Warning, descriptions of s3lfh@rm :)

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It was about seven o'clock when they arrived to the holiday resort, unpacked, ate lunch, dinner and was over the entire resort.

The building of a main hotel was called Moonley House - from the name of forest that the resort was surrounded by - Moonley Woods. The hotel was huge and old, but it wasn't the place where they were situated. Students and teachers from their school took their places in little wooden 'cottage' cabins surrounding the hotel building.

Ashlyn was assigned to a cabin with Taylor and two other girls from their class, while the boys were all together. Lucky there were two-person rooms, so they could talk in peace and prepare for moving to the other dimension.

"I'm exhausted", Taylor chugged as they entered they room after the dinner.

"Me too", Ashlyn plopped down on her bed. "It really wasn't necessary to go to that boring stone museum!"

"That's a pity we didn't visit the famous museum of walls!" Taylor sighed dramatically and laughed.

Ashlyn shook her head with a little smile.

"By the way, I think it's suspicious that our school has enough money to book cottages in such a nice resort for so many people."

"Bet Aiden's parents sponsored" Taylor giggled, reaching for her toiletry bag and took the lipstick out of it. She quickly fixed her makeup - thought Ashlyn couldn't see a change - and splashed herself with a body lotion. "I'm ready."

"For what?"

"For coming to boys', of course!"

"Oh right. We need to figure out our plan for tonight."

Taylor smiled at her and winked, and Ashlyn wasn't sure what it was supposed to mean.

Anyways, the girls informed their roommates they're going out and left the cabin.

"Hello theeeere!" Taylor called as they entered a messy hall of boys' cabin, without knocking. Because why. "Wassup?"

"Oh, hi" Logan replied from the coach with a light smile and Ben sitting next to him waved.

"We're still unpacking", he typed and the girls looked around.

"Yeah, I see." Ashlyn rolled her eyes. "What a mess!"

"I'm curious if your cabin is in relative order!" Tyler's snort (as always snort a/n) came from the kitchen.

Taylor glanced through the opened door and looked inside. Tyler just jumped off the fridge and Taylor climbed on the top of it with an excitement.

"Oh, by the way, where is Aiden?" Ashlyn asked Tyler who nodded towards her. The second later she felt arms embracing gently her neck from the back.

"Hellooo", Aiden smiled right next to her ear.

"Aiden", she gasped, startled and sighed, not sure what to do. "Let go of me."

"Okee" he withdrew his hands and passed Ashlyn in the door and she felt heart speed in one second as she realized he's shirtless. "Anyone wants an ice lolly?"

Oh shit.

Aiden.

Without a shirt.

Just held me from a back.

He even fucking dare to startle me?!

WHAT AN IDIOT.

She crossed her arms on the chest.

Stop thinking. Stop thinking.

"What is that, Aiden." she leaned her shoulder against the door frame, looking at the colourful doodles decorating his skin. "And why the hell are you shirtless?"

"Does it bother you?" he grinned, handing Taylor an ice lolly.

"But really? 'Moron'?!"

"Why are you call me names?" he joked.

"No, I'm talking about the huge writing on your back." she pointed at the purple, crooked letters.

"What?" he turned unnaturally his head, trying to look at his back. "Tyler. I'll kill you."

With his shiny, red eyes, he looked like he was capable of it. Only an ice lolly in his hand was ruining this impression.

"Try to kill me and you end up in a grave." Tyler snorted.

"And you end up on a tree."

"Don't argue, boys" Taylor giggled from the top of the fridge. "It fits you, Aiden, haha!"

"But he was supposed to write 'smile', not 'moron' ", Aiden complained.

"You two are impossible" Ashlyn groaned, grabbing the ice lolly from Aiden's hand. "Come on, you dummy. We'll fix that."

"You'll write 'smile'?" Aiden followed her out of the kitchen, surprised.

"Nope, I'm gonna remove these.

"Dang." he mumbled. "Well, you don't need to, I'll remove it later."

"You can't parade like that. Besides it's bad for your skin. Should I risk going in there?" Ashlyn stopped in front of the bathroom door. "Do you even have soap?"

"Yup" Aiden stepped inside and reached for a bar of soap. "Here you are."

"I don't think it's enough", Ashlyn glanced into the room and sneezed.

"Bless you!" Aiden giggled.

"Thanks. But really - who splashed so much Old Space here?"

"Old Space is cool!"

"It is, but not that much. It's choking", she turned around and moved toward the front door. "Come on."

Aiden followed her without question, not even bothering himself to put on a T-shirt.

"Taylor has a micellar fluid", Ashlyn informed him, when they entered girls' cabin. "Hope it'll remove these scribbles."

They went to the bathroom and Ashlyn looked around.

"Do you think she won't be mad at you for using her stuff?" Aiden asked when she took out a pink bottle.

"No, she told me today I can use her cosmetics if I want to."

"Whoaaa, you two slowly become besties."

"Hmm, maybe", she reached for a cotton bud, and Aiden leaned his hand on the sink to be more stable.

Their classmates probably left because the cabin was quiet. Ashlyn felt a bit uneasy in this silence when she touched Aiden's skin - even though she was only removing the marker writings. Especially he was quiet, what was strangely uncomfortable for her.

Ashlyn's senses sharpened. She could clearly hear his quick heartbeat in this silence, she felt his muscles tense under her fingers. She sped up to finish and have an excuse to say something.

But then she stopped.

No.

It's not...

A few pale thin lines decorated the side of Aiden's back, almost invisible that she had to look closely to see them clearly.

"Are these...", the words came out of her mouth faster than she thought of them.

"You mean...?"

"The... scars", she whispered.

Aiden didn't turn to look at her.

"So you saw them", he said. "Yeah. These are."

His voice was different than usual and when she glanced at the bathroom mirror, she realized why. She gently put her hand on his shoulder and stepped over to be in front of him.

"You barely smile", she said the obvious, but was too shocked to care about it.

Aiden avoided her eyes. He looked at her hand on his shoulder and his hand raised, then stopped. His jaw muscle twitched as if he was trying to keep smiling.

"Don't..." he haven't finished and Ashlyn noticed how tightly he clenched his fingers. She swallowed.

"I am here."

His gaze raised to meet her eyes.

"You are the first person who saw it." he said so quietly that anyone who didn't have over-hearing like her, wouldn't hear it. His smile almost disappeared and now his face looked twisted by force.

Ashlyn felt her heart constricts with pain.

It was the first time she saw him like this, so fragile, unsafe, broken. It scared her. She hated this so much, but in the same time she was aware it was real - and this made her heart hurt more.

"Aiden, stop... stop smiling." her voice shook against her will. "You don't have to pretend you're okay."

"I am okay... It was a long time ago."

"How long?"

"About two years, I guess."

Ashlyn stared at him without a word and he looked away again. She realized how he was uncomfortable, withdrew her hand.

"Are you..." she bit her lip. "Are you okay? But... Are you really okay?"

"Ashlyn. I'm okay, don't worry."

"I don't..."

"I see", he chuckled, but it sounded pitifully sad. "Don't think about it, okay?"

"But..." Ashlyn felt a sudden panic running through her veins. "It's still in you. It is... If I'm the first who saw it... Please tell me. I could help you. I need to help you, I... I need..." Tears streamed down her face.

He was as surprised as she was.

"I'm sorry" she sobbed. "I shouldn't be the one crying..."

He didn't reply, just hugged her. And this time she didn't care he's shirtless or anything, she was just crying, squeezing him tightly.

It was a shock.

Not that she didn't supposed it deep in her heart.

"I'm sorry", he mumbled after the moment. "I shouldn't let you see it."

She shook her head.

"I'm happy I know", she squealed quietly.

"You don't seem too happy..."

She moved away and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Aiden?"

"Hm?"

"I can listen to you", she whispered. "You can tell me anything."

He sighed.

"I'm sorry saying this, cause I hate being not honest with you... But I can't. I don't want to. I'd rather not to think about it at all, okay?"

Ashlyn nodded.

"But it's not that you're not honest."

"Yeah, but... I want to tell you everything you want me to tell. And I feel bad cause I can't tell you everything."

"It's fine." she took a deep breath. "You don't have to. I just want you to know I will listen if you need me."

He was staring at her for a moment.

"I'm your friend." she added quietly, looking away.

She almost jumped, hearing Aiden's chuckle.

"It's unbelievable how much you changed during last few months."

Aiden laughed louder, and soon Ashlyn was laughing with him - although someone who didn't know her would call it a small, small giggle.

It was the type of laugh you really need after a long time.

Aiden's smile came back, but it was smaller and less 'psycho' than usually.

"I promise I'll tell you one day", he said. "But not yet. I don't like to come back in time."

"That's why you bleach your hair and wear contacts, am I right?"

"You are", he nodded. "Well. Are you done with removing the writings?"

"There's a little left, but it'll get out after you take a shower."

"Nice. And don't worry about me, okee? I'm good, Ashy."

"Don't call me that."

"Pookie Wookie Cookie Pie then."

She didn't know if she's more happy or annoyed seeing his grin.

"Fine, blondie."

"I give up, I give up!" he joked, raising both hands.

"Really, you didn't have to announce on group chat I made this nickname. It's damn lame."

"I think this one was really good! Well, the fact is I'll like everything you come up with."

"Stop rizzling me."

Aiden gasped with laughter.

"Pff- I- wow." he slapped his hand on his knee. "What about no?"

"Cause I say so!" she mumbled, feeling her face getting warm.

"But this is my favourite hobby!"

"I thought your favourite hobby is killing people?"

"Not since I know you, babe."

"Stop it or I will never speak to you again."

"Hmm, should I remind you you're the one who wanted to 'try our best'...?"

"Oh shut up!" she was now sure she blushed, cause Aiden burst out laughing.

"Throw a stone if I'm wrong."

She rolled her eyes.

"Okay. We should go back before Taylor will come here calling us lovey-dovey or something else that stupid." Ashlyn put away cotton buds and micellar fluid.

"I think she'd call you a Swollen Blossom."

"What the heck?!"

"Like that red-head Powerpuff" he smiled widely.

Ashlyn groaned.

"You're impossible!"

"You're welcome! I love teasing you, it's so easy."

"I hate you."

"But I improved your mood, didn't I?"

She wanted to deny, but realized he was right.

"Just come on, dummy. We have to discuss the plan for tonight."

"I'm going."

They left the cottage and walked towards the boys' one.

"Ashlyn?" Aiden grabbed her wrist before they entered the door.

"Yeah?" she was surprised he called her by her full name.

"Thanks. For everything."

"I'm... just trying to be there for you like you are there for me." she shrugged, blushing again. "That's what best friends do."

"Thanks anyway." he ran his hand through his hair. "We're doing great as best friends for now, huh?

She nodded, cause something tightened in her throat, preventing her from letting out a single word.

"We're doing more than great, I guess."

She couldn't help but smiled as she looked at him. His eyes were shining in the golden light streaming from the windows, but his smile was brighter than anyything else. Something in it made her heartbeat speed up.

"Well, let's go." she pushed the door, and entered the room, sure her face is bright red.

And of course, the first what she heard was Taylor's voice:

"Whoaaa, our lovey-dovey came baaaack!"

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Okay okay I know the Aiden's s3lfh@rm canon is so lame and popular but... I just... had to. I had to make a chapter like this.The mood changed just like I change my fictional boyfriends. (Kidding, I have only three)

DEAR BUNNIES I'M SORRY (again) I really wanted to post it earlier...

My excuses why I'm so late:

1. It was my mom's birthday party few days ago and I couldn't sit with my phone

2. I had to make a gift for her and it took so much time

3. I had a problem with ideas for chapters and I had to think about the events order and action (ok i can change the cover, these totally aren't oneshots)

4. It was my cousin's birthday yesterday too 💀

5. My parents had to take me to the clinic (my mom had to go there) and I was walking with my sisters and cousins, steaming from the sun and now Im sitting at home with a migraine

6. My parents are strict and wanted to took my phone, but I disagreed and hid it (I feel so bad now) 😭 and I was afraid they'll catch me using it, so I didn't used it much since saturday. Finally I gave my phone to my parents cause I didn't want to be banned by them and be a bad daughter (besides I am tho) 🙏🙏
Thank you for reading my life story btw

7. I was lazy. You can scold me 🤗

But a huge plus - excluding my excuses this chapter has about 2100 words :))