Love In The Gray

el words-a word his mother had constantly used on him, a word that had almost driven him to take his own life. A word

d the door for those n

He could see the hurt in Aiden's eyes, and his own widened slightly as if realizing he'd cross

up, his face pale a

ming out of the library, trying to keep

disappeared through the doors. Guilt gnawed at him, but his pri

s wrong. He began packing up the books on the table and placing them in his bag. After

he saw it wa

studied him, trying to gauge if something was wr

said. He furrowed his brows, wo

uld go out to eat this even

flatly, walking past her

ine muttered, disappoin

have feelings for anyone," Lyrica, one of Catherine's friends and classmat

ent, I thought you might actually date," Selene added,

e snapped, though her voice gradually so

like him to leave school this early. It's only 6 p.m.," Catherine added, her tone filled with conc

uth hurts. I hope Tristan does like

ea impossible. It wasn't that she didn't want her friend to be with Tristan, but she had once been in love with him h

take you seriously," Lyrica teased suddenly,

ped, frowning. "I'm fine as long as he's no

r head. "You're delusional," she mutt

**

Aiden and find out if he'd managed to calm

Aiden's room but hesitated for a moment before gently knocking on the doo

greeted by an impeccably tidy room. It was his first time entering Aiden's room, and he hadn't expected it to be so wel

caught his eye. He was curious, but he didn't want to invade Aiden's

her. He decided to let it go; Aiden's disappearances weren't n

end their relationship, but because he felt guilty. He sensed that what h

shower. Afterward, he changed into something more comfortable and sat at his de

.

glasses. He closed his laptop and le

e wall clock. He paused, setting the glass down on the

all Aiden, but quickly realized he didn't even have Aiden's phone number. He frowned and scrolle

prised. He tossed his phone onto the bed and

For the first time in months, he was genuinely concerned about

ndered, and he picked up his phone again when he remembered Aiden had friends. But after going throug

quickly grabbed it, as if waitin

ssage, he hurriedly got

**

had managed to find Aiden thanks to Jefferson, who had messaged him, l

th a smile, while Troy simply gave Tristan a bl

d, and Tristan nodded, watching them

o wake Aiden. Aiden suddenly looked up

ristan. "I... I hate you with every part of me, you know that, right?"

isappear from my life?" Aiden added, chewing h

ing to gently guide him, but Aiden shook

Tristan scolded, his

iden spat back, glari

he glared at Tristan. "Maybe I shouldn't have survived the surgery... maybe then she wouldn't have said it. She

he shot another pained look at Tris

saw the tears streaming down Aiden's cheeks. A wave of guilt h

suddenly shouted,

arted, but the wo

rward in a zigzag motion. "I'll find my way home. I don't need your help," h

etween sobs. Seeing him like this, Tristan felt a sharp sense of gu

e," Aiden repeated, stopping sudd

g at himself as tears glistened in his ey

now I hate you," Aiden said,

an's leaped. He lunged forward, pulling Aiden ba

rms. Before Tristan could fully steady him, their lips b

ext second, Aiden went limp, unconscious, his