Excerpt: Abnormal

“I like your room,” Cassie said.
“Thank you,” Aidan said, the softness of his voice like a song to Cassie’s ears, making everyone else’s voices she could imagine seem harsh and childish.
“If you want,” Aidan said, “you can sit on the bed or the chair.”
Cassie took a place on his bed, aware that that was the more intimate choice of the two. Aidan smiled and even his smile was gentle. Cassie felt her heart flutter; she realized he was everything she’d been hoping for.
Aidan took a seat across from her, on the foot of the bed as Cassie was sitting at the head. Cassie had the sudden unexplainable urge to lean forward and kiss him, but pushed the overwhelming desire aside. Cassie knew he cared about her but she still had no idea if he liked her in that way.
“I’m glad you came,” Aidan said.
“Me too,” Cassie said and then there was silence again.
“I was afraid your dad wouldn’t allow you to come or that you would be too afraid of me,” Aidan said, the honesty in his voice surprising Cassie.
“He doesn’t know,” Cassie said and then paused. “And I’m not afraid of you.”
He smiled and Cassie continued in the silence, “But I am scared. I don’t know what’s happening – to me. I know it’s stupid but I just want to fit in and be normal. Being different is completely new to me,” Cassie said, once again surprised, only this time at herself and her outburst. It was as if the space between Aidan and her had never existed and she wasn’t sure what had happened to it.
Aidan reached forward and put his hand over top of hers gently. “It will be alright and it’s ok to want to be normal. I did too at first.”
Cassie blushed. “Can you teach me?” she asked quietly.
“Yes.”