The Banner Siblings! (Re-Written)

A Withering Smile

Aiden groaned as he looked at himself in the mirror. Jesus...his roots were growing out again. Aiden rocked backwards on his heels. Great. Just great.
As if this situation couldn't get any worse, right? His roots had to pick just now to grow back, right?

Aiden sighed, flopping on his bed. Honestly he should just ask Alex for hair dye again. But having to do it himself again...
He didn't know why, the thought just irked him. He had always dyed his hair, yeah. That wasn't anything new.
But he always had someone when he did it. Especially recently, with the help of Tyler. And it was fun! They would make jabs at each other, Tyler chewing him out for quote, 'destroying his hair'. How was he supposed to know dying it the way he did would destroy his hair?

Aiden chuckled weakly, too tired to put on his usual smile. Not like that smile was real anyways..well...
At least up until now it had been a mask. But recently he had found himself smiling more. Genuine ones. Happy, he was happy with them. And being torn apart from them? Left to his own deceives again?

It reminded him of back then. Of when he would be left alone for periods at a time. Talking to strangers who never cared about him. Who he didn't care about. Just waiting for the next place, wallowing alone in his room.
Aiden fought back the urge to cry. He didn't want to go back to those days, ever. He swore to himself.

The door opened. Aiden sat up, looking over at who it was. Alex poked his head in.
"No sound or chaos was coming from your room, I was checking to see if you're still living," Alex half joked. Truth be told he was worried about the blonde. He was worried about all of them, but the boy had been acting stranger than usual.
Aiden nodded, his fake smile back on. "Just catching my second wind."

Alex frowned. He sat down at the foot of Aiden's bed. "Are you sure? It seems like it's more than that."
"It's—" Aiden sighed. "It's nothing. Just my roots growing back out and it's bothering me."
Alex went quiet. He looked at the kids head, and sure enough he could see black roots underneath the blonde.
"Ah. Do you want me to get some hair dye for you then?" He asked. "So your friends don't have to see it?"
Aiden sighed. "No it's fine they've seen it before it's just—I don't know.."

Alex shifted, sitting cross cross on Aidens bed next to the boy. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.
Aiden sat back. He never really talked about his problems. Pushed it off with humor, making light of it. It wasn't really until....well let's just say until he started dying his hair blonde that his parents started to notice. His dad tried, but he was hardly there. His mom didn't really get it. But when Ben came suddenly he had someone to listen to him.
It was odd, but nice to have someone.

Aiden looked to Alex. He shrugged. "I...not really." He mumbled. He appreciated the offer though.
Alex squeezed his shoulder. "..Do you want my help dying it? It could be fun. Long as you promise not to dye my shirt yellow."
Aiden laughed out loud. "No promises! But yeah. That would be nice."

Alex smiled softly. Yeah. That would be fun.

(A/N: Suffer with Clark Cousin Angst. ALSO during the holidays, December 23rd to January 2nd I won't be posting because I'll be spending the holidays with my family. I do have a late Christmas Gift for you guys that I might post on Christmas—But if not it'll be out on the 2nd.)