~~~~~~~~~Third Person POV~~~~~~~~~

The sun was rising over the town, with the faint yellow light covering the the top half of the forest. A cliff was seen by the edge of town, and the bottom was deep enough for it to be deadly.

Aiden now hung by his arm right beside the cliff, eyes glued at the scenery beneath him in horror. When he looked up to see who had saved his life, a set of bright green eyes met his own.

"R- Ryan?!"

"C'mon, give me your other hand!"

At his command, Aiden reached over with his other hand, Ryan grabbing both of his wrists and pulling him back to safety.

Both now lied on the grass, Aiden's body cold from fear. He almost just died!

He was thankful he was found, but..

"W- what are you doing here..?"

Ryan turned over, raising an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same thing; running in the woods by yourself, fighting me to jump off a cliff?!"

"I wasn't trying to-!" The dark haired boy shrunk a little as a realization dawned on her. "Oh.. s-sorry about the elbow.."

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Still, I wasn't planning on falling, I didn't see the cliff."

"That much I could tell." The redhead stood up, dusting himself off a little. "Your eyes were glowing red."

'Again, huh..?' Aiden thought before standing up as well. "Well, thank you for saving me, but how did you know I was here?"

He gave a shrug. "Mere coincidence. I was getting energy for myself when I saw you walking through the forest on your own." His gaze then shifted to the ground, the seriousness in his features growing more gentle. "I didn't believe it was you at first, you had already been gone for two months."

"Actually, I was rescued about a week ago."

"I know. ... Sorry I didn't visit."

"Not like I expected you to." The redhead was caught of guard by the other boy's statement, seeing him already starting to walk away. "We hadn't talked in a long time before I disappeared, I already knew you wouldn't come to see me."

"You know, you could at least be grateful that I saved your laugh, you twat!"

"I am grateful, but that doesn't change the fact I'm still upset with you." Aiden turned to face him. "It's been what, two years since we last talked? Three since you started avoiding me?"

With no argument to throw against him, the taller boy hung his head low, slightly gripping his sleeves.

After a few seconds of silence, Aiden let out a sigh. "I'm willing to forgive and forget, Ryan.. But things will stay the same you keep trying to stay away from me.."

When there was no reply, the dark haired boy began to walk away. "I need to head home, thanks again."

"... wait." Stopping in his tracks, he waited for the redhead's answer. "At least let me take you to your house, if you go alone you may be kidnapped again."

"And what's stopping the idea that you're the kidnapped in the first place."

"You really think I'm the culprit?"

"No, I knew you only too well." Aiden didn't wait for a reply, already walking away. "If you're gonna take me home, you might as well hurry up."

Ryan followed behind. "Heh, I don't remember you being so cocky."

"I'm only speaking my mind."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You're okay!!" Sage yelled as soon as Aiden entered his house, running over and wrapping him in a hug. "I was so worried when I woke up and you weren't home!"

Hugging her back, he gave a small smile. "Sorry, I'll explain happened.. Did my parents notice..?"

"No, they're still asleep, Alyse and Ashley too.."

Her eyes then widened a little when she noticed Ryan leaning against the doorway. "Uh.. who's that..?"

"Well, this is Ryan.." Aiden stepped to the side so the redhead was in better view. "He and I were best friends since grade school, until the ninth grade.. If it weren't for him, I.. I'd probably be dead right now.."

Ryan let out a scoff. "Probably? You fought against me because you wanted to jump off a cliff."

"I already told you I didn't see the cliff!"

"Wait wait wait!!" Sage quickly waved her arms around to stop the argument. "What do you mean jump off a cliff?!"

Aiden placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort. "I wasn't going to jump off, I had a memory.."

"Another..? Noah told me about how you got one of Iv's memories in the forest yesterday.. Did you see her again..?"

He nodded in response, and Sage let out a sigh. "We should regroup later then, you can explain everything then."

"Alright.. Ryan, will-?" When he turned to the door, his eyes widened a little when he saw Ryan was nowhere in sight.

A little while of silence went by, when Sage looked up at her boyfriend in worry. "He sure seems friendly.."

"He's got a rough past.."

"Isn't that Cynthia's younger brother..?"

He gave her a nod. "Let's just say their dad wasn't the nicest person.."

"... you two weren't just friends, were you..?"

He tensed up at the question, but Sage had noticed something in the air, something familiar. In the end, he gave in and shrugged. "Nothing happened between us, but I won't lie that I had feeling for him back in ninth grade.. I thought he felt the same way so I told him how I felt.."

"What did he say..?"

"Nothing, he had no answer.. He was a little nervous when I told him though, and then left.. After that he started to avoid me, so I tried to move on.." With a warm smile, he grabbed her hand, tangling their fingers together. "And it worked.. I'm more than happy with you.."

Her cheeks grew pink, smiling back and placing a kiss on his lips. "Me too.."

The moment was brought to a stop when her stomach began to growl, growing red in embarrassment. "S-sorry.."

He let out a chuckle. "How about I make some breakfast?"

"Please, I missed your cooking."

Placing a kiss on her forehead, he walked over to the kitchen. "Right away then."

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

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