Eighteen

Blue

CHAPTER NINE

Everything always felt like it stood still in this small corner of the world. The population was made up of generations of families that either never managed to escape or couldn't afford to.

But for an evening, our town had momentum.

We pulled into the parking lot, the black top bragging about its fresh coat, and cars surrounded us on both sides. It didn't seem possible that so many people lived in what I always knew to be the middle of nowhere.

I wasn't sure how exactly I ended up sitting in the sad excuse for a middle seat, but here I was, Jackson on my left and Aiden on my right.

"Where am I supposed to park?" Nathan asked. In between each traffic marking, cars stretched as far as the eye could see.

"I think I heard something about how you have to park up at the church and walk down." Aiden moved to the window beside him, helping Nathan in the search for a parking spot.

"That's ridiculous! I'm not walking to my own graduation."

"Wait, there's a spot right there. And it's right out front; what are the chances?" Until now, I don't think I've ever gotten a decent look at Aiden.

Honestly, it's strange to think about. We've coexisted alongside each other for so long, and I just continued to stick with the half-drawn image of him that lived inside my head.

If I hadn't peered at him through the corner of my eyes, I wouldn't have known that pieces of his midnight hair grazed the very top of his forehead. Or that his skin was nearly porcelain.

"It's a no-parking zone." I think it's safe to say that none of us were expecting Avery to say anything. She had been especially quiet the entire ride up. But she was right; standing at the curb was a sign that supported her claim.

"I'm gonna be honest with you, Nate. I'm not really trying to walk either," Aiden said. "You wanna just like—split the ticket?"

Suddenly, almost completely passing it, the car swerved into the spot. "You sure?" Nathan looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"Yeah. I mean, it probably won't be more than fifty bucks. That's twenty-five each." He paused. "And I worked overtime like three days last week, so I should get a good check." It was hard not to admire his way of uncomplicating things.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Aiden dove into the backpack at his feet. "You guys wanna sign this?" He asked, black marker and graduation cap in hand.

It felt only right that, since I was sitting at his side, I should say something. "Sure." I grabbed the objects from his hands.

Besides mine, there was only one other name written in messy handwriting in the corner: Jackson.

"I'll sign it." I handed off the materials to Nathan.

When he was finished and Aiden was given back his things, I saw the hesitation. I don't think anyone else was paying enough attention to notice, but I did.

He watched the back of the passenger seat, like he wanted to say something to Avery. But he didn't. And I wasn't sure if it was fear or common sense that held him back.