"Lee," a soft voice whispers into my ear.

"Leeeee," it continues, just ignore it and it will go away.

"Em," why isn't it stopping?

"Emily!!" the voice says a little louder, then I feel myself being shaken. Are we in an earthquake?

I don't even care, I'm too warm and cozy. I snuggle back into the warmth, drifting off again until I hear a loud groan.

My eyes snap open at the noise, and Elijah's face comes into view, looking quite impatient.

I turn around and both relax and tense when I see Aiden was the warmth I was speaking about earlier and then the position we were in. I was super embarrassed but I also kind of felt bad for Aiden.

While we probably started in the middle of the bed, we were now both on Aiden's side, his arm was still slung over my waist but my back was fully pressed up against his front, I don't even think you could fit a piece of paper in between us.

Elijah actually had to climb partly on to the bed to wake me. I slowly moved so I was out of Aiden's grip, being careful not to wake him so I could stand up beside Lij.

Aiden instantly rolls on to his front and stretches out when I climb off the bed, I once again feel a little sorry for myself being the reason he had no space before.

"Mom told me to wake you guys up, school starts in an hour and Aiden still needs to get home," Elijah says, "I like Aiden, he's cooler than Luke."

"Lij, Luke and Aiden are very different people-," I begin, but get cut off by my younger brother.

"Yeah. Luke is boring, Aiden is fun. Come on Lee, you have to admit that even you were getting bored with Luke before Aiden came along." Elijah persuades.

He was right but I'd never admit that to Elijah, I found it hard enough admitting to myself that Aiden had crawled his rebellious ass into my life. I loved Luke, I really did but I wasn't stupid and a part of me knew that would be why I would never feel anything more for him. Charlie was wilder than me, she and Luke would at least balance each other out. Between Luke and me, I was the more wild one.

"Lij," I warn.

"Lee," he mocks, throwing me a cheeky smile.

I roll my eyes at my brother, a smile undeniably gracing my lips at his familiar cheeky attitude.

"Go and have breakfast, I'll wake Aiden." I laugh.

Lij salutes mockingly and walks downstairs, hopefully, he had planned to make me some toast or something, most of the time he did.

I walk over to Aiden to gently shake him and wake him up but a devious plan forms in my head instead. It was payback time.

I tiptoe to the other side of my room so I have a platform and then run as fast as I can before leaping on top of Aiden to wake him and hopefully get revenge for dangling me out the window and then tickling me.

I land on top of him and begin to laugh at his panicked jump but before anything comes out, I'm pinned to my mattress with Aiden on top of me, he was doing some kind of push up over without putting any weight on me. I instantly freeze in fright, well that didn't work. When he finally sees it's me, a huge smirk takes over his face.

"What are you doing Collins?"

My body stays frozen in shock while Aiden waits for an answer, his large smirk not wavering once. If the situation was any different, once again this position had the potential to be extremely sexual.

What did he say again?

My voice decides to temporarily leave my body, as does my brain.

I should probably answer now.

"Um," is all I manage.

Aiden smirks at my reaction and rolls of me, my breath once again finds me and I inhale deeply. I have to remind myself to ignore the way that simple action felt. He would just break my heart, he's a bad boy, a fuck boy, and WAY out of my league.

"Aiden!!" I scold, feigning confidence, luckily for me, my voice sounds strong and confident, the opposite to how I presently felt.

"Sorry babe, reflexes. You should know that jumping on innocent sleeping guys never bodes well," Aiden smirks confidently, obviously enjoying the situation.

"Innocent my ass," I mumble, but obviously Aiden hears it. Super hearing as well? Is there anything this guy doesn't have?!

"If I remember correctly, you were the one who jumped on me," Aiden continues, still smirking.

"After you almost dropped me out of a two-story building and then tickle attacked me!!" I argue. I am the victim here!!

The smirk stays firmly in place; "one, I didn't almost drop you, you weigh nothing, and two, that was Eli's fault."

I stick my finger up at him like the mature adult I was, Aiden just laughs.

"We have school, wake up," I reply, rolling my eyes.

Aiden groans and rolls over, mumbling something into the pillow.

"Come on," I chuckle.

Aiden groans again but eventually sits up, and much to my dismay puts his shirt back on. Damn, I really enjoyed the view.

"What's the time?" he asks sleepily.

"7:45," I reply. Our school began at 8:30 but I was never someone who took that long to get ready in the morning. It's not like I put on a heap of makeup or did my hair every day.

"Fuck I have to go, I have to help the twins get ready so they can go to preschool," Aiden slightly panics, jumping out of bed and quickly making his way to the window.

"Tell your mom I said thanks and I'll meet you out the front in half an hour so we can go to school," Aiden says quickly before he climbs to his house.

I don't know why I was disappointed he had left, I knew Elijah would be.

Shrugging off my disappointment, I make my way downstairs to eat. As expected, Elijah had put in some toast for me, I just spread some Nutella on it and sit down to eat with Lij who was eating cereal.

"Where's Aiden?" Lij asks, also getting my mother's attention. Lucky for me, Robert had an early shift today. I knew he would get protective and I loved him for it.

"He had to go and help his sisters get ready, but he told me to say thanks," I reply, looking at mom.

"Damn, he's awesome!!" Lij replies disappointed, his voice sounding the way I felt.

Lij pouts and makes his way upstairs to get changed, leaving mom and me alone.

Oh no.

"So." My mother smirks.

"What?" I ask innocently, but I knew exactly where she was going.

"I like him, he's a good boy," she continues to smirk at me suggestively, "It was nice how he jumped at the opportunity to stay with you when you were upset."

"Mom," I groan, a blush covering my cheeks.

"You like him," her smirk quickly turns into a full-blown smile.

"Mom," I scold, the blush only getting redder.

"I'm just saying baby, if you don't like him you're either blind or stupid, and no daughter of mine is stupid," she continues, still smiling brightly.

"Okay maybe I do but mom look at him and look at me!! I'm the boring good girl and he's the hot, popular bad boy," I groan, spilling my thoughts to my mother like I always had.

"Hun, you're stunning. I know I'm your mom but I mean it. When you walk into a room you have no idea how much attention you receive. Also, I'm pretty certain the boy likes you. When you were upset he jumped at the chance to console you!!" my mom continues.

"He's a good friend, that's all. Also, mom shouldn't you be telling me to stay away from the bad boy player?" I ask. I had told my mother all about Aiden when we first met, and how much of a player and asshole he was.

"He's a good boy sweetie, and I haven't seen you this alive since, well since Maddi died. Luke was always a good friend and temporary distraction, but with Aiden, you just seem happier. You're an amazing young lady Em and I am so proud to call you my daughter. I just have a feeling that this boy's different." She tears up, pulling me into a hug. I know how hard it was for my mom to talk about Maddi. I hug her back, just as tightly.

My mother releases me, her tears drying up before she pushes me towards the door telling me to wear something nice for Aiden.

Laughing lightly at my mother's antics I walk upstairs to get changed. Although the fact that my mother thought he reciprocated the feelings made me exceedingly happy, I knew not to get my hopes up.

After getting changed into skinny jeans and a shirt I rush downstairs to meet Aiden so he can take me to school. My heart pounds erratically and I can't tell whether it's because I'm excited to ride the motorbike again or because I'm seeing Aiden again.

Probably the latter.

What the fuck is wrong with me!? I literally saw him 30 minutes ago.

I kiss my mom goodbye, hug Lij, and run outside. Aiden walks out of his house at the exact same time and smirks in my direction. I try very hard to ignore the flip in my chest.

"Ready Collins?" Aiden smirks.

"Yes let's go," I enthuse, running over to the bike excitedly.

Aiden chuckles at my excitement but none the less sits on the bike and helps me climb on.

I make sure my phone is firmly in my bra, being thankful that I didn't have any homework last night and therefore had left all my school books in my locker.

I hesitantly wrap my arms tightly around Aiden's waist and we zoom off straight away, the proximity still affecting me in all sorts of unknown ways.

We arrive at school much quicker than I would have liked, and I climb off the bike, Aiden follows straight after and I hand him back his helmet. We walk through the entrance of the corridors and only then notice everyone staring. I look around nervously and the scene looked freakishly like a typical high school cliche when everyone stares at you and whispers to their friends.

I didn't even know that really happened, I thought it was reserved for movies and really bad books.

"Aiden!! Everyone is staring," I whisper, shoving him in the ribs.

"Who cares, you'll get used to it. I did." Aiden winks.

I roll my eyes at his arrogance even though I know full well he wasn't exaggerating and walk a little faster, keeping my head down. Even when Tiffany spilled water all over my white shirt exposing my bra, I didn't have the same amount of attention on me as I had now.

The attention made me extremely nervous and I was exceedingly happy when we finally got to our friends. Charlie looked at me suggestively but luckily didn't say anything. While Charlie was smirking, Luke looked really annoyed.

I smile at him, trying to make him less annoyed but he just rolls his eyes in response.

What did I do?

The bell rings and unfortunately, it's my first English Lit class. I knew I had at least Charlie in that class, but I wasn't sure who else. Charlie smiles at me mischievously and drags me away quickly, supposedly to class.

"So is it true?" Charlie smirks.

"What true?" I ask.

"That Aiden gave you a lift today on his bike?" she smirks knowingly.

"Yeah? How did you find out about that so quickly?" I ask, shocked at how fast the gossip at this school truly spreads.

"Aiden letting anyone on his bike is huge news, I heard about it the second you were spotted clinging on to the school's favorite bad boys back," Charlie smirks mischievously.

I roll my eyes but laugh at my cousin's ability to know the whole school's drama. I guess it's a pro about being a popular cheerleader that now hangs out with the untouchables, the golden boy, and the boring new girl.

Charlie and I walk into the class and I get called to the teacher's desk straight away, I head straight for it and Charlie walks towards what I'm assuming is her desk.

"Miss Collins?" she asks.

"Yes, miss." I smile politely.

"I've heard great things about you Emily, my name is Miss Anderson." She introduces formally, she actually seems pretty okay.

"Nice to meet you," I smile.

"Lovely, so we have a seating plan in this room according to the alphabetical order of sir names, you'll be sitting in between Mr Black and Mr Cooke," miss Anderson smiles, pointing to a seat at the end of a row beside who I assume to be "Mr Cooke."

I walk over to the seat and sit down, Aiden had not yet come to class. So Aiden was in this class as well? There was a gap between where I would sit and Aiden would, obviously so the teacher could walk up and down the room.

I get out my stuff but get interrupted by a voice beside me; "okay so you're the legendary Emily Collins? I've heard a lot about you. My name's Jordan."

I don't mean to be stereotypical but this guy was obviously gay. I thought that Dale was up to the stereotypes, but he had nothing on Jordan.

I smile up at him, I could tell he wasn't being bitchy. He was just trying to start a conversation, and for that I was grateful. "Unfortunately, what have you heard?"

"Well for one, apparently you're the rope in the 2 most popular guys at schools tug-of-war," Jordan replies smiling.

I laugh, if I remember correctly, and I do, the exact same thing is said in The Vampire Dairies. "I'm not, Luke's my best friend and Aiden and I are only friends."

"Good!! The guys hot but he's a major ass. You're gorgeous and seem to be nice as well which is more than I can say about Aiden," Jordan replies, making me laugh again.

"He's not so bad when you get to know him," I attempt to half heartily defend, "you're not obsessed with him? Every other person in the school who likes boys seems to be."

"No way, like I said, he may be hot but he is a complete dick. Who sleeps with that many people and parades it like he's proud of it?!" Jordan rolls his eyes. My heart clenches slightly at the reminder that the guy I like is a complete manwhore, but I ignore it and focus on my budding friendship with Jordan.

"Apparently Aiden Black," I laugh. Jordan nods in agreement.

"But answer me this babe, I get not dating Aiden because he's a complete jerkwad, but why not Luke? I mean he is almost as attractive and actually nice" Jordan questions innocently. My heart once again clenches but I ignore it.

"He's been my best friend since forever, I can't look at him in any other way than a brother," I smile, telling a version of the truth.

"Really? I just thought you guys become close because of your amazing cousin Charlie," Jordan enthuses. I laugh at his admiration and only then notice his cheer uniform.

"Not to be that person, but they're actually friends because of me," I begin laughing awkwardly, "you're on the squad with Charlie?"

"Yes!! That gorgeous piece of ass is the best thing that ever happened to that squad since the guys were allowed to train shirtless, we get paired up for everything," Jordan continues, it makes me happy to know that there are other people that admire Charlie as much as I do.

"I've never actually seen her cheer, obviously I've seen her dance but this Thursday will be the first time I've seen her actually cheer," I smile.

Jordan goes to respond but he doesn't get the chance to respond because Miss Anderson takes our attention.