A small Christmas bonus Pookies! 

I made it happen after Aiden's death which was probably in October or December so it's after a Blanket chapter and just when the Aidlyn thingy starts :3

________

Aiden slammed his laptop shut and closed his eyes. 

It was Cry Christmas. 

His eyes hurt him from staring at the screen for two hours playing lol, but it was the last thing he had to do. Rubix cubes - nineteen solved this evening. All the good series he had found- watched. Basketball - he could perfectly hit the basket hanging on a wall from the other end of room. He got a headache from listening to music so his headphones was out. He didn't even have anything to study. Only thing that lasted him was scrolling socials mindlessly. 

He heard laughter of parents' guests coming from downstairs, probably already drunk. Ben went to his parents for Christmas and Aiden was sitting alone in his room since 7 am. 

 Well - that was still better than spending time with his parents' friends. It was his own choice to stay in his room, even though his parents asked him to come downstairs. But he said he was okay, took some food and locked himself in his room. 

As always, cry Christmas.

Aiden lied his head on his arms, leaning on a desk. 

He wished his Christmas was like other people's. 

Like on adverts, happy families sitting together by the table. 

His family used to be like that. 

They used to spend Christmas together, decorating a tree and the whole house with lights, going to a church at night when it was empty and lit only by Christmas lights, watching Home Alone over and over again, singing carols and eating mountains of gingerbread cookies. 

And then they started to trip abroad. 

He wanted it so bad to come back...

Now his room was dark, quiet and sad. He wanted to take out lorazepam, forget about the past times when he used to be happy, and sleep the whole night like he used to. But he didn't want to stuff himself with drugs again and wander like a zombie for the whole next day. 

It's almost midnight, he realized.

Another 'try not to cry' Christmas.

His eyes turned unusually stinging.

Don't you cry, it's Christmas, he told himself, blinking a few times. Don't behave like a little kid. Dont't think, just do something. 

Scrolling on the phone looked like a nice idea right now. 

Aiden forced himself to stand up and fell on his bed. He reached for his phone and immediately sat back up, noticing a message from Ashlyn.

Something new - she barely texted him, until now it was almost always him who texted first. 

________

23:34

Ashlyn

Hi

What are u doing?

________

Aiden's useless heart sped up with no concrete reason, completely distracting him.

Why did she text me?

Simply 'what are u doing'?

She had never texted to ask something like that before.

"Shut up", he mumbled and nervously tore his hand through his hair.

Yeah, the fact he liked her was getting more and more annoying. And the fact he started talking to himself was disturbing. 

________

23:34

Ashlyn

Hi

What are u doing?

23:42

Aiden

Hiii

Nothing

It's so boring here

And u?

Just sitting in my room

I got tired 

:D

What?

What what?

what that emoji

Does it have to mean something?

:D

Hmm no i guess 

:(

WHY SO SAD-

I just made a random emoji

it doesn't mean anything

Oh

Still sad :(

I don't get you sometimes

I don't get you sometimes too so it's fair 

hmm maybe

Why did u text me actually?

Got bored

Are u busy?

Nope 

Just asked

Clear curiosity

Hm okay 

So

Are you sitting alone there?

Ben is with his parents right?

Yup

I played lol a little

But I get bored quickly ya know

Yeahh

your parents have guests rn?

yup

how do u know

You mentioned earlier 

you're not with them?

sorry if Im nosy, you don't need to reply

I'd never say youre nosy

you're the least nosy person i know

thanks i guess..?

and uh about the question

Im not with them now

 Im just sitting in my room 

they're so boring hahaha

I'm sorry

why??

Cuz ur alone

And it's Christmas 

oh

I'll be fine :)

Nothing's new

And tomorrow? 

What are ur plans?

same I think

So much free time ^^

Wait a sec

You can come over then if u want to

Really?

Do I look like I'm joking?

I don't see you...

Wow no way-

Hahahah

btw what about your parents?

did u ask them?

yeah they agreed

do you even care about my parents?

idk they're military

im afraid of your dad

What why

hes scary :')

Ummm

if you say so...

Okee I'll come over then

Alright

Cool :>

________

Aiden stared at his phone in silence for several seconds. 

Something in his chest tightened. 

Ten minutes ago it was a Christmas evening, so fucking lonely. Now he had plans, just tomorrow with Ashlyn and her family. 

He hesitated. 

Family...

________

23:47

Aiden

Maybe let's ask others to come too?

If u want to

Ashlyn

Why not

And if your parents are against it, lemme know

mine will convince them if necessary 

they won't 

no worries

hmm okay

see you at the graveyard then

WHAT 

what

Oh shut up

You know what graveyard  I mean 

cant i even joke??

that was a bad joke. 

FINE

by the way

let's rest a bit tonight in a pd

No fighting phantoms

Just sitting in the bus

What about it?

That's a great idea

Really great

:DD

See you then

See yaaaaa

And

Merry Christmas Aiden

Merry Christmas

Ash

:))

________

Aiden threw his phone on the bed. He didn't notice when his hands started to shake. 

Why?

She didn't do so much. She just asked if he wanted to come over. 

That wasn't so much, but still too much for him. 

"I don't get you, Ash" he whispered. "I don't get you at all." 

So distant and so close in the same time...

"And that makes me like you."

I guess not only that. but let's pretend guyzz... Anyways. This chapter was inspired by song Cry Christmas by Mother Mother :3

...

Merry late Christmas 💗✨