Strength in Numbers

I smiled as my phone vibrated, alerting me to a new text.

"Ugh Alan and Austin are arguing over movies. Alan insists Tim Burton movies are better than Disney xD," Aaron texted.

We exchanged numbers the day before when I had gone to hang out with Austin, and had been texting ever since. He was so easy to talk to, and I really liked having a person that I could talk to, besides Austin. I loved Austin to death, but there's a limit to how much of him I can handle at once before I end up hitting him. Aaron was different, though. He shared Austin's passion for music but wasn't quite so...loud about his opinions.

I laughed. "Oh god, you'd think he'd know by now to NEVER challenge Austin when it comes to Disney movies xD," I sent back.

"Well, I've had enough of listening to them scream like we're on stage, join me for a drink?"

I felt my face heat up. "Yeah sure, want me to come to the bus?"

"Sounds like a plan :)"

Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Did I just agree to a date with Aaron Pauley? Oh shit. Austin's gonna flip.

I hurriedly threw on a little make up and attempted to do something productive with my hair while my stomach circled at a million miles an hour. I half ran to my car, and once inside spent the entire ride to the lot tapping my fingers against the wheel nervously. I took a deep, calming breath before walking to the Of Mice and Men bus. It didn't help.

"HOW CAN YOU EVEN FUCKING SAY THAT?!" I heard Austin screaming from ten feet away.

I knocked on the bus door, unsure if it could even be heard over Austin and Alan. The door opened and I smiled at Aaron. He smiled back before turning over his shoulder, "I'm going out!"

"What? Where?" I heard Alan's voice but didn't see him.

"You two have driven me to drink, see you guys later." He stepped out, letting the door close behind him.

"Hi," I smiled again.

He grinned back. "Hey. Shall we?"

I nodded, but before we could get five feet from the bus the door swung back open and Alan leaned out. "Don't just go off alone-" he stopped when our eyes met. I saw his jaw work as he ground his teeth before turning and storming back inside without another word.

I swallowed and bit my lip. God it was hard to not cry when I got that look of disgust.

"You ok, Sil?" Aaron's arm went around my shoulders.

I felt the heat in my face and looked down, letting my black and red hair hide my blush. "Fine, let's go drink!"

He laughed and kept his arm around me as we walked to the bar. I felt like I was in highschool again as butterflies bounced around my stomach. We talked and laughed as we walked, and Aaron's arm only dropped to open the door for me.

"Thanks." I couldn't stop smiling. I probably looked like a moron.

We got drinks and sat down in a booth to talk. "I love your hair, by the way. It kicks ass," he grinned, making the butterflies bounce around again. Austin was going to kill me.

"Thanks, I do it myself. Aust is the one that convinced me to dye it. I had wanted to for years but didn't because I knew I'd fuck it up and make myself bald."

Aaron choaked on his beer. "Oh come on," he laughed, "you cannot be THAT bad."

"But I am! Has Austin never told you of the time I broke my hand?"

"He has not, is he holding back a great story?"

"He so is. We were walking home from school and I tripped over LITERALLY nothing. I face planted on the sidewalk and my hand got caught infront of me and broke from the pressure of the fall. I was on the sidewalk in pain and Aust was just hysterical laughing at me because I had just face planted for no reason."

Aaron's head fell back as he laughed. "That's fucking hysterical! Did you kick his ass for laughing when you were actually hurt?"

"Fuck yeah I did! It hurt like a motherfucker and he was laughing at me. After I got the cast I beat his ass so bad, people though he'd gotten into a gang fight."

Aaron shook his head, smiling. "I'm gonna ask him about this later and see if he owns up to it."

My beer got caught in my throat as I laughed. "Oh god, I doubt he will."

Aaron pulled out his phone and frowned at it. "Speaking of Austin, I'm getting some not so pleasent texts from him."

"What?" He handed me his phone. I read text after text of threats that if Aaron made a move on me Austin would kill him with his bare hands. I bit my lip and handed Aaron back his phone. Well there goes my shot of having another friend...or maybe more? I was hoping for a little more. I was really enjoying Aaron's company.

He stuck his phone back in his pocket. "We better get going." I just nodded, knowing this was probably the last time we would hang out. The texting would stop. I would go back to just one friend. Thanks a lot Austin. I made a mental note to kick his ass later.

Aaron had paid without even giving me a chance to dig out my wallet. When I insisted he should have let me pay for my drinks, he just shook his head at me. He took my hand in his with a smile.

My face heated up again. Fuck this guy was killing me.

We walked back to the bus holding hands, still joking like Austin's texts hadn't even mattered. As we got to the bus door I turned to Aaron to say goodbye. Before I got a word out he leaned over and kissed me. I froze, shocked, then melted into the kiss. He was an amazing kisser. His hand dropped my so that his arms could wrap around my waist as mine went around his neck.

There was a loud bang as the door hit the side of the bus. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"

Oh shit.

Notes