Clary
I was shaking as I stared into the loving eyes of my parents. I felt cemented to the spot though, unable to move. It didn’t seem real that my parents were here. Not even slightly. But as they both started to smile, the reality of their presence finally seemed to set in.
“Mom? Dad?” I whispered. The cement holding my feet to the ground dissolved, and I started to rush toward them.
I had barely taken two steps when Dad’s expression fell, and he lifted his hands up in front of him. “You can’t come any closer, Clary.”
I stopped, frowning as I tried to understand. I was standing only halfway up the sidewalk to the house and couldn’t fathom why Dad didn’t want to hug me.
“We’ve been advised to quarantine for the next fourteen days to make sure we’re not infected with the virus,” he explained. “I’m sorry, kiddo, but we can’t be near you.”
The pure joy I’d felt at their return was dampened slightly by his words, but it quickly returned as I stared at the two of them. My parents both looked healthy and happy. They did seem a little tired, but it was probably because they’d just gotten off a long flight. They were back in the country though, and that was the most important thing.
“That’s fine,” I said, happy tears gathering in my eyes. “I’m just so happy you guys are home. I can’t believe it.” My voice broke as I spoke, emotion flooding my every word.
Mom’s face lit up in a grin. “Well, it’s true. Surprise!”
I let out a choked laugh as I tried to stop the tears. “How is this possible?”
“We weren’t the only travelers stuck in the area, and the government chartered an emergency flight to get us all home,” Dad replied.
“And you guys didn’t tell me?” Frustration colored my tone. I’d been worrying about my parents constantly from the moment I’d first heard they were stranded overseas. How could they let me fret any longer than I needed to?
“We told Jade,” Mom replied. “But we didn’t want to tell you in case the flight somehow fell through. It all happened very last minute. We didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
I went quiet as I allowed her explanation to sink in. I’d barely spoken to them this week, and any time they answered the phone, they’d always been too busy to talk. Our exchanges had been so brief I hadn’t had a chance to tell them about my relationship with Aiden. It had felt a bit like they’d been avoiding me, but it suddenly all made sense.
“You’ve been dodging my calls all week. Is this why?” I asked.
Mom didn’t even look slightly guilty as she nodded. “You know I’m hopeless at lying. We thought you’d be happy.”
The irritation tensing my shoulders didn’t last long, and I nodded, “Of course, I’m happy. I think I’m in shock. I just wish I could hug you guys.”
Mom smiled in response. “You will in two weeks’ time.”
A couple of the tears I’d been trying so hard to keep back escaped, and I quickly moved to wipe them away. I still couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I’m glad to see you both got home safely, Mr. and Mrs. James,” Aiden said. He was standing at my side and lightly rested his hand across my back as he spoke. I’d completely forgotten he was there.
“Thank you, Aiden, we’re pretty glad too,” Mom replied. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You too, Mrs. James.”
I wasn’t sure if Mom heard Aiden’s reply because her eyes had caught on where his hand was pressed to my back. She gave Dad a slight nudge as she nodded toward it. Dad looked totally oblivious, but from the knowing look Mom was giving me, I knew Aiden and I were totally busted.
It’s not like I was planning on keeping our relationship a secret or anything, but I hadn’t talked to them properly all week, and it wasn’t the kind of thing I wanted to announce to them in a text. There were no excuses for avoiding it now though.
“So, guys, I have something to tell you…” My stomach tensed as they sent me curious looks. I really wished I’d had a chance to tell them over the phone this week, because announcing this to my parents in person seemed so much harder. Dating was also pretty far down the list of things I wanted to discuss with Mom and Dad considering they had only just returned home. I knew it was best if I just got it over with quickly though.
“Aiden and I are dating,” I said, the words slipping from my lips in a rush. I had to resist the urge to cover my face. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see their reactions.
Mom’s face lit with a wide smile, but Dad’s expression had turned wary. I could see he wasn’t exactly thrilled by the news, but he didn’t seem totally against it either. I should have probably just been grateful he hadn’t started interrogating Aiden. My parents were oddly accepting of the news, and I had to wonder if they were simply too tired to react as shocked as I’d expected.
“Yes, Jade told us all about you two,” Mom said. “She wanted to make sure we were happy you continued staying at their house.”
“You already knew?” I blew out a breath, shaking my head. It seemed like everyone was finding out about Aiden and I before we got a chance to tell them. It was probably better this way though. Finding out from Jade probably softened the blow for my parents. I doubted either one of them would be acting so calmly if they haven’t received a heads-up. It was a miracle Mom wasn’t blurting out something embarrassing, and I didn’t even want to guess how Dad would have reacted if this was the first he’d heard of my new boyfriend. He’d always been quite protective of me when it came to boys.
“Yes, we already knew,” Mom said.
“So, you guys are cool with it then?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t say we’re cool,” Dad replied. “But Jade seemed to think it was fine, and we trust you and know you wouldn’t do anything irresponsible.”
“Dad, you have nothing to worry about.” My cheeks flushed as I replied. This was so embarrassing. I didn’t want to discuss my relationship with either of my parents. I would have rather dug a hole and buried myself in it.
Mom must have sensed my discomfort because she slowly stretched her arms above her head and yawned. “It’s so good to see you, sweetie, but we’ve had a long journey and are quite tired.”
“Oh, of course.” I was grateful I didn’t have to keep discussing my new boyfriend with my parents but also sad at the thought of leaving so soon. I could also see Mom’s exhaustion wasn’t just an excuse though. She looked exhausted. “You guys go get some rest. Do you need anything from the stores at all?”
Mom smiled. “No, we’re all set. Jade dropped some groceries off this morning for us, and there’s a freezer full of meals. We’re fine.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
“We are,” Mom said. “I’ll call you later today, and we can catch up properly.”
“Okay. You better.”
“We will,” Dad replied.
I took a moment to look at my parents. Having them home felt like stepping into one of my dreams. It didn’t seem real that they were standing only a few feet away. That I could speak to them face to face. That I knew for certain they were safe. Seeing them at home gave me a sense of relief stronger than I’d never experienced before—and one I hoped I never had to experience again.
I shared one last smile with them before I started back to Aiden’s truck. He kept close to me as we walked, and I was grateful he was there. It was hard to leave my parents after only just getting them back. At least I wasn’t doing it alone.
He opened the door for me, but I turned before I got inside the truck and waved to my parents. They were hugging each other on the front porch as they watched me leave and started waving back.
“We love you,” Mom called.
“I love you guys too!” I shouted back, blowing them several kisses.
As Aiden and I drove away, I watched my parents through the back window until they disappeared. I would have happily camped out in the front yard of our house all day to talk with them. It was clear they needed some res
t though. I doubted it was just the journey that had exhausted them. I didn’t want to imagine how difficult it must have been for them being stuck overseas with no way home.
I was so lucky to have them back safely. Their wellbeing was something I had always taken for granted, but it was something I’d never do again. This pandemic had made me realize how quickly and easily the things you always depended on could change.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Aiden said.
“Yeah, I know, sorry,” I shook my head. “I just can’t believe they’re back. Is it weird that I miss them already?”
“Not weird,” Aiden replied. “It just means you love them.”
“Yeah, I do.” I blew out a breath and relaxed into the seat, replaying the reunion with my parents over and over in my mind. “It doesn’t feel real.”
“I know, it’s crazy,” Aiden agreed.
“Wait, did you know they were going to be there today?”
Aiden glanced at me from the road. “I swear I had no idea. Mom suggested we go get your textbooks, and I wondered why she was being so weird about it at the time. She must have been in on the surprise.”
“Crap, I didn’t get those textbooks.”
Aiden chuckled. “You can probably borrow some of mine.”
“Thanks.” Schoolwork was the last thing on my mind though. My thoughts were still completely focused on my family. “I can’t believe my parents kept this all a secret from me.”
“Well, it sounds like they didn’t want to disappoint you if it didn’t work out.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Aiden slowed the truck as we arrived back at his house. I felt strange as I hopped out and started toward the front door. The house looked just the same as when we had left it, but something seemed different as Aiden went to open the front door. This place had become my home over the last few weeks, but with my parents back, it felt like there was a ticking clock hanging over my head. This wouldn’t be my home for much longer. Before Aiden could push the door open, I reached out and touched his hand. He turned, and there was a questioning look in his eyes.
“Aiden, do you know what my parents coming home means?”
He shook his head.
I licked my suddenly dry lips and swallowed. “It means that in fourteen days they’ll be done with quarantine. And in fourteen days, I’ll be able to go home.”
“We won’t be in lockdown together anymore,” he replied.
“No. And we won’t be able to see each other.”
Aiden blew out a long breath, his blue-green eyes lifting to look into the distance. When he focused back on me, he reached out to grasp my hands in his. “Then we better make the most of the next fourteen days together.”
“And after that?”
“And after that, we’ll find a way to be together even though we’re apart. I’m not afraid of being separated from you.”
He made it sound so simple, and I hoped he was right. “So, you think we can make this work?”
“I can make anything work, as long as I’ve got you.”
23
Clary
“You know there’s a special place in hell for people like you,” I said, peering up at Aiden from the novel I was reading. It was his copy of Lord of the Flies, part of our required reading for English. Since school had started again, we actually needed to study. It had given my days a bit more purpose, but the teachers were piling assignments on us, and we were spending hours each day on schoolwork.
Aiden must have thought I was joking because he started to smirk. There was nothing funny about what he’d done though. “Can I ask why I deserve to go to hell today?”
I lifted the book to show him. “You highlighted whole passages in your book. Highlighted! And you wrote notes in the margins. Don’t even get me started on the dog-eared corners of the pages.” I shook my head at him. “It’s like you’ve never even heard of a bookmark.”
He actually had the nerve to laugh in response. “Why bother with a bookmark when you can just fold over the corner of the page?”
“Because you’re destroying the book!”
He tilted his head as he looked at me. “You’re really in a bad mood tonight, aren’t you? Have you had a coffee in the last few hours? That might explain things…”
I threw the book at his head, but he caught it out of the air with ease. His annoying smirk curved the corner of his lips as he lowered the book from in front of his face. “You definitely haven’t had a coffee in a while.”
I folded my arms across my chest and scowled at him.
“Do you think kisses work the same way as caffeine?” he continued.
“We’re supposed to be studying.”
“Well, only one of us is actually studying. And she just threw away her book, so it doesn’t seem like she’s studying anymore…”
I shifted uncomfortably in my beanbag. I didn’t like that he was right. To be honest though, I’d been struggling to study for a while. We were in his bedroom, and Aiden had been at his desk watching silly YouTube videos for the past half hour. I would have liked to blame my lack of focus on all the noise coming from his computer, but it was all the notes and doodles Aiden had drawn in the margins of his book that made studying impossible.
He left his chair and came to sit on the beanbag at my side.
“We’re not making out,” I told him.
“You always say that, and you always give in.”
“Today’s different.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, today, I’ve developed self-restraint.”
“You sure about that?”
I swallowed as I peered up at him through my lashes. His arm was rested behind me, and his body was pressed up against mine. It was hard to ignore my body’s reaction to him, and Aiden had every reason to believe I’d give in to him. We’d pretty much ended every study session this week with kisses. Maybe the knowledge we had such a short time left together made everything feel more urgent. It was hard to believe almost a week had passed already, and we only had one week until I returned home.
Aiden lifted a hand and brushed it against my cheek. He didn’t lean in to kiss me though. Instead, he looked troubled as he gazed into my eyes. “Seriously, Clary, what’s up? You’ve been off all day.”
How did he know me so well? I’d been trying my best to act normal today, and I thought I’d done a pretty good job of it despite the fact I’d been struggling to stay positive. I didn’t want to admit the truth to Aiden because it felt silly. He’d probably laugh when I told him I was feeling sad because it was my eighteenth birthday tomorrow. I’d been looking forward to my birthday for ages, but who wanted to celebrate when they couldn’t see their friends or be with their family? I just wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening.
“Are you sad we didn’t drive past your parents’ place today?” he asked.
“No, it’s not that.” Aiden had made sure I got to see my parents every day by driving us to their house. We hadn’t been able to do it today though because his mom’s car wouldn’t start this morning and she’d taken Aiden’s truck to work.
“You know you can tell me anything,” Aiden said.
I smiled at him and nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’m just a little down today though. It’s no big deal, seriously.”
He looked far from convinced, but I leaned over and silenced his questions by kissing him. It was only meant to be a quick kiss, but it quickly turned into more.
“So much for self-restraint,” Aiden said with a chuckle.
I returned his laugh and shook my head. “Yeah, next week, we’re doing homework in the dining room.”
“Clary, wake up.” I opened my eyes to the gentle sound of Aiden’s voice and let out a grumble. The curtains in my room were drawn, but there was a small gap, which allowed a thin thread of light to peek into the room. It was morning already, which only meant one thing: it was my birthday.
I groaned again and threw the blanket over my head. “It’s too early, A
iden.”
He laughed and pulled the blanket away. “You always say that.”
“And it’s always true.”
“I brought you coffee…” he said in a singsong tone, like he knew how much I’d be tempted by it. I drew in a breath, and when I smelled the sharp scent of coffee, I knew I couldn’t resist.
“Okay, okay, I’m getting up.”
I pushed myself upright in bed as Aiden pulled the curtains wide. I squinted from the sudden brightness in the room, but as my eyes adjusted to the light, I gasped. My bedroom was covered in streamers, and there were dozens of helium balloons floating across the ceiling.
“Happy birthday,” Aiden said, a cheeky smile lighting his features.
“You knew!” I accused him.
He laughed and nodded. “Clary, we’ve been in the same class for years. Of course, I knew.”
“Nobody remembers their classmates’ birthdays.”
“You’re not just a classmate. You never were.”
I blushed and tried not to let his sweet words distract me from the fact he’d been keeping all this so quiet. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
I pouted and fell silent. I didn’t say anything about my birthday because I’d been busy feeling sorry for myself. I could hardly tell Aiden that though.
He smiled and passed me the mug of coffee. As I took the cup from him, I immediately forgot what we’d even been talking about.
“Mmm, that’s good,” I said, taking a large sip. Coffee was definitely my biggest weakness in life.
Aiden laughed as he watched me. “I really hope we’re never in a life-or-death situation where you have to choose between me or coffee, because I feel like I wouldn’t have a fighting chance.”
I grinned. “Here’s hoping because I’d really miss you.”
“I know.” Aiden shook his head but was still smiling as he looked at me. “Luckily, that’s not something we have to worry about today.” He leaned across and brushed his lips against mine. Despite the early wake up, this was officially the best start to a birthday ever.
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