Eclipse Of The Moon ~ Book 1 of Aaron
Chapter 68
The Other Trainee

Saturday 18 December 2004

"You see, that's how corporate governance works, Lina. It balances all the interests of the various stakeholders, both internal and external. It's not only about the shareholders, the board of directors and the management. It's also about customers, suppliers, auditors, government and community laws."

This is our fourth Saturday morning in a row working together, and I am really glad that Lina is catching up so well. She is getting better too. We have been speaking more openly over the past three weeks, confiding a bit more about ourselves. Of course, there are things I wouldn't tell her, but it felt nice to have someone else to whom I could mention a bit of my past, talk about my best friends from New Jersey; I even revealed a few things about how I ran away and then met Ivan who helped me to grab my shit together.

On her side, she has been telling me about her loneliness. Having drifted apart from all her childhood friends when she was entrusted with important responsibilities over her younger siblings and mother, she buried herself into a void of solitude that she recently decided to try and fill with new acquaintances. Unfortunately, her choices weren't the best as she mostly did so by meeting new people every weekend in nightclubs or bars, sleeping with men she didn't know but never trying to start a real relationship.

This is how she met that guy a couple of months ago, well, three months now, and fate decided to use this young and fertile woman's ovulation to make her pregnant. It's just too sad that the black hunk she met that night was too handsome to resist his charms, that she accepted to follow him for a walk in the park and to have sex with him although he didn't have condoms. And just too bad that they parted without willing to meet another time or at least exchange contact details.

Lina reassured me, saying that she had also gone through all the necessary tests to detect STDs. She was lucky enough that the sexy man didn't carry any germs or viruses like herpes, syphilis, hepatitis and the likes, but she will still have to run another test against HIV in a few months to make sure the virus isn't sleeping and won't wake up until then.

And obviously, she will have to deal with the outcome of this one-night stand in a few months, and that one will be for the rest of her life. Becoming a parent is a whole different level of responsibility, one that she will have to handle on her own until she meets her soulmate and starts a family. Meanwhile, I have done my best to relieve her of all the stress as far as school is concerned. Knowing that she has my support has helped her with more restful nights, so following classes has been easier, and she even managed to catch up before our finals earlier this week.

On my side, I am very confident that I did very well too, but it will require a little more patience to find out once our tests have been corrected and the results handed back to us.

A sudden knock on the door of the library interrupts our intense session on corporate law, and I am surprised to see Ivan's head pop in.

What the heck...

I don't like that mischievous glint in his eyes. I don't like the crooked smile that draws on his lips either. What the fuck does he have in mind again?

"It's half past noon, Kiddos..." he whispers.

"We're not kids," I grumble. "Unless you want us to call you an old fogey?" I smirk, causing Lina to giggle and blush.

"Lunch's ready," Ivan grouses, recovering his natural stern face before he pulls back and shuts the door.

"Damn... I hadn't realized it was so late," Lina apologizes as she begins to pack her stuff inside her bag.

"Huh, don't worry. Good thing is that Ivan will have cooked and set the table, and we only have to show up and eat," I reply with a grin, leading her out of the library and toward the dining room.

Today is the first time that Lina has accepted an offer to stay for lunch after three weeks of attempts from Ivan, and as my friend and I approach the long table, I suddenly understand why he was up so early this morning although I don't think he got back from the Hell Fire until 3 or 4am, and why he was so persistent, treating Lina with his favorite tea; he even baked freaking scones that he brought to us on a tray mid-morning.

Such a stubborn asshole...

Instead of being set for three, the table has been set for four. How surprising is it that Anton suddenly pops out of the kitchen, freshly shaven and dressed in comfortable jeans for once, wearing an apron and holding a huge dish of his specialty, Jollof rice, a recipe he learned from his African grandmother he once told me. That jerk is wearing a tee-shirt that leaves no suspense with regards to his extremely taut frame, proudly hugging his muscles, and the goofiest smile I have ever seen on him.

"Ivan, can we have a talk?" I ask dryly.

"Sure, Menino, I'm listening," he replies cheerfully as he rests a bowl of lettuce on the table and fresh bread.

"In private," I seethe through my teeth, already headed toward his study. "What the fuck is this about!?" I whisper-yell once he has shut the door.

I swear I could slap that smirk off his face right now. I don't even know why I am asking the question. I know what he did.

Ever since I told him about Lina's condition three weeks ago – and even before that in fact – he has been telling me how a perfect Submissive she would make, and that we should arrange for her and Anton to meet. That idiot went as far as discreetly taking a picture of her two Saturdays ago while I was walking her back to her old Beetle parked in the courtyard. Apparently, Anton found her to meet his tastes when Ivan showed him the picture, and the other jerk has also been pressing me to organize an encounter.

If I am honest to myself, I can't disagree with their rambling about Lina needing a Dominant to guide and support her, and yes, I admit that her shyness and adorableness fit the criteria of a Sub, but damn! She is freaking pregnant! She already has so much on her plate at the moment, is it the best time for her to discover the BDSM lifestyle? There is no way she could endure what a Submissive would in fit conditions.

Such lame excuses, Menino... Of course, she needs a Dom to support her. She needs a strong and authoritative man with a decent social situation to provide for her, and it's not only about being materialistic here. Lina needs guidance. Just admit you're jealous...

Yes, there may be a bit of that. Deep down, I might have been hoping to be the one who would guide and help her. Of course, there'd be no sex. It would have been a bit like Ivan and me during the first five months I lived with him. Except I don't have the material or financial support necessary to do so. Who am I trying to fool? I am not even stable enough to entirely support myself.

"I love how your neurons can sometimes work so fast... It's fascinating how your eyes reflect the way your smart brain can suddenly reason on its own accord," he whispers smugly.

"Shut the fuck up! You did this on purpose!" I nearly shout.

"Of course, I did," he snorts. "I've always had a knack for recognizing natural Submissives, whether males or females, and I'm sure you do too, Aaron. Even among the opposite sex. This girl needs a man like Anton. She needs the lifestyle. And don't you dare deny it."

"I'm not denying anything, Ivan. But Lina's expecting a baby! She's pregnant! Does... Does Anton even know what he's getting himself into? For fuck's sake, he's 40 and she's 28!!"

"I'm 40 and you're 19. As far as I remember, our age difference never bothered you."

"Urgh..." I growl, knowing he has another point here. "But I've seen Anton play with female Subs back in the days, and I can't imagine him fucking a pregnant woman like he did these girls."

"For your information, women aren't that fragile past the first three months of their pregnancy. Like Marcus says, they're not like a coconut tree... the baby wouldn't fall off from a bit of roughness. Anyway, Anton's not stupid. He wouldn't drown her into the toughest parts of the lifestyle while she's bearing her baby. You see, that's the point. He's 40, and mature enough to deal with such a situation."

"Oh yeah? And what experience are we talking about exactly? As far as I know, Anton's always been single. How would he even know how to deal with a baby!?"

"Now don't be mean, Aaron," Ivan scolds me. "You've known him for only a year and a half, so basically, that's nothing. Anton has much more experience than you'd think. It's not my role to tell you, though, so you'll have to find out on your own if he ever decides to tell you, but I assure you that Lina would be in good hands if she were to submit to Anton."

Ivan's icy tone will always impress me, I guess, and I immediately shut up, almost lowering my head, as I grasp the emotions radiating from his voice and dark stare. I have no idea what he is talking about, but it's enough for me to understand that I am wrong.

"Now, you may haven't noticed since you were so focused on your anger, but the sparkle in Lina's eyes when she saw Anton makes me think that we should hurry back to our guests. They've probably had enough time to introduce themselves and hopefully for us, we're not going to find them already fucking on the dining table."

Barging out of his study, I ignore Ivan's chuckle and rush back to the dining room where I almost sigh with relief when I see that the table is clear. Actually, Anton is playing the perfect gentleman, pulling a chair for Lina to sit down, and he playfully smirks at me as he turns around. I can still be a brat at times and discreetly flip him the bird, but in reality, when I get to see them side by side as Ivan and I take seats across from them, I must admit that they would make a beautiful couple.

Lina looks so meek with her head slightly lowered and a cute blush covering her face, and Anton seems so powerful and already protective next to her small frame.

Gah!!!

Ivan might be right on that one.

Again.

* * *

Sunday 19 December 2004

The Hell Fire is obviously closed when I meet Ivan in his office at noon. While eating the sandwiches I bought on my way there, we review the twelve index cards that we filled with details for each of the sessions of the Dominant training. Twelve two-hour sessions for any man willing to join our lifestyle and to become a member of the club, to learn how to evolve into a good Dominant.

This has been a lot of work. It started with four entire afternoons of brainstorming, trying to lay down all the fundamental values as well as all the activities, accessories, equipment that one might encounter while indulging into BDSM. There were so many aspects I hadn't thought of, but having been immersed into the kinky lifestyle for so many years, Ivan can't have forgotten anything. Then it was time to organize all these bullet points into categories – submissive phase, learning dominance, theory, practice – and split them into coherent sessions. I did help, suggesting ideas and bringing my thoughts on certain things, but at the end of the day, Ivan did as he wanted.

He is the Master Dom after all.

So today, I am discovering the entire program and I am quite impressed by how complete it sounds. Ivan has also printed out some sort of leaflet that summarizes these cards in a more professional way and that he would give to any potential candidate ready to start getting trained so that they would know what to expect.

And there is a lot to expect... I bet that more than one hunk will chicken out when they see what the submission part includes.

It's nothing compared with the old method and its three to six months of submission. In any case, it's either that or they can go find another club, Ivan stated when we worked on the details, and I could only agree.

The only argument we had was about me taking that part of the training. I don't mind trying some of the accessories or practicing deep-throating, but there is no way I will go through bottoming again. Not when I am just fresh out of a full year of submission and have experienced all sorts of penetrations. It took quite a few shouts and two evenings sulking, but I managed to convince Ivan in the end.

However, the young man who is supposed to start the Dominant training with me today, a certain Mr. Makinen that Ivan mentioned to me quite a few times, will not have a way out of all the practicing and I can't wait to see how Ivan is going to work this out. If the guy is sexy, I might even volunteer to top him and show his probably-virgin hole what bottoming means. That's only in my dreams, though, as Ivan will certainly take care of that part unfortunately.

Anyway, the first session might sound a little boring since it's a thorough introduction to the lifestyle and its general concept, though the entire visit of the club could be interesting. It should be rather relaxing, which is good since I'm tired as hell. After the lunch we shared with Anton and Lina yesterday noon – and this part had already tired me with all their cooing and moon-eyes-making – I had to work a bit more on my homework before Ivan dragged me out for Christmas shopping and then to the club to enjoy my last evening there until I'm certified.

Not that I had much money to spend with the last check I sent to Camden, but I am not going to complain. Rather the opposite, actually. I am so proud that my friend has accepted my help. I am not sure it's going to last very long unfortunately, but at least he is trying. The session he had with the first therapist he met was a complete disaster, and Cam left before his time was up. Something about the guy being homophobic. The next one he found didn't fit either – Cam said he didn't like the way the old man gawked at him with perverse eyes – and it took a lot of convincing before he yielded to a third attempt.

The woman's methods seem to suit him better and he had his third appointment with her a couple of days ago. When I spoke with him on Thursday evening, he objected to provide me with details – which I respect since therapies are supposed to be confidential and I totally understand his need for a bit of privacy – but he confessed that it felt nice to speak with someone with their full attention and she promised to give him a few pointers on how he could deal with his anger management issues very soon.

Cam didn't sound overly enthusiastic, though, and I believe he is still quite reluctant toward the whole concept of getting help from a therapy, but all I want is for him to give it a chance. I was also surprised that he mentioned it to Josh and Mark, which is good since it has allowed us – and by us, I mean Mark, Josh and me – to discuss more about Cam's situation. Behind his back, yes. It's not nice, but our intentions have only been commendable. Deep down, we all worry for our friend in Boston.

Mark has always been the most sensitive and understanding one in our group, so when he voiced his concerns about Cam actually missing Sony and being surrounded by us, his anchors somehow, it became clear that the major problem laid there. He already had these issues back in New Jersey, but having to take care of his younger brother and having our permanent support to contain his temper, it was fine enough. On his own in Boston, things are obviously more difficult.

Joshua, in his usual great generosity, decided that a little trip to our hometown would be beneficial for Camden, and since our friend will have a few days off from his job and residence, he booked him flights to spend Christmas in Collingswood. Neither Mark nor I will be there – I am still determined to never set a foot back in Jersey and Mark is obviously stuck in France – and Josh might not even be around either, but at least, Cam will be able to spend time with Sony and I'm sure it'll brighten his mood.

"Yes, Mike?" Ivan says as he picks the phone on the first ring, which nearly makes me jump but at least effectively pulls me from my thoughts.

".........."

"Perfect. You can show him up here. Thanks," he replies after a brief exchange before hanging up the phone and turning to me. "The other trainee has arrived," he states sternly, already leaping back into his Master Dom role. "Go and take a seat on the couch."

The order has me roll my eyes, but I only do this once I have faced away from him as I walk to the leather sofa of his office. Ivan also stands up and straightens just as a knock echoes on the door. Slightly turned toward the entrance, I can't help a gasp of surprise followed by a smirk when I see the young man walk in after Ivan has beckoned him to.

What the fuck is his name again!?

Haiden? Jorgen? Brayden?

No...

Kayden...

Yes, Kayden!

How could I even forget the name of the sexy hunk who invited me to share his boyfriend at the Heaven Water just over a year ago? Fond memories of the last time I spent an evening at the discotheque immediately flash in my mind, and although I can't remember the twink's little name, I do recall how I enjoyed his mouth while the sexy blonde was pounding into his ass. Just imagining what another threesome with them could be like within the Hell Fire's BDSM context makes my cock twitch and I discreetly adjust it in my pants as I get up from the couch.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Vargas," the blonde says warmly but with a determined voice as he shakes Ivan's hand.

A year has passed since the one and only time I met him at the Heaven Water, but it seems like someone has built up some nice muscles. He was already a bit bulkier than me but knowing that I have grown muscles myself over the past year, I can tell that he has worked out even more than I did.

Fuck!

I have always been more into brunettes, but that blond guy...

What a gorgeous sex God!

"Good afternoon, Kayden," Ivan replies sternly. "Now that you're about to start your training, please address me as Sir or Master Ivan."

"Naturally, Master Ivan," Kayden retorts, a hint of mischievousness in his voice that I already love.

My snort catches his attention and as he turns to me, his mouth gapes open and his eyes blink widely. Those blue eyes... Those deep ocean blue eyes; the ones my chocolate orbs locked with while we were filling his boyfriend's holes. When I thought that his jaw might drop to the floor in a cartoon-like fashion, surprise suddenly gives way to impishness and naughtiness, and a smug smile replies to my smirk.

"Aaron..." he trails off in a chanting voice. "If I'd known that the Aaron Master Ivan told me about was you... I'd have made myself available to start this training even earlier."

"Said training wasn't ready to roll out, I'm afraid. It's a pleasure to see you again, though," I reply in the same singing tone. "How is... err, sorry, I can't remember his name. How's your boyfriend doing? Is he also joining the lifestyle?"

"Xavier is ancient story," he replies with a bit more coldness, but it doesn't last, and the shadow that briefly casts his bright eyes soon fades away. "I'm single and well intend to enjoy my celibacy for a while."

"Oh, well... Too bad we never got to finish what we had started."

"We actually looked out for you during a few weekends after that night back in... Was it December last year?"

"November," I precise.

"Yeah, whatever. Unfortunately, we never saw you again. We should have looked in the building next door, it seems. Though, if I understood well, things might have been different," he replies playfully, and now I wonder what Ivan told him exactly.

"Hum, hum..."

The loud throat clearing immediately gets our attention and we both turn to face a steely and severe Ivan. One who is standing in his authoritarian position, back straight, arms folded across his chest, a stern expression on his face that screams his annoyance. Although he is dressed in regular clothes, black fitted jeans and a white shirt of which the first three open buttons expose a bit of his taut and tanned chest, his Master Dom aura is unmistakable.

"Seems like I don't need to do the introductions," he grunts, staring at me expectantly.

"Remember the last time I went to the Heaven Water just before my trip to Boston last year?" I ask, and Ivan nods in answer. "I told you I'd had met... two guys. Kayden was one of them actually."

"I see," he replies quite grumpily. "Since you already know each other, then maybe we can get started with your training. Please have a seat," he orders, motioning toward the small meeting table.

Both Kayden and I sit down on one side while Ivan settles across from us, and then follows a couple minutes of heavy silence which I know are part of building up some tension. Ivan just loves doing that.

"Like I told you, Kayden, becoming a Dominant should normally be a long process that starts with a phase of submission," Ivan eventually says. "Further to conversations I had with a foreign Dominant member and Aaron, I've decided to reform the Dominant training into something lighter and shorter. It doesn't mean that I'll let anyone become a Dom until I esteem they are ready. However, Aaron and I have worked to establish this program, and as I already told you, you will be the first one to fully experiment it. The first one who's completely new to the lifestyle, I should precise, since Aaron will also follow some of it, and as you know, he has already gone through a whole year of submission as part of my former methods, so it'll be to mostly observe how things go," he explains before he stands up to fetch some documents from his desk.

"You bottomed for a whole year," Kayden snorts, whispering in a low tone in my ear while Ivan faces away from us.

"Fuck you..." I grunt back just before the Master Dom comes back.

"Here's the latest version of the leaflet I already showed you last week," Ivan continues, handing my neighbor a copy. "I might adjust a few things as we progress through the training, but you get an idea of what you'll undergo. So, that's about twelve sessions, seven of which are dedicated to submission because I do believe that a Dominant needs to know what submitting means, followed by a minimum of five sessions to learn and practice dominance.

"This part might extend with more practice until I deem you ready for certification. And even then, you won't be left on your own to do as you want in the club. As a junior Dom, you'll have to pair with more experienced members in the beginning, you'll be closely watched by the security team, and you won't be allowed to play with the most recent Subs. I will observe you as well and will let you know when I believe you've grown enough experience to give you more freedom. Is this clear?"

"All clear, Master Ivan," Kayden replies as he opens the leaflet.

"Please have a look at the program and then, we'll start off with session number one, which is basically a tour of the facilities and a detailed introduction on the lifestyle," Ivan commands.

While Kayden's eyes skim through the summary of each session, I clearly feel him tense beside me, especially during the first part which refers to learning submission.

"Is... Is session number six... absolutely necessary?" he asks awkwardly, even blushing a bit.

"As necessary as the others, if not more," Ivan replies seriously, raising his eyebrows.

I truly have a hard time containing my own smile because session number 6 could be considered as the hardest for any deep alpha, the one that includes the most difficult things that a top-at-heart would have to accomplish. All these things that I did for a year. This is the one session that Ivan conceded me to skip.

"Let's go for a tour of the club first," Ivan then orders.

The three of us rise to our feet and head out, Ivan leading the way while I inch closer to Kayden and lean toward his ear.

"Important session number 6... I'm sure you'll enjoy my cock piercing up your virgin ass," I blow in a very low tone, making Kayden tense even further.

"Aaron, shut the fuck up before I decide to offer Kayden a little demonstration of what a good fuck at the St Andrews's cross can look like," Ivan growls, not even turning back to look at me.

Well, it wasn't necessary anyway. His threatening tone was enough to tame my chirpiness and the rest of the visit goes quietly and uneventfully. Or almost. For the next hour, Ivan drags us along all the corridors, rooms, alcoves and corners of the club, presenting all that the Hell Fire has to offer to its members. Kayden gets to see the security room and Ivan insists on the fact that a large team is operating here and everywhere to secure all the members.

He doesn't fail to remind him that the Subs' room is forbidden to Doms, but he still shows him the comfort that his babies can enjoy. When we reach the main entrance of the Hell Fire and the cloak desk, he leads us into some sort of recess where Doms can change when they arrive, and I realize that they could also get a better place than this.

Something else I will have to discuss with Ivan at some point.

The most interesting part is the Hell Fire in itself obviously, and despite Ivan's rigid seriousness while he introduces all the specific alcoves, the stages, the lounge, the bar, and then gives a short description of all the accessories and equipment, Kayden and I enjoy a more relaxing moment teasing each other or cracking jokes. It was probably not our best move to prove ourselves a bit childish and kidding, especially not in front of the Master Dom who is supposed to train us as Dominants, but hey! Who said that Doms couldn't be playful once in a while?

Once in a while, or more often...

The second hour of our session is a little more boring for me as Ivan delivers a long speech on the Hell Fire – the policies, safety, hygiene and rules, followed by a detailed introduction to BDSM. He insists on all the fundamental values of our lifestyle, which I already know by heart, but I still focus on what he says and note a few things he should add in the future. All the same, Kayden looks captivated and drinks all his words.

What is BDSM? What is a Master Dom? What is a Dominant? What is a Submissive? Their respective roles, responsibilities and duties. What is the difference between those who only indulge in the sexual aspects of the lifestyle and those who carry it through their everyday life? Why are there Doms and Subs who chose to sign contracts while others will only enjoy fooling around, getting different partners on every evening they spend here?

Well, that's a lot of information, but Ivan is just that great at fascinating and bewitching people with the lifestyle he has delved in for years and for which he has a passion. By the end of our first session, despite his slight anxiousness toward the submission phase, Kayden is irrevocably enthralled and eager to discover more. Once our next session has been scheduled on Tuesday next week, we show him back to the entrance and bid him goodbye – though not before he and I have exchanged our respective phone numbers – then Ivan and I go through a thorough debrief of this first session, but I feel him a bit tense.

"Something wrong, Ivan?" I ask bluntly at some point.

"No, why?"

"Dunno... You sound grumpy. Are you having second thoughts on this program?" I offer.

A sudden glint flashes through his eyes as he stares at me, and the annoyance that was displaying on his face earlier melts away, giving way to some kind of embarrassment. I think.

"I'm just so used to the old method, this seems so light compared to what it used to be, I'm just a bit afraid it won't be enough to train the men to become good Doms," he explains, but for some reason, it sounds off.

"We've discussed this already, Ivan, of course it's nothing like your old methods, but I don't think that these potential Doms need to go through such an intense submissive training. I'm sure that, psychologically speaking, slipping into the passive role for a few hours over several sessions is enough, and in terms of practice, you don't really need to experience certain activities more than once to understand how they feel."

"Yes, you're right, I know that, that's silly to worry, and anyway, it's worth giving it a try," he replies with a wink, clearly more comfortable.

I don't know if this is what was truly bothering him or if there is something else, but his renewed good humor reassures me, so I leave it at that.

On my side, I am not really looking forward to going home alone while Ivan will stay at the club. This is the beginning of Christmas break and although I have a shitload of homework to do, I could have spent the evening at the club if it weren't for Ivan's stupid rule. Unfortunately, he is the boss and I doubt that arguing with him would help.

As I eventually drive myself back home, I realize that I will definitely have to find new options to go out or this is going to be hell until I get certified. The Heaven Water will be one for sure and now that I think about it, I could go there with Kayden. Despite his earlier teasing about my year of submission, he sounds like a cool guy and I'm curious to know more about him.

And there's one last point I need to check with Ivan. A very important one I hadn't thought about. I had planned to attend the upcoming New Year's Eve at the Hell Fire, but Kayden having freed himself and started the training earlier than planned, it messes up everything. I will just have to convince Ivan. Both the blonde and I could attend if we remain under the Master Dom's surveillance.

Yes, this really needs to happen.

Published on 21 November 2021

This is the real beginning of a new era now that Kayden has joined, and as you can imagine, there'll be a lot of foreshadowing toward Aaron's third arc. This was a short glimpse into Kayden's introduction, but you'll get more in the next chapter and further on.

Somehow, I am really glad that I took my time progressing in Aaron's third book before I could publish the remaining chapters of this book and the first ones of his second book, because Kayden is completely different from what I had first thought he would be and how I had depicted him when I wrote this first book. Now that I am writing chapter 49 of 314 Moons, I can tell that I have much better defined Kayden's personality and role, as well as his past, which allows me to give a better idea of the future (how he and Aaron interact, the way their relationship evolves, etc) as I edit these last chapters of Book 1.

That's why I won't start publishing Rise of the Moon before I have completed 314 Moons (or at the very least progressed much more), even if that means taking a break and make you wait. The worst part is that I have no idea how long this third book will be. The plot isn't going as I had planned it in the beginning because these characters want to have it their own way, I keep adding more and more chapters within the plan, and ideas can't stop flooding. If that's any indication, I have reached chapter 49, which is set December 18th 2015 I think, and Aaron and Kayden are only just about to officialize their relationship and it won't be another 10 chapters until their Sub becomes their Sub. This is probably going to be the longest book I've ever written...

Anyway, that's about it for this chapter. Oh, and yes, I know many of you thought that Anton was the mysterious man that Lina had met, but no, he's not the father, at least no genetically speaking. As for Anton's past and Ivan's innuendos, you'll have to be as patient as Aaron until you learn more.

See you next week for Aaron and Kayden's budding friendship!