The Earth Shifter

After we arrived safely to New York. Aaron wanted to go see his mother but I went with him to make sure that he tells her what’s happened with Nate and also to make sure that she listens. Lilly and Erik waited for me in New York so we travel go visit my parents afterwards.

Aaron was sitting with his mother talking to her and I was waiting outside on the stairs. I chose not to interfere any further. I kept playing on my phone till the white door of the house was opened and the cap over my head got snatched.

“What did she say?” I asked him.

“She believed me but didn’t say anything. She still doesn’t want to meet him.” He shrugged playing with my cap in his hands.

“And you?”

“Oh, I want to meet him, just don’t know how.” He mumbled.

“Easy.” I said finishing my soda and putting the can next to me. “We’ll start with a simple question. Where does he live?” I asked.

“Here, in this town.” He answered.

“Here?” He nodded.

“Do you have an address?” He nodded.

“I have it on my phone he sent texts to me nearly everyday asking me to meet him.”

“Good,” I ignored his guilty tone. And took the phone from him after he gave me the text with the address in it. I texted his father as Aaron saying that I wanted to meet him.

I was going to tell Aaron what I’ve sent but his father replied almost instantly. Saying:

Come right now, I’m waiting for you.

Wow, this man desperately needed to set things right with his son.

“Let’s go.” I told Aaron standing up.

“Go where?” He looked up at me.

“See your father.” He blinked surprised.

“But...” He looked pale and, I don’t know, scared? I sighed.

“No but-s Mr. Campbell. Your dad wants to see you right now.” I took his hand pulling him up. He didn’t move. I kept pulling him till he stood on his own making me stumble backwards.

He’s finally going to see his father.

We walked according to the address. It was a dirty narrow street and the building he lived in was dirty as well. It was night and the entrance of the old building was illuminated with a small orange light bulb. I suddenly realized that it wasn’t the best idea to come here. I stood at the entrance from the inside and Aaron climbed the stairs alone.

Someone came from above, descending the stairs. It was Nate. He gave Aaron a sharp look but Aaron simply ignored him and continued to climb the stairs. Nate brushed past me like he didn’t even know me. I sighed, this guy needs some serious help.

“Aren’t you coming?” He asked me stopping. I shook my head.

“I did my part now you should go meet him on your own.” I heard the sound of glass getting smashed to the ground. This place is creepy.

“But be quick.” I told Aaron nervously and he rolled his eyes.

“You really think that I’ll leave you alone in this place?” Aaron asked.

“No, it’s okay. I can handle myself. Now go meet your father. I’ll be waiting for you in here.” I waved my hands shooing him away. He let out a quiet giggle and came standing in front of me.

“You sure about staying here on your own?” He asked. Then I heard something that sounded like cocking of a gun. I swallowed the gulp in my throat then shook my head.

“No.” He laughed at my reaction then took my hand guiding me up the stairs. He was still acting normal but the fear was so obvious in his eyes. I kept looking behind me making sure that there’s no one with a gun was behind us. Aaron stood there like a frozen statue in front of the door.

I smiled encouragingly at him. His fear from meeting his father was hundred times more than my fear of the water. Aaron then took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

A man with a weak slim body and an exhausted face opened the door for us so quickly. Aaron’s father is very eager to meet him really.

Aaron’s father looked the exact opposite of his son. Aaron was will built with almost a full face and even his hair was different Aaron had dark hair but his father had blond one and the eye color was different as well.

A wide true smile spread across Mr. Campbell’s face and It was like it hasn’t been there for too long. He wasn’t that old but he looked so weak.

“H- hi dad.” Aaron was incredibly nervous. He didn’t even notice that he was squeezing my hand so hard. The man hugged his son tightly crying with happiness. Aaron was standing there frozen, eyes wide and glued to where his father was standing and still holding my hand. Mr. Campbell broke the hug gently. I was standing there awkwardly feeling like an intruder that’s why I didn’t want to come up here with him.

“Finally.” He whispered then held his hand in order to get us in. He wasn’t even that intimidating not like Tristan’s father for example.

“Please, get inside.” I looked at Aaron. He took a step into the small apartment. And when I said small I meant very small. We sat on an old brown couch in the living room which seemed to be one of the two rooms in this flat. There were two closed doors which, I assume, one for the bathroom and the other for the bedroom.

An old TV was sitting on a small table in front of the couches. His father was still smiling, he had his son’s puffy eyes that made him look like he was smiling all the time. But Aaron’s were more youthful and alive of course. The man was going to talk then noticed my presence.

“I’m sorry, Who are you?”

“I’m...” Aaron cut me off.

“Amber Barritt. She was the one that convinced me that I should meet you.” He looked at the ground after introducing me.

“Oh, hi” he stood up to shake my hand and I did as well. “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you. I was so wrapped up with...”

“It’s okay.” I smiled at him. Aaron’s father was so kind that it was pouring from his eyes. When I first heard about the decision he’s made to help Nate. I didn’t believe he was even sane but now that I’ve met him, I think he would’ve done it kindly for Nate and that doesn’t also mean that he was right.

“I should thank you for changing my son’s mind about me.”

“Don’t thank me, he was the one who wanted to meet you in the first place.” I pushed the favor away from me. Walking back to his seat, Mr. Campbell turned to look at Aaron.

“I’m sorry, Aaron. I was wrong. Thank you for giving me a second chance.” He apologized ashamed from himself.

“I’m also sorry for not giving you the chance to explain yourself.” Aaorn shot me a look meaning that he understood what I was talking about back at the café in Radssoda.

“It’s over anyways no need to keep going back to it.” He then got up making us something to drink. Aaron and his father talked for sometime before getting up in order to get home. The tension and nervousness didn’t go away. Aaron was fiddling with his fingers and playing with my cap the whole time avoiding to look at his father. But the more they talked together, the less the tension becomes.

We got out of the building, Aaron was grinning like a little child who just had an ice cream cone. I was so happy for him.

All of his life, Aaron’s happiness was right in front of his eyes and he was only seeing it as his reason of being sad.

Aaron didn’t stop thanking me the whole way but I wasn’t doing it for the sake of getting a thanks. This whole meeting left me feel warm and fuzzy inside.