All it took was one look

Aiden

Senior year, the last year of high school but to me, it would be the last year of a four year long prison stay. No, it's not because I don't like the school work; actually I'm a straight A student. It's just a constant reminder of any problem.

I know this school like that back of my hand so that means I know the people. And I don't feel like being picked in and thrown in a dumpster everyday.

Why, you may ask am I scared of my fellow class mates?

Well... I'm not. I'm wary of what they might do to me when they find out I'm the big G.A.Y

Yeah, now you know my problem.

You could say I'm shamed of my sexuality.

My parents are the ones that tell me that I should be proud. Yeah can you believe that; I was shocked too.

Okay, okay I'm not totally ashamed, maybe I shouldn't use that word; here's a better one. I'm scared of it.

So here in an incognito, playing the straight guy in my anatomy class writing notes, being the awesome A student I'm. The teacher was ranting on and on about medical studied and whatnot and I was trying to keep up. This class was my favorite just because the medical field was what I was going to be involved in for my career for the future. Jeanine who I call J, my all-time best friend was annoyingly tapping her pen against the desk next to me which made me to snatch it and throw it across the room. I gave her a narrow eyed glare while she frowned at me.

I eyed the one suggestively hoping she would get the hint raising my eyebrows at it. Apparently not, since she mouthed "what" to me.

Rolling my eyes, I picked my pencil up and waved it at her.

"Oh" she mouthed and set her pen down.

"Finally" I said heaving a heavy sigh.

"Mr. Carlisle is there something you would like to share with the class?" Mr. Simon asked giving me a stern look. I shook my head and said a sheepish. "No" Jeanine giggled at me along with the rest of the class

Glaring at her I turned back to my notes grumpily. Why is it that I'm always the one who gets in trouble when Jeanine and I talk in class? Slowly I laid my head on my desk and ignored the rest of what Mr. Simon said basically because I knew it already.

I suddenly found myself dosing off, Mr. Simons voice was starting to become a low mumble when a huge banging sound erupted. My head snapped up to see what was happening but all I saw was two body's bursting through the door, practically breaking it down and tumbling to the floor. There was a collective gasp from the class with a few screams from the girls. Everyone quickly stood from their desks to see what was happening.

And of course I was the one who would be caught up in the fight since I was the one right next to the door. They roiled too close to my desk making it up over with me in it.

I hit the floor with a hard thump, then the pain came screaming in my wrist and head as the fight progressed next to me.

"Mr. Parker! Mr. Jacobs, stop this now!" Mr. Simons yelled at them while I was still struggling to untangle my legs from the desk.

"Aiden!" I heard Jeanine exclaim, I never had the chance to look at her before something hard hit my stomach causing the wind to be knocked out of me and my head to hut the floor again.

"I really needed to get up now!"

Again the person was slammed back into me, ruining any motivation to even move. I was waiting for it to happen again but it didn't. Everything was quiet now it maybe it was because I was trying to sort out my head. All I know was that I was having trouble seeing straight.

*****

The nurse's office smelled funny when I woke. I tried sitting up but my head was swimming and pounding so badly I decided that staying still was my best option.

I looked around.

"What am I here again? And seriously why does it smell so weird in here?"

"Aiden! Are you up?" Jeanine's voice sounded from behind the curtain.

"Yeah." She pulled it back with a small smile on her face.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked, taking a seat on the bed.

"Like hell. What happened?" I asked. I watched her face change drastically from shocked before taking on some sort of dark expression.

"Uh oh" I thought.

"You don't remember?" I shook my head. "No."

"Well, those stupid jerks came barging in the room in a huge fight, making you fall from your desk. You hit your head pretty hard. Are you sure you're not feeling woozy or anything?" Ignoring her concern, I asked who was fighting.

"It was Kyle and Liam," I starred at her side eyed.

"You're saying that our school star football players were fighting in our class and I got dragged into it?" She nodded.

"I'm lucky to even be alive right now," I exclaimed.

"Yeah. Mr. Simons had to break them up because he feared for your poor pathetic little life." She said with an evil smirk.

"Ha, ha very funny. It makes me feel so good inside that you care," I rolled my eyes.

"I know, you should feel honored. No but seriously I'm going to get the nurse to make sure you don't need some serious medical attention," with that I watched her disappear behind the curtain.

It didn't take long for the nurse to examine me and see if I was ok. So even she released me, she told me she called someone so I didn't ha e to walk home. She proceeded to give me instructions on how to take care of my head and wrist since I might have a mild concussion and I definitely had a sprain.

Jeanine walked me out and down the hallway outside; school let out ten minutes ago and I was glad because I had a major headache. As we made our way outside, J told me everything that went down in class since I missed most of it.

When we passed the principal's office, I suddenly heard raised voices. I had this cold sensation that was begging me to look through the rooms window so I gave in and saw the principal, of course, giving a very expressive lecture to non other than the hooligans that squished me.

Maybe it was just because he had this "look at me' type persona going in but my eyes especially trained in Liam. Well, his back and can I say what a nice broad back it was. His hair looked ruffled and crazy from his earlier fight but I had to say it was pretty exy from the back. I'm sure it was more so in the front. I never really seen Liam uo close and the famous star quarterback. But from what I heard, he was a total heart throb or whatever girls said about him. Me personally I never looked because I didn't want anyone to see me checking out dudes.

The abrupt tugging on my arm caught my attention.

"Aiden what's up? What's wrong?" Jeanine asked watching me with concern.

I shook my head, when did I stop walking? I was drawn to look into the window and notice Liam staring at me. He had a confused and shocked, almost angry expression. With a yelp, I moved from the front doors at a hyper speed.

He saw me staring at him!

Oh God now he thinks I'm a freak or worse, he knows I'm gay! He's going to tell and I'm going to be best friends with the dumpster for the rest of my senior year. I'm such an idiot.

Jeanine was staring at me weird, her dark brown eyebrows raised at me.

"What?" I asked innocently. "You know that top really compliments your skin tone." I said distracting her with the beet extreme gay fashion designer impression I've seen on TV, which always makes her smile. But really, she was wearing a light yellow blouse that went well with her light brown skin. It really did look good on her, even though I know nothing about fashion. I might be gay but fashion went over the head for me. If I could I would still have my mom pick my clothes in the morning.

"Uh huh, whatever. Your dad's here by the way," she said pointing to the Mercedes waiting in front.

"Crap, thanks,' I gave her a quick hug. "I'll call you later." I said slowly walking backwards towards the car. She shook her head, "I have dance practice so I'm going to be dead tired later."

"Oh alright. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." I opened the car door ready to slide in.

"Yep, feel better," she said.

"I'll," was the last thing I told her before closing the door. Buckling up, I tested my head against the head rest.

"What is this I hear about fight?" My dad said as he started to drive. "Are you hurt badly, I know the nurse called me and said you were knocked out but no need to go to the hospital," he said concerning giving me sideways glances.

"No dad, I'm fine. I just have a headache and I sprained my wrist." He nodded.

"K. We'll go to the stroke and get you a wrist brace and aspirin alright?"

"Okay."

*****

At dinner, I got a whole bunch of questions about what happened to me and answered them to the best of my abilities. My kim like always thought that a gay basher was always terrorizing me. Dad stayed quiet and just agreed with everything she said. It was really annoying. My fourteen years old sister, Connie was sneaking text messages under the table since phones weren't allowed at the dinner table. My parents think our generation is rulled by technology.

I know, crazy right?

My brother, Nash was out with his girlfriend like usual and since he went to the community college, he still lived with usm he hasn't yet heart what happened to me and I was hoping it stayed that way. Ever since I came out to my family, my brother has been the one to be the most protective.

Like this one time the family and I were over at my great grandparent's house for a family reunion. So Connie, Nash and I were hanging with our cousins and you know how everyone has a douche bag cousin. That guy who always put you down whenever you're feeling vulnerable. A straight up bukky if you were knew one. Well mine happened to be Brent. So any who, Connie accidentally let it slip out that I was gay at dinner. I mean she was only eleven. She probably didn't even know what that meant yet or thought it wasn't a big deal.

So like the douche bag Brent was, he made a huge scene saying it was disgusting and wrong. He then did something I least expected. He called me a fag. No one had ever called me that before and to be truthful, it was kind of traumatizing. I mean, if my own family didn't like who I was, how would everyone else take it. Bad, that's how. Nash's face had gone bright red as we all sat at the table shocked. My brother had shot to his feet so fast no one had time to stop him as he sockef Brent square in the face. As Brent crashed to the floor in his chair.

"Never say that to my brother again you piece of shit!" Nash exclaimed snatching Brent from the floor and that was when a full scale war broke out. My dad and his brother, Brent's dad were struggling to try and separate them.

I remember how afterwards everyone was arguing and pointing accusing fingers at me like I was the bad guy.

It took so much in me to keep from crying.

They told my parents to never gone back with me so my dad told them if I couldn't be a part of the family, then none of them would ever come back. He took my arm and walked out of the house with his dignity intact while mine crumbled and blew away with the particularly strong wing that day.

The second we arrived home, my father instructed everyone to go inside while he kept me out with him. I could still remember how hard it was to look him in the eyes at that moment

"Look at me Aiden," I shook my head to ashamed at what I was and there was no way he didn't feel that same. I was a disgrace and no matter how much he tried to put on this facade, to make me feel better, I knew I was a screw up of a son.

"You don't have to pretend," I whispered. " You don't have to pretend that you love me." The sob tore through my throat as I said those words and before I knew it I was suddenly drawn into a bone crushing hug. Too shocked to say anything. I just let the tears come, sobbing in his chest as his arms tightened.

"I'll never stop loving you. You're my son, Aiden and not a thing is going to stop this family from loving you unconditionally!" Putting me at an arm's length and for the first time ever I tear in my father's eyes. And just like the stubborn man that he was, he refused to let them fall.

"There were in the wrong, not you. And I swear that I'll never let them hurt you again. Do you hear me?" I stared at him unable to move or speak.

"Aiden, I need you to understand, tell me you do," I then nodded, wrapping my arms around him tightly.

"I love you, Aiden. More than you'll ever know," he said kissing my hair.

"I love you too dad."

That was the last time I had seen my dad's side of the family. My mom's side were more accepting so now we go there for reunions.

****

I put my fish in the sink and headed up stairs to my room. I didn't realize how tired I was till my head hit the pillow and I had gone out.

Aiden

It had been a couple days since I got squished under two football players, my headaches were gone now but my wrist hurts still. I had to write with my left hand and let me tell you, I such writing with my left hand. Everything came out in scribbles and it was not pretty.

I met J at the steps of the school; she was tapping away on her phone furiously. She was intently starting at the screen and hasn't even realized that I was coming towards her. So I did what any other best friend would do, I scared her. Sneaking slowly behind her, I reached out to grab her sides when he said, "Don't even think about it," while still tpaping away on her phone. My arms fell down in defeat.

"How do you always know?" Everytime I try, she always ruined it.

"Because I'm a ninja SON," she turned towards me and socking my shoulder harder than was necessary. Flinching, I backed away holding my shoulder and pouted. "Ow," I complained.

"Whatever," she said walking through the school front doors. I was about to follow her but something caught my eye. There was someone across the quad staring at me. Frowning, I squinted to see Liam of all people. Quickly, I chased after Jeanine into the school.

Weird!

Liam

Life for me had been awesome so far but yesterday was like a plane crashing to earth with me standing in its way.

It all started yesterday, my day was going splendid till Kyle decided to be the usual ass he was. I was making my way to my class, doing last minute reading for my English test when someone bumped into me roughly.

My book fell from my hands and I was slammed into the wall.

"Watch were you're going Parker," he snarled. That was all it took for me to snap.

A person could only take so much slamming into from one person that it would make you break. This was all that Kyle did, bump into me everyday just taunting me. And I have had enough of telling him to stop. I know what you were thinking, you should have done something a long time ago but I was really trying to get a handle on my self control.

You could say I have anger issues or a shirt fuse. And let tme tell you, being a werewolf and having anger issues was a very bad combination but I had been trying.

Kyle had hmbeen pushing me closer and closer to the edge but this time I was hurled over. That was when I broke out in a growl and body slammed him into a classroom door, breaking it down in the process. I punched him in the face but he retaliated fast and jabber me into the stomachx collided with a desk. We grunted together as he rolled on top of me.

I felt something soft under me and sparks were exploding across my back which stubbed the crap out of me.

Again, Kyle got the upper hand and punched my face. I was saved by the soft thing behind me from hitting my head on the floor but weirdly heard a grunt that wasn't mine.

"Mr. Parker! Mr. Jacobs, stop this now!' someone said, I assumed it was a teacher who was yelling at us but it was too late now. I was seeing red.

Taking him by the scruff off his neck, I started choking him out as I hopped to my feet and began pushing him into the wall. Repeatedly punching every inch I could reach with my free hand while I choked the air out of him. I just couldn't stop.

It was all a blur, my wolf was more in control then me and I was in the verge of changing in front of everyone in the class. I remember someone pulling me off of Kyle and pressed their forearm into my chest, keeping me from attacking again.

"Calm down Liam," a voice whispered to me in the ear but I couldn't tell who. All I could do was try and get control of my wolf.

"Kyle, get out!" The voice said.

"Liam, breathe." They pushed harder against my chest. "You need to get control." With a few deep breaths, I nodded.

Once I had a hold of myself, I realized I was out in the hall with a hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I noticed it was Mr. Simons, my uncle. Well, he was Elder to eeyibe who was a werewolf but to the humans, he was just a teacher, plain old Mr. Simons.

"Are you okay?" He asked giving me a once over. I nodded, taking another calm breath.

"I'm fine, Uncle Jim," I told him taking a step back from him.

"And this is how I ended up in principal Aider man's office watching him rant, but not listening.

"Do you know what you could have done? You could have exposed us all! And you Liam, you're the alpha's son. You should have known better. And you Kyle, why are you picking fights with your superior? The Beta and Alpha's son fighting? Ridiculous!" He shook his head at us.

I just stood there and stared at him.

"And,' he continued.

'Oh my god' I sighed.

"You hurt one of my students in the process! I can't believe our two star football players are acting like pups!" Pinching the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, I watched him slump down on his chair.

There was a shiver that quickly ran down my spine as we waited for him to speak once more when I suddenly felt eyes on my back. Slowly, I turned to find the most stunning sky blue eyes I had ever seen in my life. But what shocked me the most was they belonged to a guy. My heart had stopped all together and my breathing hitched just from the beauty of him.

Wait, beauty. Did I just call him beautiful? No, that can't be right, can it? What's wrong with me?

"Mate!" My inner wolf said.

"What? That can't be right! My wolf must be confused or something.

"Mine!" He said.

I knew that your wolf would inform you when his mate was close but this person was well... a guy. He was the same sef as me. This couldn't be right.

I was racking my brain trying to make sense of this. Have I been dropped off in some parallel universe?

I was brought back by the scared look that crossed his face before he ran off.

"Liam, Liam," I turned back towards Mr. Aidenman.

"What?" Looking back at Mr. Aidenman.

"Are you even listening to me?" He hissed. I shook my head trying to clear it which he took as an answer. I watched his face turn beat bright red.

"I'm calling your dad, let's see what he has to say about this!" He yelled picking up the phone angrily.

*****

After that I was suspended for two weeks and my dad forced me to join the band or whatever when I came back to school. He said I needed something less violent in my life so I had to join the music class. I mean I know nothing about music.

It was four in the morning on Wednesday and I was laying on my bed looking up at the ceiling, staring at nothing in particular. Just thinking about how my life had turned into a giant piece of crap. It had been a few days since the incident and I could think of was, "How could this happen? I'm not even gay!"

I had a girlfriend for Christ sake! I could feel my wolf string, growling at me. 'I know, I know' I said to him. Now that I have a mate, I guess that she want my girl anymore. But I mean geez my mate was a GUY. Not a nerdy girl that no one ever notices, not the bitchiest bitch on the plant that no one could stand, not even an ugly girl that only a mother would love.

No, no I was mated to a male, a dude, and human with a dick.

Okay, okay, I took a deep breath. I needed to talk to someone about this. I thought about asking my dad but I was worried what he would think of me. Then I thought about asking my mom because she was understanding but I just don't have the courage to come around to ask her. I just don't want their opinions of me to change. Ugh! Grabbing the pillow and smashing it into my face.

"I'm not gay," I whined to myself.

I stayed there for hours under my pillow, I need to do it. Quickly, I hoped out of bed, changing my clothes real fast and running out the door. My dad was just leaving for work and saw me.

"LIAM!" He called before I was even around the corner. I closed my eyes out of frustration before slowly turning towards him.

"Yeah?" I asked innocently.

"Yeah, where are you going?" He said mockingly. I rolled my eyes.

"Nowhere important," I muttered.

"Uhh and you're going off to nowhere in a hurry why?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"No reason, I can't be locked away in that room forever. I need air." Crossing his arms, he leaned against his car and stared at me, giving me one of his 'I am the Alpha and you'll tell me what I need to know' looks. Sighing, I said, "I need a run." He just looked at me with narrowed eyes before nodding.

"Alright, but be here before dark. Your mom needs your help for dinner. Jim's coming over with Darla and little Zoey," He told me getting in his car. I nodded and waited till he was out of sight.

Once he was gone, I went back to what I was doing. I pulled my phone out of my picked and saw I only had eight minutes.

I booked it down the street, when I arrived, I was looking franticly trying to find him. I skidded to a stop, searching furiously.

"Maybe it was a mistake," I thought hopefully.

After a few minutes, I finally found him and my heart stopped. My body was frozen as I gazed into his blue eyes from the sidewalk. I could feel my wolf jumping around and I sighed closing my eyes. There was no mistake in it. He was my mate but who was he?

*****

I was home from the ridiculously long run just before it got dark. My mum was in the kitchen rushing around the room.

"Hey mom," I said walking in to the kitchen.

"Hi baby," she didn't even look up from chopping some carrots.

"You need help?"

"Oh yes, I need you to chop these onions and carrot please," I nodded taking her spot. "Thank you honey."

"Yeah." It was quiet for a while, the only sound was the rhythmic beat of the knife hitting the chopping board and my mom making clanking sounds with her beating the spoon against the pot. After a few minutes, she interrupted the silence.

"Honey, is everything okay?" She asked turning to me with a concerned frown on her face. Raiding a brow at her, I shook my head.

"I'm fine, what makes you ask that?" I lied. Am I that obvious?" Shrugging she went back to her pot if whatever it was, I sniffed the air, chicken m

"Well, you've been distracted a lot lately and I know you just got suspended, so I've been thinking it was that but I'm not sure. Are you sure you're alright?" I smiled. Mom always knew me so well.

"No mom, I have been thinking about football and how I'm missing a lot of practice; our first game is in a couple of weeks," She nodded before going to do something else. With the vegetables chopped, I went to set the table and just as I was setting down the last utensil, I heard the door open, voices carried into the kitchen. My dad was home, along with Aunt Darla and Uncle Jim. I moved towards the living room where there were and was tackled into a huge hug.

"Liam!' Chuckling, I lifted Zoey up in my arms and gave her a bug smacking kiss on her cheek.

"Zo-zo," I said, "look at you. You're getting so big, I can hardly lift you up," I pretended that she was heavy and started to sink to the ground. "My goodness, Zoey, I... can't... do... it!" She let out a scream when I dropped her for a second before catching her and throwing her in the air. Her screams changed to giggles.

"Stop it!" She laughed. Chuckling, I set her down as I turned to Aunt Darla.

"Hey Aunt Darla." I said giving her a hug.

"I doubt anyone can lift you above their head much less two inches off the ground with your belly size of Jupiter, Darla. What are you? Twelve months?" My mom jokes coming in to the room and giving her a hug.

"Eight, thank you very much and he could have at least tried to prove I'm not that heavy," she said wiping a pretend tear away.

"Uh-huh, I don't want you breaking my son," Mom said blocking the playful slap heading her way

"You're evil, Nancy!" I moved over to Uncle Jim who was conversing with dad.

"Liam, how you been?" He asked me.

"Good, I guess," I said taking a stand besides my father.

"Oh yeah, I have your homework; it's in the car," I nodded.

"Cool, thanks," Jim and dad went back to whatever they were talking about while I played with Zoey until mom and Darla called everyone to the table for dinner. I was getting up to follow when I felt someone grab my arm, pulling me back. I turned to see Uncle Jim there, watching and waiting for everyone to leave before speaking. I frowned at him.

"What's it?" I whispered to him confused. He shook his head and put a finger to his lips as he dragged me in the hallway.

"Something is different with you, what's happening?" My eyes widened, how the hell did he do that? I haven't even seen him since the fight.

"I don-"

"Don't lie to me Liam!' he hissed quietly to me. I bit my bottom lip and stared at him. "You may be able to lie to your parents but it won't swing with me.".

I opened my mouth to say something but it wouldn't come out. I mean how do you tell your uncle and elder that you're mated to a guy when you're also a guy? What if they decided I was a disgrace and banished me from the pack? I was next in line for Alpha and my mate was a guy. I don't think the pack would accept that. I growled at the thought of the pack shunning him away. Jim was patiently waiting for an answer and I couldn't just lie to an Elder.

"I'll tell you after dinner," I said ready to leave until he grabbed my arm preventing me from moving.

"No. You'll tell me now," he demanded. I shook my head. I wasn't ready to say it out loud yet. "Yes Liam," he pushed. I stared into his brown eyes seeing the concern but stern look. Sighing in defeat, I answered.

"I found my mate," I muttered. He looked shocked at first, then confused.

"Well, if you found your mate, then why are you ashamed to tell us about her?" He asked me. "This is a good thing! This means that all you gave to do us tell your dad and we can have your Alpha ceremony soon, you know he has been waiting to give you the position for a while now." I shook my head.

"He won't want to do that now," I told him, not making eye contact with him.

"What do you mean? Do you think he won't approve of her?"

"I know he won't accept my mate," I said purposely using my instead if her. Uncle Jim caught it.

"What's it?" He asked.

"Liam?"I heard my mom call.

"Can we just drop it?" I begged him, pleasing with my eyes.

"Liam, you're going nowhere until you tell me what the problem is."

"Come on Uncle, please," I couldn't just do it.

"Now, Liam!" He exclaimed.

"My mate's a guy!' I blurted out. "Ugh, happy?" With that, I left him standing there in disbelief as I took my seat at the dinner table.

Aiden

I couldn't get his face out of my head. Those hazel eyes kept haunting me every minute of the day since morning. It made no sense. Why would he be staring at me? I found out he was suspended today so it was weird he would be at school just to stare at me. Maybe he was planning my death for me staring at me yesterday like a love sick puppy.

He thought I was a freak and he was going to tell the whole school. I knew it.

I just started banging the back of my head against the locker. It was lunch time and I waiting for J to come meet me.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jeanine's voice interrupted my personal punishment for being an idiot. "I don't think potential doctors can afford to lose any brain cells and at this rate you're going, you're going to have about one, if you're lucky."

"Jayyy!" I whined to her burying my head on her shoulder. She awkwardly stared to pat my head.

"Don't tell me there's a girl crushing on you," She joked.

"No, it's worse," I cried straitening up to look at her. She hooked her arm with mine and began to drag me to the cafeteria.

"Aww. Well you can tell me all about it while I get some food for my stomach before I die from starvation." Once we got our food and were seated, I began banging my head on the table.

"So what's got your thong up your crack?" I picked up my head to glared at her. She giggled and faked an innocent expression as she used her hand to cover her mouth. "My bad, I mean boxers."

"Ha-ha, you're so funny. No it just w-" before I could say more, Eric, my other childhood friend cane sitting with us. I still hadn't told him I was gay yet; I didn't know how he would take it. I wanted to tell him. I didn't just want to lose him as a friend.

Hey dude, dudette, how's life my peeps?" He said, taking a seat across me.

"Eric!" Jeanine shrieked excitedly.

"J!" He mocked, throwing his hands in the air.

"Don't be a jerk, douchebag," she said sternly but couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"Hey Eric," I said, reaching over, giving him one of those guy handshakes.

"Man Aiden, what happened to your hand?" He asked eyeing the wrist band.

"Oh yeah-"

"Aiden got smashed by two football players," Jeanine blurted out with a secret grin on her face.

"What?" He said, his eyebrows raising to his hairline. "Dude."

"Thanks J, yeah, that's pretty much it," I said. I don't know how didn't know, yet it was all over school.

"Well, damn, what did you do? Call then meat head or something," he snickered.

"No, actually we were in class and the door just burst open and in came Kyle and Liam going at it. They collided with Aiden's desk and down he went. The teacher had to pull the dumb jocks apart before they killed Aiden in the process because they didn't even notice him," Jeanine good him while I looked down at my tray, moving a long pea around.

"Man, that blows. You were invisible to them," he said, keeping a laugh in.

"Aww man, I had to go visit my grandma in Alaska. ALASKA DUDE! I was freezing my balls of our there. I seriously had to check if they were still attached to my body every hour, man!" Both J and I were trying to hold in our laughter and I was sticking it in there and I was sticking in there till J spat her water out on the table which caused us to burst out laughing. She was clutching her stomach and leaning on me for support.

"W-well God... forbid... you... lose... your p-precious... BALLS!" J said between chuckles.

"Haha, laugh all you want but I'll like to have little Eric's running around one day!" He scowled stabbing his potatoes angrily but it only made us laugh harder.

By the end of the school, J and I were sitting on the front steps, munching on a bag of chips, waiting for our rides. Eric had gone to talk to his swimming coach since he missed a whole bunch of practices. So we were watching the students walk by and interact with each other. Yeah, when you're bored, anything can be amusing.

"Hey. You never told me what was bugging you earlier," she said turning to look at me. Oh crap, I thought she forgot. I really don't want to tell her I have the hot's for the hottest 'straightness' guy in school and he caught me stalking him with my eyes.

"It's not important." she furrowed her brows at me.

"Are you sure? Because you were freaking out earlier," she put a reassuring hand on shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze. "You know you can tell me anything. I'm here for you. Always."

"Yeah, I know."

"Good. So when are you going to tell Eric about you because I'm tired of tip toeing around him." I looked everywhere but her eyes.

"I don't know... one day." She raised her eyes at me and pushed her lips out a little giving me her usual sassy attitude... I loved it.

"Am I going to have to 'guuurrlfriend' you?" She told me.

"Break out of your shell J," I said laughing.

"I'll." She opther mouth to say more, her finger was pointed in my face but a rude honk interrupted her. I twisted behind me to see my brother's car. I turned back.

"Well, we are gonna have to save this attitude for later, I'll see you on Monday," I said giving her a hug.

I slid into the car and greeted my brother.

"Hey," I said as I buckled my seat belt.

"What's up little bro?" He greeted back ruffling my hair in the process. Swatting his hand way I fixed my hair, I hated it when he did that. "So how was school?" He asked tried to make causal conversation.

"Good I guess. Did you have class today?" He shook his head.

"Nah, I hung with Cassie all day," he said, Cassie being his girlfriend. I nodded.

"That's so cool so do you know what moms making for dinner?" He shook his head, keeping his eyes on that road.

"Nah bro. I haven't been home today.

"Then how did you know I needed a ride?" I asked looking at him.

Nash and I looked nothing like. He had short dusty brown hair that he styled in a messy way. While mine was long, jet black and I styled it to swoop to the left. He was tall while I was pretty short for my age. I favoured my dad more than more mom, where Nash favoured mom. His cheek bones were high just like mom, well dad has pretty high cheeks too. Connie our sister was the one that got mom's gold locks along the high cheek bones. But we all share mom's blue eyes. My dad was the only one with brown eyes.

"Mom called me to come get you, dad's still in a meeting and mom's stuck in traffic."

"Oh... And Connie?" I asked looking out the window watching the scenery pass by quickly.

"Uh, I think she's at home. If not, probably at her friend Jennifer's house."

"Mm."

When we pulled into the drive way, I hopped out and walked up to the door pulling out my keys, unlocking the door. I went straight to my room throwing my book bag in the corner; dropping down on the bed I pulled my shoes off, stripped and went straight for the bathroom.

I took a much needed shower and while I was in there, I was able to think about the one thing that has been on my mind and I just can't quite get out of my head.. Liam.

Why can't I stop thinking about him?

I mean I have been in that school for four years and I have never really paid attention to him. He was never important to me but now he's all I think about.

"Ugh stop!" I screamed at myself. The water was turning cold but barely noticed.

His hazel eyes were beautiful; if you could call a man's eyes beautiful. No tha wasn't even appropriate. They were gorgeous. I just wanted to gaze into them all day, every day. Then there was his perfect dark eyebrows and kissable full lips, his beautiful tanned skin and built figure. Jeez! He played football for goodness sake. He was the perfect male specimen. I wonder what he would feel like on top of m-

"Aiden!' There was a bang at my bathroom door rudely throwing me out of my fantasies.

"Aiden, quit using all the hot water! There are other people in this house too, water buffalo!" Connie yelled from the other side.

Oh right. I was still in the shower.

I shut the water off and grabbed my towel. I wrapped it around my waist and went back into my room to get dressed. I put my wrist band back on; it hurt still but not as much. Heading down stairs, I could smell my mom's cooking, she was making spaghetti. She made the best spaghetti ever!

My stomach growled ferociously in anticipation as I walkrd in to thr kitchen.

"Oh hello Aiden, Did you have a nice day at school Hun?" She asked and I nodded as I took a seat at the table that my brother was already occupying along with my dad. Man, how long was I in the shower for?

"Well, it's good to see you didn't drown. We were worried that we lost you," my dad joked, putting down one of his files and picking up another, sparing me one glance with a smile. He was a big time lawyer and was on a big case this week. Something about a young woman murdered, who was pregnant. I think his client was the guy who was accused. My dad was one of the best lawyers Portland had to offer heck the state had to offer. He buried himself in his cases till he can prove his client's innocence. I know it took alot in him, after every case he was dead tired but he never complains. Just says he loves his job.

"Yeah, I'm still here," I muttered.

"So Aiden, are those boys bullying you again?" My mom said out of the blue. I gave her an ',Are you crazy' look.

"When was I being bullied?"

"Bullying? Who's bullying Aiden?" My brother asked tightly. I looked at him. He was frowning and tense as he waited for an answer, looking from mom to me. I shook my head.

"I don't know what she's talking about," I told him truthfully, I mean, I would sure as hell know if I was getting bullied.

"There's no need to lie Aiden, don't try and protect them. If they're messing with you, we need to know so we can put a stop to it." My mother scolded me waving her red saucy wooden spoon at me.

"Oh gosh!" I muttered, shaking my head in defeat. She'd done it now, she was going to make Nash go on rampage, trying to find non-existent bullies.

Nash was staring at me, his face was slowly turning from concerned to livid. I sighed and hit my forehead on the table with a groan.

"I'll not tolerate gay bashers terrorizing my son!" Mom said, her voice rising with rage. I closed my eyes.

When will this torture end, I cried silently.

"Aiden, are you getting beat up at school?" Bash asked swiftly, standing knocking his shaur to the floor. "I'll pick everyone one of their worthless asses! Tell me their names and I'll end this right now." Nash was fuming and my mother was actually agreeing with him, nodding with encouragement for him to go kill fake bullies.

Why was my family so weird?

"Dad!" I whined at him for help but he was just sitting there amused. Well, he was no help.

"No, there are no gay bashers for the millionth time and no I'm not being bullied Nash so calm down, jeez," I said to him hoping he'd listen because I knew once he was riled up, nothing could get through at him. And it didn't.

"No man, if you have kittle ounks after you Aiden, you better tell me now. No one messed with my little brother and gets away with it!" He exclaimed.

"Exactly Nash, you protect your little brother. No one is going to hurt him!" Mom was practlay his one woman cheering squad as she jumped up and down waving her spoon in the air.

"Mom seriously, quit egging him on!" I whined.

"I'm not egging him on. I'm just agreeing that we need to keep you safe honey," she said to me.

"Oh my god! I'm going to my room!" I said, quickly leaving this freak show but I turned once to give Nash a narrowed eyed look. "Don't even think about following me," I growled.

Collapsing face first in the bed, I groaned. Why can't I have a normal family?

After that, I stayed in my room, the rest of the night, u texted Connie to bring me a bolw if spaghetti and a soda which she did thankfully because I was making earthquakes with my stomach growls.

Once u was satisfied and full, I waited till I knew everyone was in bed to creep down to the kitchen and wash my dish away. I was about to go back upstairs when I saw small circular beans of bright yellow through the kitchen window in the backyard. I focused on the trees but found nothing.

Weird, I thought as I closed the blinds just to be safe. Shaking my head, I went upstairs and want to bed for a much needed sleep.