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1
No matter how many times I’ve seen my face and body all bruised and scraped up, I’ve never gotten used to it. Even though it’s been just over a week since Aiden and I were in the car accident, I feel like the bruise on my cheek is taking way too long to go away; like it’s stubbornly remaining just to mock me, to remind me of what I’ve been through. My nose has healed from the accidental elbow to the face Mason dealt me at the beach house, but the rest of my bruises are taking their sweet time. Aiden’s injuries were worse than mine—I didn’t need stitches, at least—but every glance in the mirror reminds me of Harvey, of Andrew, and of how they’re still out there, getting away with their crimes, with their attempt to kill us.
A few days after school started, while I was stubbornly refusing to attend until my friends could join me, Makayla Thomas, Kaitlyn’s best friend, saw me at the grocery store, still banged up and bruised from the accident. She told everyone that my face is fucked up from botched plastic surgery, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes when Charlotte told me about that rumor going around the school. This means everyone’s going to try to get a look at me when I return today with Aiden, but that’s nothing in comparison to what he’s going to face when he steps in the building.
He doesn’t normally open up—it was a miracle when I got him to tell me even the most insignificant detail about himself, and he liked me. Having a bunch of stupid teenagers knowing your business and openly staring at you and stage-whispering as you walk by isn’t something he’ll especially enjoy. I haven’t seen him since the accident because he and Mason just got back last night, but I wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d decided to skip the next few days. But he’s not; he’s going to meet me at school, and while I missed him and am so excited to finally see him properly after a week apart, I’m also dreading it, because it’ll start the countdown to when I leave. Technically, the countdown started last week when school started, but I can’t bring myself to think about that, about how I wasted a week of my life here in King City before I’m relocated without Aiden, without my friend group. I don’t know how much time I have left before I’m forced to leave and become someone new, but I know I don’t want to throw away another single second. I’m going to make the most of it, even if it means going back to school and facing the gossip mongers who have nothing better to do than gawk and stare at us.
As I walk into the school for the first time since the break, I already feel the stares on me. I fidget with the necklace that Aiden got me for Christmas, feeling calmed by its weight. The necklace with a secret button to release a hidden blade has been around my neck since we left the beach house. Obviously, I know I shouldn’t be wearing it to school, but I can’t bear to take it off now. Besides the fact that Aiden got it for me and that its presence is comforting, I didn’t wear it the night Aiden and I went to meet with Vivienne Henfrey, and we were run off the road and almost killed. I could’ve really used it then against Harvey, so I’d much rather have it on me now, just in case. Besides, it doesn’t look like a switchblade, so I’m sure I won’t get in any trouble since no one will know. Either way, I keep it tucked under the collar of my shirt when I’m not fidgeting with it.
I meet Annalisa in the front hall, and she holds her head high as we walk, a scowl on her face as she stares down the people who gawk at us without shame until they bow their heads in submission. If I wasn’t her friend, I’d be terrified of her. We round the corner to get to my locker and I stop short. Leaning on my locker with his arms crossed, looking perfectly at home but still managing to appear menacing, is Aiden. Talking on the phone and FaceTiming this last week hasn’t done him justice; it’s nothing in comparison to him in person. A sense of peace washes over me at seeing him standing there, waiting for me, looking at me with hunger and impatience. Everything fades away as I walk over to him. Aiden pushes himself off of my locker and studies me as we approach him.
“How’s your face?” is the first thing he says to me once we’re close enough.
Wow. He’s so romantic. The corner of my lip turns up. “Not as bad as yours.”
He smiles at me as he shakes his head and immediately pulls me in for a hug. I melt as he rests his chin on the top of my head.
Yes, FaceTime cannot compare to being in his arms, to feeling the tight muscles in his back. It cannot compete with the feeling of my head tucked into his chest, with hearing his steady heart beating in time with mine beneath my ear, with the feeling of safety and assurance that comes with being in his arms. I can say with absolute certainty that nothing can substitute for the feeling of actually being with him in person.
“Are you okay?” he whispers.
There’s something about sharing a traumatic, life-threatening experience with someone that brings you immediately closer to them. When you think about it, Aiden and I kind of saved each other’s lives. Actually, not kind of. We did. After the car crash, when Harvey’s gun was pointed at me and he pulled the trigger, the shot went wide because of Aiden’s quick thinking. And when Harvey started slicing Aiden’s throat, he only stopped when I shot him. I’m so grateful my aim was good that day. Being with Aiden now, I instinctively know that no matter what happens in my life, he’ll always be close to my heart.
“Yes. Are you?”
He pushes a piece of hair behind my ear and pulls back to meet my eyes. “I’m better now.”
My heart flutters, and I remember when he said something similar to me after we got separated at the Tracks when the cops busted the races, which seems like forever ago, even though it’s only been about a month.
Annalisa clears her throat. “I wanted to know how you were, too, in case you were wondering.”
I laugh and separate myself from Aiden so Annalisa can have her turn with him.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she says when they stop hugging.
Noah and Julian come around the corner and grab Aiden into one of those bro hugs.
“I knew we’d find you here,” Julian says to Aiden with a quick glance in my direction.
“But would it kill you to answer a text message every once in a while?” Noah complains as he gives Aiden a shove.
Aiden steps aside so I can open my locker.
“Hey, how are the twins handling all of this?” Annalisa asks. “Have you explained everything to them yet?”
Aiden runs his hand through his hair, which is getting kind of long. “Just like with the whole finding Greg dead outside our house thing, I didn’t exactly tell them everything. But they know who Andrew Kessler is now, and they don’t really care for him. So since we’re staying at Mason’s for a bit, Brian and Natalia have been really good with keeping them occupied and getting them ready for back to school.”
Ever since Aiden’s arrest, Mason’s dad has had legal custody over him and his brothers, Jason and Jackson. Once Aiden turns eighteen this week, he’ll file for custody. I’m guessing the current situation’s working out pretty well for now—since Aiden’s been dealing with a media frenzy, it’s helpful to have actual adults you can depend on around.
The warning bell rings so we all start moving toward class. As we walk, Aiden grabs my hand in his bigger one.
“Hey, just a heads-up, don’t make plans this Friday.” Noah grins, not so innocently.
