All My Courageous Lies

Expectations VS Reality

"Ayden!" A familiar voice screamed through the door, slamming it against the wall. "Ayden! She's gone! I thought-"

I groaned and stretched under the sheets, before forcing myself to sit up right. Through the bright blur of the light streaming from the window behind me, I saw a scared Turner go rigid. His eyes raked over me long and hard. Lips pierced, eyes... watering? The stiff way his chest rose and fell as he stood in the doorway made me feel so guilty... but I didn't know why.

I looked down to the side of the bed, trying to drag my way out of Turner's stare. On the floor, still wrapped up in that ridiculous bean bag chair and his small blankets, Ayden rubbed his eyes.

When his sight was clear enough to see the rage in the doorway, he groaned too. "Shit," he hissed. He clasped his hands over his face and fell hard into his chair.  Turner clenched his jaw and looked back to me before looking down at his feet. "Turner, it's not-"

He stopped Ayden's plea by slamming the door shut harder than he whipped it open.

"Fuck," Ayden groaned before shoving a pillow over his face and letting out a long growl.

"What was that all about?" I demanded, my coarse voice cracking in a small fit of embarrassment. I bet my hair looked horrible.

He slapped his pillow to the floor beside him before propping up on his elbows and glaring at me. His eyes were puffy and, unannounced to me, his shirt was off, exposing all the hardness of his chest, the toned edges of his arms, and the core he'd built for himself. I knew he was strong, but damn. He actually made me nervous for a millisecond. "You looking at me like that is only going to make it worse." My eyes dashed to his face at the sound of his voice. Although his tone was flat, his face held a small, tired version of his trademark smirk. "You can't honestly tell me you have no idea what that was about."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, and something caught in my throat. I looked back to the closed door. "But- But we're in different ... beds?"

He snorted lightly and began untangling his legs from the blankets. "Well, my brother has the lowest expectations of me, so..." Ayden shrugged as he managed to get up.

I blinked hard and shook my head. "Well maybe if you kept your shirt on,"

He flashed me a toothy grin and slid into his closet before I knew how to finish the thought. I let out a sigh and shook my head. When I lifted my fingers to my forehead, I felt a long sleeve swallowing most of my hand. Turner's sweater. The realization flooded me with another surge of guilt. I didn't want him to think saving me that night was a waste. Wait. Last night. Oh god, what time is it? Did my parents find me missing? Where's my phone? "Where's my bag?"

"Uhh, probably still in your car." Ayden strutted back into the room fully covered in normal street clothes. His eyes settled on me, still sitting up in his bed. "Maybe I should go get it," he mused.

I rolled my eyes but still tossed my hands over my head. "Where's your bathroom?"

That smirk still played on his lips. "Just across the hall. Feel free to use my hair brush." He started to scoot out of the door. The smile never faded, but before he left he added a small wink.

I groaned at my state, and waited a few moments for him to leave the hallway. When I thought it was safe, I launched myself through the doorway, and dashed into the closed door across the hall - luckily the only one.

I quickly closed and locked the door behind me. With a calming sigh, I stepped further into the large bathroom. The mirror over the sink was a large square, but it was still smaller than the one downstairs. I winced at the reflection, but not in the same way I had the night before. The big, army green sweater, with 'Kawaski' written on the chest and checkered stripes down the sleeves, covered all my pudgier areas. It was my hair.