"Hi, Jo," I greeted as I entered the house.

I'd just gotten back from school.

"Hey sweetie. How was your day?" she asked as we walked inside.

"It was alright," I said, trying to push the encounter with Aaron away from my mind.

"Where's Aaron?" she asked, looking behind me.

"Oh he just got a call, he'll be right here."

She nodded. "Okay, why don't you go freshen up while I make something for you to eat?" she suggested and I nodded eagerly.

I went upstairs and was just about to go check on Amanda enter when I saw that the door was closed. I guess she wanted some time alone.

I went to my room and freshened up a little before going back downstairs.

As I was going down the stairs, I saw that Aaron had already come back and seemed to be in a serious conversation with Joanna.

"She's coming here," Aaron said ,looking pissed.

"Aaron, it's alright. It's just for a few days, honey."

"I know but-" at this point, his gaze fell on me,"Well,I guess I'll manage," he said, still looking at me.

"That's like my boy. Now sit down, I'll get the food."

By this time, I'd reached downstairs and I was standing next to him.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Amanda's mom is coming."

"What?When?"

I had never met Aaron's stepmother but from what I knew of her, she didn't seem like a bad person. What was Aaron worried about ?

"Tomorrow. I had to tell her about Amanda's accident and now she's coming back."

"But..I don't understand.I thought you said she was nice?" I asked, still confused.

He sighed, slumping down on a chair."She's fine but the thing is even she doesn't care about us, about Amanda. Not really."

He paused,"So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want them to suddenly start pretending like they care."

I nodded slowly."I understand. "

"You do?"

Before anything could be said further, Joanna entered with two plates in her hands."Food is here," she announced and we went to eat.

I went to bed early that night. I was more tired than usual, for some reason.

Just as I slid under the covers, someone came inside without knocking.

"You're sleeping already?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm tired," I replied, yawning to prove my point.

"Okay never mind then."

"What?"

"Um, well we were just watching movies with Mandy so I thought maybe you'd wanna join us . But it's cool if you want to sleep. Good night," he said and walked out of the room.

I blinked. He wanted me to watch movies with him?

I got out of bed and went to Amanda's room where Aaron and Amanda were sat on the bed and Jo was sitting on a chair, all three staring at the T.V.screen.

Aaron's head snapped up and surprise was clear in his eyes when they landed on me. A small smile crept onto his face.

"Ashley, I thought you were sleeping," said Amanda, "Aaron,move," she ordered him and he moved closer to her so that there was space for me to sit on the bed.

I was now sitting next to Aaron.

"Well,I'm going off to sleep," Joanna announced, stifling a yawn as she got up a few minutes later.

Aaron chuckled beside me."Night, Jo."

"Goodnight, kids," she said and turned off the lights when she left on Amanda's request.

As we were watching the movie, Aaron shifted a bit, so that our arms were almost touching.

I was very much aware of our proximity.Trying not to think about that, I tried to focus on the movie instead.

Out of nowhere, Aaron took my hand in his and I almost yelped.

I looked at him in surprise. He looked at me too, the light from the television screen illuminating his face.

He didn't look away for a few seconds.

"Guys, I'm going to sleep," Amanda suddenly said,making us both snap our heads towards Amanda who had been watching the movie in oblivion till now.

"We're going to go too," Aaron said, getting up.

"Goodnight," I said, trying to concentrate on what I was saying rather than on the boy next to me.

"Goodnight," she replied and both Aaron and I left the room.

It was unusually awkward as we both walked in silence.

"Goodnight Aaron."

"Ashley..."

"Yeah?"

"I..." he paused for a while and shook his head,"goodnight. "

***

I groaned as the sun's rays fell right on my eyes.

Grunting, I finally sat up in my bed, rubbing my eyes.

I had some homework to take care of and- Oh my God, today was the day Amanda's mom was coming!

I groaned again.Why couldn't I have a normal lazy weekend?

I slid out of bed and went to the bathroom.

When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I winced.

My hair looked like a bird's nest. A very messy bird's nest, too.

No brush in the world could tame it. I decided to shower.

Half an hour later, I was downstairs, shoving Joanna's heavenly pancakes down my throat.

Amanda had been helped downstairs by Aaron and Joanna for the first time since the accident, because she had insisted on staying in her room. However, today since her mother was coming, she'd decided to come down.

She was sitting one chair away from me. Aaron, however was nowhere to be seen.

I remembered what had happened yesterday and my cheeks heated up. Lately, Aaron and I had been having too many "moments" and it was driving me crazy.

As I was finishing the last pancake, Aaron finally came downstairs, shirtless.

I repeat, shirtless.

I tried my best to avert my eyes from him.

God, he really wanted to kill me.

"Morning Ashley," he said, plopping down onto the chair between me and Amanda.

I didn't even dare to look at him again, let alone speak to him.

Why, oh why couldn't he have sat somewhere else?

"Good morning to you too," Amanda said sarcastically.

"I kind of already saw you when I was helping you downstairs, remember?"

"My bad," Amanda smiled sheepishly.

"More pancakes!" Joanna announced entering with a plate of the mouthwatering goodness.

I couldn't sit next to Aaron, though. I needed to get out of there before something else happened.

I pushed my chair back and was got up.I first went to the kitchen, to put my plate in the dishwasher.

After that, I reached to get a glass from the overhead shelf.

"Ashley?"

I stiffened.

Crap, why'd he have to come in here too?

I didn't turn around.

I heard his footsteps behind me, before I felt the warmth of his body next to mine.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Aaron murmured.

"I'm not," I managed to say.

What the hell was wrong with me?

"Really?"

"Did I do something,Ashy?"

"No! Of course not, Aaron," I said, turning around to face him.

Shit, I forgot he was still shirtless.

"What is it then?" he took another step towards me.

We were close now. Too close for my heart to not go batshit crazy.

Suddenly,we heard footsteps making him jump apart from me.

I, on the other hand seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.

***