By the time we have reached our destination, which appears to be a small townhouse, the rain has let up. Aiden parks in the driveway and turns to me. "My mom makes friends pretty quickly, and even though we only moved last month, she's bonded with this old lady called Ella."
                          
"Okay," I say, not sure why he's telling me this.
                          
"Ella happens to have a hot air balloon." His smile is wide.
                          
I'm not sure I'm following properly. "A hot air balloon?"
                          
"Yeah. And she told my mom that she'd give a free ride to her kids sometime. So I figured, why not today?"
                          
I'm still stuck on 'hot air balloon'. I have wanted to take a ride in one for ages, ever since the day I went to the Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival at age nine. "We can? Won't she disapprove of us being out of school?"
                          
"I guess we'll find out." He's already getting out of the car, so I follow suit.
                          
We walk up to the door and Aiden raps on it. After a few minutes, when he's about to knock again, it opens and a friendly face peeps around. Ella wears round, old fashioned spectacles and has a cloud of white hair. 
                          
"Children, what a lovely surprise. Come in, come in," her voice tinkles.
                          
We wipe our shoes on the doormat and enter. "Hi, Miss Ella," Aiden begins.
                          
"Do call me El, darling."
                          
"Okay...El, how are you?"
                          
"Good, good. But something tells me that's not why you're here?" She casts a friendly glance at me where I stand a little bit behind Aiden. I smile back at her.
                          
"Uh, no. I'm Sara Harper's son, Aiden."
                          
"Nice to meet you, darling. And who is your pretty girlfriend?"
                          
We both flush. "She's not my girlfriend," Aiden explains. "Although if I'm honest I'm hoping it might be that way someday."
                          
Did Aiden just imply that he wants me to be his girl? Yes, he did. I snap out of it and hold out my hand to El. "I'm Emma Rayburn." She ignores my hand and pulls me into a hug.
                          
"I can see why, young man. She really is lovely, isn't she."
                          
It isn't a question, but he just nods and grins at me while I shift uncomfortably. I'm not sure how to respond to the warmth that washes over me whenever he looks at me like that. Like I'm fascinating.
                          
"I s'pose you two are wanting a date in a hot air balloon?" she croons, apparently delighted at the notion.
                          
"Not a date-" I'm busy saying, when Aiden interrupts.
                          
"Yes. If you would be so kind? I'm willing to pay."
                          
"No, no," El tuts. "No pay. It's enough just to see such young, clearly in love faces."
                          
Even as my face heats again, Aiden's gaze slides to meet mine, and I feel the silent communication that passes between us. It turns something inside of me to liquid.

                          
~ ~ ~
                          
AIDEN
                          
Emma's excited laughter makes me feel happy. She's leaning over the side of the basket looking down on all of Stowe.
 We're in the sky in El's rainbow air balloon that she calls Merry. She isn't with us, but her son, Martin is. Martin controls the hot air balloon while Emma and I ooh and ah at all there is to see. I'm once again amazed by the gorgeous place that I now live in. We pass over trees, old chapels with stained glass windows, and  even a few waterfalls and lakes, as we float on.
                          
When we land and it's over, the look in Emma's eyes is all I need to feel I've accomplished something. She grips my hand. "I have wanted to do that since I was little."
                          
I feel something coursing through my body at the way her small hand fits into my bigger hand. "Then I promise it won't be the last time," I say.
                          
She just smiles up at me. The haunted look in her face has disappeared. 
                          
For now.
                          
---
                          
Author's note: Hey guys! Thank you so much for reading this far. I wanted to say that any personal opinons, suggestions, advice or constructive criticism are/is more than welcome. Please comment your thoughts!  Also, if you can point out any mistakes, don't be shy to do so.
                          
And, for those of you who read the previous chapter before I changed 'Hunter' Brooke's name- I changed his name from Hunter to Blaze because it just felt like the better name for him, if you know what I mean. Sorry for any confusion caused.
                          
What do you think of how things are going between Aiden and Emma? Too fast? Too slow? Let me know what you think.