How this Hippie Fell in Love

Chapter 7

Aiden and I didn't say a word to each other on the trek back to his car or the ride back to his house. I think everything that needed to be said, was.

I spent the weekend in my room painting the waterfall and the scenery around it. The strokes of my brush had a calming effect on me and trying to remember every detail occupied my brain. I tried not to think too much of our conversation to avoid getting my hopes up in case nothing changes.

The entire drive to school I thought about little details in my painting I had forgotten. I felt like something was missing, but I couldn't put my finger on what.

I was standing at my locker, putting in my combination and trying to remember if there were fallen trees or boulders that I had overlooked, when I felt someone shake me.

"Emma Jade!" Lena yelled, literally shaking me from my thoughts. "You walked right by me and ignored me the whole way here." She huffed "I seriously thought I died and came back as a ghost." I rolled my eyes at her dramatics.

"Sorry, I'm focused on a painting I spent the weekend working on." I explained, she nodded her head, Lena knew how I could be with new projects.

"What is it of?" She asked, seeming to accept my apology.

"A waterfall with a beautiful meadow on the banks. I really feel like I'm missing a big detail, but I can't quite get it." I explained.

We chatted a bit more about our weekend. Her mom was working the whole time so she and Link ate and binged shows. Maybe that will be my plan this weekend.

The rest of my day was pretty uneventful. I went through the motions; attended classes, took notes, ate lunch with Lena, attended classes, took notes, went home.

Aiden didn't say a word to me, in fact I felt like he was avoiding me. I don't know what was worse, his ignoring me or bullying me. Three days ago I would've done anything to have him ignore me, but now I want to talk to him like we did at the falls.

I lit a peach scented candle and sat on my bed willing myself to concentrate on homework. I connected my phone to the Bluetooth speaker hoping to drown out my thoughts with music. As soon as the upbeat tempo of a random pop song started playing I could feel my brain relax. Mindless beats were what I needed.

I finished government homework and moved on to algebra II. I have to solve absolute value equations and I have no idea what that means. I'm going to have to talk to Lena- she's a math wiz.

A tap on my window pulled me from my S.O.S text to my best friend.

I sat on my bed trying to decide if I'm brave enough to see who or what is there.

A second, harder, set of taps decided for me. I'm brave provided I have a weapon. I scanned my room and decided on an empty vase.

Creeping to my window, weapon in hand, another tap rang out.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled my nerves and peeked behind my curtains.

I huffed, opened my curtains all the way then opened my window. "What are you doing here?!" I demanded, more than a little annoyed.

Aiden climbed through my window effortlessly, his lower abs peeking below his hoodie, grinning like an i***t. "I have always wanted to do that."

"How did you get up here?" I ask not seeing a ladder.

"Uh..I uh… climbed the terrace." He admitted rubbing the back of his neck.

I looked at him amazed that he didn't break his neck. "So, what are you doing here?" I repeated my first question.

Aiden didn't answer me. He sat in my desk chair, leaning back with his long denim clad legs out-stretched in front of him, his hands clasped behind his head.

I stood in front of him, my arms crossed over my blue t-shirt covered chest, my right hip popped out.

"Have you been avoiding me, Emma?" Aiden asked through a lazy smirk.

I stared at him for a moment. "What are you talking about? I haven't changed anything?" I defended

"Then why haven't you talked to me since Friday?" I didn't know what to say.

"We don't generally talk." I shrugged

"Things are different though, right?" Uncertainty lacing his voice. I sat on my bed mulling over what he just said.

Are they different? They felt different a couple days ago, now I'm not sure. It was easy for me to fall back into ignoring him, but apparently Aiden didn't feel the same.

"What did you think would happen?" Not really sure what his answer would be.

"I dunno, maybe a little less indifference." He shrugged his shoulders. "Are you going to homecoming?"

Surprised by his question I shrugged my shoulders. "I'll probably go with Lena…" I paused. "That is unless she gets a date. "

"What if you get a date?" Aiden asked nonchalantly.

I scoffed "Okay. Sure."

"What? Why do you seem so put off?" He looked confused.

"Well, Aiden, the last guy who liked me was made to believe I had Chlamydia." I gritted out.

"Oh...ah yes." He stuttered "Well, it's curable."

I rolled my eyes.

"We could go together." He suggested, helpfully. "I'm not going with anyone."

"Has no one caught your eye, Gray?" I teased. "I thought you were going with Callie."

His eyes scrunched in confusion. "No. Why would I go with her? We're not together and I'm done with that train wreck."

"It doesn't seem she has gotten the memo." I mumbled under my breath, but I wasn't quiet enough.

Aiden's eyes lit up. "Are you jealous?" He asked. "You're jealous!"

"Jealous of what?" I asked, needing to defend myself. "I'm perfectly content with who I am."

"Listen, Emma, if you want to go to homecoming with me just say so." He stood up and walked closer to me.

I rolled my eyes again. "You keep rolling your eyes at me and they will get stuck like that." Aiden teased.

"Don't give me so many reasons to do it." I huffed, crossing my arms.

He laughed. Oh that laugh sent shivers through my spine.

Aiden got down on one knee and grabbed my hands. "Emma Carter, will you make me the happiest man, and go to homecoming with me?" He asked with a serious expression but a playful twitch at the corner of his mouth showed how hard he was trying not to smile.

I rolled my eyes yet again and said "I'll think about it."

He fell backward, holding his chest feigning hurt. He stood up and looked at the book on my bed. "Do you need help with that?" He asked gesturing to my algebra homework.

"Why, just because I'm a girl, I can't do math." I stiffened at his insinuation.

"You have three problems done and all three are wrong. So off the top of my head I'm going to say you suck math because you suck at math." He explained, causing me to give a sheepish apology.

"I get that I'm usually an asshole so let me make it up to you." He sat on my bed and grabbed my textbook. For the next hour he explained how to do these problems and it started making sense.

"Thank you." I said sincerely. "No one has ever explained algebra in a way that made sense to me before."

"You're welcome." He responded. I don't think he has ever been complimented on his intelligence before.

"I should go." He said making his way to the window.

"The door is safer." I suggested.

"Only if your parents don't see me sneaking out." I rolled my eyes yet again.

"Dad is at the office and mom is canning. Let's go." My bedroom is in the back of the house. I led him through the hallway and down the stairs.

I watched him walk to his Jeep and realized I felt a little sad. "Get it together, Emma." I thought, walking to the kitchen to heat up leftovers.

❤❤❤

The next morning Lena and I met in the parking lot as we typically do. I explained to her my strange encounter as we walked in.

"OMG! That's really creepy… but kind of sweet too." She was a little too excited for my liking. "How did he know which window was yours?" She asked and it struck me that I didn't ask.

"I hadn't thought of that." I admitted.

"So, are you going with him?" She asked, batting her eyelashes in a flirtatious manner.

I was silent as we headed in the building. I want to… I think. Something tells me this boy is going to be a lot of trouble.

"What if all of this is some cruel joke? Is there any real possibility that he actually likes me?" I asked, sagging my shoulders a bit. "You've seen his exes just as well as I have, name one who even remotely resembles me."

"Emma Jade, don't you dare!" Lena stated fiercely. "You are beautiful, sweet, intelligent, and f*****g hot. There isn't a damn thing about you he wouldn't worship. You are a goddess and deserve nothing less. Don't you ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

"She's right, there isn't a damn thing about you I won't worship." My face paled at the voice behind me. He knows we were talking about him. I turned and saw Aiden standing there with an amused expression.

Lena starred him right in the eye. "And better never forget it or your best friend will make sure he sings soprano." She whispered menacingly. Lena kissed me on the cheek glaring daggers at Aiden.

"She doesn't like me." He stated nervously, sticking his hands in his front pockets.

"She's actually the founding member of the Emma/Aiden family club. We're still working on the t-shirts." I laughed

"It's not official without t-shirts. Hopefully the web domain is still available." He joined in.

He finished walking me to my locker.

"Have you thought about it?" Aiden asked, clearly a little nervous.

Have I thought about it, he asks. I rolled my eyes internally. The real question is, have I thought about anything else since.

"I'm nervous." I admit, opening my locker.

He leaned his long frame against my neighboring locker and crossed his arms. A defensive position. Aiden is scared of me rejecting him.

He sighed "I'm sorry, Emma."

"Stop apologizing, I'm not holding anything against you. I will go with you." I stated sincerely. "There is more to you than meets the eye, Aiden Gray and I can't wait to find out what it is." I closed my locker and walked away.

I didn't look back, but I'm sure if I did I would see a beautiful teenage boy with a dumbfounded expression.

"Leave him wanting more." I whispered to myself.