Aurora

Everyone froze, even the girl who was decorating the staircase just to look at Paxton's reaction. After looking around curiously around the house for a while, realisation dawned upon him. He went to Adam and they did that weird bro hug and then looked at us. 

"I will pretend I did not see that." He said, looking at us. Then, he started walking out of the house. 

"Paxton, wait let's go somewhere else." I said following him. 

"Are you not needed there?" He said starting his car. 

"I have been working there for a while. I am not of much help anyways," I said remembering my struggle with the cups.

"So where should we go now?"

"How about my house? We can watch a couple of movies before we go to the party." There were so many movies I wanted to watch but I am always too busy to watch them. 

"Your house?" He said, looking alarmed suddenly. 

"Yep." 

"You know what, I am a bit hungry. How about we go to a cafe?" He said looking a bit nervous. 

I and Paxton have been friends since we were in middle school and when we got in the same high school, we only became closer. By now, I knew most of his habits. He always scratches his ear when he is nervous. But, I did not think much of it, he will tell me everything when he needs to. 

"Okay but I get to choose which cafe." 

*********

"Wow! Did guys do it for me? I love you so much." Paxton acted as if he did not just see us decorating Geena's house a few hours back. 

"You are a bad actor Pax." Geena commented from the side. 

"Well, it does not matter if it was a surprise or not. I appreciate all of your effort and this is no less than a surprise." Paxton said, hugging us. 

"You are so sweet sometimes."

"I would like it if you are always this sweet." I would really like that. 

"It's not everyday you guys throw parties for me." Paxton shrugged. 

"I need to go, looks like my competitor is here." Geena said, eyeing the beer pong table. There were two huge guys already standing. 

"I should go." Paxton started walking towards a group of guys. 

"What am I gonna do alone?" 

"That's why you should make more friends." He said, patting my head and then walking away. 

Those bastards, they always leave me alone at a party. I looked around, there were literally some girls dancing on the table. You could say the party was successful at least. I suddenly saw Adam and Diana talking with each other. Well, they sure looked comfortable. Somehow, I have never liked Diana. I quickly drank the whole cup of alcohol and took another in my hand. Surprised by the jealousy that quickly washed over me.

"What are you doing alone?" Adam came over to me. 

"Drinking." I answered. 

"Do you want to dance?"

"No"

"Okay...." He trailed off looking elsewhere. 

"Are you friends with Diana?" Not being able to help my curiosity, I asked him. 

"No. Why?" He said looking confused. 

"Well, you both look close." 

"Um... She is my cousin but don't tell anyone. She gets really angry if I tell that to anyone." He glanced over at her. 

"Oh." Wait. Am I relieved? Why am I relieved? 

Then, we both sat in silence. It was a comfortable silence. After a few minutes, he leaned his head towards me again. 

"Do you want to get some fresh air? It's really stuffy here."

"Okay." I would like to spend more time with him, and get some fresh air. 

As we got out, all the people looked towards Adam and called out to him. He responded to each one of them with a polite nod and a smile. Some girls even eyed him up hungrily. As we got out, he held the door for me. Looks like he is a gentleman. Somehow Adam is so different from him. I do not know if that's a good thing or bad. 

"I didn’t see you at school. What happened?" I was really trying my hardest not to lie. 

"I was a bit busy with stuff." 

"I hope you are doing well then." I really did hope so. 

He looked at me for a second and then answered "I am doing well, you don't need to worry."

The silence settled among us once again as we walked on streets. A comfortable one. The winds were chilly and there was no one else on the streets beside us. My thoughts wandered off to various things. The day I saw Adam sitting on the sidewalk, then my sister and the mystery guy who got her pregnant. My parents' marriage which is at the brink of falling apart. My life is really not at its best now. 

"Are we friends?" Adam asked out of nowhere. 

"I guess..." I am not sure if we are friends. Just a few days ago we rarely even looked at each other. Well, he never looked at me. 

"But we don't really know each other that well to be friends."

"I guess we are in the ‘getting to know each other phase’." I said using air quotes. 

"So why don't you go first?" Adam smiled at me. I really loved his smiles. They were so comforting. 

I said many things which I haven't said for a long time. I shared my favourite movie, my favourite colour, my favourite food. How I met both Paxton and Geena. My sister's condition, my family problems. I played piano till I was in eight grade and quit because my mother did not like it. By the time I was done I thought he would have already grown tired of me. 

But, somehow I found it comforting. His occasional head nods when he understands something, and he laughs when I say something funny. The way he frowned when I said something which I thought was unfair to me. For the first time in a while, I felt seen. A thought struck in my head.

I found Adam Wilson comforting.

*********

The second update of this week. Yay!

Tell me what you think of Paxton.

I will updating again as soon as possible.

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Heraeritesxxx