CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT
HESITANT SLUMBERS

That night, Aaron had gotten little to no sleep.

He'd been the first of his friends to awaken, besides Max of course, but she'd been up all night scribbling furiously on pieces of paper, so Aaron figured that didn't really count.

Aaron presumed that he had gotten three hours of sleep at most, four at a push.

He'd awoken in a slight panic, jolting awake as if he'd only dosed off for a moment or two. The blond looked around the room in a daze, trailing his eyes over everything as he tried to blink the sleep from his eyes.

Everyone else was sleeping, the room almost an eerie silent.

Eventually, he adverted his attention onto the girl next to him, thanking god that she was still sleeping, knowing she needed it.

Usually, it was Kimmy up before Aaron. And unless Aaron wasn't sleeping in her room with herr - which admittedly wasn't common - or he'd snuck down to check on her, he never really saw her sleeping.

She looked... calm almost. But then again, maybe that was because she'd been and looked so stressed lately, perhaps she wasn't calm at all.

Aaron frowned and took back his previous assumption upon looking closer. Her brows were knitted together in a furrow and a ghost of a frown played on her lips. The blond quickly realised that she wasn't at peace at all, not even while sleeping.

As the sleep wore off, Aaron realised just how tightly the girl was gripping onto him.

Kimmy was slumped against him, her head dropped against his shoulder, practically buried in his neck, the boy just able to make out her features. Well, he would have been able to if her dark hair wasn't spread out over her face and blocking his view.

Aaron was still sat up in the same position he had been in earlier just before he fell asleep. Using what felt like all his might, he lifted his head from where it had been resting against the back of the couch and reached his fingers out in an almost hesitant manner, shifting the dark hair from her face so he could see better.

He wasn't even sure what it was he was looking for or why he felt the urge to get a look at her - a good look. It just seemed to be an instinct for some reason.

Aaron watched the sleeping girl for longer than he cared to admit, a million feelings rushing through him all at once despite the fact his face remained blank.

The only thing that had been on his mind was Kimmy and her expected situation that he presumed to play out in the next few days.

And he hated it. He hated himself for giving in and having those thoughts, he hated her parents for causing her mountains of pain and trauma that had landed her in this shit heap that she currently found herself in.

He hated it all.

Suddenly, he was second guessing everything. Fuelled by fear and anger that left him wanting to do nothing but stay with the brunette at all times, somehow convinced she'd be fine as long as he was right next to her.

The blond could feel himself getting angrier and angrier by the second, yet unable to clear the thoughts from his head.

Just like most things in life, the situation at hand wasn't fair.

There wasn't many things in life that were fair, but fucking hell, it was like the girl was being targeted by that point. There were things that weren't fair in everyone's life, but Aaron truly believed that Kimberley Jenkins had suffered enough in her fifteen years of life to never face any amount of bother from anyone or anything ever again.

Why was it always her? Just as she'd gotten away from her fucked up house and deadbeat parents, she was thrown into all this with Vecna. Not only was her best friend being targeted, but Kimmy now had potential to follow in her footsteps.

The entire situation angered the blond boy to a point it was an almost foreign feeling, like he'd never been so mad in all his life.

They didn't even know if the Jenkins girl would face the hands of the supposed curse, but even so, Aaron would much rather it was him who suffered because of the actions of others rather than the girl sleeping against his side.

Even if she hadn't suffered a shit up bringing, even if she'd never faced a day of trouble in her life, Aaron would rather he would end up dead at the end of it all than her.

He was scared for her - absolutely terrified. But, rather selfishly so, he was worried for himself. He absolutely did not want anything to happen to her, but what if it did? What would he do if she died?

He knew exactly what he'd do if she died - he'd lose it. Completely and utterly lose it. And he was sure he'd never fully recover from it no matter how much time may pass.

No, she couldn't die. She wouldn't.

But, Aaron couldn't stop the drops of doubt that would cloud his brain at the thought of it all.

But what if she did?

The blond frantically shook his head at himself, forcing the thoughts down and out of his mind. The boy put on a front and acted as if he was fine, despite the fact no one was watching him.

Although, he couldn't ignore the way his breathing had picked up or the way he began shaking his head for no apparent reason - as if to banish the realistic thoughts that threatened to taunt him before he'd even thought of them.

And for a moment, it worked, and his mind was blank. But then again, that was only for a moment.

Aaron felt his entire body jolt in discomfort as one thought in particular pushed its way into his mind.

It was gone just as soon as it had come, but it still left the boy more shaken than he'd ever care to show.

If he was going by what had happened to Max, if Kimmy saw any sort of... vision at all that day, she'd be dead by tomorrow.

It was as if the thought was so terrifying to him that he couldn't even process it, simply blinking frantically as he looked down at her.

He just had to make sure she made it through the day without seeing anything, then he'd know she'd be fine. The blond sighed to himself, knowing the next hours would most likely cause the most draining and taunting day he'd lived in quite some time.

Aaron didn't know why, but he suddenly shifted his position in which he sat, moving the brunette as he adjusted his arm around her shoulders and pulled her even closer to him - if possible. Despite not wanting to think about it, he worried he wouldn't get to do that again.

That he wouldn't get to hold her, or talk to her, or do anything with her ever again. All because of the shit her parents had done to her for near fifteen years of her life.

God forbid if Kimmy did see something that day, Aaron would be furious. In fact, he'd be absolutely beside himself with anger that he probably wouldn't know what to do with himself.

Anyone but Kimmy. That's what kept running through his mind. Anyone but her.

And he truly believed that, more than absolutely anything. But it wasn't for reason many may think. Not because he wanted her or needed her - despite this being true and knowing if she did die he'd be much more heartbroken than he thought anyone could ever realise, but simply over the fact that she didn't deserve to die.

And she didn't.

Kimmy should live a long life, a happy life. One where she could get out of the dump they had the pleasure of calling their hometown and create a life of her own. That was what he wanted for her. He didn't want it snatched out from under her over night for something she couldn't control.

The boy felt his lips twitch into a deep frown as he watched her sleep. The only thing being able to focus on was the fact that things might all be different between the two of them that same time tomorrow.

Keeping in mind that he might only have one day to do so, and that when the early hours of tomorrow rolled in he might not have the privilege of doing so any more, he leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to her forehead, already knowing he'd most likely be a mess that time tomorrow no matter the outcome.

There was an abrupt squeak of a chair and Aaron snapped his attention over to the opposite side of the small room, watching as Max stood from her spot at the desk for the first time that night.

The redhead clearly hadn't noticed that the boy was awake, moving to climb the stairs out of the room without as much of a glance in his direction.

Although his mind and worry was occupied with Kimmy, he was obviously worried about his red headed friend also.

It was no secret that it wasn't looking good for Max, but there was so much concern, panic and horror pumping through him that he didn't know what to do with it all.

All he could do was hope that the group was wrong. That just as usual, he was over thinking things and that both the girl sleeping to his side and her bestest friend would be fine when the next morning came.

...

Steve was the next of the group to wake, although Aaron payed no notice to his older brother, much to occupied with his own thoughts as he held onto the girl next to him.

The boy was up much earlier than Aaron could ever recall him actually waking on his own accord, the youngest brother assuming this was due to the fact he was crammed into a small uncomfortable chair rather than his bed.

Aaron ignored him, half expecting him to go back to sleep.

Truth be told Aaron was rather tired himself, to the point he'd catch himself drifting off and force himself to stay awake, not wanting to leave the brunette even through sleep in case something happened.

Moments passed where nothing was said, where nothing but silence consumed the air around him.

Aaron was perfectly fine with that. He wasn't exactly in the mood for holding a conversation anyway. All he wanted to do was spend all his energy worrying over the girl next to him.

Of course, Steve just had to interrupt him in his worry.

"What are you doing?" The older boy asked, voice slurred due to sleep.

Aaron furrowed his brows in confusion, pausing for a moment before shifting his attention off of Kimmy and instead onto his brother who was sat the furthest from him.

"What?" Aaron questioned, unsure if his brother had meant to blurt the question or if he was just tired.

"What are you doing?" Steve repeated in the same tired tone.

Aaron glanced to his brother, only to find that he had his head in his hands as he fought to stay awake.

"Nothing." The blond answered simply, watching Steve with an almost cautious expression.

"You've been sat watching her with an overly depressed look on your face for the past fifteen minutes." Steve remarked sarcastically, Aaron could tell his brother was rolling his eyes. "Or is that something you do every morning?"

Aaron huffed and rolled his own eyes, not in the mood to humour his brother that morning.

"I didn't realise I couldn't worry about her." The blond scoffed in a quiet voice as to not wake the others. "Sue me."

The youngest of the two watched as his brother simply shrugged, running a hand down his face before standing abruptly and making his way over to where Aaron sat.

The blond couldn't help but watch him with a perplexed expression, his face scrunching up into even further confusion as his brother took a seat next to him.

"Jesus, Aaron, chill out." Steve scoffed upon catching the expression being thrown at him. "She's just sleeping."

Aaron's lips fell into a frown once more, sneaking a glance at the girl once more out of instinct of her name being mentioned.

Aaron knew Steve didn't realise what he was saying and what circumstances the brunette could potentially be under, but it got him worried all the same.

With that said, he simply sighed, adverting his attention off of Kimmy, yet still never onto Steve. His dark green eyes simply chose to rest their gaze upon his knees, not knowing what else to do.

He didn't want to show his worry to his brother, but it was difficult to conceal it. With so much running through his mind, his face couldn't keep calm.

"I know." Aaron simply hummed in response, keeping his voice quiet so it wouldn't crack under the emotional pressure he'd put on himself.

Aaron wanted someone to tell him he was being stupid, that he was crazy to think that Kimmy could ever be effected by something like Vecna, that he'd be out of his mind to even think that she could die in the next few days.

He wanted someone to lie to him.

And with no one else to hear, his mouth began to ramble before his brain could catch up to him. "But what if something happens to her?"

Steve let out a breath, and it was clear as day that he thought Aaron was being completely stupid. That as usual, he'd over thought himself into oblivion.

With a slightly irked voice and a shake of his head he spoke up. "Why would-"

"No, but what if it does?" Aaron stressed in as calm of a voice he could muster.

Steve rolled his eyes at what he presumed to be dramatics. "Why would something happen to Kimmy? You're just paranoid."

Yes, Aaron wanted someone to lie to him, but he wanted someone to lie to him knowing the reasonings for his concern. Not just going off of assumptions.

"I'm not." The blond replied in a void voice, shaking his head as he met his brother's look which was taunted with concern. "What if she ends up like Chrissy? Or Fred? What if that happens to her?"

Steve furrowed his brows in evident confusion. Clearly, he hadn't caught on to what Aaron was saying.

"Why would that happen to Kimmy?" Steve asked quietly, no longer any hint of mocking in his voice.

"Because..." Aaron went to answer the second Steve's voice came to a halt, but he hesitated. It wasn't until he reminded himself that it was only his brother he was talking to that he opened his mouth once more. "Because of what's happened to her. It- they all had trauma from a specific point in their lives. And Kimmy-"

Aaron cut himself off, not wanting to outwardly tell the older boy that Kimmy was still bothered by reoccurring nightmares due to her parents, or that she was still terrified of the two of them, even if she pretended she wasn't. She wouldn't even walk past her old house in fear she'd catch a glimpse at either one of them.

She covered it well, but the girl was well and truly traumatised. And Aaron was sure she always would be.

"With her parents?" Steve filled in the blanks himself. Aaron would have been stupid to have not seen the flicker of panic that flashed past his face.

"Yeah." The blond nodded, somewhat glad to get all his worries and frustrations off of his chest. "She- she's still getting bother about it. I mean- she still wakes up most nights from nightmares. Sometimes she can't fall asleep from them, other nights she'll wake up crying. And, now she's got this-"

Aaron's eyes grew a fraction wider, shifting his gaze away as he stopped himself from speaking anymore. He didn't want to tell Steve about the headaches she'd been getting, especially not when she hadn't wanted to worry anyone.

But Aaron was worried, and he needed his older brother to reassure him before he drove himself half insane from stress.

"She's got what?" Steve asked carefully, only to be met with silence.

Aaron didn't know what to do. He knew he should tell his brother - he knew he would. If Kimmy was headed down the same road as Max, he wasn't stupid enough to think that he and Kimmy could solve it themselves.

"She's been getting these headaches." Aaron blurted in a shaky voice. "Just for the past few days. But, they've been bothering her alot. And... I know she wouldn't complain unless they were really bad. I just- what if she sees something? A vision? Like Max? What if she ends up dead because-"

"She's not going to die." Steve lied with a look of fright on his face that he couldn't hide.

Aaron looked to his brother with an expression of doubt, going to protest, but Steve quickly stopped him.

"Kimmy will be fine." The older boy shook his head, speaking in a faux confidence that almost had Aaron convinced. "Do you think there are only four people in the entire town who have trauma? No. Just because she's went through shit... and... has some similarities to the others, doesn't mean she'll die. She might get lucky."

Aaron wanted to tell his brother that whatever happened she would not be lucky. Either her best friend died and she had to watch, or the both of them did. Either way, she was doomed for heartbreak.

However, the blond didn't say anything. Simply nodding his head and trying to send his brother a look of relief, although he failed to bring any reassurance to either of them.

With that, the blond looked away from his brother, retreating back to his habits of worrying and watching the brunette who slept quietly against him.

...

So sorry this has taken so long to post, I was on a cruise last week and couldn't write for the entire week, im trying to write as much as I can though!!

Almost on chapter 100?? wtf?

Hope everyone has a great day, tysm for all the support on this story!!!!

-AJ :)