The 9 Symphonies
Unofficial extra short story
FACING THE ENEMY

Aidan's legs were shaking as he stepped into unknown territory. The shiny, waxed floor tiles grinned up at him, eyeing him in the way a predator eyes its prey. Trying not to think of the floor opening up to swallow him whole, Aidan half-scurried across the reception. Only when he reached the counter did he realise that he was now fully in the enemy's terrain.

Mustering up what courage he had in his gut, he cleared his throat. Okay, that sounded too timid. He tried again. Not bold enough. He probably would've tried a third time – third's the charm – had he not realised that he had already attracted unwanted attention. The police officer behind the desk was looking at him oddly. "You need anything, son?"

"Uh," Aidan was flustered. He straightened, trying to look detached and sure of himself. It had always worked for Luc. "I… I'm here to post bail?" It came out sounding more like a question than a statement. Aidan felt his throat close up in horror. So much for all that practice he had done back in the car.

"For who?" The officer on duty was starting to look a little sorry for Aidan's obvious uneasiness.

Uh, what had his full name been again? "Barrett Burns?" Aidan fidgeted with the corner of his shirt. He felt like a complete and utter failure. He had been set to impress. His foolproof plan had been to stride into the police station confidently, look down his nose at the officer on duty, and get Rett released with a few well-placed orders. He had even dressed up for this, too!

The officer gave him a smile that Aidan supposed was meant to be reassuring, but it only sent the boy's heart spiralling downwards. Had he sounded too timid? Too much like a 'good kid'? He didn't want to be anything like a 'good kid'. It was the reason Luc and Rett refused to accept him as one of them!

Aidan shifted all his weight onto one leg, as if doing do would magically render him a bad ass.

Where was Rett? How much longer did he have to wait in this awful place?

Why had Luc sent him in here all alone?

Aidan was almost ready to cry – but of course he wouldn't have; it wouldn't do to bawl his head off like a five-year-old kid; no, not at all – when the sound of the sky falling down made him jump out of his skin. What? Was he going to die? What would his mother say when they found his lifeless corpse on the floor in the police station?

"It's done. Your friend will be out soon," the officer smiled at him. Why was he still smiling? Was the sky falling down a smiling matter––

Oh.

The loud grating sound he had heard previously had not been the sky falling down. It had been the locks on the back door of the station sliding open. Gosh.

Aidan started blushing furiously at his mistake. Almost immediately, he willed the blossoming red in his cheeks to go away. It would not do for Rett to walk out and see him blushing like a schoolgirl with a crush! It would so totally ruin his street cred.

Not like he had any, of course.

Aidan was so busy looking down at the floor tiles – ooh, look, he could almost see his reflection in these! – that he didn't notice Rett's presence until the older teenager was standing right before him.

"Why are you here?" Rett's deep voice was unfriendly. It was more than unfriendly. It was downright hostile. It was antagonistic, aggressive, intimidating…

Aidan gulped and raised his head slowly. Rett easily towered over Aidan's own small five foot six frame, and from Aidan's perspective, even the faux hawk that Rett's hair seemed to always be in was glowering at him. "Luc said he was busy, so he sent me," he mumbled, stopping himself before his traitorous mouth could blurt out anything else. Rett didn't like his babbling, he knew.

Rett narrowed his electric-blue eyes at the smaller boy before turning away to walk out of the station, all the while muttering under his breath about "fucking bastard", "sent the kid", and "going to wring his neck". Aidan followed meekly behind, hoping that Rett wasn't serious about wringing anyone's neck. That would really hurt.

Once outside of the police station – Aidan breathed a subtle sigh of relief – Rett stopped completely. He looked at Aidan, and seemed to be waiting for something.

Uh…

Aidan was racking his brains for anything that Rett might want from him, when the latter snapped, "Your car?"

Oh.

From the hotness staining his cheeks, Aidan knew he was blushing again. He could only send a quick prayer of thanks to the merciful gods above that it was night time and the street lamps weren't bright enough to allow Rett to pick up on it. Wordlessly, Aidan led the way to his red Honda Civic parked a short distance away.

He opened the door at the driver's side, bravely saying, "I'm driving." He chanced a peek in Rett's direction, almost expecting a vehement refusal to be 'chauffeured around by a kid'. That was what had happened the very first time he had come, with Luc, to bail Rett out. To his utmost surprise, the older teenager only grunted unceremoniously and slid into the passenger seat.

Well. That had been pleasantly easy.

Revving up the engine, Aidan took several deep breaths to calm his frazzled nerves. Being with Rett always made him nervous, not to mention there had been a police station involved this time. If Rett noticed his shaking hands, he didn't comment. Not wanting to dawdle too long and earn a lecture, Aidan pulled out of the parking lot as soon as he felt measurably calm.

Seriously. How did Luc manage to do this all the time?

Aidan eyed Rett out of the corner of his eye. Rett was looking out of the window, tapping his finger impatiently against the dashboard.

"Uh," Aidan spoke up even though he felt like his mouth had miraculously been filled with sand, "Where are we going?"

Rett turned and shot him a piercing glare. Aidan almost whimpered, the car swerving slightly as a result. "You tell me, you're the driver," Rett said scornfully. Aidan bit his lip. For some inexplicable reason, he really didn't feel like dropping Rett off just yet. They were hardly ever in the same place at the same time without Luc. Now that they had a rare moment together, Aidan didn't want it to end too soon. This was his chance to prove his ability to Rett!

Just as he was pondering all these, Rett said, "There's a McDonalds' nearby."

Aidan felt a smile invade his lips. Looked like he wasn't the only one who didn't mind spending a little more time together. "Okay," he agreed cheerfully, taking a turn that would bring them to said fast-food restaurant.

"I'm hungry," said Rett, as if finding the need to justify his previous statement. Aidan just continued smiling.

The journey was short and silent. Aidan pulled up in an empty parking space and turned off the engine. He waited for Rett to take the lead and exit the car, but the latter was sitting and staring into place. Aidan was about the get out of the car first when Rett spoke up, a little gruffly.

"Look," he said, his eyes fixed on the red-and-yellow lit up sign a couple of steps away, "Thanks. It was cool of you to come bail me out."

Aidan's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. In all his sixteen years of life, he had never once imagined he would be the recipient of words of gratitude from Rett. It was Rett, of all people! He sat in his seat, shell-shocked and almost hyperventilating. Rett had thanked him! Him, Aidan the 'good kid'!

Oh, wow.

In the seat beside his, Rett's scowl was already firmly back on his face. "That doesn't mean I want you hanging around me, kid," he warned.

Aidan's mood was already too high up in the clouds for it to be brought down now. "Okay," he said, grinning. His lips had curved upwards on their own accord. There was nothing he could do expect go along with them.

With a look of exasperation, Rett climbed out of the car. Aidan was still smiling goofily at the steering wheel. Rett slammed the car door, then opened it again. "Get out!" He snapped. "I'm not fucking waiting around for you!"

Even as Rett turned and stomped his way into the fast-food place, Aidan continued to sit in the darkened car with a wide smile on his face.

Rett had thanked him. Rett had admitted that he was cool. Wow.

He could so totally die happy now.

AN. Aidan and Rett are characters from my other unfinished novel, The 9 Symphonies. This is a birthday present for my twin, R.