Aaron rubs the back of his neck once before answering.
"It’s nothing."
My brows pull together.
"I just think you should have so ti to yourself," he adds.
"Without...muvh distractions."
I let out a short breath.
"My friends aren’t a distraction."
"I know."
"Then what’s the problem?"
Another small pause as hr looks at , then away.....then back again.
I eye him suspiciously when he doesn’t say anything. Okay now I know it’s probably nothing because I know Aaron wouldn’t hurt ...not intentionally. In the little while I’ve been here he hass sohow turned to a friend.... My friend and I trust him no doubt but...
"Okay," I say slowly.
"...what’s going on?"
"Nothing."
I give him a long look that he holds for a second, then he says, calr this ti,
"I just want you to get out. Clear your head."
I study his face, trying to see if there’s sothing I’m missing.
But he’s good.
After a few seconds, I exhale and drop my arms.
"Whatever," I mutter.
"If you say so."
He nods once and just like that, the mont passes.
I grab my phone anyway and toss it onto the bed.
"Give a minute," I say, turning back to my wardrobe as I pull out sothing simple to wear.
______
The air outside is cooler than I expected. Ir hits my face the mont we step out of the car, and for a second, I just stand there and breathe it in like I haven’t been outside in weeks. BeCause well I haven’t.
Aaron shuts the door behind him and gestures toward the entrance of the ice cream shop.
Sa place, sa bright lights spilling out onto the street
For a mont, I hesitate the last ti I was here, everything felt... lighter.
"Co on," Aaron says quietly.
I don’t argue as I move ahead and walk in, the bell above the door jingling softly as we enter.
The place slls the sa too... it has that sweet scent, vanilla and sugar and sothing fruity mixed together.
There are a few people inside.... A couple near the window, two kids at the far end arguing over flavors.
Normal.
Everything looks normal as we step up to the counter.
I don’t even need to look at the nu.
"I’ll have the v vanilla flavor with sprinkles please " I say.
The girl behind the counter nods and turns to scoop it.
Aaron steps up beside .
"I’ll have the sa."
I glance at him.
"You don’t even like that flavor."
He shrugs slightly.
"It’s fine."
I don’t push it.
We take our cups and move to a table near the side. I sit down first, placing the cup in front of .
Aaron sits across from , neither of us saying anything dor a while.
I pick up the spoon and take a small scoop.It’s cold and Sweer
I glance up at Aaron. He’s holding his spoon but hasn’t eaten yet as I watch his eyes flick briefly to his wrist, back up then down again.
His fingers tap once lightly against the table,
I notice he’s He’s tense
I tilt my head slightly, watching him.
"You okay?"
He nods too quickly
"I’m fine."
I raise a brow.
"That didn’t sound convincing."
"I’m fine."
I scoop another bite, studying him over the rim of my cup.
"You’ve said that twice now."
He exhales quietly
I lean back slightly in my chair, crossing one leg over the other.
"You dragged out of my room after days," I say.
"Brought here... and now you’re the one acting weird?"
He shakes his head lightly
"I’m not acting weird
I let out a small laugh.
"You keep checking your watch."
His hand stills imdiately and I point at it with my spoon.
"That, righ there. You just did it again."
He glances down at it like he didn’t even realize....then back at .
"It’s nothing."
I narrow my eyes slightly.
"You’re a terrible liar, you know that?"
A small corner of his mouth twitches.
"I’m not lying.
"Mhm."
I take another bite of my ice cream. Then lean forward slightly, lowering my voice like I’m about to share a secret.
"You look like you’re waiting for sothing."
He doesn’t respond.....as he just watches .
I smirk faintly.
"Or soone."
Still nothing.
That’s when I decide to push a little more.
"What, did you bring here for a surprise or sothing?" I tease.
"Should I be excited?"
He exhales through his nose, shaking his head.
"You are really persistent you know?..."
"Am I?"
I tilt my head again, watching him closely now.
"Because right now, you look like you’re about to either run or....."
A movent catches my attention from the side..... the waitress that served our ice cream. Shws walking toward our table, holding a small tray. Probably coming to ask if we need anything else.
I straighten slightly in my seat as Aaron’s posture shifts too it’s subtle but I notice it.
The waitress gets closer smiling politely at js.
"Is everything alrig..."
The sound cuts through the air before she can finish.....there’s a loud crack through the airr, a very unmistakable sound.....a gunshot. It’s so loud and sudden in the small space...that for a split second, my brain doesn’t even process it.
Then... I turn to see that the waitressws head snaps violently, the tray slipping from her hands as everything on it crashes to the floor and she she drops...right in front of us.
Her body hitting the ground with a sickening weight.
My eyes lock onto her..... still frozen because the bullet went straight into her head.
For a second... everything slows, ir doesn’t even feel real. The waitress is on the floor in front of , her body twisted at an odd angle, her tray shattered beside her.
My ears start ringing,loudly drowning everything else out. I can see people moving...chairs scraping down, bodies jerking back, soone knocking into a table.....but it all feels distant.
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