I'd been sitting in my room working on a project for school for a few hours.My neck hurt and my eyes stung.I had been staring at the laptop screen for way too long.

I got out of my room to get myself something to eat and drink.

It was pitch black in the house. Had everyone gone to sleep?

I didn't bother to switch the lights on since I knew where the fridge was. I opened it and was looking for something to eat when someone yelled in my ear, startling me."Booo!"

I shrieked, taken aback.

Then I heard it.That laugh that never failed to irritate me.

"Aaron!",I punched what I thought is his arm. I still couldn't see anything.

The guy seriously needed help.His brain had stopped growing at the age of five.

The lights come on then, and I heard Joanna's voice. "Aaron, relax.We don't want the neighbors to think there's a wild animal in the house now, do we?"

Aaron shut up at that and I cackled.

When I finally stopped laughing,I looked at Aaron.He looked somewhat different,though.

I couldn't really tell what it was though.

"Take a picture," he said, smirking.

"I wasn't staring.You just.. look different. "

"I got a haircut," he rolled his eyes.

Oh right.His hair.

"Right."

Now that I looked at him,I realised that he looked even hotter than before.

Not that I would evet admit it to him.

"I had to get it cut because of you," he said,looking at me accusingly.

"Me?Are you crazy?" I looked at him incredulously.

"That gum you threw at me wouldn't come out," he explained.

I laughed."Oh,that."

"Hey, it actually looks good, Aaron," Joanna said.

"Yeah," I said quietly.

That of course, got Aaron's attention."You just keep looking for excuses to compliment me,don't you?" he waggled his eyebrows.

"In your dreams, maybe," I scoffed.

"No,really I see how you look at me . I'm sure I've even seen you drooling a few times," he exaggerated dramatically.

"So you dream about me? Because you'd only see me drooling over you in your dreams."

Now, I feel bound to tell you that he was not at all bad looking

He was in fact, probably the most good looking guy I'd ever seen.

But I wouldn't be found dead admitting that to him.

"I know you dream about me.And not in an appropriate way either," he winked suggestively and Joanna cringed.

"Dream about killing you, yes," I shot back.

He opened his mouth to answer me but Joanna spoke before him.

"As entertaining as this has been, I'm going to bed now," Joanna declared, yawning.

"Good night,Jo," Aaron said.

"Goodnight."

She chuckled."Have fun," she said with a wink and went to her room.

I was horrified at what she was insinuating.

It was quiet for a while. Aaron took out some leftover pizza from the fridge and shoved it into the microwave.

I felt awkward just standing there and looking at him,so I figured I'd go back to bed.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" Aaron asked when I turned to leave.

Say what?

I opened my mouth to speak but he spoke again. "Eat anything you like but don't expect me to share my pizza," he said in a very serious tone as he retrieved his pizza from the microwave and sat down to eat it.

Like I said, he was obsessed with pizza.

Rolling my eyes, I sarcastically said,"Thanks."

I realized I was hungry and made myself a sandwich before plopping down on to a chair and biting into it.

To my surprise, Aaron had already finished half of his pizza.

The bell rang as soon as Aaron took an enormous bite of a slice of pizza."Caagoo beh fah?" Aaron said with a mouthful. He was so gross.

"What? Finish the food first," I grimaced as I caught sight of the food in his mouth.

He rolled his eyes,swallowed the food and said,"Can you get that?"

I got up from my chair to open the door.As soon as I did, a girl with short blonde hair stumbled forwards and I held out my hands to steady her.

"Hey!Who are you?" she jabbed her finger into my forehead.

"What are you doing? Who are you?" I asked, desperately trying to remove her finger from my forehead.

"I'm Jane," she whispered like it's a secret.

I sighed.How drunk was she?

"Where is Aaron?" she giggled loudly.

"Shut up and get in,quietly! ",I hissed at her.

"Who is it,Ashy bear? ",Aaron called, and I heard footsteps.

"Don't call me that and it's some girl called Jane,"I told him,half dragging the said girl into the house.

"No,no,no, please no! Don't bring her -"

"Hey Aaaron!",she squealed in delight and smacked my hand to make me let go of her.

"Don't hit me or I'll punch your nose! "

Aaron sighed behind me."She's drunk."

"Well done, genius," I replied with an eye roll.

"We need to take her home "

"Yeah -Wait, did you say we? "

"Yes? "

"No way.Why would I help you? She's your business.You take care of her. "

"Please?"

"What about no?"

"I-", Aaron began before looking at Jane with a horrified look.

She had picked up a slice of Aaron's pizza and was peppering it with kisses."Aww, you're so cute!"

"Leave my pizza alone!" Aaron shrieked.

I couldn't help laughing at that. Needless to say, Aaron shot me daggers."Are you helping me or what?"

"Fine, let's get -"

We heard a loud thud then, and groaned as we saw that Jane had passed out on the floor.

"I think it's best if we let her stay over tonight. "

Aaron contemplated it and then said."Yeah, you're right.Help me get her to bed."

I snorted.

"What?" he gave me a flat look.

"I knew those muscles of yours were of no use."

This, of course hurt his man pride and scowling at me, he swung her over his shoulder.He came back after putting her into a room downstairs.

I sniggered while Aaron glared at me as we went upstairs.

"Goodnight Ashy-bear," Aaron muttered as he went into his room.

***

The next morning,Trent came over.

"Hi,"I hugged him as he came inside. He hugged me back. "Hey. "

I got a clear look at his face when he pulled back. He looked so tired.His eyes still had bags under them which were only more defined, and he had stubble on his face.He had a white shirt on ,only buttoned halfway up and some old worn out jeans.

"Trent you .... " I trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"Look disgusting? I know."

"Exhausted," I corrected him."Give yourself a break."

He sighed."I know, I just...I don't know what to do."

"Trent,I can't see you like this."

"I'm fine, Ashley."

"No, you're not.Let's go talk to Kayla right now."

"No, Ashley she won't listen," he replied calmly.

"She'll have to."

Trent sighed and gave in.

We were now standing outside her house.

Trent and I glanced at each other nervously.

"It'll be fine," I said, more to myself than to him.

I knew I shouldn't have been nervous or worried about talking to her, she was my best friend after all.But I'd had a weird,stupid feeling in my stomach.It was because I was afraid of what would happen.We had neever been in a fight like this before.

We walked over to the door, only to find it half open "Kayla?" I called out.She didn't seem to be around.

"Let's check her room," Trent suggested.

The jittery feeling only increased as we reached her room.

"Trent maybe she's -"

I stopped my sentence midway when I saw the expression on Trent's face. He looked bewildered as he stared ahead.

I craned my neck to glance into the room only to see the most shocking thing in front of us.

Kayla was making out with her neighbor, Dave. She'd had a crush on him way back when we were ten but I had no idea she'd do something like this.

She still hadn't seen us.She was too busy making out with her new...whatever he was to her.

Suddenly anger courses through my veins and I barge into her room.They both look up.

When Kayla saw us,she jumped off of Dave.She looked horrified as she looked at me and then Trent.

"Trent,I swear this is the first time-"

"How could you?" I yelled at her.

"Ashley,I swear I'm telling the truth.Please just hear me out."

"I don't believe this."

"Ashley, listen-"

"No,you listen to me.We have been going crazy this past week thinking of how to convince you that we didn't do anything wrong.We have been going insane wondering how to make it up to you even though we did nothing.Nothing!And here you are doing....this," I said angrily,looking at Dave.

"I didn't..We didn't..."she stopped,walking towards Trent. "Trent.Baby.I swear it's not-"

"-Not what it looks like?",Trent completed for her,looking at her coldly.

"Yes,Trent please just hear me out."

He laughed humorlessly. "There is nothing to talk about. It's over,Kayla," he said,looking straight into her eyes emotionlessly.

"Trent,I-"

"I'm sorry,I shouldn't have come here.Have a nice time," he replied coldly and started walking away.

"Trent,I-

"Save it," I said to her and followed Trent outside.

"Trent!" we heard her call behind us but neither of us made an attempt to turn around.

We left the house as soon as we could and got into the car.

We both sit in silence,not saying a single word.The car finally stops outside Trent's house.Even then we didn't't get out.

I couldn't believe Kayla.I had no idea she could be this horrible to Trent.

She had cheated on him.Cheated on the guy who had loved her for as long as he could remember.The same guy who cared for her more than anyone ever could.

I glanced at Trent to see his eyes glassed."How could she?" he whispered.

I had hardly ever seen Trent cry and I'd known him for a long time.

"Trent..." I said,my own eyes watering now.

I had never experienced anything like this before.I was still having a hard time believing what I had seen with my own two eyes just a few minutes ago.

I put my hand on his shoulder and we both sat like that way for a long time, with only silence to accompany us.

Because not only did Trent lose his girlfriend that day, we both also lost the girl we used to call our best friend.