24.

                                    

                                          
"Welcome Alexander, to my humble adobe." A slim, hard hand reaches out for mine, I swallow my nerves as I touch my shaking- probably drenched in sweat- hand out to grasp hers.
Days before...
"Alex!" My body had only been able to turn a fraction towards this familiar voice until I was tackled to the ground by a heavy, muscular body.
"Ow, shit- Aether?" I wriggled on the floor in pain, but that feeling left soon after I saw the gorgeous mans face, beaming down at me.
"Did you miss me? I know you did, so you don't have to say it." I could feel the rise in his cheeks from his smiley face as he pressed he cheek to my shoulder, still on top of me. 
"Yeah, yeah, I guess I missed you. Now get off, your elbow is stabbing my lungs." I heaved a heavy sigh of relief and chuckled with the little oxygen left in me, staggering over to lean my head on Aether's shoulder, not that he minded, he only seemed to shine brighter and stand as still as possible. As much as I wanted to stay around and lean on Aether, classes where starting soon, and even though we didn't really need to hide anymore, I still thought we should, and I wanted to, only because if I hear anyone say stupid shit about Aether, I don't think I would last very long as a student. A quick peck on the cheek and a tap on the chest was all I could offer him before I took off towards my class, leaving him stunned.
All throughout biology, I was distracted. Thoroughly distracted. I moment, I was flipping through notes and reviewing what I needed, the next, I was zoned out, thinking about Aether's lips. My head slipped out if its rest on my palm, I saw my live flash before my eyes as I caught myself right before I spilt my head in half. This was terrible, was I falling in love this quick? Had I always been this way? I thought I would have changed after everything I went through, but apparently I was still that clueless boy way back when inside. I shook off the thoughts and negative feelings as much as I could, this subject was important and I had done enough useless thinking for one day. In the middle of aggressive note taking and occasional doodles, I jolt when I feel a short vibration in my back pocket. Reaching behind to grab my phone, my eyes flicker to the latest notification,
Aether
Meet in the library, I wanna see you :D
I couldn't help my smile at his childish message, I replied back as fast as my fingers could type, 
You
Of course, i'll see you there ;)
We messaged back and forth until one of us where yelled at to put the phone away, and this time, I let my thoughts wonder and welcomed all the distractions.
Waltzing into the library in a haze, I pushed open the door and walked in like I owned the place, and strolled over to a desk before I bummed into somebody. Oh, Aether's here already?- My eyes caught sight of a pair of emerald ones, the blood drained from his face and went stone cold.
"Tom." 
"Alex."
We both stared at each other, with malice and anger threatening to bubble over, until Tom rolled his eye and mumbled something to me, face turned to the side and avoiding my gaze, or even presence. 
"Sorry, my hearing isn't quite what it used to be, could you speak up?" Using the old lady technique, Tom reluctantly looked from me, to the door, switching from both while breathing out,
"Sorry for that I did, with you and Aether, I guess." This only fuelled my rage, but I kept it under wrapped as I carefully responded,
"Okay."
"Okay? That's it? I made an effort to apologise and you won't even forgive me-" I had heard enough shit come out of his mouth from one day, and as you can tell, I can't take that much.
"What's all that about 'making and effort' when you literally said 'I guess.'? That's the furthest thing from an genuine apology I have ever heard." Tom stood in silence, knowing I was right. I could stand the look on his ugly, beet face, knowing he was going to go cry to his mummy, I wanted him out of my site. 
"Get the fuck away from me, and come find me when you actually mean what you say." And there he went, fucking off to who know where. As soon as he left, Aether pushed open the entrance, looking behind him, until his gaze found me. He marched over and grabbed my shoulders his his warm hands, reeling me closer. 
I just saw Tom coming out from here. Did he talk to you? If it was anything bad I swear I will-" I laughed and took his hand it mine, squeezing it reassuringly. 
"Don't worry, it was nothing bad. He just... tried to apologise, but obviously it was shit." Aether only stare only intensified, eyes forming slits as his mouth matched the same shape, a thin, skeptical line. A few seconds more and in a snap, his face was back to normal, a beautiful beacon. 
"Oh well then, just make sure if he ever tries anything I will rock his shit." 
"Don't worry, I don't doubt that." I smiled wildly as he took me into his arm for a hug. He was so big and warm, like a heated teddy bear, I melted and leaned all of me onto him, until his words shook me, 
"So, My mum wants to meet you. Apparently I talk about you too much, now she needs to know who her son keeps blabbing about."
And that's how we got here, or more like I got here, considering Aether lives here, in this mansion. Or should I say castle, because I swear this place looks like a mix of the white house and the Queens castle. My mouth was loose and hanging, until a loud clacking of heels became louder and louder. 
The gigantic doors opened slowly, killing me with anticipation.
A woman stepped forward, and just from the look on her face, I knew I was very, very fucked.
Why did I get myself entangled with someone with this much money!?