Chapter 5Show Me TomorrowElianI don’t know but I feel like I’m taking things too far. I should have just walked away after giving my unsolicited advice. He didn't ask for my help, he probably doesn't even need it. I have no reason to be here. He may be deaf but for fuck sake he isn't Martin! I don’t have to do this. I don’t have to be here.Repeating this over and over in my mind hasn't worked so far. I mean, I just ran a million miles in the middle of the night just so a random guy can breathe? What the fuck does that even mean??? Why can't I just fucking go back? All it would take is a simple apology and I can go back to my heist or the planning of said heist at least.I drag my attention away from my troubled thoughts back to the person causing my troubled thoughts. 'There is nothing here,' Aiden signs looking around in confusion.'There is,' I respond gesturing to the playground.He frowns, cocking his head to the side, 'A playground? I don't understand.''Sometimes when my br
CHAPTER 6IF ONLY IIT WAS THAT EASYAIDEN.TWO WEEKS LATER...Brrrrrrr!!!The cursed alarm chimes for the umpteenth time. I groan, reaching over to shut it off. I honestly cannot think of a time when I despised my alarm clock so deeply. I also cannot think of a time when I needed an alarm clock in the first place. For the last five years I have always gone to bed at exactly 11pm and promptly woken up at 7am. My alarm clock and I were always in sync with me waking just as it went off but today we are sworn enemies.To be fair I have never spent nights out playing with a boy before. I have never spent the night out before period. because until recently I have never had a reason to. I hop out of bed and stretch out my sore limbs. Jumping fences is not a skill I'm particularly good at but after repeated usage I have gotten better at it. After my muscles have loosened up, I feel less like a walking corpse. It's unnerving to feel so tired on the outside yet so alive on the inside, consequen
CHAPTER 7SCAREDY CATELIAN"Stand straight when I'm speaking to you!" Janet snaps."Sorry," I promptly correct my posture, "please continue.""Listen clearly I will not repeat myself again!"I nod faking a smile. Fuck, my brain feels like hot wet fudge. I can't think straight, I just want to crawl in bed and sleep for five years. Is that too much to ask?"Swish a cup of vinegar around in the toilet bowl using a toilet brush," she continues, "then add a cup of baking soda, followed by an additional cup of vinegar. Let the fizzing solution sit for 10 minutes. Use a toilet brush to scrub the stains. Let the mixture sit for a few more minutes and then flush-""Janet?" Harry calls, unknowingly saving my life. He appears in the bathroom door dressed in a business suit, a light colored shirt and a business-style tie, just like the first day we met."Good morning Harry." I greet with a smile. He has no idea what he has just done for me and my poor, poor brain. He returns the smile, “Good mor
CHAPTER 8THE MONSTERAIDEN“We apologize for any inconvenience this must have caused.” My eyes run through the last words of the email and I slam my laptop shut. I an trying not to feel too disappointed but I’m failing miserably.Yet another manufacturer has declined, yet another dead end. I study the blueprint next to me with a deepening frown. The designs for my solar powered cars are basically complete however there is still a monumental problem; I have yet to find a manufacturer that creates such powerful yet small solar panels like I designed in the prints. In stallion automobiles the design and aesthetics of the car are very important. Nobody wants to drive a car with a giant solar panel just sitting on top.“What should I do?” my father and I planned to launch this car within the next three years but now it seems it will have to be delayed further. How hard is to make a compact solar panel?!Brrrrr!!!The alarm goes off causing my to heart race with excitement. Its 11:00 that m
CHAPTER 9Smile And WaveELIANI gently tap Aiden’s shoulder, his tightly shut eyes pry open, taking in the interior of the bar. I have to say it looks better than I anticipated. A candle lit chandelier, huge barrels to store the beer, lots of polished wood, and soft jazz music. It really sells the vibe of 1800’s bar. I like it, it’s warm and cozy. It makes me want to forget all my troubles at the door and just have drinks with a friend. I suppose that’s what the designer intended.I turn to Aiden with a wide smile, ‘do you like it?’ I really hope he does I can tell we can have a lot of fun here.He nods fervently.Thank God, ‘Okay good, should we sit?’He stares fearfully at the few customers scattered about, who don’t even raise their heads to spare us a glance. His face turns pale as his huge eyes find mine.‘They won’t bite.’ I reassure him, squeezing his shoulder gently, ‘they won’t bite I promise.’He nods in understanding. I take his clammy hands in mine, leading us to a table a
CHAPTER 10We Can Die Another DayAIDEN“What’s wrong with you?” Aunt Clara asks eying me with concern.“I’m a little tired.” I lie.“Is it the solar project? Is that what’s stressing you out so much?”“Yes that’s what the problem is.” It’s definitely not because I have been gallivanting the city with a handsome stranger.She sighs, placing her tea down, “you know you don’t have to handle it alone right? You can give it to me, I can help you.”“No thanks, that’s all I have I can’t give that to you too.”She winces, “what does that mean?”“That its mine and mine alone Aunt Clara” I reply trying not to roll my eyes, she like to play the victim in every situation, “can we stop talking now? My head hurts too much.”“Well since you don’t need me ever I’m off to work,” she huffs, cat-walking out.“adios.” I mutter.Yesterday was amazing of course it’s just that I always have to pay for it in the morning, and eventually it will catch up to me. Maybe I should re-arrange my schedule to accommod
CHAPTER 11MADAMEELIANDespite my throbbing headache I still managed to set a goal for myself this morning; find out what is in the last room and try to act normal when I see Janet but my intuition tells me the former will definitely be harder.“Okay Eli lets go.” I whisper to myself as I open the kitchen door. To my immense joy Janet is not here but there are five notes on the table titled with the names of different workers with my name on the third. The note reads;“Scrub the entire balcony, TWICE, the chairs tables and water the flowers there as well. I will be back before lunch.”I roll my eyes as I rip the note to shreds. Scrub the balcony twice? twice!? why!? Did someone die there?! I honestly don’t know if Janet hates me particularly or she’s just an annoyingly meticulous person. A quick glance at the other notes and I’m still not certain. I suppress a groan as I take my cleaning supplies and walk to the balcony. In my next life I won’t ever get caught stealing, never, ever, e
CHAPTER 12Never Have I EverAiden“Moisturizer, serum, cleanser, sunscreen, facemask, exfoliating scrub…” all of this on just one person’s face? I stare in shock at the products listed in the article. On my outing with Elian tonight I decided to put in some effort into how I looked. The first thing that came to mind was skincare but…goddamn it's a lot. Especially since my outing is only two hours away. I decide to leave the skin care stuff for now. I don’t necessarily have bad skin but it could certainly be better.I sigh as I ransack my wardrobe for something to wear. I settle for dark cotton pants, a white t shirt and a flannel. It’s simple yes but I don’t look like an orphaned adult anymore so I think it does the trick. I study my reflection in the mirror to find any imperfections or rather any way too obvious imperfections. “My damn hair,” Flat and completely lifeless. I have no idea how I've been walking around looking like a highschool teacher. I return to my computer. Only my b