The sound of static suffocated my ear drums. And- my lungs started to hurt more than ever as it tried its best to grasp the new found air entering in my lungs.

I knew I wasn't dead- or at least, I thought I wasn't dead...

It took a while for me to open my eyes, but once I did... it blurred for a moment before I came to see... Tom.

He stared down at me... His dazzling blue eyes were sparkling as he staring down at me. I think my head was rested on his lap. When he saw my gaze on him, his blue orbs widened and his lips parted slightly. He then brought me up and into a close and engulfing embrace.

'Is this some weird dream?'

Either way- this hug is so warm... or, maybe that's my body playing tricks on me.

If so, what a cruel joke.

I'm not exactly sure what he was saying to me, because my focus wasn't on him anymore as I wished it to be.

Aiden was what I had my eyes on.

The black-haired male was sitting across the way from us, simply smoking a cigarette as he just stared down at the body of water he threw me into just a few moments ago.

My mind was boggled by his current actions.

Wouldn't he have stopped Tommy? Wouldn't he have pulled me away from him?

But, the more I stared at his expression... The more I found a blank slate of what once was there.

'So, this is real. I am still alive' , My mind officially concluded. 'Tommy is really hugging me...'

The warmth I was already feeling became more and more warmer- at least slowly. I'm not as numb as I thought I was...

I'm still drenched though. I may even get a cold or fever after a little bit...

Let's hope the wind is able to dry me.

To think this is all happening right now. Tommy being with me after something so traumatic? Him coming to my rescue like some knight in shining armor? This seems like something out of some fantasy story.

"Y/N...?" I finally was able to hear Tommy speak.

"Hmm?" I hummed in response, not looking away from Aiden.

"Can- Can you stand at all?" He asks, tone of voice quieting down.

"Yeah, I think so..." I replied.

Tommy stands up, and I was about to as well... But Aiden spoke out.

"Hey, before you two leave..." He begins to say, then turning his gaze to me, "Can I talk to you for a bit, Y/N?"

I was baffled by his suggestion for a split second.

I mean- the guy literally almost killed me and now he wants to small talk?

There really is something wrong with him.

In all honestly, I have little care in what he has to say to me. But- I do have to say, I am a little bit curious on how he'll say it after the shit he just pulled.

"Y/N" Tommy says, "you don't have to--"

"It's fine." I interrupted him, "He seems harmless now..."

"Harmless?? He-"

"Here" Aiden says, tossing over his bloodied pocketknife to him, it landing near his foot, "just take it if you're that worried about her"

Tom stared between me and Aiden for a long moment, still unsure if he wanted to leave me with the guy who harmed me. He really did looked concerned about this, but when I reassured him it will be fine, he distanced himself from the two of us. He went off to stand under a nearby lamp post.

Honestly, I was just curious.

He seemed like his usual calm self, from what I remembered anyways. So, I believe he wouldn't hurt me by any means... And just in case if he did, I made sure to keep my hand near the still open switch blade.

I stared at him intently, awaiting for him to speak.

But, all there was from him was silence.

He would occasionally take a puff of his cigarette and then blow out huffs of smoke. This was really the first time I've seen him smoke in a while.

Two years ago, he'd smoke whenever we were behind the school building... But, he stopped as of a year back. At least- in front of me. I would occasionally hear Luca talk about his smoking habits to me, but it's never like I really payed attention when she talked about it anyways.

After one more puff, he raised his head and stared at the sky above.

"I want you to call the police" he muttered out to me.

"Hmm?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You heard me. And I meant it." Aiden said, taking another puff of his cigarette.

There was a long bridge of silence, but then he let out a chuckle.

"...To think you're not even the slightest bit surprised that I want to be turned in"

I mean- I was a bit surprised when he suddenly said that. But was I willing to admit it out loud?

Fuck no.

This bitch just tried to drown me. I'm not giving him at least the least bit of satisfaction.

I don't want to talk to him. But, I do have a set of questions I wanted him to answer...

"You have a sister, right...?"

Aiden paused for a moment.

"Did Luca tell you about her?"

I shook my head.

"I've never seen or even heard of her before." I answered, "...But there was a girl at the convenience store who looks like you. So I'm assuming that's her?"

A small sad smile forms on Aiden's face.

With that expression, I didn't need any verbal answer from him. The look in his eyes even tells me all I need to know.

"...Thought so." I muttered out, "You wouldn't be out here just because you wanted to find me."

'At least- that's what I know from prior knowledge'

"So what about your sister? You left her there, right?" I question.

His expression gloomed for a moment, leading him to inhale another puff of smoke.

"She's going to be adopted soon"

"what?"

"Our parents said they don't want us anymore." He tells me, "So, instead of some random strangers, I asked Luca about taking care of her for me."

I gave him a look, the kind of look that expresses the words 'how and why the fuck would you do that?'. I mean- at least he's getting his sister into a better place. But still-

"She already talked about it with her father and he said yes." Aiden murmurs, "She'll be living with Luca after tonight."

"...Then- shouldn't you turn in yourself after taking her to Luca's?" I question.

After saying that, Aiden gives me an odd look.

'what's with that look? Isn't it a reasonable request?'

My god- this guy is delusional...

"I don't want me or Tommy getting involved with you anymore than we need to be." I tried to reason, "So do this at the very least for me."

A long moment of silence reached us once more.

The leaves rustling, the grass swaying, the water splashing, natures sound was all that filled my ears in the moment.

The more I listened to natures sound, the more irritated I started to feel.

'is he really not going to say anything?'

This eternity for waiting should've only lasted about five seconds...

Oh no... I'm feeling like a real brat right now. Fuck.

After 20 billion years, Aiden let out a sigh. His expression then starts to dead pan back to the water.

"..alright. I see your point"

"Good"

With that, I managed to take a stand after a slight stumble.

My knees were stinging so much. I feel like they'll burst any minute...

But, I need to get going.... With Tommy too..

"I know you won't ever forgive me. That much is obvious." Aiden continued to speak, placing his joint between his lips, "I don't even feel like I did anything wrong. I've never felt so numb before Y/N"

"I feel like nothing. I don't care anymore about anything. I just feel tired."

His eyes then glance back over to mine.

"Have you felt this way before, Y/N?"

All I did was stare back at him, my eyes more colder than ever.

This conversation should already be over with.

I don't need to talk to him anymore, I pretty much lost interest in talking to him...

Aiden seemed to notice my mood shift and started to smirk.

"...Yeah, okay. You want me to shut up. I'll stop trying then." He chuckles, "Goodbye, Y/N"

His whole act this time was truthful. He didn't want to waste my time and still respects me ever so much.

The only thing that has changed with him is the fact that all of his expressions and tones of voice were faked to make him seem more humane.

Maybe he wanted me to see that he is still a person, despite what he's done to show himself as a monster in my eyes.

I shook my current thoughts out of my head.

'I really need to get back'

So without another word exchanged, I slowly stride my way over to Tommy as confidently as I can possibly ever be.

And from what I could tell... Tommy's eyes were on me the entire time.

At least he's so much more considerate that I could have ever imagined...

"Let's go back to my house." I finally say to him with a smile on my face.

With enough persuasion, me and him walked back to my place....

...in complete and utter silence.

Fuck- why does things have to be like this? Like- again? ugh...

Or maybe he's just being quiet because of what just happened...

I really hate this silence.

But, maybe silence is the best thing for us right now.

Well, at least with the silence, I should be able to come up with a few lies that could possibly work. If they start questioning me about my whereabouts and I have no way to respond, I'd definitely would see myself getting grounded.

As dumb as it sounds, lying is a prison sentence in my household-- if you get caught that is. And that only applies to me, since I am the only child there.

The rest of the walk wasn't anything special. Once we arrived at my place and got to the front door, I stopped myself from opening it for a while.

I took a quick glance back at Tom and ended up seeing him look expectantly at me.

His pretty blue eyes...

Have they ever looked this pretty before?

--more needless ramble from my part. But I couldn't help the observation.

I'm completely infatuated with him.

"Tom..." I start to say, "...Don't tell anyone about what happen tonight. Okay?"

After a moment of processing the words, he gives me a little nod, and I nod back at him.

Once I turned the knob a bit more, the door started to open... which surprised me a bit- I really thought my parents already left...

As soon as the door opened fully, we were greeted by my dad.

His eyes widened and his face seemed to light up a bit upon seeing us both.

"Oh! You brought Y/N back, Tom. Who would've thought." My dad started grinning like an idiot, chuckling to himself.

But then, his expression got a little more serious and concerned.

"What happen, Y/N? and why did you take so long?" He asked me.

Good thing I thought up a response on my way here...

"The shortcut was closed off... And so I had to go the long way around." I told my lie, "Then I came to find out that the store was closed- so I wasn't able to get the bread. Sorry..."

"Hm? really? They should've been open tonight..." My dad muttered.

"Apparently not..." I shrugged.

Well... Now that we got that out of the way.. I need to remove myself and Tom from the situation before my dad notices my knees...

With that in mind, I took ahold of Tommy's sleeve.

"Welp, we'll be up stairs. Goodbye dad- see you and mum after work" I say, then hurrying both me and Tommy up stairs to my room.

"Okay- bye Y/N, bye Tom!" I heard my dad call out.

The steps were loud, but I didn't care much for noise anymore.

My legs were practically killing me, as long as I'm able to rest for a moment, I'll be alright.