(BL) Friendship On Fire

"A-Aiden…what are you–?" 

Hunter's heart pounded in his chest, his mind spinning with a thousand terrifying scenarios as he quickly stood up. All he could think about were the horrible possibilities of Aiden coming up to him, finding out his feelings, and breaking off their friendship. He couldn't bear the thought. 

What if everything was ruined? The poor boy felt like crying.

His mind raced for excuses. Should he say it was Sam who liked Aiden and not him? Should he laugh it off and pretend they were joking about something else? 

Before he could get a single word out, Aiden chuckled. "What were you guys talking about? You both look like you've seen a ghost or something."

Hunter froze, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest. His mouth opened, but no sound came out so Aiden continued. 

"Anyway, I forgot to tell you, Hunter. Wait for me outside after school, alright?"

Hunter blinked in surprise which soon turned into relief. Maybe Aiden didn't hear anything after all. 

"You don't have to remind me," Hunter let out softly, trying to calm his racing heart. "I'd wait for you like always."

Aiden laughed, his usual carefree grin spreading across his face but his eyes stayed on Hunter a little longer than usual. 

Hunter shifted under his gaze, feeling a sudden unease creep in. The way Aiden was looking at him made him feel exposed, shy even.

"Is there something on my…face?"

Aiden's smile faltered slightly, his expression turning awkward. "No…it's n-nothing. I should get going now."

Without another word, Aiden turned and left, though Hunter noticed a strange hesitation in his steps. The moment Aiden was out of sight, Hunter's legs gave out and he collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily as if he'd just escaped a near-death experience.

Sam, who had been watching the whole thing, burst into laughter. He clapped Hunter on the back. "Chill, dude! He didn't hear anything." 

Hunter wiped a hand over his face. "I swear…I almost died right there." 

Sam snickered. "You were one second away from throwing me under the bus, weren't you?"

Hunter let out a shaky laugh, feeling the tension slowly leave his body. "Maybe."

After school, Hunter stood near the gate, his eyes scanning the crowd of students rushing out like they were escaping prison. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and he chewed his bottom lip mercilessly, feeling the weight of impatience pressing down on him. He just wanted to see Aiden again. But as the minutes dragged on, he waited and waited but Aiden never showed up.

The schoolyard was emptying quickly, the laughter and chatter of students fading into the distance. Hunter's worry started to grow. 

Where's he? Is he alright? This was the first time Aiden had been late. Normally, he'd be the first one out the door, running like his life depended on it. But today? That stupid, beautifully chaotic face of his was nowhere in sight. 

Hunter's nerves kicked in. Did Aiden get himself into trouble? His mind raced with possibilities as he started toward the school gates. Just as he stepped forward, the security guard stopped him, his gruff voice halting Hunter in his tracks.

"Where are you going, kid?"

"My friend might still be inside," Hunter told him desperately. 

The guard shook his head in annoyance. "No one's inside. Everyone is gone. You should leave too or I'll have to report you to the principal."

Hunter was shooed away like a stray dog, but his feet felt rooted to the ground. How could Aiden leave without telling me? 

Didn't Aiden ask him to wait for him? Ever since they'd become friends, they always left school together. It was a given. It felt wrong that today of all days, Aiden would just disappear without a word.

Hunter reluctantly walked away from the gate in confusion. Did he go home? But without telling me? His heart ached in a way he couldn't fully understand. He pulled out his phone and called Aiden. Once. Twice. No answer.

Finally, on the third ring, Aiden picked up.

"Hey, where are you?" Hunter asked sharper than intended, but worry was laced into his every word.

He could hear the faint background noise of Aiden's friends laughing. Aiden's carefree voice came through the speaker, "Oh…uh..I'm out with my friends."

Hunter stopped walking, his hand gripping his phone tightly. But why did you leave without telling me? 

The thought burned in his mind, but the words caught in his throat. He felt hurt—more than he thought he would. He had waited for Aiden, and Aiden just...left with his other friends. 

"Why didn't you tell me if you need to leave early with your friends?" Hunter asked in a small voice, almost like he didn't want to know the answer. "I was waiting at the gate…"

There was a silence on the other end, and for a moment, Hunter thought Aiden had hung up. His stomach twisted and he swallowed hard, bracing himself.

Then Aiden's voice came through, a smaller and hesitant voice. "Oh…uh…sorry. I forgot to tell you. My friends dragged me away, and I...I didn't think about it."

Hunter bit his lower lip to ask him how he could forget something they do daily. What kind of lame excuse is that? In the background, someone called for Aiden and Hunter heard the sounds of them goofing off carefree. 

"Sorry, Hunter," Aiden said quickly. "I've gotta go. My friends are waiting for me."

But I'm your friend too. I was waiting for you too…

"Aiden I was-" Before Hunter could respond, Aiden hung up. Hunter stood there for a long moment, his phone still pressed to his ear. 

He let out a slow breath, his chest tight with the ache of something he didn't fully understand. 

Something felt off—really off. Aiden had never done this before. It wasn't like him to just leave without telling Hunter and disappear without a word. They had this unspoken bond, this closeness that went beyond a typical friendship. It was like Aiden was glued to him, always by his side and always watching out for him. 

Hunter was shy and antisocial. He wasn't the type to go out of his way to make friends or to fit in with the crowd. The truth was, he didn't really know how. And in a world that felt so overwhelming, Aiden was like his shield. Aiden protected him from everything and even from himself sometimes. Whether it was making sure Hunter wasn't getting scammed, defending him from those who saw him as a burden or just pulling him into conversations when he felt too awkward to join in…Aiden was always there. 

Hunter wasn't naive. He knew Aiden's other friends didn't really like him. They thought of him as a mood-killer, a shadow that hovered around and just made everything awkward and uncomfortable. 

More than once, Hunter had caught the sidelong glances, the eye rolls and the whispered jokes behind his back from Aiden's friends. 

But Aiden? Aiden would fight anyone for Hunter. He'd argue with his friends, stand up for Hunter, and insist on bringing him to every gathering. It was like he refused to let anyone push Hunter aside. 

That's why this hurt so much. Aiden hadn't just left him behind today—he didn't even bother to tell Hunter. For the first time, Aiden went to a gathering without him, didn't drag him along, didn't even think to check if Hunter was okay. 

What changed?

Hunter's stomach twisted with insecurity. He was always scared this day would come. That one day, Aiden would look at him and see what everyone else saw: someone awkward, embarrassing, someone who didn't fit. 

He had always feared that Aiden would get tired of defending him, tired of carrying the weight of their friendship, and decide that it wasn't worth the effort. 

Is that what happened today?

The thought made Hunter's heart ache, a sharp throb of anxiety settling deep inside him. Maybe Aiden was embarrassed. Maybe he didn't want to be seen with him anymore, didn't want to keep dragging him along to places where he didn't belong. Maybe Aiden was slowly starting to leave him behind just like everyone else always had.

Hunter stared at the darkening sky at the sound of the rumble of thunder. 

Shit…I'm again thinking too much. How could I even think that? Aiden was his angel, the one person who had always been there for him. He shouldn't have doubted him. Of course, Aiden had his own life. It wasn't like he had to take Hunter everywhere with him. It was selfish to even think that. 

Shaking his head, Hunter tried to push the thoughts away as he reached his home. He rang the bell, standing awkwardly at the door as he waited. After a long moment, he rang it again. But nobody answered the door. 

He was about to ring again when the door slammed open and the angry face of his aunt appeared. 

"What the hell are you doing here? You can't come in right now. Come back at night! Why are you always disturbing us?" She screamed in his face, looking at him and scrunching her nose as if he stinks. 

He didn't get to say anything as she slammed the door shut in his face. 

He didn't waste his time ringing the bell again and just turned around. He wasn't sure where to go today. 

He wasted a few hours wandering aimlessly through the nearby park, sitting on a bench, watching families and children, all living lives he could never have. He was just…existing, waiting for time to pass.

Eventually, his hunger gnawed at him and he headed to a nearby store and used the last of his money to buy a sandwich. The sandwich is both his evening snacks and dinner. Because seeing how angry his Aunt was, he knew he wasn't getting any dinner today. 

He unwrapped it slowly and took a bite as he walked. But just as he was about to take another bite, he froze.

Across the street, he saw Aiden.

Aiden and his friends were walking together, laughing and talking. Hunter's heart leaped in his chest. For a split second, he raised his hand to wave, to call out to Aiden. But then he stopped. What if they think I'm stalking them? 

So he just watched them from a distance. Aiden wasn't talking though. He was walking quietly with his head down and looked upset. Is he not feeling good? Is he sick? Should I go and ask him? No…I shouldn't do that. What if he thinks of me as a freak. But I want to know if he's alright. 

Before he could even think, Hunter ducked behind a nearby wall, hiding as they walked past. He watched as Aiden and his friends disappeared down the street. 

When they were gone, Hunter stepped out from his hiding spot and stared down at his feet. His sandwich was lying on the ground, trampled and dirty. He sighed, his stomach growling in protest, but there was nothing he could do. He didn't have any more money.

Thunder rumbled louder overhead, and he looked up at the sky. Soon, the rain started to pour over him. 

Why did today feel so different? So depressing. 

Feeling helpless he decided to go back home. 

Hunter stood outside his aunt and uncle's house, the cold rain soaking him to the bone as he rang the doorbell again. His hands were trembling from the cold as he hoped. Maybe this time, his aunt would let him in but the door slammed open and his aunt's ugly and furious face appeared.

"What the hell are you doing here again?" she barked loudly. "Didn't I tell you to stay away until night? Are you deaf or just plain stupid?"

Hunter flinched this time. "But it's already night." 

His aunt sneered harshly. "Don't get smart with me? Even if it's night I don't want a useless burden like you in my house. You're nothing but a parasite, living off of us because your parents were too stupid to stay alive! But I promise you, once you finish school, we're kicking you out. We don't owe you or your dead mother anything. You hear me?"

Hunter felt a lump rise in his throat, but he stayed silent as always. He's not good with words. 

She wasn't done, though.

"You think you can just stand there looking pitiful, and we'll let you in?" she laughed bitterly. "You should be grateful we even let you stay this long. Now get out of here! I don't want to see your face again tonight."

She slammed the door shut with such force that it echoed in the quiet street. Hunter stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door. 

The rain poured harder, soaking through his clothes and making him shiver as he turned and walked away. His feet dragged across the wet pavement as he wandered through the streets with no clear direction in mind. His stomach growled in hunger but his heart hurt even more. He knew this was coming, his aunt and uncle had been threatening to kick him out for months now. 

Eventually, he found himself standing outside a café, his body shivering from the cold. He stared through the windows at the people inside, who were warm and dry unlike him, laughing and talking as they sipped their drinks. He could almost imagine himself in there, sitting with Aiden, like they used to. But that felt like another lifetime now.

Most nights, he would sleep on a park bench or in some public space, but it was pouring rain tonight, and he couldn't bear the thought of being out in the storm. Normally, on nights like this, he would call Aiden. He'd make up some excuse about wanting to hang out and Aiden would always welcome him with open arms, excited about their sleepovers. They would play games and talk late into the night.

Without thinking, he pulled out his phone and dialed Aiden's number. When Aiden picked up on the first ring, a small part of Hunter felt giddy. He didn't ignore me this time. 

"H-Hey, Aiden," Hunter stuttered as his voice was embarrassingly soft. "Um…I was wondering if I could stay at your place tonight?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Aiden spoke. "Hunter, I can't tonight. My cousin's over, and he's staying in my room, so there's no space…"

Hunter felt a sharp pain in his chest. He could barely hear the rest of Aiden's words over the roaring in his ears. It felt like someone had slapped him across the face. Aiden never turned him away. Never. 

"I can sleep on the couch," Hunter offered quickly. "Or…or even the floor, I don't mind. I just…"

"I don't think it'll work tonight," Aiden interrupted gently, but there was a strange finality in his voice. "It's just…not a good time."

Hunter chewed at his bottom lip, his breath hitching as he felt the embarrassment flood him. He didn't have any other options. He didn't even have enough money to stay in a cheap motel. 

Why is he giving me so much pain today?

Hunter didn't reply for a moment, his throat closing up as he stared blankly ahead, the rain water washing away his tears. Aiden's words pained him more than his Aunt's disdain. 

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

Before Aiden could say anything else, Hunter hung up the phone. He stood there, in the rain, feeling completely and utterly alone.

As he looked up at the stormy sky, he realized something. Sometimes, no matter how much someone means to you, you can't stop them from slipping away.

And maybe…maybe he had been foolish to think Aiden would always be there for him.