The decision came at dinner.
Aryan set down his fork. Ashley nodded at him. Something had been decided.
"Aaron. We need to talk."
Aaron looked up from his plate.
"We are moving," Aryan said. "To Smallville."
Aaron said nothing. Waited.
"These soul spirit abilities. They are growing. Fast. We need space. Privacy. A place where no one watches."
"Your mother needs ground. Acres. Somewhere she can experiment with her plant abilities without neighbors calling the police."
Ashley leaned forward. "This mansion is beautiful. But it is visible. People talk. Mr. Aldridge has seen too much already."
Smallville. Aaron knew the name. Small town. Farmland. Quiet.
"Dad. I don't know. What do you think?"
Aryan smiled. "It is your choice too. But you would have to leave East Side High. Leave your friends. Make new ones at Smallville's school."
Friends. The word was still strange. Bruce. Pamela. Harvey. Oliver. Two months ago, he had no one. Now he had people who sat at his table.
But his parents were right. The abilities were growing. The mansion was too exposed. Smallville made sense.
"Alright," Aaron said. "We move."
---
One week later. Last day at East Side High.
The cafeteria was loud as always. But their corner table was quiet.
Aaron told them at lunch.
"I am leaving. My family is moving to Smallville."
Pamela's fork stopped mid-air.
"What?"
"My parents need a quieter place. For their work."
"When?" Bruce asked. His voice was flat.
"Three days."
Harvey leaned back. Oliver stared at his tray.
Silence.
Then Pamela broke.
Her eyes filled. Her shoulders shook. Tears ran down her cheeks before she could stop them.
"Why? Why are you going?"
"Pamela. It is not forever. I will be gone for a while. But I will send letters. To all of you."
"You better."
She wiped her face with her sleeve. Hard. Angry at herself for crying. But the tears kept coming.
Aaron reached out. Touched her hand. Just for a second.
"Thank you. For the muffins."
She laughed. It was wet and broken but it was a laugh.
---
Bruce stood.
"Aaron."
"Bruce."
"It was nice meeting you."
He extended his hand. Aaron took it. The grip was firm.
"I hope next time you can defeat me in chess," Aaron said.
Bruce's eye twitched.
Aaron laughed. A real laugh. The first one in front of them.
Bruce glared. But the corner of his mouth lifted. Just slightly.
"Next time," Bruce said. "You will lose."
"I will wait for that day."
---
Harvey and Oliver stood together. Close. Always close. Harvey's arm was draped over Oliver's shoulder.
Aaron looked at them. Tilted his head.
"Well. Harvey and Oliver. You two are always so close. Are you sure you are not..."
He did not finish.
Harvey's face went red. Oliver choked on his drink.
"YOU!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? ANSWER ME, AARON!"
"AARON!"
Bruce burst out laughing. Deep and loud. Pamela covered her mouth, giggling through her tears.
Harvey and Oliver scrambled to explain. Words tumbling over each other. Neither made sense.
Aaron watched them. Smiled.
---
The last bell rang.
Aaron walked out of East Side High for the final time.
Behind him, Pamela waved from the steps. Harvey and Oliver shouted something rude but friendly. Bruce watched from the gate. Silent. Still.
Aaron raised a hand. Nodded once.
Then he was gone.
---
Three days later. Smallville.
The truck had come and gone. Boxes were unpacked. The new house was smaller than the mansion. Wood floors. Big windows. A basement that could be locked.
Ashley stood at the back door. Behind the house, fields stretched for acres. Flat. Empty. Perfect.
"I can grow things here," she said. "Real things."
Aryan was already walking toward a small pond at the edge of the property. His eyes were distant. The whale inside him was stirring.
Aaron stood on the porch. Warm wind. Clear sky. Quiet.
He looked at the town beyond the fields. Small. Simple. But something here felt old. Buried.