We All Fall Down •An Aidan Gallagher Fic•

•Hand in Hand•

I raced into the house ugly crying. I stood in the doorway, whipping my head back and forth. I didn't know what to do.

Betsy came running in and looked at me with wide eyes. She took a step forward and I flinched away before bolting past her into my room. I went into my bathroom, locked the door and cried. I looked at myself in the mirror and felt strong feelings of hate.

I have no one.

I felt utterly alone and deserted. My parents are gone. My foster parents don't want me. Zoe stabbed me in the back. Aidan left me.

Never in my life did I feel such intense hopelessness. With nothing left to do, I curled up in the bathtub and cried.

I must have fallen asleep in the tub, because I woke up feeling disoriented and confused. Someone was banging roughly on the bathroom door. I stumbled over and let whoever it was in.

Betsy stood, tears in her eyes. She looked vulnerable and delicate. "What happened?"

I slumped onto the floor and leaned on the wall. Betsy sat across from me. I explained the situation and she shook her head knowingly.

"It's that bitch Zoe. From what you saw it seems she initiated it." Betsy said venomously. "And yeah, Aidan fell for the trap like a dumbass- but it's her fault."

I nodded sadly. "I feel lost."

"I'm sorry I snapped at you." Betsy said, looking guilty. "I have a lot going on with Craig-"

I grimaced. "He told me some weird stuff about that..."

"Like what?"

"He mostly talked about marital problems with you, and how he didn't want me."

She began to tap her nails against the floor. "That dick. I love him to death but he's so different now. And saying that BS to you?" She groaned. "I'm sorry. I brought you into a shit hole."

I didn't know what to say. I truly cared for Betsy, but she was right. I touched her hand and said, "Us against the world."

A few tears escaped from the corner of her eye and she brought my hand to her mouth. "Us against the world." She said quietly, nodding before she kissed my hand.

I was binge watching dumb cartoons in the living room with Betsy when the doorbell rang. I knew without looking it was him, and I felt panic rise in the back of my throat.

Betsy must have had the same thought, because she jumped up to get the door. I muted the television and listened closely.

"Can I help you?" Betsy asked primly.

"Mrs. Jordan, I was wondering if I could see Cecelia-"

"Let me see if she's available."

Betsy came back into the living room and mouthed. "Aidan." I shook my head and squeezed the pillow in my lap. She nodded.

I heard her say, "I'm sorry,but she's busy."

"Mrs. Jordan please." He said, sounding desperate.

Betsy paused. "I-"

"Give him forty-five seconds." I shouted from the other room.

I made no effort to wipe away my smudged mascara or to hide my red face- let him know what an asshole he is.

    
As soon as he walked into the room I started to cry again. I bit my lip and turned away when he sat next to me.

"Hey." He said softly. I didn't move. "I know you saw the texts. I came back from the bathroom and you were gone, and they were open. Its not what it looks like."

"They're is no looks like." I said, clenching my teeth. "You were flirting with my bitchy ex-best friend."
    
His voice cracked. "No... please Leah its not that."

"So what the fuck was it?"

"She was texting me, and I wanted to know more about your life was I was responding, and I didn't want to offend her because I knew you liked her and I wanted to keep everyone happy-" she put his head in his hands and groaned. "I wanted to keep you happy."
    
I turned towards him. "You called her cute."

"To appease her! To keep her satisfied so it never came to a 'choose between him or me' scenario."
    
I paused. I didn't want to say the next part out loud. It seemed ridiculous. Quietly, not quite looking at him, I said, "There was no need to tell her you weren't a virgin."
    
He didn't say anything. I rested my head on the arm of the couch, waiting for him to respond.

"I..." He started. "I don't know why I said that. She was asking for secrets and I had none. But that."

"So it's true?"

"Yes."

"I'm not mad about that. It's kind of intimidating but that was before you met me," I shot him a look, "Right?" He nodded. "So that's fine. But you told her and not me."

"I didn't want you to feel pressured."

"Please, I would never do anything I didn't want to." I raised an eyebrow. "And in case you were wondering, no it's not happening with me."

"Hey-" He put his hands up defensively. "No problem."

"I just feel like... some of our trust has been broken."
    
He seemed to hesitate before whispering, "I'm sorry."
    
I thought about it. He made a stupid move, but his explanation seemed rational. I'd lecture him some other time about the choice, but for now, it was over.

"It's not ok, but apology accepted."

"That's fair." Aidan mumbled. "So what now?"

"I don't know."
    
We sat in silence for a while, thinking our own thoughts. I didn't notice I had taken his hand until he squeezed mine.
   
Without thinking, I squeezed back.

A/n: I'm sorry I keep writing authors notes I hate them but I just thought you should know that the only thing keeping me writing this is your support. Please comment, vote, and continue to read to motivate me. Thank you all <3