Locking In With My Life System

”Coming!” Aiden called out whilst rushing down the stairs as the doorbell rang again.

Swiftly walking across the room, his hands on the doorknob a moment after, he didn’t think twice before pulling the door wide open.

It wasn’t surprising to say that Aiden had been expecting the gang at his doorstep.

Within seconds of waking up and seeing the note, the missed calls on his phone, coupled with the time of day, it was a pretty obvious guess.

What he hadn’t been expecting though, was the other three that had accompanied them.

Staring at the trio in particular, his eyes blinking in genuine surprise, Casper, Clyde, Larry and Benjamin on the other hand simultaneously remarked, amused smiles on their features;

”You look like shit.”

To say Aiden’s bedhead was messy, was putting it mildly.

Though he wasn’t the type to toss and turn whilst sleeping, there was something about the way he’d angled his head that had left his hair disheveled, strands poking out in all the wrong ways.

Then there were his eyes. They were so puffy, it was a dead giveaway that he’d enjoyed his time way too much in slumbertown.

Yet, for some odd reason or the other his buddies, Damian, Megan and Clarissa couldn’t quite pinpoint, it only served to highlight just how handsome he was becoming.

”Fuck you guys.” Aiden cussed at the quartet.

Still, he made sure to exempt Theo by flashing him a smile, the curly-haired youth already chuckling in amusement as he’d experienced this song and dance many times now.

As for Damian, Megan and Clarissa in particular, Aiden beamed at them and said whilst stepping aside, an arm gesturing for them to come in;

”Welcome to my humble abode. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Shamelessly, Casper, Larry, Benjamin and Clyde filed in alongside Theo.

Naturally, the quartet beelined for the kitchen, each of them already rummaging through the fridge and cabinets while Theo casually made his way over to take a seat the living room.

”That’s a shameless act if I’ve ever seen one.” Damian couldn’t help but say as he walked in alongside Megan, the hints of amusement on their features crystal.

”Eh. You’ll get used to it.” Aiden simply shrugged to which the caramel-haired lady then asked, her tone of concern genuine as she adjusted her red-rimmed glasses;

”We heard from Mr. Lazlow that you called in sick. How’re you feeling now?”

”As you can see, I am not dead.” Aiden replied with a smile, one of his arms gestured wide, the other still holding onto the doorknob as Clarissa walked in last with a plastic bag.

To her specifically, he theatrically bowed, his smile widening into a soft grin;

”Your Highness,”

”You may raise your head, Sir North,” the lady assumed a regal air, flipping into character as Aiden closed the door behind her with a light chuckle.

”We come bearing gifts.” she said, holding onto the plastic bag with such practiced elegance, one would’ve assumed it was priceless as she turned to face him.

”I am honored you would think so thoughtfully of me, M’lady.” Aiden gently placed a palm to his chest in response.

This time, Clarissa broke character, a warm laugh escaping her;

”I don’t know of any knights with such terrible bedhead.”

”What can I say? Sleeping for twenty hours straight would do to that to even the most well-groomed of knights.” he dropped the act, a relaxed smile touching his lips.

The quartet had just been about to tell the duo to get a room when they heard their buddy’s words.

Naturally, their eyes widened in a mix of surprised concern, as did Theo’s, Damian’s and Megan’s.

Clarissa was probably the most troubled by it as she instinctively put a gentle palm to his head to take his temperature, her face leaning in as she said in a soft yet worried tone;

”What have you been getting up to, Aiden? That’s not normal.”

Though the gang was already aware of just why, especially since they all suddenly got notified yesterday morning that [Crashout: Sin City] had gone live on Portal, it didn’t change the fact that Aiden had overdone it.

Which was why;

”She’s right you know. You really had us worried.” Casper said with a serious gaze, holding onto a pickle as he continued;

”If not for Theo assuring us you were mostly fine but immensely tired and you needed some shut-eye, we’d have stormed right over yesterday to scold you like you usually would, us.”

To that, Larry, Clyde and Benjamin bobbed their heads in acknowledgement, all three holding a cup of Aiden’s homemade brew with a few snacks in their hands.

Theo was much the same, and he had turned over to face him despite remaining seated on the chair--as had Megan and Damian whom were standing in the middle of the living room.

Sure, they were aware he was sleep-deprived throughout yesterday, but considering he hadn’t made a big deal of it, they’d simply assumed he’d pulled an all-nighter for the decathlon.

Hearing his closest friends speak now though, they’d quickly pieced together that he’d been doing something asides simply preparing for the decathlon.

As Aiden watched everyone level him a look of seriousness mixed with concern, he really couldn’t help but ruffle his already messy hair.

For one, he clearly couldn’t tell them about his system and how whatever changes it had made to his being was the culprit.

Secondly, they were right and he knew it. Even without the system, Aiden had been certain he’d have slept just as long... perhaps with a few moments of wakefulness in between.

Letting out an understanding sigh, he then replied;

”I can’t promise you all I won’t overdo it at some point or the other again,”

”But I’ll at least make an effort to be more considerate of my wellbeing. That, I can promise.” Aiden concluded, his tone honest.

This time, his buddies looked to one another and then, with an equally understanding sigh, all five replied with a subtle shrug;

”Works for us.”

No sooner had they done that, they resumed their former actions and continued their mundane convos, the atmosphere in the room returning to its prior buoyance.

Considering Damian, Megan and Clarissa had never actually seen the gang interact as such before, it was honestly quite jarring to them how quickly they’d gone from jocund, to serious, then right back to upbeat.

At the same time, it was a clear indicator that they were far more than just a gang of friends who happened to share the same interests and got along really well.

Rather, in this very moment, they seemed more like brothers whom had known each other for so long, they only needed the bare minimum of words to get across to one another.

To that effect,

’Works for me too, I guess.’ Clarissa inwardly remarked with a soft nod, her hands naturally brushing a stray lock from Aiden’s face.

”Here. We got you some fruits, chamomile tea and a couple scented candles. Helps with relaxation.” she said with a warm smile.

”She, got you them.” Casper corrected, arching his brow at the lady in amusement as he snapped a pickle in half with his teeth.

”Literally had us stop by the local convenience store down the street.” Benjamin casually added without thinking twice as he downed the contents of his cup.

At this point, the queen bee had practically gone beet red.

Yet, Aiden couldn’t help but beam at her with the warmest of smiles. Before he could give her his appreciation, Larry commented;

”By the way, you’re running low on the homemade brandy, Aiden.”

”Brandy???” Damian and Megan whipped their heads over in concern to which Theo remarked without looking up from his laptop;

”It’s a non-alcoholic brew Aiden made.”

”It’s really good. Healthy, too. You should try it.” Clyde chipped in and then added as he raised the almost empty five-liter container to his buddy;

”Try making a gallon for us sometime, yeah, Aiden?”

”That is the gallon I made, you little twerps.” Aiden’s eyelids creased into a slightly annoyed squint.

Clearly, Clyde seemed to have expected that reaction, an amused, almost rage-baitey smirk touching his lips.

Yet, the President and Secretary had already whipped their heads over and Aiden could practically see the gears turning in their heads.

”Just make sure to get Dr. Kowalski’s and Principal Walter’s permission. You know how they get about nutrition.” he casually remarked, then returned his attention to the lady standing before him.

Right now, her hazel-irises were glinting with genuine intrigue as she held his gaze, to which Aiden curiously asked;

”What?”

”Nothing. Just wondering how many more layers. What with you being an onion and all...” Clarissa trailed off, her tone reflecting a palpable sense of deep interest as she flirtatiously added;

”I’d like to make a personal documentary, if that’s fine by you.”

To that, Aiden laughed softly and said;

”Sure, but it’s gonna be a looonnng series.”

”Best get my professional camera then.” Clarissa winked at him suggestively, her pearly-whites widening into a kittenish grin.

”They should really get a room.” Megan quietly remarked as she watched the duo, her hand casually snatching a pickle from Casper just as he was about to eat it.

”Hey! Give that back!” he complained to no avail.

Damian on the other hand had already moved to a corner of the room to dial a number. Presumably his father’s regarding the homemade brew.

’He works fast.’ Aiden remarked to himself upon noticing him.

Returning his attention to Clarissa yet again, the youth was just about to receive the plastic bag from the lady when Theo casually remarked, his tone impressed;

”Would you look at that. We’ve hit thirty-eight thousand concurrent players of the PC port of the game on Portal...”