Page 8 (1/2)
Chapter 1
Lyric
“I think we should get one of the dead ones” A smile curls attoward eternal death “Just think about it We’d be the only ones in the entire neighborhood with a brown Christst the masses”
Ayden’s lips quirk as he flicks a tree branch “As much as I’d love to let you have your way, I doubt Lila or your mom would be too thrilled if we came home with a fire hazard for a Christmas decoration”
“It wouldn’t be the first tiht home this baby pine tree that had hardly any needles after Aunt Lila told the ho my beanie lower onto my head and zip ht they were so funny, but she was so mad she threw the tree in the fireplace”
Even though we live in San Diego, where it never snows, the Deceure out which tree is considered “flourishing” The area sreen twinkly lights on the sign and fence glimmer across our faces, evidence that the holidays are spritzed everywhere; trees, yards, streets, stores
I generally enjoy the spirit of Christ the funeral for Ayden’s brother, Felix, yesterday, this year seeraveyard I held his hand through the eulogy, and he gripped on for dear life, as if the connection was the only thing keeping hiether for him, to stay upbeat
Still am
“She set the angel tree topper on fire, too,” I continue when Ayden doesn’t crack a smile “You should have seen how the dress went up in flames Looked like a little devil toward the end of it”
“You’re so full of it,” he says with a ghost of a smile “But thank you”
“For what?”
“For trying”
His words don’t make me feel any better, since he still appears depressed
I tip li across the sky Under my breath, I utter a wish that Ayden will be able to overco of his brother, but with his sister not being at the funeral No one will give him any inforh he rarely complains about his hardships—never has
On top of all of that, he’s dealing with a tremendous amount of pressure from the police to seek therapy to try to restore his ht and wrong; not helpingthe demons of his past
Although he has never flat out told me the specific details of what he can recollect about his time before foster care, I’ve come up with my own speculations, and all are horrible The homemade tattoo they branded on his flesh tells me how mistreated he hile he was held captive
“What do you think about this one?” Ayden draws my attention back to him
He’s standing over by a tall, puffy tree propped against the fence
I le ht be a little excessive and will probably barely fit in your living room Remember how super frustrated Aunt Lila ith Uncle Ethan last year when he brought ho roo, and there was hardly any rooel”
“Yeah, I forgot about that” His frown deepens “I guess you’re right It’ll probably be better to get a smaller one this year” His head falls forward, strands of black hair drifting into his dark eyes
He’s so beautiful and sad, like the haunting portrait rave surrounded by blackrose petals I wanted to cry every ti it for a ton of htly morbid stuff
I need to cheer him up somehow
Come on, Lyric You can do better
I place ht, dude, what’s with the poutiness?”
He givesback to that?” A playful tone edges into his voice Finally
“Um, hello You will always be my dude, even e’re super old” I flash him my pearly whites “You’ll be all badass—old with a cane and a hunch, but rockin’ your boots and black, studded clothes And, sometimes, you’ll even sle like they did when they were sixteen You’ll totally be grandpa dude worthy”
Laughter escapes his lips “So, you’re putting me in an old folks' home, huh? Nice to knohere I’m headed”
“Yeah, well, I had to Your cane was craer”
His lips twitch as a full sh “Oh, my God I would love to kno you come up with this shit”
“No, you wouldn’t” I put the tip of ers to oes on in here” When he laughs again, I dare ask, “So, are you going to tell ht not be the way to go?”
“It’s not a big deal” He skims over the trees then nods his head to a shorter one near the entrance of the tree shop “We should probably go for one like that”
I catch his sleeve before he can wander off “No way We’re totally getting one of the tall ones”
“Nah You were right They’re too tall”
“Nope, they’re just right Besides, Uncle Ethan willso And then we can get me this bad boy,” I point at an equally tall and fluffy tree leaning beside the one Ayden picked out, “so we can be twins” I wagglejust like me”
“Yep, it’s my secret wish,” he finally, finally jokes back “In fact, every night when I go to sleep, I look outit to please let me wake up and be exactly like Lyric”
“Ha, ha” I aih “I knew it”
“You are such a weirdo” He’s totally srin from ear to ear
“Yeah, but a weirdo that you’re so in
love with” As soon as I say it, I instantly want to retract it
Aydeneverywhere except at me
Can you say aard?
It used to not be this co and touching in htly uncomfortable if certain subjects come up, like love
I don’t feel bad about it at all, though Ayden doesn’t even tell the Gregorys he loves them I honestly don’t think he can say that word and s he can’t do, like allow anyone to touch hi While we have kissed twice, our lip-locking has co halt ever since his brother’s death He’s not cold toward me—he cuddles and holds my hand more than he used to I think his brother’s h, because that dark place he forgot about for over three years is trying to reenter his life
“Okay, this weirdo right here is getting hungry” I rub my tumet a burger on the way home before I starve to death?”
“Fine, but only if you let me pay this time” He relaxes and so do I “You always pay”