Aidan

You and Aidan are a local war that never abates. If you weren't yelling at each other in the hallway, one of you was simply absent from school. Your squabbles became a local tradition, you traded such insults that your classmates have long since dubbed you a sweet couple. They say it's just one step from love to hate, and so on.

Today, you were in such a rush to get to your tutor that you left your notebook with your notes right on your desk. As luck would have it, your homeroom teacher noticed and, deciding to show her concern, handed it to Aidan, telling him to bring it home to you, since you lived in the same neighborhood.

You stumbled into the apartment that evening, barely able to move your legs. Your head was pounding, and all you wanted to do was collapse on your bed. But someone else's sneakers were sitting in the hallway. From the kitchen came your mother's cozy laughter and a low, velvety voice you'd recognize anywhere.

You walked into the kitchen and froze. Your parents were sitting at the table, as if nothing had happened, and across from them, lounging in a chair as if he owned the place, sat Aidan. Wearing a black sweater, necklaces, and a multitude of piercings, he looked far too calm.

"Oh, here she is!" Mom beamed when she saw you. "Daughter, why didn't you tell me before that you had such a little boy? Aidan is so polite, so attentive... And he brought your notebook!"

You froze, feeling the bag slowly slip off your shoulder. "What other... boy?" was all you could manage to squeeze out.

"Oh, come on, stop being modest!" Dad chuckled. "Aidan told us everything. About the notebook, and about how you two... got together so suddenly. We understand, it's just youth."

You looked at Aidan. The bastard slowly turned his head in your direction. He rested his chin on his palm, looking at you with his half-closed eyes that read, "I'm 1-0, princess." That same unbearable, lazy smirk played on his lips.

He paused, enjoying your shock, and then said:

“Don’t get so worked up,” he winked at you. “Someone’s just too crazy about me, right, darling?”