Aaron turned away from me and to my parents.

"Well, I think I've took up enough of your time. I'll leave. Goodnight." He said, digging his hands into his pockets. He turned to the door.

"Wait!" Dad said.

Aaron turned and looked at Dad. Mom turned and looked at Dad. I turned and looked at Dad. And I'm sure as hell we were all thinking the same thing.

Dad didn't respond to any of our stares, but just looked at Aaron. "Follow me." He said and, with that, he and Aaron disappeared into the study.

*

_________________________________________

"I know you're telling the truth, Aaron. You were all along. It was him. He was was the dirty liar." I said, my voice laced with disgust. I didn't have to clarify who 'he' was. We both knew who I was talking about and, as that sentence left my mouth, Aaron stood up abruptly.

"How? Did he come talk to you? He didn't touch you, did he?" Aaron questioned, pulling me close to him.

I shook my head vigourously.

"Yes, he did come and no. He didn't touch me." I said.

Upon hearing my answer, Aaron pulled my face up.

"He did come? What did he say? Tell me." He said, his voice loud and urgent, but I wasn't going to tell him. He was angry and it wasn't right to tell him all this now when he was in this state. I'd probably have to wait when he was in a calmer state to talk.

I looked into his dark eyes, frowning before I spoke.

"I don't want to talk about it now. Please, I'll tell you later. Let's talk about something else." I pleaded

_________________________________________

"Yes, it was me. I brought you here." He said simply and I raised my hand sharply to slap him. However, it didn't reach its destination and was stopped-rather- by his tight grip on my wrist. He looked down at me with no expression as I tried pulling my hand away yet to avail. I was too weak at this minute of time.

He looked down at my hand as he spoke.

"Call me selfish, I don't care. I didn't bring you here for you or for anyone else. I did it for me and I'd do it again." He said, shrugging his shoulders indifferently.

I let out a small laugh, ushering him in.

"Erm, Justin, come in. What are you doing here?" I said all-too-cheerfully to which Justin raised an eyebrow. I mentally-cringed. If I were to succeed in fooling Justin, I would have to excuse myself for acting lessons because this was beyond pathetic.

Justin stepped inside, shutting the door behind him- something that I wish I had the sense to do.

"Don't change the topic, Alexis. What illness were you talking about?" His eyes darted from mine to my mothers who had remained mute since Justin's arrival.

I nodded, deciding it be best to rip the band aid off as fast as I could.

"Severe aplastic anaemia. I was diagnosed at 13." I said, shrugging indifferently, but inside I was in turmoil. I was afraid of his reaction.

The look of shock on Aaron's face seemed unextinguishable. I didn't know what he was thinking at that exact moment, although I wish I did.

The look of shock, however, vanished hurriedly into thin air and was soon replaced by a look of anger. Aaron moved closer to me sharply, rubbing a hand through his hair. Before I could question his behaviour, he spoke.

"Don't joke about your life like that, Lexi, I don't like it." He breathed, looking me in the eyes. I had to compose myself from melting from the close proximity.

I sighed, looking into Aaron's eyes and, with one long look, he knew I wasn't joking. He stumbled back, looking around frantically. I moved closer, trying to calm him, but he pushed me away.

"You're lying." He muttered, more to himself than me and I couldn't help the tear that ran down my cheek.

Justin looked down at the ground before settling his grey eyes on Aaron.

"You think I'd do that to you? Steal your girl?" Justin's voice was quiet yet his face was unreadable, as always.

The evident sadness in his tone didn't make Aaron falter. He was a man on a mission. He scoffed at Justin's words.

"Don't act so humble. I, of all people, know how 'saint-like' you are." Aaron said, putting emphasis on 'saint-like'. He tutted upon seeing the look of shock that crossed Justin's face for a split second, but it was quickly gone.

They both knew what Aaron was talking about. Justin had confided in Aaron about this information a few years back. After telling him, Aaron hadn't said anything besides a small spoken promise of never telling anyone else. They hadn't brought it back up since that day.

Well, that was, until now.

Raven scoffed, pulling Savannah closer.

"Don't 'hi' us. Get straight down the good stuff. Namely, how did you change the 'Emo King into your own personal lover boy, huh?" She said bluntly and I giggled at her choice of words.

Savannah blushed more before shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"Erm, he asked me out?" She said, softly, her words sounding more like she was asking a question rather than announcing it.

"Justin." I said simply, acknowledging him with a smile and he drew back before looking at me with his cool grey gaze.

"I heard you and Aaron went to a check up a week ago." He said bluntly, his face blank, but by now I could read his emotions. The concern was evident in his tone.

I smiled, shaking my head.

"No, I'm fine. I was unwell, so Aaron got really worried. Nothing was wrong. I'm all clear." I explained and he nodded his head, his gaze looking off into the distance. I tutted before touching his hand and he gazed at me at the sudden contact.

"Justin, I'm telling you I'm fine. Trust me." I consoled to which Justin looked back into the distance, his stance rigid. I knew what it was. After my operation, the doctor had said there was a risk that I would reject the bone marrow and I have been going to check ups since. Over the last few years, I had been going less frequently, but in this past month, the boys were worrying more because I had gotten sick.

Raven, on the other hand, was the least sweetest. Well, in the way she acted, but I knew she loved the deepest. Whenever Savannah, Raven and I hung out, it was always Raven who would get us into crazy situations. I remembered fondly about a time when Raven had spontaneously taken us to Las Vegas and we spent 4 nights out. She hadn't even told the boys and to say they were angry when we got back was an understatement. They were seething, especially after we told them where we had went. After that, the boys were extra cautious around her.

And, two additional ones on:

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