Page 35 of The Leaves In Autumn
The limo ride home has been quiet, compared with last night’s celebratory mood. Every one of us is tired. Or in our thoughts. That’s how the scene reads, anyway. The boys slumped in their seats, checking out their TikTok posts. Aurora and Gaston look asleep. There’s a whole bunch of us staring out the windows. Wish we were closer to home.
This whole thing feels awkward. In my fantasy, I pictured us being high from having been together. Laughing way too much about private jokes. Like the novels. It is not like I expect him to make an announcement of our carnal connection. Wouldn’t want that either. But this pretending nothing happened does not feel right. He has hardly spoken since we got up, and the silence is deafening.
“Did you hurt yourself?”
Scarlett’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. She points to her cheek and Aargon responds.
“Must have scratched myself in my sleep.”
“Oh.”
One head turns to see for himself. Teddy aims the cell at his father and chuckles.
“Your nails are awfully short, Dad. Sure that was how you got it?”
Aargon’s reaction is so swift and visceral, it stuns us all. He snatches the phone from Teddy’s hand and yells.
“Stop with the fucking phone!”
The threatening tone rouses Gaston and Aurora from their semi-sleep. Oh shit. Look at their faces.
“Alright, alright. Everybody calm down.”
Gaston’s command falls on deaf ears.
“Give me that!” Teddy meets his father’s anger with his own unleashed response.
“You’ll get it when we get home.”
“I’m twenty years old! I’ll get it now!”
When he starts to rise, Van quickly moves between them. Layla meets my eyes with a hundred questions. Parrish takes ahold of Teddy’s strong arm.
“Shut the fuck up! Both of you. Jesus. Come on!”
He takes the cell from Aargon’s hand and gives it to Teddy. I don’t want to make a sound. Scarlett speaks up.
“It’s okay. We’re all okay. Let’s not make a bigger thing out of this.”
I feel bad for Gaston and Aurora. They look hurt. For sure they are shocked. I don’t know what to do. Disappear? It feels like I am intruding on a private family matter. Layla and I exchange looks filled with questions we will be dissecting later. I can’t wait to talk to her alone.
I want to comfort Aargon, but no one knows we have been together. It would look odd to act so familiar. Besides, why does he need comforting? I am the one who should be hurt by this complete one-eighty. Is his dark mood connected to the tear that dropped on me last night? I thought when it happened, he might be feeling what I was. The power of the moment. I felt like crying too. Now that sounds ridiculous. Naïve.
The morning after the night before is not turning out as expected. I can hardly wait to get home.
* * *
Two hours later, looking like I am making a walk of shame, my key turns the front door lock. I am calling Layla. She answers immediately.
“What the was that?”
Expected greetings are not required between my sister and I. We always jump to the good stuff.
“I don’t know! Aargon was having a meltdown.”
“Van said he and Teddy have never talked to each other like that. Never. Something must have happened after the concert.”
My purse hits the couch.
