Alex could see that something was bothering the poor kid, but she didn't push the issue. She had her own secrets as well and she didn't think it would be right to bug him about his without her own willingness to share.
The silence was just starting to get awkward when Alex spoke up. "So what do you like to do for fun?"
Aiden had zone out and was snapped back to the present by her question. It was a minute more before his brain registered the question and came up with an answer. "Read."
Alex rolled her eyes, pulling a leg up to tuck it beneath her. "I can see that, genius. I may be socially awkward, but I'm not blind. Anything less obvious?"
Aiden bit his lip, rubbing his arm as he looked around the room. "Um... well, I like to write. Or, uh... watch movies, I guess."
She brightened at that, sitting up a little straighter. If she was going to be friends with this guy, there had to be something fun they could do together. "What kind of movies?"
"All kinds, I guess. You?" He was starting to sound like a broken record.
"I've never seen real movies. I, uh... I got to watch a lot of... home movies." Ok, so they were actually videos the lab techs had recorded of her parents and of her as a baby, but he didn't need to know that. No one needs to know that. Ever.
"I thought you said you didn't have parents." Aiden was a little jealous, but also confused. After all, she'd been jealous of him for having a dad. Even if that dad is an abusive one.
Alex froze, her expression sliding easily into a mask of neutrality. "It's... complicated." How did you explain to someone that, while you looked completely human, it was only because you had the strength to hide your true nature? That you had parents once, but that they had been paid off when you were born and disappeared? That if you were sitting here as you normally looked, you wouldn't be sitting here?
Aiden watched her, somewhat surprised by the sudden blank look on Alex's face. She had seemed so upbeat just a moment ago. What could she be hiding that was so bad?
Her expression lightened. "Anyway, you were saying something about movies?"
Even Aiden was glad for the change in topic. "Yeah. I, uh... I guess I can show you some of my favorites. If you don't like them, we can switch to something else."
Alex readily agreed. Movies could be fun, right?
The Hermit was glad to have a break from watching her characters. As long as Alex was entertaining Aiden, she could focus her mind elsewhere. Such as on her newest creation, Mac.
When she had started writing the 'girl who pretends to be a boy', she'd had no real plans for her beyond turning her over to Warren, or Angel if you preferred. However, since she was bringing Mac to the House and couldn't create or control Warren, it would have to be someone new. That was where Kelsey came in. Eventually, if everything went as planned, the two would end up together, just like Alex and Aiden.
She sighed and leaned away from her desk. After a moment of wondering why it was so quiet, she remembered that she was alone here. She pulled out her phone and tried, again, to dial a familiar number. Your call could not be completed as dialed. Please check the number and try your call again.
This house was going to be the death of her. She looked down at the photo on the phone and stroked her thumb across it. It was the closest she'd been to her husband in months. Why couldn't you just come with us, Rhett?
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