipher.
The clock chimed nine, signaling the library's closing. Keller packed up his books and stood to leave, but Ryan clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
"That's not necessary," Keller replied quickly.
"Don't be stubborn," Ryan said with a smirk. "Consider it part of our friendship contract—free escort services."
With a reluctant chuckle, Keller relented. The two walked out into the cool night air, their shadows stretching long under the glow of the streetlights.
After a while, Ryan broke the silence, his tone unusually serious. "Hey, Keller... is everything okay? You've seemed a little off lately."
Keller paused, surprised by the question. He forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just busy with school and work, that's all."
Ryan studied him for a moment before nodding, though his concern lingered. "You know you can talk to me, right? About anything."
"I know," Keller said quietly, patting Ryan's shoulder. "Thanks, Ryan."
The rest of the walk was spent in comfortable silence, though unspoken thoughts hung between them like the cool mist in the air.