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The living room was a low hum of noise, the old ceiling fan squeaking overhead as everyone lounged around.
Aiden sat sideways on the couch, his bleached-blonde hair messy from the wind outside, red contacts making his grin look sharper than it was. He rambled about something dumb Logan had said earlier, words spilling out rapid-fire, not really caring if anyone listened.
Ben, sitting cross-legged on the floor, half-smirked as he tapped away on his text-to-speech app.
Tyler slouched in the armchair across from him, arms folded, wearing his usual ‘I hate everyone’ scowl.
Ashlyn sat beside Aiden, close but not touching, braided hair thrown over her shoulder. She didn’t say much — never did around the others — but her green eyes were on Aiden, half-lidded and familiar. A comfort he was aching for even as he talked too loudly to cover it up.
No one knew.
No one could know.
He flicked his gaze toward her, heart hammering a little harder when he caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging her mouth.
She didn’t smile for just anyone.
Ben’s phone chirped, voice robotic as it read out: "You sound like a broken radio, Aiden."
"Hey!" Aiden threw a pillow at him. Ben batted it away effortlessly, middle finger flying up.
The others snickered. Even Ashlyn looked mildly amused.
Aiden beamed, soaking it up—until Tyler’s voice cut in.
"You talk because you’re afraid of silence or something?" Tyler muttered, dark eyes narrowing.
(Shh, he doesnt know🙏🏻)
Aiden snorted. "You’re just mad ‘cause the silence would make you realize how boring you are."
Taylor laughed from where she was sprawled on the floor next to Logan, who was fiddling with the TV remote.
Ashlyn just watched, deadpan, but her sneaker bumped lightly against Aiden’s ankle.
It was nothing. A small thing.
But it was theirs.
And then, Tyler said casually, voice dripping fake innocence, "You gonna shut up for a second, or does Ashlyn need to duct tape your mouth again?"
Aiden froze. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.
The others laughed, thinking it was just banter, but Aiden felt his neck flush hot.
Ashlyn tilted her head, unbothered. "Might be an improvement," she said dryly.
And Tyler smiled at her. That rare, real smile he barely showed anyone outside his sister.
Aiden saw red.
But he swallowed it, hard.
Logan mercifully changed the subject.
"We hittin’ the mall? I need new sneakers before my toes bust out."
"No one wants to smell your feet, Logan," Taylor said, gagging dramatically.
Ashlyn muttered, “You already reek, it’s too late.”
Laughter exploded. Even Ben let out a wheeze from his phone app.
But Aiden wasn’t laughing.
He was watching Tyler watch Ashlyn.
It wasn't a normal look. It wasn't a glare. It wasn't annoyance. It was something softer, something wondering.
His stomach twisted.
The mall was loud, packed with kids and the smell of pretzels and cheap cologne.
They spilled out of the van, moving in loose, chaotic clumps.
Ashlyn stayed close to Aiden at first, their fingers brushing just once before she stuffed her hands into her hoodie pocket, guarded.
It should’ve made him feel better.
But Tyler was there.
Always a few steps away.
When they passed a pretzel stand, Tyler jerked his chin at Ashlyn. "You want one?"
Ashlyn shrugged. "Sure."
Before Aiden could even breathe, Tyler was buying one. No hesitation. Just… bought it.
He handed it to her, all casual, like it meant nothing.
Ashlyn took it with a nod, tearing off a bite without a second glance.
But Aiden saw the way Tyler’s face eased. Saw the tiny bit of pride flash in his eyes.
Something ugly scratched at Aiden’s ribs.
He forced a laugh. "What’s next, Ty? Gonna buy her a whole food court?"
Tyler barely looked at him. "Just being nice. You should try it sometime."
Ashlyn chewed slowly, ignoring them both.
Logan and Taylor dragged Ben into a nearby GameStop, leaving Aiden, Ashlyn, and Tyler standing awkwardly by a soda machine.
The tension was thick enough to chew.
"You know," Aiden said, way too loudly, "Tyler’s not usually this generous. I think he’s trying to impress you, Ash."
Ashlyn gave him a flat stare. "If he was, it’s not working."
Aiden smirked, petty satisfaction unfurling in his chest.
But Tyler wasn’t fazed. He just shoved his hands in his pockets and said, "Guess I gotta step up my game then."
Ashlyn made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a snort, wandering off toward the bookstore without waiting.
Aiden stalked after her, jaw tight. Tyler followed at a lazy distance.
When they caught up, Ashlyn was flipping through a graphic novel display, expression bored.
"You’re being weird," she said without looking up.
Aiden stepped close, voice low. "He’s into you."
Ashlyn blinked. "You’re imagining things."
"I’m not," Aiden said, sharper than he meant to. "He keeps looking at you like you’re... like you’re something he wants."
Ashlyn finally glanced at him, those cool green eyes unreadable. "And if he does?"
The air punched out of him.
"You’re mine," he said, voice rough.
Ashlyn’s brows arched slightly. "I know that. Do you?"
Before he could answer, Tyler called out, "You guys coming, or you planning to live in the manga section?"
Ashlyn sighed and closed the book. She brushed past Aiden, shoulder bumping his lightly, and headed toward Tyler without hesitation.
Aiden stood there, burning.
The arcade was a blur of neon and noise.
Ben beat Logan at skee-ball so badly Logan pretended to faint. Taylor cackled like a goblin.
Aiden didn’t join.
He stood against a wall, watching Tyler and Ashlyn face off at the air hockey table.
Tyler was grinning. Grinning.
Ashlyn looked deadpan as always, but she was playing along, fast and sharp, sniping the puck back with surgical precision.
They bickered between rounds — light, stupid insults.
The kind that made it look like they were… close.
Too close.
Aiden’s hands clenched into fists.
He wanted to walk over there and pull her away.
Wanted to shove Tyler back and say, She’s mine, idiot. Back off.
But he couldn’t.
Not without blowing everything up.
"Tyler’s being weirdly nice," Taylor said, appearing beside him, munching popcorn. She leans against Aiden's shoulder with Logan beside her.
"Yeah," Logan said, smirking. "Maybe he’s got a crush."
Aiden’s jaw locked so hard it hurt.
Ben raised his eyebrows at him, silent but knowing.
Ashlyn scored the winning goal, and Tyler whooped, ruffling her braid like she was one of the guys.
She batted his hand away, half-smiling.
Aiden saw red, once again.
He pushed off the wall and marched over.
"You let her win, didn’t you?" he said, voice too sharp.
Tyler blinked at him. "What’s your problem, man?"
Aiden shrugged, fake-casual. "Just saying. Pretty desperate move, Ty."
Ashlyn gave him a look. The kind that said, You’re being stupid.
He didn’t care.
Not when Tyler was looking at her like that.
Not when Ashlyn didn’t immediately push him away.
Ashlyn muttered something under her breath and grabbed Aiden by the wrist, yanking him behind a row of old pinball machines.
"You’re acting like a psycho," she said flatly.
"He’s all over you," Aiden hissed. "And you’re letting him!"
Ashlyn crossed her arms. "He’s not ‘all over me.’ He’s existing. Calm down."
Aiden stared at her, heart pounding so loud it drowned out the arcade noise.
"I can’t," he said, voice cracking. "I can't stand it, Ash. He looks at you like you're the only thing he wants."
Ashlyn’s expression cracked, just a little.
She stepped closer, so close their sneakers touched.
"You’re the one I want," she said. "Not him. You."
Aiden’s breath caught.
"You mean that?" he said, like a complete idiot.
Ashlyn rolled her eyes so hard it was practically audible, then grabbed the front of his hoodie and kissed him.
Hard.
Aiden froze for half a second before kissing her back like he was drowning.
It was messy and rushed and completely hidden behind the noisy arcade machines, and it was perfect.
When they broke apart, Ashlyn’s face was slightly flushed, braid slipping over her shoulder.
"Idiot," she muttered.
"Yours," he muttered back.
They rejoined the group a few minutes later. Aiden’s hoodie was crooked, and Ashlyn’s hair was a little messy, but no one seemed to notice.
Except Ben.
Ben definitely noticed.
He smirked silently over his phone, typing something he never sent.
Tyler narrowed his eyes slightly at them, but said nothing.
Let him wonder.
Let him stew.
Aiden laced his fingers through Ashlyn’s briefly, hidden between them as they walked.
She didn’t pull away.
And for the first time that whole night, Aiden didn’t care about Tyler’s glances.
Ashlyn was his.
And he was never letting her go.