Rebuff

Eventually, you find yourself unable to sit around quietly with nothing but your thoughts about the previous encounter to occupy you. Gathering up what little courage and strength you have left, you decide it's time to explore your new abode some more. After changing you quietly slip out of the room and down to the first floor which is thankfully vacant at the moment. The home itself is obviously nice and expensively furnished and decorated. It almost feels more like a model home than somewhere actually lived in. Given your level of clumsiness, you decide it's best you explore an area you're less likely to unintentionally damage. As you make your way to the end of the hallway you find a large set of french doors partially open letting in a cool breeze and light botanic aroma that seem to call you their way. Answering obligingly, you quickly make your way out into what turns out to be quite the large and lavish garden. Warm rays of sunlight peak through the foliage above lighting your way down a winding path that leads further out into the lawn. All previous concerns seem to melt away as you follow the path and find yourself in the very back of the garden, no longer even able to see the house past the herbage around you. Exhaling contentally, you're about to make yourself comfortable when the sound of voices are heard nearing.

"I don't understand." A female voice is pleading in an almost frustrated tone. "You don't have to go out with me, I just want you... I need you... Please!"

"I'm sorry." You're surprised to hear Aden's voice above the girl's blubbering request. "You're just not my type."

"I don't believe you!" The girl retorts almost furiously now. "Everyone says you're so nice, you're so kind and considerate. But you're not, are you? You don't really care about anyone but yourself do you? You know, one of these days you're going to have to let someone in or you'll just keep on being alone."

Aden mumbles something you can't hear that only elicits an exasperated scoff from his antagonizer. A moment later you hear the sound of feet angrily shuffling away followed by the slam of a door. You don't dare move, let alone breath, lest you accidentally let your presence be known. What feels like minutes pass without any other sounds following, so much time passes you decide Aden must have somehow also left during the commotion. Exhaling softly, you finally step back onto the path and round the corner.

"Shi-" A curse barely escapes your lips as you quickly stop short and try to back track.

"It's okay, miss Ford." Aden doesn't move towards you immediately. "Please, don't let me stop you from enjoying the garden."

"I'm sorry!" You can't help blurting out in obvious reference to the private conversation you overheard.

"No," Aden finally turns to face you. "I'm sorry you had to hear that."

Wincing, you curse yourself for having not just stayed in your room. It's just your luck that you'd inadvertently embarrass the one host who has been nothing but gracious to you since your arrival. In fact, the very host responsible for said arrival and ensuring you aren't currently roughing it out in the forest behind the school's lot right now.

"It's not easy having to reject someone." You try offering with what you hope to be an empathetic expression.

"That's not the problem." The man sighs wearily before running his hand through his hair. "It's how often I end up having to reject them."

You pause for a moment to consider the situation before recalling him mentioning the girl wasn't his type.

"Oh! Are you-"

"No." He cuts you off before you can finish the thought. "Though enough people on campus wish I was. No, I suppose I'm just particular."

"There's nothing wrong with having standards."

"Is that what you call it?" Aden's gray eyes are fixed with yours now and he steps forward closing the distance between you. "I thought I was just bored."

"Oh..." You breath out softly, momentarily distracted by the man's hand brushing against your arm. Your heart is drumming against your chest wildly as you feel his cool touch brush against your neck and then cheek. What was initially a bashful flush quickly changes to one of slight embarrassment when his hand stops and presses against your forehead.

"I don't think your fever has broken quite yet. " He announces before withdrawing the hand. "Let's get you back inside."

Your brow furrows lightly before he explains he ran into Drake on his way out. It hadn't occurred to you that word would spread so quickly through the house. Your blush returns when you think back to your multiple questionable encounters with Ash and wonder if word of them will eventually make their way back to Aden. You're not entirely sure why that should matter, however, at the moment you hope you can avoid it.