Chapter Six

The first cold day came mid-September as the first autumn rains rolled in from the mountains.

The routine of school, work and staying out of Aiden's way settled quickly like second nature. Tammy had started to become a frequent presence in the house, her soft perfume of rose and bergamot floated in the living room, kitchen and the hallway. Her bubbly personality filled the house as she thrust her warmth onto me, oblivious to my awkwardness. It took me a few weeks to realise she was trying to be friends, a concept foreign to me.

By now I had become used to her presence perhaps more than I was used to Aiden's. I didn't necessarily seek her out but my ability to breathe or think didn't stop whenever she walked into the room.

The first cold drops of rain fell from slate grey skies as I made my way into school, avoiding other students who weren't rushing to enter the building even as the heavens opened slowly. The temperature would only get colder but already the tip of my nose was cold and I sniffed as I pulled my knitted beanie off, dark brown hair obscuring my vision as I entered home-room.

This temporary blindness cost me.

Clearing my hair from my eyes, I turned to my usual desk and froze as ice filled my veins.

Sat on top of the desk I usually use was a small white teddy bear with black eyes and a seemingly cute and innocent smile. A small piece of folded paper was leant against one its feet, an exact replica of the gift left at the diner several weeks ago.

Everything in me told me to run, to turn around and walk out but my legs betrayed me and instead of carrying me away, they moved me closer and closer to the desk until I was within arm's reach. Fingers trembling, I plucked the small note from the desk and slowly unfolded it.

I'll be seeing you soon.

The note dropped from my fingers as the world seemed to tilt and my throat closed up. Fear had pounced quickly, fingers like ice curling around my heart and spine, squeezing wickedly.

I'll be seeing you soon.

The second bell rang and as if on cue, students began to file into the classroom, unaware of me, the innocent little bear and the brief but ominous note. The burst of noise snapped me out of my fear-induced paralysis. Quickly I snatched up the bear and the note, shoving them roughly into my bag and sinking into my seat as the tremble in my knees settled in and turned my legs to jelly.

The school day went by in a blur. I couldn't concentrate in class and I lost my appetite when it came to lunch time. Around me the world moved on but I felt numb, trapped in a bubble and unable to break free. It wasn’t as if my thoughts were racing. If anything they were stuck on one sentence.

*I'll be seeing you soon.

I'll be seeing you soon.

I'll be seeing you soon.

I'll be seeing y---*.

The front door slammed, bursting my bubble finally and bringing me back to reality. I had been home for nearly two hours and had been sitting on the couch since then, staring into space.

Aiden’s masculine woodsy scent found me before he did but I hardly noticed, unable to shake myself out of one worry to face another. I didn’t bother looking up, maybe he wouldn’t notice me. He had been out a lot with his friends and Tammy. It was normal for him to come in, head to his bedroom and then come straight back out freshly showered and in clean clothes. He’d be gone after that until late into the night either alone or with Tammy.

“Ellie?”

I looked up before I could stop myself, breathing in hard when my eyes closed a circuit with those unearthly blue and green eyes. I fell into them easily, unable to resist as they drew me in. I blamed it on my stupid behaviour over the day. Maybe I was tired. Maybe I was in shock. Maybe it was because Aiden simply had beautiful eyes.

“Ellie?” The timbre of his voice curled around me and stroked down my spine. “Are you okay?”

I blinked out of the spell I was under then, frowning at Aiden’s puzzled expression with my own confused one. Confusion was quickly replaced by embarrassment, heat flooding up my neck and cheeks. Looking away quickly, I tried to focus on something else to avoid looking at him again. His gaze never wavered.

“Fine.” I replied quietly. “Just tired.”

Aiden was silent and I could feel his eyes on me, searching for a lie maybe or just taking in the weird girl he was living with.

“I’m going to make you some dinner.” He announced.

“I’m not hungry.”

“When was the last time you ate?”

I paused at Aiden’s knowing question. I wasn’t a breakfast eater and I had skipped lunch. Did a packet of potato chips for dinner count?

No. it didn’t.

“I’m not hungry.” I repeated meekly.

“I’m making you dinner.”

“Isn’t Tammy waiting for you?”

It came out as harsh. Heated annoyance had swept through my veins and heart like fire before dying out when I looked up at Aiden who had fallen still, his eyes on me. His eyes seemed to darken for a moment as if I had hit a nerve before it was gone. He carded a hand through his hair as if to massage away his annoyance before he turned towards the kitchen.

“I’m making you dinner.” Was all he said before he disappeared.

A tense silence settled in the house as Aiden worked in the kitchen. At some point I walked into the kitchen and sat at the old dining table with its mismatched chairs and scratches on the dull surface of its top. I was almost too afraid to speak and Aiden made no efforts to fill the silence as he worked, moving around with the ease of someone who knew the place well, as if it was home.

I watched him for a while, trying to guess what he was making before eventually letting my mind wander to work, school, my brother, the bear and note.

I was still trying to rationalise the notes as pranks while digging my nail into a scratch on the table when a plate appeared in the corner of my vision loaded with spaghetti Bolognese and salad. I lifted my head as Aiden sat opposite me with his own plate of food. The muscles of his tattooed forearms rippled as he moved his pasta on his plate to release the steam.

"Eat." He spoke when he saw I hadn't touched my plate.

"I said I'm not hungry." I replied defiantly.

He said nothing. He didn't have to because the moment he locked me in a pointed stare, my resolve shattered. I let out an exasperated sigh and picked up the cutlery. Aiden didn't move until I finally put food in my mouth. Then he went back to eating.

The silence was uncomfortable and tense. I desperately wanted to scurry to my bedroom and hide under my covers. However, I remained rooted to my seat eating slowly. Aiden was finished long before I was but remained at the table as if I had to be monitored.

"Are you upset because Tammy has been around a lot?" Aiden finally asked.

I shook my head, twirling my fork through my pasta.

"Okay. So is it because of your boyfriend?"

I froze, looking at Aiden in confusion. I briefly noted the annoyance in his features. His jaw was clenched, the muscles ticking and his lips set in a hard line. This only confused me more. Why did he think I had a boyfriend and why was he angry?

"A boyfriend?"

"Yes." Aiden replied. "I found the teddy bear and note you threw in the bin."

My heart skipped a beat at this and I felt the colour drain from my face. It wasn't any of Aiden's business but rather than feel angry, I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Looking down at my plate, I went back to shoving my food around. "I don't have a boyfriend. That stuff was from someone just playing a stupid prank."

Aiden remained silent for a while. I refused to look at him. Just him being across the table from me was messing with my head. I didn't want to get caught in those hypnotic eyes.

"I'm going to bed." I finally said, unable to eat anymore.

"Ellie---"

"I just want to go to bed." I sighed in exasperation, looking at Aiden before I could stop myself. "I will clean up before I go to school."

Without looking at Aiden, I got up and headed upstairs before Aiden could say anything.

Aiden wasn't home when I got up the next morning to get ready for school. The kitchen was clean with leftovers in the fridge. I couldn't help but feel guilty. I had been immature last night, acting like a petulant child. What Aiden thought of the whole thing couldn't have been good. With embarrassment colouring my cheeks, I forced myself to go to school, praying that no eerie surprises were waiting for me when I got there.

Before I knew it, it was the weekend. There had been no more notes and creepy stuffed toys but I couldn't shake the chill of fear from my bones.

Tammy was in the house when I got in from my shift at the diner. She was sat on the couch in a wine red maxi skirt and a sleeveless band tee. There was no sign of Aiden and the fact his truck wasn't in the drive suggesting either Tammy let herself in or Aiden had left her here for some reason.

I was exhausted and in no way ready to deal with Tammy's energy but she had me in her clutches before I could make my escape upstairs.

"Ellie!"

Tammy was on me before I could react, her long slender arms closing around me in a hug, her fiery curls tickling my nose.

"Hi Tammy," I mumbled. "I wasn't expecting to see you."

"Oh yeah, I'm just waiting for Aiden. He's gone to pick his cousin up." Tammy explained and pulled away before grabbing my hand and pulling me into the living room and onto the couch beside her. "Did you want a drink?"

My eyes followed hers to the bottle of wine sat on the table with a half empty wine glass.

"Oh no. I'm not old enough to drink." I replied.

"Oh nonsense! It's just a drink. Liam used to drink at your age." Tammy scoffed as she unfolded herself from the couch again and bounded into the kitchen only to return with another glass. "I promise I won't tell Liam or let you get drunk."