Aidan Keating

Aidan grew up in a neighboring town to where the main cast resides. His dad owns a music store--which opened a new location in Luke's town--so he's always a bit busy. Aidan lives mostly with his dad, as his mom manages the music store in Aidan's hometown while his dad is focused on running the new store. Growing up with music all around him, Aidan finds solace in writing songs. Writing music serves as his diary of sorts, letting him vent all his frustrations in life.

Before high school, Aidan's home life was secure. He attended church every Sunday, going to his dad's performances and helping out around the store in later years. However, as Aidan grew up, he realized that he had feelings for his best friend he met through school. The two shared mutual love, secretly dating for a year or so. After Aidan's dad found out that his son was gay, there was instant hostility in the house. The family had a huge argument about Aidan's sexuality, coming to the conclusion that Aidan wasn't allowed to date any boy; if he could do that, he would be allowed to stay a part of the family. The opening of the new store and the social implications of having a gay son helped motivate the family to move to the town Luke lives, allowing Aidan to have a fresh start of sorts. Aidan distances himself from his family, terrified but unable to hide his feelings for his new crush Luke. Aidan has always had a high work ethic. He completes his homework on time, gets honor roll, and seems to get along with his student body. Although, he is quite the pushover when it comes to group projects; he'll take on the brunt of the work and let his partner(s) off the hook.

Besides his work ethic, Aidan was a band kid all throughout his elementary and middle schools as a flute player. Even though he hated performing, he didn't mind blending into the crowded band--as long as he wasn't visible in the flute section. He participated in some after-school clubs, including the anime and writing club. Through these clubs, he met Kasey and the two hit it off and eventually started to secretly date.

Aidan has always been a social person. Since he was young, he always had friends around. His parents found it odd that he always befriended girls more often than not, but they let it slide. However, as Aidan grew older and began to talk about teenage relationship drama with his friends, he realized he didn't feel that way among any of the girls he was friends with. Some of his girlfriends had expressed interest in him, but Aidan couldn't bring himself to date his childhood friends.

As mentioned earlier, Aidan met his first love interest in his early high school days. He instantly felt differently about Kasey than any of his girl friends he had; in a way, what his friends described their crushes is how Aidan felt about Kasey. The two made sure to attend plenty of clubs together, hang out after school to do homework, and Aidan even tried teaching Kasey guitar. Over the years as friends, the conflicting feelings about his best friend Kasey grew more and more complicated and Aidan didn't know what to do.

During one of their study sessions during sophomore year of high school, Kasey had been permitted to stay the night at Aidan's house. The two did their usual routine of beginning to do homework but ending up watching the latest anime or discussing their favorite comic books. Before they went to bed, Kasey admitted his love for Aidan. Stunned and relieved that Kasey felt the same way, the two shared their first kiss and decided to secretly date.

Over the year of them dating, neither family nor the student body knew about their relationship. They seemed as best of friends, eating lunches together, attending every club together, "studying" at each other's houses. Everything was perfect for Aidan--even though a lingering fear about his father finding out about his relationship prodded the back of his mind. But there was something off with Kasey around the 1-year mark. No matter how much Aidan asked, he couldn't pry out what was on Kasey's mind. It wasn't until a little after a year into their relationship that the inevitable happened.

Aidan returned home from school, only to be greeted by his parents, Kasey's parents, and a sullen Kasey. Confused and barraged by angry parents, Aidan discovered that Kasey had told his parents about their relationship, unable to hide it any longer. Powerless to control his parents, Kasey's family went to Aidan's house with their son in tow, determined to put an end to the situation. The families questioned the two endlessly, steadfast in the belief that their sons would no longer be able to see each other, let alone date.

The rest of sophomore year, the two were demanded to return straight home after school, preventing the two from seeing each other. On top of that, the school had found out about the two's relationship and they were relentlessly bullied for their sexuality. Aidan and Kasey did what they could to continue talking, whether it be secret text messages (which were now monitored) or passing letters during classes and acting as pen pals. Distraught by the circumstance, Aidan shut himself off from his family and his friends, grades slipping and mental health deteriorating. He spent his free time in his room, writing and venting his frustrations out on his guitar. He anxiously waited for the summer when he could work, save money to find a way to move out, and find an easier way to see Kasey again. Whatever it took, he would be with Kasey again.

That summer, Aidan found out that Kasey was moving away to live closer to family. Kasey sent one final message to Aidan, saying that he will always love him but he wants to move on from everything and start fresh. During that summer as well, a now lonesome and distraught Aidan worked tirelessly at the family's music shop, trying to save money to eventually move out to God knows where. Aidan heard from his parents that a new storefront was available a town or two over, and maybe they could expand the business. It was just in talks though.

The beginning of Aidan's junior year continued to be isolated and egregious. Aidan's family, worried about their sulking son, had a sit down with Aidan about recent going-ons. His parents understood that they were a bit harsh with the whole Kasey situation and lifted some of the punishments that they had put in place. Aidan could go to clubs again, but he had to come home right after school. If he wanted to hang out with any friends, his parents would have to meet them first. They didn't want to prevent their son from making friends, but they were worried that something similar may happen again. Even though Aidan had more free will with his time, the clubrooms were lonely without Kasey. His grades continued to decline, he kept more and more to himself, and his parents continued to worry.

In a resort to help their son and their business, the family decided to open up a new shop a few towns over and move Aidan to a new school. A fresh environment may help their son start fresh. Though they were still upset about the past, they wanted to forgive, forget, and progress. Plus, the move would help give everyone a second chance. Yes the move was late in the school year and Aidan's parents apologized for that, but hopefully, everything would work out at this new school.

At this new school though, someone instantly caught Aidan's attention. A boy with long black hair and eyes like a dull sea sat behind him in English class. Everything in his power told him to ignore his gut; he didn't want events to repeat itself. However, part of him didn't really care? It was weird, and annoying, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't ignore the feeling in his chest when he caught a glimpse of Luke.

He eventually found his way into Luke and Jae's friend group and he liked it there. Luke was a bit offputting sometimes, but Aidan could see there was more to his cold exterior. There was something intriguing about him, though Aidan couldn't quite put a finger on it. The trio continued to hang out and grow closer, Aidan trying to get to know Luke more. There was something else there, hidden beneath the shell, and Aidan felt connected to that inner child within Luke.

When Luke and Jae began to date, Aidan was disheartened. He knew he had a crush on Luke, as much as he didn't want it to be the case, but it seemed that Luke didn't feel the same way. That wasn't until Luke spontaneously showed up to Aidan's house one day, face pale and breath heavy, asking if Aidan was free to talk. After that, there was something different about Luke. He seemed to be more comfortable around Aidan, now looking for time to spend with him. They hung out when Aidan's parents weren't around, doing what Aidan and Kasey used to do. There seemed to be a faint connection between Aidan and Luke, but the former didn't know if Luke felt it too.

Over a course of events, Aidan invited Luke to a local basement show in town. In the heat of the moment, Aidan and Luke accidentally kiss. Luke flees, leaving Aidan alone in a crowded room, frantically trying to figure out what he did wrong and if the past was about to repeat itself. Later that night, Luke showed up on Aidan's doorstep looking to talk about what had happened. The two confessed their feelings for each other, shared a sentimental kiss, and spent the night together. The next school day, rumors that Luke and Aidan kissed at the concert circled the class. Aidan quickly skipped school for the day, terrified that he was right about his past repeating itself. If his dad found out, everything would be all over. He had another year at this school, too; he didn't want to be bullied again. Why couldn't he had just left things alone? He avoided Luke as much as possible and fortunately didn't receive as much bullying as his previous school. Luke eventually came to Aidan and apologized, confessing his true feelings and wanting to make things work, no matter the cost. Luke graduated that summer, got a job, and continued to see Aidan throughout the latter's senior year.