Chapter 7- He comes bearing gifts

"What? Of course Clara is a full character. We only saw her with the Doctor, so she seemed fake and perfect, but they've shown more of her this season! She's a well-developed character," I argued. Aiden rolled his eyes.

"Well, the direction they are heading now is a good one, but I am not going to ignore all of the previous episodes where she was treated as merely a mystery and not as a person," he retorted. We had come home from work and were currently watching a Doctor Who rerun together, but it had spawned into a whole discussion (mostly argument) about it. Almost all of our opinions clashed. I opened my mouth to respond, but the doorbell cut me off. I smiled wide.

"He's here!" I exclaimed. I opened the door and after my dad set his bags down I jumped into his arms. It had only been five days since he'd left, but hey, I was allowed to miss him.

"Ari, we must visit China sometime," he said ruffling my hair. He hugged Aiden then sat on the couch. Aiden brought all of us water. I raised an eyebrow. He never served me anything.

"So, did you guys get along well? No more prank wars, I hope," my dad said frantically looking around the house for damage. I rolled my eyes.

"We're not children, dad. We got along just fine," I said genuinely. Aiden nodded in agreement.

"Hopefully not too fine," my dad said. I was confused as to what he was implying, but Aiden started choking on his water. My cheeks flushed at what he meant and I threw a pillow at my inappropriate father. He chuckled.

"Joking, god! Can't a dad joke?"

I groaned.

"Uncle Raymond," Aiden groaned. My dad laughed, but quickly changed the awkward subject and talked about his trip. We caught up for a while, but I noticed him getting tired.

"Anyways, the jet lag is hitting me. I think I'll shower and nap. I've missed you kiddos; thanks for not killing each other," he said before heading off. I smiled at his direction.

"You have a nice dad," Aiden said.

"Yeah, I do. Where'd that come from?" I questioned. He shrugged.

"I'm just grateful he took me in, that's all," he said. I wanted to ask why he was here this summer, but I didn't. I knew it'd just upset him. I just gave him a small smile. What was happening to me? I'm going soft. Oh boy.

"By the way, how are things with you and Maggie?" I asked changing the subject.

"Oh, that ended. Didn't I tell you?" he said. Now it was my turn to falter.

"No, you didn't! You're supposed to tell me stuff like that," I stated smacking him with a pillow.

"Why are you so violent? Damn. And it wasn't a big deal," he explained nonchalantly.

"Why'd you break up?" I asked. Was Aiden the type of guy that slept around? Not that I cared or that it was a bad thing. It was his life. But I was curious. Just curious. That's all.

"Stupid reasons. She didn't like that I rushed out of our date to pick you up that day with Max, you know? And then, that led to other arguments. She was too, jealous? I don't know. It was supposed to be a fun relationship, but she was acting like she owned me," he replied. I froze taken aback by his honesty.

"It's my fault?" I replied feeling terrible.

"Don't go feeling bad. It was not your fault. Seriously," he replied now looking at me. I still felt bad, though.

"Alright, well I'm still sorry," I replied, finally.

"No problem! Hey, A, since you're sorry, can you give me a back massage and maybe help me get over it with some loving?" he asked smirking. I glared.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Do you want a legit answer?"

I groaned.

"You're so frustrating!"

****

"Will a double fudge two scoop be all for you today?" I asked. Work felt long today, but thank the lord it was almost time to leave. I was just trying to get rid of this customer. Aiden was in the back, cleaning.

"Do you have mini marshmallows? OH and rainbow sprinkles! Or should I get chocolate? What do you think?" the guy in front of me asked. He was relentless.

"Oh, um rainbow?"

"Great choice! I like you!" he exclaimed. I stared at him oddly. It was a weird thing to say. He seemed too adorable for me to be creeped out, though.

"Alright, that'll be 4.99, sir," I replied. After paying and getting his ice cream, he sat down on one of the tables.

"We close in five minutes," I informed. Why couldn't I get rid of him?

"Where is Aiden, then?" he asked.

"Aiden?"

"I take it you know him, from the expression on your face?" the guy said and gave a small laugh. I smiled a little.

"He was cleaning in the back. He should be out soon," I informed.

"Well, I'm Logan. Nice to meet you, Ari," he said.

"Nice to meet you- wait, how do you know my name?" I asked, suspicious.

"Name-tag," he pointed out. I blushed at my cleverness.

"Logan! You're here! Why didn't you text me that you'd arrived already?" Aiden asked coming out of the back. Logan smiled at him. Aiden took out his apron and they hugged.

"I've missed you, man. And I was getting an ice cream. It took a while thanks to Ari here," Logan said which earned him a glare from me. As if it was my fault he took forever ordering.

"Yeah, she can be a bit slow at times. We always have to push her, you know. Not everyone can be a hard worker," Aiden teased. I was tempted to throw the cash register at him, but I kept my cool.

"I like how you can go from cute to murderous in a second, Ari," Logan stated. I blushed.

Aiden scoffed.

"Cute? Please," he said. I was back to looking murderous.

"I've got a surprise for you, bro!" Logan exclaimed.

"I told you not to get me anything," Aiden groaned. I raised an eyebrow.

"So, Ari! Do you have a surprise dinner set up at your house?" Logan whispered in my ear, leaning over the counter.

"Wait, what?" I asked really confused.

"You've been living with Aiden this whole summer and no surprise for him?" Logan exclaimed.

So he knew who I was. But why would I have a surprise for him?

"Maybe because I didn't tell her, damn," Aiden said looking at Logan, annoyed.

"Tell me what?" I asked, now my turn to be annoyed.

"It's Aiden's 18th birthday! Yaaaaaay!" Logan said doing a mini fist bump.

"Aiden!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah?" he said trying to look innocent.

"Why wouldn't you tell me this? This is so last minute and I have to plan something, oh my. Or should we just go out. I'll have to check-," I started planning it out, but Aiden put his hand over my mouth, shutting me up. I squinted my eyes at him in frustration.

"Stop. I don't need anything, cupcake. Don't go control freak on me," he said and gave me a small smile. Aiden was not liking the birthday attention? This was so not him. He still wouldn't let go of my mouth. I don't know what pushed me to do it- it was gross, but he was annoying me, so I did the natural thing in this situation. I licked his hand.

"Oh gross, A!" he exclaimed wiping his hand on his pants. I smirked at him.

"Aw, you two are adorable!" Logan said.

"Don't look at me like that," he said after seeing our glares.

******

Turns out Logan was Aiden's close friend from San Francisco. They went to high school together. He was down in LA to visit Aiden for the rest of the summer and to stay with his grandparents.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?" I asked, again. Aiden and Logan were catching up in the living room.

"Well if you make me something. I cannot resist," Logan said sending me a smile. Aiden rolled his eyes.

"Stop trying to flirt," he scolded.

"Why, you jealous?" he teased. I liked Logan already. Despite his attempts to flirt, he seemed like a cute puppy. Aiden huffed in annoyance, but didn't respond. I giggled at their interactions.

I ended up bringing us leftover pizza and water.

"Sorry, I don't cook," I stated.

"I was only joking. Plus, I love pizza," Logan said with his mouth full of food.

"So, what's the surprise, man?" Aiden groaned.

"So, you are excited!"

Aiden just gave him a look.

"Okay, well normally my presence would be enough of a present, but it is your 18th birthday after all. So, I got you four tickets to see your favorite band- Twenty One Pilots! One for you, one for me, one for Ari, and the other was supposed to be for my girlfriend, but that didn't work out, so I have an extra ticket," Logan said giving us our tickets.

My eyes got wide. He paid for four tickets? How?? Why??

"Dude," Aiden said, sounding speechless.

"I know. I'm the best," he said.

We both nodded in agreement.

******

"So, this friend Lexi. Is she hot by any chance? Not that it matters; just wondering." Logan said and I rolled my eyes. Aiden smacked his head.

"Ow!" he complained.

"Way out of your league," he pointed out and Logan pouted.

We were waiting outside for Lexi to come. I was happy Logan had an extra ticket. I loved going to concerts with Lex. We were all carpooling to the venue which happened to be all the way in San Diego. Logan over here didn't calculate distance too well, I suppose. That's why we were leaving super early and staying at a motel afterwards. I was surprised my dad didn't complain too much. Finally, Lexi arrived.

"Hi!" she said leaving her bag and giving me and Aiden a hug.

"You must be Logan. I'm Lexi, nice to meet you. Thanks so much for the ticket!" she exclaimed giving him a hug as well. Logan on the other hand was speechless.

"No, no problem," he stuttered out and I could swear I saw a slight blush.

Lexi simply smiled and picked up her bag.

"You're drooling," Aiden said smirking. Logan glared at him. I laughed at how awkward Logan got around Lexi. And to think that he was all flirty before.

"I'm proud you could shut Logan up, Lex," Aiden said throwing an arm Lexi. She laughed and they walked over to the car.

"I don't know what you're talking about! I'm going to talk the whole two hours there! Just you watch!" Logan yelled at them.

"It's okay, dude. It's okay," I consoled him, patting his back.

It turns out, when Logan made a promise- he kept it. He wouldn't shut up the whole time. We were an hour away from the venue, and he was still talking. It was about the most ridiculous things, too.

"Do you ever think why old cartoons were so violent, yet TV today is being judged as being super outrageous? Like, what was up with the anvil dropping and pain of animals being seen as comedy. Am I right?" he said, continuing talking.

Aiden reached over from the drivers seat to the passenger and smacked his arm.

"OW," he complained rubbing his arm.

"He has a point about the anvil thing, though," Lexi said. Aiden and I groaned.

Finally, we almost reached the venue as could be seen from the terrible traffic. I started getting really excited. I'd never seen this band live before, and I'd heard they were really good.

"Okay, I'm super stoked right now. Thanks again, Logan," Aiden said smiling. A warm feeling settled into my heart. It was nice to see Aiden genuinely happy. I was a little surprised at myself, but decided not to think too much into it.

"My pleasure! I'm hella stoked as well!" Logan exclaimed and started doing fist bumps and 'whooping'. Lexi soon joined him. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. Who even fist bumps anymore?

After waiting in line, which felt like forever, it was time to stand in the crowd to wait for them to go on, which also felt like forever.

Finally, they went on, and I could not explain the feeling- the way the music felt, the way the crowd went crazy, and just witnessing the talent and vibe in the room.

I definitely had to do this again.

Then it was time for the after-concert foot traffic while everyone attempted to get to their car.

"My legs don't work anymore," Lexi complained while leaning on me for support as we were heading towards the parking lot.

"You're not exactly helping mine either," I said but nonetheless allowed her to lean.

"That's what standing for three hours will do to ya," Logan pointed out.

"You guys are weak! THAT WAS AWESOME AND I STILL FEEL IT!" Aiden exclaimed bouncing around.

"The guy is superman," Logan said shaking his head.

"Logan, even if you flirt with me, I will not carry you to the car," Aiden said. I had to chuckle at that.

"Please?" Logan said.

"No."

"Thanks for carrying me," Logan said five minutes later as we reached the car. Aiden let him down and glared.

"I knew you were a softie," I said pointing to his heart.

"I'm a softie and I'm proud!" he exclaimed.

"How do you still have a voice?" Lexi croaked.

"Strong vocal cords? Or maybe I didn't scream like a maniac for three hours?" Aiden pointed out.

"It's a concert," she retorted.

"They're my favorite band," Aiden said.

"Oh so no one else is allowed to be excited?"

"That's not what I meant," Aiden said and they started bickering.

"Are they always like this?" Logan asked me.

"Huh, usually it's me and Aiden fighting. This is strange," I said crossing my arms and watching the two in amusement.

"Children, children. Break it up. Let's get something to eat then head to our motel, yeah?" Logan interrupted.

"Shotgun!" Lexi exclaimed looking proud. 

"I want to drive!"Logan said while Aiden and I groaned.

"No offense," we said at the same time. Tonight was a strange night. It didn't feel real. However, those were usually the best kind of nights.

xxx

Ay, it took me so long to write this chapter. Hopefully, it's alright. I'm determined to finish this story by the deadline- wish me luck lol. Please comment or vote! Feedback is really lovely. Also, I just finished Gilmore Girls (10/10 would recommend) and need a new show. Y'all might know the struggle ugh. 

xxx