"Let's throw a party."

"No."

"Movie?"

"Nope."

"I say let's call a stripper," Cole suggested.

Elena grabbed her textbook and hit him hard on the head with it.

"Shut up," I frowned at him.

This wasn't going anywhere.I sighed.

"That was a good idea, man," Aaron agreed, patting Cole's shoulder sympathetically.

This time he was the one who got hit.

"Seriously,you two are useless," I glared at the boys sitting with me.

We were trying to come up with ways to find Trent a new girlfriend. Or a date. Something that would help him move on from Kayla.

"Let's just find him a date, book a table, like get everything arranged and stuff and then convince him. That way he'll feel guilty if he even thinks of saying no."

"When did you grow a brain,Aaron?" I asked, gasping dramatically.

"I was born smart, babe."

"No but that is a good idea."

"What if he gets mad though?" Elena asked.

"Then we just...deal with it," Aaron replied, looking unsure.

I contemplated it."Fine. Who's going to tell him though?"

Everyone looked at me pointedly.

Fantastic.

***

"Come on, Trent, please!" I begged him for the fifteenth time.

"No," he said firmly, slamming his locker shut.

"But Trent..."

"I don't have time for dating, Ashley."

"Well,why not?" I raised an eyebrow challengingly.

"Uh, I-I have too much schoolwork and I've got to help mom with the, with the..."

My best friend was good, no scratch that, he was great at many things. Lying wasn't one of them though.

"With what?"

"With the um, moving back and stuff , you know."

"Trent, you moved back two weeks ago."

"Yeah but-"

"Give it a shot. What do you have to lose?"

"Who is this girl again?" he asked absentmindedly staring at something in the distance.

Or rather, someone.

Kayla.

She was standing alone in the hallway, glancing around as if she were looking for someone.

"Just this...girl," I gulped.

I had no idea who it was going to be.

Fortunately, he wasn't paying attention, saving me from the embarrassment of telling him that I didn't even know who his date was going to be.

Kayla's eyes landed on me before flickering over to Trent. She gazed at him with a pained expression before turning away.

Trent let out a deep breath."What time do I pick her up?"

***

"Jodie?Jodie Parker?" I asked Aaron as we walked inside the Woods' house.

"Yup. That hot girl in Chemistry."

I smacked him upside the head, glaring at him.

He laughed, not even wincing when I hit him.What was he made of?

"Kidding, Ashy. You know I've only got eyes for you," he said cheekily, fluttering his eyes at me.

I knew he was just goofing around but it still made my cheeks heat up.

"So," I cleared my throat, hoping he hadn't noticed,"you've texted Trent the address and everything, right?"

"Yeah."

"So it's the same diner where Elena works, right?"

He nodded."She'll keep us updated."

"I am so glad he agreed to this thing."

He nodded in agreement.

"Do you ...do you think he's still in love with her?" I asked Aaron.

"Kayla?"

"Yeah."

"Well..."

Of course he was. It was blatantly obvious.

What the hell had come over Kayla though? She still liked him too, it was clear from the heartbroken way she looked at him. It didn't make sense.

But no matter how much I missed her or maybe even sympathised with her,the fact of the matter was that she had cheated on Trent. She had ruined our friendship.

"Stupid question, forget I said anything," I shook my head.

"No, you-" he began but was cut off by his phone ringing. He took it out of his pocket and Cole's name flashed on the screen.

He answered it."What's up? She what? But why? Fucking hell. Oh. Yeah she's right here. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I'll call you back."

"We have a problem," Aaron bit his lip.

"She bailed, didn't she?"

"Yep."

Shit.

"What are we going to do?I don't even know how he agreed to this thing and-Oh God, Aaron.Shit!"

Yes,I was freaking out alright.

"Shh. Calm down. We'll figure something out.", Aaron said soothingly, placing his hands on my shoulder.

"Like what?"

"Hey guys,I'm home!" Amanda stepped in through the front door.

Aaron looked at her and then looked back at me.

Was he insinuating that...?

"You think it'll work?" I whispered, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him towards me.

"It's worth a shot," he shrugged.

"Yeah, that's great . Don't even look at me now that you've started going out. Who wants to talk to poor old Amanda anyway?" she sighed dramatically.

Oh, she was Aaron's sister alright.

"I'm sorry,we were just...Just... you know," I looked at Aaron for help.

"Just talking," he replied with a goofy smile.

She raised an eyebrow before shaking her head."You guys were always weird."

"So, Mandy..." Aaron began, ignoring her comment.

"What?"

"What do you think of Trent?"

"Trent?"

Great, so she didn't even remember who he was.

"Trent, you know? My friend Trent?"

"Trent? Like your best friend Trent?"

"That's the one."

"Oh .He's..cool I guess," she replied, sitting on the couch, why?"

"Great!" Aaron clapped his hands together."You have a date with him tonight."

"I do?" she looked surprised.

"Unless...Oh my God,you're not seeing anyone, are you?" I panicked.

Why hadn't I considered this possibility?

"Nope, no one."

I heaved a sigh of relief."So,what do you think?"

"Yeah, sure. He seems like a nice guy."

I heaved a sigh of relief."You're not going to regret this, I promise."

"Well, I'd better get ready for my date then."

***

"So..." Joanna started as I put a forkful of delicious spaghetti into my mouth. God, was I going to miss this.

"What's up?" Aaron asked through a mouthful of spaghetti.

"I have a date tomorrow."

"You what?" Aaron and I said simultaneously.

"Is it that shocking?" she asked, looking slightly offended.

"No, not at all!It's just that we were surprised," I explained and she visibily relaxed.

"So who is this guy?" Aaron asked.

"This guy I met at the supermarket yesterday. He was so sweet!" she gushed and I couldn't help but smile.

Joanna was a divorcee. I didn't know much about what had happened, but I knew it had been bad.

And in all of the time I'd known her, this was the first time she'd ever mentioned a guy. She must have really liked the guy.

Aaron was smiling at too. Joanna meant a lot to him.

We put things away and watched TV before we decided to call it a night.

"Goodnight, kids," Joanna yawned, going to her room.

"Goodnight," I replied, heading towards my room.

"Night. Oh and Jo?" Aaron called out with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Yes, Aaron?"

"Good luck for the date tomorrow."

"Thanks, honey," she smiled.

I knew something else was coming.

"And don't forget to use protection."

"Aaron!" she gasped but ended up laughing as Aaron shot her a grin.

I laughed too. Aaron would always be Aaron.

***

"I'm coming back Sunday," my mother said.

"Sunday? Oh that's great, mom! Is grandma coming with you too?"

"No, she said she needs to sort things out down here before she thinks of moving."

"Oh.What about dad? Have you spoken to him?" I asked.

I'd barely spoken to my father since he left. Apparently he'd been super busy.

"Yes, honey. He's going to be away for at least two more weeks."

"Okay, mom. What time will you be back?"

"Three thirty."

"Okay I'll be there."

"Just head straight home honey. You don't need to come to the airport."

"Are you sure? Because it's no problem."

"Yes honey, I'm sure. Just make sure everything is packed by tomorrow evening, okay?"

"Yes, mom."

"Okay honey, I'll speak to you later. I love you."

"Love yo-"

She hung up.

I sighed, throwing my stuff into the gigantic bag, courtesy of Amanda.

"Packing?" the voice I'd grown so used to spoke.

"Yeah," I replied, looking up at him.

He was shirtless. Damn him.

"Go put a shirt on, Woods," I said, trying my best to avert my eyes.

He placed his hands on my shoulder and made me stand up from the floor where I was currently crouched.

"Why?" he said playfully.

"Because..."

He smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Because what?"

"Just because, okay? Now shut up and let me pack."

I started packing again.

Two arms wrapped themselves around me.

"Aaron!"

"Yes, Ashley?" he whispered against my ear.

I laughed. It kind of tickled.

"You're not going to let me pack, are you?"

"Well, I don't want you to go so no."

I turned towards him. He slid his hands down to my waist and pulled me close. I laced my fingers in his hair.

"I don't want to go either," I whispered, resting my forehead against his.

"Why're you going then?" he whined.

I chuckled."You know I have to."

He responded with a grunt and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him, breathing him in.

I suddenly remembered about Amanda and pulled away."Hey, have you seen Amanda? I haven't seen her at all since yesterday."

"She's still sleeping. I think she came in late last night."

I nodded."Yeah, I figured."

"Have you spoken to Trent?"

"No, but I texted him. He hasn't texted me back yet. Probably sleeping in too," I shrugged.

We both went downstairs to get something to eat. It was almost noon and I was tired with all the packing and stuff.

"Pizza?" Aaron asked, his phone in his hand.

"Yeah," I smiled fondly at him."Pizza."