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creeksidealtarboy

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From:

creeksidealtarboy

Oh my god, it's so fucking early.

[It most certainly isn't, but Aaron was up all night playing video games.] Why are you so goddamn cheery?

From:

abrightboy

Because we're getting back to work!

From:

creeksidealtarboy

Nooooo...

[That is muffled by a pillow. As is the next statement.] Give me thirty minutes, doc.

From:

abrightboy

You can take an hour! See you then!

[And when Aaron arrives, not only is there a jug of sweet tea and a cup at his spot, but also several different fresh baked fruit pastries from Shaw and Root's Yarda celebration on a plate.]

From:

creeksidealtarboy

Aaron walks in after an hour and slinks into his chair, but he immediately grabs a pastry and pours his cup. Food is the way to every teenager's soul.

"You could have warned me, you know," he mutters through a big bite.

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm raises his eyebrows. "...About the pastries?"

From:

creeksidealtarboy

"About the wakeup call!"

He is feeling a little more awake, at least.

From:

abrightboy

"Oh! Well, I just found out and I didn't want to miss our session," Malcolm tells him. "It's the last one before Christmas! Did you do anything special for Christmas back home?"

From:

creeksidealtarboy

"Go to church," he replies blandly. "Then open the Salvation Army presents. You know, I never knew why my parents were so surprised about the stuff we got. It's because they didn't get 'em for us."

From:

abrightboy

"You didn't think it was because Santa brought them? I mean, as a child, your parents shouldn't 'know' what you got, right?" Malcolm asks. "It's normal. ...Well, it's normal to at least pretend. Did you get good stuff?"

From:

creeksidealtarboy

"I stopped believing in Santa when I was five or six," he explains. "And - depends on the year. But uh...one time, I told my dad I wanted this toy train at the gas station. They had that - you know, that little aisle with all the dusty old toys that don't really get sold? Anyway, guess my dad told the guy that he'd give him a couple of dollars here and there where he could to pay it off. And there it was under the tree. Still dusty but I played with that fucking thing 'til the wheels fell off."

From:

abrightboy

"It sounds like they did their best," Malcolm notes. "Was that your favourite Christmas present you ever got?"

From:

creeksidealtarboy

Aaron smiles at him again, but Malcolm might see the edges to it. Aaron is a very good liar, but there are always tells for those who pay attention.

It's an innocent act, back to the lies.

"Yeah," he laughs. "Favorite one."

From:

abrightboy

"I see."

He sees the act, he means. He wasn't under the illusion that they were completely past that or anything, but this seemed a harmless enough subject. He takes the hint and leaves it alone.

"What books have you been reading?"

From:

creeksidealtarboy

For Aaron, no subject is harmless or beyond a quick lie or two or three. He trusts Malcolm more than he ever did in the beginning, but there are automatic responses and he's in too deep to pull back.

But then Malcolm asks a better question and Aaron visibly brightens. Back to facts and truth.

"Um - oh! I found one the other day about weird medical shit that happens to people. Didn't put it down until I was done. Read the whole damn thing."

From:

abrightboy

"It sounds good. Do you remember what it was called?" Malcolm asks.

From:

creeksidealtarboy

"Uh, something about exploding teeth," he says with a laugh. "Something real weird."

From:

abrightboy

"Do you exchange book recommendations with anyone currently?" Malcolm asks.

From:

creeksidealtarboy

"Uh, sometimes Nie Huaisang. Or if Dr. Hilbert wants me to read anything." He shrugs. "Why?"

From:

abrightboy

“Tim Gutterson runs a book club. Do you think that’s something you’d enjoy? Reading a particular title and then talking about it with everyone?” Malcolm asks.