So these next two updates are going to be a little different. It's all in Aiden's POV, and more like a prologue about his life. I felt his side of the story wasn't being shown much, so I thought this would be a nice touch for the story. 

I hope you enjoy it! 

Aiden

My life didn't start so horrible, I mean it wasn't perfect, but I had a place, a purpose, a family, and a home. People did care about me in some way, but love just never played a part in the equation.

I remember as a kid I'd wake up on Saturday mornings, rush down the stairs, and devour my mother's pancakes. Of course, that tradition didn't last long, but those were nice moments to hold on to.

Was her cooking an act of love? I wasn't too sure. It seemed more like a chore, something she had to do. My mother, Cloey, and my father Isaac weren't the types of parents who'd show signs of affection if they had any to give. They were young, not married, and ignorant.

Because of their foolish minds and irrational decisions from their past, my parents had to work double jobs to keep a roof over our heads. They had their first child, my brother, Drake, at the ages of seventeen and nineteen, then ditched school to start a life together.

Drake was my only sibling and had been twelve years older than me. He had my father's dirty blonde hair, and hazel eyes, while I was stuck with black hair and piercing orbs. Though the age difference was large, I always felt he and I had some sort of connection. Brotherly or not, there was definitely some bond there.

But he still didn't understand me. No one did. I always acted a little weird. My outbursts and wandering mind were out of control, but it wasn't until one day in second grade on the playground I knew what I really was. The pounding in my head, the screaming, the demands, and bitter emotions that suffocated me.

I was a monster inside a human shell.

I was making a dirt castle for my friend, Alyson when some jerk boys waltzed over and stepped on my creation.

"Hey, what was that for?" My eyes squinted upwards at the boys, the bright sun was in a perfect position above them, blinding me.

They stood like a posse. The lead in the middle, and two lousy side-kicks on either side, arms all crossed.

"Who was that dirt castle for? Your friend Alyson?" the leader, Ricky, mocked me, and his friends laughed along.

My nails dug into the broken castle, and my mind raced.

Tell on him.

Throw dirt back!

No, hug him, and say sorry.

Sorry for what?

Asshole!

That's a bad word!

He deserves it. 

Cry!

No.

Yes.

Maybe.

Stop this!

Bright sun.

Please stop.

Die.

It was ugly anyway.

Alyson loved it!

He's such a meanie.

I'm now very sad.

Woah... Nice weather!

He kicked my castle!

"Yeah... It was." I grunted in between my teeth.

Ricky smirked "What a baby! Alyson isn't even real! She's your imaginary friend because you have none!" Then he kicked dirt in my face.

And that was the last straw. All those petty voices agreed on one thing; you can make fun of me all you want, but you can't hurt my Alyson!

I'm gonna kill this kid!

Well, I didn't kill him per se, but he was hospitalized. Not only that, but I also got kicked out of the school for abuse and inappropriate behavior. 

That wasn't the last time I got kicked out of school. The next time was in third grade, at Richmore Park Elementary. Fancy place, nice teachers, but crappy kids.

Those little brats thought that since they were so filled with money, that they could stomp all over everyone. It was unbelievable! Technically it wasn't even their money, it was their snotty parent's loot.

This one girl, Patricia, was especially persnickety and was always up to dirty tricks at lunch. She'd pick on poor Olivia Knocks for always having this black beanie on her head, and wearing plain clothes. Patricia thought it wasn't fashionable, and on a specific day, she took her bullying to the extreme.

I didn't have a book that day, and I never ate lunch, so I watched it all happen from afar. Patrica also had a posse, which never made sense to me. They weren't doing anything, and all they did was laugh. Was it meant to satisfy the leader of the pack, like having their own cheerleading squad? I never understood the point.

Well that particular day, Patricia thought it would be nice to not only throw Olivia's beanie off her head but also topple her food tray all over her clothes. Little Olivia was so shy, she just sat there, and took the abuse.

But not me, I couldn't let that happen.

So I did what any guy would do, I tackled Patricia down, and poured chocolate milk in her eyes.

Then cried.

Then laughed.

Then got sent to the principal's office, as they arranged an emergency parent meeting.

My brother thought what I did was so cool!

"Dude, you're a legend. My hero!" And we'd fist bump.

My parents, on the other hand, were not so pleased. They believed my mindset was foul. Yet, I'd never get grounded or tortured to listen to them lecture me about what a terrible kid I was. They'd only say something like "do better next time" and that was the end of that.

Drake on the other hand, always made me feel like I was the best person ever.

I'd beat a kid up? Radical!

I'd scream at a teacher to go to hell? I'm the man!

But once the door to the Principal's Rolland's office opened, I bawled.

They talked about how my mood swings were drastic in my class and my obnoxious short temper which riled up over the stupidest reasons. Then, that son of a gun principal had the guts to disrespect my parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cohan, you just aren't good parents. Your son is in grave need of assistance, and you push him off to the side. I know you struggle at home and have financial issues, but child services could be on the line if this behavior is something you can't handle." 

I didn't have to love or even like my parents to be upset about what Mr. Rolland said. I just had to understand what his place was in that situation, and he overstepped his line.

I stood from my seat, slid my hand over his desk, clearing everything on it, then jumped on him.

This didn't phase well with school boards and got my family sued. Needless to say, I was kicked out.

More schools passed, and things got heavy. Drake was also having a rough time. He bailed out of college, got over his Star Wars phase, and found a new hobby to obsess about; girls.

I was in sixth grade, and in my second attempt of starting another middle school when my brother came home, dragging an unconscious girl's body up the stairs. Usually, the girls he brought home were conscious and loopy, but I wouldn't say anything more than hello to them. My parents would be working, so it's not like they'd witness the awkward encounters. The girls didn't bother me, so I really didn't mind it. I had no idea what was really going on.

"Oh cool, is she going to have a sleepover with us?" I bounced on the top step of the stairs.

"Ehh, sorta. She and I are going to have a... little party. Move, little man." Drake pushed me to get by, and the blonde girl moaned.

"Hey, is she okay? Where did you even find her?"

"Yeah, kid. She's fine. I found her at some party that I crashed. Cool, huh?" he nodded his head at her like she was some prize.

My brother loved to crash college parties to get college girls. He said one day he'd teach me the ropes, but this didn't seem like a good idea to me.

"I guess, but umm, she looks dead." I raised my eyebrows and pointed at the motionless girl in Drake's arms.

Drake thrusts his bedroom door open.

"Oh, don't worry, little man! It's just a game."  I'd never forgotten his bloodshot eyes and menacing smile.

"A. Game?" This didn't seem right.

"Yeah, uhh, a sleeping game. See?" he planted a wet kiss right on her lips. It's not like I never saw him kiss a girl before, but there was more to that than a kiss. Something was off, I could sense it.

"And she's still asleep! Mia is amazing at this game!" Drake patted the girl's silky hair, and I stared at him.

"Oh, well I wanna play too!" I said.

Drake stared for a moment, seeming stunned at my request. "No can do, little guy. Two-player game."

"No! I want to be apart of the game now!" I screeched, and my fist bawled together. I pinned my eyebrows so low I could see them without glancing up at them.

"Aiden, just uh, don't come into my room tonight, okay?" Drake slammed the door, followed by a click, locking it shut.

I shrugged. "Okay." and skipped back to my room.

My bedroom was right next to Drake's, and I'd hear weird noises at night sometimes. Drake did like to talk in his sleep.

I learned later on as the years went by that he definitely wasn't sleeping those night, and it all became crystal clear when I'd see him on the local news, getting arrested for sexual harassment. Yeah, I was glad he didn't let me play those games.

I didn't know if I loved my brother, but I did know I never wanted to be like him. Using people like that was one of the worst things you could do to someone, but Drake didn't have that concept and seemed to have no morals, so he'd pay the price. It was then that I swore to myself I'd never end up like him.

Years came and went, and my condition grew out of control. Fights, random crying sprees, blunt speech, rudeness, cutting people off, not finishing my work, and even laughing at inappropriate times were all issues that I had to face. I sometimes skipped classes to stay in the bathroom and banged my head on the wall over and over.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid." I'd call out to the mirror when I looked in the mirror. Kids were so freaked out, teachers would get involved and the situations would escalate.

I was at war with myself every day. Voices cried out to me and stung my mind. Positive, negative, random, right, wrong, stupid, silly, funny, sad, joyous. I had no self-control. Still, no one tried to understand me. I begged to get help or talk to someone, but I was pushed off to the side, ignored. I wasn't worth anyone's time.

The only thing that kept me from being held back was because of how smart I was. I didn't show up to most classes but aced the exams easily.  The education system was mundane to me. Still, no one seemed to care about my side of the story, or how I felt. People assumed the worst and believed I did this for attention. The depressing part was, I couldn't even explain why I did the things I did, they just happened.

Teachers hated my guts. I was the devil's spawn, a monster, an evil child, wicked, a freak of society. My parents grew tired of me, more so than before, and my brother kept ending up in jail.

My parents didn't know what to do with me, and it's not like they had the time to sit down, and actually take care of me. I grew to be independent, more reckless, and cold-hearted towards not just myself but to others.

My mother and father didn't support me, and they never wanted to try and comfort me like normal parents. So one day I had a remarkable thought; why care about myself when not one person cares about me? So I gave up and accepted it all. I stopped denying and started to tolerate the fact that this was who I was.

On the morning of my fifteenth birthday, a few days after my brother finally came home from serving another year in jail, my mom, and dad gave me full closure on their feelings towards me.

They sat me down at the table, eyes pleading, and grasped my hands. They hadn't given me that kind of treatment before, so I knew that whatever they were going to say ought to be good.

"Aiden, we need to talk to you about... certain things." My mother rubbed her lips together.

"Ooookay?" I raised an eyebrow

"Your father and I, we are finding it difficult to... supervise you, and well," She paused, probably thinking of how to word her thoughts.

"We just think that-"

"We're kicking you out." My dad bluntly said.

I blinked. They were just going to get rid of me? Just like that?

"This isn't your fault. Honestly, we shouldn't have had another kid, and you're just so," My mother exaggerated a sigh. "Special. Your Aunt Lauren has agreed to keep you in her custody from now on."

"Isn't she the one with lung cancer?" I  mentioned, and my dad's eye twitched.

"You'll love her! She's quite a catch. And of course, we'll visit." My mom squeezed my shoulder to reassure me that things would be okay. This action, among others, was a false act of kindness. 

Deep down I knew this day would come. When they'd toss me out. I was extra baggage to deal with.  If I could, I'd toss me out too. My brother was a grown man and only caused trouble for himself. Me, on the other hand, I was a burden for all of them, and they didn't like it. So, they decided to pretend that I didn't exist, and cast out the load.

That very same morning I was packed and ready to go. I guess my parents didn't feel like having me around another day longer. My dad claimed it was because it was their only day off to get this done. I begged to differ.

My brother didn't even bother to say a proper goodbye, just hollered out his window while the sound of guns blasting blared from the TV.

"Yo, bro, peace! By the way, happy birthday!" He choked out a laugh.

That was the last time I saw Drake, and I didn't miss him.

When my parents dropped me off three hours later, they didn't get out of the car and hug me as you would to your kid when saying goodbye. My dad didn't even walk up to ring the doorbell and see his own sister! I could've been at the wrong house for all I knew. It's not like I ever met the lady in person.

That, of course, didn't matter to my parents. They both didn't even have the heart to stop the car. I got out, they waved, and that was that.

It was their way of saying "Happy Birthday Aiden!" except it wasn't, because they forgot.

They always forgot, and though they said they would, my family never did visit me. I didn't mind.

One thing was for sure, I didn't know why this was all happening to me? Why they couldn't just try to help me. Was my family just plain sick of me? Did I seem like a useless person to try and fix? Did they not love me?

I didn't know. I didn't know about love, or happiness, or a true family. Not back then, but that day there was one thing I did know; that Alyson was still there for me. Somehow, someway, I knew she was. Though it was silly to still have an imaginary friend at the age of fifteen,  it didn't seem that way to me. She felt real, and never left me. More like a safeguard. An angel.

It turned out that my mom was right about one thing, my aunt did like me, and I liked her. She was a forty-two-year-old woman with light brown hair and grey eyes that resembled waves. Her height couldn't have been over five-three, but what really caught my attention was how skinny she was. A little too skinny. So boney it was worrisome.

Lauren was the true definition of a caring guardian, and because of her, I became something more than just Aiden, the monster. She was the first person to find something good in me

It wasn't all rainbows and flowers in the beginning, though. I didn't appreciate her and called her names behind her back. Even so, I was devastated, and felt like nothing to anyone, including myself. 

It wasn't until one day Lauren made me watch the football game out in the living room on her new widescreen TV so we could "bond" when I realized how much I liked her.

That day was draining for me, I started a new school again, and my emotions were more active than normal. I would shout in excitement when the Giants would score a touchdown, sob when one of the players got hurt, and throw things when the other team scored. Aunt Lauren would just watch me, with her bag of popcorn, and didn't even glance at the game once. I was her entertainment, and she easily put up with me, which was more than just a surprise to me.

The final results of the game were horrific! The Giants got crushed by the Stealers, and I was in such a state of shock that I marched right to the TV and punched a hole straight through it.

Her jaw dropped, and popcorn fell out. I was waiting to get yelled at or smacked across the face, but none of that happened. She just stood up and clapped for me.

"Dang boy! Have you been working out?  You're amazing!" She whistled.

My mouth stayed closed as my hands shook, and she dragged me to the bathroom to tend to my wounds.

Lauren cleaned my cuts. Just like that. I didn't ask her to do it, and she never asked me if I wanted her to. She did it anyway, and that little act of kindness made me feel wanted.

It wasn't until she was wrapping my hands in gauze that I found the courage to apologize.

"I'm very sorry about your TV. I'll raise the money to get you a new one."

She snorted. "Kid, that's what warranty is for! But seriously, I'm taking you to a doctor.  There's something wrong with you. You act as if you're....bipolar."

And she couldn't have been more right! At the age of sixteen, I was diagnosed with Severe Bipolar Disorder, and to be quite honest, it wasn't a shock to me.

All the years, people ignored me, said I was an angry child, an attention seeker, lonely. No one thought about just finding out what really was wrong with me. But here it was, a reason for the way I am. I figured out who I was, and finally, someone wanted to help me. 

Lauren took me to therapy, kept track of my medicine, and kept me working on my school work. After her, I never got kicked out of school again. It was like she transformed me. In return, I learned how to cook, and took care of her in my own ways. Went with her to her chemo days, feed her healthy meals, and kept up around the house.

I was put in the dark with whatever problems she had,  besides cancer, but that didn't mean I wasn't going to do my best to aid her in any way I could. She deserved that much.

Another miraculous thing Lauren did for me was introducing me to a person who also changed my life forever; my Grandad Joe. I didn't meet him before until he visited my aunt's house. My father and he left off with some bad blood, and their relationship was cut off, but Lauren made sure that he stopped by.

It was a cloudy Sunday when I first met him.

"Trust me, you'll like him. I already told him about your condition too, hope you don't mind. I think it may make things less awkward." Lauren assured me, while she tidied up the house for his arrival.

Even if I wanted to, I wasn't upset with Lauren. It wasn't some secret that I was crazy. Might as well let the poor guy know beforehand what he'd be walking into.

My Grandad came around noon, and he sure was something! He had no hair left on his head and glasses the size of flat screens that covered his square face. Some wrinkles sagged around his eye area, but other than that, the guy seemed to be in perfect health. The old man wasn't a lazy person, either. He always moved, and rarely sat down. He even brought a speaker with classical CDs to play in Aunt Lauren's house.

"This house is so boring, Laurie! Fix it!" He complained, and his nose would scrunch up, and wrinkled in disgust. Lauren tried to ignore his quirky little comments, but I didn't. He fascinated me.

"Come on Aiden, don't be a loser! Get up, and dance." The man swayed with the piano's tune, and he took a hold of my hands.

"Hey, listen, I don't dance." I huffed. I went to plop back down on Lauren's overused couch when I was being pulled into an embrace.

"Hey! I said I don't dance you old hag!" I shouted.

My eyes popped out, but my Grandad just grinned and ignored me. The old man stepped slowly, and I staggered.

"One day, boy, you're going to fall in love with a nice young lady, and want to sweep that girl off her feet. If you pull her into a graceful dance, she'll be like putty in your-"

"Woah, Woah, Woah! How do you know this works?" I questioned.

"How do you think I got with you grandma?" he winked.

I burst out laughing. This guy was a hoot!

"Well, what if she doesn't dance, or like to dance? Then what?" My thoughts would travel back to Alyson, my imaginary friend, or more like spirit. I felt somewhere, somehow, she was a real person, and I wanted to be my best for her, so dancing did seem like a good way to go.

Grandad just shook his head, eyes closed. "Kid, that's why the man leads. All that matters is that you know how to dance and if you're brave enough to take the chance."

Brave enough? Was I brave enough? Could I be brave enough? I will. For her.

The rest of the day Grandad taught me all the methods and perks of being a smooth dancer, a gentleman. He told me that dancing my feelings away may calm me. Even Lauren joined us and discussed what girls find attractive in a guy.

It was those kinds of days that gave me hope, and those kinds of days I'd always cherish.

Until the tragic days rolled in. Not many weeks after my Grandad left, Lauren's cancer spread drastically, and she spent most days in the hospital. She had to quit her job. I struggled to find one to help support her, but my record wasn't the cleanest. I was rejected each time.

Grandad started to come over more to keep me company. We were living off what money he would give us.  I felt guilty for having him do all that for us, but he said he didn't mind because he loved us. I've never been loved before, but it was intense and left me very uneasy.

My senior year killed me, but Lauren was still there to counsel me through it all. She'd be in a hospital bed, barely breathing, and helped me with my resumes, math homework, temper tantrums, and every last one of my breakdowns. I used to think I made her cancer more active because I wasn't an easy child to deal with, but she denied it and told me to never think like that.

It was my graduation weekend when Lauren decided to huff her last breath, but before she did, she told me something I'd never forget.

"When I'm gone I want you to do something for me." I tightened my grip on her hand, as her eyes fluttered open and closed.

"Find the will to forgive yourself. Find it in your heart to keep moving. Know that it's possible to love someone like you. I love you, Aiden, and anyone who can't find it in them to love you is a blinded fool. I do love you. Like you're my own."

I don't remember ever crying for something that had a purpose before, but at that moment I did, and damn it felt amazing. It was like I was finally human, and felt one solid emotion. It didn't matter that it was a negative emotion, I was still grateful for being normal for once.

The funeral was after my graduation, which I managed to rank in the top ten in my class, and my parents weren't invited to either event. Not like they'd show. I didn't even miss them or want them to come. They were nothing to me, and I was nothing to them.

Only a few people were at the funeral. Most I wasn't familiar with, so I stood by Grandad.

"I thought, you'd like to know that your family all moved to Canada." He whispered in my ear before the ceremony started.

"Why there?" I questioned out loud, and he laughed a little.

"Don't know, don't care." Grandad adjusted his glasses on his face. He noticed my smug face and sighed.

"Son, you don't belong with them. Your home is here, with me and with Lauren."

Fury pulsed into my skin. "Lauren's dead, old man." I spat at him.

He shook his head. "I don't see it that way, and you shouldn't either."

The funeral was endless, and I tuned out most of it. Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn't focus on something for a long period of time. I found it difficult to take my medicine to soothe the wild beast inside me, but I knew it was important. Lauren wasn't there to remind me anymore, or force me to take them. I didn't see a point in it anymore.

After my aunt was placed comfortably in the ground, and the service was over, Grandad called out to me as I started to walk home. There were no tears in his eyes, which seemed to surprise many, but not me. I think he knew it was coming, so did I.

"There's nothing left for you there, Aiden. You can come live with me for as long as you need to. Go to college, begin your life, I'll help the best that I can."

How could I do that to him? I already made so many people suffer, and he was so old. I'd kill the man only after a few days of him dealing with me.

I felt as if I was responsible for everything. My parents being broke and miserable, my aunt for dying. I won't immobilize another life again.

"No, I need to go off on my own for right now."

Grandad kept his eyes on the sidewalk and sighed. "I can't make you do anything Aiden, but I can give you some advice." He glided his hand out of his pockets to reveal a wad of money.

"Go do something for yourself. Show those people who you really are. Prove them all wrong." He forced the money in my hands and started to pace behind when he murmured in my ear.

"There's more good in you than you can imagine. All you have to do is find it in you, and embrace it." He kept walking.

Then I bolted.