Violet

Fifteen

Aiden, Elliot and I had spent the rest of the night together, roasting marshmallows and making corny jokes. For once, in a long time, I felt genuine happiness and despite not wanting the night to end, I knew it was now time to head back home. I had excused myself from the group to use the restroom and now I was searching for Elliot and Aiden. When I came into the kitchen I found Elliot’s dad instead. 

“Hi, I was wondering if you knew where Elliot went of to?” I questioned. 

“Yes, he and Aiden are in his bedroom.” Mason responded with a smile and I smiled politely in return before I made my way to Elliot. 

When I came upon the door I could hear them talking but it was muffled and I couldn’t make out what was being said. I lightly knocked on the door. 

“Come in.” Elliot spoke up loudly and I softly pushed the door open and smiled at both men. 

“Hey, it’s getting pretty late and I think my mom wants me home. Would you mind driving me back?” I asked politely. 

Aiden and Elliot shared a look and I felt my stomach tie in knots. 

“Would it be okay if I drove you home?” Aiden asked and I shot a nervous smile to him. 

“I’d love that. But on one condition. My mother wants to meet you.” I replied half expecting him to decline the offer now that there were strings attached to it. 

Aiden gave a soft smile then replied. 

“That sounds great.” 

I tried to keep the surprise from registering on my face. 

“Okay. Elliot it was so nice hanging out with you and your family today. I’d love to do it again sometime.” I spoke to Elliot as I stepped forward and gave him a soft hug. He hugged me in return but the atmosphere felt tense all of a sudden and I noticed Elliot’s hug loosened up until I was the only one hugging him. Silently I stepped back and looked to Aiden. He looked frustrated but the look was gone as quickly as he came when he made eye contact with me. 

“Do you have everything you need to be ready?” He asked softly and I nodded my head once. 

“Great.” 

“We will leave now.” He spoke with that authoritative voice again and this time I couldn’t hide the slight shiver that ran down my spine. I turned my body towards the bedroom door to keep my face hidden in embarrassment. No one else spoke as he lead me out of the house and once again into his shiny black car. The heater was cranked to high as the temperature had dropped significantly since our last outing and now the snow was beginning to stick to the ground. Aiden started the car then asked for the directions to my house. When I rattled them off as best I could he shot a small smile to me then pulled out his phone. 

“Do you mind if I get your number this time?” He asked softly and I could sense his nervousness. 

“I don’t mind at all. It would be nice to have someone to text during the day that isn’t just Elliot.” I replied hoping I didn’t sound too desperate or offensive to Elliot. 

He chuckled softly as he unlocked his phone and pulled up the new contact info then handed the device to me. I took two-seconds to type everything in then handed the phone back to him. 

“Thank you.” He spoke sincerely and I smiled warmly at him. 

“You’re welcome.” I replied politely as I watched him pull up his maps on his phone and type in the address I gave him. 

Once we were on the road and going a comfortable speed, given the snow, he spoke up. 

“I enjoyed spending time with you tonight. I’d like to do it again soon if you don’t mind.”

“I’d like to as well. I still wish you attended the high school. It would be nice to have more than one friend there.” I replied. 

“I can’t sneak myself in unfortunately but I can take you to school on Monday or pick you up.” He suggested as he glanced at me. 

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but, I feel like I’ve been alone with you enough times now to know that if you were secretly a serial killer you would have already killed me. So, maybe you can pick me up from school sometime this week. It can’t be on Monday though because my mom has to pick me up and take me to apply at that diner and pick up some new clothes.” I spoke quickly and lightly hoping he would make light of the serial killer comment. 

He chuckled softly before he responded. 

“Well, how about on Tuesday?” He asked. 

“Tuesday should work just fine.” I replied as I looked out of the window and noticed we were coming up on my house. 

“Just let me know if you’d rather take me to school or pick me up from school.” I added as he pulled up in the driveway of my house beside my mother’s car. 

“I will. Don’t forget you invited me in to meet your mother.” He replied with a teasing tone and I shook my head as I facepalmed. 

“Right. I probably should have let her know I was bringing a guy home, so, we will see how this goes.” I mumbled out the last part as Aiden turned and got out of the car, once again coming around to my side to open up my door and help me get out. 

He smiled at me as he shut the door behind me. Neither of us spoke as I lead him up the driveway and to the front door. I opened it slowly, trying to figure out how to tell my mother about him and what to even say. I didn’t have much time to think on it as she was walking into the front room from the kitchen when we stepped inside. 

“Oh Violet, I was wondering when you’d be back. You brought a friend?” She questioned with a polite smile on her face. 

“Yes, I did.” I replied bluntly. 

“Mom, this is Aiden. Aiden this is my mom.” I spoke up as I looked at my mother. 

She smiled softly and took a step forward, extending her hand to shake his as he reached out. 

“My name is Kathy. It’s nice to meet you Aiden.” She spoke sweetly and I wondered if there would be a fight between us about this later on in the night. 

“It’s nice to meet you too ma’am. Elliot was going to drive Violet home but I offered to instead. I hope that’s okay with you.” Aiden spoke adding a small smile at the end I glanced to my mother to see her smiling. 

“I don’t mind it.” She replied. 

“I’m sorry I don’t have any refreshments to offer right now but I can put some tea on if you’d like.” She offered and I watched Aiden shake his head. 

“I’m sorry, it’s getting late and I probably need to get home but I appreciate the offer. Maybe I can swing by later on in the week and take you up on that if Violet doesn’t mind.” Aiden replied then looked to me. 

“I don’t mind it. Maybe we can have you drive me home from school on Tuesday or Wednesday and then you can stay and make good on that offer.” I replied teasingly. 

He nodded his head quickly and my mother smiled in agreement. After a brief moment of silence Aiden bid his goodbye’s and my mother and I watched as he made his way back to his car and slowly drove off the way he had come. 

“So, that’s Aiden…” My mother trailed off and I looked over to her. 

“Yes.” 

My response came short and I looked at her nervously, unsure of what her next words were going to be. 

“He seems really sweet. I’m happy he was polite enough to come inside and introduce himself. Now that I’ve met him I don’t mind you hanging out with him just please be careful.” She spoke up as she beamed a soft smile of understanding at me. 

I nodded my head once and stepped towards her, giving her a soft hug of appreciation for all of the hard work she has put in these last few days to be a little less uptight about the people I hang out with. 

“Thank you.” I spoke up after a moment of silence and I when I stepped back from her hug I noticed a kind smile appear on her face.