"Aaron," a teenager's voice was heard while shaking the body of the adolescent beside him in the back seat of the car.
"Hmh," the teenager in question grunted in protest upon seeing his sleep being disturbed.
"Wake up, dude," the teenager kept insisting, shaking his friend with more strength and persistence so he would get up.
"What's wrong?" Aaron's faint murmur was heard in a low voice while he slowly regained consciousness.
"We arrived at your house, dude," said Drew, explaining the reason why he was trying to wake Aaron up.
Raising his gaze and focusing his sight, Aaron saw that they were indeed parked in front of his building.
"Thanks, dude," said Aaron, covering the yawn coming out of his mouth with his hand, a sign of how tired he was. "You too, Mr. Deluca," Aaron added quickly while his hand rested on the handle and he prepared to enter his house and head straight to his bed.
Once his feet touched the sidewalk, Aaron shivered slightly, greeted by the autumnal New York wind.
"See you later, friend," said Drew, lowering the car window while making a goodbye gesture with his hand.
"I'll see you in a few hours," said Aaron while putting on a smile that to Drew looked like a demon's.
"Ugh," Drew moaned at the idea of having to get up only to then have to exercise. "Come on, dude, it's 2 AM," Drew said in an attempt to convince Aaron not to train today.
"We had a deal, dude," Aaron replied quickly, reminding Drew that they would go to the party on the condition that they would train the next day. "I'll wait for you at my house at noon," was the last thing Aaron said before turning on his heels and heading to the hall of his building.
Without looking back, Aaron only heard the sound of the car driving away while he opened the building door with his key and prepared to go up the stairs. Thankful that they lived on the second floor, Aaron slowly climbed the stairs, increasingly tired as if each step were a test of his will.
As soon as he reached the door of his apartment, Aaron gave a tired yawn while inserting the key into the slot and prepared to enter. Once inside the apartment, Aaron was surprised to find his mother asleep on the sofa still in her work uniform.
"She stayed up waiting for me," was the thought that hit Aaron's mind, making his heart feel warm at the noble gesture. With slow steps, trying to make as little noise as possible, Aaron approached her and lightly shook her shoulder trying to wake her up.
"Ma," Aaron whispered in his mother's ear trying to wake her.
"Ugh," with a low and reluctant groan, Melissa opened her eyes, her son's face being the first thing she saw. After that, sitting up correctly on the sofa, Melissa composed herself while stretching muscles stiff from the position she was in.
"My back," Melissa couldn't help but complain due to the posture she was in.
"What are you doing sleeping on the sofa?" Aaron asked with a tired smile on his face.
"Obviously waiting for you," was Melissa's blunt response while she rubbed her aching back.
"And how was the party?" Melissa asked curiously, wanting to know the details.
"It was fine," said Aaron, thinking about everything that had happened at the party.
"Uhm," said Melissa while yawning. "Tell me everything tomorrow, I have to work tomorrow," Melissa said, standing up and heading toward her room.
"Rest," was the last thing Aaron said toward his mother while watching her walk down the hallway and close her bedroom door.
Once that happened, Aaron also headed toward his room and, without caring about anything, threw himself on his bed, letting sleep win and falling fast asleep. Perhaps knowing how tired he was, his mind did not transport him to his mental court and he was able to have a deep and restorative sleep without interruptions.
November 1st, 11:00
"Ugh," Aaron groaned, covering his face with his hand, unable to stand the sun's rays hitting his face directly any longer.
Knowing it was time to get up, with a tired and resigned sigh, Aaron stood up and like a zombie grabbed his towel and headed straight to the bathroom to take a rejuvenating and well-deserved shower.
"Shhh," the sound of the shower could be heard throughout the bathroom while Aaron began to take off the costume that was sweaty and sticky.
"Auch," Aaron groaned in pain when his hand passed over his neck.
Glancing toward the mirror above the sink, Aaron saw with horror a reddish mark on his neck.
"Great," Aaron said sarcastically seeing the large hickey he had on his neck.
Recalling when he got that mark, Aaron couldn't help but remember what happened the previous night: Meghan on top of him and… With each memory, Aaron felt how the blood was going toward the lower part of his pants, so shaking his head to rid himself of those thoughts, Aaron immediately got into the shower hoping the cold water would help him cool down.
"Shit," Aaron cursed as the cold water hit his body, but it also helped him lower his body heat.
20 minutes later
Coming out of the shower with a towel around his waist, Aaron couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief at finally being able to feel clean.
"Much better," Aaron said, then headed toward his room to change clothes.
Once inside, Aaron began to look for which jersey to wear for his training with Drew, as over the years Aaron had acquired a large collection of jerseys. Thinking that he would probably also start training as a power forward, he chose the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki number 41 jersey, thinking it would bring him luck.
With his choice made, Aaron went to the kitchen to find something to eat while sending a message to Drew on his phone.
Aaron:I'll wait for you in 1 hour at my house.
After that, Aaron went to the kitchen and was surprised to see a person behind the stove.
"Buenos dias bello durmiente," Paola said with a smile upon seeing her nephew finally getting up. (Good morning, sleeping beauty)
"Tia," was Aaron's simple response while he opened the refrigerator and took out the milk carton.
"How was the party?" Paola asked Aaron while her gaze remained concentrated on the pan in front of her.
"All good," Aaron said with his back to his aunt while pouring milk into a glass and taking a long sip.
"Seems like it was more than good," Paola said with a mischievous look while she finally turned around and saw her nephew and the evident mark on his neck. "Are you going to tell me how you got that hickey?" Paola asked in an interrogative tone toward Aaron.
At those words, Aaron felt as if he were running out of air and choked on the milk he was drinking.
"COF COF," Aaron coughed while tapping his chest trying to get air back into his lungs.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Aaron said, playing dumb and masterfully ignoring his aunt's gaze.
"Sure, then what is the mark on your neck," Paola said, pointing out the hickey mark with her perfectly painted nail.
"Nothing," Aaron said, quickly bringing his hand to his neck to cover the red mark located there.
"Okay, don't tell me how, just answer this," Paola said, standing tall and with a serious voice toward her nephew. "Did you use protection?" Paola asked seriously, not expecting evasiveness or attempts to change the subject.
"Ugh, please tell me you didn't ask me that," Aaron said, throwing his head back, uncomfortable with the question his aunt asked him.
"Of course I did, I don't want you coming with a surprise 9 months later," Paola said, placing a hand on her waist and waiting for Aaron's response.
"I didn't have sex if that's what you're asking," Aaron answered with a red face and lowering his gaze slightly.
At that response, Paola slightly raised her eyebrow, implying she didn't quite believe him, having the hickey on his neck as evidence.
"I simply didn't hit a home run," Aaron said reluctantly, not wanting to address more details about his love life with his aunt.
"Fine," was the simple response his aunt gave him with a smile while bringing his breakfast plate to the table. "Time to eat," Paola said once she set the plate on the table.
Breakfast consisted of oatmeal pancakes with maple syrup and chopped fruit on the side, rich in proteins and vitamins. Aaron tried by all possible means to watch his diet, avoiding fatty foods and sugary drinks as much as possible, knowing how harmful they are to health. That, and also perhaps wanting to avoid the future where he ended up fat with a large beer belly.
"What are the plans for today?" Paola asked, wanting to know what her nephew would do.
"In a bit, I'm going to train with Drew at the court outside," Aaron said, more concentrated on his plate than anything else.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay and rest?" Paola asked him.
"I'll be fine, I'd get bored if I stayed here doing nothing," Aaron said while devouring the last piece of pancake and wiping his mouth with the napkin. "Thanks for the food," Aaron said, standing up and taking his plate to the sink to wash it.
Still at the sink, Aaron heard knocks on the door and before he could move to open it, he heard his aunt's unmistakable voice.
"I'll get it, querido," Paola said, approaching to open the door. (dear)
As soon as she opened the door, Aaron could hear Paola speak. "You must be Drew, right?" Paola asked with a smile seeing the young man with curly hair in front of her.
Drew, not knowing what to say or do standing in front of Paola, couldn't do anything else but nod his head.
"I'm Paola, Aaron's aunt," Paola said, introducing herself.
To which she received no response from Drew, who just looked at her with a blank stare.
"Aaron will be out in a moment," Paola told him, trying to make conversation.
But Drew remained still without saying a word.
"You're not a man of many words, are you, corazon?" Paola asked Drew again without receiving any response from him. Turning her head to look inside the apartment, Paola shouted: "Aaron, your friend is here!" then went back inside to sit on the sofa.
While Drew was still standing like a statue in front of the door, Aaron finished washing his plate and headed to the door, drying his hands with a towel.
"Hey, friend," Aaron said toward Drew with a smile that then turned into a frown upon seeing that Drew didn't respond. Passing a hand in front of Drew's face, Aaron said: "Earth to Drew," but again got no response.
After that, Aaron gave him light taps on the cheeks, with which Drew finally seemed to regain his senses.
"What," Drew asked, shaking his head and finally reacting.
Aaron, rolling his eyes at his foolish friend, simply grabbed the basketball that was beside the door and walked out.
"Let's go train," Aaron said without wasting time giving explanations to Drew.
Still confused, Drew decided to follow Aaron down the stairs toward the basketball court.
"Good luck to both of you!!" Paola's shout was heard from the door.
"Thanks, tia," Aaron shouted while going down the stairs.
"Tha... thanks," Drew said hesitantly, following Aaron. Without knowing he was heading straight into hell itself.
Author's thoughts
What did you think of today's chapter?