I texted Aiden as I made my way to the parking lot, asking him where he'd parked. My phone buzzed with his reply, and I followed his directions until I spotted his car. Sliding into the passenger seat, I shut the door and leaned back, letting out a small sigh.
Aiden glanced at me, his eyes softening. "How's James doing?"
"He's… he's doing fine," I replied, keeping my tone steady. "They're keeping him for observation, but he seems stable."
He nodded, his gaze drifting over my face before returning to the wheel. "And you? You look… a little puffy around the eyes." His voice was gentle, almost hesitant. "Have you been crying?"
I pressed my lips together, brushing off the comment with a simple, "Yeah," and looked out the window.
He sighed, giving a small nod as he shifted into drive. "Alright. Just… know I'm here if you need anything, okay?"
The drive was quiet for a while, a comfortable silence settling between us as he navigated the streets toward campus. I tried to let my mind drift, but thoughts of James—and William—kept pulling me back. It felt like I was trapped in this inescapable web of worry and fear.
After a while, Aiden broke the silence. "You're awfully quiet," he said, his tone cautious. "Is everything… you know, alright?"
I forced a small smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. Don't worry about me."
"If you say so," he replied, though his tone suggested he didn't entirely believe me. "Anyway, it's only 7 p.m. Do you want to get a head start on the project?"
I shrugged, glad for the distraction. "Sure. We need to finish it up soon, anyway. There's enough chaos in the group as it is."
He grinned, glancing over at me briefly.
"Right? Thankfully, the professor gave us an extra two weeks, so we've got three weeks left now."
"That's a relief," I muttered. We'd been given a reprieve, but I knew we couldn't take it for granted. Too many things were spiraling out of control in my life, and I wasn't about to let this project be one of them.
"Alright then," Aiden said, glancing over with a sheepish smile. "I didn't exactly plan for this, and the project files are all on my computer back at my place. Hope you don't mind, but we're heading to my apartment."
I just nodded, feeling too drained to care much about the location change.
A few minutes later, he parked in his apartment building. "Shall we?" he asked, hopping out of the car.
I climbed out and followed him toward the entrance, curiosity and a strange sense of unease swirling in my chest.
This would be the first time I'd been to his place, and even though I knew it was just for the project, there was something… unfamiliar about being in his space.
We walked through the lobby, and I finally asked, "So… which floor?"
"Sixth," he replied, pressing the button for the elevator. "Don't worry, it's not a mess or anything… I think."
"Comforting," I said, letting a bit of sarcasm slip into my tone.
He chuckled, nudging my shoulder lightly. "Hey, you can't blame me. Didn't expect to have company this evening."
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside, standing side by side as it ascended. I could feel his gaze flicker, and then he unlocked the door, holding it open for me with a small, welcoming smile. "Make yourself at home."
I stepped inside, glancing around. The place was neat, simple, and surprisingly cozy, with soft lighting and a few personal touches scattered around—a couple of framed photos and a small potted plant on the windowsill.
He rubbed the back of his neck, a bit sheepishly. "It's not much, but… yeah."
"It's nice," I said softly, managing a small smile.
I followed him in, dropping my bag beside the couch and finding a comfortable spot on the floor in front of a small table. Settling down, I could already feel the tension in my shoulders easing a bit as I mentally prepared to dive into project mode.
Moments later, Aiden returned his laptop in hand. He chuckled as he noticed me sitting on the floor. "Oh, looks like you already found yourself a nice little setup there."
I shrugged, a slight smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah. The floor works for me."
He settled down beside me, placing his laptop between us, and we both got to work. Minutes turned into hours, and we were so focused that the silence between us felt natural, even comforting.
Suddenly, a loud grumble echoed in the room. I blinked, realizing the sound had come from my stomach. My cheeks flushed instantly. "Oh, God… I'm so sorry. That's… really embarrassing."
Aiden laughed, leaning back and stretching his arms. "Not at all! I should've offered you something to eat ages ago." He checked his watch, eyebrows rising in surprise. "Wow, it's already past 10 p.m."
"Time flies, I guess," I mumbled, still mortified.
He stood up, heading toward the kitchen. "I've got some ramen stashed away. Want some?"
I nodded, feeling both grateful and a bit shy. I followed him and settled on a stool at the counter, watching as he pulled out ingredients.
A small smile formed on my lips as I observed him. "I didn't know you could cook."
He glanced over his shoulder with a grin. "Hmm, there's a lot you don't know about me, but you're figuring things out, bit by bit."
~
Just as he said that, a pan slipped from his grip, clattering loudly onto the floor. I couldn't help but laugh. "Well, you're definitely one clumsy chef."
He laughed along, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not really. I've just got a… distracting view." His gaze flicked over to me.
I looked away, feeling my face grow warm. Did he really just say that?
Aiden turned back to the counter, rummaging through his ingredients. "Oh, by the way, I've got the spicy ramen, but I know you're not a big fan of spice. I'll add a bit of cheese to tone it down if that's alright."
I nodded, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. "Yeah… I don't usually like it too spicy, but I can handle it a bit."
"Are you sure you don't need any help?" I offered, half-standing.
He waved me off, smirking. "Nope. You're my guest, so just sit down and let me work my magic."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto my face. "Alright, Chef Aiden."
He glanced over at me, his expression softening. "It's nice to see you smiling. You've been pretty down in the dumps since I picked you up."
"Oh…" I looked down, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Sorry."
"Nah, it's fine. Not everyone can be smiling all the time. That'd be pretty creepy, don't you think?"
I snorted, amused. "But you're always smiling."
"Yeah," he said, pausing to look at me more seriously, "but that's because I found a reason to smile this big."
I tilted my head, considering his words. "Maya?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Aiden burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Raven, Maya's my sister. Of course, I'm happy around her, but the reason for my smile is… different."
"Oh… okay." I scratched my head, feeling awkward. "Is it because you're doing well at work or something?"
He laughed again, shaking his head in disbelief. "Something like that. But never mind, don't stress yourself trying to figure it out."
I frowned, trying to piece together his cryptic hints. **Is getting praise really what makes someone so cheerful? Maybe I need a job.**
My thoughts were interrupted as Aiden placed two steaming bowls of ramen on the counter in front of us. He slid one toward me with a mock bow. "Your meal, my lady."
I smiled, leaning over to take a look. "Why, thank you, Chef Aiden. This actually looks pretty good."
He smirked, crossing his arms as he watched me. "Looks are one thing, but taste is what matters. Go on, try it."
I grabbed the bowl, scooped a few noodles, and blew on them before taking a bite. The rich, savory flavor spread through my mouth, surprising me. "Wow, this is actually… good."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a feigned look of offense. "Actually good? I'm not that bad, you know."
I rolled my eyes, smirking. "Just take the compliment, Aiden."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're pretty mean when you want to be."
I softened a bit, lowering my eyes. "Sorry… it is really good."
He reached out, giving my shoulder a light nudge. "Hey, I'm just joking. No need to apologize."
We fell into a comfortable rhythm, eating side by side, the silence filled only by the sounds of slurping and the occasional chuckle as our shoulders brushed. After a while, Aiden took his bowl to the sink, rolling up his sleeves as he started washing the dishes.
I leaned back, savoring the warmth from the food and the cozy atmosphere. His voice broke my thoughts. "So, Raven… It's kinda late. Like, almost midnight." He turned around, drying his hands on a towel, a casual smile on his face. "I don't mind if you stay, actually."
I sat up a little straighter, hesitant. "Oh, no, I don't want to inconvenience you. The dorm building's not far. You could just drop me off if you really want to."
He tilted his head, that playful glint reappearing in his eyes. "You make it sound like you don't want to be near me." He smirked.
"Besides, you could stay in my room, and I'll take the couch. I don't mind."
I shook my head quickly. "Oh, no! I couldn't possibly do that. It's like… invading your space."
He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms. "Come on, I really don't mind. Besides, it means we can get more work done on the project. At this pace, we could be finished in… three days, maybe?"
I bit my lip, weighing my options, then nodded reluctantly. "Alright… but I'm not taking your bed. Please."
Aiden chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, if it makes you feel better, you can stay on the couch. I'll bring you some blankets."
I couldn't help but smile, watching as he wrapped up in the kitchen. "Thanks… really."
He flashed me a grin. "Okay, I'm done here. Not only am I a professional cook, but also a professional dishwasher."
A laugh escaped my lips, surprising me. "Is that so?"
He gestured to our little workspace. in my chest. I looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "Thanks, Aiden," I murmured.
He gave a small nod, his usual playfulness absent as he backed away toward his room. "Goodnight, Raven," he said, lingering in the doorway for a second longer than necessary.
"Goodnight, Aiden."
As he disappeared into his room, I settled on the couch, pulling the blankets over me and letting my eyes drift shut. Everything kinda seemed a little lighter in this quiet space.
And I finally let sleep take me.
~
Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room as I groggily sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep. The smell of something warm and delicious drifted through the air, making my stomach rumble.
I pulled myself out of bed and padded toward the kitchen, following the scent. When I stepped inside, I found Aiden at the stove, focused on a skillet in front of him. He glanced over his shoulder and offered me a small smile.
"Oh, you're up already," he said, looking a bit surprised. "Thought you'd sleep in a bit longer. Sorry if I woke you."
I shook my head, stifling a yawn. "No, you didn't wake me. I smelled something good and just… followed my nose, I guess. What're you making?"
"Just some scrambled eggs, toast, and pancakes," he replied, flipping a pancake with ease. "Figured it'd be a decent breakfast to start the day."
"Oh, nice," I murmured, my stomach rumbling again at the thought.
"Thanks… for all this."
He shrugged, turning back to the stove with a casual smile. "It's no big deal. I actually went down to the supermarket earlier to grab a few things for you. There's a new toothbrush and a face towel in that bag on the counter."
"I'm not sleepy yet. What do you say we see how far we can get with this project tonight?"
"Deal." I settled back down, feeling a surprising warmth in my chest.