Chapter 17

“Maybe you should take me back,” I told Aaron.

We had just pulled into a street that was making me shrink back into the seat of Aaron’s car. All of the houses, which were really mansions, bordering on something else, were beautiful. I had been aware Aaron was wealthy, but the street we were on had proved just how much.

“It’ll be fine, I hope,” Aaron said, and he chuckled when I cringed at his words.

“If you want to leave, just say the words. You’ll be my excuse to leave early,” Aaron told me, bringing our joined hands to his lips.

 “Do you think she’ll hate me?’

“My mom?”

I nodded, fearing Aaron’s reply.

“She wouldn’t dare,” Aaron said, and I picked up on the edge in his voice.

“You sound too sure, that only gets me more nervous,” I whined.

“I can’t explain my parents to you. They’re just different,” Aaron said.

When he pulled up to the massive mansion that was his home, I couldn’t help but feel out of place.

“Whoa….” I mumbled.

Aaron’s house wasn’t far away from campus. For a moment I wondered why he didn’t just live at home. If I had the chance to stay with my parents, I would’ve taken it without a second thought. Aaron seemed to want to be as far away from his parents as he could.

“This is my mom for you,” Aaron said, rolling his eyes at the impressive structure in front of us.

“It’s beautiful.”

And it was. It was absolutely breathtaking. The house was colored in different shades of gray, and outlined with a white color. It was large and imposing, almost intimidating. Maybe it was because of how grand it was, and the fact that the outside area was spacious as well.

“You’ll get used to it,” Aaron said.

“I don’t think I could.”

I was still staring at the house when Aaron opened the car door for me.

“A good way to get on my mom’s good grace is complementing her, and all the useless crap she does,” Aaron said.

“Aaron,” I scolded him.

Instead of getting mad, he grinned at me and slid his arm around my waist.

“Annabel,” he mimicked in the same tone.

“That’s really mean.”

“Yeah, you’ll be agreeing with me after this dinner is over,” Aaron said.

“Mom!” Aaron yelled as soon as we entered the house.

Just like the outside, the inside was clean, neat, and tidy. There were only enough decorations to not leave the house bare, but it still looked elegant.

“They’re not home yet.” Jordan, Aaron’s brother, was walking down the staircase.

“Hey man,” Aaron said.

“Sup dude,” Jordan greeted him, but he was grinning at me.

“So you’re Annabel?” Jordan asked, cocking an eyebrow at me. There was a teasing look in his eyes, a look that made him seem a lot younger than he really was.

“My girlfriend Annabel,” Aaron said, squeezing my waist and pressing me closer to his side.

“Chill out, you make it seem like I’m making a move on her,” Jordan told Aaron, raising his arms in the air innocently.

Even if Aaron hadn’t told me, I could tell Jordan was younger. His features were softer and it seemed like he was still growing, compared to Aaron.

“You wouldn’t stand a chance,” Aaron told him, before pressing a kiss on my cheek.

“Douche,” Jordan said, rolling his eyes.

Aaron smiled at his brother, and changed the subject by asking for their parents.

“They’re on their way. Mom told me to greet you, whatever that means. She doesn’t know Annabel’s coming, you might want to call her,” Jordan said.

We were walking to what seemed like a sitting room.

“I’ll just surprise her,” Aaron said.

“You’re choice, but you know how she gets with you,” Jordan said, giving Aaron a suggestive look. I was trying to figure out what it meant, but nothing really came to mind.

The only thing I could think of was that Aaron’s mom would not approve of me.

“So, what’s up?” Jordan asked, looking more at me than at his brother.

“Um….” I felt dumb after muttering that simple sound, but he’d caught me off guard.

“Mom will like you, she likes to do the talking,” Jordan said, but he was smirking at me.

“You look nothing like Aaron,” I blurted out.

It seemed like a good way to redeem myself for stuttering out that single word before. I quickly noticed it was the wrong thing to say.

“It’s because Aaron’s adopted,” Jordan told me, shaking his head. For some reason, it sounded like he was joking, even if it was a serious matter.

“Jordan!” Aaron snapped.

I looked from Jordan to Aaron, not knowing exactly what was going on between the two.

“You’re adopted?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at Aaron.

I hadn’t been expecting that exactly. There was a small sting in my chest when I realized that in the time we’d known each other, he finally knew everything about me yet he was keeping something so important hidden away.

“I’m not adopted,” Aaron flatly stated, and then turned to scowl at his brother.

“Okay,” I slowly replied.

“I’m kidding, sorry,” Jordan said, smiling innocently at Aaron.

“I’m adopted,” Jordan said in a more serious voice.

I was about to ask Aaron about it, when he untangled himself from me and got up to slap his brother in the back of his head.

Jordan groaned from the slap, but the big smile quickly returned to his lips.

“I’m only joking around,” Jordan said. “Jeez, you’re turning into mom,” Jordan finished.

Aaron was about to slap him again, when Jordan got up from the couch and ran out of the room.

“I’ll see you at dinner!” He yelled, his voice already sounding far down the hall.

“That was….” I said, not knowing what to make of Jordan’s introduction.

“That right there was caused by my mom,” Aaron replied.

“Umm, okay,” I muttered.

“This was a bad idea,” Aaron said, walking over to my side.

“Do you think she’ll be long? I really wanted to get some things done tonight,” I told Aaron, trying to change the subject.

He wasn’t looking to happy about being in his parents’ house.

“I’m not sure,” he replied, getting his phone out of his pocket to check the time.

Just as he was about to call his dad, the sound of a woman drifted into the room we were in.

“Aaron!”

Aaron groaned beside me, but he got up from the couch and offered me a hand.

“Here we go,” Aaron said.

“Baby!” The woman, I assumed she was Aaron’s mother, said.

As soon as she spotted Aaron, she literally began running towards him. She looked a lot like Aaron, from the straight black hair, to the nice hazel eyes, to the same pale skin color.

“Mom,” Aaron said in a low voice.  

She was quickly at our side, holding Aaron in a tight embrace. He was hugging her awkwardly, patting her back a few times.

“I missed you so much. Why haven’t you visited?” She asked him, pinching his cheeks when she finally let him go.

“I’ve been busy with school and things,” Aaron replied.

“Dad,” Aaron said, when his dad walked closer to us.

After seeing his dad, I realized Jordan was the spitting image of him. His hair was that same light brown color, and his skin had a tan to it. His features, although from a grown man, were very similar to Jordan’s.

“Aaron,” his dad greeted him, but he said nothing else.

“You could have spared a few hours to visit me. I’ve been calling you,” Aaron’s mom interrupted.

She gave me a side glance, but other than that, she ignored my presence.

“I was out this past week. I went to the beach for spring break, with Annabel,” Aaron said.

His mom had been holding tightly to his hands, and Aaron took the opportunity to let go.

“Mom, this is my girlfriend, Annabel,” Aaron said, pulling me closer to him.

“Hello,” I said, waving at her.

“Annabel, this is my mom, Sofia,” Aaron introduced.

She gave me a small smile, before turning back to Aaron, barely acknowledging me.

“What have you been up to? Dinner should be ready. Michael, go and call Jordan,” Aaron’s mom said, waving a hand behind her back towards Aaron’s dad.

He didn’t say a word as he left upstairs in search of Jordan.

“I missed you so much. I already want you to be done with that thing you’re doing,” Sofia said, as she dragged Aaron away.

He quickly grabbed onto my hand and began dragging me along with them.

Sofia was on his other side, basically trying to pretend I wasn’t there. I was feeling so out of place. It had been a terrible decision to join them.

“It’s called college mom, and I still have two years to go, maybe four if I want more than a bachelors,” Aaron said.

From the way he spoke, it sounded like they’d had that conversation before.

“I don’t mind college, I just mind what you’re studying,” his mom said, sounding disapproving.

“I like what I’m studying, I’m good at it,” Aaron retorted.

“Of course you are honey, you’re good at everything. I just think it’s such a waste. You don’t need it,” his mom said. Her logic was beyond me, but I didn’t dare make a comment.

“Hey mom,” Jordan waved at Sofia when he walked into the dining room.

We were already sitting down, waiting to get served. Servants were preparing the table and bringing in the dishes, something that felt even more overwhelming than the huge mansion.

“What are you wearing?” Aaron’s mom asked Jordan when she looked down at his clothes.

Jordan shrugged and pinched his shirt. “I’m going out later tonight. I have practice with my band,” he casually replied.

Aaron’s mom frowned at him.

“At least you didn’t turn out like that one,” Sofia told Aaron as she nodded in Jordan’s direction.

“You’re already going to start with that?” Michael, Aaron’s dad, asked.

“What? I’m just saying Jordan should be a little more like Aaron, learn some responsibility. He keeps prancing around with those strange clothes, getting into gangs.”

“It’s a band mom, not a gang,” Jordan corrected, but he was interrupted by his father.

“At least Jordan wants to take some part in the family business after high school. Aaron wants no responsibility with the things that really matter!” Michael snapped at his wife.

Aaron was sitting beside me, and his hold on my hand tightened after his father spoke.  

“Aaron graduated valedictorian of his class, number one Michael, in case you forgot. We’ll be lucky if Jordan even graduates. And if he does, he’ll have to bribe his way into university because no one will want him.” Sofia was talking to Michael, but she was staring directly at Jordan.

“Whoa, we’re starting this again?” Jordan asked, but he sounded hurt by Sofia’s words.

“If your mother could let us have a peaceful dinner without bringing up all of Aaron’s accomplishments, then this wouldn’t be happening,” Michael turned to frown at Aaron, looking like he was blaming him for what was happening.

“At least Aaron has accomplishments,” Sofia said, scowling at Jordan.

I couldn’t really believe what was happening, what they were doing.

“Sure he does,” Michael said, before getting up from the table.

We hadn’t eaten dinner yet, it hadn’t even been served.

“Let’s go Jordan,” Michael said, motioning to Aaron’s brother, who was sitting across from us on the long table.

Jordan reluctantly got up from his seat and followed after Michael.

“This is why Aaron doesn’t come around,” Jordan grumbled on his way out.

Michael turned to give a hard look at Sofia, before his cold eyes drifted to Aaron.

“Aaron doesn’t come because he is ungrateful and irresponsible,” Michael said, before leaving the room with Jordan following after him.

Aaron’s eyes drifted down, and I could feel his thumb running circles over my hand.

“I just don’t understand Michael sometimes. Jordan is getting worse every day and Michael encourages his behavior,” Sofia said.

I had not muttered a word. It felt like I was invading in something personal.

“We need to get going mom,” Aaron said, getting up from the chair and pulling me up with him.

“What? Why? We haven’t had dinner yet. I haven’t gotten to know Annabel,” Sofia said, but her voice sounded forceful when she said my name.

“I honestly doubt you want to get to know Annabel,” Aaron said, laughing humorlessly.

“Of course I do. Jordan commented the other day you that had a girlfriend, but he didn’t say much.” Sofia’s voice softened and she reached out for Aaron’s hand.

He pulled back from her.

“We have some things to take care of before school starts on Monday,” Aaron told her.

“But you’ve hardly come around in the last few months.” I felt bad for the look that took over Sofia’s face. She looked genuinely sad that Aaron was leaving.

“I already told you I’ve been busy mom. Jordan told me how things have been around here. That doesn’t really make me want to come and visit,” Aaron said.

The frown on his face made Sofia blush.

“Jordan is just so difficult. You should see that boy when you’re not here, how he behaves. Maybe he needs you to come back home,” Sofia suggested.

Aaron laughed- a loud laugh that rang out through the quiet house.

“We’re leaving,” Aaron said.

Aaron’s mom followed all the way to the car, pleading with him not to leave. It didn’t work, and Aaron didn’t say goodbye either when he slammed the car door shut.

He drove out faster than he should have, considering we still in the long driveway of the house.

“They’re like this, you know. All the time, they do things like this,” Aaron said, shaking his head.

It sounded like he was talking more to himself than to me, so I let him vent.

“It wasn’t that bad,” I lied. It had been worse than bad though.

“Are you kidding me? My mom is unbelievable. And that wasn’t even her worse.”

He was gripping the wheel so tightly; I was scared he’d pull it off.

“She was really nice to you,” I offered, trying to find some positives in the awkward visit to his parents.

“Do you know my dad hates me because of it? Then they put Jordan through the same thing. My mom is always attacking him and my dad has to come to his defense, which usually involves going after me. He knows the only way to get through to my mom is by attacking me. What the fuck is wrong with them?”

I stayed quiet.

“Maybe you should pull over,” I told him.

I could see things blurring past us, but that was it. Aaron was driving well over the speed limit and he was angry.

“I’m sorry about my parents. It takes me a while to get myself together after visiting them,” Aaron said.

He was talking to me but he was still out of it.

“Aaron!” I snapped when he passed a red light.

“Huh?” He asked like if he hadn’t noticed what he had done.

“Pull over. I’ll drive,” I told him.

Aaron turned to face me. He had a frown on his face, looking confused by my suggestion.

I was still looking ahead, trying to concentrate on the road which he was obviously too distracted to notice.

“Stop!” I told him, and I was surprised when he did.

The tires screeched after he abruptly stopped, but at least we didn’t pass another red light.

“Do you want me to drive or do we pull over somewhere? You are not going to drive like this,” I told him.

When the light turned green, he began driving at the right speed limit, and the frown on his face had eased.

“Sorry,” he apologized.

“It’s alright, but you should be careful when you’re driving,” I told him.

My heart was calming down, and I released the strong hold I had on my seatbelt. My palms had gotten sweaty and I wiped them on my jeans.

“I shouldn’t have taken you to meet them. There’s something wrong with my family,” Aaron said, shaking his head.

“You weren’t kidding when you said your mom was special,” I told him.

Aaron grinned, and he reached over to take my hand in his.

“You calm me down,” he told me, giving in to a chuckle.

“I don’t think I do a good job. You almost killed us back there,” I joked.

“You do. It usually takes me weeks to get over a visit with my parents. They’re crazy,” Aaron said.

“Your mom loves you,” I told him, and I did think it was true.

“She should share some of that love with Jordan,” Aaron muttered.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you as mad as I did just now,” I told him.

Except for the tense days we spent at my house back home, Aaron was usually calm. The visit with his parents had gone worse than when he met Jeremy.

“It only happens when I see them. It’s why I avoid it as much as I can. Whenever I hang out with Jordan, it’s because he visits me or we go out,” Aaron shrugged.

“That’s good,” I said.

“It’s alright, because I have you,” Aaron said, grinning at me.

It hadn’t been a perfect dinner, far from it actually, but I was glad that Aaron was okay.

I smiled at him.

Seconds later, a feeling of dread took over, making a shiver run through my body.

I felt it before it happened. It almost seemed like I was meant to feel it, like it was my fault for some reason, something that was following me.

“Shit,” Aaron cursed. I heard the alarm in his voice just from that one word.

He was looking in the rearview mirror at the cars that were coming behind us full speed, one which was a car twirling in the air towards us.

I could see the people inside, being thrown all over the car. We were at a stop light. Aaron couldn’t move out of the way because everything was blocking us.

This time, when I felt the impact of the other cars crashing against ours, my body wanted to let go.

I could hear blurring loud noises outside of our car. In the back of my mind, I remembered Matt’s bloodied face the day of our accident.

‘It had happened again,’ I thought to myself, just before my eyes gave out and I surrendered into darkness.

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