They told Carter he’d never see Aiden again—that once his family moved to another country, their friendship would end. It was a heartbreaking thought, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case. Just a few days ago, Aiden had reached out, asking him to meet. Carter’s heart raced at the possibility of rekindling their friendship.

Now, he stood at the train station, waiting silently among the bustling crowd. His blood-red hoodie and golden blonde hair made him stand out, drawing a few glances—mostly from a group of giggling women who whispered like high schoolers. Carter didn’t mind; everyone appreciates attention, especially from a pretty brunette who seemed to be making eyes at him. He thought about approaching her but quickly decided against it.

He was here for Aiden. Even if he couldn’t have fun now, he knew he had a list of girls he could call later. He got around a lot, after all. Rumors spread that he welcomed any girl into his bed, and while that was half true, a few guys had tried their luck too—not that he let it happen. Most were left rejected or abandoned in restaurants or theaters. He treated some girls the same way once he grew bored of them. It wasn’t ideal, but karma would catch up eventually.

A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the clatter of metal on the tracks, signaling the train’s arrival.

The train wasn’t impressive. It looked old, with rusty patches and flaking black paint that revealed the corroded metal beneath. It was smaller than most trains, with only four compartments, but it got the job done. When the doors opened, people poured out, some bags tumbling onto the platform, and the distant cries of children filled the air.

Carter considered checking on the kids but changed his mind when he spotted the source of the commotion—a gray-haired elderly woman pulling a little girl who was sobbing about "selling lollies."

A chuckle escaped him. The girl looked around five, her tantrum convincing the old woman to fumble for a few coins and buy her a lollipop from a nearby vendor. The girl’s pride at her victory quickly faded as she tasted the candy, her face scrunching in uncertainty. The old woman tugged her away shortly after.

A voice suddenly called Carter’s name, faint but unmistakable. His heart skipped, and he scanned the crowd. There, weaving through the bustling station, was Aiden.

He looked different—slightly shorter than Carter remembered, but there was an undeniable grace in the way he moved. His light blue hair, once brown, caught Carter’s attention, and as Aiden came closer, Carter’s arms moved instinctively, pulling him into a tight embrace. His fingers threaded through Aiden’s hair, the texture soft and unfamiliar. The change suited him, perfectly complementing his warm brown eyes.

A flutter of excitement filled Carter’s chest, as if a thousand butterflies had taken flight. Aiden still resembled the boy he once knew—innocent, pale, with soft pink lips that made Carter’s stomach flip. For a moment, the distance between them seemed to shrink, and Carter felt the urge to lean in closer.

Before he could act on it, Aiden grabbed his hand, pulling him through the crowd with a blinding smile. Carter, momentarily stunned, found himself holding a red bag that matched his hoodie. It felt oddly light.

“Hey, Aiden, where are we going?” Carter asked, his voice softer than he intended.

Aiden glanced back, a secretive smile playing on his lips, his eyes glinting with mischief. Without a word, he led Carter down roads, past shops, and through narrow alleys that felt best avoided.

Carter nearly had a heart attack dodging stray animals, half convinced Aiden was intentionally leading him through chaos. He knew he missed his friend, but he hadn’t expected this reunion to be such an adventure. Karma had to be playing a cruel joke on him for all the hearts he’d broken.

Finally, they stopped in front of a large, decrepit building. It loomed ominously, its brick walls chipped and crumbling, the roof caved in. There were no windows—just gaping holes where glass once existed, surrounded by piles of rubble. It was clear no one could live there—unless they were willing to risk their life or health.

Aiden suddenly dropped to his knees. Startled, Carter instinctively wrapped an arm around his waist, steadying him. It wasn’t intimate—though Carter wished it were—but supportive, as Aiden trembled in his grasp.

"I... they lied... I was supposed to—" Aiden stammered, his voice cracking, tears welling in his eyes. Panic and sadness flickered across his face, tightening the knot in Carter’s chest.

Carter didn’t fully understand, but from what he could gather, Aiden was supposed to stay here—near the college they both planned to attend. The realization made Carter’s heart ache even more.

Seeing Aiden so vulnerable unsettled him. Aiden had always been emotional, and Carter had never been good at handling it. He wanted to help, but he often made things worse with his careless words or actions. This time was no different, as the words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them.

"Come stay at my place."

Steam filled the bathroom, mingling with the soft sound of water droplets hitting the tiles, creating a soothing backdrop that filled the apartment. The bathroom door remained closed, concealing Aiden within. His faint humming barely made it through the door, drowned out by the running shower.

Carter stood in the kitchen, pulling out two small steaks and a bag of frozen vegetables. His mind wasn’t on cooking, though. It kept wandering back to Aiden—the boy he hadn’t seen in years, who was now in his shower.

Aiden had been reluctant to stay with him at first. He’d clearly felt like a burden, hesitant to impose. But Carter knew he needed a place. The area wasn’t cheap, and Aiden didn’t have the money to afford anything on his own. The remaining available rooms were either overpriced or in poor condition. It didn’t help that Aiden had been tricked by a scammer, a rare but unfortunate occurrence in the area.

Still, Carter had managed to convince Aiden to stay, working out a deal that made it easier for Aiden to accept the offer. They agreed to share the apartment like proper roommates—Carter would take care of the rent, while Aiden handled the groceries. Other bills were split evenly. It was a fair arrangement and far cheaper than living alone. More importantly, Carter knew Aiden was safe.

The thought of Aiden being under his roof, close but still a little distant, brought a mix of comfort and confusion. They weren’t sharing a bed or anything, but the mere presence of Aiden stirred something within Carter—a fluttering sensation he tried to ignore. He wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe it was just excitement from seeing an old friend after so long. That had to be it, right?

As the vegetables and meat started to cook, Carter absentmindedly stirred the pot, watching the ingredients blend together into a hearty stew. His hand instinctively reached for a few spices, adding them in with the practiced ease he’d developed from years of cooking for himself. One of his ex-girlfriends had been strict about food—strict enough to almost hit him with a pan once when he suggested instant ramen over cooking a full meal. The memory sent a shiver down his spine. He couldn’t remember why he had dated her; something about her always felt off, and there was a quiet but ever-present sense of danger when they were alone.

His thoughts were interrupted by a pair of arms wrapping around him from behind. He jumped at first, but the panic quickly faded when he realized it was Aiden. There was something calming in Aiden’s touch, even though it had caught him off guard.

“The food smells amazing,” Aiden said softly, his voice warm and a little playful. “I never imagined you were much of a cook.”

Aiden stood beside him now, dressed in yellow checkered pajama pants and an oversized shirt. His damp, messy hair framed his face, and despite the contentment in his eyes, Carter found himself holding back the urge to reach out and run his fingers through it.

Carter blinked, processing Aiden’s compliment before a blush crept across his cheeks. “I’m a great cook, thank you very much!” he huffed, crossing his arms defensively. Aiden laughed softly, clearly amused by Carter’s reaction.

Smiling, Aiden moved to help with the food, carefully lifting the pot from the stove. The scent of the stew made Carter’s stomach growl, but he resisted the urge to serve himself first. Aiden’s laughter still hung in the air, light and teasing, and Carter couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through him.

“You know I didn’t mean anything by it,” Aiden teased, his eyes glinting with mischief. “I just remember your mom trying to teach you to cook and how you burned the eggs. Every time.”

Carter rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Yeah, well, things change,” he said, stepping closer. He placed his hands over Aiden’s, guiding him as they spooned the stew into bowls. Aiden glanced at him, a little surprised by the gesture, but didn’t pull away. Carter wanted Aiden to feel comfortable here, to know that this could be his home too.

“I know what you meant,” Carter added softly, his voice turning more serious. He grabbed a couple of spoons, setting them on the table. “But now, we need to settle the most important issue of the night.”

Aiden looked at him curiously, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “What’s that?”

Carter met his eyes with a smirk. “Who gets the bed—you or me?”

The blankets lay haphazardly on the couch, a disordered pile of light greens with a small yellow one tossed in. It probably wouldn’t do much to keep anyone warm, but it brightened up the pile and could work as a pillow if needed.

Carter dropped onto the couch with a soft thud, one arm draped over the backrest while the other reached for a blanket. He tugged one free after a bit of effort, careful not to pull the whole pile down or drag it all into his lap. His thoughts drifted to Aiden, who had gone to the bedroom after dinner.

They had spent the evening in light banter, but the mood shifted when Carter gave him a stern look, insisting that Aiden take the bedroom. Aiden’s body had trembled slightly, and Carter noticed the way his eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape. After that, Aiden had kept his gaze low, avoiding eye contact as he silently made his way to bed.

A sense of dread settled in Carter’s chest as he replayed the moment in his mind. His intentions had been pure—surprisingly so, considering nothing pure ever seemed to come from inviting someone into his space. But this time was different. He had only wanted to be firm, to make sure Aiden had a comfortable bed for the night, yet somehow, he had scared him. He didn’t know why, but Aiden had made it clear with his reaction, even if he hadn’t said anything.

Carter had been tempted to reach out, to hold Aiden and whisper something reassuring, but he’d stopped himself. Aiden was already nervous, and any touch, even from someone he trusted, might have pushed him further away.

Sighing, Carter leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. He felt terrible for how things had played out and wanted to make it right. Maybe breakfast in bed tomorrow? But waiting until morning felt wrong. He didn’t want Aiden to spend the whole night upset, especially with it being his first day of school tomorrow.

He needed to do something now, something to make things right. His mind churned until an idea clicked into place.

The creak of the floorboards grew louder as Carter padded into the kitchen, the sound stopping only when his feet met the cool tiles. He opened and closed a few cabinets, their noisy thuds echoing through the apartment until he found what he was looking for.

A few minutes later, he headed back toward the bedroom, pausing just outside the door. His eyes caught the faint glow of light beneath it. Aiden was still awake.

Slowly, Carter turned the handle and pushed the door open.

His smile faltered the moment he saw Aiden. He placed the mug he was holding on a nearby dresser and stepped into the room.

Aiden looked at him, wide-eyed and tear-streaked. There were no fresh tears, but the wetness on his cheeks and the redness beneath his eyes told Carter everything he needed to know. Aiden was scared—scared of being caught crying.

With shaky hands, Aiden clutched his legs to his chest, his forced smile never reaching his eyes.

“Aiden,” Carter said softly, his voice gentle, like he was speaking to a wounded animal. He moved closer, sitting at the edge of the bed, careful to keep some distance. “What’s wrong? Come here.”

He opened his arms, waiting for Aiden to come closer. “Tell me what happened.”

Aiden hesitated but eventually scooted forward, his shoulders hunched as if bracing himself for something. He stopped just short of Carter’s legs.

Carter sighed softly, dropping to his knees beside the bed. With a gentle touch, he brushed Aiden’s bangs back, tucking the hair behind his ear but leaving his hand there. “It’s okay,” Carter said, his thumb lightly grazing Aiden’s cheek where the tears had started to dry. “You can tell me, just like old times.”

But Aiden didn’t respond. He didn’t open up, at least not immediately. Carter could see it—he needed comfort, safety. They had always shared their secrets when they were alone, in places far from prying eyes. It was that feeling of solitude that made Aiden feel safe enough to talk.

Carter glanced around the room, his eyes landing on the cup of tea he’d left on the dresser and a box of heart-shaped chocolates. An idea—ridiculous, but maybe just what was needed—popped into his head.

“Aiden,” Carter said, his voice softening, “let’s eat some chocolate. It’ll cheer you up.”