New Neighbors (Part 3)

"No, I am going to drive. I have my car," said Aaron, the words escaping his mouth fairly fast. Leo and Bell looked at each other before Leo spoke.

"Well, that makes life easier," said Leo, nodding. "Yes…a lift would be appreciated!"

Aaron chuckled at Leo's comment as he entered his garage and started his car's engine, unknowingly giving both Leo and Bell a fright.

Aaron reversed out his Dodge Challenger, and Leo looked at the car with wide eyes.

"Why don't my parents love me that much?" asked Leo dryly. Aaron just laughed.

"Hop in," said Aaron. He watched Leo call out shotgun. Bell rolled her eyes at her immature brother before getting in the back.

"So you have your own car…nice," said Leo as Aaron nodded.

"Yep, this is my baby. She takes me from A to B and C," said Aaron as Bell chuckled.

"Whatever happened to walking?" asked Bell.

Aaron smirked. "Lost it when I got this beast." Aaron revved the engine for good measure and drove off.

"Sounds like a monster," said Leo as Aaron grinned.

"It is!" Leo grinned at the happy expression on Aaron's face. Again he commented, "Why don't my parents love me?"

Aaron chuckled. "Probably because they have two children. I am an only child," said Aaron as Leo glared at Bell.

He glanced at Aaron. "Think I can get a car if she mysteriously disappears?" asked Leo.

"I doubt it," said Aaron as Bell smacked Leo on the head, resulting in a pained grunt from Leo, who then chuckled.

"I am kidding, Bell," said Leo as she smirked.

"You better!" she bit back. Aaron looked at the two and smiled. He quickly looked back to the road. His mind wandered to school as he looked out the car window at the passing residents.

"I hate being the new kid. Everyone always busy watching you, bullies trying to make life as hard as possible," said Leo glumly. "I can't wait to finish school."

"And we have arrived," said Aaron as the school came into view.

"It's cleaner than our last school, I'll give it that," said Bell. Aaron glanced back.

"Wow, wonder what that looked like if this is supposed to be clean."

"Trust me, it was garbage compared to what you're seeing," said Leo as Aaron whistled lowly.

"Yeah, it might not have been the best place, but education is education, I guess," said Bell.

Aaron smiled. "Well, at least it was appreciated." He pulled up to the parking lot, vigilantly looking for a parking spot. Bell pointed towards an open parking space.

"There's a spot," said Bell.

Aaron nodded. "Thanks." He drove up to it and parked. Aaron turned off the engine as Leo spoke.

"So, Aaron, have any friends?" asked Leo.

"Ye—" said Aaron, but he stopped himself. Should he tell Leo and Bell about his friends? Wouldn't he be doing them a favor by not introducing them to each other? He took a couple of seconds to think it through. 'I mean, if I could just go back to the time I didn't know, I would. So why put them in danger by introducing them to their potential death?' thought Aaron as he realized there was a hand waving back and forth in front of his face.

"Aaron!" called Leo.

"Sorry," apologized Aaron with an awkward smile.

"Stop that," said Bell as she chuckled. "That smile is kind of creepy."

Aaron chuckled at her words. "Sorry…again. I guess I spaced out there…" said Aaron as he thought it over again and decided. "No, I don't have friends. I guess I got lucky with you guys," said Aaron as he scratched his left shoulder lightly.

Leo gave him a skeptical look. "Yeah…but who said we were friends?" asked Leo with a skeptical face as Bell hit him over his head.

"Leo! Don't be mean," said Bell as Aaron started laughing. Leo looked back at her.

"What's the big idea!? It's a guy thing. Don't involve yourself! Stay in your lane, woman!" said Leo. She glanced at Aaron, who had a small smile on his face.

"I'm lost…" said Bell. You could practically see the question marks floating above her head.

"Bell, the fact that he said that meant that we are friends, we guys don't need a lot. People that aren't really friends won't say things like that to each other. It would be flat out rude. Plus, the expression gave it all away," said Aaron as Leo kept his skeptical expression.

"Who said I was joking?" asked Leo as Bell glared at him.

Aaron laughed at Bell, who pouted at him. "Don't laugh, I'm trying to defend you!" said Bell as Aaron continued laughing. Bell and Leo soon started laughing as well. After a good ten seconds of laughing, his laugh slowed to a couple of chuckles before realizing how much he enjoyed that laugh—a laugh between normal people.

"Okay, guys, we can't stay in the car forever. We still have school," said Aaron as he unlocked the doors.

The three of them got out, and Aaron locked the car. "Come on, I'll show you guys to the front office."

They walked for a short while before Aaron saw his friends in the distance. Not wanting his new friends to meet his other friends, he immediately turned and took them on a detour.

"Come on, this way. It's a shortcut," said Aaron as he led them in another direction.

Leo looked at Aaron before nodding. "Lead the way."

"What the heck, man!?" said Leo as they approached a corridor he was sure he saw earlier. "You said 'shortcut,' not 'tour around the school cut,'" said Leo as Aaron gave him an apologetic look.

"Sorry about that," said Aaron as Bell smiled. "But hey, at least you're now at the front office."

"It's fine. At least we got a good look at the school," said Bell. Aaron smiled back.

"I'll see you guys later. Enjoy school," said Aaron as he turned and left his new friends.

Aaron didn't make it very far when he saw all of his friends waiting for him. He inwardly groaned. Were they waiting for him?

Adam walked up to him. "Can we talk? As a group?" Adam asked. Aaron sighed.

"Sure…" said Aaron as he walked with them to a table.

He reached the table and sat down when everyone else did. A silence befell them, and it wasn't the nice kind.

"Listen…guys…" started Aaron. He needed to get this off his chest, and right now seemed perfect. His friends looked at him surprised. What was he about to say?