It Goes There // Josh Dun + Twenty One Pilots

ten // i don't have to take this anymore

--Garrett's P.O.V--

Aiden's house wasn't far from the school. Close enough for him to make it to school on time, but far enough for him to freeze in the winter. Chicago and I always tried to pick him up in the mornings when it was cold and I knew he was grateful for that.

I timidly knocked on his front door, bouncing on the balls of my feet with my arms crossed, trying to calm the anxiety that was threatening to manifest the moment Aiden's mother or father opened the door. With Chicago and Aiden, I was comfortable with being myself. They loved me for me, but everyone else just saw me as the tired punk kid who attempted to take his own life. That label was hard to handle.

I was about to knock again when the door flew open to reveal Mrs. Leffew still dressed in her work outfit. Based on observation, it seemed that she just got home, but the angry expression on her face told me the opposite.

"Let me guess, you are here to see Ember?" She asked, not even bothering to use the name Aiden preferred. I could hear raised voices in the background.

"I- I could come back later," I stuttered out.

Aiden's mother shook her head. "Nonsense, come in." I stepped off of the porch and into a nice foyer area while Mrs. Leffew continued to the kitchen. "Ember!" She called. "One of your friends is here!"

She was greeted with a loud yell. "For the last time, that is not my name!"

I felt extremely awkward in this household and I know understood why Aiden always went over to Chicago's. I hurried up the stairs. Aiden's room was the last one at the end of the hall and I started towards it, but stopped when I heard yelling once again.

"Do you realize how much trouble you could have gotten into today?" Aiden's older brother, Matthew, asked. "You could have uprooted us once again just because you feel like a boy!"

I've always knew that Matthew Leffew was a dick, but after hearing him speak to his brother, I felt like breaking his leg in practice tomorrow. However, Chicago would throw a fit if I attempted to do so even if she agreed.

"I don't feel like a boy, I am!" Aiden snapped back in reply.

"You are a girl! No matter what you tell yourself, you will always have to pee sitting down!"

I heard a loud smack and Matthew groan in pain. I took that as a perfect time to step in and offer to kick Matthew's butt.

"Aiden," I stepped into the room to see him sitting on his bed while Matthew cradled his injured cheek. "You can really pack a punch." The boy smiled, slightly. I crossed my arms. "However, I can do a pretty impressive dropkick."

Before Matthew could even comprehend my words, my foot shot out with as much force as I could manage and connected with his lower region. He let out a grunt and fell to the ground. I raised my eyebrows at him as Aiden watched in awe. "Now, your younger brother obviously doesn't want you in his room, so leave."

Matthew quickly got his feet and stumbled out of the room. I chuckled. "Hey, put some ice on that! Maybe you can still have children!"

I closed the door and came to sit down on Aiden's bed. The boy was still laughing from witnessing his brother get kicked in the private parts, but he still seemed visibly upset.

"Your parents aren't very accepting, are they?"

Aiden shook his head. "They think I'm just going through a phrase of wanting to be a boy. Both of my parents still call me Ember. However, my brother is accepting at some points, but then lashes out like you just heard. You, Chicago, Lilac, Kailyn, and my older sister in college are the only people that are truly accepting of me."