Call It In The Air

[monkeysmoke]

This has become a two part chapter because its starting to become really long, so sorry if it ends a bit abruptly

Chapter 8

"Maybe we should come back another time" Kirsty suggested, already walking back down the path, away from the house.

"Just lemme try once more" Miles insisted, having had to coax Kirsty all the way from the house trying to prove to her that this was an idea. He feared that if Aden didn't answer now, he would never manage to get her to come and visit him again. He knocked loudly this time, harder and more forceful than the previous 4 attempts.

"Miles I really don't think he's here, and if he is, he's made it clear he doesn't want to answer, so can we please just go!" Kirsty whispered at him.

Miles stared willingly at the door for a few seconds before sighing, "Ok" Miles acceoted dejectfully, making a move away from the door. As he did so they both heard the door click, they turned to see it slowly open, to reveal a shattered looking Aden leaning against the doorframe, a menacing, displeased look over his face.

Miles tried to ignore Aden's obviously foul mood, riding over it with a cheerful "Hey Aden! " he grinned stupidly at him, waiting for another voice to end the silence. He daren't look back at Kirsty, although he could feel her body tense up behind him.

Aden looked between them, Miles stood with a fake grin plastering his face. Whilst Kirsty stood a little further back, Ollie resting on her hip; she looked frozen, as though she had become stuck in time, her eyes staring at the ground. As he looked at her she lifted her head to meet him, as though she could sense his eyes upon her. She seemed to become nervouse under his gaze, playing with her hair and fiddling about with positioning Ollie in her arms.

"What do you guys want?" Aden heard himself ask gruffly. He felt a strange sense of regret that it had not been, as he had suspected, Belle knocking at the door. He had dreaded having to face her again after how vulnerable he had felt and still partially felt before, with the painting, but he had convinced himself that despite yelling at her to leave, she would come back. He realised now how foolish a notion that had been.

"Oh, well, we just came to see how you were really" Miles informed him cheerily, ignoring the get lost signals pouring off of Aden.

"But we can see this is a bad time so..." began Kirsty, backing away from the porch as she did so, eager to escape.

Aden looked at her, and then let his eyes trail down to the child in her arms. Ollie. He felt himself soften as he watched the child play about with the tassles on Kirsty's blouse. He felt a duty towards him now, as though he were a part of himself. "No its alright, come in"

Miles didn't give Kirsty a chance to respond, knowing she would make further excuses and go. "Great!" He added, as they followed Aden into the dimly lit living room, giving Kirsty a gentle shove forward as he did so. He watched Aden shuffle awkwardly back towards the sofa, letting himself fall into the seat. "You know Aden, I don't think there has been a time I've known you when you haven't had some form of injury."

"Are you alright?" Kirsty asked, placing Ollie down in the armchair so she could direct her attention at Aden.

"I'm fine" Aden replied curtly. They had swapped roles ever so suddenly, now Aden was the one who felt uncomfortable under her gaze.

"You don't look fine" She stated bluntly.

"Well thanks for your opinion"

"Where's your dad?" She asked, ignoring his sarcasm

"Out" He replied, looking up at the clock; 7 o clock, his dad had been gone for at least 3 hours that Aden knew about, although he had probably left as soon as Aden had walked out the door for school in the morning. He felt nervous. Since the operation him and his father hadn't spoken about anything, they had just been avoiding the issue, which had been fine with Aden because his dad had seemed to be trying to quit drinking, and that was enough. He started to feel nervous, what would he do if his dad came home drunk? He didn't think he could go back to living that way again. He didn't even know if he could live with him sober yet, if he was still on the booze it would be unbearable.

"He left you here by yourself?" Kirsty asked incredulously, looking at the state of him. How could Larry just leave him like this?

"So what? I'm not a child" Aden defended angrily. He didn't really know why he was defending him, but he just felt embarassed by her scrutiny.

"But you're still recovering. You shouldn't be left alone!"

"I'm fine. I'm back at school, back to normal" He mumbled the last part, knowing full well that nothing really felt normal anymore. He was starting to wonder whether it ever had, or whether he'd just been pretending that it was.

"you're not fine look at you!" Kirsty shouted.

Miles looked at her, she sounded so angry. Miles had to agree that Aden wasn't excatly as fully recovered as he was trying to make out, but he seemed fine that his dad had gone out. He didn't get where all the anger at Larry was coming from.

"Well thanks for your opinion. Did you actually want something or did you just come here to have a go?"

Kirsty sighed, trying to concentrate. She felt like her emotions were spiralling out of control, giving her away. She needed to stay calm. "I'm sorry, I'm not having a go I'm just worried. Larry should never have let you go to school like this" She began again her voice rising.

"You know its really none of your business so if you don't mind...." Aden began, trying to raise himself up

"I do mind!" Kirsty yelled at him. Aden stopped and looked at her, confusion filling his face.

"Actually, Aden we just came by so that Ollie could come and say hi" Miles interjected quickly, trying to diffuse the rising levels of anger between the pair.

Aden and Kirsty both looked at him, and then at Ollie, who sat, surveying the scene with curiosity from where he was perched on the chair.

Miles walked over to Ollie and scooped him up from the chair "Didn't you mate? You wanted to come see your very own superman" Miles said to him, his voice rising an octave. He placed Ollie down so that he sat on the sofa next to Aden. The tot accepted his new position happily, looking at over at Aden.

Aden gave him a soft smile but looked away all the same, unable to accept the status Miles was giving him.

He felt a small hand reach up and touch his face. He looked over at Ollie, absorbing his innocence.

"He really is please to see you" Kirsty admitted honestly, watching the pair.

Aden didn't respond, his eyes still fixed on Ollie. He had often wondered if by giving Ollie his kidney he was somehow infecting him with the horrors of his own past. He knew tha logically and scientifically this was ridiculous, but part of him wondered if he had somehow ruined the child by doing this for him, even if it had saved his life. He had also wondered if it was worth saving a life if it was plagued by those awful memories, although he never let himself answer that last question, scared of what he might say. Looking at Ollie now, he knew he felt connected to him in a way he couldn't really explain, he just hoped that that wasn't the reason behind it. He pushed the thought away.

"Can I get you guys a drink or anything?" He asked, finally looking up at Miles and Kirsty.

"How about I get em?" Miles offered "I realise, Aden, that you are indeed superman, but please, just indulge me this once and stay seated will you?" he added as he caught the pride wounded look on Aden's face. He didn't give him a chance to answer as he walked into the kitchen, figuring that it would be good for him and Kirsty to talk alone for a bit too.

Kirsty felt herself tense up as soon as Miles left the room. There were no observers now, which made the truth seem so vibrant in her mind. This is my brother. We are related. The thought consumed her to the point where she couldn't speak, unable to trust herself not to say it out loud.

They sat in silence for a long time, neither knowing what to say to the other. Aden kept his eyes focused on Ollie, whilst Kirsty let hers wander around the room. So this was where her mother lived, where she should have lived. "This is a nice house" She commented.

"It was a nice house" Aden replied, looking around himself. The green wallpaper was tattered and curling at the sides. The carpet was a dirt brown colour, originally it had been cream. Or at least he thought so, he couldn't really remember. No one had decorated the house since his mother was alive, when her and his dad had done it together.

"Whose that?" Kirsty asked, noticing a photo of a young man on the wall. The photo next to it was obviously Aden when he was much younger, but the other boy was unfamiliar to her.

"Thats my brother Justin" He replied casually, staring up at the photo.

"Oh, I never knew you had a brother" She commented, she felt her insides twist up. So there was more. She had to know, find out as much as she could. "Where is he?"

"Prison" Aden replied flatly, looking away again.

"Oh"

"You got any?" Aden asked, trying to change the subject. He didn't like to think of his brother. He hadn't seen him in years, and he didn't really want to.

Kirsty cleared her throat "Yeah a few" She felt her hands become clammy as they began to shake. This was dangerous territory.

"Do you get along?"

"Not really" She replied, focusing on Jade. She wasn't her sister, and they didn't get along, not anymore, but they were still there for each other. It was weird.

"Me either" Aden replied.

"Right" Miles interupted, entering the room holding a tray full of tea things. "I didn't know if you guys wanted sugar or anything so I just put it in a pot"

He watched them both staring at him "Oh god I sound like Irene" He commented placing the tray on the coffee table to the side of the armchair. He handed Kirsty and Aden their mugs before taking a seat.

"So...." Aden began, taking a slurp of tea "Whats the deal with you two anyway?" He asked, eyeing them up.

"Mmmmmm?" Miles asked innocently

"Y'know, are you guys together?"

"No!" They both yelled simultaneously. It made Aden jumo so hard he spilt some tea down his t shirt.

"I mean, no, were not together" Miles began, more calmly "Well, not really anyway, we sort of were, but then...."

"Ah I get it, friends with benefits say no more" Aden grinned cheekily

"No!" They both yelled at him again.

"What Miles is trying to say" Kirsty said, glaring at Miles "Is that we don't really know what we are yet"

Aden nodded slowly to himself. "Right right"

"Anyway lets change the subject" interupted Miles hastily, his face a crimson red

[LAURZY!]

That was such a good chapter! I dont think it ended too abruptly at all

The ending was brilliant, it had me smiling, nice to see Aden can be relaxed and his old cheeky self around them

The connection you wrote between Aden and Ollie was really sweet

I hope Aden and Belle talk soon!

Looking forward to more

[Taniya_K]

That ending was very funny, and a very good way to end after the tense chappie.

Once again, FANTASTIC CHAPTER! I loved how you described everyone's uncomfortableness [is that a word? ] and thoughts about everything. Especially Kirsty about Aden being her brother, and Aden about giving his kidney to Ollie, and about his father and the past. Too good!

Cannot wait for more, as always!

xoxo

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 8 continued

"...and that's pretty much it really. I mean obviously thats not it, I'm just giving you a general outline of the plot. There is far more aspects of it to discuss, I mean, how about the fact that Tolkien created a whole different world, a whole different language in which to base his story? There are so many things to discuss about his mental state" Miles proclaimed, his hands gesiculating wildly as he sat in the armchair opposite Aden.

"I think there's quite a few things to discuss about yourmental state Miles" Kirsty remarked, shifting about from her cross legged position on the floor below him, stretching out her legs that had become stiff from the amount of time she had sat there.

Miles looked at her as though she were an alien "You seriously don't find it interesting that a man created this world out of his own mind? It doesn't fascinate you to think about how his mind works, whether he was a literary genius or just completey crazy?"

"No, but I'm starting to think your completely crazy" She retaliated.

Miles choked back a laugh at her, genuinely shocked by your response "What? Aden, mate, you can't possbly agree with her do you?" He asked, turning to look at him from across the room. It was only then that he noticed the boy was fast asleep, his head lolled to the side, with Ollie sleeping soundly beside him, his head resting on his leg.

Kirsty laughed "I think thats a yes don't you?" Kirsty smiled up at him, amused.

Miles, looking bashful, mumbled "He's probably just worn out, you know, from the operation and going back to school and everything"

"Yeah, I'm sure he always goes to sleep at" Kirsty began, glancing at the clock "Oh my god! It's half 8!" She stated, shocked "Miles you've been rambling about goblins for an hour!" She told him accusingly.

"I wasn't just talking about goblins...." He stated defensively. "I was talking about the psychological state of the..."

"MILES!" Kirsty shouted at him, unable to cope with another lecture. Her voice was so loud it shook Aden out of his slumber, and he came to with a start.

"Kirst, you just woke him up" Miles told her

"Thanks for stating the obvious" she shot back, turning to face Aden "Aden, I'm so sorry, we've been here for ages. We'll go, let you get some sleep" she told him, her voice softening.

Aden shifted his body so he was sitting further up "hey" he replied, clearing his throat "no worries, sorry I fell asleep"

"Don't worry, I almost did myself" Kirsty replied, lifting Ollie gently from his seat, trying not to disturb him.

"Hey, it wasn't that bad"

Aden and Kirsty looked at each other

"It wasn't" He protested.

"Miles, it was about as bad as your hairdo" Aden told him flatly.

"My....what's wrong with my hair?" Miles asked

"Well nothing I guess, if your a toddler. Tell me Kirst do you always go for guys who sport the same fro as your son?" Aden asked her cheekily

Kirsty looked at Miles and Ollie and laughed, noticing the resemblance.

Miles pulled a curl from the front of his head and began inspecting it "We don't do we?" He asked, self-consciously.

"Well, it is kind of similar" Kirsty admitted kindly "But he's not my guy Aden! Like I said, we don't know what we are yet, do we Miles?" She asked, looking over her shoulder at him. He had moved over to the mirror to get a better view of his hair.

"mmmm?" Miles asked distractedly "Oh no course not dear" He answered thoughtlessly.

Aden gave her an unconvinced smile, but didn't comment further.

As they stood there they heard the door open. They had been so busy talking they hadn't heard the person approach the front of the house. Kirsty, who was standing closest to the door, turned, with Ollie resting peacefully on her shoulder, to see Larry stumble into the house and towards her, his eyes boring into her. She was too in shock to speak.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He hissed at her accusingly. She felt the smell of whiskey overpower her as he said it, and knew he was drunk.

"Dad!" Aden yelled at him, embarassed and shocked by his threatening tone, though the drunkeness he had expected.

"Larry I..." She began, unsure what to say to him.

"I don't want you here. I thought I made it clear you're not welcome!" He slurred at her.

"Dad what the hell are you doing?" Aden asked, raising himself off of the sofa.

"Aden stay out of it!" Larry warned him.

"I just came to see Aden" She told him truthfully, finding her voice again.

"I don't want you near him!" He pointed his finger at her, the lines in his face deepened with his anger.

Miles, who had watched the seen with a mixture of shock and confusion, stepped in front of Kirsty protectively "Mr Jeffries, we only came to see how he was, so that Ollie could say hi, thats all" He told him calmly.

"Who the hell are you?" He asked him, having only just realised his presence there.

"I'm Mr Copeland, I'm Aden's English teacher." Miles stated, extending his hand towards Larry.

"I don't care who you are, you have no right bringing her here!" He yelled at him, pushing his hand away.

"Mr Jeffries, Kirsty only came here because your son saved her sons life. She wanted to see how he was, say thankyou" Miles explained, trying to keep his cool.

"Aden did his bit, he did what you wanted, now you have to go, leave us alone!" Larry yelled, glaring at Kirsty again.

"Dad, what the hell is the matter with you?" Aden yelled stepping towards him, so he was standing next to Miles.

"Just stay out of it Aden!" His father yelled at him. He felt the smell, the ever so familiar smell of whiskey cascade over him. He had known the moment his father had stumbled into the room, that he was drunk, but it was the smell that triggered the memories and the awful feelings that accompanied them. He stepped back slightly, away from this bizzarre argument his father had started. He had no idea why his father was so angry, and guessed his father probably didn't know either. The amount of times he'd come home with a black eye from a fight in a pub that he couldn't remember getting into or what had happened. All he ever heard him say about it was that it wasn't his fault.

"Look, Mr Jeffries, we were just leaving so...." Miles began, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Good! Get out!" He yelled at them as Miles stepped past him. As Kirsty started to move round him he stopped her "Don't come near my son again you got that?" He whispered it drunkenly at her. She looked back at Aden, who was staring out the window, his eyes glazed over, his face pained. She thought back to one of the first times she'd ever met him, at Irene's house.

“It’s not ok” he told her, suddenly his body was heaving with the weight and force of the sobs that overtook him. He fell into her as he felt this huge aching pain erupt through his body. He grabbed the back of her, holding her tightly to him, and let himself go, no longer in control of the emotion that crashed through him.

Kirsty stood there for a moment, shocked by his reaction, but then she felt him grip her from behind; she felt his tense body soften as he became weak from the emotions within him and this sudden urgency to look after him rose up within her. She didn’t even try to understand where it had come from; instead she cradled him in her arms, stroking the back of his head as he breathed her in.

She didn’t speak; she didn’t feel it was necessary to. She just stood there holding him, feeling the grief pour out of him. She heard words stagger out of his mouth quietly into the space between them “it’s not ok. He knew what was happening to me and he ignored it, that’s not ok” She didn’t respond, just continued to hold him there “How could he let that happen to me? He came into my room every night and he never stopped him. He just SAT there” Aden’s voice started to rise in high pitched notes of hysteria.

Kirsty remained silent, piecing the information together in her mind, a wave of sadness descended on her as she latched on to what he meant “Who did?” she asked, her tone that of one a mother would use to a child.

Aden seemed to calm at her words, his voice levelling again, although he still gripped onto her firmly “My dad. My granddad” He took a deep breath to steady himself “He would come in, and make us do stuff for him, and he knew, and never said a word” As the words released from him he felt the weight of them lift off of him and he loosened his hold on her, although keeping his arms in place, breathing her in.

She glared back at him this time, anger overtaking her. She looked between him and Aden, the words at the tip of her tongue, yet something stopped her. She didn't know if it was the sleeping tot on her shoulder, or the pained look on Aden's face. Maybe it was just that they'd had such a good time before Larry had shown up, and now he was completely wasted, but something inside of her stopped her. It was a warning. That now wasn't right. It wasn't the right time, and she knew she would only be saying it out of anger, that she would regret it later on. In her moment of hesitation however, she saw Larry's face change, she saw him sober up, his body agitated by her, by how dangerous she was to him.

"Goodbye Aden" She called out as she turned and exited the house.

[xknomex]

Damn Larry he's soooo grrrr

LOVED the last 2 chappies, made me giggle about Miles and Ollie having the same hair

the ending was amazing, made me cry!!! was so powerful, loved how you brought it back from the other fic!!!!

Can't wait for more!

x

[MissOlivia22]

Umm... How the frick did I miss all these updates???? I only just notices it today and I've missed like 4 awesome updates. I am so glad your back :D:D Update soon :DD

[Taniya_K]

Larry How dare he? Poor Aden, and Kirsty too. I loved how you had the flashback to when Aden broke down and told her all. Fantastic.

The beginning with the LOTR stuff was hilarious. Aden's jokes about Miles' hair was I'm glad they were kinda getting along until Larry came and ruined it.

I hope Aden'll be ok with a drunk Larry

Can't wait for more!

xoxo

[susanf6230]

As usual, brillant. Could just feel the tension and discomfort

[Nataliakesfan]

Just read through this fic.

Love it.

Update soon.

[yaz88]

This story's amazing one of my favourites

I wanna know when Aden's gonna find out about Kirsty and how he's gonna react.

Pretty Please update i cant wait this long lol xx